Past Ohio Valley Member Chapter Events

Networking Event — May 2024
The Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted a networking event during AISTech 2024 at Gaswerks in Columbus, Ohio, USA, on Monday, 6 May 2024. Seventy-five attendees registered to socialize and share in the fellowship.

On Thursday, 13 June, the chapter offered a plant tour of Cleveland-Cliffs Tubular Components in Columbus, Ind., USA, for 26 attendees. The tour was followed by a reception and dinner meeting at Upland Columbus Pump House with two presentations focused on steel decarbonization, technologies and strategies. Traci Forrester, executive vice president, Environment and Sustainability, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., and Jörg Brinckmann, vice president of Business Development and Sales, SMS group Inc., shared their insights to the group of 42 professionals in attendance.

Members of the Ohio Valley Member Chapter executive committee presented plaques of appreciation to Traci Forrester and Jörg Brinckmann for their keynote presentations (left to right): Carl Garringer; Kevin Morrow; Luis Garza; Forrester; Brinckmann; Talli Bertke and Mark Shircliff.

Twenty-six attendees enjoyed an informative tour of Cleveland-Cliffs Tubular Components in Columbus, Ind., USA,
on 13 June 2024.

Networking Event — September 2023
It was a great night at Topgolf Louisville in Louisville, Ky., USA, on Thursday, 14 September 2023. The group of 18 attendees enjoyed an evening of golf and networking.


Networking Event — June 2023
The Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted an evening of networking and skeet shooting at the St. Joe Valley Conservation Club in St. Joe Ind., USA, on Thursday, 29 June 2023. Following two flights of shooting and dinner, the crowd of 75 attendees were treated to a keynote presentation from Barry T. Schneider, president and chief operating officer, Steel Dynamics Inc. and 2023–2024 AIST president.

Lee Hogue (left) of Systems Clean Air presented raffle winner Jim Van Lue (right), PRCO America, with his prize of a Yeti cooler.

2023–2024 AIST president Barry T. Schneider spoke to attendees at the Ohio Valley Member Chapter event on 29 June 2023.

The Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted 75 attendees at their skeet shooting event.

Networking Event — April 2023
The Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted a networking event during AISTech 2023 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Mich., USA, on Monday, 8 May 2023. Forty-one attendees stopped by to socialize and share in the fellowship.


Dinner Meeting — March 2023
The Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted a dinner meeting at Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, Ind., USA, on Thursday, 9 March 2023. The meeting featured a doubleheader of keynote presenters including Brian K. Bishop, executive vice president, commercial, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., and Johnny E. Jacobs, vice president and general manager, Nucor Steel Brandenburg. The audience of 120 enjoyed an evening of networking and benefitted from two informative presentations from industry executives.

Brian K. Bishop (1.) of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Johnny E. Jacobs (2.) of Nucor Steel Brandenburg spoke at the Ohio Valley Member Chapter’s dinner meeting on 9 March 2023.

Social Event — September 2022
On Thursday, 29 September 2022, the Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted a social event at Topgolf West Chester in West Chester, Ohio, USA. Fifty-six attendees enjoyed an evening of golf, dinner and networking.


Annual Meeting — November 2019
The Ohio Valley Member Chapter annual meeting was held in conjunction with the AIST Leadership Conference (see pages 146–151 for a recap of the conference) on 17–19 November 2019 at The Peabody Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., USA.

On Sunday, 17 November 2019, 36 golfers braved a brisk but dry day on the course at Mirimichi Golf Course. Later that day, the meeting officially began as 68 registrants networked at the vendor displays and welcome reception alongside the attendees of the AIST Leadership Conference. 

A group from the Ohio Valley Member Chapter annual meeting toured Nucor-Yamato Steel Co. in Blytheville, Ark., USA.

On Monday, 18 November, the following technical presentations were given:

  • “Discovery of New Magnesia Source Extends Performance of MgO-Carbon in EAF, BOF and Ladles,” by Bill Porter, PRCO America.

  • “Safety — Risk Analysis,” by Malcom Dunbar, Edw. C. Levy Co.

  • “Application of a Man-Less, On-Demand Immersion Optical Temperature Measurement Device at the EAF,” by Paul Turner, Heraeus Electro-Nite Co. LLC.

