Mill Steel Reorganizes Executive Staff, Strengthens Regional Teams to Keep Pace With Rapid Growth

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- From an October 26, 2010 ABC News report: "The steel industry's global outlook has dimmed with the unevenness of the global economy – and tougher times are ahead."

Don't believe everything you hear – just ask the people at Mill Steel.  

Michigan-based Mill Steel Co., one of the largest flat-rolled steel distributors in the nation, today announced that it is supporting its rapid growth with the promotion of two executives and the addition of executive and sales support in key U.S. markets.

Eric Lambert, chief financial officer, was promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer. He retains the CFO title. Carl Quenneville, vice president, sales, was promoted to senior vice president and chief commercial officer (CCO) and Pam Heglund, sales manager, was promoted to vice president, sales.

Tom Rosser, most recently vice president, business development for Commerce City, Colo.-based R&M Asset Solutions, was named vice president for the southern region in mid-September.

"We're tremendously excited about the team we've put together to lead us towards new growth," said Mill Steel President and CEO David S. Samrick. "We're quickly growing in one of the toughest markets we've seen in decades, and we've made solid commitments to retain and advance our leadership position in several markets. The promotions and new hires are an important part of that commitment."

Mill Steel is certainly bucking the declining growth trends.  In February, the company expanded its geographic and product breadth with the acquisition of the Birmingham, Ala. assets of Coated Steel Corporation.  And during the last two years, Mill Steel has doubled its sales volume and anticipates further growth this year as it expands its business in the building products, automotive, appliance and other markets.

"The key to success for nearly any organization is getting the right people on board," Samrick said. "We know that we've got the right team to drive us to the top."

More about the promotions

Eric Lambert joined Mill Steel in 2006, and was key to orchestrating the February acquisition of the Birmingham, Ala. assets of Coated Steel Corp., as well as streamlining financial reporting and other operations at the company. Lambert previously was an investor and general partner of a regional DHL Worldwide Express contractor, and also served as vice president product administration for Viacom-owned Blockbuster Entertainment Group and vice president of corporate development for AutoNation, Inc.

Carl Quenneville joined Mill Steel in 2001 as president of the company's Canadian operations. Previously, he served as vice president of the Chicago-based Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI), a trade association for North American steel distributors, and as general counsel for Mississauga, Ont.-based Russel Metals.

Pam Heglund joined Mill Steel in 2001 following her graduation from Grand Valley State University with a degree in business administration, quickly ascending to sales manager. Heglund will be responsible for coordinating the company's North American sales efforts and providing the sales staff with the tools they need to expand market share.

Tom Rosser was a key member of R&M Asset Solutions, a Colorado-based startup that specialized in recycling and resale of trailers, trucks, buses, trailers and other transportation products, helping that company achieve 300 percent revenue growth by streamlining operations and accounting functions. Rosser previously served as vice president of sales at Birmingham, Ala.-based Fontaine International Inc., a member of the Marmon Group of Companies.

J. Richard Zeski, a sales executive with Cleveland, Ohio-based Lawson Steel in September was named Southern Commercial Manager – Contracts and Marketing; and James McAllister in September was named an account manager for eastern Ohio and Pennsylvania. Gerry Kelly, a sales representative who has served flat-rolled steel customers throughout the Southeast for more than 20 years, also was named an account manager for the Southeast region.

About Mill Steel: Mill Steel Co., based in Grand Rapids, Mich., celebrated its 50th year in business in 2009, and remains dedicated to its history of innovation and people-first culture that has made it one of the largest, best-in-class flat-rolled steel products distributors in the Midwest and Southeast U.S., Canada and Mexico. Comprised of 11 production lines and three locations in Grand Rapids and Melvindale (Detroit), Mich., and Birmingham, Ala., Mill Steel serves customers in the automotive, homebuilding and agricultural equipment industries, among others, across North America.

Mill Steel is ranked as one of the best places to work in Michigan, and received the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Award for business excellence in workplace flexibility by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Twiga Foundation in 2008. The company continues to practice its history of excellence as it grows to meet the needs of an expanding customer base.

For more information about Mill Steel, visit www.millsteel.com.

SOURCE Mill Steel Co.