17-18 JUNE 2025 / NEW YORK MARRIOTT MARQUIS / NEW YORK, N.Y., USA
SPEAKER
BIOGRAPHIES
LOURENCO GONCALVES
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Cleveland-Cliffs
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 and prime ferrous scrap businesses. 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 successfully led four major company acquisitions beginning with AK Steel in March 2020, followed by the acquisition of ArcelorMittal USA in December 2020, Ferrous Processing and Trading Company in November 2021 and most recently Canadian-based Stelco Holdings Inc. in November 2024. With the Toledo plant, Cleveland-Cliffs is 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. 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 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.
MARK D. MILLETT
Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
Steel Dynamics Inc.
Mark D. Millett co-founded Steel Dynamics in 1993 and has been instrumental in building the company from its inception to its current status as one of the largest steel producers and metals recyclers in North America. He has served as the board chair since May 2021 and has been the chief executive officer since January 2012. Since that time, the company has grown significantly through transactional investments, including the transformational acquisition of the Columbus Flat Roll Steel Division, and the acquisition of the Heartland Flat Roll Steel Division. Under Millett’s leadership, the company has continued its extensive organic growth strategy through the construction and ramp-up of its Southwest-Sinton Flat Roll Steel Division and through the expansion of its product offerings into the aluminum flat rolled market with the construction of a 650,000-metric-ton lower-carbon, recycled aluminum flat rolled mill, with two supporting satellite recycled aluminum slab centers. Millett was responsible for the design, construction, and start-up operation of all Steel Dynamics steel mills, including the company’s first flat roll, melting, and casting operations in Butler, Ind., USA. Prior to co-founding Steel Dynamics, he was integral in leading the design, construction, and operation of the melting and casting area at the world’s first electric arc furnace thin-slab flat roll steel mill. Millett is a past chairman of the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA). In 2019, he was the recipient of the James F. Collins Achievement in Advocacy Award by the SMA. In 2014 and 2022, he was named AIST’s Steelmaker of the Year. In 2024, Millett received the Willy Korf/Ken Iverson Steel Vision Award in recognition of the significant contributions he has made to the steel industry while promoting goodwill and integrity.
T V NARENDRAN
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Tata Steel Ltd.
T V Narendran is the chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) of Tata Steel Ltd. As the CEO and MD, he has overseen the organic and inorganic growth of Tata Steel over the last few years. He has over 36 years of experience in the mining and metals industry. Narendran is currently on the boards of Tata Steel Ltd. and Tata International Ltd. and he is the chairman of Tata Steel Europe. He has been elected as chairman of the World Steel Association for 2024–2025. He also serves as senior vice president of All India Management Association (AIMA), is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering and chairs the Boards of Governors of Xavier School of Management (XLRI) and Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur. He is also a member of the Council of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He has served as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) from 2021 to 2022. He has also served as the president of the Indian Institute of Metals from 2021 to 2022. He was the co-chair of the Mining & Metals Governors Council of the World Economic Forum from 2016 to 2018. Narendran is a mechanical engineer from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Trichy and earned his M.B.A. from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta. He is a recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Awards from both NIT Trichy and IIM Calcutta. He is a Chevening Scholar and has also attended the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD, France.
MÁXIMO VEDOYA
Chief Executive Officer
Ternium
Maximo Vedoya currently serves as chief executive officer of Ternium. Prior to that, he served as president of Ternium Mexico. He has held several other executive positions since joining the Techint Group in 1992, such as chief executive officer of Ferrasa, director of Ternium Mexico’s international and steel purchase operations, commercial director and export manager of Sidor and commercial planning manager of Ternium Argentina. He was also director of Fedemetal (the Colombian Federation of Metallurgical Industries), AIMM (Venezuelan Association of Metallurgical and Mining Industry) and is currently president of Canacero (Mexican steel association), president of Alacero, vice president of Caintra (Nuevo León Industrial Chamber), vice president of CONCAMIN (Mexican industrial chamber) and general counsellor of UDEM (University of Monterrey, Mexico). Vedoya is an Argentine citizen.
