The Board of Directors of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has elected Daniel R. DiMicco, Chairman, President, and CEO of Nucor Corp., to serve as Chairman of the Institute until May 2011.
The appointment was made during the May 2 meeting. DiMicco succeeds James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President, and CEO of AK Steel Corp., who had been serving as Chairman of AISI since January 2009.
“Dan brings a strong commitment to advancing the Institute’s pro-manufacturing agenda at a time when we are facing major policy issues in Washington that have great impact for our industry,” AISI President and CEO Thomas J. Gibson said. “Dan’s energy, and his leadership and advocacy skills, will serve greatly toward making our voice resonate on Capitol Hill and toward mobilizing our industry’s grass roots power.”
“We greatly appreciate Jim Wainscott’s service to AISI, particularly during very challenging times for our industry and for the global economy,” Gibson continued. “His recognition with receipt of the Gary Medal—the Institute’s highest honor—says volumes about Jim’s contributions to the industry, his commitment, and his character.”
DiMicco and the Institute honored Wainscott with the Gary Medal during the recent AISI 2010 General Meeting.
In his role as chairman, DiMicco will be a leading spokesman for the industry on issues such as the need to strengthen pro-manufacturing public policies as part of America’s economic revitalization and maintaining the competitiveness of the North American steel industry. He previously served as Chairman of the Institute’s Policy and Planning Committee, as well as its Finance Committee.
“Our policy goals won’t be achieved on their own,” DiMicco said during his Chairman’s Address at the AISI annual meeting. “It will require taking an aggressive stand on key issues, activating our industry’s grass roots power more effectively than we have done in the past, and responding with a strong and unified voice to misguided policies.”
DiMicco has served the steel industry for 35 years, beginning in 1975 with Republic Steel Corp. in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began as a research metallurgist and project leader. He joined Nucor in November 1982 as plant metallurgist and manager of quality control for its Plymouth, Utah, facility.
In 1991, DiMicco became General Manager of the Nucor-Yamato joint venture in Blytheville, Ark., and became Vice President in January 1992. He became Executive Vice President in September 1999, President and Chief Executive Officer in September 2000, and was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in May 2006.
DiMicco holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, metallurgy and materials science from Brown University, and a Master of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Nucor and affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Products produced include carbon and alloy steel in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; light gauge steel framing; steel grating and expanded metal; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor is North America’s largest recycler.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology.