SPEAKER

BIOGRAPHIES

Jennifer Betts
Chief Executive Officer
Magnar Metals

Jennifer Betts is the Chief Executive Officer of Magnar Metals, specializing in business scouting, public relations, and digital marketing for the metals manufacturing and recycling industries. With two decades in the circular economy, she amplifies companies’ impact through their brand, drives engagement and uncovers high-value opportunities. Magnar Metals is the one-stop business development, public relations, and digital marketing firm for the innovative metals manufacturing and recycling industries worldwide. Betts works with top industry players, utilizing her experience from The David J. Jospeh Co. (Nucor Steel) and AK Steel (Cleveland-Cliffs) to shape the future of sustainable metals. She is also the creator of Betts on the Future, a podcast that showcases the variety of careers and leadership in the metals and recycling supply chain and metals and advanced manufacturing, focusing on the innovation in the industry today. With a finance degree from Indiana University and an M.B.A. from Xavier University, Betts combines financial expertise with industry insight and experience. After calling several U.S. states home, she currently lives in Thousand Oaks, Calif., with her husband, two children, and their dog, Lucky. 

Tamika Catchings
WNBA Hall of Famer, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist 

Tamika Catchings is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, WNBA champion, and Naismith and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the game, she’s also a 10-time All-Star and five-time Defensive Player of the Year. Beyond basketball, Catchings is the founder of the Catch the Stars Foundation, owner of Tea’s Me Café and Bottled Tea, and a respected leader in business and community service. She serves on multiple boards, provides commentary for ESPN/SEC Network, and holds an Executive M.B.A. from Notre Dame. Whether on the court or in the community, Tamika continues to inspire through purpose-driven leadership.

Jackie Clague
Key Account Manager
Castrol Industrial North America Inc.

Jackie Clague is a key account manager at Castrol with over 13 years of experience in industrial lubrication and metalworking fluids. She partners with manufacturers across the steel industry to enhance maintenance reliability and operational efficiency through fluid optimization. Clague holds a degree in industrial engineering from Lehigh University and is passionate about building strong customer relationships. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her husband and young daughter.

Alacyia Fields
Safety and Health Director
Nucor Steel Lexington

Alacyia Fields is the safety and health director at Nucor Steel Lexington, where she plays a pivotal role in ensuring the well-being and safety of all teammates during the plant’s construction phase and as it transitions to full operation. With a robust background in operations that started at Nucor Steel Louisiana LLC in 2013, Fields has held various leadership roles throughout her career that have provided her with a unique and comprehensive perspective on both operational efficiency and safety, emphasizing innovative approaches that go beyond compliance to truly engage a project and people. She was also a proud member of the Army National Guard where she served 8 years in total. As a passionate advocate for a culture of safety excellence, Fields is dedicated to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered. Her approach to safety is deeply rooted in understanding the diverse cultural backgrounds of her team, which enables her to implement strategies that resonate across all levels of the organization. Her enthusiasm for continuous learning and development is evident in her daily work as she strives to excel and inspire those around her. She is a wife and the mother of three loving children.

Iris Goldfeder
Founder
GasStoveCreative

Iris Goldfeder is the founder of GasStoveCreative, an all-in-one marketing solutions agency built for service-based businesses ready to scale with clarity and confidence. With over two decades of experience across branding, digital strategy, and business storytelling, she has a knack for helping businesses cut through the noise, clarify their message, and turn their marketing efforts into real, measurable results. Throughout her career, she has worked with startups, legacy brands and everything in between guiding them to not just look good online, but to communicate in a way that truly connects with the people they serve. As a speaker and consultant, Goldfeder is known for her bold, relatable voice and no-fluff approach to communication, leadership, and the human side of business. She is also the host and producer of The Cookbook: Recipes for Business and Marketing Strategies — a podcast where she explores the entrepreneurial journey through honest conversations, creative tactics and practical advice. 

Tom Katagis
General Manager Plate and Strip
Algoma Steel Inc.

Tom Katagis is the general manager of the plate mill at Algoma Steel, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience in the Canadian steel industry. He leads multidisciplinary teams of more than 400 employees and has spearheaded key initiatives, including the CA$150 million modernization of the plate mill. A licensed Professional Engineer, Katagis holds a degree in biomechanical engineering from the University of Guelph and has completed leadership and technical training through the Thayer Leadership Program at West Point, McMaster University, and Steel University. A former member of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology and its Cokemaking Technology Committee, Katagis has contributed to advancing sector knowledge. In addition to his corporate role, he serves as board chair at Sault College and is actively involved in supporting local sports development. 

