Michael Smerconish

Michael Smerconish is a SiriusXM radio host, CNN television host, author, and public speaker. Smerconish has extensive experience speaking to live audiences and his remarks usually touch upon the political issues of the day. A registered Independent and passionate centrist, Smerconish has the rare ability to address audiences of all political persuasion without alienating anyone in the room. Smerconish hosts a daily radio program on SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel, 124, from 9a.m. to Noon ET. His eponymous CNN program airs internationally at 9:00 am ET on Saturday mornings, and he offers opinion and analysis on CNN programming throughout the week. Prior to joining CNN, Smerconish was an MSNBC contributor who served as guest-host for Hardball with Chris Matthews, and he guest-hosted the Radio Factor for Bill O’Reilly. His presentations provide audiences with a balanced, thought-provoking and entertaining analysis of the political arena.

In addition to his acclaimed work as national radio talk show host and television personality, Smerconish is the subject of a recently released full-length film: “Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking” where he reflects on his three decades in the media. Smerconish shares funny anecdotes from his time behind a microphone and explains the connection between a partisan media and the increasing divide in Washington. CNN aired portions of this performance worldwide as a one-hour special on July11, 2020. The full-length version is now available on Hulu.

He was the first radio host to interview President Barack Obama live from the White House. In addition to his seven interviews with President Obama, Smerconish has interviewed Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter as well as Vice Presidents Joe Biden, Dick Cheney and Al Gore.

He is the author of seven books including two New York Times’ best sellers. His latest book (released in2018) is titled Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right: American Life in Columns. "Clowns" is a compilation of a selection of the newspaper columns he published in the first 15 years following 9/11. He has appeared on countless television programs where politics are discussed, including The View, Today Show, The Colbert Report, and Real Time with Bill Maher just to name a few. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Lehigh University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School and today is of counsel to the Philadelphia law firm of Kline & Specter.

Dr. Anirban Basu

Dr. Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with an office in Orlando, Florida.  The firm provides strategic analytical services to energy suppliers, law firms, medical systems, government agencies, and real estate developers among others.  

In 2014, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan appointed Dr. Basu as Chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission (2014-2021). Dr. Basu serves as Chairman of the Baltimore County Economic Advisory Committee.  He also serves the chief economist function for Associated Builders and Contractors, the Construction Financial Management Association, the Modular Building Institute, the Maryland Bankers Association, the International Food Distributors Association, and several others.  

He has taught at several universities, most frequently at the Johns Hopkins University.  He currently teaches History of Economic Thought at Goucher College as their Distinguished Economist in Residence.    

In 2007, 2016, and 2022, the Daily Record newspaper selected Dr. Basu as one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.  

Dr. Basu is currently on the boards of the University of Maryland School of Law, St. Mary’s College, the University of Maryland Medical Center, the University System of Maryland Foundation, the Lyric Opera House, and the Center Club. He is also on Truist Bank’s advisory board.  

Dr. Basu earned his B.S. in Foreign Service at Georgetown University.  He earned his Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and his Master’s in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park.  He acquired his Juris Doctor at the University of Maryland School of Law.  He completed his doctoral work at UMBC with a concentration in health economics.

Dr. Alan Beaulieu

With a reputation as an accurate, straightforward economist, Alan has been delivering award-winning workshops and economic analysis seminars in countries across the world to thousands of business owners and executives for the last 30 years.

He is co-author of Prosperity in the Age of Decline, a powerful look at how to make the most of the US and global trends over the next 20 years. Alan also coauthored Make Your Move, a practical and insightful guide on increasing profits through business cycle changes, and noted by one reviewer as “simple, yet awesome.”

As the result of his years of work with domestic and international 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, USA Today, Knight Ridder News Services, Business Week, Associated Press, The Washington Times, and numerous other outlets.

Pam Heglund

Pam Heglund serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Mill Steel Company, one of the largest privately-owned companies in Michigan, and one of the nation’s leading steel service centers. Known for her dynamic leadership, Pam brings a commercial mindset and a commitment to fostering an award-winning culture. Her leadership style prioritizes communication and collaboration, uniting Mill Steel’s 400+ associates in the pursuit of the company’s shared vision to lead the industry in customer experience. 

Pam has played a pivotal role in establishing Mill Steel as an industry leader, contributing to the development of its substantial business portfolio over the course of her career. Her commercial expertise led to her appointment as Partner and Vice President of Sales, and in 2016, she ascended to the role of President with a consistent track record of driving growth. With over 18 years of executive leadership experience, Pam assumed the position of CEO in 2021, becoming the third-generation steel leader of the Samrick family.

