100 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 345A, Anaheim, CA 92805 T (714) 758-0222 AnaheimChamber.org
November 19, 2025
Marco Lucero
Executive Director
Anaheim Workforce Development Board
201 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 1001
Anaheim, California 92805
RE: Nomination of Kurtis Adams (SA Recycling) to Workforce Development Board
Dear Mr. Lucero:
On behalf of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, I am pleased to nominate Kurtis Adams, General Manager at SA Recycling, for appointment to the Anaheim Workforce Development Board . A respected member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Mr. Adams brings hands-on operational leadership in one of Orange County’s anchor industries , metal recycling and export logistics , with direct relevance to skilled - trades pathways, industrial safety, sustainability, and quality jobs for Anaheim residents.
Mr. Adams oversees large-scale recycling operations and workforce teams within SA Recycling’s network, collaborating across yard operations, environmental compliance, transportation, and port -facing logistics.
He is also part of the next generation of lead ership in the Adams family enterprise, which has grown SA Recycling from a local scrapyard into a national platform , experience that will translate into practical, employer-driven insights for the WDB.
SA Recycling’s roots trace back to the Adams family’s Anaheim-area scrap operations in the 1970s, which evolved into SA Recycling under the leadership of CEO George Adams, Jr. The company’s growth accelerated in 2007 when Sims Group combined its Southern California metal recycling assets with Adams Steel to form the SA Recycling joint venture, linking deep-water export capacity at the Port of Los Angeles with inland shredders and feeder yards. Today, SA Recycling operates 150+ locations across 16 states .
Mr. Adams can help align training investments with real hiring demand, as SA Recycling represents a large, multi-site employer with diverse job ladders (equipment operators, maintenance technicians, CDL drivers, dispatchers, scale house, yard supervisors, environmental/compliance, and logistics). His background spans industrial operations, safety culture, sustainability, and supply-chain logistics, all priorities for regional workforce programs serving both adult and youth populations entering the trades. With SA Recycling’s longstanding presence in Anaheim, Mr. Adams brings a valuable regional lens on workforce pipelines and credentials.
The Anaheim Chamber of Commerce is confident Mr. Adams will contribute substantively to the Workforce Development B oard’s employer engagement strategy, help shape sector partnerships in advanced manufacturing and logistics, and champion inclusive hiring practices that expand opportunities for Anaheim residents.
Sincerely,
Dara Maleki
President and CEO
Anaheim Chamber of Commerce
Kurtis Adams Bio
Kurtis Adams is the CEO of Walk-In Lab LLC and concurrently works in the Legal Affairs and Government Relations department at SA Recycling in Orange, Ca. Kurtis was born in Fullerton and raised in Anaheim Hills. He received his Juris Doctorate in 2010 and his Masters in business in 2015, both from Chapman University.
Serving as the CEO of Walk-In Lab LLC, Kurtis help build a company in the technology and health space with one employee a decade ago that was losing money to a growing business that now employs a staff twenty-two people, that did over 10 million in revenue and 2.2 million in profit in 2023.
Growing up Kurtis spent his summers and spare time working for the family business. With a background in operations and armed with a law degree he now uses these skillsets to help assist SA Recycling's growth and the challenges that come with it.
Kurtis is heavily involved in the California Metals Coalition (CMC) and currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Recycled Materials Association or ReMA . He is also on the board of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce actively promoting it's rebirth and transition to be a prominent resource for businesses in Anaheim and beyond. Working in local and national politics to help positively affect his business interests and those of others has become more than just a hobby for Kurtis but also his passion.
When he is not working, Kurtis enjoys all things outdoors including camping and fishing with his wife Morgan, Bernese mountain dog and beautiful daughters. Being fluent in Spanish, they also love to travel to areas where they can speak the language.