Sepand Samzadeh took a rather unconventional route to where he is today as co-chief executive of Chatsworth’s Valley Recycling, which ranks No. 10 on the Business Journal’s list of Fastest Growing Private Companies with 131 percent revenue growth over the last two years. He was born in Iran, where his father ran a successful plastics business that had ties to the Shah. When the revolution came, it was too dangerous for the family to stay and they fled the country. At the time Samzadeh was just 6 years old. The family first went to Spain and then Canada before eventually settling in Los Angeles, where his father bought the recycling business. Samzadeh initially had no interest in joining his father’s business, but had a change of heart and came on in 2001. He became co-chief executive with his father in 2009. The Business Journal sat down with the 37-year-old executive in his office recently to talk about how he juggles the demands of his growing recycling business with civic involvement, a part-time band in which he plays lead guitar and his next big commitment – fatherhood. Question: So let’s get down to business. How does a recycling company grow fast? Answer: To be very frank with you, I never think about growth. I’m not out for world domination or anything, I just really want to do a good job. I’m competitive in the sense that I don’t want any sort of resemblance with the competition. So I always try to outthink what they do to stand apart. By understanding what the customer wants, not having an ego, and providing a great service and being honest and truthful. Also the companies deal directly with me. We have a sort of horizontal chain of command here, so they know that when they call me things will get done, and they like that. What major changes have you made as co-chief executive? A: I made the company less vulnerable because we were dealing with one major commodity, cardboard. So I introduced metals and other types of commodities, like white paper, office paper coated book stock. So if one commodity takes a dive, the other one balances. I brought document shredding into the company. Now hospitals and certain pharmaceutical companies can’t recycle paper anymore, they have to shred documents. The other huge thing was instead of being a drop-off center, we go out to companies and get materials from the companies. Did you ever imagine you would follow your father into the business? A: My father had purchased the company (with other shareholders) in 1994, and I didn’t want anything to do with it whatsoever. What changed your mind? A: I had about three or four years of working experience (in engineering). And I was good with managing people, but engineering wasn’t a path that was for me. So one day I took a trip, I came to L.A., and my dad said, “Look, I really need your help. I’m getting tired. There’s a lot coming at me and I want someone to help out.” And it was one of those very natural feelings. He said, “Take your time and think about it,” and I didn’t have to. I knew that it was the right thing to do. What’s it like working with your dad? A: We have different styles, so I told him, “If I come, you have to let me do my own thing.” And he agreed. He’s 67 now, he’s less risk averse, I’m hungrier. We have this thing where we complement each other’s weaknesses, and we both want the same thing. We butt heads every once in a while, but we have the same mission and vision, so it works out. We have a great relationship. What’s been the biggest piece of advice your father has given you? A: He’s given me a lot of advice. It’s very important to state that. But I think what’s important to communicate is that his presence is all I need. He’s kind of a lighthouse. Just the fact that he’s there gives me calm and confidence. His presence to me is strength and gives me a foundation. Just not saying anything is a hell of a lot for me. Would you say he’s more calm than you are? A: Well he’s gone through a lot. I take it you mean the Iranian revolution. Tell us about your life there. A: I was born in Tehran in 1975 and we had a comfortable life there. And of course amidst the revolution like so many other families we emigrated. Do you remember the revolution? A: The only thing I remember is there were a lot of soldiers on the street. They all looked like green outfits, and I remember my mom in the car saying that if any of these guys, or anyone asks you, “Is Khomeini a good person?” just say “Yes.” And that to me kind of said, “OK. Something’s wrong.” I remember my cousin. We were at his house, and he was in those green uniforms and he kissed the Quran and he said goodbye and I remember never seeing him again. It still hits me hard. Why did you have to emigrate? A: (My father) was managing a company of 800 employees, working with the (shah’s) cousin. All of a sudden all of that’s taken away from him. People are hiding in his house. He doesn’t know what to do; they can’t even find milk for me and my 4-month-old sister. You know, that’s a huge experience. If I were to go through that right now, that’s a hell of a lot. Moving countries, having different businesses, those are just experiences that, a person living that life, you learn a lot from that. And it probably tells you that you can get through anything. A: You can get through about anything. And even if it is negative, chaos eventually goes toward entropy, and there’s some sort of calm, and then chaos happens. That’s kind of what keeps us going. How does your mom come into this puzzle? A: She’s a light in the lighthouse. (Laughs) She does a lot of the accounting and stuff here, and she’s there for a lot of support. The beautiful thing about having parents is that no matter how frustrated you are, you’re able to go to them and tap into their energy and they give you something, some sort of calm and purpose. And that’s an amazing thing, and I’m grateful and lucky to have that. So where did you go after leaving Iran? A: We ended up living in Spain from 1981 to 1986. We moved to Canada, and I stayed there until 2001. I went to University of Toronto. I did mechanical engineering, but I have more of an artist’s nature. I’m a musician, I do music on the side. I wanted to be an artist, but I knew that wouldn’t give me a stable life. Living all over, and being educated in different places – has that affected your insight into business? A: For anything to work it’s a person-to-person contact. And I think if anyone is open minded enough to understand other people’s views, their beliefs and what is important to them, it makes a huge difference. How many languages do you speak? A: Four. English, Farsi, Spanish, and a little bit of French. Has that helped you in the business world? A: Spanish, definitely. So do you find your work rewarding? A: I find it very, very rewarding. Getting up every morning, knowing what you want to do, that you’re doing some good. I’ve been able to help the community out, being a part of the Boys and Girls Club, the board of directors, and Habitat for Humanity; and you just become very involved with your community. And that is extremely rewarding. I understand you were recently appointed to the Los Angeles Board of Building and Safety Commissioners. How did that come about? A: I went out to dinner with a good friend of mine, Greg Lippe, who was the former chair at VICA, and I said, “Look, I really want to help out. As much as I’m helping out with certain different things, I know there’s something else calling for me to help out.” Being a commissioner is very rewarding but it comes with a great deal of responsibility. I’m learning as I go. Do you still play music? A: I play guitar. It’s kind of what keeps me sane amidst the whole politics and aggressive nature of working. Do you have a guitar that you love? A: Yes, my wife bought me a guitar for my 36th birthday, and that’s the one I love the most. It’s a Steve Vai Ibanez Universe. Are you in a band? A: Yes, it’s Days Between Stations. What music style do you play? A: I call it art rock. It’s in progressive rock. Bands that fall under that are Pink Floyd, Genesis, the later Beatles stuff. King Crimson, Queen, that kind of category. Who’s your favorite musician? A: Wow. There’s so many, I listen to Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and I go straight to Metallica, Pink Floyd, and Genesis. It’s all varied. But I resonate with blues the most. Besides music, what else do you like to do in your free time? A: Traveling, reading, and going out and exploring the city as much as possible. We try to travel as much as possible. For our honeymoon we went to Egypt, Greece and Italy. I do not have too much free time, especially now. My priority is my wife, and the young fellow. We don’t have a name for him yet. Congratulations. So you are having a child? A: First one. Boy. So we’re very excited about that. (My wife is) six months pregnant. When did you meet your wife? A: I met her in 2004. I was kind of minding my own business and my cousin’s wife – I’m extremely close to her – she said, “I have a great person to introduce you to.” I was like, “Yeah, right.” So I went (to meet her) and I rang the doorbell and my wife opened the door and that was it. It was instantaneous. What about your son? Do you think this will remain a family business? A: My son, I would like him to pave his own path and if our paths do cross that’s great.
