Management Profiles
Thomas R. Knepper, General Manager
As General Manager of the Millport, Alabama operation, Tom Knepper has overall responsibility for the design, construction, start-up and operation of the Waelz Kiln facility. He is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced managers of both Waelz kiln and zinc smelter plant operations.
Until joining SDR in 2006, Knepper had been employed by Horsehead Corporation -- as well as various predecessor companies -- since 1972. He began his career in the Palmerton (Pennsylvania) plant of New Jersey Zinc Company, rising to the positions of General Foreman and Superintendent. He was instrumental in the design and launch of the French Process oxide plant at Zinc Nacional in Monterrey, Mexico. When New Jersey Zinc Company split off the Waelz Kiln portion of the business in 1987, he joined the newly-formed Horsehead Resource Development Company, responsible for converting and re-launching plants in Illinois and Tennessee. He then assumed broader senior management tasks at company smelters.
Arthur M. Rowland, Plant Manager
Arthur Rowland is the Plant Manager of SDR. In this position he will have operational responsibility for the design, construction, start-up and day-to-day operation of the SDR facility.
A 25-year veteran of Horsehead Corp. and its predecessor company, Mr. Rowland joined SDR after two years with ALCOA’s Warrick plant in Newburgh, Indiana. Mr. Rowland began his career with Horsehead as a Maintenance Superintendent, then assumed ever-increasing roles including Plant Engineer and Assistant Plant Manager. He was instrumental in the conversion of a 1950 vintage electrical and control system into a modern, reliable system; and has managed all of the onsite electrical engineering for a major plant construction, including a new state of the art receiving building, feed system, Waelz Kiln and MMI control room.
As an Assistant Plant Manager, Rowland was responsible for two Waelz Kiln operations, Environmental Health and Safety, plant site Human Resources, manifested feed receipts, accounts payable and quality control.
David L. Lentz, Assistant Plant Manager
Dave Lentz is the Assistant Plant Manager of SDR's Millport facility. He is responsible for day-to-day operations, including Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), and Quality Assurance programs. During construction of Steel Dust Recycling's new plant, Lentz is overseeing the electrical and controls installation and start-up.
An 18-year veteran of Horsehead Corporation, Lentz began his career in the Research and Development Department working on new technologies. He became an electronic technician, working on electrical, PLC and HMI engineering developments. He was instrumental in the startup of a new plant in Texas, and the second kiln at a plant in Illinois. Lentz worked with the electrical engineering group at Horsehead's Monaca and Palmerton plants, then accepted the Plant Engineer position at the Texas facility. He was promoted to Plant Manager of the facility by Tom Knepper. Lentz held the Plant Manager position for 8 years, running all aspects of the operation, including local EH&S programs, electrical troubleshooting and program modifications, reporting, HR issues, Hazardous Wastes manifesting issues, manpower scheduling, capital projects, budgeting and process engineering.
Lentz accepted the Plant Manager position at the largest EAF recycling plant at Horsehead and remained there briefly before deciding to return to Texas. He joined Steel Dust Recycling in early February of 2008.
