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Louis L. Schorsch of Mittal Steel USA Elected New AISI Chairman

AISI's Board of Directors has elected Louis L. Schorsch, president and chief executive officer of Mittal Steel USA as Chairman. He will succeed John P. Surma, chairman and CEO of U.S. Steel Corporation. Beginning in 2007, officers of the Institute will be installed each year at the AISI General Meeting traditionally held in May.

"AISI is committed to the development of a sustainable North American steel industry, one built on strong financial performance, environmental solutions and progressive social contributions," Andrew G. Sharkey, III president and CEO of AISI said. "Lou Schorsch brings excellent leadership skills to this effort as a revitalized industry seeks to expand markets for North American steel and increase the North American share of the steel market."

When Schorsch assumes the AISI chairmanship on April 1, Surma will then serve as an AISI vice chairman. The Board has also elected as vice chairmen of the Institute the following: Donald A. Pether, president and CEO, Dofasco Inc.; and Guillermo F. Vogel, H., vice chairman of the Board, Tubos de Acero de Mexico, S.A.

Sharkey said Schorsch supports the role that AISI provides in driving initiatives that are best done through the collective focus of a strong trade association, such as AISI. For example, the collaborative work that AISI's Market Development programs are doing in expanding markets and applications for steel could not be done on a single company basis.

"Lou has a strong sense for what we can achieve and will help lead us in that vision," Sharkey said.

Sharkey said Schorsch's leadership will enhance AISI's efforts on behalf of its members toward advancing a pro-manufacturing agenda, including defending, preserving and enhancing the trade laws.

"This is a policy area that John Surma has made a priority as AISI has urged the Administration and Congress to provide the highest level of scrutiny and oversight to ongoing international trade negotiations, ensuring that they include no trade law weakening provisions of any kind," Sharkey said. "To that end, John has been tireless in speaking out to policymakers on the critical need to strictly enforce our trade laws and address foreign government steel subsidies that are detrimental to the ability for free and fair trade to flourish," he said.

"I look forward to working closely with Lou Schorsch during the leadership transition to carry the Institute's public policy priorities forward, including the quest for access to affordable and available energy supplies and other measures necessary to level the playing field for North American steel producers," Surma said.

"We will also work with other industry groups to strengthen and preserve fair trade rules and get governments out of the steel business," Schorsch said. "If we want a healthy industry, a reasonable return on investment and sustainable conditions, we need to let market forces work."

Louis L. Schorsch was named president of Mittal Steel USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Mittal Steel Co, in January 2006, having been selected as the company's chief executive officer in April 2005. He had been president and chief executive officer of Ispat Inland, a predecessor company, since October 2003.

Schorsch had joined the LNM Group in March 2003 and was involved in the group's export activities before taking over Ispat Inland's leadership. Mittal Steel USA acquired International Steel Group and merged it with Ispat Inland. Schorsch had spent most of his career as an analyst of the steel industry and a consultant to steelmakers all over the world.

He was a principal with McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm that advises the top management of leading companies and institutions on issues of strategy, organization, technology and operations for 15 years. As a co-leader of the firm's metals practice, he worked directly with senior steel executives at companies around the world.

Earlier in his career, he had been senior economist for AISI and an analyst in the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. And after leaving McKinsey in 2000, he was president and CEO of Global Steel Exchange. Schorsch holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a doctorate in economics from American University, both in Washington, DC. For more information, contact Satura Bridgewater.

Industry Launches Initiative to Rebuild Gulf Coast Stronger with Steel

At its January meeting, AISI's Board of Directors approved moving ahead with a special initiative to help rebuild the U.S. Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Twelve North American steel companies are participants in this effort. Collectively, they have committed $1.1 million to support the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative through a business plan put together by AISI. The Initiative's ultimate goal is to "rebuild stronger with steel" a region subject to severe storms.