MARIO ARVEDI CALDONAZZO
President
Gruppo Arvedi
Mario Arvedi Caldonazzo graduated in 1991 in business and economics, before entering the steelmaking business of his uncle, Giovanni Arvedi. He gained experience working for leading European traders and manufacturers. His work experience with the Arvedi Group began by reinforcing his production and marketing experience in the tube sector as chief executive officer (CEO) of Arvedi Tubi Acciaio, a carbon steel tube manufacturer with a leading and consolidated position in the European market. In 2019, he was appointed CEO of Acciaieria Arvedi SpA, the group’s leading manufacturing unit for the production of steel from scrap using the innovative ISP and ESP Arvedi endless cast-rolling technology for quality carbon steel coil production. He was closely involved in the company’s strategic development plans, seeing Acciaieria Arvedi’s production triple in the course of 10 years following start-up. It is currently Italy’s first flat-rolled carbon steel manufacturer with a production capacity of 4 million metric tons per year. In 2006, he was appointed CEO of Finarvedi SpA, the holding company of the Arvedi Group, which operates in areas including carbon and stainless steel tube manufacturing, stainless steel precision rolling and steel service and distribution centers, and in 2021 he was named president of Acciaieria Arvedi and Arvedi Tubi Acciaio in 2021. In 2022, following its acquisition by the Arvedi Group, he was appointed vice president of Acciai Speciali Terni, a leading European producer of flat-rolled stainless steel. He also serves as vice president of Federacciai and Eurofer.
CHANG IN HWA
Chairman
POSCO Holdings
Chang In Hwa was appointed chairman of POSCO Holdings in March 2024. Dr. Chang’s career at POSCO Group began in 1988 when he joined the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) as a researcher. After rising through the ranks at RIST, he transitioned to POSCO in 2011 to assume more prominent roles in business operations. To manage the business of steelmaking, he advanced through diverse leadership roles in business development, marketing, R&D and production. After holding key positions at POSCO, i.e., chief operations officer and chief technology officer, he took a brief break from the frontlines in 2021 by serving as executive advisor. Currently, he also chairs notable external organizations, such as the Korea-Australia Business Council (and the Korea Iron & Steel Association. Throughout over 30 years of his professional career at POSCO Group, Dr. Chang has built robust technical expertise, wealth of business experience and deep insight into the steel industry. Interdisciplinary knowledge combined with operational leadership has helped to drive exceptional enhancements across production processes, marketing, finance and research. He is revered for his communication skills and close attention paid to staff. Dr. Chang holds a Ph.D. in ocean engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to the terminal degree, he obtained his M.S. (1979) and B.S. (1981) degrees in naval architecture and ocean engineering from Seoul National University in Korea.
JOHNNY SJÖSTRÖM
President and Chief Executive Officer
SSAB
Johnny Sjöström is a Swedish business leader with extensive expertise in the steel industry and a strong academic foundation in materials science. He holds a Ph.D., has served as an associate professor at Karlstad University, and later earned an Executive M.B.A. from the Stockholm School of Economics. Sjöström began his career in the steel sector, rapidly advancing through various leadership roles. In 2014, he was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of Uddeholm, a global leader in tool steel. He then joined SSAB as head of the Special Steels Division, where he played a key role in strengthening the company’s position in the high-strength steel market. On 28 October 2024, Johnny Sjöström was appointed president and CEO of SSAB.
SHANNON K. O'NEIL
Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair
Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
Shannon K. O’Neil is the senior vice president, director of studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg chair at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), where she oversees the work of the more than six dozen fellows in the David Rockefeller Studies Program as well as CFR’s fellowship programs. She is a leading authority on global trade, supply chains, Mexico and Latin America. O’Neil is the author of The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter and Two Nations Indivisible: Mexico, the United States, and the Road Ahead. She is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, and a frequent guest on national broadcast news and radio programs. O’Neil has often testified before Congress, and regularly speaks at global academic, business and policy conferences. She was a Fulbright scholar and a Justice, Welfare, and Economics fellow at Harvard University, and has taught Latin American politics at Columbia University. Before turning to policy, O’Neil worked in the private sector as an equity analyst at Indosuez Capital and Credit Lyonnais Securities. She holds a B.A. degree from Yale University, an M.A. degree in international relations from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University. She is the chair of the board of directors of the Tinker Foundation.
