Past Birmingham Member Chapter Events

Birmingham Member Chapter and Southwest Member Chapter Joint Meeting — November 2024

Birmingham Member Chapter and Southwest Member Chapter

The Birmingham and Southwest Member Chapters held a joint meeting on 18–20 November 2024 at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio Riverwalk, San Antonio, Texas, USA, in conjunction with the AIST Leadership Conference. The day kicked off with a sporting clays shoot at the National Shooting Complex where the 33 attendees enjoyed a great afternoon trying to hit the discs. 

The event continued at the welcome reception where the 79 attendees networked amongst the 21 vendor displays. On 19 November, the day was filled with technical presentations and a roundtable discussion moderated by Sabra Serino, CMC Steel Texas. 

Presentations:

• “ Digital Twin Comparison of Continuous Casting Software to Current Steel Processes,” by Lauren Miller, Nucor Steel–Decatur LLC.
• “Renewable Energy at Hybar,” by Chris Graham, Hybar LLC.
• “ MRT, Nondestructive Inspections,” by Tad Dunville, Unique Group LLC.
• “ Closed Container Initiative,” by Charlie Clark, Nucor-Yamato Steel Co., and Brian Bullock, Nucor Raw Materials Group.
• “ Ergonomics – Prevent Unnecessary Injury and Fatigue,” by Andreas Van Meeteren, Metragro Americas.
• “ The Steel Industry and Global Economy,” by Becky Hites, Steel-Insights LLC.
• “ A Sustainable Way to Make Steel,” by David Stickler, Hybar LLC.

 The event concluded with a plant tour of CMC Steel Texas for the 46 attendees. The Birmingham and Southwest Member Chapters appreciate the sponsors, vendors, presenters and attendees who made the joint meeting a success. The chapter extends a special thanks to CMC Steel Texas for hosting the plant tour.

Trio of Events — March 2024

The AIST Birmingham Member Chapter held a trio of events over two days in Daphne, Ala., USA. On Thursday, 14 March 2024, the chapter was at Homewood Suites by Hilton Mobile/East Bay/Daphne in Daphne, Ala., USA, for a forum, where the discussion focused on topics relevant to the region, including safety and retaining talent. The forum was followed by a networking reception and dinner for the 110 attendees with a keynote presentation from 2023–2024 AIST president Barry T. Schneider, president and chief operating officer, Steel Dynamics Inc. The chapter presented a Member Chapter Outstanding Service Award to chapter secretary-treasurer Kenneth E. Orndoff, southern sales, Lincoln Manufacturing and Hydraulics.

The AIST Project & Construction Management Technology Committee presented the 2023 AIST Project Excellence Award to Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Columbus Division in recognition of the Continuous Galvanizing Line #3, in recognition of successful project execution as related to business, safety, technology, and project management.
On Friday, 15 March 2024, 48 golfers hit the links for a round of golfers at the Rock Creek Golf Club in Fairhope, Ala., USA.

Dinner Meeting — October 2023

On Thursday, 26 October 2023, the Birmingham Member Chapter hosted a dinner meeting at the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Birmingham, Ala., USA. Troy Brooks, president – Engineered Bar Products, Nucor Corp., presented “What Does It Really Take To Make Green Steel?” to the 106 attendees in the audience.

Members of the AIST Birmingham Member Chapter welcomed Troy Brooks, Nucor Corp. (holding plaque), to their dinner meeting on 26 October 2023 in Birmingham, Ala., USA.

Joint Meeting — November 2018

The joint meeting of the AIST Birmingham and Southwest Member Chapters was held in conjunction with the AIST Leadership Conference (see pages 190–194 for a recap of the conference) on 5–7 November 2018 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, La., USA.

On Monday, 5 November, 43 golfers teed off as the misty morning skies cleared at Bayou Oaks South Course.  Later that day, the meeting officially began as 59 registrants networked at the vendor displays and welcome reception alongside the attendees of the Leadership Conference. On Tuesday, 6 November, the following technical presentations were given:

• “New Mill Installation, CMC Oklahoma,” by Jason Jackson, CMC Steel Oklahoma.

