This year's Government Affairs Conference will have the latest on international trade, an update on the economy, and most importantly, the opportunity to meet with your Representatives and Senators, to discuss the issues affecting your company. We are building on the enthusiasm and in-person energy of the Annual Meeting, and will be taking that to Capitol Hill to advocate for the industry, and educate our legislators. Here's some of what we'll be talking about in September.
General Session Program
The Economy - Connor Lokar, ITR Economics
In 2021 our conference attendees were wowed by the knowledge and foresight of the young (and underestimated) Connor Lokar from ITC Economics, a company with many clients in the steel sector and a 94.7% forecast accuracy. Are you curious to hear which of Connor’s predictions were correct? “Signs point to a deceleration of growth for 2022 and 2023; Inflation pressure is real, but will not be ruinous; and pricing pressures, including for steel scrap, are expected to ease in 2022.” Connor will provide wire industry-specific strategies, insightful suggestions, and practical solutions that can change the course of your business. Attendees receive take-home value to apply for concrete results. Don't miss it!
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available - contact the AWPA Office.
Supply Chain Challenges - Jeffrey Weiss, Steptoe
Frustrated by the supply chain and shipping challenges? You are not alone. A series of economic events have resulted in supply chain disruptions in manufacturing and are expected to continue into 2023. Our industry lacked the workers we needed before COVID-19 and now we are competing with all the other industries who are also understaffed. But there is hope, including legislation that would help fund supply chain resilience. Join us to hear from an industry expert who will detail the latest in supply chain and shipping challenges and forecast what next year will look like in manufacturing.
Political Update - Jim Ellis, BIPAC
As the 2022 elections near, the fate of President Biden’s agenda is at stake against the backdrop of a nation weary of disorder, political hot button volatility, and the traditional midterm backlash to the party in power. From the never-ending pandemic to persistent inflation, high gas prices, supply chain problems, rising crime, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – what’s the expected outcome on November 8 and what has the power to change it? While the road to November is notoriously bumpy, we’ll give you all the current political analysis to help you demystify the midterms.
Trade Update - Sam Mulopulos, Deputy Staff Director, Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Commmittee
Development continues on the Biden Administration’s approach to global trade, with more questions than answers on the future outcomes around US-China trade challenges, unilateral tariffs and exemptions, trade agreements, and enforcement. Hear directly from the Administration on the relevant issues of the moment, with special focus on the current status of tariffs impacting wire and wire products.
Congressional Visits and the Visits Debriefing Breakfast
On Thursday afternoon we will head to Capitol Hill to meet with legislators and advocate for the steel wire industry. During registration you will have the chance to indicate you will participate in Hill Visits - make sure the box is checked, and we will take care of the rest. We will hold a training session webinar before the meeting, on Wednesday September 14, to ensure you understand how the visits will work, have materials and talking points to address all the issues, and have a chance to ask any questions you may have. We'll be sending out information on this webinar to everyone who registers for Congressional Visits.
On Friday morning we will gather for breakfast and discuss the results of our congressional visits from Thursday. Bring your scorecards and let your fellow AWPA members know who you met with, and how they responded. Sharing this information is the important next step in our advocacy efforts – we will use this information to focus efforts where they can make the most impact, and will provide follow-up information to Representatives and Senators after your meetings.
Wondering who's attending? Check back here to see who has registered.
The following list shows all reviewed and paid attendees as of 04/26/2024.
| Attendee Name | Title | Company |
| Axel Ampolini | EVP Liberty Steel USA | Liberty Steel USA |
| Mr. Murat Askin | CEO | StaalX LLC |
| Mr. Greg Barbour | Vice President, Sales | Beta Steel Group |
| Ms. Emily Bardach | Executive Director | American Wire Producers Association |
| Mr. Jordi Barrenechea | CEO | WMC |
| Mr. Timothy W. Becker | President: Hickory Springs Mfg. | HSM Solutions |
| Mr. Scott Bernstein | President | Beta Steel Group |
| Mr. Casey Bouton | President | Taubensee Steel & Wire Company |
| Mr. Pete W. Bowen | Regional Sales Manager | Optimus Steel LLC |
| Ms. Amy Braune | Director of Sales - Rod Products | Leggett & Platt, Inc. |
| Mr. Brian Burr | President | Sumiden Wire Products Corporation |
| Mrs. Kathleen Cannon | Partner | Kelley Drye & Warren, LLP |
| Mr. Mike Carroll | Vice President Supply Chain | Accent Wire |
| Mr. Alejandro Castano | Commercial Manager, Industrial Division | Mid Continent Steel and Wire Inc. |
| Mr. Yuxin Chen | President | Yongxing Special Stainless America LLC |
| Mr. Jon Cornelius | EVP/General Manager-PC Strand | Sumiden Wire Products Corporation |
| Mr. Thilo Dappers | President | Saarstahl USA |
| Ms. Amy R DeArmond | Director of Government Affairs | Leggett & Platt, Inc. |