DAVID BURRITT
President and Chief Executive Officer
United States Steel Corporation
David B. Burritt was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of United States Steel Corporation in May 2017. At that time, Mr. Burritt was also named to the company’s Board of Directors. He had been elected President and Chief Operating Officer in February 2017 with executive responsibility for all aspects of the company’s day-to-day business in the United States and Central Europe. Mr. Burritt joined U. S. Steel in September 2013 to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for all aspects of the company’s strategic and financial matters. Prior to joining U. S. Steel, Mr. Burritt, served as Chief Financial Officer at Caterpillar Inc.
Mr. Burritt was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1977 from Bradley University in Peoria. Mr. Burritt received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1990. Mr. Burritt serves on the board of directors for Lockheed Martin and the National Safety Council and serves on the Executive Committee of the worldsteel. He is also a member of The Business Council and a member of the G100.
RON ASHBURN
Executive Director
AIST
Ronald Ashburn is the executive director of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST), having served in this capacity since the organization’s founding in 2004. Ashburn is responsible for oversight of business operations and strategic planning initiatives for AIST and the AIST Foundation. He formerly was managing director for the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers (AISE) from 2002 until its merger with the Iron & Steel Society to form AIST. Prior to AISE, he was employed with the German engineering firm SMS, a global builder of steel plants, where he last served as vice president — operations for their Steelmaking and Casting Division in North America. He held previous positions with SMS and the consolidated Mannesmann Demag including vice president — casting and hot rolling as well as director of technology for steelmaking and casting. Ashburn received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and participated in metallurgical process training at University of British Columbia and global business management training at the University of Virginia. He serves on the board of trustees for the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) and the United Engineering Foundation (UEF).
EDWIN BASSON
Director General
World Steel Dynamics
Edwin Basson received his Ph.D. in economics from Pretoria University and taught economics at the same university. After a few years in the banking industry, he joined the steel industry in 1994 at Iscor Ltd. in South Africa. After a variety of senior roles in South Africa, he was transferred to Europe in 2004. His responsibilities included global marketing strategy, trade policy and investment planning for the group. He was also part of the mergers and acquisitions team at the time. Basson joined the World Steel Association (worldsteel) in 2011 as director general. worldsteel is tasked with playing a strategic leadership role on behalf of the steel industry, with a focus on all aspects that contribute to the strategic and competitive production and use of steel in a sustainable global economy.
AL BEHR
Executive Vice President, Raw Materials,
Nucor
Al Behr began his career in 1996 as a design engineer at Nucor Building Systems in Waterloo, Ind., USA. In 1999, he joined the start-up of Nucor Building Systems in Terrell, Texas, and then moved to Nucor Building Systems in Swansea, S.C., in 2001. During those engagements, he worked within the technical portion of the business. In 2008, Behr was promoted to general manager of Nucor Building Systems – South Carolina. In 2011, he joined Nucor’s Vulcraft/Verco Group as general manager of Vulcraft in Florence, S.C., and was elected a vice president of Nucor in 2012. In 2014, he was promoted to president of the Vulcraft/Verco Group based out of Nucor’s headquarters. In 2017, he joined Nucor Steel–Texas as vice president and general manager. In May 2020, he returned to Nucor’s headquarters as executive vice president of plate and structural products and in May 2024 became executive vice president of raw materials. Behr is a graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. degree in civil engineering.
PHILIP BELL
President
Steel Manufacturers Association
Philip K. Bell is president of the Washington, D.C.-based Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA). Prior to leading the SMA, Bell served as director of external communications and public affairs for Gerdau Long Steel North America. He is a 25-year industry veteran who developed an interest in the steel industry and manufacturing in the late 1980s while working in maintenance and operations at Elementis Chromium in Corpus Christi, Texas. He has held executive-level positions in operations, human resources and public affairs with Gerdau, the SGL Carbon Group, and Qualitech Steel Corp. Bell currently serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Advisory Committee on Steel (ITAC 11), 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. He serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). He is also a member of AIST and serves on the board of trustees at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn. Bell graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He holds a master’s degree in global strategic communications from the University of Florida.