The Gulf Coast Steel Initiative will implement long-term strategies to positively impact future construction practices in the region. The strategies are based on the expertise developed through the industry's investment in Market Development and will focus on the residential framing and roofing markets and recycling.

The Initiative's objectives are to:

1) Work with affected communities to support the use of state-of-the-art design and construction practices for hurricane-prone areas by providing educational programs for building inspectors,
2) Encourage the introduction of insurance and lending programs that promote the use of durable construction materials,
3) Partner with local contractors and technical schools to train workers on how to build homes using steel framing and roofing, and
4) Assist with clean-up efforts by facilitating steel product recycling throughout the region, which will provide business owners and consumers with information on where they can take their steel products to have them recycled.

To accomplish these objectives, the supporting companies of the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative are partnering with the Steel Framing Alliance, Metal Roofing Alliance and Steel Recycling Institute.

The supporting companies of the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative are:

• AK Steel Corporation
• California Steel Industries, Inc.
• Dofasco Inc.
• IMSA ACERO, S.A. de C.V.
• IPSCO Inc.
• Mittal Steel USA
• Nucor Corporation
• Shenango Incorporated
• Steel Dynamics, Inc.
• United States Steel Corporation
• USS-POSCO Industries
• Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation

Homebuilding: An estimated 350,000 homes were destroyed throughout the region, with another 500,000 damaged. Local builders and developers have identified the training of new workers as the greatest immediate need for them in the rebuilding process. To accommodate this need, the Steel Framing Alliance (SFA) will conduct training sessions on-site at locations along the Interstate-10 corridor in Louisiana and Mississippi. These training sessions will provide new homes for the community while equipping professional framers with new skills.

The SFA training program is aimed at building inspectors, insurance agents and brokers, framers and general contractors, and design professionals. The SFA will ensure that training for steel framing is integrated into existing carpenter training programs in community colleges and vocational schools throughout the Gulf Coast region. This approach helps meet the immediate needs of builders, but also fosters the development of a network of training options that can serve the broader market for the long-term.

The Steel Framing Alliance will also work with state officials to implement building codes that define state-of-the-art practices for hurricane-prone areas. AISI is recognized internationally for its work in the codes and standards area. In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, AISI's codes and standards experts worked with officials to revise their building codes, which resulted in significantly less wind damage to South Florida homes during the 2005 hurricane season.

Residential Roofing: The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), a coalition of metal roofing manufacturers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, will train new workers on the benefits and techniques of installing steel roofing. Almost 750,000 roofs are in need of replacement in Louisiana, Mississippi and along the Florida coast.

The Metal Roofing Alliance plans to train 24 individuals and install steel roofing for 18 homes in a location in Mississippi to be determined. Training will be provided by the steel roof manufacturing members of the MRA. The opportunity to conduct additional projects will be assessed upon completion of the Mississippi initiative.

Steel Recycling: The Steel Recycling Institute has been working with Gulf Coast State Departments of Environmental Quality (DEQs) to determine the extent of damage to sites that recycle steel and to develop a course of action in establishing new sites. Through the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative, SRI will develop an updated recycling database to inform consumers and businesses on where to drop off their steel products for recycling, thus reducing the amount of material landfilled as these steel products become part of the recycling solution.

Through the work of the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative, our industry is leaving a footprint that will impact this region for years to come. For more information, contact Debbie Bennett.

AISI to Meet Jointly with Metals Service Center Institute

AISI will hold its 114th General Meeting jointly with the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI) May 7-9, 2006 in Boca Raton, FL. The General Meeting provides an opportunity for steel producers and service centers to strengthen relationships, share ideas and work together to improve the competitiveness of North American manufacturing.

Erik Peterson, senior vice president for The Center for Strategic and International Studies and director of The Seven Revolutions Initiative will deliver Keynote remarks to kick off the opening joint general session on May 8. Peterson will provide a thorough examination of seven major driving forces of change that will challenge participants to think about how these forces will impact leadership worldwide.

