February 2025 Volume 7

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

H appy New Year! As we step into 2025, there’s much to look forward to in our industry, with new tech nologies and new opportunities for forging industry suppliers and producers, the FIA is committed to staying at the forefront of these exciting developments. Looking ahead to May 13-15,

• Kathy Edwards, your expertise in managing iMIS and supporting various facets of the organization, including accounting and events, is integral to our daily operations. We appreciate your efficiency and organizational skills. • Amanda Dureiko, your efforts in workforce development and fundraising for the Forging Foundation play a pivotal role in securing the future of our industry. Your dedication to building relationships with educators and advancing our mission is unmatched. • Gabby Schultz, your organized coordination of both in-person and virtual trainings and events has been essential to the success of our programs. Your care, friendly face and positive attitude are a valuable asset to our team. • Dekland Barnum, your tireless work on technical projects and securing funding continues to push our industry forward. Your industry knowledge and technical eye have helped us to advance our offerings and you have become a great resource for our team and our members. • Lorean Crowder, your creativity and design skills help us to elevate our organization and our brand, and your work on FIA Magazine and Forging University is vital to our success. Thank you all for making this year a success. I look forward to another great year together. As we continue to build on the momentum of 2024, I’m excited to share that the FIA calendar is already packed with events and opportunities for engagement with the association and industry peers. I’m committed to keeping the ship steady and ensuring we continue to push forward with initiatives that benefit you and your business. Please feel free to reach out to me with any thoughts on how the FIA can support your goals in the new year. Wishing you all a prosperous 2025!

2025, we're thrilled to preview Forge Fair 2025, North America's only trade show dedicated to the forging industry [see details pg. 61]. With a packed show floor and a fantastic lineup of speakers, this event promises to be an incredible experience. We are excited to announce keynote speakers including aerospace engineer, comedian, and actress Shayla Rivera, and judges Ben Abbott and Dave Baker from the popular Forged in Fire TV show (History Channel). With so many exciting opportunities, we are expecting a great turnout and hope to see you there! As we begin this new year, we are also turning over a new leaf and embarking on a search for a new President and CEO to lead the association. Our team wants to extend our deepest gratitude to Jim Warren, former president and CEO, for his outstanding lead ership and mentorship over the years. Jim has been a true asset to the association and to me personally. His support helped me grow both professionally and personally, and I’m incredibly grateful for his vision and dedication to the forging industry. Although we’ve gone through some changes, our FIA team remains dedicated to helping you and your business thrive. Success is not the result of one person, it’s the result of collaborative efforts. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to each of our FIA team members for your hard work and dedication throughout this year. • Andrew Zielinski, your meticulous management of our finan cial and HR operations ensures everything runs smoothly. Your attention to detail and strategic oversight are truly valued. • Tricia Abruzzino, your dedication to strengthening our membership through recruitment, retention, and member bene fits has made a significant impact. You are key to building and maintaining our community. • Laura Johnson, your leadership in government affairs ensures FIA’s voice is heard on important issues. Your work with lobbying teams and lawmakers is crucial to our success.

Best regards,

Angela C. Gibian, CAE Interim President & CEO, Forging Industry Association Executive Director, FIERF Managing Editor & Publisher, FIA Magazine

PUBLISHER Angela Gibian angela@forging.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR Amanda Dureiko amanda@forging.org Editorial Staff

Board of Directors

Antonio Alvarez Robert Brodhead Robert Dimitrieff

Chelsea Lantto Louis Philippe Lapierre Jose Lozano Mike Morgus Matt Natale

DESIGN Lorean Crowder lorean@forging.org

CHAIRPERSON Jim Kravec VICE CHAIRPERSON Joe Schwegman

Bret Halley Jeff Krueger

FIA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2025 1