Shortly thereafter, Mill Steel earned certification as an Exceptional Women's Business Enterprise (EWBE) with revenue exceeding $1.45 billion, placing the company among the top 2% largest WBEs in the United States.

Barry Schneider

Barry T. Schneider was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in March 2023. Mr. Schneider is responsible for the company’s steel platform, steel fabrication platform, and metals recycling platform. Prior to that, Mr. Schneider served as Senior Vice President, Flat Roll Steel Group responsible for the company’s entire flat roll steel operations, including the company’s three flat roll steel mills and numerous flat rolled processing, coating, and distribution operations. Mr. Schneider has been with Steel Dynamics since 1995, serving in various operational and leadership roles within the company’s steel operations, including Engineered Bar Products Division and Butler Flat Roll Division. He was also part of the team that constructed the company’s first steel mill in Butler, Indiana.

Mr. Schneider earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master of science in engineering management from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He also received an Executive Certificate in Technology, Operations, and Value Chain Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management. In addition, Mr. Schneider serves as President of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology.

Brenda Petrilena

Brenda Petrilena joined U. S. Steel in 2017 and currently serves as the Director of Global Decarbonization and Program Management, responsible to identify growth opportunities and develop partnerships aligned with U. S. Steel’s long-term sustainability and decarbonization strategy.  Prior to her current role, Petrilena led the development and implementation of project management standards, processes, tools, and the utilization of continuous improvement methodologies to enable stabilization of assets and successful project portfolio execution.  She is also President of U. S. Steel’s Steel PRIDE Employee Resource Group, accountable to bring together and ensure dignity, respect, and inclusivity for members of the LGBTQ+ community along with their allies.

Prior to joining U. S. Steel, Petrilena served in various leadership roles in engineering, supply chain management and project execution for 11 years at Westinghouse Electric Company.  Petrilena began her professional career at Ford Motor Company advancing through 11 years of increasingly responsible positions in engineering and plant operations.

Petrilena holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of Duquesne University’s Women’s Executive Leadership Program.

David Stickler

David Stickler serves as Hybar’s chief executive officer. Hybar was formed in August 2023 when the company closed on the $700 million of financing necessary to build a technologically advanced, environmentally sustainable scrap metal recycling steel rebar mill in northeast Arkansas.

Dave also serves as senior managing partner of Global Principal Partners. Dave and his partners formed Global Principal Partners more than two decades ago to provide capital raising services and to facilitate the investment of the partnership’s capital in metals related greenfield and expansion projects. Throughout his career, Dave has invested in, structured and raised billions of dollars of capital for numerous high-profile steel projects, including a number of greenfield mini mill projects in North America and Asia. In addition to providing and raising capital for projects, Dave frequently provides ongoing management assistance to the projects Global Principal Partners invests in.

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 $1.5m in revenue in 1986 to over $1.2B by 2006.

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 Zekelman’s’ 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, Sharon Tube, Picoma and Z modular produces over 2.4 million steel tons per year in 19 plants, manufactures and builds over 1500 multifamily residential apartments thru Z modular and employs over 2900 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, with sales in excess of $5B annually. Barry is currently the Chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries and is responsible for taking the company to new heights.  

Alan Kestenbaum

Alan Kestenbaum has extensive investing and operating experience in the natural resources sector as well as a successful track record in turnarounds and restructurings. He currently serves as Executive Chairman and CEO, responsible for our strategic direction and growth initiatives, and previously served as our CEO from July 2017 to February 2019. Mr. Kestenbaum founded Bedrock Industries in 2015, in partnership with Lindsay Goldberg, where he is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for setting the vision, strategy, investment objectives and providing direction to achieve the strategic objectives of the company.

Mr. Kestenbaum  was previously the Executive Chairman and founder of Globe Specialty Metals and Executive Chairman of Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ: GSM).  Prior to forming Globe Specialty Metals, Mr. Kestenbaum founded Marco International, a leading international metals trader and investor, and led its expansion in North America and around the globe. Prior to founding Marco International, he was employed by Glencore and then Philipp Brothers. In 2019 he became a minority owner and limited partner of the Atlanta Falcons. He has a BA in Economics from Yeshiva University and has been involved in numerous educational and communal boards.

