CMC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman of the Board
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Executive Chairman of the Board / Director since 2017
Ms. Smith has served as Executive Chairman of the Board since September 1, 2023. Ms. Smith previously served as CMC's President from September 207 to April 2023, CMC's Chief Executive Officer from September 2017 to August 2023 and Chairman of the Board since January 2018. Prior thereto, Ms. Smith served as CMC's President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2017 to September 2017, Chief Operating Officer from January 2016 to September 2017 and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from May 2011 to January 2016. Prior to joining CMC, Ms. Smith served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation, a mini mill steel producer, from July 2007 to May 2011, after joining Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation as Treasurer in July 2006. From February 2005 to July 2006, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of FARO Technologies, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of 3-D measurement and imaging systems. From 1981 to 2005, Ms. Smith was employed by Alcoa Inc., a producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, where she held a variety of financial leadership positions.
Job Titles:
- Retired - Former President and CEO of Oshkosh Corporation / Director since 2014
From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Szews served as CEO of Oshkosh Corporation, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies. Mr. Szews served in various capacities at Oshkosh, including as President and CEO from 2011 to 2012, as President and COO from 2007 to 2011 and as Executive Vice President and CFO from 1997 to 2007. Prior to joining Oshkosh, Mr. Szews held a series of executive positions with Fort Howard Corporation for eight years. Prior to Fort Howard Corporation, Mr. Szews was an auditor with Ernst & Young serving in various offices and capacities over a ten-year period.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Executives Team
- in 2017 As the Director of Business Development
- Vice President of Strategy, Government Affairs & Sustainability
Chris Westrick is Vice President of Strategy, Government Affairs & Sustainability at CMC. In this role, Chris is responsible for business development and strategy, in addition to overseeing CMC's trade, government affairs and sustainability efforts. He also works closely with CMC leadership and internal and external partners to identify opportunities for our businesses and to develop strategies to capitalize on those opportunities. Chris is also responsible for the development, implementation and execution of our Government advocacy and policy engagement efforts and sustainability strategy.
Previously, Chris was Vice President of Sustainability and Government Affairs at CMC, where he lead our sustainability efforts, all governmental affairs and trade matters, and CMC's marketing team.
Chris joined CMC in 2017 as the Director of Business Development and M&A. He later served as Area Manager in our Rebar Fabrication business and most recently has led integration efforts for recent acquisitions.
Prior to joining CMC, Chris worked for Gerdau where he led their business development and strategy group and subsequently served as General Manager of their Wire Products business.
Chris has a B.S./B.A. in Finance and International Business from Georgetown University.
Job Titles:
- Retired - Former Chief Executive Officer of ARI Packaging, Inc
Mr. McCullough currently sits on the Board of Directors of TRANSDIGM Group, Inc. and serves as an investor in, and advisor to, several private entities. Mr. McCullough previously served as Chief Executive Officer of ARI Packaging, Inc. from 2014 to 2017. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Career Education Corporation from 2007 to 2011, where he also served on the Board of Directors. Mr. McCullough has also held senior roles at Abbott Laboratories, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and The Procter & Gamble Company. Notably, Mr. McCullough served as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army for 5 years, beginning as a Second Lieutenant and rising to the rank of Captain.
Job Titles:
- Communications Officer
- Member of the Corporate Executives Team
- Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources & Communications Officer
Jennifer Durbin is Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources & Communications Officer at CMC. In this role, she has responsibility for CMC's Global Human Resources in support of CMC's workforce of more than 13,000 employees. Jennifer oversees all areas within Human Resources, including attracting and retaining talent, leadership development, compensation and benefits, and succession planning. In addition, she is responsible for CMC's communications/marketing, setting the company's external and internal communications strategy to ensure consistent messaging and to build CMC's brand.
Prior to this role, Jennifer held executive roles for the company as VP and Chief Human Resources Officer and VP, HR & Safety. Previously, Jennifer also served for 10 years as Lead Counsel at CMC. Before joining CMC, she was an attorney at Sidley Austin, LLP.
In addition to her role at CMC, Jennifer is involved in several community organizations, including currently serving on the Dallas Board of the American Heart Association and serving on the Board of Trustees of the Association of Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) Foundation.
Jennifer has a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa and a law degree from Boston University School of Law.
Jody Absher - Chief Legal Officer, Secretary, SVP
Job Titles:
- Chief Legal Officer
- Corporate Secretary
- Member of the Corporate Executives Team
- Senior Vice President
Jody Absher is Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary of CMC. Jody joined CMC's legal department in May 2011 and has previously served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
Prior to joining CMC, Jody was an associate at Haynes and Boone, LLP. In addition to her role at CMC, Jody is currently serving on the Board of the Genesis Women's Alliance.
Jody holds a B.S. in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University and a J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Mr. McPherson served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial & Strategy Officer of Vulcan Materials Company, a publicly traded company principally engaged in the production, distribution and sale of construction materials, from 2014 until 2018. Mr. McPherson served in a variety of leadership roles at Vulcan Materials Company from 2011 to 2014. Prior to joining Vulcan Materials Company, Mr. McPherson held several roles of increasing responsibility with McKinsey & Company and Goldman Sachs.
