Harris appoints new president

Richard “DJ” VanDeusen has been hired as the president of The Harris Waste Management Group Inc., a subsidiary of Avis Industrial Corp., headquartered in Upland, Indiana. He will be responsible for all aspects of the operation and management of Harris and its global product and service offerings. 

VanDeusen spent 20 years with General Electric and eight years with Atlanta-based WestRock, gaining executive leadership experience in operations, supply chain and finance. He most recently was vice president of finance for Altisource Portfolio Solutions in Atlanta.

Gregory King, president and CEO of Avis, says, “We are pleased to have such a gifted leader and someone with a deep background in the recycling industry join the Avis team and lead the charge at Harris.”

VanDeusen replaces King, who was promoted to his current position with Avis in October.

VanDeusen holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Siena College in Loudonville, New York, and is a graduate of the General Electric Financial Management Program.

Cordele, Georgia-based Harris has been a leading supplier to the recycling industry for 130 years, manufacturing ferrous and nonferrous processing equipment. The company’s products include balers, compactors, conveyors, shears and shredders that are sold worldwide. Harris has manufacturing facilities in Baxley and Cordele, Georgia, with an additional office in Tewkesbury, United Kingdom.

Avis Industrial is the parent company of nine wholly owned subsidiaries: AI International Inc., Louisville, Kentucky; The American Baler Co., Bellevue, Ohio; Crankshaft Machine Co., Jackson, Michigan; Edgerton Forge Inc., Edgerton, Ohio; The Harris Waste Management Group; James Steel & Tube Co., Madison Heights, Michigan; Pacific Forge Inc., Fontana, California; Peninsular Cylinder Co. Inc., Roseville, Michigan; and Sellick Equipment, Ltd., Harrow, Ontario.