United Scrap Metal, a Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and provider of innovative recycling solutions, has announced the appointment of Sadzi Martha Oliva to the newly created position of Vice President, Government Relations & Community. Oliva's appointment as the first Latina "Executive Team member is historic and represents United Scrap Metal's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion," said a company spokesperson.
"We have always championed diversity and inclusion by promoting, mentoring and bringing women into leadership positions," said United Chief Executive Officer and founder Marsha Serlin. "Investing in best practices and in our people is part of our formula. We create great opportunities for a diverse workforce where people are inspired by the opportunity to show what they can do. I am confident in Sadzi's success within this newly created role where she can maximize her unique public sector regulatory experience to facilitate our continued growth."
As Vice President, Government Relations & Community, Oliva will develop and direct the company's federal, state and local governmental and community relations efforts. These span across current locations in Chicago, Philadelphia, Richmond, Charlotte, St. Louis and Indianapolis. She will also focus on extending its mission to make a positive impact in the lives of others by working with other business units on community outreach and throughout numerous charitable and philanthropic endeavors. She will also represent the company and promote its mission within multiple trade associations and business groups.
"United Scrap Metal breaks the paradigm of what people think about the recycling industry. As a diverse, woman-owned company, its commitment to ethics, sustainability and making a positive impact in the lives of others is unmatched," said Oliva. "I am looking forward to engaging with our diverse communities and stakeholders and becoming a resource they and the recycling industry can rely on going forward."
Appointed in January 2017 to the Illinois Commerce Commission, Oliva balanced the interests of consumers and utilities to ensure adequate, safe and least-cost public utility services. In this role, she became recognized as a national leader in diversity, equity and inclusion in the energy sector as chair of the Select Committee on Regulatory and Industry Diversity for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. In this role she championed resolutions that encouraged utilities to recruit from minority serving institutions; engage diverse professional services including both law and investment firms; and review their business certification processes to reduce barriers to entry for diverse small business vendors. Oliva's impact as a leader in the energy industry includes international work participating on a peer review of Renewable Energy Integration with Central American Energy Regulators and a partnership exchange on Stakeholder Engagement and Public Communications with members of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission.
Prior to joining the Illinois Commerce Commission, Oliva served as general counsel for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), where she also served as ethics officer, administrative law judge and chief of medical prosecutions. She worked in the social services sector of government at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services serving as chief administrative law judge. Early in her career, she prosecuted financial crimes as an assistant attorney general for the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
Oliva is a first-generation Cuban American and was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She holds a J.D. from Loyola University, School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from DePaul University.
For more information contact:
United Scrap Metal
1545 S Cicero Ave.
Cicero, IL 60804
708-780-6800
www.unitedscrap.com