SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Allen C. Behr

Executive Vice President
Nucor Corp.
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.

Dallin Cooper

Workplace Communication & Culture Expert
Cooper Creative Group

Dallin is a speaker, author, and serial entrepreneur. After founding multiple companies and orchestrating two successful exits, he has dedicated his career to transforming the way people treat themselves and each other.

From the smallest towns in Wyoming to the bustling streets of China’s largest cities, Dallin has challenged audiences to rethink the way they see the world. His groundbreaking insights on communication and leadership have cemented his reputation as a go-to expert for organizations seeking to improve the lives of their people.

Dallin has advised and spoken for industry-leading organizations such as Meta, Charter, RE/MAX, MGMA, and GE, empowering leaders to question long-held assumptions, break through communication barriers, and foster cultures of trust and collaboration.

Kelsey Ferro

Technical Associate
Opta Group

Kelsey Ferro is a dedicated and forward-thinking young professional with a passion for innovation in the steel industry. With a strong foundation in steelmaking, metallurgy, and a keen focus on innovative practices, Kelsey thrives at the intersection of technical expertise and practical application. Currently working at Opta Group (USA), Kelsey leverages a deep understanding of steel processes, including casting technologies, slag chemistry, and secondary metallurgy, to deliver impactful solutions.

A recent graduate of Colorado School of Mines, Kelsey is committed to professional growth and continuously seeks opportunities to refine her knowledge and contribute to advancements in the steelmaking industry. Kelsey has also cultivated firsthand industry insights, including internships with Nucor Yamato, Ellwood Quality Steels, and Caterpillar Inc., further broadening her expertise.

Beyond her technical skills, Kelsey is actively involved with the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST), where she serves as Young Professional Chair for the Continuous Casting Technical Committee and as the Programming Subcommittee Chair for the Young Professionals Membership Committee. Through this engagement, Kelsey contributes to advancing industry knowledge and fostering collaboration among professionals in the steel sector. This involvement underscores her commitment to industry’s growth and her dedication to continuous learning and leadership within the steelmaking community.

Nick Hladek

Senior Account Manager
Quaker Houghton

Nick Hladek is a Senior Account Manager at Quaker Houghton, supporting ferrous and nonferrous metals producers across the southeastern United States. He has 11 years of experience in the metals industry, working closely with mill operations on process optimization and operational performance. Nick has been actively involved with AIST’s Young Professionals program for five years, serving on the Young Professionals Steering Committee and currently as Chair Elect of the Young Professional Membership Committee. He is passionate about developing future industry leaders and fostering innovation through collaboration, mentorship, and engagement within the metals community.

Liz Hunter

Supply Chain Manager
DJJ

Liz Hunter has over 10 years experience in the steel industry serving in various positions at different companies. The majority of her career has been spent with Nucor in cold rolling and galvanizing at Nucor Steel–Berkeley, Nucor JFE Steel Mexico, and Nucor Steel Gallatin, and now works as a supply chain manager at DJJ. She has a B.S. degree in metallurgical and materials engineering from Colorado School of Mines and an M.B.A. from the University of California at Riverside. She’s been a member of AIST since she was a student and received an AIST Foundation Scholarship and then immediately got involved as a Young Professional. Hunter has served as a Member Chapter officer, Cold Sheet Rolling Technology Committee training co-chair, Cold Rolling Technology Training Conference presenter, and is currently the chair of the Young Professionals Membership Committee.

Stephen Murphy

Director – General Procurement
Metallus Inc.

Stephen Murphy has been employed with Metallus (formerly TimkenSteel Corp,) for over 18 years. He is currently the director, general procurement. He is responsible for a team of commodity managers and the procurement of consumables, MRO, corporate, CapEx, energy, and plant services. In his previous role, he was the plant manager of a metal recycling facility that was owned and operated by TimkenSteel. He also held the position of unit manager of steel processing in the finishing and the rolling mill departments at TimkenSteel. He also spent four years in thermal neat as the area manager. Murphy holds an M.B.A. from the University of Ashland, and a B.A. degree Baldwin Wallace University, He has been an AIST member since 2013 and he has served on the Northeastern Ohio Member Chapter board for nine years.

John Speer

American Bureau of Shipping Chaired Professor
Colorado School of Mines

John G. Speer is the American Bureau of Shipping Chaired Professor at Colorado School of Mines, and director of the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center. He received a B.S. degree from Lehigh 

University in metallurgy and materials engineering, and a D.Phil. in physical metallurgy from the University of Oxford, U.K. He was affiliated with the Homer Research Laboratories of Bethlehem Steel Corp. from 1983 to 1997, where he was involved in product research, customer and operations support, and research management. He became a professor in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at Colorado School of Mines in 1997, where he teaches metallurgy at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and participates in research activities with the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center. Speer also served as Mines’ associate vice president for research from 2008 to 2013. He is a Distinguished Member and Fellow of AIST, member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Fellow of ASM International, an Iron & Steel Society Professor, past chairman of the Ferrous Metals Committee of SAE, and served as AIME president in 2017–2018. His background is in physical metallurgy and solid-state phase transformations, and steel product development, including alloy design/processing response/application and performance.

Kyle Vanover

Hot Mill Metallurgist
Steel Dynamics Inc.-Flat Roll Group–Butler

Kyle Vanover is the hot mill product metallurgist at Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) – Flat Roll Group Butler Division, a role he has held since 2020. He joined SDI in 2009 as a meltshop metallurgist, advancing through critical metallurgical positions including LMF/caster metallurgist and hot mill metallurgist. Over his 15-year tenure, Vanover has focused on safety, optimizing steel production processes, enhancing product quality, and implementing innovative solutions across melting, casting and hot rolling operations. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Trine University and an M.S. degree in engineering from Purdue University. He is deeply engaged with AIST, having served as chair of the Electric Steelmaking Technology Committee, where he continues to contribute. He also supports AIST’s educational initiatives as a trainer at the annual AIST Electric Steelmaking Training Seminar, sharing his experiences to train and mentor emerging professionals in the field.