Past Southern California Member Chapter Events

Annual Golf Outing — December 2023
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual golf outing at the Golf Club at Terra Lago and their holiday dinner dance at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., USA, on Saturday, 9 December 2023. Earlier in the day, 66 golfers hit the greens and the festivities flowed into the evening for 70 attendees who enjoyed dinner and dancing.

 
 
Alejandro Torres, California Steel Industries, presented an economic forecast at the Southern California Member Chapter’s meeting on 23 January 2020.

Annual Forecast Meeting — January 2020
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter held its annual forecast meeting at California Steel Industries (CSI) on Thursday, 23 January 2020, in Fontana, Calif., USA. Alejandro Torres, assistant manager of tubular products, California Steel Industries, presented the economic indicators and market outlook for CSI to the 28 members in attendance.

Annual Holiday Golf Outing — December 2019
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual holiday golf outing and dinner dance on Saturday, 7 December 2019, in Indio, Calif., USA. Approximately 56 attendees hit the greens for the golf outing at Golf Club at Terra Lago – North Course, and 100 enjoyed an evening of dinner and dancing at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

Plant Tour — October 2019
On Thursday, 17 October 2019, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted a plant tour for 22 attendees at the Goodyear Rubber Co. in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., USA. The tour was followed by a fellowship dinner at Slater’s 50/50.

Vendor Fair — June 2019
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter held their annual vendor fair on Friday, 7 June 2019, at California Steel Industries in Fontana, Calif., USA. The event hosted 52 vendors and 300 attendees. Following the vendor fair, 53 members and guests attended the Inland Empire 66ers baseball game, an Anaheim Angels affiliate, at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, Calif., USA. 

The Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual vendor fair on 7 June 2019 at California Steel Industries.

 

Annual Senior Project Presentation Night – April 2019
California Steel Industries’ Steel Way Café in Fontana, Calif., USA, was the host location of the Southern California Member Chapter’s annual Senior Project Presentation Night on Thursday, 18 April 2019. 
It was another successful event, as 52 attendees welcomed four presentations from Cal Poly Technical Institutes’ Pomona Campus and three presentations from the University of California–Riverside.

Members of the Southern California Member Chapter celebrated a great night of learning with the students in attendance at the Chapter’s annual Senior Project Presentation Night on Thursday, 18 April 2019, in Fontana, Calif., USA.
 

Annual Holiday Golf Outing and Dinner Dance — December 2018
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual holiday golf outing and dinner dance on Saturday, 8 December 2018, at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., USA. Approximately 44 attendees hit the greens for the golf outing. The Polynesian-themed dinner dance had 89 attendees.

1. A group of attendees volunteered to perform a Samoan dance, led by one of the performers at the Southern California Member Chapter annual holiday dinner dance on 8 December 2018. 2. The Polynesian-themed dinner dance included several performances. 3. Paul Dziak (left) from enprotech, Joshua Minjarez (center) from California Steel Industries Inc., and Reid Winchester (right) from California Steel Industries Inc. participated in the golf outing that kicked off the event.

 

Annual Vendor Fair — May 2018
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter held their annual vendor fair on Friday, 18 May 2018, at California Steel Industries in Fontana, Calif., USA. The event hosted 66 vendors and more than 325 attendees. Following the vendor fair, 26 members and guests attended the Inland Empire 66ers baseball game, a Los Angeles Angels affiliate, at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, Calif., USA. The combined events made for a successful day of networking.

1. The Southern California Member Chapter’s annual vendor fair attracted more than 325 attendees.
2. The vendor fair was held on Friday, 18 May 2018. 3. Later that evening, 26 members and guests attended the Inland Empire 66ers baseball game.

Annual Senior Project Presentation Night — April 2018.
California Steel Industries’ Steel Way Café in Fontana, Calif., USA, was the host location of the AIST Southern California Member Chapter’s annual Senior Project Presentation Night on Thursday, 26 April 2018.
This year, 48 attendees welcomed five presentations from Cal Poly Technical Institutes’ Pomona campus, and two presentations from the University of California – Riverside. The Southern California Member Chapter also made monetary donations to both schools to support the programs and future student projects.

