SMA names CMC exec as board chair

The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), a Washington-based organization representing the electric arc furnace (EAF) sector in the United States, has announced the election of Ty Garrison of Texas-based Commercial Metals Co. (CMC) as its board chairman.

Garrison is senior vice president of operations at CMC, where SMA says he leads operations and commercial teams in the U.S. and Poland along with supply chain and engineering functions. Garrison has been with CMC, which operates several EAF steel mills and a network of scrap yards, since 2000. He was appointed to his current role in 2021.

“Ty has leadership qualities that help organizations grow their strengths, capitalize on opportunities and overcome challenges, all while putting people first and focusing on solutions,” SMA President Philip Bell says. “We’re glad he has agreed to serve as chairman.”

“It’s an exciting time to be the chairman of SMA and I am appreciative of the opportunity,” Garrison says. “Global trade deals and standards for sustainable steel are being negotiated around the world, and we must make sure that steel produced by SMA members—some of the cleanest steel in the world—continues to lead the conversation.”

Joining Garrison on the SMA Executive Committee are its Immediate Past Chairman Mark Millett, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Indiana-based Steel Dynamics Inc.; and Treasurer Jim Hrusovsky, CEO of Alton Steel in Illinois.

The SMA board’s five at-large members are Greg Murphy, executive vice president with North Carolina-based Nucor Corp.; Chuck Schmitt, president of Alabama-based SSAB Americas; Eric Shuster, president of Houston-based Vallourec Star LP; Ed Goettl, chief revenue officer at Texas-based Optimus Steel; and Matt Ruckwardt, vice president at Cascade Steel, which is part of Oregon-based Schnitzer Steel Industries.

The SMA describes itself as the largest steel industry trade association in the U.S., saying EAF steelmakers account for almost 70 percent of American steelmaking capacity.