Jessica Lake
HR Generalist – Monroe Mill
Gerdau Special Steel North America

Currently serving as an HR generalist for the Gerdau Monroe Mill in Michigan, Jessica Lake brings nearly two decades of steel experience grounded in both operations and human resources leadership. Her career with the company began in 2006 in the finishing department, holding various positions including heat treat operator and bar straightener operator. Her journey with the company is a continuation of a family legacy, as her father dedicated 34 years to Gerdau before retiring. After spending 14 years in operations, Lake transitioned into the role of administrative assistant for two departments. Encouraged by her manager to explore the possibility of a career in human resources, she moved into an HR coordinator position in early 2022 then earned a promotion to HR generalist in 2024. In 2024, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with her bachelor’s degree in human resource management and in 2025 completed Gerdau’s Helda Program — a year-long leadership development initiative designed for women. She is also very excited to be partnering with AIST and looks forward to an ongoing relationship with the organization. Next on her development journey is studying for and earning her SHRM-SCP certification. Lake’s extensive time on the production floor has been instrumental in developing her ability to bridge gaps and foster communication between salaried leadership and hourly employees. This unique perspective fuels her commitment to cultivating a culture of trust, inclusion, empowerment and meaningful engagement across all levels of the workforce. Driven by the values of integrity, authenticity, and resilience, she takes great pride in supporting the growth and well-being of the organization that has shaped her personal and professional journey.

Jamie Lewis Smith
Chief Executive Officer and Leadership Psychologist
Pixel Leadership Group

Jamie Lewis Smith is passionate about making managers suck less by providing simple, science-backed actions to transform them into empowering leaders! Her company, Pixel Leadership Group, offers data-driven coaching that can be applied at scale to turn managers into talent maximizers and foster employee thriving. She has spent her career as a human resources leader, coach, and advisor across private sector, nonprofit and government agencies. She is a contributing member of the Forbes Coaches Council, a published author, and an international speaker on the topics of leadership, assessment and employee retention.

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin
Founder
Pleasantly Aggressive Coaching & Consulting

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin is the founder of Pleasantly Aggressive Coaching & Consulting. Through one-on-one coaching, she helps early and mid-career women leaders working in schools and non-profits gain valuable leadership skills, rediscover their authentic voice, and build the confidence they need to achieve their goals. In her role as a speaker and consultant, she works with organizations to provide inclusive leadership training to reduce biases and eliminate barriers for all employees. Rebecca combines her background in social research with 20 years of sales, marketing, communications, and school leadership to create an in-depth and engaging experience for her clients. Rebecca also co-hosts the Confidently You: Women in Leadership Podcast.

Shelonda Manning
Operational Excellence Engineer
United States Steel Corporation

Shelonda Manning is a seasoned manufacturing leader with over 25 years of experience driving operational excellence, innovation and continuous improvement within complex industrial environments. Throughout her distinguished career at United States Steel Corporation, she has held diverse roles spanning operations, supply chain management, process improvement and cost reduction. Known for her strategic mindset and results-driven leadership, Manning plays an active role in shaping the future of the steel industry. A strong advocate for professional development and industry advancement, she actively contributes to key organizations shaping the future of manufacturing. She currently serves as scholarship chair (2025–2026) for the AIST Midwest Member Chapter, after previously serving as publicity chair (2024–2025). She also holds the role of secretary for the Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI) Chicago Chapter and is the co-chair of the LEAD Employee Resource Group at United States Steel’s Gary Works facility, where she champions employee engagement and inclusion initiatives. Shelonda is widely recognized for her collaborative leadership style and deep commitment to fostering innovation and inclusion across the manufacturing sector. Her broad expertise and passion for advancing manufacturing excellence make her a respected voice and leader across the industry.

Laureen Meroueh
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Hertha Metals

Laureen Meroueh is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Hertha Metals, a venture-backed startup developing novel technology to modernize iron and steel production with greater efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. She is also the inventor of Hertha’s proprietary pyrometallurgical process, which underpins the company’s breakthrough approach. Before founding Hertha Metals, Meroueh was the CEO of Alchemr, a hydrogen startup, where she led the development and commercialization of the world’s largest single-cell anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer. She is widely recognized for her leadership and technical innovation through honors such as Forbes 30 Under 30, MIT Energy Initiative Fellow, Breakthrough Energy Innovator Fellow, and World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer. Her work at Hertha Metals is also featured in Bill Gates’ new Netflix series "What’s Next?". Meroueh holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a graduate minor in entrepreneurship and business, and a dual bachelor’s degree in civil and mechanical engineering. She is the co-founder of MIT’s prestigious Graduate Engineering Leadership program, a program currently sponsored by former Apple executives. 

