Philip K. Bell

Philip K. Bell is President of the Washington, D.C. based Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA). Prior to joining the SMA in 2013, Mr Bell served as Director of External Communications and Public Affairs for Gerdau North America. He is a 30-year industry veteran, who gained an interest in the steel industry while serving as a production and maintenance supervisor at Elementis Chromium in Corpus Christi, Texas during the 1980s. He has held executive level positions in operations, human resources and public affairs with Gerdau, the SGL Carbon Group, Qualitech Steel Corporation and Elementis Chromium.

Mr Bell currently serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Advisory Committee on Steel (ITAC7), advising the Secretary of Commerce and United States Trade Representative on trade policy, trade agreements, and other trade related matters that benefit U.S. businesses, workers, and the economy.

Agenda Title: NexGen Metals Community Steering Group Program with Presentation of NexGen Leadership Award
Agenda Time: 13:45 - 14:30
Agenda Day: 23 August 2022

Kevin Dempsey

Kevin Dempsey is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Iron and Steel Institute, a leading advocacy group representing electric arc furnace and integrated American steel producers. He previously served as senior vice president of public policy and general counsel to the Institute during which AISI achieved landmark policy successes on trade, tax and infrastructure, and successfully showcased the steel industry’s sustainability accomplishments and steel innovations in the auto and construction markets.

Mr Dempsey received his Juris Doctor Degree from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Washington University in St. Louis.

Rick Marabito

Mr. Marabito is responsible for providing the vision and strategic leadership for the organization by working with the board of directors and the executive management team to establish goals, strategies and policies. Mr. Marabito is also the primary interface between Olympic Steel and its shareholders, investors and the public.

Mr. Marabito joined Olympic in 1994 as Corporate Controller and served as Chief Financial Officer from March 2000 through 2018. He also served as Treasurer from 1994 through 2002 and again from 2010 through 2012. Prior to joining Olympic Steel, he served as Corporate Controller for a publicly traded wholesale distribution compa-ny and was employed in the audit department of a national accounting firm.

Mr. Marabito received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting in 1985 from the University of Mount Union. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of Ohio. He also completed the MSCI executive education pro-gram at Washington University.

Mr. Marabito is Chairman of the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI). He served as a board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana chapter from 2006 until 2018 and also served as the Chair of its Northeast Ohio Regional Board. He also served for 10 years on the Board of Trustees and was the Treasurer for Hawken School in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Marabito was a board member and Audit Committee Chairman for Hawk Corporation (ASE: HWK) from 2008 until Hawk was sold in November 2010.

Rick and his wife Polly reside in Gates Mills, Ohio. They have two adult children. State CodeOH

Lourenco Goncalves

Lourenco Goncalves has been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs since August 2014. He designed and led the company through a major strategic initiative transforming Cleveland-Cliffs into a leading player in the U.S. steel industry, starting with a complete financial turnaround, followed by growth initiatives in the metallics market and the entry into the steel business. In 2017, Cliffs started the construction in Toledo, Ohio of the world’s most modern Direct Reduction plant, which started operations in November 2020. Mr. Goncalves led the acquisition of AK Steel in March 2020, followed by the acquisition of ArcelorMittal USA in December 2020. With these two major acquisitions, Cleveland-Cliffs is now the largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in the United States and in North America, holding an industry-leading market position in automotive steel. With the Toledo plant, Cleveland-Cliffs became the sole producer in the Great Lakes region of hot briquetted iron (HBI), an environmentally friendly metallic feedstock designed to reduce GHG emissions.

Prior to Cleveland-Cliffs, Mr. Goncalves served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Metals USA Holdings Corp., a leading American manufacturer and processor of steel and other metals, for over 10 years. Prior to Metals USA, Mr. Goncalves served as President and Chief Executive Officer of California Steel Industries, Inc. for 5 years. Prior to that, he was employed by Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), a major steel and mining company in Brazil, where he held several positions in operations and sales. From October 2011 to April 2014, Mr. Goncalves was a board member of Ascometal SAS, a manufacturer of special steel headquartered in Paris, France.

