About Us

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Who
We Are

We are the Steel Manufacturers Association—the largest steel association in America. We represent the electric arc furnace (EAF) steel industry, which accounts for 70% of domestic steel made today. We are stewards for safety and sustainability. We are pioneers for innovation and change. And day-to-day, we are the advocates behind public policy solutions and member services that enable steelmakers to build their businesses, employees to build their lives and communities to build their futures.

Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steel

Vastly more energy efficient than traditional steelmaking, EAF steel is made using electrical currents to melt scrap steel and other recycled metals. Beyond the improved environmental impacts, EAF steel can be produced at higher efficiency and with more flexibility than blast furnace steel.

Our Policy Priorities

SMA fiercely advocates for all major policies related to today’s rapidly changing and highly competitive steel industry.

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Trade & Economic Competitiveness
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Transportation & Infrastructure
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Energy Self-Sufficiency
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Environmental Stewardship
Workforce Engagement
Manufacturing Agenda
Raw Materials
Buy America
Competing Materials
Learn about our policy priorities

Our Purpose

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To compel our nation’s leaders, businesses and general public to value and support the American EAF steel industry for the positive impact it has on our country.

Our Promise

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SMA will shape perceptions of the American steel industry by telling the story of sustainable EAF steel and its significance to our country’s economy, security, environment and future generations.

Our Core Pillars

Molding a Greener Planet

Greener. Cleaner. Eco-friendlier. These aren’t just trendy buzzwords we throw around. Sustainability has always been the most compelling part of the EAF steel story—and we have reason to boast about it. Steel is endlessly recyclable. In fact, EAF steel routinely uses 90-95% recycled scrap materials; scrap that would normally end up in landfills across America. From the air we breathe to the ground we walk on, it’s all greener and safer because of EAF steel’s commitment to our one and only planet.

Highly Innovative. Highly Essential.

We’re steel manufacturers by trade. But being true innovators is in our DNA. We meld together science, technology, data and creativity to cast new paths, new solutions and new opportunities; growing our domestic economy, businesses, community infrastructures and the hundreds of steel-dependent products we use daily.

Safety: At the Core of Everything We Craft

People are our most valuable asset, and our track record proves it. We continuously exceed industry safety and environmental standards by automating our processes with the most advanced technology. We are deeply committed to providing a workplace that supports the well-being of our people, their families and communities.

Community Impact: Strong as Steel
Being fierce advocates for our members is not all we do. We are also active stewards in the community. We create jobs. Build relationships. Fuel local economies. And whether urban or rural, we strive to make every community in America a better place to live, for all.
American Made for America’s Future

EAF steel is the backbone of America. It’s an essential domestic industry that we all should feel proud to support. It sustains our way of life. It’s the most economical, accessible, safe, high quality and green steel in the world. We are all connected because of steel. Even if we don’t realize it, the way steel is made today matters. It’s the foundation of everything that makes our country great.

Leadership

SMA Staff

SMA Executive Leadership

Media Center

Thank you for your interest in the Steel Manufacturers Association. If you are a member of the media and would like to request more information, please contact us at info@steelnet.org or 202-296-1515.

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Drop us a line and let’s talk steel.

SMA Office
1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 1125
Washington, D.C. 20036

Telephone: (202) 296-1515
Email: info@steelnet.org

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Philip K. Bell

Philip K. Bell

President

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Philip K. Bell is President of the Washington, DC-based Steel Manufacturers Association. Prior to leading the SMA, Phil served as Director of External Communications and Public Affairs for Gerdau Long Steel North America based in Tampa, FL. He is a 25-year industry veteran, who developed an interest in the steel industry and manufacturing in the late 1980s while working in maintenance and operations at Elementis Chromium in Corpus Christi, TX. He has held executive-level positions in operations, human resources and public affairs with Gerdau, the SGL Carbon Group, and Qualitech Steel Corporation.

Mr. Bell currently serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Advisory Committee on Steel (ITAC 12), advising the Secretary of Commerce and United States Trade Representative on trade policy, trade agreements, and other trade related matters that benefit U.S. businesses, workers, and the economy.

He is a member of the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM) Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA) and the Association of Iron & Steel Technology.

Phil graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He holds a master’s degree in Global Strategic Communications from the University of Florida, with distinction.

