AISTECH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN EARLY MARCH 2025

Since 2017, AIST has hosted a Young Professionals Roundtable at AISTech. The roundtable gave Young Professionals an opportunity to connect and discuss ideas about how AIST can support them as they grow their careers in the steel industry. This program and approach served our early-career iron and steel professionals well for many years; however, the formal Young Professionals Membership Committee, as well as its subcommittees, have now become the primary forum for exchanging and evaluating these ideas and providing further support and resources, rather than utilizing AISTech for this purpose.

In light of this evolution, AIST will hold soft skills training as well as a steel industry leader panel session geared toward Young Professionals concurrently from 3 to 4 p.m., and again from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. 

Advance registration is required and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a maximum capacity of 50 Young Professionals per session.

AIST Members: US$15

Non-Members: US$25

Sponsored by: 
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Agenda:

Professional Development Hours
This program may qualify for up to 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH) credit. Upon completion, attendees may request a certificate outlining the PDH credits earned. Please note, it is the responsibility of the attendee to verify with their certifying body whether these courses meet their requirements.

Program #1:

Own Your Path: Navigating Challenges, Embracing Growth and Finding Balance

Navigating your career is a journey of self-advocacy, resilience and continuous growth. It requires more than technical expertise — it’s about taking intentional steps and embracing challenges. 

This panel will explore how Young Professionals can identify opportunities, find the right mentor and pursue impactful projects. Panelists will share strategies on thriving in stretch roles and turning setbacks into stepping stones toward success. 

Whether you’re climbing the ranks, exploring new opportunities or striving for balance, this discussion will provide actionable insights to help you build your career, as well as equip you with the tools to chart your unique path. 

Moderator: Liz Hunter, Process Engineer, Nucor Corp.

Panelists:

Mark Fedor, President and Chief Executive Officer, Morgan Engineering

Traci Forrester, Executive Vice President, Environmental and Sustainability, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

Barry Schneider, President and Chief Operating Officer, Steel Dynamics Inc.

Program #2:

Networking — The Secret Sauce of Career Success

Unlock the power of connections in this fun, interactive session designed to help you take your career to the next level. This session will demonstrate the importance of building and nurturing professional relationships, demystify the art of networking, and will help you to shift from seeing networking from an intimidating chore to an engaging and enjoyable activity. Through hands-on exercises, group discussions and practical tips, you’ll learn how to build meaningful workplace relationships, navigate networking events with confidence, and create lasting impressions. Whether you’re looking to land your dream job, gain mentors or expand your influence, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies to make networking your career superpower. Get ready to build your confidence, sharpen your skills and grow your network — one authentic connection at a time!

Learning Objectives:

•    Confidently initiate and maintain meaningful conversations in networking settings

•    Identify and apply strategies to build authentic and mutually beneficial professional relationships

•    Develop a personalized action plan to expand and nurture their professional network for long-term career growth

Instructor: Jamie Lewis Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Leadership Psychologist, Pixel Leadership Group