Daniel R. Needham

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

Mr. Needham 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 Nucon Steel 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.

Timna Tanners

Timna Tanners is a Managing Director covering 26 equities in the Americas Metals and Mining, Building Materials, and Environmental Services sectors in addition to forecasting relevant commodities at Wolfe Research, a premier equity research firm.

She is a regular speaker at steel industry conferences and hosts frequent events for clients with corporates and industry experts. Her insights are 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 years. Prior to October 2021, Timna covered Metals and Mining at Bank of America Securities for over 10 years, and covered the sector for over eight years at UBS Investment Bank.

Dean Kanelos

Dean Kanelos is the Automotive Market Development & Product Applications Manager at Nucor.  He has been with Nucor for 22 years, overseeing automotive market development, product applications, early vendor involvement and assisting in product development.  Dean is also the Chairman for WorldAutoSteel and Chairman of the Auto/Steel Partnership’s Joint Policy Council.

He has 44 years of experience in the steel industry, having worked in production supervision, applications engineering, marketing, and market development.  Dean has a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s in Business Administration from Indiana University-Northwest.

Michele Arbaugh

Dan Bowerson

Dan Bowerson has been with Auto Innovators since its inception and was previously with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which he joined in 2018. 

Based in the Auto Innovators Michigan office, Dan covers fuels and vehicle electrification topics, including fuel quality, low carbon fuels, EV battery lifecycle, and electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure.  

Prior to joining the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures, he worked at all levels of the automotive industry from a supplier (Roush Industries) to an OEM (FCA) to a trade association (NGVAmerica).  He holds a M.S. in Engineering Management from University of Michigan-Dearborn and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Western Michigan University.

Philip K. Bell

Philip K. Bell is President of the Steel Manufacturers Association, the largest steel industry association in North America when it comes to the number, capacity, production, investment, workforce and economic impact of its members. 

Phil previously served as Director of External Communications and Public Affairs for Gerdau Long Steel North America. He has held executive-level positions with the SGL Carbon Group and Qualitech Steel Corp. 

He is a member of the International Trade Advisory Committee on Steel (ITAC 12), the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM) Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA) and the Association of Iron & Steel Technology. 

Phil has a master’s degree in Global Strategic Communications from the University of Florida.

Chris Shipp

Chris Shipp is the President of Reibus, an online marketplace transforming the global metals industry. Mr. Shipp joined the U.S. Navy in 1988 and served for 22 years, leading over 28 missions in the Global War on Terrorism and other combat operations. After retiring in 2010, he worked at Priefert Manufacturing for 11 years, holding roles such as VP of Global Supply Chain and VP of Sales for Priefert Steel. Mr. Shipp also served as President of Kingdom Pipe & Steel in Texas.

Shep Hickey

Shep Hickey is a trailblazing entrepreneur and strategic visionary known for his transformative impact in the metals, digital platform and fintech sectors. He leads Bryzos, which created "Gone in 60 Seconds." GISS will not only revolutionize how metals are bought and sold but all other industrial products. Shep's "profit by process" approach maximizes profitability by honing systems to their simplest form. His leadership fosters innovation and collaboration, empowering teams to challenge themselves, the status quo and exceed market expectations. Whatever Bryzos does is worth the wait.

Josephine D’Amico

Josephine D’Amico is a Vice President on the Commodities Sales team at Goldman Sachs, covering metals and mining companies, OEMs, as well as industrials companies. She joined Goldman Sachs in 2014 as an Analyst, and was named Vice President in 2020.

Josephine earned a BS in Finance, cum laude, from The College of New Jersey in 2014.

Dallas Hogenson

Frank Williams

Frank Williams is the General Manager of E-commerce, Marketing, and Communication for Ryerson, a leading value-added processor and distributor of metals. In his 21 years with Ryerson, Frank has held roles in sales, sales management, general management, marketing, e-commerce, and communication.  

Over the past decade, Ryerson's online presence has evolved significantly. The recent launch of the latest version of ryerson.com marks another leap forward, revolutionizing how customers purchase metals online. This new version of Ryerson’s website is helping its customers improve their businesses by offering an enjoyable and comprehensive experience tailored to their success.  

Frank holds a Civil Engineering degree from Purdue University and an MBA from The University of Chicago.

Lynn Lupori

As Head of Consulting - Americas, Lynn is focused on guiding the CRU Consulting team to bring exceptional insight into strategic questions to companies with interests in the mining, metals and fertilizer related industries throughout North America. 