DR. RAUNAK BHINGE
Chief Executive Officer
Infinite Uptime
Raunak Bhinge is the founder and managing director of Infinite Uptime, one of the fastest-growing AI-driven production reliability outcomes partner across the globe. For over a decade, Bhinge has been active in the field of smart manufacturing, Industry 4.0, innovation, and applying digital technologies for delivering equipment and process reliability outcomes to manufacturing businesses. He completed his post-graduation studies in automotive design and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras, followed by higher studies in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley where he obtained his Ph.D. He has five patents to his name and owns several high-authority publications in the areas of manufacturing and technology. He is passionate about connected ecosystems, advancements in digitalization, and sustainable manufacturing. Key areas of business interest include Industrial lnternet of Things platforms, industrial diagnostics, data science, predictive analytics and asset maintenance.
BERK BIRAND
Chief Executive Officer
Fero Labs
Berk Birand is the co-founder and chief executive officer of industrial optimization company Fero Labs, where he leads the company’s strategic business and technology growth. Birand co-founded Fero Labs to help create a profitable and sustainable manufacturing industry. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Columbia University and now has several patents in Internet of Things systems for resilient fiber-optic networks.
ANDREW DE SIMONE
Country Manager USA, Vale; Managing Officer
Vale USA LLC
Andrew De Simone is the managing officer of Vale USA LLC — a U.S.-based office for the global mining company Vale S.A. — focused on the development of Vale’s iron ore-based solutions for the for the steel sector. He is also the head of Vale’s cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, a project for the development of an industrial-scale facility to produce Vale’s patented cold agglomeration iron ore briquette in the U.S. With 20 years involved with the mining industry, De Simone’s leadership roles span from business development to government relations, to project and risk management, on projects in the U.S., Brazil, and numerous sites in Western and Southern Africa. His training is in international relations (BA) and international business (graduate studies) from Boston College and Fundação Getúlio Vargas, respectively. In addition, he is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
KEVIN DEMPSEY
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Iron and Steel Institute
Kevin Dempsey is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), a leading advocacy group representing integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers, steel pipe and tube manufacturers, and steel processors and fabricators, reflecting the production and distribution of both carbon and stainless steels. He has been with AISI since 2009, previously having served as AISI’s senior vice president of public policy and general counsel. Under Dempsey’s executive leadership, the Institute has achieved landmark policy successes on trade, tax and infrastructure policy initiatives, successfully promoted the steel industry’s global leadership on decarbonization, showcased steel innovations, and advanced the case for steel as the material of choice in the automotive and construction markets. 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 in the U.S. and abroad, and has been featured in dozens of national, regional and trade media, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Reuters, Washington Post, Washington Examiner, Politico, CNBC and CNN. Dempsey currently serves on the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Climate and Trade Advisory Council. Under his leadership as president and CEO, AISI was also recognized as a “Red Hot Association” by DCA Live in 2024. Before joining AISI, Dempsey was a partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf, where he led numerous international trade cases on behalf of American steel producers and other U.S. industries. He also served as counsel to former U.S. Senator John C. Danforth (R-MO) and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Dempsey received his juris doctor degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor of arts in history from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.
MARTIN DIONNE
Global Director Iron Ore & Coal-Graphite Primary Processing
Hatch
Martin Dionne joined Hatch in 2009 as a senior process metallurgist. He became director Iron Ore & Specialty Materials Americas-Europe in 2013 and then global commodity director Iron Ore, Coal & Graphite-Primary Processing in 2021. As global commodity director, Dionne brings technical/strategic expertise and commercial/governance support to the Hatch teams worldwide. He is committed to growing business globally working with diverse teams thinking globally and acting locally. He continues to focus on developing clients’ partnership delivering fit for purpose solutions creating unprecedent results and added value to their businesses. Dionne has a Ph.D. in metallurgy and microscopic material characterization with over 30 years’ experience in primarily operations and mineral processing/beneficiation managing studies and projects, ilmenite smelting furnace as chief development, and as aluminum electrowinning scientist (two patents) at different Rio Tinto facilities.
