A NEW DAY WITH Chisa Ueda

– I am the general manager for the Sunset Trading Group within the Recycling division. Our group consists of approximately 100 professionals working across the globe. We have specialists in stock lot paper trading, scrap metal trading, dedicated support staff, and our Semper CellMark team. I’ve been with CellMark 13 years, which is by far the longest I’ve been at one company. It has flown by, as there are no dull moments at CellMark!

During 2027, I will have the pleasure of taking over the role of Divisional President for the Recycling division. The transition is going well so far, mainly because of all the support I’ve received from everyone, including Jimmy Derrico (current Divisional President for CellMark Recycling), the Management Team, our Board of Directors, Sunset & Semper Teams, and the bigger CellMark Team.

It’s been both humbling and refreshing to go from thinking you know a lot and have good command over the business, to being a beginner again. It’s like being in the EMBA program all over again, which is like constantly drinking from a fire hose. I love it. It’s also exciting to see others on the team step up into leadership roles of their own and take on new challenges.

I feel like we already have an amazing team, so my focus will be on making sure we’re all aligned in our goals and ensuring everyone has the tools they need to succeed. I also hope to bring fresh perspectives. Although I’m relatively new to the wastepaper world, I have a background in supply-chain, stock lot paper, and scrap metal. Additionally, I aim to set the bar higher than what people might be comfortable with, encouraging growth and innovation. At the same time, I’m committed to preserving CellMark’s unique culture, which I believe is key to our success, while fostering a workplace where everyone feels encouraged to reach their full potential.

Lastly, if someone is considering joining CellMark, I would say: if you’re a good fit for our culture and have the right skills, joining CellMark is probably the best career decision that you will ever make. I’ve worked at some fantastic companies before, but CellMark is on a completely different level. It’s hard work, a lot of fun, and extremely rewarding.