February 2024 Volume 6

PRESIDENT'S NOTE

President's Note

A Quick Look Back…Then Onward! Six years…are you kidding me? My very first FIA boss – Chairperson Emeritus Jeff Jones of Forge Resources Group – offered this nugget to me with his greeting at one of my favorite FIA events, and the first meeting of the year - the FIA Midwest Meeting of Members, which has the feeling and joy of a family

reunion. It has only been a few months since our Fall Meeting, but this is the forging industry: great relationships and cannot wait to see one another again. And this is how I still see it after six years in. I genuinely appreciate all who come every year for the first meeting of the FIA calendar, and those who continue to show up throughout the year, to support and engage with the association and their industry peers.

Fundamentals of Forging 101 Plant Tour at Finkl Steel

Plant Tour at Canton Drop Forge

If you are happy with the direction of this organization, look no further than the 2017 FIA President’s Search Committee, FIA Board of Directors and FIERF Trustees to aim your applause. It all starts there with their vision and trust in the input from FIA staff and partners. Most importantly, not micro-managing, which many boards fall prey to, but rather aiming high, providing resources, and letting the staff fly high and get it done. Do we always get it right? No and we should not, and we learn from our stumbles and get back up because the directors and trustees back us. It is this process that needs to endure, and I’m happy to say our directors and trustees own it. Bravo!

FIA Midwest Meeting of Members 2024

How do I reflect on these last six years? Honestly, it has been a total blast. I have met some of the smartest, coolest people ever – plenty of characters, not sure I met a shy forger yet, and many dedicated men and women in our industry. All the relationships and seeing just how hardworking and dedicated everyone is, just makes me want to work harder and do my part to ensure this industry keeps growing and weathers whatever challenges come our way. Frankly, I would be mortified to let this industry down.

PUBLISHER James R. Warren jwarren@forging.org MANAGING EDITOR Angela Gibian angela@forging.org Editorial Staff

Board of Directors

Robert Brodhead Mark Candy Mark Derry Robert Dimitrieff Jose Lozano

Mike Morgus Matt Natale James Romeo Joe Schwegman

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Amanda Dureiko amanda@forging.org DESIGN Lorean Crowder lorean@forging.org

CHAIRPERSON Chelsea Lantto VICE CHAIRPERSON Jim Kravec

FIA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2024 1