| Mr. Jan Deruytter | Director, Manufacturing Productivity Improvement | Lincoln Electric Company |
| Mr. Scott Dillaha | Director, Wire Rod Sales | ArcelorMittal Long Products |
| Mr. Tim Dillon | Sr. VP Sales and Marketing | Liberty Steel USA |
| Mr. Clifford E. Donahue | Raw Material Purchaser | Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company, Inc. |
| Mr. Deron Dunbar | Director of Sales & Marketing | Ivaco Rolling Mills Ltd. |
| Mr. David Duncan Jr. | President/CEO | Granite Falls Furnace |
| Mr. Matthew Duncan | Vice President | Granite Falls Furnace |
| Mr. Jim Ellis | Senior Political Analyst | BIPAC |
| Brin Frazier | Regional Sales | Optimus Steel LLC |
| Mr. Sebastian Frey | VP Long Products | Tata International |
| Mr. Edward P. Goettl | Optimus Steel LLC | |
| Mr. Chad Hendrickson | Director of Marketing | Charter Steel |
| Mr. Jason Hendrix | President & CEO | Coastal Wire Company Inc. |
| Mr. Kevin Hughes | VP - Operations | Precision Metal Services, Inc. |
| Mr. Terry Hughes | Nucor | |
| Mr. Mark Jacinto | Sales Manager Wire Road | Optimus Steel LLC |
| Mr. John T. Johnson Jr. | President | Mid-South Wire Company |
| Mr. Stephen Jurewicz | Sales Manager | Nucor |
| Mr. John King | Vice President - Sales | Liberty Steel USA |
| Mr. Jochen Koch | President | Morgan-Koch Corporation |
| Ms. Janet Kopenhaver | Director of Government Affairs | |
| Mr. Albert Kozlowski | Vice President | Morgan-Koch Corporation |
| Mr. Luis Eugenio Leal Rangel | Director of Trade and Government Affairs | Mid Continent Steel and Wire Inc. |
| Mr. Jack Leffler | VP Commercial | Liberty Wire Johnstown |
| Mr. Brian Liu | Sr. Director, Procurement, Transportation, & Logistics | Tree Island Steel |
| Mr. Connor Lokar | Senior Analyst | ITR Economics |
| Mr. Mack Magnus | President | M&B Metal Products Company |
| Mr. Milton M. Magnus III | CEO | M&B Metal Products Company |
| Ms. Miyuki Mangrum | General Manager | Metal One America, Inc. |
| Mr. Jarrett Martin | President | MAR-MAC Industries, Inc. |
| Mr. John W. Martin III | CEO | MAR-MAC Industries, Inc. |
| Mr. John D. Meyer | Group Vice President | Leggett & Platt, Inc. |
| Mr. Jack Miller | CEO | Liberty Wire Johnstown |
| Mr. Bob Moffitt | Vice President, Purchasing | Heico Wire Group |
| Ms. Kathleen Moore | Vice President | Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company, Inc. |
| Mr. Alex Nedergaard | Director Supply Management, Americas | Lincoln Electric Company |
| Mr. Michael O'Malley | District Sales Manager | Nucor |
| Mr. Shawn Oliver | Customer Service Manager | Tokusen USA, Inc. |
| Ms. Heather E Outhuse | Associate Director | American Wire Producers Association |
| Mr. Martin J. Payton III | President | Precision Metal Services, Inc. |
| Mr. Eugene Peters | Vice President of National Accounts | Mid-South Wire Company |
| Mr. Nickolus R. Pigott | Vice President- Stainless & Nickel Alloys | Tri Star Metals LLC |
| Mr. Patricio Pimentel | Global Steel Sourcing Director | Heico Wire Group |
| Mr. Kenneth J. Rampolla | Eastern Regional Sales Manager | Charter Steel |
| Mr. Lou Richards | Vice President | Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company, Inc. |
| Ms. Jeynae Saillard | Meetings Manager | American Wire Producers Association |
| Mr. Juan Carlos Sala | Director | WMC |
| Mr. Richard D. Sarver | President | Paramount Die |
| Mr. Alan Schrofer | National Accounts Director | Liberty Steel USA |
| Mr. Eric Schuenemeyer | Vice President of Operations | Tokusen USA, Inc. |
| Mr. David Scribner | Purchasing | King Steel Corporation |
| Mr. Michael Skowronek | Vice President, Marketing & Sales | Charter Steel |
| Mr. Charles Smith | Vice President Operations | |
| Mr. John J. Socrates | Product Manager/Engineer | Charter Steel |
| Mr. Jan Sorige | President | Enkotec Company Inc. |
| Mr. Remy Stachowiak | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Mr. Bryan Sullivan | VP of Steel Wire Solutions | Bekaert Corporation |
| Mr. Andy Talbot | Vice President / General Manager | Mid-South Wire Company |
| Ms. Nancy Taubensee | Vice President, Sales & Marketing | Taubensee Steel & Wire Company |
| Mr. Joshua Terwelp | Trading Manager | Tata International |
| Mr. John T. Thomas III | Vice President | M&B Metal Products Company |
| Mr Jean-Paul Timmerman | Global Sales Director Long Products | Saarstahl USA |
| Mr. Pete Tollmann | Vice President of Sales and Marketing | Coastal Wire Company Inc. |
| Mr. Brian Toth | Territory Manager | Ivaco Rolling Mills Ltd. |
| Mr. Fernando Villanueva | President & CEO | Mid Continent Steel and Wire Inc. |
| Mr. Richard T. Wagner | Senior Vice President & COO | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Mr. Frederick P. Waite | General Counsel | Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease, LLP |
| Mr. Ian Walsh | CEO | Wire-Bond |
| Mr. Kevin Walsh | Vice President Trading | Macsteel International USA Corporation |
| Mr. David J. Weinand | Executive Vice President | Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company, Inc. |
| Mr. Jeffrey G. Weiss | Partner | Steptoe & Johnson LLP |
| Mr. Tom White | VP Commercial - Long Products Group | |
| Mr. Penn Whitlow | Eastern Sales Representative | Charter Steel |
| Ashleigh Wilson | Manager and Counsel, Federal Government Affairs | Nucor |
| Mr. H. O. Woltz III | President and CEO | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Ms. Dana S. Wood | Director of Government Relations | Kelley Drye & Warren, LLP |
| Mr. James R. York | Senior VP | Insteel Industries Inc. |
| Ms. Kimberly Young | Counsel | Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease, LLP |