2023 Government Affairs Conference

Join us in Washington, DC this September to discuss the state of affairs with industry colleagues, and to speak to lawmakers to advocate for your company and for domestic steel wire manufacturing. There may never be a more important time to speak to your legislators about your industry’s issues. The AWPA will provide the tools, but YOU are the best ambassador for your company and your employees. Join North American wire producers in DC this September and make your voice heard. 

PROGRAM:

Prepare for 2024

2023 is winding down as we prepare for the challenges and ongoing uncertainties of 2024. The decelerating rate of rise and, in some cases, onset of decline that characterized many industries and businesses in 2023 will extend through 2024. Connor Lokar from ITR Economics will be back to present business strategies and tactics that address the projected changes in the economic landscape. We will also: 1) Assess business demand for 2024 and into 2025, 2) Analyze the labor market and present our expectations for availability and labor costs, 3) Present a clear picture of inflation and interest rates, 4) Look at ITR Economics’ key leading indicators and what they foretell for your markets, 5) Present relevant market outlooks and discuss issues that impact your profitability via resource allocation, budgets, expectations, and strategic planning, 6) Determine the near- and longer-term trends in labor, pricing pressures, and interest rates, and 7) Assess the health of financial market trends and their impact, if any, on the forecasts

Washington Update

As we approach the mid-point of the 118th Congress, our September meeting offers a great opportunity to take stock of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s still on the agenda. Despite divided government and slim margins in both chambers, we have seen bipartisan progress on a number of issues of importance to U.S. manufacturers generally and to the wire and wire products sector specifically. You’ll hear from Washington insiders about the work Congress has been doing and what we can expect in the months ahead and – in particular – in the next few days, as lawmakers seek to address a host of policy issues before the end of the Fiscal Year.

Trade Policy Update

Trade policy continues to be an important area of focus in Washington, particularly as it relates to addressing China’s trade and economic policies and practices that disadvantage American manufacturers and workers. We’ll hear from key policymakers about what Congress and the Biden Administration have been doing to address these challenges, as well as concerns related to unfair trade practices more broadly. Specifically, how is the Biden Administration engaging with key allies as it implements its trade policy agenda? What tools have been most effective? What legislation is Congress considering to help level the playing field for the U.S. manufacturing base? And how can AWPA support for these initiatives help move the ball forward?

Solutions for the Manufacturing Workforce Challenges of Today and Tomorrow

Whether it’s recruitment, retention, training or changing perceptions, the manufacturing industry has faced workforce challenges as it evolves and grows. The Manufacturing Institute (MI), the 501(c)3 workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, drives solutions to these issues through implementing programs that expand talent pools, convening industry leaders and conducting innovative research. The MI works with manufacturing association and employers in a wide array of initiatives to prepare our workforce for the challenges of today and needs of tomorrow. During this collaborative discussion, AWPA members will have the opportunity to share the workforce dynamics that they are tackling. Workforce experts from the MI will present solutions and insights that have been impactful. Plan to leave this session with ideas and action items that you can implement at your organization.

Congressional Visits

Take advantage of this opportunity and head to Capitol Hill this fall with AWPA. On Wednesday, September 20, you'll be paired up with others who have facilities in your districts whenever possible, and will have materials and talking points to assist you at the visits. We make it easy for you to advocate for our industry. 

SCHEDULE: (Click here for a printable Schedule of Events).

Tuesday. August 29, 2023

11:00 am –12:00 pm         Government Relations Issues Briefing Webinar (for Congressional Visits Participants, all interested AWPA members are welcome)

Tuesday. September 12, 2023

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm           Congressional Visits Logistics Briefing Webinar (for Congressional Visit participants)            

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

11:00 am – 2:30 pm           Executive Committee Meeting/Lunch

2:00 pm – 5:30 pm            Registration Open

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm            Stainless Committee Meeting                                                                               

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm            Membership Committee Meeting                                   

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm            Opening Reception sponsored by Kelley Drye                                                           

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

 8:30 am – 11:30 am          General Session

11:45 am – 12:45 pm        Transportation to Capitol Hill for Briefing and Congressional Visits (with boxed lunch, bus departs 11:45 am)

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm            Wire and Wire Products Caucus Kick-Off Briefing (on Capitol Hill)

2:00 pm – 4:30 pm           Congressional Visits on Capitol Hill

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm           Reception

Thursday, September 21, 2023

7:30 am – 9:30 am            Congressional Visits Debriefing Breakfast with Administration Speaker (invited)

9:30 am – 11:30 am          Board of Directors Meeting

ATTENDEES:

Check back to see who has registered. 

