Final Thoughts
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Final Thoughts
Written by John Packard
August 22, 2018
I have already been to Atlanta and now I am on my way to Minnesota for my introduction to my responsibilities as a trustee for Hamline University, the college I graduated from many years ago. On Saturday, I will jet back to Atlanta to join the SMU team as we finish preparations and get the convention center set for the kick-off of our 8th SMU Steel Summit Conference on Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
I am not going to announce where we are regarding total registrations. I will save that for Tuesday morning at the conference. Let’s just say it is a pleasant surprise to all of us.
This will be the one conference you want to attend to network with others interested in the flat rolled and plate steel markets. Or for that matter, in the general steel business and the economy.
I will have much more to say about the conference in Sunday evening’s issue of this newsletter.
We will roll out our next Steel 101: Introduction to Steel Making & Market Fundamentals workshop next week. There will be some changes in our registration system beginning with this workshop. We will be working through the CRU Events system. This will take some of the stress off us and allow us more time to work on new things and improve our content. The next Steel 101 will be Dec. 11-12, 2018.
Our registrations continue for our new Steel 201: Introduction to Advanced High Strength & Other New Steels workshop, which will be held in Middletown, Ohio, and will include two tours: AK Steel Middletown steel mill and their Research and Innovation Center. You can register for this on www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/events/steel-201
Many balls are still in the air, so I must run and catch a few. Just one more working day left before our conference, and the registrations are still coming in…
As always, your business is truly appreciated by all of us at Steel Market Update.
John Packard, President & CEO
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John Packard
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