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U. S. Steel Names Three New Leaders for State Governmental Affairs
12/21/2007 - United States Steel announces three appointments with responsibility for governmental affairs in a number of states in which the company operates, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Texas.
United States Steel Corp. announced the following appointments with responsibility for governmental affairs in a number of the states in which the company operates.
- Jill E. Ritchie was named Manager—State Governmental Affairs for Indiana and Michigan.
- Paul E. Vercher was named Manager—State Governmental Affairs for Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
- Katherine Lawrence was named Manager—State Governmental Affairs for Illinois and Minnesota.
Indiana, Michigan—In her new position, Jill Ritchie will be located at Gary Works and will report to Christopher J. Masciantonio, General Manager—State Governmental Affairs. She will oversee U. S. Steel's state and local governmental affairs in Indiana and Michigan. Locations within her area of coverage include:
- Gary Works in Gary, Ind., the largest integrated steelmaking facility in the United States
- East Chicago Tin, a tinning facility in East Chicago, Ind.
- Midwest Plant, a finishing facility in Portage, Ind.
- Great Lakes Works, an integrated steelmaking facility in Ecorse and River Rouge, Mich.
- The Automotive Center, a sales and research facility in Troy, Mich.
- ProCoil Co., a processing and distribution subsidiary in Canton, Mich.
- Two finishing joint ventures in Dearborn and Jackson, Mich.
"Jill has been an effective contributor to U. S. Steel's Governmental Affairs efforts since joining our department in 2006," said Masciantonio. "She has spent a significant amount of time working with elected leaders, community organizations and government agencies on issues that are important to our Indiana and Michigan operations and the employees who work there. Under Jill's newly expanded leadership role, we expect to increase the effectiveness of our company's ability to achieve results when working with state and local government agencies and elected officials on issues important to steel manufacturing."
Ritchie joined U. S. Steel's Governmental Affairs Department after spending five years as an attorney in the company's Law Department, where she specialized in workers' compensation litigation in the Labor and Employment section. Before arriving at U. S. Steel in 2001, Ritchie was a labor and employment attorney at a major Pittsburgh-based law firm.
Ritchie earned her bachelor's degree in public and environmental affairs with a specialization in government policy from Indiana University, Bloomington and obtained a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law.
Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas—In his newly created role, Paul E. Vercher will be based at the company’s integrated steelmaking plant in Fairfield, Ala., and will also cover tubular products production and service facilities in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Like Ritchie, Vercher will also report to Christopher J. Masciantonio, General Manager—State Governmental Affairs.
"Paul brings over 13 years of direct governmental affairs experience to this position. His broad-based knowledge of local, state and federal issues combined with his extensive contacts in Montgomery, Ala., and Washington, D.C., will be a tremendous asset for U. S. Steel," said Masciantonio. "Under his leadership, we expect to increase the effectiveness of our company's ability to achieve results when working with state and local government agencies and elected officials on issues important to steel manufacturing."
Prior to joining U. S. Steel, Vercher served as Vice President of Public Policy for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Previous professional experience includes tenures as Director of former Alabama Gov.
Fob James' Office of Business Advocacy, and as a lobbyist for the Alabama Rural Electric Association and the Business Council of Alabama. He also served as a coordinator for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby's constituent activities in Alabama.
Vercher holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Alabama, earned an Institute for Organization Management designation from the University of Georgia, and is in his final semester of a four-year juris doctor degree program at the Birmingham School of Law.
Illinois, Minnesota—In her new position, Katherine Lawrence will be responsible for U. S. Steel’s state and local governmental affairs in Illinois and Minnesota. She will be based at the company’s integrated steelmaking facility in Granite City, Ill., and will also cover the company’s iron ore mines and pelletizing facilities in Mountain Iron and Keewatin, Minn. Lawrence will also report to Christopher J. Masciantonio, General Manager—State Governmental Affairs.
"Katy brings more than 12 years of governmental affairs experience to this position. Her broad-based knowledge of local, state and federal issues combined with her extensive understanding of the political and legislative processes will be a tremendous asset for U. S. Steel," said Masciantonio. "Under her leadership, we expect to increase the effectiveness of our company's ability to achieve results when working with state and local government agencies and elected officials on issues important to the steelmaking and iron ore mining industries."
Prior to joining the company, Lawrence was President and owner of KML Consulting, a governmental relations firm based in Springfield, Ill. From 1994 to 2002, she served as the director of Government Affairs for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. She also served as the legislative liaison for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency under former Gov. Jim Edgar. Lawrence earned a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in political science from Eastern Illinois University.
United States Steel Corp. is an integrated steel producer focused on high value-added steel sheet and tubular products with chemistries and attributes that are required by manufacturers in the automotive, appliance, construction, container, and oil and gas industries. U. S. Steel has major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe and has more than 49,000 employees worldwide.