Lynn is focused on working with customers to develop and execute projects related to important and strategic issues such as market analysis, strategy development, risk assessment, as well as valuation services and negotiation support.

Prior to joining CRU, Lynn worked for nearly 20 years with domestic as well as international manufacturers (primarily in the metals and mining industries) determining strategic growth opportunities as a Managing Consultant with Hatch Consulting. Throughout, her career she has worked with North American as well as global companies on issues such as market assessment/forecasting, capital investment plans, marketing and competitive strategy.

Lynn holds a BSBA and a Certificate in International Business from Duquesne University.

Kerry Deal

Kerry Deal joined Flack Global Metals in London, where he is building up iron ore and dry bulk futures trading as well as Business Development efforts to expand Flack's growing footprint in Europe and Asia.

Prior to this, he headed Business Development globally at FIS, a leading commodity futures brokerage. A frequent speaker and panelist at industry events, he has been closely involved in the steel and iron ore futures market since their inception, and has over 19 years of experience working as both a trader and a broker across steel, iron ore, and dry freight futures, including over 10 years based in Asia.

Alex Alcantara

Alex Alcantara works on the Metals Business Line Management team at CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace. He has been at CME Group since 2017, where he is responsible for the strategic development of the Industrial Metals business line and covers a wide range of initiatives related to the base, ferrous, and battery metals markets.

Andrew Pappas

Andrew Pappas is a Managing Director/Team Leader and Heads up the ABL Metals vertical within BMO Bank. He is responsible for leading a team of 22 individuals focused on sourcing, structuring, closing and managing senior credit facilities, primarily for metals companies.  Mr. Pappas is responsible for ~115 accounts and ~$8 billion in commitments and has been a frequent speaker at metals events, including ISRI, Steel Success Strategies and AMM.  

Prior to BMO, Andrew spent 5 years with MFC Capital and 14 years with Bank of America and predecessor companies, both focused on business development within the metals/industrials and private equity sectors.  Andrew graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a B.A. in Accounting, and from New York University with an M.B.A. in Finance. 

Michael Davenport

Michael Davenport is the Executive Director and President of the Auto/Steel Partnership Foundation, a non-profit consortium specializing in advanced automotive steel research. With a career spanning the automotive and steel industries, he focuses on efficient and environmentally conscious engineering solutions. Additionally, as the Associate Director at Michigan Technological University, Michael facilitates technical research partnerships.  

In the past, he has held roles including Director of Application Engineering at U.S. Steel and various positions at FCA (formerly Chrysler Corporation), showcasing his extensive experience in product development, management, and technical leadership within the automotive sector.  

Mr. Davenport holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technology University and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oakland University.

Steve McNair

Steve McNair is the President of Cardinal Steel. He obtained his CPA credentials in 2007 and earned an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis in 2011. For 10 years he operated and grew Saint Louis Cold Drawn (STLCD), a cold finished bar producer with locations in the USA and Monterrey, Mexico. After Steve sold STLCD in 2017 to Nucor Corporation, he spent four years working for Nucor in various areas including strategy development and ERP implementation. In 2021 Steve acquired Cardinal Steel, a service centre in St. Louis, which serves MO and IL.

Adina Renee Adler

Adina Renee Adler was appointed Executive Director of the Global Steel Climate Council in 2023.  She was previously Deputy Executive Director at Silverado Policy Accelerator providing thought leadership on trade and Circular Economy.  

In addition, Adina was VP of Advocacy at ISRI (now Recycled Materials Association); Director of Global Government Affairs for Alcoa and Arconic; and International Government Relations Advisor for Shell. Adina also served in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Commerce.   

She has a B.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University and M.A. in International Economics and International Law from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Joe Pickard

Joe Pickard serves as the Chief Economist and Director of Commodities at the Recycled Materials Association (formerly ISRI). Since 2010, Mr. Pickard has directed the association’s research and analysis on recycled commodity markets and the key economic role recycling plays in the United States and globally.

Previously, Mr. Pickard served as the Economist for the International Copper Study Group in Lisbon, Portugal. As a member of ITAC No. 5 for Nonferrous Metals and Critical Minerals, he serves as an advisor to the U.S. Commerce Department and USTR.

Mr. Pickard holds an M.A. in Economics from Virginia Tech and a B.A. from Loyola University Maryland.