• “Human Impact of Visual Aid Technologies with Steel Facilities,” by Chris Machut, Netarus.

• “Designing and Commissioning of Ladle Slidegate Manipulator,” by Sabra Serino, CMC Steel Texas.

• “Slag: What Lies Beneath,” by April Pitts-Baggett, Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc.

• “Fume Evacuation System Upgrade in the Meltshop at CMC Steel Alabama,” by Brandon Washburn, CMC Steel Alabama.

• “Poly-Crystalline Alumina Technology,” by James Smith, Thermabond Refractory Solutions.

• “A Practical Approach to Cost Savings in Modern Steelmaking,” by Chris Thomas, CMC Steel – Alabama.

• “SDI – Structural and Rail Division, Electrode Performance and Optimization,”  by Stephan Ferenczy, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Structural and Rail Division.

• “The Day We Will Remember,” by Ricky Rollins, Ricky Rollins Safety Speeches.

The event concluded with 38 attendees taking an informative plant tour of Nucor Steel Louisiana LLC. The Birmingham and Southwest Member Chapters appreciate the sponsors, exhibitors, presenters and attendees who made the meeting a success.  The chapter thanks Nucor Steel Louisiana LLC for hosting the plant tour.  

3. April Pitts-Baggett of Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc. gave a presentation during the joint chapter annual meeting.

Topgolf Event — June 2018

The AIST Birmingham Member Chapter hosted an event at Topgolf Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala., USA, on Wednesday, 6 June 2018. The 80 attendees included a mix of steelmakers from three plants, various suppliers and 18 students. Participants golfed, networked and enjoyed a keynote presentation from Randy Skagen, vice president and general manager, Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc., and 2017–2018 AIST president.

Dinner Meeting — February 2016

The AIST Birmingham Member Chapter hosted a dinner meeting on Wednesday, 24 February 2016, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Decatur Riverfront in Decatur, Ala., USA.
There were approximately 100 attendees from across the industry at the dinner. The event was highlighted by a keynote presentation from Anna Ehrich and Aimee Cipicchio, Nucor Public Affairs Inc. The presentation, titled, “Steel Trade Issues,” provided insight on how critical the year 2016 will be for the U.S. steel industry, as decisions are expected in three trade cases addressing imports of flat rolled sheet steel into the U.S. Ehrich and Cipicchio also presented April D. Pitts, Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc., with the Birmingham Member Chapter Award and the Board of Directors Recognition Award.

Dinner Meeting — April 2015
The AIST Birmingham Member Chapter held a dinner meeting on Tuesday, 14 April 2015 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., USA. The keynote presentation was given by Gregory Jerman, assistant branch chief, EM31 failure analysis and metallurgy branch for NASA. His presentation, titled “Intelligent Design and Intelligent Failure: Lessons and Insight in NASA Failure Analysis,” discussed both large and small failures and how one’s reaction can make a lasting impact. Fifty attendees participated in the event, including 14 students from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The students were funded by the AIST Foundation’s Steel to Students Member Chapter Connection program.

Joint Meeting with Southwest Member Chapter — November 2014

The Birmingham and Southwest Member Chapters hosted their joint annual meeting in New Orleans, La., USA, on 19–21 November 2014. The meeting was held in conjunction with AIST’s DRI: Logistics, Production and Utilization seminar and the 2014 Leadership Conference. More than 100 attendees participated in the chapter meeting. The event began on Wednesday, 19 November 2014 with a golf outing at the English Turn Golf & Country Club. Fifty-five golfers from the three co-located events participated in the outing. Later that evening, a welcome reception was held and featured vendor displays by 31 companies.

