The Paramount Theatre announced today that Rutland’s Earth Waste & Metal will be joining The Rutland Herald and GE Aviation at the Flagship $25,000 Gold Sponsor level for the 2014/2015 Paramount Season.Kevin Elnicki, President and CEO of Earth Waste & Metal, established the business in 1989. Since its inception, Earth Waste & Metal has served Vermont and upstate New York in the recycling of metals, ferrous and non-ferrous. EWM is a full spectrum metal recycler, providing container service, mobile machinery and expert knowledge to best serve the customer’s needs. Operations in recent years have expanded to include the handling of a full range of recycling materials, from cardboard to plastics. And, EWM currently operates 10 transfer stations in the region. Solid service, fair and honest pricing, and affordable access to responsible recycling are key to Earth Waste & Metal’s business model.
Kevin Elnicki is a Rutland native who is invested both personally and professionally, to see the community thrive. He has supported several local projects throughout the years to demonstrate his will to give back to the place that is his home. This giving history ranges from his involvement in the creation of the Giorgetti hockey arena, to the bike path expansion project and sponsorship of the Wonderfeet Museum fundraising initiative. Further, his top to bottom renovation of the former Eagles building, devastated by fire and slated for destruction, stands to illustrate the value in restoring and revitalizing our downtown properties. Corporate headquarters to Earth Waste & Metal are established at this location, 49 Wales Street. Scrap facilities are located in Middlebury, VT; Castleton, VT; Morrisonville, NY; Manchester, TN. Transfer stations in Vermont are in the towns of Brandon, Barre Town, Bradford and Northfield; and in New York towns that include Whitehall, Kingsbury, Granville, Greenwich and Jackson.
Kevin commented about his relationship with the Paramount Theatre…”the arts are a key ingredient to our quality of life in Rutland. I am excited to renew my Gold Sponsor pledge this year and witness the continued success that the Paramount demonstrates for our community, bringing fantastic entertainment to downtown. I hope my story helps to encourage others to get involved and show their support as well.“
Bruce Bouchard, Executive Director of The Paramount, commented “I first met Kevin in April of 2008 at Mary’s in West Rutland, over breakfast. I forwarded an aggressive plan for The Paramount, including the revived notion that our future would be built on three things 1) Expanded use of the building, 2) Artistic Excellence and 3) A substantial increase in community support of these new directions. Frankly, I was seeing in Kevin’s eyes and demeanor that he did not know what to make of the person sitting in front of him: a fast-talking flatlander, selling him an extensive bill of goods for the future of the Paramount and he had absolutelyno wayof knowing the viability of anything I was saying.” Bouchard continued “Bottom line – I needed a jump-start to get this organization turned around and moving in the right direction. A week later at the Grand Parada at Killington, Kevin approached me…..”I’m in for $25,000” and “Don’t mess it up.” Bill Carris and Carris Reels matched that gift shortly thereafter and the train was ready to leave the station.” Bouchard concluded “The visionary support from Kevin really started me in Rutland. Without the two major first pieces of giving, I really doubt that we would have made it, or further, that we would be where we are today. I will be forever grateful to Kevin for his trust and his vision, which is what makes this support for 14/15 so very meaningful….a perfect full-circle to the beginning of my tenure. We now raise nearly half-a-million dollars and our Flagship donors truly do lead the way. It might be said that in their case and in the case of the Paramount – hard,hardwork and vision will change communities and alter lives.”
The Paramount has evolved over the years into a contender in the New England Presenting arena, expanding to 7 Performance genres: Popular Music, Classical Music, Theatre, Theatre Development, Comedy, Family Entertainment and film. The revival of film at The Paramount (titled as such because it was owned by Paramount Pictures for many years prior to anti-trust regulation) began in 2009 and was expanded in 2013 with the installation of The Expanded Exhibition Technology which has brought LIVE IN HD from the MET, as well as SPORTS LIVE: baseball, football, Olympics and the recent World Cup (4,900 through our doors free of charge. LIVE IN HD will expand this year to include The National Theatre of Great Britain and LIVE IN HD from the 92ndStreet “Y.” The Paramount is projecting opening its doors over 150 times this season, will host over 50,000 patrons and will have with a projected financial impact of $5,000,000 on the greater community.
Bouchard concluded “All this community ever wanted was for The Paramount Theatre to be vibrant. On behalf of the staff and the board of The Paramount, we are so proud and happy that with the support and vision of so many, with Earth Waste & Metal as a prime example, we have accomplished that goal.”