Adam Weitsman
Adam Joel Weitsman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Owego, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Business leader, CEO |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Known for | CEO of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling |
Adam Joel Weitsman is an American business leader and the chief executive officer of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, a scrap metal processing enterprise headquartered in Owego, New York.
Early life
A native of Owego, Weitsman’s fascination with art collecting began when his family uncovered 19th-century American stoneware during a scrap yard dig. By 1982, his collection had grown to include 60 pieces. He completed his education at Owego Free Academy in 1986 and pursued banking studies at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus. In 1989, he gained experience working at the Hirschl & Adler Folk gallery in Manhattan and subsequently established the American Folk Art Gallery in Greenwich Village in 1991. He took on the role of vice president at the family-owned scrap business, Ben Weitsman & Son, in 1995 before eventually acquiring ownership.
Career
After experiencing personal tragedy in the early 1990s, Weitsman relocated from New York City to concentrate on expanding the family scrap metal enterprise with a focus on processing capabilities. He launched Upstate Shredding in Owego in 1997. Despite encountering a legal challenge in 2004 related to check kiting—which led to an $1 million penalty and an eight-month prison sentence—he pursued rapid growth thereafter. In 2005, following his father’s retirement, Weitsman purchased Ben Weitsman & Son and later expanded by acquiring an 11-acre scrapyard located in Solvay, New York, in 2009. Between 2012 and 2016, he further expanded by obtaining scrap yards in New Castle, Pennsylvania; acquiring a port facility in Albany; and purchasing Empire Recycling in Watertown. These businesses were unified under the Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling brand by 2016. His leadership earned him consecutive honors including the Platts Industry Leadership Award and AMM Scrap Company of the Year awards in 2015 and 2016.
Together with his wife Kim, Weitsman has ventured into real estate and hospitality projects in Skaneateles, New York. Kim acquired the historic Krebs restaurant in 2010, reopening it by 2014 with proceeds benefiting local nonprofit organizations. Between 2018 and 2019, Weitsman introduced Elephant and the Dove, a Mexican dining establishment in Skaneateles, followed by plans for a sushi bar in Owego. In 2021, he revealed intentions to open an Italian restaurant through a partnership based in East Syracuse.
Expanding his portfolio further, Weitsman launched Viridium LLC in 2021, focusing on cryptocurrency mining operations. By 2022, he was acknowledged as a billionaire entrepreneur.
In terms of philanthropy, Weitsman has donated his substantial American stoneware collection to the New York State Museum since 1998 and has made considerable contributions to local charities such as the Rescue Mission’s culinary education center and Vera House. During the COVID-19 crisis, he offered one of his college campuses to be used as a healthcare facility.
A dedicated supporter of Syracuse University athletics—especially men’s basketball—Weitsman maintains a close relationship with coach Jim Boeheim. In 2021, following Boeheim’s Army basketball team victory, he pledged $1 million to regional charities. The following year, he announced $1 million Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) agreements intended to attract elite athletes to represent his companies while promoting Syracuse University; however, these NIL arrangements had not been realized by 2025.
Personal life
In 2000, Weitsman encountered his future spouse, Kim Weitsman (formerly Kim DeFrance). By 2004, DeFrance transitioned from her modeling career to assume the role of operations manager at Upstate Shredding. The couple tied the knot in June 2006 in Skaneateles and are parents to three children.