JOSEPH DZIERZAWSKI
Vice President of Sales and Strategy
Primetals Technologies USA LLC
Joseph Dzierzawski, Vice President of Sales and Strategy, Primetals Technologies USA LLC Joseph Dzierzawski began his current role as vice president of sales and strategy at Primetals Technologies USA in 2023. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a degree in metallurgical engineering, and attended executive management programs at the University of Michigan School of Business and INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. In 1988, Dzierzawski began his career as a melter at McLouth Steel, an integrated basic oxygen furnace and electric arc furnace steelmaking operation. In 1990, he moved to SMS Concast as a senior metallurgical engineer and held several positions, including vice president of Steelmaking & Continuous Casting at SMS Siemag LLC; director of sales for Steelmaking & Continuous Casting at SMS Siemag AG in Düsseldorf, Germany; president and chief executive officer for SMS USA; and chief technology officer for SMS group Inc. In 2019, he joined Hatch Associates Consultants in the capacity of global director — Technology & Business Development responsible for corporate growth in the iron and steel sector. Most recently, Dzierzawski served as president and chief executive officer of the BEUMER Group, an international leader in the manufacturing of intralogistics systems for conveying, loading, palletizing, sortation, and baggage handling, fully responsible for all business segments in the North American market in alignment with the group’s overall business objectives, strategy, and key pursuits.
PHILIPP ENGLIN
Chief Executive Officer
World Steel Dynamics
Philipp Englin joined World Steel Dynamics in 2008 after a career spanning roles in engineering and corporate strategy functions. He worked closely with WSD’s founders as chief executive officer for over a decade, before taking over WSD’s day-to-day operations. Along with WSD’s highly capable team of senior practitioners and analysts, he authors WSD’s breakthrough Information Service reports while leading efforts across the full range of WSD products and services from WSD's consulting/advisory practice to its premier industry conferences. Englin holds bachelors degrees in mechanical engineering and philosophy from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
JOHN GANEM
Chief Executive Officer
Kloeckner Metals Corp.
John Ganem is the chief executive officer of Kloeckner Metals Corp. and a global leader widely recognized for his culture-driven leadership, transformational mindset and commitment to creating operational excellence across every level of the business. His strategic focus on high value-added business (HVAB) drives Kloeckner's differentiation through complex and sustainable supply chain solutions. With a career spent entirely in the steel and metals industry, Ganem offers a rare, end-to-end perspective that spans the entire value chain — from production and international trading to service center operations. Since joining the Kloeckner Metals Corp. board of directors in 2014, Ganem has led the company’s transformation into a more proactive, safety-focused and customer-oriented organization. He has championed numerous initiatives to enhance safety standards and strengthen the company’s position through HVAB development. In 2019, he was appointed to the management board of Klöckner & Co, Kloeckner's parent company. A graduate of Brown University with degrees in business economics and organizational behavior and management, Ganem is a respected industry voice, frequently speaking on leadership, transformation, safety, and strategic innovation in the metals space.
ADAM GREEN
Managing Partner
World Steel Dynamics
Adam Green began his career as a steel industry analyst and consultant in 2010 when he joined World Steel Dynamics. He authors WSD’s USA Steel Dynamics news and analytics reports, manages WSD’s Global Steel Information System, and provides research and consulting services as a part of the company’s consulting/advisory practice. He holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and mathematics from Rutgers University and an M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.
JOHN HOLLATZ
Executive Vice President of Fabricated Construction Products
Nucor
John Hollatz is executive vice president of Fabricated Construction Products for Nucor Corp. He began his career with Nucor in 1999 as a design engineer at Vulcraft Indiana. He transferred to Vulcraft Nebraska as their sales engineer and, in 2005, was promoted to sales manager. He was promoted to general manager of Nucor Building Systems South Carolina in 2011, and in 2014 transferred to Vulcraft Indiana as their general manager. In 2017, Hollatz was named president of the Vulcraft/Verco Group and served in that position until May 2020, when he was appointed to lead Nucor’s sheet mill operations as vice president and general manager at Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC. He was named executive vice president of Bar, Engineered Bar and Rebar in May 2022 and, after serving in that role for two years, was named to his current position effective 12 May 2024. Hollatz received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska.