John Ball

John has been leading the North American region for CRU since late in 2012.

He leads CRU’s multi-disciplinary team in the US, collaborating with the global Analysis, Prices, Consulting, Sales, and Conference teams. He works out of the Pittsburgh office, and supports the 25-person operation to drive closer market relationships across the North American region.

He previously held executive leadership positions with Westinghouse Nuclear, responsible for global security of supply, procurement of steel fabrications, market intelligence, and business strategy. Prior to Westinghouse he worked across the semiconductor industry, including 8 years with Intel Corporation and 3 years in manufacturing operations at a Motorola/Siemens Joint Venture. He began his career in the United States Navy while managing nuclear plant operations on a guided missile cruiser. He traveled on multiple deployments including Operation Desert Storm.

John holds a BS in Nuclear Engineering, as well as an MBA in Global Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University.

Tom Knippel

Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller started his career in the scrap metal industry in 1978 at Luria Brothers in Cleveland, OH.  Over the last 40 plus years, he has worked in all capacities in the trading business.  He has had positions in both domestic and international scrap trading.  In addition to scrap, Stephen was at the forefront of the pig iron trade and established a pig iron distribution company under the name of Ferrosource, Inc.  Most recently, Stephen has concentrated on the scrap export market and regularly does consulting for several companies in the industry.  

Vincent Pappalardo

Vince Pappalardo is a Managing Director and leads the Metals & Advanced Metals Manufacturing group at Brown Gibbons Lang & Company. Vince advises companies involved in the production and distribution of ferrous and nonferrous metals and alloys as well as diversified industries. He has over 25 years of investment banking experience advising on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and debt and equity placements. His areas of expertise include steel mills, metal service centers, metals recycling, and advanced metals manufacturing.

Aaron Pollock

As the Vice President of Sales for the Americas, Aaron Pollock is responsible for regional business development across the continents.

He leads the regional sales team, supporting CRU's customers through identifying solutions and driving commercial value.

Aaron is passionate about helping customers make important business decisions with the support of CRU’s portfolio of services and global team of analysts and consultants.

Prior to joining CRU in 2014, Aaron held several managerial roles with American Metal Market. He excelled on both the events and sales teams with roles including Logistics Manager, Conference Program Manager, and Key Account Manager.

Gabriella Vagnini

Gabriella Vagnini is a highly respected figure in the metals industry, celebrated for her expertise and dedication to sustainability. She has accumulated 16 years of experience in the metals industry and held pivotal roles, including Chief Commercial Officer at Metro International and VP of Trading at Axiom, driving advancements in recycled metals. Her influential work on the LME warehousing committee underscores her commitment to industry standards. Born and raised in Detroit, Gabriella’s connection to the metals industry is both professional and personal. She passionately believes in the potential for progress in every piece of recycled metal.

Alexandra Anderson

Alexandra Anderson is a Senior Steel Analyst and currently covers long products and metallics for North America. 

She joined CRU in 2016 and was responsible for assessing US ferroalloys market. Alexandra also facilitated the price assessment, short-term market analysis, and editorial components of the prices service.

Prior to CRU, she covered Bulk Ferroalloys and Chrome at Asian Metal and worked for several years in the insurance industry. Alexandra graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ball State University in the US in 2010 with dual degrees in Journalism and Spanish.

Stephanie Ritenbaugh

Stephanie Ritenbaugh is a reporter for Recycled Metals Update. She is an experienced business journalist, holding a variety of positions for trade publications and newspapers, including covering shale development for Gas Business Briefing/Platts and for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

Alexandra Anderson

Alexandra Anderson is a Senior Steel Analyst and currently covers long products and metallics for North America. 

She joined CRU in 2016 and was responsible for assessing US ferroalloys market. Alexandra also facilitated the price assessment, short-term market analysis, and editorial components of the prices service.

Prior to CRU, she covered Bulk Ferroalloys and Chrome at Asian Metal and worked for several years in the insurance industry. Alexandra graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ball State University in the US in 2010 with dual degrees in Journalism and Spanish.

Eric Letz

Eric Letz is the owner and CEO of Willbanks Metals, a leading steel fabricator and distributor in the Southwest. As a 3rd generation owner with 20 years in the industry, Eric is known for his leadership, service to customers, and deep understanding of the steel markets.