In a second joint session, AISI and MSCI attendees will hear from North American steel industry CEOs discussing The Shape of the Global Steel Industry: 2010. A panel of six to eight steel producer and service center chief executives will discuss major trends shaping the future of the global steel industry and how producers and service centers can work together with their customers on manufacturing competitiveness issues in North America.

Participants will also hear from Charlie Cook, editor & publisher of The Cook Political Report and political analyst for The National Journal, on the political landscape and the latest analysis on the 2006 mid-term elections at a luncheon on May 8.

Online registration along with a preliminary schedule of events, speaker information and spouse activities is now available at www.steel.org. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Vago.

AISI Records Achievements Through 2005 Annual Report

AISI released its 2005 Annual Report, "Steel—Strategic, Sustainable, Focus on the Future," at its Board of Directors Meeting, held in Washington, D.C. in the end of January. "The Annual Report provides ample evidence of our industry's strategic importance to America's future," Andrew G. Sharkey, III, president and CEO of AISI said in announcing the Report. One of the key messages stressed in the report is the North American steel industry's role as a strategic industry—"an industry that is forging a sustainable future for the manufacturing sector and for North American steel," said Sharkey.

"Our industry is essential to America's economic and national security and is a building block of America," he said. "AISI, with our Member Companies, is committed to developing a sustainable North American steel industry, one that exhibits strong financial performance, environmental solutions and progressive social contributions."

The Report features sections describing the association and industry's "Focus on the Future" and "Focus on Sustainability." Highlights include the Institute's public policy agenda to promote competitive issues of common concern to U.S. manufacturers, on keeping strong on trade issues, and on its progressive environmental priorities. The Report also details the industry's environmental performance, including specific achievements' impact on the planet, such as the fact that: "If every individual and segment of the U.S. economy had achieved the same energy improvements as the steel industry, the U.S. would exceed Kyoto accords."

Also included are sections on the Institute and steel industry's focus on meeting society's needs through programs ranging from the ULSAB-Advance Vehicle Concepts (ULSAB-AVC) project, to the canned food program, to the Cool Metal Roofing Coalition's efforts and a new initiative focused on helping rebuild the Gulf Coast region (the Gulf Coast Steel Initiative). These programs represent only a few examples of how AISI leverages dozens of industry partnerships—others are outlined in the Annual Report. "An essential component of our work lies in our establishing strong, strategic partnerships with other groups that share our vision and commitment to growing these markets," said Sharkey.

How AISI's Steelmark Made It to the Super Bowl

AISI took advantage of the Pittsburgh Steelers being in The Super Bowl by explaining how the team's famed three-star logo (one of the most familiar symbols in sports) came from AISI.

Displayed on the right side of each player's helmet, the logo symbolizes the strength of the Steelers and the Steel City the team represents. Seven decades after Art Rooney purchased the NFL franchise and four Super Bowl victories later with a potential championship this year, the story of the Steelmark and how the Steelers acquired it, is widely unknown, even to some of the team's most avid fans and supporters.

The three four-pointed starlike figures within the circle, called hypocycloids for their geometric origin, made it to the NFL in 1962, when Rooney adopted the Steelmark for his football team. The Steelers logo is based on the Steelmark logo belonging to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). The Steelmark was originally created for United States Steel Corporation to promote the attributes of steel: yellow lightens your work; orange brightens your leisure; and blue widens your world. The logo's meaning was later amended to represent the three materials used to produce steel: yellow for coal; orange for iron ore; and blue for steel scrap.

Back in the early 60s, the Steelers had to petition AISI in order to change the word "Steel" inside the Steelmark to "Steelers" before the logo was complete. Cleveland's Republic Steel suggested to the Steelers that they use the Steelmark as a helmet logo.

In order to test out the Steelmark and see how it looked on their all-gold helmets, the Steelers equipment manager was instructed to put it on only the right side of the helmet. That year the Steelers finished with a 9-5 mark and became the winningest team in franchise history to date. They wanted to do something special for their first postseason game, so they changed the color of their helmets from gold to black, which helped to highlight the new logo.

