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2025 AGENDA

 
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07:30

07:30 - 18:00

630 Minutes

Registration open

GICC South Lobby Sponsored by

08:00

08:00 - 16:30

510 Minutes

All-Day Beverages

Sponsored by

08:30

08:30 - 09:00

30 Minutes

Session TBD

09:00

09:00 - 09:30

30 Minutes

Lobby Stage: Decarbonizing the Steel Industry: Addressing the Challenge of Clean Firm Power

Sponsored by

This presentation will focus on the levers necessary for a multi-energy company to materialize the supply of affordable Clean Firm Power to the Steel industry, namely renewable electricity supplied with a baseload supply curve as opposed to intermittent. Key points will include the development of a large portfolio of renewable assets which are diversified in terms of geographies and technologies (solar, on-shore wind, off-shore wind). This is complemented with flexible assets such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and with an access to the electricity markets to balance the portfolio.

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Moderator
Speaker

09:30

09:30 - 10:00

30 Minutes

Lobby Stage: Forging Ahead: Navigating Trade Turbulence & Risks in the Steel Industry

Sponsored by

In today’s volatile landscape, steel traders face mounting challenges—from disrupted supply chains and shifting trade policies to inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty. This session explores the economic underpinnings fueling market instability, the risks reshaping global trade flows, and the strategic responses traders must adopt to stay resilient. Join us to unpack how industry leaders are adapting to turbulence and forging ahead with agility and foresight.

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Speakers

10:00

10:45 - 11:00

15 Minutes

Break

11:00

11:00 - 11:45

45 Minutes

Pre-Conference Workshop: Technology Transformation During Uncertain Times: How AI is Transforming the Steel Industry

Sponsored by

The pace and scale of technology innovation is only continuing to increase. As AI becomes a foundational requirement for any modern business, understanding its impacts on the steel industry, how it is changing investments, and what your peers are doing is key to setting your strategy for the future. Join this panel discussion to learn about how some of your peers are investing in technology, lessons they have learned from modern technology transformations, and how you can apply them to your business. Understanding the reality versus hype of modern technological transformation and how you as an executive at your company need to lead from the front.

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Moderator
Speaker

11:45

11:45 - 01:00

645 Minutes

Lunch

Sponsored by

13:00

13:00 - 13:20

20 Minutes

Opening of the Conference: 2025 A Steel Odyssey

Welcome to the 15th Annual SMU Steel Summit Conference

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Speakers

13:20

13:20 - 14:10

50 Minutes

Keynote Speaker: Shane Kimbrough: Aspire to Inspire

The preparation for a space flight takes years and includes rigorous scientific and technical briefings, shuttle and space station instruction, physiological and psychological training, flight training, and wilderness survival training. Lessons in stress management, survival, and discipline happen well before an astronaut takes that famed walk out to their spacecraft.  
This rigorous training is a setup for success in space and in life. In this address, Kimbrough shares tips and tools for success on topics including leadership, high-stakes problem solving, setting goals and perseverance.  He’ll also share inspiring images from his time in space that illustrate just how “worth it” following your dreams can be!

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Moderator
Speaker

14:10

14:10 - 14:25

15 Minutes

Break

Sponsored by

14:25

15:25

15:25 - 16:10

45 Minutes

Fireside Chat with Barry Zekelman - From Tariffs to Talent: The Heavy Lift of Reviving US Manufacturing

The Trump administration’s tariffs reflect a deeper effort to reclaim domestic manufacturing strength. And big investments, like Nippon Steel’s multi-billion plans for U.S. Steel, signal long-term optimism. Barry will talk about which industries might reshore and when. He’ll also consider how the steel industry can better address shortages of skilled labor. There will no doubt be unexpected news between now and Aug. 25. Barry will discuss what any summer surprises mean for steel - and he’ll take questions from you too!

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Moderator
Speaker

16:10

16:10 - 16:30

20 Minutes

Forging America’s Future: What the U. S. Steel-Nippon Steel Partnership Means for Steelmaking

In this keynote address, U. S. Steel president and CEO Dave Burritt will reveal how the groundbreaking partnership between U. S. Steel and Nippon Steel is set to redefine the future of steelmaking. With bold vision and unmatched technological firepower, this alliance is unlocking new levels of innovation and global competitiveness. Attendees will get an inside look at how two industry giants are coming together to reshape the steel landscape—and why the future of U. S. Steel looks both better AND bigger.

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Moderator
Speaker

16:30

16:30 - 18:00

90 Minutes

Networking Reception

Sponsored by

07:30

07:30 - 16:30

540 Minutes

All-Day Beverages

Sponsored by

07:30

07:30 - 08:30

60 Minutes

Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by

07:30 - 18:00

630 Minutes

Registration open

GICC South Lobby Sponsored by


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08:15

08:45

08:45 - 09:00

15 Minutes

Opening Comments

Speaker

09:00

09:00 - 09:45

45 Minutes

Navigating the Future: A Fireside Chat with Máximo Vedoya of Ternium

In this unique conversation, Máximo Vedoya, CEO of Ternium, shares his vision for steering one of the industry’s most dynamic companies through volatility, technological transformation, and trade disruption. From tariff impacts and supply chain recalibration to digital innovation and sustainable steelmaking, Vedoya will offer strategic insights into what’s next for flat-rolled steel. And he’ll also reflect on leadership lessons, advancing workforce, and how cross-border collaboration is shaping the sector.