  • “Casting Robotics,” by Jeremiah Brandon, Vesuvius.

  • “Process Improvements With Equipment and Data,” by Bobby Newcomb, Nucor-Yamato Steel Co.

  • “Sub-Surface Calcium Wire Injection for Thin-Slab Casting,” by David Helmick, MINTEQ International.

  • “Keeping Critical Spaces Clean Using Room Pressurization With Self-Maintained Air Cleaner,” by Josh Longmire, The Systems Group.

  • “Refractory Changes and Implementation at Nucor-Yamato,” by Erin O’Neill, Nucor-Yamato Steel Co. and Missouri University of Science and Technology.

  • “Safety Improvements at SDI Butler,” by Yury Krotov, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler Division.

The Chapter offered plant tours of either Big River Steel or Nucor-Yamato Steel Co. to attendees. The Ohio Val-ley Member Chapter is grateful to the sponsors, exhibitors, presenters and attendees who made the meeting a success. The Chapter also appreciates Big River Steel and Nucor-Yamato Steel Co. for hosting the plant tours.

Attendees at the Ohio Valley Member Chapter annual meeting had the opportunity to tour Big River Steel in Osceola, Ark., USA, on Monday, 18 November 2019.

Several students attended the Northern Chapter dinner meeting on 26 November 2019 in Burlington, Ont., Canada, by registering through the AIST Foundation’s Steel to Students program.

Erin O’Neill, co-op, Nucor-Yamato Steel Co., and student, Missouri University of Science and Technology, gave her first technical presentation at the Ohio Valley Member Chapter meeting on Monday, 18 November 2019 in Memphis, Tenn., USA.

Dinner Meeting — April 2018
The AIST Ohio Valley Member Chapter dinner featured a keynote presentation from Randy Skagen, vice president and general manager, Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc., and the 2017–2018 AIST president. The audience of 65 professionals networked and enjoyed Skagen’s presentation, “Nucor: Making Steel Great Again,” on Tuesday, 10 April 2018, at the Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, Ind., USA


Joint Meeting with the Southwest Member Chapter — March 2017
The Ohio Valley and Southwest Member Chapters held their joint annual meeting 27–29 March 2017 at The Peabody Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., USA. On Monday, 27 March, 26 golfers teed off as the first golfers of the season at Mirimichi Golf Course. Later that day, the meeting officially began as 82 registrants networked at the vendor displays and welcome reception. On Tuesday, 28 March, the following technical presentations were given:

  • Torque Limiting Couplings,” by Christof Lautwein, president, and Cullen Ketcham, director of sales, Malmedie Inc.

  • Nucor Yamato Products and Process,” by Frank Whitaker, process metallurgist, Nucor-Yamato Steel Co.

  • Process Improvements of the LMF,” by Madeline Jennings, student, Texas State University.

  • Benefits of Material and Equipment Tracking Automation in the Metals Industry,” by Edgardo La Bruna, partner, Janus Automation.

  • Safety Approach to Water Leaks in the EAF,” by Anthony Klippel, meltshop superintendent, Gerdau Long Steel North America.

  • New Material Handling Facility — Round Billets,” by Josh Hughes, roll mill mechanical engineer, Nucor Steel–Texas.

  • Caster Process Improvements,” by Sabra Serino, meltshop technical assistant, Commercial Metals Company – Texas.

  • Wave Mold Experience at Gerdau Jackson Mill,” by Steve Overacker, improvement facilitator, Gerdau Long Steel North America Jackson Mill.

  • HSM Cleveland Works,” by Jeff Mason, vice president of sales, Integrated Mill Systems.

  • Danieli Bar Gauge Installation,” by Alan Speir, production coordinator, Commercial Metals Company – Texas.

  • Yield Improvements at SDI Structural Rail Division,” by Stephan Ferenczy, meltshop manager, Steel Dynamics Inc. – Structural and Rail Division; and Matt Hallam, caster metallurgist, Steel Dynamics Inc.

