Recent Temple University graduate Jeanpaul Gonzalez was excited for ReMA2025 – The Show. Though it was his first ReMA convention it was by no means his first ReMA event. He had attended several networking events hosted by the organization.
“I knew that if I wanted to break into the industry I had to network and meet people,” he said. “If I’m going to be collaborating and working with recyclers, and I want them to know me as a friend, not meet me for the first time as an exhibitor trying to sell them something.”
ReMA News had the opportunity to chat with Gonzalez during ReMA2025 to learn about his background, what drew him to the recycled materials industry, and his advice for other recent college graduates seeking opportunities in the industry.
What brought you to ReMA2025?
I was first introduced to ReMA when I wanted to attend the New York Chapter Fall Networking Event in November 2024. I reached out to ReMA staff letting them know I wanted to attend the event, but I didn’t have a company to sponsor me. They said I could attend for free. That was my first ReMA event and I networked a lot and met as many people as possible. I knew I wanted to be part of this industry because of my dad. He’s been working in the industry his entire life and I knew if I wanted to break into this space, I had to start networking.
After attending a few more ReMA networking events for free I knew I wanted to attend ReMA2025 so I reached out to Robin and asked if I could volunteer for the event, and she said yes. However, a few weeks after that, Stuart Kagan, co-founder of Buddy, reached out to me about joining his company. They wanted to bring me to ReMA2025 to work the convention as one of their employees.
So far, it’s been a great convention. At first, I was nervous. I participated in school events, but this is different. I’m selling a product so I can’t do my typical elevator pitch: “Hi, I’m Jeanpaul, I go to Temple University, what do you do?” This was a whole different ball game because I had to sell software, which is daunting. But I got here, and I just had to figure it out, and over time I got used to it and my pitch got more concise. Yes, there were some slip ups but that’s how you learn.
What have you found most valuable so far about ReMA2025?
I’ve been able to lean on people who I’ve met at previous ReMA networking events. They’ve been coming up to me, saying hi, and asking how I’m doing. It’s really refreshing to know that I have champions in the industry. I can go up to ReMA staff and talk to them and it feels friendly. I don’t feel like an outsider because I already know some of the attendees and some of the staff and that’s because I was fortunate enough with ReMA’s help to attend networking events. If I hadn’t gotten to be at those events, I would have been much more nervous and less comfortable.
Tell me about your background in the recycled materials industry.
My dad has been in the industry for his entire career. He moved to the U.S. when he was 20 and started working for E Schneider & Sons in Allentown, Pennsylvania. When we moved to Miami, Florida he started working for another company doing quality assurance because he knew a lot about the material. As he traveled and conducted inspections he learned about trading and managerial work.
When we came back to Allentown, he went back to E Schneider & Sons as the nonferrous manager. Everyone knew my dad was knowledgeable because he worked his way up from the lowest job at the yard. I’ve spent my life watching my parents built their careers up from nothing, and I’ve seen my dad’s growth in the industry. As I was about to graduate college, I thought about how this industry provided for my family in numerous ways and provided a great life for me and my sisters. So, as I started looking for jobs, the recycled materials industry seemed like a natural choice.
What advice would you give recent college graduates considering their options about employment in the recycled materials industry?
There are so many different opportunities in this industry from accounting and finance to data analytics and HR. I think the industry needs to do a better job at showing or highlighting these open opportunities to students. For example, ReMA’s Pathways Program offers paid fellowship and internship opportunities for current and recent graduates. As Pathway participants, students are immersed in career opportunities in the recycled materials industry at one of ReMA’s member companies.
If you’re a recent graduate, it’s important to show the industry that you’re hungry, that you want to prove yourself, and that you’re capable. So, I recommend taking the initiative—don’t be afraid to tell potential employers what you’re looking for and that you want to break into the industry.
ReMA has been super helpful for me to network and meet people in the industry. Without ReMA, I wouldn’t have gotten to know so many people or received the offers I’ve had. I wouldn’t have been in those rooms or gotten those opportunities without being part of ReMA. But, at the same time, you need to be outgoing and make the effort.
Recent Temple University graduate Jeanpaul Gonzalez was excited for ReMA2025 – The Show. Though it...