John Marsh (left), Southern California Member Chapter chair, recognized the students in attendance at the chapter’s annual Senior Project Presentation Night on 26 April 2018 in Fontana, Calif., USA.
 

Annual Holiday Golf Outing — January 2018
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter held its annual forecast meeting at California Steel Industries (CSI) on Thursday, 26 January 2018, in Fontana, Calif., USA. Forty-four people were in attendance to hear John Walburg, manager of sales for California Steel Industries, present the economic indicators and market outlook for CSI.

1. John Walburg, manager of sales for California Steel Industries (CSI), spoke at the Southern California Member Chapter annual forecast meeting on 26 January 2018 at CSI in Fontana, Calif., USA. 2. Southern California Member Chapter chair John Marsh (left), California Steel Industries, presented a plaque of appreciation to Walburg (right) for his keynote presentation.
 

Annual Golf Outing and Dinner — December 2017
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual holiday golf outing and dinner dance on Saturday, 9 December 2017, at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., USA. Approximately 120 attendees enjoyed a day of golf, dinner and dancing.

1. The Southern California Member Chapter held its annual holiday golf outing on 9 December (left to right): Robbie Woods, California Steel Industries Inc.; Tony Clifford, Bryce Clifford and Tanner Clifford, all of Red Pointe Roofing. 2. There were 84 attendees at the chapter’s dinner dance at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.

Plant Tour and Dinner — September 2017
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted a plant tour and dinner on Thursday, 21 September 2017. The 21 attendees enjoyed a plant tour of Goodyear Rubber, followed by a networking dinner in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., USA.

Vendor Fair — May 2017
The Southern California Member Chapter held its annual vendor fair on Friday, 19 May 2017, at California Steel Industries Inc. in Fontana, Calif., USA. The event hosted 59 vendors and more than 300 attendees. Following the vendor fair, 30 members and guests attended the Inland Empire 66ers baseball game, an Anaheim Angels affiliate, at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino, Calif. The combined events made for a successful day of networking and chapter member camaraderie.
The Southern California Member Chapter honored long-time member and trade show chair Dan Housel, California Steel Industries Inc., with an AIST Outstanding Member Chapter Service Award for his many years of dedicated service to the chapter.

1. Past and current officers of the Southern California Member Chapter, all employees of California Steel Industries Inc., presented the 2016 Outstanding Member Chapter Service Award to Dan Housel at the chapter’s annual vendor fair on 19 May 2017 (left to right): Robbie Woods, Mario Campa, Housel, Heidi Lamberte, Steve Bunch and John Marsh. 2. The Southern California Member Chapter’s annual vendor fair drew 300 attendees. 3. The Southern California Member Chapter enjoyed a day at the ballpark to watch the Inland Empire 66ers following the vendor fair.
 

Annual Forecast Meeting — January 2017
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual forecast meeting at California Steel Industries Inc. in Fontana, Calif., USA, on Thursday, 26 January 2017. Chapter vice chair Mario Campa, California Steel Industries Inc., served as the master of ceremonies for the 39 attendees. The evening included a social hour, dinner and a steel outlook presentation by Ricardo Bernardes, executive vice president, commercial, California Steel Industries. Chapter secretary-treasurer Steve Bunch said, “Bernardes’ presentation was insightful in that it was not a true forecast or prediction, but rather a discussion about economic indicators and trends that, when taken as a whole, paint an encouraging picture for the prospects of another good year for the steel industry.”
The night concluded with the presentation of a plaque to Bernardes and a door prize raffle.

1. Ricardo Bernardes gave the keynote address at the chapter’s annual forecast meeting on 26 January 2017. 2. Mario Campa (right) presented a plaque of appreciation to Ricardo Bernardes (left) for his keynote address.

Annual Holiday Golf Outing — December 2016
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual holiday golf outing and dinner dance on Saturday, 3 December 2016, at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., USA. Approximately 120 attendees capped off the day with an enjoyable evening of dinner and dancing. 

Vendor Fair — May 2016
On Friday, 13 May 2016, the AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted their annual vendor fair at California Steel Industries Inc. in Fontana, Calif., USA. There were 67 exhibitors and more than 500 attendees at the event.
The following day, on Saturday, 14 May 2016, 60 participants ventured out for “Fish for a Cure,” a deep-sea fishing excursion at H&M Landing in San Diego, Calif., USA. All registration proceeds from the expedition went to charity to support finding a cure for cancer.  