The interest generated by having the logo on only one side of their helmets along with the team's new success, the Steelers decided to leave the helmet that way permanently. Today's helmet reflects the way the logo was originally applied and it has never been changed. For more information, contact Elizabeth Vago.

AISI Creates Energy Reduction Strategy For Steelmaking

AISI with our members have developed a new Roadmap towards dramatically reducing energy use in steelmaking. Entitled "Saving One Barrel of Oil per Ton— A New Roadmap for Transformation of the Steelmaking Process," or SOBOT, it describes a long-term strategy designed to reduce energy intensity in steel production by identifying research pathways in energy substitution, energy recovery and energy savings.

SOBOT will be the key to future target of energy consumption in steel industry as the Roadmap will guide R & D over the next 10-15 years toward the 2025 target of producing steel using approximately one barrel of oil [approximately 6 million BTU] per ton less than today's processes.

"Energy savings of this type cannot be made by incremental changes, although they are often important enabling technologies," Lawrence W. Kavanagh, AISI's vice president of Manufacturing and Technology said. "It will require radical approaches to future steelmaking processes to achieve the reductions in energy use contemplated by SOBOT."

Energy use per ton of steel shipped has been reduced by 23% since 1990, as previously reported by AISI, and steelmakers efforts today are always driving energy consumption closer to the limits of today's processes. "Although our energy efficiency since 1990 has outperformed Kyoto, we must do more," Andrew G. Sharkey, III president and CEO of AISI said. "SOBOT's goal will keep us firmly focused on a sustainable future." For more information, contact Katie Gallagher.

The Capitol Line

AISI Continues Push for Diversification of Nation's Energy Supply

As the 2006 legislative session commences, AISI has once again ramped-up efforts to promote the development of safe, reliable domestic energy supplies. These efforts remain at the forefront of the Institute's public-policy priorities for the 109th Congress, as member companies and other domestic manufacturers face unprecedented production costs due to record-high oil and natural gas prices.

Moving forward, AISI intends to support the efforts of several House and Senate members planning to introduce Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Drilling legislation and other similar energy exploration initiatives. The Institute also plans to oppose any efforts to hamper the nation's development of new energy supplies, such as the newly introduced Permanent Protection Act of 2006 (S. 2239), which according to many Congressional observers has little chance of passage.

The Institute also plans to encourage grassroots advocacy on the issue by associate and member companies, through "Steelgrams", e-mail "Legislative Alerts" and the online "Legislative Action Center" tool available at www.steel.org.

AISI Joins National Journal's "Policy Council"

In early January, AISI greatly enhanced its ability to communicate with Congressional and Executive level policy-makers by becoming a member of the "Policy Council". This new and innovative service, offered by the widely respected National Journal Group, serves as a one-stop information outlet for elected-officials and staffers in our nation's Capital.

Access to the "Policy Council" is offered through a continuously updated website, which provides visitors with timely insight on the policy positions and priorities of the country's major trade associations, think tanks and advocacy groups. To visit AISI's "Policy Council" website please click here.

House Narrowly Passes Budget Reconciliation Bill

Following several long-months of debate, and in the face of strong opposition from many domestic manufacturers, citizens groups and education advocates, the House passed the 2005 Budget Reconciliation Bill (S.1932) in a close 216-214 vote. Included in this legislation was a repeal of the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (CDSOA, or Byrd Amendment), which found its way into the final bill language despite overwhelming Senate support for the exclusion of such a provision.