Brenda Petrilena
Senior Director, Global Decarbonization and Program Management
United States Steel Corporation

Brenda Petrilena joined United States Steel Corporation in 2017 and currently serves as the senior director of Global Decarbonization and Project Management. In this role, she is responsible for identifying growth opportunities and developing partnerships aligned with U. S. Steel’s long-term sustainability and decarbonization strategy. Petrilena also leads U. S. Steel’s Engineering Project Management Organization, where she oversees the development and implementation of project management standards, processes, tools, and continuous improvement methodologies to enable the stabilization of assets and successful project portfolio execution. Prior to joining U. S. Steel, she held various leadership roles in engineering, supply chain management and project execution at Westinghouse Electric Co. for 11 years. She began her professional career at Ford Motor Co., advancing through increasingly responsible positions in engineering and plant operations over the course of 11 years. Petrilena holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.S. degree in engineering management from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of Duquesne University’s Women’s Executive Leadership Program. She currently serves on the board of directors for The Mentoring Partnership of SW PA. 

April Pitts-Baggett
Senior Quality Engineer
Nucor Business Technology

April Pitts-Baggett graduated from the University of Alabama in 2004 (B.S.) and 2006 (M.S.) with degrees in metallurgical engineering. She began her career at Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc. in 2006, holding multiple metallurgist and supervisor positions while concurrently completing her Ph.D., also in metallurgical engineering. In 2019, she moved to Italy to serve as the chief metallurgist of Duferdofin-Nucor. She returned to the states in 2020 to serve as a process metallurgist at Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC until 2022. Pitts-Baggett is currently the senior quality engineer with Nucor Business Technology, designing Nucor’s flat mill system upgrade. Additionally, she serves as the chair of the advisory board for the University of Alabama’s Metallurgical Engineering department and is a committee member for the Annual Nucor Children’s Charity Classic. She currently serves on AIST’s board of directors and is the awards chair for the AIST Women in Steel Membership Committee, and she is a past chair of AIST’s Ladle & Secondary Refining Technology Committee.

LaSheita Sayer
Founder and Executive Director
Women Who Charge

LaSheita Sayer brings over 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and project management to her roles as founder and executive director of Women Who Charge and founding principal of ZoZo Group LLC. For over two decades, she has led ZoZo Group, where her team specializes in public outreach, involvement and relations for publicly funded construction projects and equity campaigns for electric vehicle (EV) outreach. Recognizing the importance of representation and support for women in male-dominated industries, Sayer founded Women Who Charge to create an inclusive space for women to connect, inspire and empower each other. Sayer serves on the Denver Electric Vehicle Council and the transportation subcommittee of the Denver Sustainability Advisory Committee, and is an active member of the Colorado Electric Vehicle Coalition. She is committed to professional growth and knowledge sharing, as evidenced by her role in creating a local chapter of the Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization. She is also active in Denver's Historic Five Points cultural district, serving as a Five Points Business Improvement District board member, and has been a guest speaker for the Denver Business Journal and the African American Leadership Institute. She graduated from the University of Colorado School of Business with a degree in marketing and international business. 

Brea Schmidt
Keynote Speaker and Writer
The Thinking Branch

Brea Schmidt is the Iris-Award-nominated writer and creative force behind the 175,000-follower social media community “The Thinking Branch.” Known for her vulnerable storytelling and self-care advocacy, Schmidt connects people by talking openly about the real and raw parts of life, caregiving, and entrepreneurship. As a sought-after keynote speaker, she collaborates with companies, ERGs and conferences across the country as part of the continued mission to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health conversations in the workplace. In addition to her work online and in corporate spaces, as a writer, she has been a mental health contributor to Pittsburgh Magazine’s “BeWell” section, has over 50 articles featured on the popular contributor site Her View From Home, and is a contributing author to the national bestselling book So God Made a Mother. She is also a monthly panelist on CBS Pittsburgh’s daily TV show “Talk Pittsburgh.” Inspired by her experience raising three youth athletes, Schmidt also launched the social media community “The Top Bleacher” in April 2024. The platform creates a safe space for parents and coaches to reflect on their role in kids’ youth sports experience — with a goal of reducing toxicity and increasing mental well-being conversations in the youth sports environment. Brea and her husband are raising their three kids in Pittsburgh, Pa., USA. You can connect with Brea on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Rachel Schmidt
Technical Sales Manager — EAF Mill Services
Berry Metal Co.

