May 12, 2021 - New Day Aluminum Holdings, Gramercy, Louisiana, and its subsidiaries Noranda Alumina and Noranda Bauxite commemorate B.J. Foster’s (pictured) 50 years in the aluminum industry, a career which has touched bauxite, alumina, and aluminum operations all around the globe.

“There is no other individual who has contributed more to our Jamaican and Louisiana operations and its people over the last half century than B.J.”, cited John Habisreitinger, chief operating officer for New Day, “I was fortunate to have been among the countless people that have had the opportunity to learn from him over the years”. He added, “While BJ’s impact has spanned the globe, his legacy will forever be rooted in our bauxite and alumina operations, where he is still an instrumental member of our operating team.”

A chemical engineering graduate of Louisiana State University, BJ started his career with Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, where he held increasing responsible positions including vice president of engineering & technology for Kaiser’s bauxite, alumina and aluminum smelting interests in Jamaica, Australia, Europe, Africa, and the United States. In that capacity, he was also instrumental in the redesign and rebuild of the Gramercy alumina refinery in 2001.   

After Kaiser, B.J. maintained a close working relationship with the Discovery Bay and Gramercy sites that continues today, where he remains a technical and executive consultant.

Noranda Alumina’s primary operations and technical building was earlier dedicated the Pat and B.J. Foster Technical Center by Noranda Alumina vice president and general manager Joe Pampinto and his leadership team.