JANICE LEE
Managing Director and Partner
Boston Consulting Group
Janice Lee is a managing director and partner with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and is the global leader for their metals practice. She has extensive experience working with steel and metals companies across growth strategy, M&A, and large-scale transformations. She also leads the Sustainability and Circularity topic within Industrial Goods, supporting companies on furthering their sustainability and decarbonization agendas, and has led BCG’s IP development in scrap and recycling. Janice has an M.B.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management, and a B.A. degree in economics from the University of Chicago.
TODD LEEBOW
President and CEO
Majestic Steel
Todd Leebow is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Majestic Steel USA, a family-owned steel service center that distributes and processes flat-rolled steel. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Majestic services diverse customers in construction, manufacturing and distribution throughout North America. Leebow began his career at Majestic in 2007 in supply chain management and led the company through a family generational transition with a vision of growth and innovation. Since becoming CEO in 2012, he has built a culture of innovation through attracting talent and developing technology to optimize the customer experience at Majestic. Following his graduation from Orange public schools in Cleveland, he studied business and entrepreneurship at the University of Miami in Florida. He is an active leader in the domestic steel industry and a philanthropist in the Cleveland area, recognized as a 2019 recipient of the Values-in-Action Foundation's Sam Miller Goodness Award for contributions and service to the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland.
JOHN LICHTENSTEIN
Managing Partner
World Steel Dynamics
John Lichtenstein recently joined World Steel Dynamics as managing partner. He brings more than 35 years of experience as an industry thought leader and global consulting practice leader at Accenture, Arthur D. Little and RCG Research and Consulting Group. Lichtenstein has had a long association with World Steel Dynamics. He has been a featured speaker at numerous Steel Success Strategies Conferences, where he addressed a wide range of topics including mergers and acquisitions, business transformation and technology, and organization and leadership.
JAKE LOOSARARIAN
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Gecko Robotics
Jake Loosararian is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Gecko Robotics, the company pioneering the use of AI and robotics to change how organizations build, operate and maintain their most critical infrastructure — today and tomorrow. After graduating from Grove City College, he bootstrapped and launched Gecko Robotics in 2013. Today, Gecko’s business model of creating data with robots, and building enterprise software with it, is pioneering an emerging business model for the real world. The business model focuses on data that has never been accessible before: from pipelines, boilers, tanks, ship hulls, missile silos and other critical asset types.
STEPHEN MONTAGUE
Member of the Board
Midrex
Stephen Montague started with Midrex Technologies as a co-op student in 1987 and is now a board member. Throughout the years, he has held roles encompassing technical and commercial functions such as engineering, operations, technology development and sales. He was appointed vice president – Sales and Marketing before assuming the role of president and chief operating officer in 2016 and subsequently being promoted to chief executive officer in 2017. He actively participated in the design and start-ups of numerous MIDREX® plants, contributed to the development of new technologies, and holds coinventor credits on several patents. Montague earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University.
LEE P. MORGAN
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
The Systems Group
Lee Morgan is chief executive officer and president of The Systems Group, which consists of Systems Contracting, Systems Plant Services, Systems Fab & Machine, and Systems Spray-Cooled. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. Before joining Systems, he was president of Camfil APC in Jonesboro, Ark., USA, where he oversaw five factories in five countries. Morgan has 11 patents centered around air pollution control systems. At Systems, his focus is bringing engineered solutions to the steel industry for a safer, more productive environment.
ROLANDO PAOLONE
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technical Officer
Danieli & C. S.p.A.
Rolando Paolone graduated as a mechanical technician from A. Malignani Technical High School, Udine, Italy, in 1981. He has been employed at Danieli & C. since 1985, starting as a design engineer in the Long Product Hot Rolling Mills Division (Danieli Morgardshammar). He took on the title of design office team leader in 1989 before being promoted to design office manager of the Rolling Mills Finishing Area in 1994. In 2001, he was promoted to the position of technical director for the Hot Rolling Mill Division for Long Products. In 2006, he was in charge of the Process and Technological Department for the Long Products Division, of which he was appointed executive vice president in 2008. In 2014, he became Danieli Research Center executive vice president. In 2017, he was promoted to chief technical officer (CTO) of the Danieli Group and became a member of the group executive board. Promoted again in 2021, he became group chief executive officer while retaining the title of CTO.