Mr. Goncalves serves on the Board and is Vice-Chairman of the American Iron and Steel Institute. Mr. Goncalves is a Distinguished Member and Fellow of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST). He received AIST's “Steelmaker of the Year” Award for the year 2021. Also in 2021, S&P Global Platts presented Mr. Goncalves with the “CEO/Chairperson of the Year” Global Metals Award, which honors a leader who is highly respected by both peers and competitors, admired and followed by employees, trusted by investors and welcomed by the community. Under Mr. Goncalves’ leadership, Cleveland-Cliffs was awarded by S&P Global Platts the top Global Metals Award as the “2021 Metals Company of the Year” and the “2021 Deal of the Year” Global Metals Award. Mr. Goncalves was also presented with the 2021 “Steel Advocate of the Year” Award, from Fastmarkets. In 2022, Mr. Goncalves was presented with the Willy Korf/Ken Iverson Steel Vision Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the steel industry while promoting goodwill and integrity.

Mr. Goncalves earned a Master of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Military Institute of Engineering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Dr. Alan Beaulieu

Dr. Alan Beaulieu (PhD) is President & Principal for ITR Economics. He has been providing workshops and economic analysis seminars to countries and literally thousands of business owners and executives for the last 30 years. He is one of the country’s most sought-after economists.

As the Chief Economist for numerous US and international trade associations, it has been remarked that Alan’s “insight into our business, a track record of accurate forecasting, and unparalleled knowledge of global markets has earned him the respect and appreciation of key business leaders in our industry.”

Pronouncements from ITR Economics™ and/or Alan have appeared in/on: the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Knight Ridder News Services, Business Week, Associated Press, The Washington Times, CBS Radio, CNN Radio, Sirius talk radio, and numerous other outlets.

Agenda Title: Dr. Alan Beaulieu – ITR Economic Forecast
Agenda Time: 10:05 - 11:15
Agenda Day: 24 August 2022

Timna Tanners

Timna Tanners is a managing director covering 20 equities in the Americas Metals and Mining sector in addition to forecasting relevant commodities at Wolfe Research, a premier equity research firm.  She is a regular speaker at steel industry conferenced and hosts frequent events for clients with corporates and industry experts. Her insights have been featured regularly on business media, such as CNBC and Bloomberg News, including the trademarked term Steelmageddon®.  Timna has been ranked #1 in Institutional Investor’s All America Poll for nine consecutive years. Prior to October 2021, Timna covered Metals and Mining and Bank of America Securities for over 10 years, and covered the sector for over eight years previously at UBS Investment Bank.

Agenda Title: Steel and Commodity Price Forecasts
Agenda Time: 14:50 - 15:40
Agenda Day: 23 August 2022

Lewis Leibowitz

Lewis Leibowitz is a prominent international trade and customs attorney based in Washington, D.C. He advises clients on international trade opportunities and challenges dealing with domestic and international law and government policy. He speaks and writes frequently on international trade legal and policy issues. Lewis has long experience with international trade matters involving government regulations, administrative and judicial proceedings. He has worked on trade issues involving the steel industry, the automotive industry, textiles, agriculture and many other industries. A well-known champion of “consuming industries,” he has worked to guide coalitions aimed at reducing trade barriers, whether imposed by presidential action or administrative decisions. Lewis is a past Chairman of the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones (NAFTZ) and assisted in the creation of the World Free Zones Organization (WFZO). He is an acknowledged leader in foreign trade zone law and policy.

Dr Anirban Basu

Soft landing?  Something harder?  Whither inflation?  This presentation will supply in-depth analysis of the major factors shaping economic outcomes, including central bank policymaking, worker attitudes, business confidence, and geopolitics.  It will then turn toward a forecast for the year to come, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter. Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., a Baltimore-based economic and policy consultancy he founded in 2004.  He serves the Chief Economist function for many organizations, including the Maryland Bankers Association and Associated Builders and Contractors.  The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.  In 2022, he entered the Daily Record newspaper’s Circle of Influence.  He is the Distinguished Economist in Residence at Goucher College, where he teaches History of Economic Thought.  He holds four graduate degrees, including a J.D. and a Ph.D.