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Moderator
Speaker

09:45

09:45 - 10:30

45 Minutes

Fireside Chat with Karla Lewis, Reliance, Inc.

Moderator
Speaker

10:30

10:30 - 10:50

20 Minutes

Break

Sponsored by

10:50

10:50 - 11:50

60 Minutes

Keynote: Monetary Masala

With the presidential and congressional elections of 2024 in the rearview, our eyes turn to 2025. 

Has the Federal Reserve engineered a soft landing, or is stagflation on the way?  Can America continue to pace the advanced world, or will expanding indebtedness, policy uncertainty, and over-extended asset values prove our collective undoing?

This presentation focuses on US and regional economic performance with an eye toward discussing emerging risks to what has thus far been an economy that has surprised to the upside.

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11:50

11:50 - 13:00

70 Minutes

Lunch

Sponsored by

13:00

13:45

14:30

14:30 - 14:45

15 Minutes

Presentation of the NexGen Leadership Award

Sponsored by
Speakers

14:45

14:45 - 15:05

20 Minutes

Break

Sponsored by

15:05

15:50

15:50 - 16:35

45 Minutes

Strategic Steel: Barry Schneider on Execution, Sustainability, and Market Shifts

In this fireside chat, Barry Schneider, President and COO of Steel Dynamics Inc., shares how SDI’s strategic investments have built a vertically integrated supply chain that’s uniquely resilient in today’s volatile market. We’ll explore the shifting impact of tariffs, evolving trade frameworks like USMCA, and SDI’s role in adapting supply chains and raw material sourcing. Barry will also shed light on the company’s alignment with customer needs and its deep commitment to workforce development. It will be a rare opportunity to hear directly from a leader redefining sustainability and performance in domestic steel.

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Moderator
Speaker

16:35

16:35 - 18:00

85 Minutes

Networking Reception

Sponsored by AkzoNobel Coatings, AISI, Bank of America and Ratner Steel

07:30

07:30 - 13:00

330 Minutes

All Day Beverages

07:30

07:30 - 08:30

60 Minutes

Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by

07:30

07:30 - 13:00

330 Minutes

Registration open

GICC South Lobby Sponsored by

08:00

08:00 - 08:40

40 Minutes

Lobby Stage: Women of Steel Panel

Sponsored by

We are excited to introduce a new Women of Steel panel at the 2025 Steel Summit. Our panelists will share their personal journeys, including their experiences, challenges, and achievements, from growing their careers in the steel and metals industries.

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Moderator
Speakers

08:35

08:35 - 08:45

10 Minutes

Opening Comments and Announcements

Speaker

08:45

08:45 - 09:30

45 Minutes

Session: Scrap and Recycled Metals

Moderator
Speaker

09:30

10:15

10:15 - 11:00

45 Minutes

Keynote Session: Game-Changing Technologies That Will Impact Your Industry

How will AI impact your business this year? In five years? Where should you be investing? What's reality and what's hype? You’ve read about ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Google Gemini, and other AI tools that will be changing the way we work, both in the short and longer term. As a business leader you want to leverage this technology to increase both productivity and profits. So, what should you know now? Where should you be investing?

During this fast-moving, informative and entertaining presentation, Forbes technology columnist and consultant Gene Marks, CEO of The Marks Group, will share his thoughts on the biggest technology and AI trends that will affect your industry in the near and long term and help you make the right investment decisions.

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Moderator
Speaker

11:00

11:00 - 11:20

20 Minutes

Break

Sponsored by

11:20

11:20 - 12:05

45 Minutes

Service Centers at Crossroads: Strategies for Resilience in a Shifting Steel Landscape

As the flat-rolled steel market grapples with shifting tariffs, rising costs, and overcapacity, the service center sector finds itself navigating unpredictable terrain. In this panel, industry leaders Geoff Gilmore, Rick Marabito, and Todd Leebow share how technology is transforming operations, inventory strategies are adapting to volatility, and what it takes to stay competitive in a high-stakes environment. From trade disruptions to workforce decisions, this session promises a frontline view into the evolving realities of running a steel service center today.

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Moderator
Speakers

12:05

12:05 - 13:20

75 Minutes

Keynote: What the Leading Indicators Are Saying About 2026

The economy is normalizing, with trends no longer distorted by COVID, stimulus, or aggressive monetary policy. This shift enhances the clarity of our leading indicators for 2026 and beyond. We'll also consider major policy changes under the new administration. The presentation will examine leading, coincident, and lagging markets—such as housing, GDP, construction, and wages—along with inflation, interest rates, risks, opportunities, and ITR Economics’ outlook for the 2030s. Attendees will gain market-specific insights and a clearer view of what’s ahead, helping them prepare for both near-term shifts and long-term trends.

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Moderator
Speaker

13:20

13:20 - 13:30

10 Minutes

Final Thoughts

One of your favorite articles in the Steel Market Update Newsletter, Live!

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Moderator

13:30

13:30 - 14:30

60 Minutes

Lunch

Sponsored by

Close of Conference

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