2026 Annual Meeting

Unlocking Clarity in a Shifting Economy

The U.S. economy is cooling, industrial activity is lagging, and cracks are emerging in consumer and labor markets—all against the backdrop of inflation aftershocks, high interest rates, and an election year. What does this mean for companies in the wire and wire products industry?

In this session, Alex Chausovsky will break down the latest macro- and labor-market trends and deliver clear, data-driven insights to help leaders prepare for what comes next. Attendees will leave with practical guidance and tools to navigate today's uncertainty and strengthen their strategic planning.

Navigating Global Risk in a Multipolar World

From great-power competition to regional conflicts and trade disruptions, geopolitical forces are reshaping the global business landscape. Sanctions, shifting alliances, and supply chain volatility now present real strategic risks—and opportunities—for U.S. manufacturers.

In this session, geopolitical expert Eugene Chausovsky and business strategist Alex Chausovsky will deliver forward-looking insights into the hotspots and global trends that matter most, along with practical frameworks for risk mitigation, supply chain resilience, and scenario planning. Attendees will leave better equipped to anticipate disruption, protect their operations, and make confident strategic decisions in an uncertain world.

America First Trade Policy: Implications for Steel, Manufacturing, and the Wire Industry

As we enter year two of President Trump's second term, this session will examine the evolution of the Administration's America First Trade Policy and its implications for U.S. manufacturing broadly as well as the steel industry specifically.

We'll assess recent changes to the Section 232 steel tariffs – including the 2025 derivatives expansion – and their effects on domestic and global steel markets. The discussion will also consider how renewed tariff leverage is influencing U.S. trading partners to strengthen their own responses to unfair trade practices and persistent global overcapacity.

And with the Administration initiating the six-year review of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement, participants will gain insight into U.S. negotiating objectives and the potential benefits for the steel industry. The session will conclude with a look ahead at how the Administration's trade strategy may shape conditions for steel producers and the wire and wire products sector in 2026.

U.S. Wire Rod: Capacity, Competition, and the Road Ahead

With shifting trade policy, evolving global competition, and rising demand pressures, the outlook for wire rod has never been more complex—or more critical to understand. This expert panel of industry leaders will examine the current state of domestic and imported rod supply and explore the forces that will shape availability, pricing, and capacity in the years ahead.

Panelists will tackle key questions surrounding Section 232 tariffs, scrap dynamics, energy impacts, and long-term competitiveness, while offering perspective on both risks and growth opportunities for the domestic rod market and its consumers. Attendees will gain a clearer picture of the next 2–5 years and what it will take to remain viable, resilient, and prepared in a changing operating environment.

AI in Manufacturing in 2026: Practical Pilots for Immediate ROI

By 2026, the question for manufacturers isn't "Should we use AI?" but "How do we use it without disrupting operations or breaking the bank?"

In this pragmatic session designed for C-Suite executives, we move beyond the hype to focus on high-impact, low-friction applications specific to the wire and heavy manufacturing industry.

• State of AI in 2026: Moving beyond the hype cycle to the utility cycle. A look at how the technology has stabilized, becoming cheaper, faster, and reliable enough for mission-critical business processes.
• The Low-Risk Roadmap: Concrete examples of "low-lift" pilot programs. From automating quote generation to supply chain anomaly detection, requiring minimal IT overhead to start.
• Vendor Due Diligence: How to evaluate AI partners and cut through the "vaporware" to collaborate to ensure they deliver what is promised.
• Operational Efficiency: Specific use cases for identifying bottlenecks in machine operations using simple video analysis and predictive maintenance tools.
• Risk & Security: A plain-English guide to data privacy and ensuring proprietary pricing and process data remains secure.

Focus: Implementing practical, low-risk AI pilots that generate ROI without disrupting operations.