Ira Kreft

Josh Spoores

Josh Spoores joined CRU in 2012 as Principal Analyst and editor of CRU’s Steel Sheet Monitor and Steel Sheet Market Outlook. During that time, Mr Spoores forecast prices, demand, production and trade of sheet and plate products for both Canada and the US for CRU's Steel Sheet & Plate Market Outlooks. Today, he heads up steel analysis and forecasting for the wider Americas region. Prior to joining CRU, he was a Senior Marketing Analyst at Severstal North America, founder of Steel Reality, a forward-looking market analysis firm using a models-based approach for flat rolled and plate steel. He was also the Market Research Manager at Majestic Steel USA, one of the largest flat rolled service centres in the USA. He has a BSc in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University.

Scott Waletzko

Scott Waletzko is a Commodity Manager at John Deere where he leads strategic sourcing activity for steel in North America and Europe.  Scott’s team manages sheet, plate, bar, and tube flowing directly into Deere factories and into the metal fabrication supply base.  Scott has spent his 20+ year career at multiple Deere locations with experience in metal fabrication manufacturing engineering, operations, and several roles in supply chain. 

Kenneth E. Jaycox

Kenneth E. Jaycox joined U. S. Steel in September 2020.  In his current role, Mr. Jaycox leads U. S. Steel's commercial functions and is responsible for customer value creation in the areas of sales, commercial support and marketing. Prior to joining U. S. Steel, Mr. Jaycox advanced through increasingly responsible roles with Sysco Corporation, International Traders Inc./First American Carries, Compass Group North America and The Coca-Cola Company. Mr. Jaycox is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and holds a bachelor's degree from Saint Louis University in St. Louis.

Gene Marks

A past columnist for both The New York Times and The Washington Post, Gene now writes regularly for The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine and The Guardian.

Gene has written 5 books on business management, specifically geared towards small and medium sized companies. His most recent is Want More Cash?: 100+ Ideas And Strategies For Increasing Your Company’s Cash Flow This Year.

Nationally, Gene appears regularly on Fox Business and MSNBC as well as The John Batchelor Show and SiriusXM’s Wharton Business Channel where he talks about the financial, economic and technology issues that affect business leaders today.

Through his keynotes and breakout sessions, Gene helps business owners, executives and managers understand the political, economic and technological trends that will affect their companies and—most importantly—the actions they can take to continue to grow and profit.

Gene owns and operates the Marks Group PC, a highly successful ten-person firm that provides technology and consulting services to small and medium sized businesses.

Prior to starting the Marks Group PC Gene, a Certified Public Accountant, spent nine years in the entrepreneurial services arm of the international consulting firm KPMG in Philadelphia where he was a Senior Manager.

Agenda Title: Gene Marks: Issues Impacting Your Growth Over the Next Few Years
Agenda Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Agenda Day: 22 August 2022

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is a senior editor for Steel Market Update (SMU). Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He has since 2014 specialized in flat-rolled steel but has previously reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube as well as aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago - where he was involved in launching AMM’s daily hot-rolled coil index, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Agenda Title: Conference Opening - Meet the Steel Market Update Team
Agenda Time: 08:00 - 08:15
Agenda Day: 23 August 2022

Barry M. Zekelman

Barry was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario. He received his early education in Windsor and later attended York University in Toronto, Ontario.

His University education was interrupted in 1986 with the sudden passing of his father, the late Harry Zekelman, when the ownership of Atlas Tube Inc. was assumed by Barry and his two brothers. Atlas Tube has grown from 2000 tons in 1986 to over 1.3 million tons today. In October 2006, John Maneely Company, a maker of steel tubing that was owned by private-equity giant Carlyle Group announced a merger with Atlas Tube Inc. creating the largest independent tubing company in North America. In March of 2011 the Zekelmans’ purchased back Carlye’s 55% interest in JMC. Then, in June of 2016 the company was renamed Zekelman Industries.

Today, Zekelman Industries, the parent of Atlas Tube, American Tube, Wheatland Tube, Western Tube, Energex, Sharon Tube, Picoma and Z modular produces over 2.4 million steel tons per year in 17 plants, and employs over 2400 people throughout the United States and Canada. Zekelman Industries maintains the #1 market position in North America in HSS, Standard pipe, Electrical conduit and Electrical fittings. Barry is currently the Chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries and is responsible for taking the company to new heights. 