AREA	AISI	STAFF PHONE	E-MAIL
Trade & Economic Policy	Barry Solarz	202.452.7139	bsolarz@steel.org
Energy & Environment	Jim Schultz	202.452.7180	jschultz@steel.org
Recycling & Market Development	Chip Foley	202.452.7177	wjfoley@worldnet.att.net
Government Relations	Jennifer Diggins Matthew Davison	202.452.7214 202.452.7133	jdiggins@steel.org mdavison@steel.org

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AISI and AIST Foundation Begin Second Year of "Ferrous Metallurgy Education Today" [FeMET] Initiative

AISI and the Association for Iron and Steel Technology Foundation (AIST Foundation) have announced to students interested in a career in metallurgy or materials science that applications for the second year of FeMET Scholarships are now being accepted. The program's three goals are to encourage more students to choose metallurgy or materials science as their field of study; to recruit more of such graduates into the steel industry; and to increase the number of professors knowledgeable in steel in North American universities.

"2005 proved to be a great success for FeMET as we awarded ten scholarships to deserving students across North America," Andrew G. Sharkey, III, AISI president and CEO said. "At least 10 more top-caliber students will win FeMET Scholarships in 2006."

Each scholarship includes $5,000 for the scholar's junior year, a paid summer internship with a North American steel company between their junior and senior year and $5,000 toward their senior year tuition.

It is the program's goal that this scholarship and summer internship provides an incentive for students to become involved in the steel industry. As a result, students entering the program are ensured a two-year commitment by the program, provided a satisfactory performance by the student both academically and in their internship.

"As the FeMET Initiative expands into its second year, more and more students will become aware of the career opportunities that exist in today's steel industry," said Ron Ashburn, Executive Director of AIST, "and we intend to build on this momentum to fulfill the objectives of the program."

Instructions for applying are found on the AISI and AIST Foundation websites, www.steel.org and www.aist.org, respectively.

AISI Encouraged by President Bush's Plan for Addressing Energy Crisis

AISI applauded the President for recognizing the importance of keeping America competitive and the key role for affordable energy in his State of the Union speech. Reliable and reasonably priced energy supplies are essential to the productivity and competitiveness of the steel industry.

"The steel industry has already made significant strides in energy efficiency, but as a major consumer of energy and natural gas, the need for more accessible, affordable and diverse energy sources is imperative," Andrew G. Sharkey, III president and CEO of AISI said.

President Bush announced the "Advanced Energy Initiative" that will encourage new nuclear facilities and further development of clean coal, solar and wind technologies. Diversifying our energy mix would lessen the competition for available natural gas, which is critical to the steel industry.

The steel industry also looks forward to working with Congress on legislation that will improve the accessibility of the nation's offshore resource potential through Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). "The Address was a positive start to what will be a critical year in securing our nation's energy supply and maintaining the competitiveness of the domestic manufacturing sector," according to Sharkey.

Canned Food Alliance is Recognized for Helping Improve Childhood Nutrition

In a recent addition of the Canned Food Alliance (CFA) newsletter, "Today's Table," the CFA was acknowledged for its help in improving nutrition that children receive while in school. The article documents CFA's work with the California League of Food Processors in order to get legislation passed that requires more nutritional school lunches.

The CFA member companies have been working with state and federal policymakers to improve child nutrition and encourage kids to "eat their fruits and veggies." Through its efforts in Washington, D.C., the CFA helped make school lunches more nutritious.

Last year, President Bush signed legislation reauthorizing federal child-nutrition programs and amending the Russell National School Lunch Act. During consideration of the legislation, Congress added language expanding the availability of fruits and vegetables in school lunches, whether canned, fresh or frozen.

This bill also requires every school district to develop a "Wellness Policy" that addresses goals for nutrition education and sets nutrition guidelines for foods and beverages. In addition, the state of California enacted legislation providing more than $18 million in new funding for the inclusion of more nutritious fruits and vegetables in school lunches. The California legislation makes this funding available for all fruits and vegetables, whether canned, fresh or frozen.

The Canned Food Alliance applauds these initiatives and will continue to support efforts to improve childhood nutrition and make it easier for all Americans to eat a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables.For more information, contact Rich Tavoletti.

