Jeremy Collins: From pizza delivery to delivering tomorrow’s low-carbon products

“Metal recycling is like a puzzle,” says Jeremy Collins, Depot Manager at EMR Rhino. “There are so many different areas of the job running separately, but all flow together. It’s completely unique in that way.”

Thirteen years ago, Jeremy was delivering pizzas and studying for a union exam when an opportunity to work at EMR presented itself – and he never looked back. Today, he's managing a team of eight and helping deliver tomorrow’s low-carbon products.

“It was more concrete, more resilient than the other options on the table – but still exciting.  You have so many different areas that you can learn from. You also have the commercial side, the peddler side, the CMC (Camden Metal Company), the feeder yards. But they all connect.”

Jeremy learned about the industry from the ground up, rotating through roles at EMR locations across Philadelphia, starting with his first role as Quality Assurance.

Over the years, he’s done the heavy lifting - from truck scale operator to manager and beyond, but his proudest achievements have come from collaboration.

Jeremy has transformed more than metal; he’s helped shape countless colleagues – taking them from raw potential to refined talent. When he sees that a colleague’s confidence in their work has blossomed, he knows his hard work has been worth it.

Many of the people once under Jeremy’s wing have gone on to take management roles at EMR. Seeing their career growth gives Jeremy a deep sense of pride, knowing he contributed to preparing them for long-term success within the company.

“Seeing these individuals come in, grow with us, grow with the company, learn and then be able to take their next step and, of course, seeing what they do with it - it’s bittersweet. You have to let them go, but you train them up so they can learn and do it right and eventually move on and have their own thing going on.

“It’s an opportunity my manager, Randy Orr, gave to me – and one I’m more than happy to pay forward.”

But it’s not just about the people who work with him. Jeremy has had a transformative effect on the customers too – turning EMR Rhino into a place that they want to keep coming back to.

“Every morning, before we even open, the same five to eight happy faces are lined up with their materials and a story or two. You have a lot of returning customers. Regulars all day.

Sometimes they’ll bring you coffee and donuts in the winter - and Gatorade on hot days, making sure all the guys are staying hydrated.”

Jeremy shows his appreciation for these customers, many of whom are locals, by giving back to the local community in meaningful ways.

“In the past, we’ve done a lot like giving back to the city and running collections for the church,” he enthusiastically said. “We’ve raised a little over $10,000 for breast cancer in one day!”

Jeremy didn’t set out to become a leader in metal recycling, but through grit, growth - and more than a little Gatorade - he’s built a legacy worth its weight in steel.

Looking to kickstart your own legacy? Check out careers at EMR.