AISI Announces Recipients of 2024 Market Development Industry Leadership Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has presented two awards to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing the competitive use of steel in the marketplace — specifically in the construction and automotive markets. The awards were presented today by Lourenco Goncalves, AISI Chairman and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., at AISI’s General Meeting held at the InterContinental Hotel–The Wharf in Washington, DC.

Goncalves presented the “2024 Market Development Industry Leadership Awards” to Brian Keierleber, P.E., county engineer of Buchanan County, Iowa and Michael Worswick, Ph.D., P.Eng., professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo.

“We are pleased to recognize the leadership and unwavering dedication of Brian and Michael and their passion for conveying the benefits of steel as the material of choice in these key markets. Their expertise is a tremendous asset to the steel industry,” said Goncalves. “Providing durable steel solutions to meet the challenges faced by the infrastructure and automotive industries is paramount to American steel producers and our customers. We appreciate the continued leadership and significant contributions of these two individuals.”

Brian Keierleber oversees the maintenance and construction of 963 miles of county roads and 260 county bridges and has been instrumental in adopting new steel technologies to accomplish this mission. His groundbreaking achievements include construction of the first press-brake formed tub girder (PBFTG) structure in the U.S.; the first bridge designed and built using eSPAN140— a free web-based design tool developed by AISI; and the first known county bridge fabricated entirely with galvanized steel, showcasing the durability and longevity of hot-dip galvanized steel in harsh environments.

Michael Worswick co-directs the Waterloo Forming and Crash Lab and leads a research program addressing the fabrication of lightweight automotive body and structural components and their crash safety performance. His work is important to understanding the behavior of automotive steel grades under all conditions, which is critical to underscoring its success within the automotive industry as a cost-effective and sustainable solution to vehicle lightweighting. He has also contributed to the successful application of steel in automotive body and chassis structures and closures. Dr. Worswick has worked extensively with AISI’s Automotive Applications Council and the Auto/Steel Partnership and was recognized with the Auto/Steel Partnership’s Award of Excellence in 2020 and in 2022.

Left to Right: Lourenco Goncalves, AISI Chairman and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.; Brian Keierleber, P.E., county engineer of Buchanan County, Iowa; Kevin Dempsey, AISI president and CEO

Left to Right: Lourenco Goncalves, AISI Chairman and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.; Michael Worswick, Ph.D., P.Eng., professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo; Kevin Dempsey, AISI president and CEO

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Contact: Lisa Harrison

202.452.7115 / lharrison@steel.org

Contact: Sarah Bryant Burns

202.452.7176 / sburns@steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers reflecting the production of both carbon and stainless steels which are critical to the everyday lives of all Americans — including national security, roads and bridges, the electrical grid, clean energy technologies and the automotive market. AISI also represents nearly 80 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@AISISteel) or Instagram.