AISI Forms Tailored Steel Product Alliance to Help Facilitate Tailored Steel Market Growth

In order to encourage further development of technologies and performance of tailored steel products, AISI is organizing the multi-functional group made up of tailored steel product manufacturers, equipment manufacturers and material suppliers.

Named the Tailored Steel Product Alliance (TSPA), its mission is to expand the applications and markets for tailored steel products. This will be accomplished by leveraging the resources of its stakeholder members to:

Initial projects under investigation are the development of a cost-benefit model and updating the guidelines for tailored blanks issued by the Auto/Steel Partnership in recent years. TSPA has received interest and participation from:

TSPA came about as a result of the manufacturers of tailored steel products (such as tailored blanks and tailored tubes) continued quest to provide materials and processes that help automakers produce safe, affordable, lightweight and environmentally efficient vehicles. The manufacturers are joining with the North American steel industry to focus on expanding the applications of tailored steel products.

Globally, the market for tailored blanks has grown from about 120 million in 2001 to nearly 250 million in 2005. With new and innovative steels, and forming and welding processes, vehicle manufacturers are increasingly looking at using tailored steel products. "Automakers have told us that tailored products are enablers to improving crash worthiness while offering opportunities to reduce weight and costs compared with conventional stamped assemblies," Ron Krupitzer, senior director, Automotive Applications, AISI, said. "The purpose of the Alliance is to assist automakers in their application of tailored products by optimizing the performance of the products and thereby expanding applications and the markets for the products." For more information, contact Deanna Lorincz.

On the Manufacturing Technology Front

COMT Meeting Produces Valuable Results
AISI's Committee on Manufacturing Technology convened in Chicago January 31 and Feb 1. The meeting opened with a visit to Ford's Chicago Heights stamping plant, in operation since 1957 and processing over 300,000 tons of steel each year. Steel stampings for the Ford 500, Freestyle and Taurus, once thought by Ford to be destined for production in aluminum, are made at this plant.

Chairmen of AISI's manufacturing committees presented their 2006 work plans for review and impressed COMT members with how readily they have adopted the focus on benchmarking and yield improvement from the COMT Strategic Review. Committee attendance is high and members are taking full advantage new, web-based operations reporting and benchmarking tools as they are delivered.

Other focus areas of the meeting included planning for a new R & D partnership among steelmakers and DOE and identification of technical barriers to market success, which can be addressed by COMT. Specific tactics will be discussed at a joint COMT-Market Development Committee meeting March 8 in Detroit.

Chairman Training Session Update
The Manufacturing Committee Chairman's Training session was held Tuesday morning January 31. The primary purpose of this training is to remind the new chairmen and vice-chairmen with AISI's procedures to prevent accidental violation of antitrust regulations. It is noted that Canada, Mexico, and the United States have comparable regulations. Because AISI meetings are a gathering of competitors we come under special scrutiny and must be extra careful to prevent even the appearance of impropriety. The session also covered AISI's meeting procedures. Present were: Teresa Speiran, USS, Refractories; Jim Fittipaldo, Mittal Steel, Coke Ovens and Coke Oven By-Products; John Ricketts, Mittal Steel, Ironmaking; Jeff Powers, Nucor, Strand Casting; Jeffrey Wetzel, Mittal Steel, Committee on Tin Mill Practice; Ed Artfitch, Nucor, Rod and Bar Mills; and Reg Simser, Dofasco, Packaging, Shipping and Transportation Methods

After the training, they joined the full Committee on Manufacturing Technology meeting for a tour of Ford Motor Company's Chicago stamping plant. Thursday the group was joined by two other Chairmen, Owen Decker, Mittal Steel, Metallic Coated Sheet and Dean MacNamara, Dofasco, Tin Mill Practice and presented the committee Highlights from 2005 and Workplans for 2006. They reported a significant improvement in attendance over prior years. They recommended that a representative from each plant be assigned to each relevant committee. In this way, not only are plans and activities of the various committees more completely distributed around the industry, the knowledge gained is completely distributed, as well.