Under the leadership of Eric and his brother Ryan Letz, Willbanks Metals has grown its tonnage by more than 7 times and invested heavily into technology to continue that growth. Eric's steel market expertise is well known and his insights respected by lenders and clients alike.

Spencer Johnson

Spencer is a 15 year veteran in the world of ferrous and nonferrous futures, all of them with StoneX (formerly FCStone Financial Inc.) During this time StoneX has helped launch and clear some of the first trades in several of the contacts now common to the ferrous industry. Over that time StoneX has worked with every type of market participant to formulate risk management and trading strategies for steel and base metals derivatives. Spencer has also worked tirelessly to grow liquidity and provide access to these new ferrous markets for its clients as currently, the longest serving members of the London Metal Exchange’s steel committee.

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.

Tony Barnes

Tony Barnes is a Principal in the consulting group at Crowe. He specializes in Microsoft Cloud Solutions and the deployment of metals industry technology based on these platforms. Tony has more than 16 years of experience working with metals companies on business transformation through technology adoption. He works closely with metals industry leaders to identify areas of improvement in their companies and how technology can enable growth. 

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is a Managing Editor for Steel Market Update (SMU) and has covered the steel industry since 2007. Since 2014, he has specialized in flat-rolled steel but has previously reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube as well as aluminum.

Before joining SMU, Michael 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.

Michael 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.

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.

Alex Hacking

Alex Hacking has been an Equity Research Analyst at Citi since 2004.  He is currently Head of Steel & Mining Research across North and South America.    

Ryan McKinley

Ryan joined CRU in 2018 and is now the editor of the Steel Sheet Monitor. He also forecasts North American prices, production, demand, and trade for sheet and plate products in CRU's Steel Sheet and Plate Market Outlooks.

Ryan has eight years of experience in steel market analytics, covering markets from steel metallics, steel long products, stainless steel, and now steel sheet and plate markets. Prior to joining CRU, he covered a variety of local North American scrap markets at Argus Media.

He holds a BA in Political Science from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, and an MA in Energy Politics in Eurasia from European University located in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation. Ryan is based in Denver, Colorado.

Brian Schwadron

Brian joined the consulting division in April 2023, based in Pittsburgh.

Before coming to CRU, he spent over thirty years at United States Steel (USS), where he worked in various roles, including R&D, IT/ERP, Business Planning, Supply Chain, Marketing, Economics and Revenue Management.

Most of his time was spent in Pittsburgh, with a stint in Košice, Slovakia, to migrate the North American business planning systems to USS Europe. Brian was the USS representative to the American Iron and Steel Association (AISI), where he was chair of the commercial marketing committee, and the Worldsteel Association, where he was on the Economic and Economic Forecasting committees. Before U. S. Steel, Brian worked at Alcoa in the R&D function.

Brian holds an MS in Industrial Engineering and Bachelor's degrees in Chemistry and Computer Science, all from the University of Pittsburgh.

Rich Wrightington

Rich Wrightington is the Executive Director -Sourcing for Metals, Plastics and Packaging at GE Appliances located in Louisville Kentucky. He is responsible for $1.3B in total direct spend and the associated commodity and supplier strategies in support of 8 Appliance manufacturing sites.

Rich started his 31-year career with GE Appliances in the Edison Engineering Program. For the first half of his career Rich held several roles of greater responsibility in Six Sigma and Manufacturing including Plant Manager – Dishwasher Operations. In 2005 Rich transitioned to Sourcing and has held various Executive Leadership Roles for Dishwasher, Laundry, Capital Equipment and currently Metals, Plastics and Packaging.          

Rich attended the University of Louisville and graduated with a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering in 1991 and received his Masters in Industrial Engineering from UofL in 1992.    

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.

Mr. Dempsey is well known in industry and trade circles, on Capitol Hill and by government officials in the U.S. and globally. He is a regular speaker at industry, policy and media events, and has been featured in dozens of national, regional and trade media. Before joining AISI, Mr. Dempsey led numerous international trade cases on behalf of American steel producers and other U.S. industries and served as a legal counsel in the U.S. Senate. 

Philip K. Bell

Philip K. Bell is president of the Steel Manufacturers Association, the largest steel industry association in North America when it comes to the number, capacity, production, investment, workforce and economic impact of its members. 

Phil previously served as director of external communications and public affairs for Gerdau Long Steel North America. He has held executive-level positions with the SGL Carbon Group and Qualitech Steel Corp. 