John Anton

- John Anton is a Director in the IHS Markit Pricing and Purchasing Service (now a part of S&P Global). Mr. Anton’s primary focus is as head of the ferrous metals team.

- He is a steel industry expert and regularly speaks at industry conferences and internal meetings, including at Fortune 1000 company supply chain annual planning sessions.

- Mr. Anton joined IHS Markit in 1995. Prior to that time, he was in the private practice of law. Before attending law school, Mr. Anton worked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics as an Economist/Statistician.

- He received a B.S. in economics from Florida State University and a J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary.

Agenda Title: Steel and Commodity Price Forecasts
Agenda Time: 14:50 - 15:40
Agenda Day: 23 August 2022

Edward J. Lehner

Edward J. Lehner is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ryerson, a global metals supplier and processor with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China. Eddie began serving as Ryerson’s CEO in June 2015 after having served as Ryerson’s executive vice president and chief financial officer since 2012. Prior to joining Ryerson, Eddie served as the chief financial officer of PSC Metals, Inc., a diversified metals company, and before that, as the chief financial officer of SeverCorr, LLC., a primary steel manufacturing company headquartered in the southern United States.

Eddie’s career also includes senior general management, operational, financial, accounting, tax and consulting roles for Nucor, Birmingham Steel, Inc., Laurel Steel and Deloitte & Touche. Eddie has served on the Board of Directors of Modumetal Inc., and The Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board, and he is a member of Financial Executives International (FEI).

Agenda Title: Service Center Panel: Supply Chain, Inflation & Other Issues Affecting Distribution
Agenda Time: 08:45 - 09:45
Agenda Day: 24 August 2022

Jerry Richardson

Jerry Richardson is the Executive Director of CSN LLC, the U.S. based subsidiary of Brazilian steel and mining conglomerate CSN. He is responsible for all domestic and import activities of CSN LLC, including financial, commercial and operational management of the company. In June 2018, he led the $475 million sale of CSN’s steel processing plant in Terre Haute, Indiana; a facility which CSN had bought in 2001 for $55 million. Through his guidance and leadership, the company grew from $250 million in revenue to over $900 million at its peak of commercial activity in 2018. He is currently the head of CSN Trading, a company specializing in the importation and distribution of steel products.

Over the last 30 years, Mr. Richardson has developed a command of the steel industry while working for international trading companies focused on metals including Duferco SA, Preussag International Steel Corp., Mannesmann Pipe & Steel and C. Itoh & Co. His broad experience with all types of carbon steel products and international trade gives him a unique view of the world market from a U.S. perspective and his finance background, commercial experience and affinity for operations gives him a unique skill set as a recognized leader in the industry.

Since 2008 he has served on the board of the American Metals Supply Chain Institute (formerly American Institute for International Steel) and has been a featured speaker and presenter for numerous industry events and conferences over the last 10 years. Jerry graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1985.

Agenda Title: How to Trade Steel Successfully in a Very Volatile World
Agenda Time: 09:00 - 09:45
Agenda Day: 23 August 2022

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is a senior analyst and editor for Steel Market Update (SMU). David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his experience and expertise is within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers.

Agenda Title: The Future of the Trucking Industry
Agenda Time: 11:00 - 11:45
Agenda Day: 23 August 2022

Geoff Gilmore

Geoff Gilmore was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Worthington Industries in August 2018. In September 2022, Worthington announced plans to separate its Steel Processing business to create a new standalone public company by early 2024. Gilmore will lead that company as president and CEO.

Gilmore joined Worthington in 1998 in sales for the Steel Processing segment, taking on roles of increasing responsibility over his 24-year tenure. He’s served in multiple leadership capacities including vice president of Purchasing, and as president of Worthington’s largest business segments, Steel Processing and Pressure Cylinders. He led each to record earnings, oversaw one of the Company’s largest acquisitions and enhanced a culture of safety and innovation. Gilmore earned his bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and his MBA from The University of Michigan.

