Past Events

2024 Annual Meeting

148 AWPA members, spouses and guests met in Los Cabos, Mexico to enjoy the sun, heat and the ocean breezes, not to mention the latest on the steel wire industry.

View from Washington – Dana Wood

Trade Law 101 – Kim Young

Trade Law 101 – Milton Magnus

2023 Government Affairs Conference

94 people attended the 2023 Government Affairs Conference to get updates on the current economy, trade, politics, and workforce challenges. A large group also returned to Capitol Hill to advocate for the wire industry.

Economic Outlook – Connor Lokar, ITR Economics (This presentation is only available to attendees of the conference.)

Solutions for the Manufacturing Workforce Challenges of Today and TomorrowKeith Smith and Anjana Radhakrishnan, Manufacturing Institute

2023 Annual Meeting

175 AWPA members, spouses and guests met in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the Vinoy Resort and Golf Club. Members heard from representatives from Congress and the Department of Commerce, got the latest on the rod market and the economy, and heard from equipment suppliers as well.

Kevin Dempsey – State of the Steel Industry

Stephen Jurewicz, Nucor – Wire Rod Panel

Please note: Some presentations are not available online. Dawn Shackleford’s presentation was off the record, and John Manzella’s presentation was only available to attendees. If you have questions, please contact the AWPA Office.

2022 Operations Managers Meeting

Wire Plant Managers met in Tulsa Oklahoma in October for the first time in 3 years. They toured the Leggett & Platt wire facility in Carthage, MO. Presentation on workforce development, safety technology and the latest from OSHA gave everyone a lot to think about.

Workforce Solutions: Scott Fry and Dr. Marcie Mack, Mid America Industrial Park

Safety Technology – Using Existing Software to Implement a Safety Program: Nick Kruse and Joe Metcalf, Leggett & Platt

The latest from Aztech Lubricants – Michael Colvin, Aztech Lubricants

OSHA Update: Reginald Whitaker, CSP, Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company

Ops meeting sponsors

2022 Government Affairs Conference

96 people attended the 2022 Government Affairs Conference to get updates on trade, politics, and supply chain challenges. After 3 years off, a large group also met again with representatives on Capitol Hill.

Economic Outlook

Connor Lokar, ITR Economics (This presentation is only available to attendees of the conference.)

Supply Chain Update

Jeffrey Weiss, Steptoe

Political Update

Jim Ellis, BIPAC

2022 Annual Meeting

More than 130 AWPA members, prospective members and guests met at the Wyndham Grand in Clearwater Beach, Florida and got back to business!

2022 Policy and Political Outlook

Dana Wood, Director of Government Relations, Kelley, Drye & Warren LLP

Navigating the New Normal: Tackling Key Employment Issues during a Pandemic

Caren Skversky Marlowe, Esq., Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC

Rod Mill Upgrade Panel

Reed Hoagland, Leggett & Platt

Luis Barrenechea, Optimus Steel

Tom Batterbee, Nucor

2020 Annual Meeting

The steel wire  industry was in Scottsdale, AZ  in February, to hear the latest on the economy, the effects of tariffs, and the  upcoming election.

The Economic Impact of Tariffs

Johannes Moenius, Professor, William R. and S. Sue Johnson Endowed Chair of Spatial Economic Analysis and Regional Planning, University of Redlands School of Business

Workforce Development:

Brian Burr, President/CEO Sumiden Wire Products Corporation
John Martin,  CEO MAR-Mac Industries, Inc.
Mary Ann Christensen, President/Co-owner, Big Ideas, USA
Kimberly Korbel, AWPA Executive Director, for NAM Creators Wanted Tour

Global Economic and Geopolitical Outlook

Bernard Baumohl, Chief  Global Economist,  Economic Outlook Group

2019 Operations Managers Meeting

 

Kimberly Korbel – Tariffs, Tariffs, Tariffs (Oct 15 update)

2019 Government Affairs Conference

90 Attendees met in Washington, DC to hear the latest on Tariffs, Trade, and the current state of the 2020 Election.  AWPA members then headed to Capitol Hill to advocate for the steel wire industry, and the passage of the USMCA.

Kimberly Korbel – Tariffs, Tariffs, Tariffs: an update on the status of 232, and 301 Tariffs, and and potential trade legislation.

2019 Annual Meeting

180 AWPA Members, prospective members, guests and their spouses attended the 2019 Annual Meeting in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The weather was fantastic, and the program was great, too!

Thursday
Robert Fry – Economic Update
Andrew Pappas – Financing Trends in Wire & Rod World
Vincent Pappalardo – M&A Environment for Wire & Rod

Friday
Robert McKinzie – Workforce Development Overview
Kimberly Korbel – Heroes Make America
Jim Kerkvliet – Optimus Steel Market Perspective
Michael Setterdahl – Liberty Steel Market Perspective

 

2018 Operations Managers Meeting

62 Operations Personnel from across the country met in Indianapolis for this year’s Operations Managers meeting.
   Lisa Ryan – Manufacturing Workforce Engagement

Elena Valentine – Job Description Videos
Safety Panel:
Stephanie Ellis, Insteel Industries
Reginald Whitaker, Oklahoma Steel & Wire

Janet Kopenhaver – Post Accident Drug Testing

2018 Government Affairs Conference

100 attendees met in Washington, DC to hear the latest on international trade, tariffs, and the mid-term elections.

