SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Kelly Dallas
Senior Director, Engineering
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

Kelly Dallas is the senior director of engineering for Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. She is responsible for managing the capital budget for the steelmaking facilities as well as the engineering teams for the Northwest and Ohio Valley plants. Her career began with legacy company Bethlehem Steel in 1999 in the Burns Harbor engineering department and has taken on increasing responsibilities in the engineering departments of the legacy companies. Dallas served on the AIST Board of Directors from 2016 to 2018 and is a past chair of the AIST Foundation Material Advantage Committee and the AIST Midwest Member Chapter. In 2011, she received the 2011 Outstanding Service Award from the Midwest Member Chapter. Dallas currently serves as chair the AIST University-Industry Relations Roundtable, the AIST Project & Construction Management Technology Committee, and the AIST Women in Steel Committee. She was honored with an AIST Presidential Citation Award in 2014 for her work in promoting AIST reaching beyond colleges to high schools, and again in 2024 for her dedication to the success of AIST and the AIST Foundation programs to encourage interest from across a broad and diverse spectrum of membership. She received the 2017 Influential Women of Northwest Indiana Award for Construction/Manufacturing. Dallas is featured in the book Women in Steel, Women of Steel: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. She received her B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University Northwest (and was named 2008 Outstanding Alumni in Mechanical Engineering) and an M.B.A. from Indiana University.

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.

Cahalan Gibson
Caster/Vacuum Task Degasser Manager
SSAB Special Steels

Cahalan Gibson is the caster/VTD manager at SSAB Alabama, where she oversees vital operations in the production of high-performance specialty steels. With over 20 years of experience in the metals industry, Cahalan expertise across multiple facets of metallurgy and manufacturing, including aluminum smelting, foundry operations, refractory manufacturing, and steelmaking. Beyond her technical role, Cahalan is an active member of SSAB's Inclusion and Diversity Committee, where she promotes a culture of inclusivity and equity within the organization. She is a strong advocate for fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and all employees have the opportunity to thrive. Her commitment to these values is evident in her efforts to drive organizational change and promote practices that support diversity and inclusion. Her leadership is characterized by her dedication to both excellence in industry standards and the cultivation of a positive workplace culture. Her contributions extend beyond her department, impacting the broader organizational goals of innovation, sustainability and community engagement.

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin
Founder
Pleasantly Aggressive Coaching & ConsultingRebecca 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.

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.

Amy Woods
Quality Manager
Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division

Amy Woods is the quality manager at Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) – Flat Roll Group Butler Division. Woods graduated with her B.S. (2008) and M.S. (2010) degrees in materials science and engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. During college, she played soccer for four years and coached two years while working on her research and thesis focused on powder metallurgy compaction and manufacturing. She began her career at Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division in 2010 as a hot mill process metallurgist, with increasing responsibilities, including the start-up of a new hot band processing line. In 2015, Woods took on the role of galvanized product metallurgist for the two galvanizing lines at the Butler facility, as well as supervising the cold mill testing lab. At the end of 2024, she was promoted to the quality manager at Butler, where she oversees the quality systems, customer feedback and claims, outside processing and the testing lab.  Alongside her metallurgy role, Woods organizes and rides in the yearly Tour de Plants charity bike ride for SDI.