Steel Industry Art on Display
Those appreciative of steel industry history will want to visit the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area in the Homestead area of Pittsburgh. The Rivers of Steel program is sponsoring the display "Rails and Mills: The Art of Industry" from now through February 28.

The display includes paintings, photographs, 19th century lithographs, magazine advertisements, and assorted memorabilia heralding the age of the steel industry, the smoke, furnaces, and locomotives.

They are from the thousands of pieces collected by Ken Kobus of USS Cairton. Kobus is a third generation steel man who has dedicated much of his life to studying the United States and especially the Pittsburgh area's industrial heritage. If his name is familiar, it is because he has published numerous articles on Cokemaking in the area, the railroads, the history of time in the United States, is the editor of "Steel: Diary of a Furnace Worker" published by AIST, and has served on AISI's Manufacturing Committee on Coke Oven Practice and coke Oven By -Products.

The exhibit is on third floor at the Bost Building, located at 623 E. Eighth Ave. It runs Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, contact Bill Obenchain.

AISI Construction Codes & Standards Realigned to Meet the Challenges of the Future

During 2005, AISI's Construction Market Committee strategically reviewed the Institute's building codes and standards program, which for years has been a core asset in addressing competitive materials challenges in the construction market. AISI's Construction Codes and Standards staff is recognized internationally for its expertise and success in securing favorable steel provisions in U.S. and Canadian building codes. The strategic objectives in the realignment were to replace Program Director Hank Martin, who retired in December 2005, and to reassume a leadership role in structural fire protection, at the request of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

To meet these objectives, AISI has announced the following staff changes:

Robert J. Wills, P.E. has been promoted to director, Construction Codes and Standards. Robert was formerly regional director, Construction Codes and Standards. He has represented the steel industry on a wide variety of important American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committees. He has been actively involved in the development of the International Building Code and the NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code. Robert is widely recognized for his expertise in fire- and hurricane-resistant design standards. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University, and is a registered Professional Engineer. Wills has been with AISI for 15 years.

Farid Alfawakhiri, Ph.D, P.E., is AISI's new senior engineer, Construction Codes and Standards, with primary responsibility for fire-protection standards and related research/education programs. Prior to joining AISI, Farid was senior R&D engineer with the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), leading the fire, blast and progressive collapse programs. He has also served as a fire research fellow at the Fire Risk Management Program of the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa, on behalf of AISI and the Canadian Steel Construction Council. He holds a masters degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from the University of Ottawa and a doctorate degree in Civil/Structural Engineering from Carleton University, Canada. He has authored more than 20 technical publications in the fields of structural fire protection, resistance to blast and progressive collapse, structural dynamics, and earthquake and wind engineering. Dr. Alfawakhiri is a licensed professional engineer in Canada.

Bonnie E. Manley, P.E. has been appointed regional director, Construction Codes and Standards, to fill the vacancy created by Robert Wills' promotion. Bonnie's primary focus will be the continuous improvement of structural and seismic design provisions in building codes and standards. She was previously employed as a structural engineer for the National Fire Protection Association, and prior to that, as a project engineer at the Institute for Business and Home Safety (formerly the Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction). Manley gained extensive experience in the use of non-destructive testing to evaluate the condition of existing industrial structures while working as a structural engineer for AEC Engineering. She has a bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering from the University of California, San Diego; and was awarded two master's degrees in Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering and Management from the University of Michigan. She is a registered professional engineer.

"This realignment of our Construction Codes and Standards team will clearly strengthen the industry's ability to effectively address critical issues in a post-9/11, post- Katrina/Rita/Wilma environment. The Institute is fortunate to have a seasoned veteran of Robert Wills' stature leading this core program and to have successfully recruited two new, highly experienced professionals in Farid Alfawakhiri and Bonnie Manley," said Del Boring, AISI's vice president of Construction Market. For more information on AISI's Construction Market Program, visit the Web site at www.steel.org.