A keynote speech by Mark Davis, meltshop manager, and Steven Gage, chief metallurgist, Nucor Steel Memphis Inc., capped off the dinner on Tuesday evening. The event concluded with 48 attendees taking an informative plant tour of Nucor Steel’s Memphis facility. 
The Ohio Valley and Southwest Member Chapters appreciate the sponsors, exhibitors, presenters and attendees who made the annual meeting a success. The chapters thank Nucor Steel Memphis Inc. for hosting the plant tour.

Ohio Valley Member Chapter officers attended the chapter’s annual meeting on 27–29 March 2017, along with representatives from Nucor Steel Memphis Inc. (left to right): Steven Gage, Nucor Steel Memphis Inc.; secretary-treasurer Mark Shircliff, American Roller Bearing Co.; chair Rob Hruskoci, Advanced Industrial Marketing; Tony Faulds and Mark Davis, Nucor Steel Memphis Inc.; and vice chair Darrell Sturgill, IMERYS.

Representatives from Nucor Steel Memphis Inc. were presented with a plaque in appreciation of hosting the plant tour on 29 March 2017 (left to right): Wade Hedrick, Nucor Steel–Texas; Sabra Serino, Commercial Metals Company – Texas; David Gleason and Tony Faulds, Nucor Steel Memphis Inc.; and Cole Walker, Commercial Metals Company – Arkansas.

Mike Davis (left) was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his keynote speech at the Ohio Valley and Southwest Member Chapter joint annual meeting (left to right): Darrell Sturgill, Ohio Valley Member Chapter vice chair, IMERYS; Cole Walker; Southwest Member Chapter vice chair Sabra Serino; Ohio Valley Member Chapter secretary-treasurer Mark Shircliff; Davis; Ohio Valley Member Chapter chair Rob Hruskoci, Advanced Industrial Marketing; and Steven Gage, Nucor Steel Memphis Inc.

Dinner Meeting — March 2017
The Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted a dinner meeting at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, in downtown Indianapolis, Ind., USA, on Wednesday, 8 March 2017. Wendell Carter, vice president and general manager ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor, and AIST 2016–2017 president, was the evening’s keynote presenter. Several members of the audience of 54 posed questions following Carter’s presentation “ArcelorMittal’s Role in Steel Industry Challenges.”


Plant Tour and Dinner Meeting — October 2014
The AIST Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted a plant tour and dinner meeting on Thursday, 16 October 2014. The day began with a tour at Steel Dynamics Inc. – Structural and Rail Div. in Columbia City, Ind., USA. Thirty-five attendees participated in the tour of the facility. Rob Simon, vice president and general manager of Steel Dynamics Inc. – Structural and Rail Div., provided a brief overview of the plant for the tour attendees. Later that afternoon, attendees enjoyed a reception and dinner at the Hotel Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Ind., USA. The keynote presentation was given by Glenn A. Pushis, vice president of sheet products at Steel Dynamics Inc., general manager of Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Rolled Div. and the 2014–2015 AIST president. His presentation discussed the state of the association, followed by a discussion about culture as strategy.


Joint Meeting with the Birmingham 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.


Plant Tour and Dinner Meeting — March 2013
On Thursday, 21 March 2013, the Ohio Valley Chapter held a plant tour and dinner in Indianapolis, Ind. The plant tour was of the Nucor Steel–Indiana facility in Crawfordsville, Ill. Attendees also attended a dinner meeting at the Omni Severin following the tour. Mr. Ron Dickerson, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel–Indiana. Seventy-two people attended the plant tour, including students from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The students were sponsored by the AIST Foundation as part of the Steel to Students Member Chapter Connection. There were 105 attendees at the dinner.


Plant Tour and Dinner Meeting — September 2012
On Thursday, 6 September 2012, the Ohio Valley Member Chapter hosted a plant tour and dinner meeting at the Westin Memphis Beale Street Hotel in Memphis, Tenn. Attendees departed for the plant tour in the morning, and they enjoyed lunch and a tour of Nucor Steel Memphis Inc. Following the tour, a reception and dinner were held, which featured a keynote presentation by David Sumoski, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel Memphis Inc. There were 28 plant tour attendees and 128 dinner attendees. The Ohio Valley Member Chapter would like to thank Peggy McKnight and Carolyn Stracener from Nucor Steel Memphis Inc. for their assistance in organizing the tour and lunch, and also to the attendees and sponsors for making this event a great success.