Strategic Leader Executive Forum

This half-day executive strategy forum uses panel discussions and open exchange to address the theme “Technology, Production and ‘New’ Manufacturing.” Attendance is limited to C-suite and senior executives at manufacturing companies.

The series is designed to inspire and empower the next generation of community leaders through keynote presentations and interactive discussions about leaders’ real-world challenges and triumphs. Topics include navigating corporate transformations, spearheading industry disruptions, fostering visionary thinking, and cultivating resilient teams. Terrence “Lee” Reaviel, Jr. is President & Founder of Stratagem Solutions, Inc. He has nearly 20 years of experience supporting Army Aviation acquisition programs and has provided acquisition management and strategic planning support to Army Aviation and Missile project and product offices.

The executive forum addresses new capital investment opportunities and green technology, along with China’s peak production, rising low-cost imports, and changing U.S. tariff schedules. It brings together leaders across the global steel value chain, including raw-material suppliers, steelmakers, processors, fabricators, buyers, traders, technology and equipment providers, and investors. Its program connects strategic market economics with steel production technology.

The conference objective is to enhance the value of participation in AIST activities and provide resources to help attendees grow as leaders in the association and the steel industry. Program topics include a North American steel update, economic perspectives, AIST strategic plan and program updates, and a rapid-fire discussion for questions, comments, and concerns. Leadership sessions address leading through uncertainty using neuroscience, psychology, and practical leadership strategies. A session on applying AI across a steel business addresses finance, supply chain, HR, and sales; data privacy and protecting proprietary know-how; AI adoption examples; identifying which data is safe to use with which tools; and preparing an implementation plan for IT. The event is invitation-only and open to Member Chapter officers, Technology Committee officers, Board of Director members, Board standing committee officers, and AIST Foundation Board of Trustees.

The program includes keynotes, panels, breakouts, and interactive roundtables on steel-industry conditions; fabrication businesses, leadership, and industry outlook; AI and digitization in manufacturing; shop-floor equipment use cases and return on investment; and manufacturing’s economic and financial outlook. Sessions also address profitability, capital investment, business growth, tariffs, steel, leadership development, recruitment, small- and midsize-manufacturer growth, and potential changes to tax policy, OSHA and EPA regulations, and tariffs. Roundtable topics include culture, marketing, AI, and operations.

The morning program includes an overview of Weber Metals, updates on FIA and FIERF initiatives, and presentations on Boeing’s current market outlook and forging supply-chain insights. Attendees will discuss developments affecting the forging industry and its customers. After lunch, tours of Weber Metals and Aluminum Precision Products will cover their manufacturing operations and capabilities.

Public power utility leaders meet with experts in technology, energy, and policy. Attendance is limited to facilitate productive dialogue. Sessions address shifts in the global energy landscape, including the energy transition, energy security, geopolitical and economic competition, and investment in energy infrastructure, renewable technologies, nuclear power, and fossil fuels. Other discussions examine reliability and affordability amid growing demand, rising costs, regulatory pressures, and customer expectations; resource adequacy, infrastructure investment, workforce challenges, supply-chain constraints, and emerging technologies; and leadership through outages, cyber incidents, severe weather, safety emergencies, and public scrutiny. The program also explores AI and other emerging technologies, including their utility applications and questions around governance, cybersecurity, workforce impacts, and risk management. Additional topics include evaluating and integrating significant new loads, generation and infrastructure investments, contracts and rate protections, aligning economic development with the public power mission, and workforce development, succession planning, leadership training, and knowledge transfer.

Content for association CEOs and senior-level association executives focuses on emerging industry, business, technology, and association management trends. The conference includes table discussions on trending issues and crowd-sourced solutions, general sessions, Conversessions, and CEO and staff roundtables. A New CEO Breakfast features discussion of strategies for establishing leadership in a new role. Registration is for trade association leaders and their staff.

The program is intended for key executives and site-level Labor & HR employees, with industry-specific information to help maximize organizational expertise in navigating current workforce challenges and opportunities for the future.