The AIST Southern California Member Chapter held is annual vendor fair on 13 May 2016 in Fontana, Calif., USA. 
Sixty participants enjoyed a day of fishing on the water to “Fish for a Cure” on Saturday, 14 May in San Diego, Calif., USA.


Student Project Presentation Night Dinner Meeting — April 2016
On Thursday, 14 April 2016, the AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual Student Project Presentation Night dinner meeting at the California Steel Industries Inc. cafeteria in Fontana, Calif., USA. Four teams of students from California State Polytechnic University – Pomona’s senior metallurgy class presented their projects. A total of 34 people were in attendance to enjoy the presentations and to ask questions.

1. Senior metallurgy students from California State Polytechnic University – Pomona participated in the Southern California Member Chapter Student Project Presentation Night at California Steel Industries Inc. on 14 April 2016. 2. Southern California Member Chapter chair Dan Housel (left), California Steel Industries Inc., and Southern California Member Chapter secretary-treasurer Mike Olson (right), California Steel Industries Inc., presented a check for US$5,000 to Dr. Vilupanur A. Ravi, department chair, California State Polytechnic University – Pomona, for the purchase of new lab equipment on behalf of the Southern California Member Chapter at their meeting on 14 April 2016.

Forecast Meeting — January 2016
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter held its annual forecast meeting for 2016 on Thursday, 28 January 2016 at California Steel Industries Inc. in Fontana, Calif., USA, with 62 attendees. Ricardo Bernardes, executive vice president, commercial for California Steel Industries, spoke about the steel market in the United States as well as on the west coast.

Holiday Golf Outing — December 2015
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual holiday golf outing and dinner dance on Saturday, 5 December 2015 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., USA. The sunny skies brought out 85 golfers, and 116 attendees capped off the day with an enjoyable evening of dinner and dancing featuring a keynote presentation by George Koenig, director — global business and technology development, Iron & Steel, Hatch Associates Inc., and current AIST president.

 
 
Rod Hoover, human resources manager at California Steel Industries, provided an overview of the intern program at the Southern California Member Chapter’s student event in October. 

Vocational Student Tour, Roundtable Discussion and Dinner — October 2015
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted a vocational student tour, California Steel Industries Inc. (CSI) electrical and mechanical intern roundtable discussion, and dinner on Thursday, 22 October 2015 at CSI in Fontana, Calif., USA. With students, vendors and CSI personnel, there was a total of 82 for dinner in the new Steel Way Café. The student participants toured CSI’s hot mill, pickle line, 5-stand cold reduction mill and No. 2 galvanizing line. The roundtable discussion was lively and informative, and touched on CSI’s mechanical internship program for 2016.
Rod Hoover, human resources manager from CSI, opened the roundtable discussion with a history of the intern program at CSI and some of the expectations of the people who may participate. 

Presentation and Dinner Meeting — September 2015
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted a technical presentation and dinner at the California Steel Industries Inc. cafeteria in Fontana, Calif., USA, on Thursday, 24 September 2015. The technical presentation discussed the CCP/Bender machine. There were 26 attendees at the dinner.

Vendor Fair and Golf Outing — May 2015
On Thursday, 14 May 2015, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual vendor fair at the California Steel Industries cafeteria. There were more than 100 exhibitors — a new record for the fair — and nearly 800 attendees at the event. The Southern California Chapter hosted a golf outing the following day at Jurupa Hills Country Club in Riverside, Calif., USA. The golf outing was nearly sold out with 140 participants.

Student Project Presentation Night Dinner Meeting — April 2015
On Thursday, 30 April 2015, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual student project presentation night dinner meeting at the California Steel Industries Inc. cafeteria in Fontana, Calif., USA. Sixteen students presented four different topics concerning metals. One of the presentations dealt with metals used for hip and knee transplants and how the body naturally erodes the metal. A total of 34 attendees enjoyed listening to the challenges faced with pitting and erosion of metals and ways to prevent or slow down this process.

