Burnham Foyer

North American and global markets have rebounded from the recent recession, but questions still remain about the near-term prospects for the domestic steel industry.

-How will China’s slowdown impact the North American market?
-What effect will additional US capacity have on pricing, supply and demand in the year ahead?
-Will there be any major consolidation – among producers or distributors - in 2012?
-Which key markets will show the most improvement this year? Which are likely to disappoint?
-How will Europe’s financial uncertainty help or hurt the domestic industry?

Chairman: Mr Thomas Danjczek

Mr Mark Parr, Managing Director and Equity Research Analyst, KeyBanc Capital Markets

Mr Jim Tumulty, Senior Managing Director, The Seaport Group

Ms Marie Shmaruk, Director, Metals & Mining Group, Standard & Poor's

Ms Timna Tanners, Metals & Mining Analyst, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Mr Tony Taccone, Partner, First River Consulting

Mr Keith Busse, Chairman, Steel Dynamics Inc

Grand Ballroom AB

Service center executives and distributors weigh in on how they’ll navigate continuing volatility and what the market likely will look like in 2012.

-How have changing buying patterns and attitudes regarding inventory levels impacted the way mills and service centers do business?
-Which market sectors will be bright spots this year?
-What’s the import/export situation for North American distributors? Is Nafta still the region of choice for domestic trade or is a greater global approach becoming more prominent?
-Will consolidation pick up as legacy issues and aging ownership becomes more of a factor?

Chairman: Mr David Phelps

Mr C. Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President & CEO, Metals USA Holdings Corp.

Mr Jeremy Flack, CEO, Flack Steel, Ltd.

Mr Dan Sullivan, Director - Industrials Group, Houlihan Lokey

Mr Mark Breckheimer, President, Heavy Carbon Group, Kloeckner Metals

Chicago Room

Increased transparency has become a way of life when it comes to pricing information. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the outlook for domestic pricing in 2012 during an interactive session with industry experts.

-Did last year’s panel predictions measure up with what really unfolded in 2011?
-How will prognostications by this year’s panel stack up with the audience’s pricing predictions?
-Real-time pricing data is de rigueur in today’s market. How are buyers using this information to their advantage?
-Will producers and consumers like the direction of domestic prices in the New Year?

Chairman: Mr Mark Wiggett

Ms Michelle Applebaum, Managing Partner, Steel Market Intelligence

Mr Josh Spoores, Senior Marketing Analyst, Severstal North America

Mr Ralph Pinkert, Executive Vice President, Scrap Metal Services, LLC

Mr Sandy Simon, VP of Business Development, Pacesetter Steel Service, Inc

Mr Paul Robinson, Senior Economist, IHS Global Insight

Chicago Room

Chicago Room

Big steel buyers and industry experts talk about how they see individual end user markets shaping up in 2012.

-When will North American construction rebound?
-What market sectors are likely to drive demand and consumption going forward?
-Are auto and agricultural equipment going to continue to be strong markets this year?
-Emerging energy markets have been a strong drive of end-use demand. What industry will be the next to do the same?

Chairman: Mr Joseph Innace

Mr Ben Laaper, Steel Procurement Specialist, formerly with Accuride Corporation

Mr Kenneth J. Pierce, Partner, Hughes, Hubbard & Reed LLP

Mr Robert Murray, VP Economic Affairs, McGraw-Hill Construction

Mr Mark Schweitzer, SVP & Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Mr Micah Jacobs, Steel Sourcing Manager, Rubbermaid Commercial Products

Chicago Room

A number of top North American mill executives discuss their strategies for success and factors likely to impact the domestic industry.

-How are producers adapting to whipsaw pricing and availability of scrap, coking coal, ore and other inputs?
-What markets and sectors present the most opportunity for growth in 2012?
-How is the North American market adapting to increased capacity? Can it absorb the new tons?
-Which global markets are showing the most promise for export opportunities?
-What are the overall expectations for production, demand and the health of the North American market this year?

Chairman: Mr Tom Balcerek

Mr Sergei Kuznetsov, CEO, Severstal North America

Mr Mike Rehwinkel, President & CEO, Evraz North America

Mr Charles Schmitt, President of SSAB Americas, SSAB Americas

Mr Vicente Wright, President and CEO, California Steel Industries

Mr Mark Millett, President & CEO, Steel Dynamics, Inc.