ALOK SAHAY
Secretary General and Executive Head
Indian Steel Association
Alok Sahay, secretary general and executive head of the Indian Steel Association (ISA), is a distinguished leader with over four decades of experience in the steel industry. Before joining ISA, he held key leadership positions at the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL). His deep expertise in industrial strategy, global trade policies and sustainable steelmaking has made him a pivotal figure in shaping the growth of the Indian steel sector. At ISA, he is dedicated to strengthening India’s position as a global steel leader. Through his initiatives in fostering international collaboration and advocating for sustainable and innovative practices, he has played a crucial role in positioning the Indian steel sector at the forefront of global leadership. His visionary leadership continues to drive transformation within the industry, ensuring resilience, competitiveness and long-term growth.
EZEQUIEL TAVERNELLI
Executive Director
Alacero
Ezequiel Tavernelli is an industrial engineer and has completed an executive program in global leadership at Wharton, as well as a management development program at IAE Business School. He has built his career within the Techint Group since 1997, holding commercial and planning positions at Ternium Argentina. Additionally, he led the ProPymes Program for over 15 years. Since June 2024, he has served as the executive director of Alacero, with the mission of strengthening networks throughout the value chain and providing innovative solutions for the steel industry in Latin America.
MARTIN THEURINGER
Managing Director
German Steel Federation
Martin Theuringer has held various positions at the German Steel Association since 2003: chief economist since 2006 and head of business area economics since 2008, responsible for economic policy, business cycle analyses, markets and statistics. In 2017, he was appointed managing director. Theuringer has worked intensively on the transformation of the steel industry in recent years. He has been a member of various national and international committees for many years, including the Spiegel Circle in the National Hydrogen Council, the Advisory Board of the Competence Centre on Climate Change Mitigation in Energy-Intensive Industries, and is a member of the board of the Steel Applications Research Foundation and the Research Association for Steel Application. He is also chairman of the Economic Committee at Worldsteel since 2024 and Secretary General of the recently established Low Emission Steel Standard.
ERNIE THRASHER
Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer
X-Coal
Ernie Thrasher has over 50 years of experience in the coal industry. His coal experience began in 1974 working for a family-owned mining company with operations in Maryland. Thrasher held various positions in mine operations and mine management through 1981. Prior to forming Xcoal Energy & Resources in 2003, Thrasher spent 22 years in various global marketing positions at Primary Coal and AMCI. Xcoal markets U.S. and Australian origin coal to customers throughout the world. Xcoal activities include the financing and development of mining projects and related infrastructure projects. Thrasher founded XLNG Energy & Resources in 2015, which is marketing liquefied natural gas originating from global sources with emphasis on natural gas reserves in the Marcellus and Utica Shale basins in the U.S., to customers in South America, Europe and Asia. Thrasher serves as a director on the National Committee on U.S. China Relations, as a director of the U.S.- India Strategic Partnership Forum, a Global Trustee for the Asia Society, a member of the Global Advisory Council of the Wilson Center, a member of the Global Advisory Board of the Kissinger Institute on China and the U.S., a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the President’s Leadership Council, Boy Scouts of America.
KARTHIK VALLURU
Managing Director and Partner
Boston Consulting Group
Karthik Valluru is a managing director and partner with the Atlanta, Ga., USA, office of the Boston Consulting Group. Valluru has extensive experience advising clients across the materials and process industries sector including metals, mining, building materials, chemicals and agribusiness. He is a member of the firm’s global Industrial Goods leadership team and leads the materials and process industries sector globally. He is also actively involved in the Atlanta community as a board member of the Metro Atlanta Y and working with several non-profits as part of BCG’s Social Impact practice. Valluru holds an M.B.A. from The Indian School of Business. . He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
TIMOTHY VAN AUDENAERDE
Managing Director
Accenture
Timothy Van Audenaerde is a managing director at Accenture, leading the chemicals and natural resources industry practice in Belgium and Luxembourg. He started his career in the steel industry at ArcelorMittal in 2002, holding roles across various functional areas including quality, supply chain and commercial. Since joining Accenture in 2013, he has primarily worked with leading metal manufacturers. He holds a degree in materials engineering from Ghent University and an M.B.A. from Vlerick Business School.