Rachel Schmidt is a technical sales manager for Berry Metal Co.’s EAF Mill Services group. She joined the Berry Metal team in 2023. Her professional journey within the steel industry started with a manufacturer of water hydraulics valves, where she initially served in inside sales. Progressing through roles such as applications engineering, sales and quality manager, she expanded her expertise to address industrial hydraulics challenges across diverse sectors, including steel. Her current responsibilities have broadened to encompass additional areas and systems, notably in the realm of meltshop solutions, aimed at encouraging more sustainable and efficient systems. Schmidt has been an active participant in various AIST groups, such as Women in Steel, Young Professionals, and the Midwest and Southeast Member Chapters, as well as the Electric Steelmaking Technology Committee. Currently, she serves on the Midwest Member Chapter board, Women in Steel Planning Committee, and as the EAF Roundup co-chair. She also previously was the chair of the Maintenance & Reliability Technology Committee. In recognition of her contributions to the Maintenance & Reliability Technology Committee, she was honored with an AIST Presidential Citation in 2023. Schmidt has been a speaker at women in fluid power events, technical conferences and young professional gatherings. She also has been featured in both the Women in Steel and Young Professional perspective columns in Iron & Steel Technology magazine. Beyond her professional endeavors, she passionately advocates for women’s personal protective equipment and mentors the next generation of female leaders in the industry.

Nicole Sweet
Head of End-to-End Recycling – North America
RHI Magnesita

Beginning her journey at the age of 18, Nicole Sweet entered the industry as a temporary employee at a local steel plant, a place that held familial legacy with her parents' collective 50 years of service. Her adaptability and eagerness to learn quickly led her to the meltshop, where she began a focus in refractory work. As a trailblazer among her peers, she was one of only two women working hands-on in the meltshop, learning ladle and furnace refractory installation. Over the next 17 years, her on-the-floor experience granted her an intimate understanding of steel mill operations, knowledge that would become the foundation of her career growth. In 2016, Sweet’s journey took a pivotal turn as she joined RHI Magnesita as a material coordinator, and within two years, her prowess in sales management was recognized, earning her a promotion to sales manager. Here, she honed her skills in account management, navigating the complexities of electric arc furnace and integrated steel services. As of November 2023, she has embraced the role of head of end-to-end recycling for North America. This position reflects her commitment to sustainability and innovation in the steel industry. Her interests extend beyond her immediate professional responsibilities as she actively participates in shaping the industry's future. As a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee at RHI Magnesita, she advocates for a more inclusive and diverse workplace. Furthermore, her involvement with AIST’s Ladle & Secondary Refining Technology Committee allows her to contribute to the advancement of steelmaking processes and technologies.

Mindy Toth
Vice President of Human Resources and HSE
Fives North American Combustion

Mindy Toth has devoted over 20 years of her career to human resources. She is vice president of Human Resources and HSE for Fives North American Combustion, a worldwide leader in thermal process engineering, manufacturing and construction. At Fives, she is responsible for global people operations including workforce planning; talent acquisition; employee performance; relations and engagement; policy design; employment law compliance; diversity, equity and inclusion; and compensation and benefits. Toth is also responsible for health, safety, and environmental management and serves as a member of the executive committee. Prior to Fives, she served in senior management roles in various industries and company sizes. She credits her diverse background with the ability to drive vision and strategy through purpose, passion and humor. She is especially driven by helping people discover what energizes them and leading change to create an environment that inspires pride and achievement of company and employee goals. Toth has an M.B.A. in business leadership from Youngstown State University, is a SHRM Certified Professional, and holds Lean Six Sigma and Compensation Analyst credentials.

Michelle Zwelling
Corporate Talent Acquisition and Development Leader

Michelle Zwelling is a strategic human resources executive with over 25 years of experience leading enterprise-wide talent, learning and acquisition strategies. For the past 12 years, she has brought that expertise to the steel industry, serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and building agile, scalable talent solutions that drive growth, engagement, and retention. Zwelling began her career in the financial sector, specializing in systems training during mergers and acquisitions, before transitioning to lead learning and development teams supporting operations and service functions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in adult education and marketing from The Ohio State University.