Business Forecast — January 2015
On Thursday, 22 January 2015, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual business forecast meeting at the California Steel Industries’ cafeteria in Fontana, Calif., USA. There were 66 attendees. Ricardo Bernardes, executive vice president of California Steel Industries, presented the 2015 forecast. Also at the meeting, Dan Vest and C.C. Vest, owners of Midpoint Bearing, were presented with a plaque of recognition for their unwavering support of the Southern California Member Chapter as Midpoint Bearing celebrates 30 years in business.

Golf Tournament and Dinner Dance — December 2014
The Southern California Member Chapter’s annual golf tournament and dinner dance was held on Saturday, 7 December 2014 in Indio, Calif., USA. The day began with a golf tournament at the Eagle Falls Country Club course, which drew a total of 74 golfers. That evening, 110 attendees enjoyed dinner, dancing and networking at the Fantasy Springs Resort.

Student Presentation Night — November 2014
On Thursday, 6 November 2014, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted an Engineering Students Night, with 31 students from Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and 24 other attendees. The attendees toured the hot mill, pickle line, cold reduction mill and No. 2 galvanizing line at California Steel Industries (CSI) in Fontana, Calif., USA. Following the tour, Richard Bastar IV of Nalco Co. gave a presentation titled “Water Treatment and Its Applications in the Steel Industry.” Also at the event, a panel of young CSI engineers and metallurgists participated in a question and answer session, during which students were encouraged to ask questions regarding transition into working for a steel company and what training CSI provides. Panelists included Colin Welshymer, Tom Krenek, Neal Hardin and Ryan Barrows — all California Steel Industries employees.

Plant Tour and Dinner Meeting  September 2014
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted at tour of the Steelscape facility in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., USA, followed by a dinner meeting at California Steel Industries’ cafeteria in Fontana, Calif., USA, on 18 September 2014. Thirty attendees participated in this event.

Golf Outing — May 2014 
The Southern California Member Chapter golf outing was held on Friday, 16 May 2014 at the Jurupa Hills Country Club in Riverside, Calif., USA. This year’s outing included 132 golfers. Proceeds from the vendor fair and golf outing benefit the AIST Southern California Member Chapter scholarship fund.

Vendor Fair — May 2014 
On Thursday, 15 May 2014, the Southern California Member Chapter’s annual vendor fair was held at the California Steel Industries cafeteria in Fontana, Calif., USA. This was a record-breaking event for the chapter. With more than 83 exhibiting companies, the expanded exhibit space was sold out. Many thanks to this year’s participating companies for helping to make this event a success.

Student Project Presentation Dinner Meeting — April 2014 
On Thursday, 17 April 2014, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual Student Project Presentation Night at California Steel Industries in Fontana, Calif., USA. Presentation topics included: Pack Cementation Coating of 304 Stainless Steel, High-Temperature Oxidation of Uncoated and Coated Steels, Hot Corrosion Studies of Ni-Cr Alloys, Aqueous Corrosion of Advanced Titanium Alloys and High-Temperature Composites. Twenty-six students from Cal-Poly Pomona participated in the event, along with 25 additional attendees.

Western Conference — March 2014
The AIST Western Conference, a biennial meeting hosted by the AIST Northwest, San Francisco and Southern California Member Chapters, was held on Thursday, 27 March–Saturday, 29 March 2014 at the Westin Seattle in Seattle, Wash., USA. The event kicked off on Thursday, 27 March with a tour of the boutique wineries of Washington. Attendees gathered that evening for a vendor display and networking reception at the Westin Seattle.
On Friday, 28 March, technical presentations were held during the morning and afternoon and included:

