ADS Logistics' Robbins to Retire; Edwards Promoted to Continue Expansion Plans for the Company's Roll & Hold Division

    HOMEWOOD, Ill.--July 16, 2002--W. Kent Robbins, vice president of ADS Logistics, Roll & Hold division retires after leading the division since its start-up in 1984. William M. Edwards, the division's general manager has been promoted to vice president and general manager.
    "When the Roll & Hold concept was conceived, Kent accepted the challenge of building it into a business. His leadership created the widely respected industry standard for metals warehouses operated today by our company," states Stephen Fraser the company's president and chief executive officer. "Kent is well known and respected in this industry and will be missed. We are fortunate to have a man with Bill's expertise and background ready to take-over."
    "Edwards joined the organization in February 2001, bringing with him broad expertise in many facets of the steel industry which have already been of considerable benefit to the Roll & Hold division and to ADS Logistics as a whole," continued Fraser. "He has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the company's aggressive expansion plans, facilitating openings in Marion, IN; Wentzville, MO, Atlanta, GA and Northwest Ohio in the last twelve months, with plans for four more locations in the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest in the near future."
    Edwards has over twenty-five years experience in the metals industry, coming to ADS Logistics from IRMCO where he was vice president of their Advanced Surface Technologies group. Previous positions include president of Belmont Steel Corporation, a flat rolled steel service center; general manager at Ryerson Coil Processing, and fourteen years in various management and industrial engineering staff positions at Inland Steel. Edwards has also taught professional education courses in purchasing and supply chain management at DePaul University in Chicago.
    Additional management change to facilitate the division's aggressive growth plans includes Jerry Holeman who has been promoted to manager - operations. Holeman joined ADS Logistics/Roll & Hold in 1994 in the company's Macedonia, OH facility. Since joining the company he has proven a valuable asset to the facility's growth, holding positions of foreman, warehouse supervisor, warehouse superintendent, and regional manager. Holeman will report to Jeff McCord, Director of Operations, who has overall operations responsibility for the company's national network of purpose-designed metals warehouses.

    ADS Logistics, L.L.C. is a national provider of integrated logistics and supply chain solutions for the metals industry. Services include multi-modal transportation; warehousing and logistics management; as well as value-added services such as integrated logistics; inventory management; metals supply chain software and outsourcing. www.adslogistics.com.
    For more information contact Dawn Thrasher, director - communications and public relations, ADS Logistics, LLC, (708) 922-2024, dthrasher@adslogistics.com.