2019 SMU Steel Summit Conference – A Sneak Peek – Day 1

RE: 2019 SMU Steel Summit Conference, August 26-28, 2019 – Location: Georgia International Convention Center, Atlanta, GA

The Georgia International Convention Center (www.gicc.com) as well as the three Gateway Hotels (Marriott, Renaissance and SpringHill Suites) are all conveniently located at the first stop of the free SkyTrain out of the Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The second stop on the SkyTrain is for car rentals. Our overflow hotel – the Atlanta Airport Marriott – is located one exit south of the convention center. We will be running free shuttles from that hotel to the convention center during the conference. There is also a free shuttle from the airport to that hotel (cannot be reached by the SkyTrain).

For almost one year, the Steel Market Update and CRU teams have been diligently working on putting together what we think will be an exceptional steel conference, one that will be remembered long after it is over. Today, I would like to go through a portion of the agenda to give those coming, as well as those who have not yet decided to attend, a sense of why certain agenda segments were selected, who the speakers are and what to expect out of this year’s event.

10:00 AM to Noon: Price Management Workshop

It has been a few years since we have included a segment on managing price risk. This year, our pre-summit program will begin at 10:30 AM on Monday when the CME Group will host a Price Risk Management Workshop. The workshop will be held at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway Hotel (next to the convention center) and will last until 12 noon. This is the only program that will not be held at the Georgia International Convention Center. This will also be a good “starter” program for those new to our conference, those interested in the futures markets and how they work or those wanting to get into the networking mode right away.

Lunch will be on your own on Monday. If you are already registered for the conference, you will be able to check-in in the lobby of the Georgia International Convention Center (entrance is on the same side as the hotels) beginning at 10 AM and continuing throughout the day. If you are not registered but would like to do so at the venue, you will be able to do that there as well.

Day One – Starting with a Bang

1 PM to 1:45 PM: SMU/CRU Proprietary Indices and Forecasts

As I thought about how we were going to improve the quality and quantity of this year’s conference without forcing our attendees to take Wednesday evening flights back home, one of the areas was how to utilize the resources we have built both at Steel Market Update and the CRU Group (our parent company). We both have developed proprietary products, some of which you may be aware (like price indices) and some you may not (such as the SMU Service Center Inventories Analysis). We are going to address those products plus offer a peak at our first forecast of the conference. This will be the first time I have opened the program discussing our products. I am doing it this year because we have an interesting story to tell, and I think you will want to be there to hear it. The speakers/panelists will be Chris Houlden, Research Manager, CRU; Josh Spoores, Principal Consultant, CRU; and John Packard, President & CEO, Steel Market Update.

1:45 PM to 2:30 PM: Transportation Issues & Solutions

Trucking and rail issues abound and will be with us as we head into 2020. I believe we have two appropriate and interesting speakers, including James Burg, President of James Burg Trucking Company. I have heard Mr. Burg speak in the past and he presents his case very well and is actively and passionately involved with the trucking issues both regionally and across the United States. JR (Jim) Schaaf is the Group Vice President for Metals and Construction for the Norfolk Southern Railroad. I have not heard him speak, but he is the right person to address rail issues as they relate to moving steel.

2:30 PM to 2:50 PM: Break – we have expanded our breaks to 20 minutes in order to improve the amount of networking that can be done between programs.

2:50 PM to 4:00 PM: Steel Distribution & Processing: Demand Perspectives

In the past, SMU has brought in analysts to discuss automotive, energy, construction and other market segments and to forecast what we should anticipate in the coming year. I thought it would be more beneficial to have three of the larger service centers/toll processors to discuss what the actual end users are telling their suppliers. Edward Lehner is President & CEO of Ryerson, one of the largest publically traded service centers in North America. He will be able to address a wide range of flat rolled products across various regions and end uses. John Reid is Director, President & CEO of Russel Metals, a service center specializing in plate. We wanted to provide more attention to plate this year – especially since Nucor has announced a new plate mill. Can the Russel Metals CEO help us understand why that capacity is needed? Kurt Russell is President & COO of Precoat Metals, one of the largest toll painting companies. As a toll processor of prepainted steels, Precoat also has access to information about a wide range of products and market segments. Combined, I think they will give us a good foundation to build on over the course of the conference.

4:00 PM to 5:30 PM: Networking Reception – Making New Friends & Business Relationships

Listen, one of the main reasons why the SMU Steel Summit Conference is a success is because of the decision-makers that attend our conference. From CEOs of major steel-consuming and producing companies, heads of purchasing and sales, chief financial officers and more. The decision-makers are going to be here at this networking reception, which is conveniently timed to end at 5:30 PM giving you plenty of time to make your dinner reservations (or to make dinner reservations with someone you just met at the reception).

The Gateway Hotels – the Marriott, Renaissance and SpringHill Suites – are just a few short steps away. You will find after you return from dinner on Monday evening that the Marriott and Renaissance bars will be bustling with steel people. Take a few moments to stop by one, or both, to see if there is someone there you would like to meet, or just to chat with long-time friends. I wouldn’t doubt there will be a similar scene at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel, which is one of our spill-over hotels accessible by shuttle from the convention center.

In Sunday’s issue, I will talk about Day 2, which is Tuesday, August 27^, as we will have a full schedule including announcing the very first NexGen Leadership Award.

If you have not yet registered, you may do so by clicking here or going to www.SteelMarketUpdate.com/events/steel-summit or you can contact Events@SteelMarketUpdate.com or Paige Mayhair at 724-720-1012.