SMU Community Chat

Next Community Chat to Feature Steel Warehouse President Michael Lerman
Written by Michael Cowden
October 7, 2021
Steel Market Update is pleased to announce that Michael Lerman of Steel Warehouse will be the featured speaker during our next SMU Community Chat webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT).
Lerman is the president of Steel Warehouse, a private, family-owned service center chain – one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. He oversees Steel Warehouse’s northern locations. Lerman was also named Metal Center News’ 2019 Service Center Executive of the Year.
We’ll speak about the challenges that come with one of the most volatile years for steel on record.
We’ll talk about stuff: managing inventory, dealing with supply chain snarls, and still getting steel out the door on time to customers. We’ll talk about business models: forecasting and steel futures. And we’ll talk about people: not only the ups and downs of a family business but also how to attract and retain workers in the middle of a pandemic.
In short, we’ll be talking about the blocking and tackling of the steel business. Please leave exotic theories and models at the (virtual) door.
The 45-minute webinar is free. You can register by clicking here.
By Michael Cowden, Michael@SteelMarketUpdate.com

Michael Cowden
Read more from Michael CowdenLatest in SMU Community Chat

SMU Community Chat: Tanners explores if US steel industry still needs imports
The US steel industry is edging closer to independence from imports, and it may only take one more mill to tip the scales, according to Timna Tanners, managing director at Wolfe Research.

SMU Community Chat replay now available
The latest SMU Community Chat webinar reply featuring Timna Tanners, managing director of equity research for Wolfe Research, is now available on our website to all members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the community tab and look under the “previous webinars” section of the dropdown menu. All past Community Chat webinars are also available under that selection. If […]

SMU Community Chat: June 25 With AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson
We’ll have a lot to talk about because construction is at the intersection of so many of today’s hot-button issues. The main question: Will construction thrive or dive in the rest of ’25? (Nothing wrong with a rhyme, even in serious times.)

Join SMU for a Community Chat With Timna Tanners on Wednesday at 11 am ET!
Timna Tanners, managing director of equity research for Wolfe Research, will be the featured speaker on the next SMU Community Chat. The webinar will be on Wednesday, June 11, at 11 am ET. It’s free to attend.

Scrap market trades sideways in June
The US scrap market has traded sideways from May prices in basically one day without any significant descent, sources say. All major steelmakers, with maybe one exception, issued orders at prices paid in May.