Speakers - Friday, February 23, 2024

08:30 am – 09:00 am 

A Fireside Chat with Tamara Lundgren

Tamara Lundgren, CEO of Radius Recycling, (Formerly Schnitzer Steel)

Tamara L. Lundgren is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Radius Recycling NASDAQ: RDUS) one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of recycled metal products in North America with operating facilities located in 25 states, Puerto Rico, and Western Canada.

Under Lundgren's leadership, the Company has experienced remarkable growth, transforming from a regional Pacific Northwest enterprise into a leading global provider of recycled metal products and services. This achievement has been made possible through strategic investments in advanced metal recycling technologies, as well as the expansion of the Company's platform and operating model. These efforts have positioned the Company to effectively meet the rising global demand for recycled metals, particularly in support of the worldwide shift towards low carbon technologies. Radius’ core values of Safety, Sustainability, and Integrity serve as the foundation of the Company’s culture and underpin significant recognitions garnered by the Company including, being listed as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2023 and named as the Most Sustainable Company in the World by Corporate Knights in 2023. In addition, Radius has been honored by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for nine consecutive years and has been certified as a Great Place to Work® for the past two years.

Lundgren joined Radius in 2005 as Chief Strategy Officer and held positions of increasing responsibility, including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. She was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 2008 and Chairman in 2020. Prior to joining Radius, she was an investment banker and lawyer with 25 years of experience in the U.S. and Europe, including as a Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank in London and New York, and a partner in the Washington, DC law firm of Hogan & Hartson, LLP.

Lundgren is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, a member of the Board of Directors of Ryder System, Inc., and a Trustee of The Conference Board. She completed five years as a member of the President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, having been appointed by President Obama in 2016 and reappointed by President Trump in 2018. She is also a member of the Business Roundtable, the China Center Advisory Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the President’s Advisory Council of Wellesley College. Lundgren was Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 2014-2015.

Lundgren earned a B.A. degree from Wellesley College and a J.D. degree from the Northwestern University School of Law.

09:15 am – 10:00 am

"Turning Adversity into Opportunity"

Nir Bashan, The Creative

Nir is a world-renowned creativity & innovation expert.

From working with Hollywood and music stars like Woody Harrelson and Rod Stewart, Nir discovered something that may shock you: These creative superstars aren't all that different from us! It's just that they have mastered a method of repeatable and predictable innovation and creativity -- a type of creativity that anyone can learn. And it turns out that's the same type of creativity and innovation can be used in businesses and careers everywhere!

Nir has taught thousands of leaders and individuals around the globe how to harness the power of creativity and innovation to improve profitability, increase sales, boost customer service and ultimately create more meaning in their work with clients like AT&T, The Institute of Internal Auditors, Microsoft, The Merchants Acquirers Committee, Ace Hardware, The Mortgage Collaborative, NFL Network, The International Association of Plastics Distributors, EA Sports, The National Association of Realtors, Suzuki, Home Stagers and ReDesign Alliance Association, Activision, jetBlue, Ingram Micro, B. Braun, Cardinal Health and many, many more.

Nir’s McGraw Hill book 'The Creator Mindset' is one of the most sought out books on creativity and innovation anywhere in the world, and has been named a top 100 nonfiction book of all time.

10:00 am – 11:00 am

  Panel Discussion

Panelist: Rusty Fisher, Axis Pipe & Tube

Rusty Fisher is CEO / Sr. Vice President of Commercial for Axis Pipe and Tube, a mill producing Line Pipe, OCTG, Standard Pipe, HSS, and Piling located in Bryan, Texas.

Mr. Fisher has over 30 years in sales and marketing of pipe products. He began his career in sales with Tex-Tube which subsequently merged marketing with Lone Star Steel.   He served in a number of positions with Lone Star in line pipe sales including Manager, Line Pipe Products; General Manager, Line Pipe Sales and Vice President, Line Pipe Sales.  Mr. Fisher served as Vice President of Sales for Tubular Synergy Group, and Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Americas for Welspun Global trade prior to joining Axis.  

He graduated from Texas Tech University with a BBA in Marketing and has served as Associate Member Chairman, Southern Gas Association and on the Board of Directors of the NASPD. 

Panelist: Jim O'Shea, Zekelman Industries

Jim graduated from Northern Illinois in 1995 and started his career in steel tube and pipe with Leavitt Tube that August.  Jim has worked at Leavitt Tube, Independence Tube/Nucor Tubular Products and just had his 5-year anniversary at Atlas Tube this January.    

With just under 29 years’ experience in steel, Jim had grown his commercial experience in tube and pipe from starting on the inside sales desk to regional manager and other roles in between. With exposure to the HSS market,  he has the knowledge and expertise to share insights to the NASPD and is honored to be on today’s panel.  

Jonathan Kirkland serves as Vice President of Sales and Logistics for Borusan Berg Pipe, a large diameter pipe manufacturer with locations in Mobile, Alabama and Panama City, Florida.  He began his career in the steel pipe industry in 2004 with CPW America where he worked in sales and project management roles before joining Borusan Berg Pipe in 2010.  Jonathan earned a Bachelor’s of Economics and International Studies, with an emphasis on Latin America, from Texas A&M University.

Panelist: Ralph Castille, UACL Logistics

Ralph serves as Director of Business Development for UACL Logistics. He has been in the transportation industry for over 38 years holding several different positions from financial, risk management, Vice President of trucking subsidiary Louisiana Transportation, and eventually transitioned to Director of Business Development assisting revenue growth. In this capacity, Ralph develops national account opportunities for the agent network. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History, Masters in Educational Administration and a MBA in Finance and Administration all from his alma mater the Ragin Cajuns of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Ralph has been married to Vicki Howell Castille for 49 years and resides in Montgomery, Texas. Ralph and Vicki are the proud parents of 3 children (Brooke, Ryan and Kristen) and 8 grandchildren. Being a South Louisiana native no celebration is complete without watching LSU football and attending Mardi Gras with all of the grandkids. Personal interest includes cruising in the Caribbean, wine tasting and certainly not least Cajun cooking

10:00 am – 11:00 am

 "Practical Applications for AI In Your Business"

Julie Holmes, Innovation, Founder & CEO of THE Smarter HQ

Julie Holmes is an innovation and technology expert with a keen understanding of how AI is influencing the business landscape, An inventor with over two decades of experience as a tech developer and strategist, she helps organizations innovate and differentiate.

Sought after for her engaging keynotes and programs, Julie has spoken in over 20 countries to virtually every industry. Whether coaching leaders to build tech-ready teams or showing sales professionals how to 'tech it up a level" so they can close more deals, Julie demystifies the world of innovation and technology, making it engaging, practical, and valuable.

Of course, Julie doesn't just talk about innovation and technology, she delivers it. As a founder of two innovation companies, she's been at the forefront of designing and delivering tech products that are used by thousands of people in over 60 countries. She's the author of "Little Big Bangs for Leaders" and will soon be releasing her next book, "innovation in the Age of AI."

When she's not on stage or innovating, Julie happily nerds out over new apps and travels the world, immersing herself in the latest trends in technology and innovation.