• “Meltshop Baghouse Fan Blade Upgrade Project,” Mark Drymalla, Nucor Steel–Texas
• “CSI Safety and Voluntary Protection Programs,” Robbie Woods, California Steel Industries
• “Eliminating Falls Through Safety Partnerships,” Tony Clifford, Red Pointe Roofing
• “Improvements to Chemical Analysis,” Kelly Kurisu, Nucor Steel Seattle Inc.
• “Steel Mill Water Treatment Best Practices,” John Zora, Nalco Co.
• “Outside the Box — Rethinking the Traditional Reservoir,” Dan Helgerson, Cascade Steel Rolling Mills
• “The State of Filtration for Fluid Circuits in the Steel Industry,” Dale Hodge, HYDAC
• “The Steam Engine Creates the Next Industrial Revolution,” Bill Hunter, Airclean Technologies Inc.
• “Wipe Out — Automatic Jet Knife Wiping,” Marshall Hood, Steelscape LLC
• “LAP Gauge Performance at Nucor Steel Seattle,” Tudor Gheorghiu, Nucor Steel Seattle Inc.
• “Protective Relay Upgrades at Cascade Steel,” Tim Burttram, Cascade Steel Rolling Mills
• “R-Factor Practices by Rolling Mill Personnel,” Tracy Schutz, Nucor Steel Seattle Inc., and Joe Kennedy, Quad Engineering Inc.
• “‘CSI 86’” Hot Strip Mill Finish Mill Roll Cooling Upgrade,” Dan Krauss, California Steel Industries Inc.
• “Enabling Structures and Mechanisms in Nanostructured Advanced High-Strength Steel,” Andrew Frerichs, The NanoSteel Co.

That evening, a networking reception and vendor fair were held, followed by a dinner which included a keynote presentation by David Hodory, vice president of marketing and communications, the David J. Joseph Co.
On Saturday, 29 March, a tour was given of the Nucor Steel Seattle Inc. facilities. There were more than 90 attendees at the event. Special thanks to the sponsors, 14 exhibitors, presenters and all those who attended for supporting this event. The next Western Conference will be held in 2016 in Southern California.

Business Forecast — February 2014
On Thursday, 27 February 2014, the Southern California Member Chapter held its annual forecast meeting at California Steel Industries in Fontana, Calif. Following a happy hour social and dinner, Ricardo Bernardes, executive vice president, commercial at California Steel Industries, presented the 2014 Steel Industry Forecast. There were 60 attendees, and the presentation was informative and well received by all. 

Golf Tournament and Dinner Dance — November 2013
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter’s annual golf tournament and dinner dance was held on Saturday, 16 November 2013 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif., USA. The day began with the golf tournament at the Westin Mission Hills’ Pete Dye Course with a total of 80 golfers. That evening, 100 attendees enjoyed dinner, dancing and networking.

Golf Outing — September 2013
On Friday, 6 September 2013, the Southern California Member Chapter golf outing was held at the Jurupa Hills Country Club in Riverside, Calif. There were 120 participants in the outing, which helps to raise money for the chapter’s scholarship fund. Every year a charity is chosen to receive US$1,500 of the profits plus half of the 50/50 raffle ticket sales. This year, the chapter had the opportunity to donate a total of US$2,475 to Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. This would not have been possible without the generous donations from vendors and suppliers.

Vendor Fair — May 2013
On Thursday, 16 May, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual vendor fair inside the California Steel Industries gymnasium in Fontana, Calif. The number of participating companies nearly doubled from previous years, for a total of 45 tabletop displays. Proceeds from this event will help fund the AIST Southern California Member Chapter’s new scholarship.

Student Project Presentation Dinner Meeting — April 2013
On 18 April 2013, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted a Cal Poly Pomona Project Presentation Night dinner. Four projects were presented by students from the university. Sixteen students participated, and there were 37 total attendees at the meeting.

Informational Presentation to Students — March 2013
On 14 March 2013, the Southern California Member Chapter gave a presentation to the Cal Poly Pomona Material Advantage Student Chapter about AIST and the Southern California Member Chapter, as well as opportunities in the steel industry. Students and members of the Southern California Member Chapter executive committee also participated in a question and answer session.

Business Forecast Dinner Meeting — January 2013
The AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual business forecast meeting at the California Steel Industries cafeteria on Thursday, 10 January 2013. Toshiyuki “Ted” Tamai, president and chief executive officer, California Steel Industries, presented the forecast. There were 64 attendees at the dinner.

Holiday Golf Outing and Dinner Dance — November 2012
On Saturday, 17 November, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted their annual holiday golf outing and dinner dance at the La Quinta Resort & Spa in La Quinta, Calif. The event was held in conjunction with AIST’s Leadership Conference and the Making, Shaping and Treating of Steel: 101 training course. There were 87 golfers who participated in the outing and more than 137 attendees at the dinner dance. Dinner dance entertainment was provided by the Rockit Scientists.

