Four generations and 100 years-that's how long ABC Recycling (Burnaby, British Columbia) has been in the recycling business, making it part of an elite group of family companies to achieve those milestones. Its long history in the scrap trade is a quintessential immigrant family story, one that began when Joseph Yochlowitz left his native Poland for Vancouver in the early 1900s to start a new life for his family by peddling scrap from his horse and wagon. Three subsequent generations have parlayed his humble enterprise into a $180 million, seven-location powerhouse in the western Canadian recycling market. How has ABC succeeded for a century while so many other family businesses failed? The fourth-generation leaders-half-brothers David Yochlowitz, CEO, and Mike Yochlowitz, purchasing manager, and their cousin, Karen Bichin, manager of community relations-point to the company's innovative partnerships with other scrap operators, strong relationships with customers and employees, progressive handling of family issues, and extensive community involvement. Even as they celebrate their company's centennial, however, ABC's principals have their eyes on the future. "We think long-term in everything," David says. "We're proud of what we've achieved-not just the success, but how we achieved it, doing it the right way. With 100 years now behind us, we can look ahead and ask how we can be successful in the next 100 years."
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