The following list shows all reviewed attendees as of 12/14/2024.


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. Luis Barrenechea CEO Optimus Steel LLC
Mr. Joe Barrett President - Davis Wire Corporation & National Strand Heico Wire Group
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 Chairman Sumiden Wire Products Corporation
Mrs. Kathleen Cannon Partner Kelley Drye & Warren, LLP
Mr. Miguel Casar Sales Manager Mid Continent Steel and Wire Inc.
Mr. Alejandro Castano Commercial Manager, Industrial Division Mid Continent Steel and Wire Inc.
mr Manu chopra filing clerk
Mr. Jon Cornelius President Sumiden Wire Products Corporation
Ms. Maggie Crosswy Government Relations Advisor Kelley Drye & Warren, LLP
Mrs. Nancy Davies Chief Operating Officer Tree Island Steel
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. Tom Duff President & CEO Mount Joy Wire Corporation
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
Robert England Senior Reporter Fastmarkets
Ms. Carolina Ferrerosa Young Economic Policy Advisor Office of Sherrod Brown
Mr. Sebastian Frey VP Long Products Tata International
Stephen Bradley Griffith Chief Commercial Officer Liberty Steel USA
Mr. Jason Hendrix President & CEO Accent Wire
Mr. Reed Hoagland Vice President
Mr. Terry Hughes Nucor
Mr. Mark Jacinto Director of Sales Optimus Steel LLC
Mr. John T. Johnson Jr. President Mid-South Wire Company
Mr. Simon Jones Operations Coordinator WCJ Pilgrim Wire
Mr. Stephen Jurewicz Sales Manager Nucor
Mr. Michael Kallas Senior Director of Procurement Bekaert Corporation
Mr. Brian Killam Sales Manager - Western Division Gerard Daniel Worldwide
Mr. John King Vice President - Sales Liberty Steel USA
Mr. Jochen Koch President Morgan-Koch Corporation
Mr. Albert Kozlowski Vice President Morgan-Koch Corporation
Mr. Jack Leffler VP Commercial Liberty Wire Johnstown
Mr. Connor Lokar Senior Analyst ITR Economics
Hugo Mackay Trade Trainee Tata International
Mr. Mack Magnus President M&B Metal Products Company
Kimars Mahmoodi Vice President & General Manager - Davis Wire Heico Wire Group
Mr. Jarrett Martin President MAR-MAC Industries, Inc.
Mr. John W. Martin III CEO MAR-MAC Industries, Inc.
Mr. John D. Meyer Vice President Commercial, Rods & Wire Leggett & Platt, Inc.
Ms. Kathleen Moore Vice President Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company, Inc.
Mr. Chris Motley National Sales Manager-Trading Intermetals LLC
Mr. Alex Nedergaard Global Sourcing Director, Mild Steel Lincoln Electric Company
Mr. Chad Novak Territory Manager Ivaco Rolling Mills Ltd.
Mr. Michael O'Malley District Sales Manager Nucor
Mr. Stéphane Oehrli President Ivaco Rolling Mills Ltd.
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.
Greta Peisch General Counsel Office of the United States Trade Representative
Mr. James Philipkosky Owner Fayette Custom Wire Products
Mr. Nickolus R. Pigott Vice President- Stainless & Nickel Alloys Tri Star Metals LLC
Mr. Patricio Pimentel Global Steel Sourcing Director Heico Wire Group
Anjana Radhakrishnan Associate Director, Workforce Insights and Research The Manufacturing Institute
Mr. Lou Richards Vice President Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company, Inc.
Ms. Jeynae Saillard Meetings Manager American Wire Producers Association
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. Nick Schultz Commercial Director - Engineered Bar Nucor
Mr. David Scribner Purchasing King Steel Corporation
Keith Smith CAO The Manufacturing Institute
Mr. Jan Sorige President Enkotec Company Inc.
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. Brian Toth Territory Manager
Mr. Tim Troxtell Technical Services Rod & Bar Sales EVRAZ North America
Mr. Frederick P. Waite General Counsel Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease, LLP
Mr. Kevin Walsh Vice President Trading Macsteel International USA Corporation
Mr. David J. Weinand Executive Vice President Oklahoma Steel & Wire Company, Inc.
Mr. Scott Weinberg Purchasing Manager Taubensee Steel & Wire Company
MIke Will Director of Sales Accent Wire
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