Metals industry CEOs face myriad staffing issues today: a lack of skilled workers, concern over succession planning and "building a strong bench" so that the company can continue successfully when current management retires. Rolling Meadows, IL-based Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI), a metals industry trade association, saw a need for an executive education program specific to their industry that would raise up leaders and created Strategic Metals Management. Developed in partnership with Washington University's Olin School of Business, the program lasts 18 months and requires participants to commit to five weeks of on-campus learning spaced throughout that time period. Registration is currently open for Group 9.
Robert Weidner, III, MSCI President and CEO, has seen a wide swath of people and companies attend in past years, "To date, more than 260 have graduated from the program and many have been promoted to senior leadership roles. The companies represented are a variety of mills and service centers, big and small, publicly-held and family-owned."
"We all need to plan for succession," said David Hannah, Chairman and CEO of Reliance Steel & Aluminum. "It is an important consideration at all levels." His company has used the program to groom up-and-coming executives.
According to Washington University's Assistant Dean of Executive Programs Samuel Chun, the course sequence itself is important and lays the foundation for leadership development. "It begins with strategic organization and leadership, which are two different sides of the same coin. Module 2 covers market focus, followed by operational excellence, accretive growth and coming full circle to leadership." Chun also emphasizes that the metals industry is not static but constantly changing, and the program is adjusted to help students manage new challenges, too.
The class size is capped at 40, giving participants an opportunity to network and interact with others from all perspectives of the metals industry who are also likely to fill the higher-level positions of their organizations.
"Many of our graduates have already progressed and are doing great things in the industry," commented Chun.
For more information contact:
Metals Service Center Institute
4201 Euclid Ave.
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
847-485-3000
info@msci.org
www.msci.org