He is a member of the International Trade Advisory Committee on Steel (ITAC 12), the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM) Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA) and the Association of Iron & Steel Technology. 

Phil has a master’s degree in global strategic communications from the University of Florida.

Lewis Leibowitz

Lewis Leibowitz practices international trade and Customs law. He has worked for international and domestic clients for more than 40 years, handling international trade matters involving US and international proceedings. In addition to handling disputes and trade litigation, Lewis advises foreign and domestic companies on trade opportunities and challenges in the United States and around the world.  He speaks frequently on international trade legal and policy issues and writes extensively on legal and policy issues.

Lewis handles trade issues involving the steel and automotive industries, textiles, energy, technology and many other areas of business. He provides strategic advice on political and legal issues involving trade. He has assisted clients affected, both favorably and unfavorably, by tariffs, quotas, international trade negotiations and agreements. He has handled many international disputes under WTO, USMCA and other bilateral and regional trade agreements.

Alan Price

Alan Price is a Partner at Wiley and Co-Chair of the firm's International Trade Practice where he represents numerous steel producers on trade matters in the United States.

He has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in complex international trade regulatory matters and provides counsel on antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, bilateral and multilateral agreements, trade legislation, customs regulation, national security matters, trade-related climate change issues, and World Trade Organization dispute resolution.

He is known for achieving effective solutions to address challenges related to international competition.

Alan Amici

Alan Amici is the President and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR).

Alan joined CAR after a 35+ year career with Chrysler and TE Connectivity, holding a variety of positions in engineering, manufacturing, and service.  His roles at TE Connectivity included VP & CTO of Transportation Solutions and VP of Engineering and Automotive Americas.  Highlights of his tenure at Chrysler include Head of Global Uconnect - Infotainment and Connected Car Platform, Head of Electrical/Electronics Engineering (Torino, Italy & Auburn Hills, Michigan), and Senior Manager of Global Service & Parts (Stuttgart, Germany).

Alan is the owner of two patents and is the recipient of the Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award. He holds an MBA, a Master of Science degree, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan.  He currently serves on the Board of Advisors at Penn State Harrisburg and the Department of Industrial Engineering at Wayne State University.  He is a graduate of the Chrysler Institute of Engineering.

Geoff Gilmore

Geoff Gilmore became President and CEO of Worthington Steel in December 2023 as part of the planned separation of Worthington Steel from Worthington Industries. Prior to that, Mr. Gilmore served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Worthington Industries.

Mr. Gilmore joined the company in 1998 as an Inside Sales Representative for the Steel Processing segment. During his 25-year tenure Mr. Gilmore took on several leadership roles, including Vice President of Purchasing and President of Worthington Industries’ 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. Mr. Gilmore earned his Bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and his MBA from The University of Michigan.    

Thad Solomon

Thad Solomon serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Steel Technologies; a value-added metals processor with 33 locations across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. 

Prior to joining Steel Technologies in 2020, Thad spent 25 years at Nucor Corporation in a variety of leadership roles from Metallurgist to Operations Manager, to General Manager, and Vice President - at 5 different mills including Berkeley, Memphis, Decatur, Texas, and Nucor Yamato Steel Company.  Prior to Nucor, Thad began his metals career as a Process Metallurgist at United States Steel. Thad holds a B.S. degree in Materials Engineering – Metallurgy from the University of Florida. 

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is a Managing Editor for Steel Market Update (SMU) and has covered the steel industry since 2007. Since 2014, he has specialized in flat-rolled steel but has previously reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube as well as aluminum.

Before joining SMU, Michael 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.

Michael 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.

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.

Tristan Gresser

Tristan Gresser is the Head of Steel Equity Research where he heads the North America and Europe Steel equity research franchise at BNP Paribas Exane.

He joined Exane in 2019 from Jefferies.

Chris Garrett

Chris Garrett joined Olympic Steel in 1995 with IT operations at the Detroit division. He was later promoted to lead the IS operations supporting the Olympic Steel Automotive Region. Today, as Vice President of Information Services, his primary focus is on solution delivery and optimization.

Mr. Garrett started his career in information technology in 1984 supporting small manufacturers and distributors in the Metro-Detroit area. Mr. Garrett moved on to consult at tier one automotive suppliers as well as Volkswagen of America, later operating as in independent consultant. 

He earned his degree as Bachelor of Science in Business with a focus on Integrated Supply Chain and Operations Management and subsequently an MBA from Ohio University, both late into his career.