NATHAN ZACK:
 
NATHAN ZACK




 
 
 
 
 
Founder, CEO, and President of Great Lakes Electronics Corp. (GLEC) in Warren. Zack was 19 years old when he founded GLEC in 2000, starting with a pickup truck and a phone book, cold calling area businesses, and breaking down electronics in his mother's garage. Today, the company is one of the fastest growing and largest electronic and metal recycling companies in the United States. With a nationwide pickup service, the company works primarily with corporate clients, large retailers, and government agencies that need a safe, secure, and reliable method for recycling their electronic equipment. Clients include DTE Energy and Rock Financial. GLEC has grown to more than 120 employees with eWaste and metal recycling centers in Warren, Chicago, Daytona Beach, and Orlando. GLEC received its environmental ISO 14001-2004 certification earlier this year. The company recycled approximately 54 million pounds of computers, servers, and other electronic gadgets in 2009. For Earth Day 2010, the company partnered with Troy-based Operation: Kid Equip to provide refurbished computers, monitors, and keyboards to provide to area students. In 2009, Zack was named among Crain’s 20 in their 20s.


WHERE BORN: “Detroit.”

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: “My mother. I pretty much started the business in the basement when I was 16 and dropped out of high school. She supported me the whole way through.”

LAST BOOK READ: “I’ve never read a book in my whole life. I’m more of a talker.”

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: “Aggressive, spontaneous, charming.”

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: “Upward. My business encompasses three different avenues – electronic and computer recycling, non-ferrous metal processing and trading, and ferrous metal processing and trading. All of the companies are growing.”

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: “I use two cell phones – a BlackBerry and a phone to talk on. I like my iPod for flying. I also have a really cool coffee maker.”

FAVORITE PLACE: “My scrap yard. My recycling centers are my place. I really like work.”

FAVORITE HOBBIES: “Working, eating, and doing yoga.”

FAVORITE FOOD: “Sanders ice cream puff with chocolate ice cream. And Chicken Shack.”

MY HIDDEN TALENT: “I can do the splits (because of yoga).”

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: “As being the best.”


Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2014, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.