Ken Simonson has been chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading trade association for the construction industry, since 2001. He provides insight into the economy and what it implies for construction and related industries through frequent media interviews, presentations and the Data DIGest, his weekly one-page e-newsletter that goes to 43,000 subscribers. Ken has more than 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating and communicating about economic and tax issues. He currently serves on the Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee. He is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, and he is co-director of the Tax Economists Forum, a professional meeting group he co-founded in 1982. Ken has a BA in economics from the University of Chicago, and an MA in economics from Northwestern University.
Philip K. Bell is president of the Washington, D.C. based Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA). SMA’s producer members represent over 70 percent of domestic steelmaking capacity. The SMA is the largest steel industry trade association in the U.S. He assumed leadership of the organization in 2013. Prior to that he was director of External Communications and Public Affairs with Gerdau North America. Mr. Bell has held senior level management positions throughout the steel industry supply chain with companies such as the SGL Carbon Group, Qualitech Steel, and Elementis Chromium. He currently serves on the International Trade Advisory Committee for Steel (ITAC 7) advising U.S. Government on trade issues that impact the domestic steel industry. He holds a Bachelors’ degree from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and a Master’s degree from the University of Florida.
Vince Pappas is the President and owner of Stone Steel corporation and Cornerstone Supply. He joined Stone steel in 1987 as a junior salesman covering north and south Carolina. Recognizing a strong agricultural manufacturing base in Eastern and central Pennsylvania, he joined FEMA (farm equipment manufacturers association) and helped Stone Steel transition from a customer base made up of structural fabricators to one that focused on the end user. In 1996, he joined with the comptroller and bought the company from the estate of the founder. In 2010, he bought out his partner to become sole owner. Stone steel is a rebar and merchant bar service center offering a full range of services to various end user markets. Recognizing a need for more the involvement of more women in the industry, Vince and his daughter founded Cornerstone Supply in 2019, a contractors supply store staffed and run by women.
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