AISI Automotive Team News

Ron Krupitzer Appointed Vice President, Automotive Applications

AISI has announced the promotion of Ronald P. Krupitzer to the position of vice president of automotive applications.

In this position, Krupitzer's responsibilities consist of developing and implementing strategies for AISI's Automotive Applications Committee (AAC), whose focus is advancing the competitive use of steel in the light vehicle market. This work includes active participation in the Auto/Steel Partnership and leadership of AAC's research, education and technology transfer activities.

"This promotion adds further recognition of the vital role of our automotive program in advancing steel's competitiveness in North America," Andrew G. Sharkey, III, president and CEO of AISI said.

"Ron's leadership and involvement have helped to reinforce North American steel as the material of choice for designing lightweight, cost-effective automobiles," David Jeanes, senior vice president of Market Development, AISI, said. "His initiatives have influenced and broadened steel's credibility with an expanded automotive customer base. Leading technology transfer efforts for OEMs and providing steel-intensive solutions to design challenges faced by our automotive customers have solidified the partnerships of the North American steel companies and the automotive producers."

Krupitzer began his career in 1968 in the Research and Development Section of Republic/LTV Steel Company, and in 1982 he advanced to process development manager.

Kupitzer joined DaimlerChrysler Corporation in 1985, where he held management positions in the company's Materials Engineering and Stamping Divisions. He was a member of the corporate integration team established to improve maintenance practices through the company. Before this assignment, Krupitzer held a senior manager position at the Warren, Michigan Stamping Plant with responsibilities for quality and production.

Krupitzer earned a Bachelor's Degree in Metallurgy from Case Institute of Technology and a Master's Degree in Metallurgy and Materials Science from Case Western Reserve University, both in Cleveland, Ohio.

Deanna Lorincz Appointed Director, Automotive Communications

AISI has announced today the promotion of Deanna S. Lorincz to director, automotive communications. In her role, Lorincz will manage strategic marketing, public /media relations and advertising for AISI's Automotive Applications Committee and the Bar and Rod Market Development Group, as well as the Strategic Alliance for Steel Fuel Tanks (SASFT) and the newly formed Tailored Steel Product Alliance (TSPA).

In addition to her responsibilities with AISI, Lorincz will manage marketing and technology transfer efforts for the Auto/Steel Partnership (A/SP). The A/SP is an association that includes the Big Three automakers and the North American automotive sheet steel producers.

"Under Deanna's direction, several marketing plans to increase customer awareness of new steel technologies were successfully crafted and implemented throughout North America," Ron Krupitzer, vice president of automotive applications, AISI said. "One example was the transfer of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies associated with the broad application of high-strength and advanced high-strength steels in the automotive marketplace. Her leadership in guiding the technical transfer efforts of our ULSAB-Advanced Vehicle Concepts (ULSAB-AVC) project has given North American carmakers the benefit of $44 million worth of research by the global steel industry. Because of her efforts, AISI has become a well-recognized source for technical information on steel-intensive designs for future cars and trucks."

"Deanna's background in marketing, business management and strategic planning, as well as her expertise in both writing and graphic design, have been invaluable in helping AISI achieve its communications and awareness objectives in all of our marketing programs.

She helped us launch our annual showcase of new steel applications through the the Great Designs in Steel Seminars," Krupitzer said.

"Having Ms. Lorincz as part of the management team has been a key factor in the Institute's efforts to establish recognition for its investment in the continued success of the automotive market. We are continuously looking for new and exciting ways to get our messages to our customers," he said.

Lorincz joined AISI in April 2001 as assistant manager, Communications. She most recently served as AISI's manager of communications, automotive market. Prior to that, she held positions in the metropolitan Detroit area, most notably as corporate marketing communication specialist for Computerized Facility Integration, marketing specialist for AON Consulting, and marketing director for Future Benefits Corporation.