Eric Stuart

Eric Stuart

Vice President, Energy, Environment, & Infrastructure Policy
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Eric Stuart joined the Steel Manufacturers Association in September 1996 as a staff officer.  Since then, Eric has held positions with the association including Manager, Committee Affairs (1999), Director, Environment & Energy (2005), Vice President, Environment & Energy (2010), and most recently Vice President, Environment, Energy & Infrastructure Policy (2017).  Currently Eric’s responsibilities include administering the Environment Committee, Plant Operations Division, Transportation Committee and the Energy Ad Hoc Group, as well as SMA’s Associate Membership program.

Eric began his collegiate career at Boise State University in 1987 and transferred to complete his Bachelor of Arts Degree in political science – international relations from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1991. He followed this with a Master of Arts Degree in Western European Studies from the University of Connecticut in 1992.  Following graduation, and before joining the SMA, Eric worked at Voice of America Agency, within the U.S. Information Agency, in the first Clinton Administration (1995).

Eric is a native of the great state of Idaho, born and raised in Fruitland.  He and his wife, Jennifer, and daughter Penelope, reside in Mount Vernon, Alexandria, Virginia.

Patrick Cavanagh

Patrick Cavanagh

Director of Government Relations
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Patrick Cavanagh is the Director of Government Relations for the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA). In this role, Patrick serves as SMA’s chief lobbyist and is responsible for working with Member companies to develop a proactive and comprehensive legislative agenda while engaging Congress to promote policies which will benefit the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel industry as a whole.

Patrick comes to SMA with over 14 years of experience in the Halls of Congress and has served as a trusted advisor to a United States Senator and 2 Members of Congress. During his years on Capitol Hill, Patrick played a critical role in the development and passage of dozens of important bills and was a leading author of the high carbon intensive industries title of the first bill addressing climate change to pass the House of Representatives. In addition, Patrick played a key role in establishing the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, preserving the industrial history of the steel industry for generations to come.

Before coming to SMA, Patrick served as an advisor to a Governor, was a senior leader of a major energy trade association and had a successful private issue-advocacy practice leading Congressional engagement for a variety of organizations including the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN).
A native of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, Patrick graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from James Madison University where he was a division 1 athlete, member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, and founder of an annual charity music festival. He and his wife Shachar live in Washington DC, where he enjoys live music, the great outdoors, and attending professional sports in his private time.

Gregg Walker

Gregg Walker

Director of Communications & Media Relations
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Gregg Walker joined the SMA in January 2023 in the newly created position of Director, Communications and Media Relations, and is responsible for leading the strategy and execution of all communication and media relations processes. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the areas of media relations, marketing, stakeholder outreach, publications, crisis communications, annual reports and major communication campaigns.

Previously, Gregg served as Director of Communications at the Washington, D.C.-based Propane Education and Research Council, where he spent 14 years directing corporate communications, business-to-business communications, public relations, and organizational communications programs to ensure consistent messaging geared toward issues advocacy and brand awareness. Prior to that role, he spent seven years in increasingly responsible communication roles at the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Alexandria, Virginia.

Gregg holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Colorado and a Master of Arts in English from the University of Kansas. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, baseball and music.

Caroline Dzowela

Caroline Dzowela

Office Manager
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Caroline Dzowela serves as the Office Manager and brings many years of experience in the office administration field, having worked at several Washington DC area law firms prior to joining SMA.

Caroline attended St John’s University in Queens, New York. She was originally born in Africa and moved to the Washington DC area at the age of six. In her free time, she loves traveling and taking care of animals.

John Wittenborn

John Wittenborn

General Counsel

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John Wittenborn has more than 30 years of experience providing a wide spectrum of strategic advice, counseling and litigation services to individual corporate clients, major national trade associations, energy companies and government agencies.

He serves as general environmental counsel to the Steel Manufacturers Association, Specialty Steel Industry of North America, Leather Industries of America, Inc., Copper & Brass Fabricators Council, Textile Rental Services Association, Metals Industries Recycling Coalition and other associations and coalitions.

John is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, B.S., 1971, and Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Bloomington, J.D., 1974, cum laude He also earned his LL.M., Environmental Law, 1980, from George Washington University Law School with highest honors.

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