Chuck Schmitt

Chuck Schmitt is president of SSAB Americas, a leading supplier of steel plate and coil in North America.

Chuck began his career in the steel industry with U.S. Steel’s management trainee program in 1985. In 1990, he joined IPSCO Steel Holdings. After the 2007 acquisition of IPSCO by SSAB, Chuck was promoted to vice president and in 2011, he was promoted to SSAB’s Group Executive Committee and appointed president of the SSAB Americas business division.

A fourth-generation steelmaker, Chuck received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas in Arlington, Texas. He sits on the Board of Directors for the American Iron and Steel Institute and for the Steel Manufacturers Association.

Daniel R. Needham

Dan Needham is Executive Vice President of Commercial for Nucor Corporation.

Dan began his career with Nucor in 2000 as Controller at Nucor Steel Hertford County. In 2002, he transferred to Nucor Steel Decatur, LLC as Controller. In 2004,Dan transferred to Nuconsteel as Manager of their Commercial Business Group. And in 2008, he transferred to Nucor Steel Utah as Controller.

In 2011, Dan was promoted to General Manager at Nucor Steel Connecticut, Inc. In 2014, he transferred to Nucor Steel Utah where he served as Vice President and General Manager until 2019, when he was named Vice President and General Manager of Nucor Steel Indiana. In 2021, he became Executive Vice President of Bar, Engineered Bar and Rebar Fabrication Products.

Dan was named to his current position effective May 15, 2022.

Wade Elliott

Wade Elliott joined Port Tampa Bay in 2003 and has over 30 years of port business development, marketing and research experience working with clients across the globe, including exporters, importers, ocean carriers, terminal operators and cruise lines. He was previously Executive Director of the Halifax-Dartmouth Port Development Commission.   

Mr. Elliott is a graduate of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he also worked as Research Associate conducting economic and policy research in the maritime sector.  He began his career working at sea aboard a variety of ships, including container, bulk, tanker, offshore supply and seismic survey vessels.  

He is the Chairman of the Tampa Foreign Trade Zone, and serves on the boards of the Tampa Port Ministries Seafarers’ Center and the Central–North Florida District Export Council.

Trish Haver

Cameron Gibson

Jeremy Flack

Jeremy Flack is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Flack Global Metals (FGM). FGM is an innovative domestic flat-rolled metals distributor and supply chain manager, an international commodities trader, and a global hedge fund. As CEO, Jeremy has been an industry leader in bringing the physical steel market and the derivatives markets together within one organization. FGM is the first flat rolled metals distributor business platform to combine physical material with financial futures, all with the goal of creating certainty for its customers as well as FGM itself.

With his uncommon combination of financial services acumen and in-depth metals knowledge, Jeremy has long been an outspoken pioneer in his public support of risk management and hedging to bring certainty to an industry well known for its pricing volatility. Jeremy was first introduced to the steel industry while a commercial banker with PNC Bank. After that role, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of a small manufacturing business and saw firsthand the impact of raw materials prices on a company’s balance sheet. His career in the steel industry began in 1998 as a salesperson for a small steel distributor in Cleveland, Ohio where he rose to part owner in 2006 and President in 2009. In 2010, Jeremy founded Flack Steel, which became Flack Global Metals in 2016.

Jeremy has his MBA from Cleveland State University and his undergraduate degree in Finance from Miami (Ohio) University. He is a graduate of the Counsel of Smaller Enterprises Strategic Planning course and National Outdoor Leadership School.

Agenda Title: Managing Price Risk
Agenda Time: 10:00 - 10:45
Agenda Day: 22 August 2022

Tony Barnes

Tony Barnes is the Managing Principal for the metals industry vertical at Crowe. His experience includes helping companies across the metals supply chain evaluate operational and information technology to support business transformation. In this role, he works with leaders across the firm to sell and deliver industry-specific technology, advisory, and accounting solutions to the metals industry.

Agenda Title: Cyber Security: Steps to Protect Your Company
Agenda Time: 11:00 - 12:00
Agenda Day: 22 August 2022

Donald Bly

Conrad Winkler