John Foster – American Institute for American Steel

Laura Baughman – The Trade Partnership

John Guzik – The Franklin Partnership and Jennifer Baker Reid – The Laurin Baker Group

George Felcyn – Bracewell, LLP

232 by the Numbers: Bar, Rod and Wire

2018 Annual Meeting

More than 150 attendees met in Palm Springs to discuss the latest economic and trade issues.

Clare Zempel – Economic and Market Outlook

Kimberly Korbel –  Membership Survey and Interviews

John O. Johnson – Economics of Mergers and Acquisitions 

Janet Kopenhaver –  Election Outlook

Johannes Moenius –  Steel or Steal? What the Section 232 Tariffs Mean for American Wire

Gardner Carrick – Manufacturing Workforce Solutions and Manufacturing Day

2017 Government Affairs Conference

More than 100 attendees met in Alexandria, VA at this year’s Government Affairs Conference. 34 Member Company Representatives went on 73 visits to Congressional Offices, and a Wire & Wire Products Caucus Briefing was held on Capitol Hill.

Fred Waite – Trade Case Status Update: AD/CVD Investigation of 10 Countries 

2017 Breakfast at Interwire

Ken Simonson of the Associated General Contractors of America spoke at this year’s Breakfast.  Thank you to Nucor for sponsoring this event.

Ken Simonson – US Construction Spending, Labor and Materials Outlook

2017 Annual Meeting

Over 200 members and guests met in Napa, CA for the 2017 Annual Meeting. Attendees heard presentations on the economy and the steel market, imports and trade, the political outlook, and how the Industrial Internet of Things is improving manufacturing. Materials from the meeting are below.

2017 Annual Meeting Attendees

Janet Kopenhaver – 2016 Election Update

Becky Hites – Steel Industry and Trade Update

Nat Rudarakanchana – Wire Rod, AMM and 2017

Elizabeth Parkinson – Industrial Internet of Things

Stan Fossick received this year’s Max Moore Entrepreneurial Spirit Award from Pat Moore.

2016 Operations Managers Meeting

Blending a Multigenerational Workforce

The 2016 Operations Managers Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina provided a workshop for Operations Managers and Personnel Managers to develop new plans for recruiting and retaining new employees, and integrating them into the existing workforce. The group toured HSM Solutions’ Hickory Springs facility.

Presentation: Shira Harrington, Purposeful Hire, Inc.

Workbook:  Workbook, Multigenerational Workforce

 Attendee List: 2016 Operations Meeting Participants


 2016 Government Affairs Conference

AWPA Members present an award to Senator Roy Blunt for his efforts in passing the ENFORCE Act.
AWPA Members present an award to Senator Roy Blunt for his efforts in passing the ENFORCE Act. R to L: Janet Kopenhaver, Kimberly Korbel, John T. Johnson, Amy DeArmond, Senator Roy Blunt, Robert McKinzie, Milton Magnus, III, and Stan Fossick.

 

The 2016 Government Affairs Conference was held in Washington, DC June 6-8. More than 80 AWPA attendees joined over 500 participants in NAM’s Manufacturing Summit in promoting the manufacturing industry on Capitol Hill. Advocacy focused on Global Steel Overcapacity and China’s Non-market Economy Status, Regulatory Reform, and promoting the Wire & Wire Products Caucus. Below are materials from the meeting.

2016 Government Affairs Conference Attendee Packet

Global Overcapacity and China’s Impact on the Steel Industry – Kevin Dempsey


2016 Annual Meeting

The 2016 Annual Meeting was held February 22-24 in St. Petersburg, Florida. There were 182 attendees. Participants heard presentations on the economy, the scrap market, multi-generational workforce challenges, the wire rod market, and an update on the political outlook for the 2016 election. Below are materials from the meeting.

2016 Annual Meeting Attendee Packet

A National Overview and Look Ahead to November – Glen Bolger

Making It Stick: Managing Your Multi-Generational Workforce – Shira Harrington

Rod Supply Panel – Tom Keller, Macsteel International USA

Rod Supply Panel – Bob Moffitt, Heico Wire Group

Presentations from Steve Murphy (Steel Market Update) and Joe Ward (Scrap Market Outlook) will not be available.


2015 Government Affairs Conference

The 2015 Government Affairs Conference was held September 16-18 in Washington, DC.  There were 114 attendees, the largest group at this meeting since 2000. 43 AWPA members made 87 visits to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, to discuss ENFORCE, the US House Wire & Wire Products Caucus, and the latest developments at the National Labor Relations Board. Below are materials from the meeting.

2015 Gov’t Affairs Conference Attendee Packet

Congressional Visits Information Packet

Political Engagement Panel Presentation

Presidential Campaign Update and Taking The Next Step in Engagement – Leann Paradise

NAM Regulatory Update and Policy Agenda – Joe Trauger


2015 Operations Managers Meeting

The 2015 Operations Managers Meeting was held in Nashville, Tennessee. Plant managers, safety and environmental personnel, human resource managers, and industry suppliers met to discuss employment issues, upcoming regulations, and hazard identification challenges. The AWPA would like to thank Sumiden Wire Products Corporation and Mid-South Wire Company for opening their facilities to our group for tours. Below are materials from the meeting.

NAM Regulatory Update and Policy Agenda – Joe Trauger

Handling FMLA Abuse and Employee Discipline Documentation, and an Update on Ambush Union Elections – Nelson D. Cary

Hazard Identification or Complacency: Which is the Bigger Problem? – Brett James and Reginald Whitaker, CSP

OPS 2015 Sponsor Banner