At the 2017 North American International Auto Show held in Detroit, the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), presented the annual “Men and Women of Steel” awards to two distinguished honorees who are championing the use of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS).
The Industry Innovator Award was presented to Gregory Warden, executive director and global functional leader, body, exterior and dimensional engineering at General Motors (GM). The award acknowledges automotive designers or engineers who showcase superior innovation in their use of AHSS. Warden’s team is leading in the application and advancement of AHSS and General Motors’ ongoing use of steel in their vehicles exemplifies this. Thanks to companies like GM, who fully exploit the properties and value of steel, the growth of AHSS has exceeded expectations.
The Community Hero Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose work using steel impacts the quality of life of the community. The 2017 recipient is Steve Marks, industry technical support manager at Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). His work includes conducting research on collision repair, OEM contract training and development and is a lead instructor for certification programs. Marks educates the next generation of technicians about the repair processes for steel, which have been widely taught for many years. As steel is reinvented and new grades are produced, Marks aids in the redevelopment of the repair process making sure it is as advanced as the new steels.
Published in the February 2017 Edition of American Recycler News