Dinner Meeting — October 2012
On Thursday, 18 October, the Southern California Member Chapter hosted a dinner at the California Steel Industries cafeteria in Fontana, Calif. Vilupanur A. Ravi, professor and chair, Chemical and Materials Engineering Department of California State Polytechnic University, was the keynote presenter for the evening. Fourteen people attended the meeting.

Golf Outing — September 2012
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted a golf outing on Friday, 7 September 2012, at the Jurupa Hills Country Club in Riverside, Calif. There were 131 attendees at the outing. The chapter also donated $1,500 to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. In addition, the 50/50 raffle was donated to Relay for Life for an additional $1,012. During the event, chapter leadership for the 2012–2013 year was discussed, and the announcement was made that the chapter will again be offering its Member Chapter and Engineering scholarships for $1,500 each.

Vendor Fair — May 2012
On Thursday, 17 May 2012, the AIST Southern California Member Chapter hosted its annual vendor fair at the California Steel Industries cafeteria in Fontana, Calif. There were a total of 26 vendors at the vendor fair. This year, more attendees supported the vendors and suppliers than ever before, including companies that had not been represented in years past. Proceeds from the event will benefit the AIST Southern California Member Chapter Scholarship Fund, which was established in 2011.

Student Project Presentation Dinner Meeting — April 2012
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted a dinner meeting with student presentations on Thursday, 19 April 2012 at the California Steel Industries cafeteria in Fontana, Calif. There were 60 people present at the meeting, which was a great turnout. Presentations included: “Aluminide Coatings on 304 Stainless Steel,” by Shaghik Abolian, Thomas Krenek, Stephanie Salas, Kevin Smith and Armen Kutyan; “Hot Corrosion of Nickel-Chromium Alloys,” by Nicholas Agee-Acosta, Brian Wozniak, Armando Coronado and Obed Villalpando; “Aqueous Corrosion of Advanced Titanium Alloys,” by Warintra Chantrjaroen, Carlos Beecher and Amina Razzak; and “Aluminum-Based Ceramic Composites,” by Antonio Jauregui, Harut Anjunyan, John Kessler and Mary Ann Pham. All of the presentations were made by students from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Western Conference — March 2012
The AIST San Francisco, Northwest and Southern California Member Chapters joined together for the biannual AIST Western Conference. This year’s event was hosted by the San Francisco Member Chapter. The event was held on 1–2 March 2012 at the Marriott San Francisco Union Square in sunny San Francisco, California. There were 73 full conference attendees.
The event opened on Thursday, 1 March with a golf outing at the Harding Park Golf Course, which hosted 52 golfers. There was also a plant tour at USS-POSCO Industries in Pittsburg, Calif., with 25 attendees. A welcome reception was held that evening and featured vendor exhibits from 17 participating companies. Friday’s program opened with a gathering in the vendor display area for breakfast. After breakfast, technical paper sessions were held and lasted through the afternoon. Eight technical papers were presented from USS-POSCO Industries, AirClean Technologies, Nucor Steel Seattle Inc. and California Steel Industries. That evening, a dinner was held and featured a keynote presentation by Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics. Mr. Thornberg’s presentation was entitled, “Recovering From the Recovery.” Also at the dinner, the AIST Reliability Achievement Silver Award was presented to USS-POSCO Industries by Colleen Reeves, chair of AIST’s Maintenance & Reliability Technology Committee. John Cox accepted the award. AIST Executive Director Ron Ashburn was also in attendance and gave a brief overview of AISTech 2012 — The Iron & Steel Technology Conference and Exposition. The San Francisco Member Chapter would like to thank the sponsors, attendees, vendors and presenters who helped make this year’s event a success. The Northwest Member Chapter will host the next Western Conference in 2014.

Dinner Meeting — January 2012
The Southern California Member Chapter hosted their annual business forecast at the California Steel Industries cafeteria on Thursday, 12 January 2012. The 2012 Steel Industry Forecast was presented by Vicente Wright, president and chief executive officer of California Steel Industries. The dinner was also “significant other” night. Attendees were encouraged to bring their significant others to the dinner and experience an AIST Member Chapter meeting. There were 75 attendees at the event.