SMU NexGen Leadership Award Nominations Close with 21 Candidates

Here are the 21 people nominated for this year’s award:

Alliance Steel nominated Drew Gross – “…Drew has matured over the past 10 years into a strong company leader and is always in the forefront of providing clear vision into the future of Alliance Steel.”

Big River Steel nominated Kristin Boyle – “…Since Ms. Boyle joined BRS, she has quickly moved up the leadership ranks due to her willingness to cultivate change in a rapidly evolving company….”

Chemcoaters nominated Brit Capizzano – “…In his time with our company, he has made numerous improvements to our processes, fostered growth of our staff, and worked diligently towards providing transformative innovation within our company’s portfolio….”

Conklin Metal Industries nominated Austin Adams – “…The most compelling evidence that Austin is a NexGen leader is the fact that at a young age he was chosen to oversee the installation and operation of the single largest investment in our company’s 140-year history….”

Eagle Steel nominated Shelby Ray Throneburg – “…In Shelby’s brief tenure with Eagle, she has insisted on being on-site, unlike prior management, and has brought a very supportive and innovative management style….”

Imperial Manufacturing nominated Patric Magee – “…He takes the time to listen and make sure everyone is included in the conversation, then returns with a thoughtful and inclusive decision….”

Jemison Metals nominated Sam Curtis – “…I am always finding new ways to lift those around me so that regardless of what they have going on in life on a personal and professional level, they can come to work knowing they have a leader who genuinely cares about them and their development….”

Jemison Metals nominated Jeffrey Heinke – “…Jeffrey’s ability to recognize an opportunity and craft a solution has been the driving force behind our success in fabrication….”

Jemison Metals nominated Wes Kaigler – “…He has consistently demonstrated exceptional intellectual and interpersonal skills….”

KW Industries nominated Brian Frye – “…Brian successfully built and implemented an activity tracker that records and analyzes quoting, sales and a variety of production activity data for multiple departments company-wide to better understand purchasing trends and help KW reduce lead times for end-users….”

Leeco Steel nominated Matt Niemeyer – “…Thinking creatively, Matt created a video series that introduced the sales team and highlighted our services….”

Leeco Steel nominated Andy Polka – “…Andy truly understands industry trends and customer pain points, and this knowledge allows him to build strong connections….”

Magic Steel nominated Sadie Kelosky – “…Her work ethic and constant thirst for knowledge can quickly dispel any of the typical stereotypes and unfortunate labels given to her peer group….”

Metalwest nominated Eric Daniel – “…One of Eric’s largest contributions in the last few years was his role in changing our methods and reporting of inventory management….”

Mitsui USA nominated Ted VanDorn – “…In our automotive sector, Ted has utilized Mitsui’s deep domestic and international reach to develop a blended supply strategy that has successfully led to a ‘one stop shop’ for automotive customers needing multi line product solutions….”

Pacesetter nominated Kathleen Cox – “…In her tenure, she has accelerated the training process from months to weeks….”

Pacesetter nominated Lauren Bryson – “…Lauren has contributed to the development of Pacesetter’s sales initiatives, spearheads new revenue stream objectives, continues to grow lasting professional relationships within the industry, and maintains her core goal objectives….”

Steel Spectrum nominated Farhaz Jassani – “…Farhaz is a true leader and it shows by the success of his business, the loyalty of his people and the respect he has earned in his community….”

Tempel Steel nominated Meredith Meade – “…Meredith’s strengths center around her ability to develop supplier relationships, successfully implement change, manage information systems, apply automation to improve workflow and mentor others….”

Vested Metals nominated Viv Helwig – “…I started Vested Metals International, LLC, in 2014 and have since grown it from a one-person brokerage to a multi-million dollar thriving entity….”

Windsor Door nominated Harrison Ferrell – “…Harrison helped the organization navigate its way through some of the most challenging obstacles in recent times and has worked with the new team of executives to bring the organization into the future to remain competitive and profitable….”

The winner of the 2019 SMU NexGen Leadership Award will be announced during the 2019 SMU Steel Summit Conference in Atlanta on Aug. 26-28.