On Thursday, 20 November 2014, the morning program consisted of eight technical presentations: “Nucor Jewett VPP Recertification and Sustainability,” by Randall Selman, Nucor Steel–Texas; “Removing Exposure for the EAF Team,” by Jeremy McAllister, Nucor Steel–Texas; “The Effects of Injecting Calcium Carbide in EAF — NSBHM,” by Trevor Saunders, Nucor Steel Birmingham Inc.; “Microalloying to Develop Third-Generation Advanced High-Strength Steels,” by Haley Doude, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Mississippi State University; “FeSi Residuals and the Effects on Steel Cleanliness,” by April Pitts, Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc; “Laser Cladding Technology — Optimized Overlay for Rolls in Severe Service Environments,” by Michael Breitsameter, Curtiss-Wright; “Rolling Mill Controls Replacement,” by Chris Hilton, CMC Steel Alabama; and “Bar Rolling Mill Metallurgy,” by Ed Druschitz, Nucor Steel Birmingham Inc. During the luncheon, Robert Hunter of Midrex Technologies Inc. presented “Shale Gas — A Revolution in the Energy Sector: Effects on Ironmaking and Steelmaking in America.”  Following the lunch, four technical presentations were held: “The Production of Hot Roll Stainless at AM/NS Calvert,” by Keith Peckey, AM/NS Calvert LLC; “Industrial Hygiene: A Team Approach,” by Ryan Byrd, Nucor Steel–Texas; “Changeover Time  Improvements,” by Eddie Dohoney, CMC Steel Texas; and “Composition Analysis of Multi-Microalloyed Carbide and Carbo-Nitride Precipitates in Nb-Ti Steels,” by Monica Kapoor, University of Alabama. The day concluded with a networking reception, vendor display and dinner with a panel discussion. Panelists included Chris Stout, vice president — trading, The David J. Joseph Co.; Glenn Pushis, vice president — sheet products, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Rolled Div. and 2014–2015 AIST president; and Terry Fedor, executive vice president — U.S. iron ore operations, Cliffs Natural Resources. Donald Bryant of Steel Dynamics Inc., vice chair of the Ohio Valley Member Chapter and past chair of the Birmingham Member Chapter, served as moderator for the panel. April Pitts, Birmingham Member Chapter chair, presented Bryant with the 2014 Outstanding Service Award from the Birmingham Member Chapter for his years of dedicated service on their committee. On Friday, 21 November 2014, attendees of the chapter meeting and the DRI conference participated on a tour of the  ArcelorMittal LaPlace facility in LaPlace, La., USA. Attendees of all three conferences, which totaled more than 350 people, were able to participate in the receptions, breaks, lunch and dinner for optimum networking opportunities. The chapters would like to thank the vendor display participants, sponsors, presenters and participants for making this event a success.

Golf Outing, Dinner Meeting and Tour — April 2014

On Thursday, 3 April 2014, the Birmingham Member Chapter hosted a golf outing, tour of Sloss Furnace and a dinner with a keynote address at the caster shed of Sloss Furnace. The golf outing was held at the Ballantrae Golf Club in Pelham, Ala., USA. There were 70 golfers at the outing. Following the golf outing, 108 participants enjoyed a reception and tour, held at the Sloss Furnace site in Birmingham, Ala., USA. After the tour, a dinner with a keynote presentation was held. An introductory presentation was given by Charles Murphrey of OSI, titled “What Put the Magic in Magic City.” The evening’s keynote presentation was given by Rick Blume, general manager of commercial, Nucor Corp. His presentation was titled “Where We Have Been, Where We Are and Where We Are Going.”

Joint Meeting with the Ohio Valley Member Chapter — September 2013

The AIST Birmingham and Ohio Valley Member Chapters held a joint meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, 23 September–Wednesday 25 September 2013. The event featured a golf outing on Monday, 23 September 2013, followed by a welcome reception and vendor exhibits. On Tuesday, 24 September 2013, 15 technical presentations were held throughout the morning and afternoon. The dinner on Tuesday evening featured a panel discussion with Joe Stratman, executive vice president, Nucor Corp.; Glenn Pushis, vice president and general manager, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Rolled Div.; Steve Henderson, vice president, east region, CMC Americas; and Carl Czarnik, vice president, human resources, Gerdau Long Steel North America. Also at the dinner, Roger Young of Nucor Steel Memphis Inc. and Brett McGee of GrafTech International Holdings Inc. were both recognized for their years of service as Ohio Valley and Birmingham Member Chapter chairs, respectively. The event concluded on Wednesday, 25 September 2013 with a tour of GKN Hoeganaes.