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Operating Officer - Alliant Energy / Director since 2020
- President and Chief Operating Officer for Alliant Energy Corporation
Ms. Barton is the President and Chief Operating Officer for Alliant Energy Corporation. From 2021 to 2022, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP), one of the largest electric energy companies in the U.S. From 2019 through 2020, Ms. Barton was Executive Vice President - Utilities for AEP. From 2011 through 2018, Ms. Barton served as Executive Vice President - AEP Transmission. During her tenure at AEP, she has established AEP Transmission Holding Company and its affiliates, oversaw transmission operations, and grew and managed an $18 billion asset base. Prior to joining AEP, Ms. Barton worked for Northeast Utilities, Ransmeier and Spellman and Strategic Energy LLC.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Executives Team
- Senior Vice President, Emerging Businesses Group
Michael Doucet is Senior Vice President, Emerging Businesses Group at CMC. In his current role, Michael is responsible for the commercial, operational and financial performance and growth strategy for several CMC businesses, including CMC Poland, Tensar, Geopier, Performance Reinforcing Steel, Impact Metals, Construction Services and CMC Anchoring Systems. In collaboration with CMC's corporate strategy team, he also works to identify and look for synergies across CMC's portfolio of offerings.
Before his current role, Michael was Vice President, Commercial at CMC. He began his career in the sales department at CMC Steel Texas in 1996. He served in numerous roles from 2002 to 2013 including General Manager, Regional Sales Manager, and Director of Sales. In 2020, he rejoined CMC as GalvaBar Director of Operations as part of the company's acquisition of the GalvaBar assets from AZZ. Michael most recently served as CMC's Vice President of the Southeast Region, a position he was promoted to in December of 2020. He was appointed Vice President, Commercial in April 2022.
Michael is active in various industry associations including Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute and Associated Builders and Contractors.
Michael holds a degree in Marketing from Texas Lutheran University and an MBA from University of Texas at San Antonio.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Member of the Corporate Executives Team
- Senior Vice President
Paul Lawrence is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CMC. Paul joined CMC in February 2016 as Vice President of Finance and has held various finance leadership positions, including Treasurer and Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, and was appointed to his current role in November 2021.
Prior to joining CMC, Paul worked with Gerdau from 2003 to 2016, holding several roles including North American Information Technology Leader, Assistant Vice President and Corporate Controller and Deputy Corporate Controller. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Lawrence held several financial positions with Co-Steel Inc., which was acquired by Gerdau SA.
Paul studied at Queen's University in Ontario and holds an Honors Bachelor of Commerce.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Corporate Executives Team
- President
- Member of CMC 's Board of Directors
- President and Chief Executive Officer / Director since 2020
Peter Matt is President and Chief Executive Officer of CMC. He was appointed President in April 2023 and Chief Executive Officer in September 2023.
Prior to his appointment as President, Peter has served as a member of CMC's Board of Directors since June 2020. He continues to serve on the Board of CMC.
Before joining CMC, Peter served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Constellium SE, a leading global aluminum fabrication company. Prior to Constellium, he spent 30 years in investment banking with Credit Suisse in various leadership positions.
Over the course of his career, Peter has amassed a wealth of industry experience from his time working with manufacturing companies in the metals and metals-related industries, and brings significant financial, strategic and executive managerial experience to CMC.
He serves as a board member for the FX Matt Brewing Company, a family company founded in 1888. He is also active as a mentor with American Corporate Partners, an organization helping military veterans transition to the civilian workforce and serves on the board of the Metals Service Center Institute.
Peter graduated from Amherst College where he earned a degree in English.
Peter Matt has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of CMC since September 1, 2023 and has served as President of CMC since April 2023. Prior to joining CMC, Mr. Matt served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Constellium N.V. ("Constellium"), a global aluminum fabrication company from 2016 to 2023. Prior to joining Constellium, Mr. Matt served as a Managing Partner for Tumpline Capital, LLC. from 2015 to 2016. From 1985 to 2015, he held various leadership positions with Credit Suisse.
Job Titles:
- Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of ATI Inc
Mr. Wetherbee currently serves as the Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of ATI Inc., a global producer of high-performance materials and solutions for the global aerospace and defense markets, and critical applications in electronics, medical, and specialty energy. Prior to being named CEO of ATI in 2019, he held the position of Executive Vice President of ATI's Flat Rolled Products Group. Mr. Wetherbee's professional career has also included key leadership roles in executive, operational, and business development functions at Mineral Technologies, Inc. and Alcoa Inc.
Job Titles:
- Retired - Former Executive Vice President Corporate Services of TransCanada Corporation / Lead Director - Director since 2011
Ms. Raiss was employed by TransCanada Corporation, a North American energy infrastructure company, from 1999 to 2011, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, from 2002 to 2011. Prior to joining TransCanada, Ms. Raiss served in various engineering, operations, strategic planning and marketing positions in the telecommunications industry at Ameritech Corporation and its subsidiary, Michigan Bell. In addition, Ms. Raiss has received an Institute of Corporate Directors professional designation and was recognized on the 2015 NACD Directorship 100 list.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Executives Team
- Senior Vice President of the North American Steel Group
- Senior Vice President, North American Steel Group
Steve Simpson is Senior Vice President of the North American Steel Group at CMC. In his current role, Steve is responsible for all commercial, operational and financial performance for CMC's North American steel mills, rebar fabrication, recycling and post-tension businesses, to include developing and executing strategies essential to ensuring growth of all businesses within the group.
Previously, Steve served as the Vice President of CMC's Central Division, where he was responsible for all CMC's recycling, mill and fabrication operations from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. Steve joined CMC in 2019 as Director of Special Projects, before relocating to Cayce, SC as the Director of Commercial Operations in the East. He became Vice President of East Commercial in 2021, overseeing sales for rebar, wire rod and specialty steel products.
Steve has 30 years of steel industry experience, having previously worked in a variety of sales and marketing positions with CMC, Charter Manufacturing and Gerdau North America. Prior to joining CMC, his most recent position was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Charter Steel.
Steve studied at Concordia University in Montreal and holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Executives Team
- Senior Vice President of Operational & Commercial Excellence
Ty Garrison is Senior Vice President of Operational & Commercial Excellence for CMC. In this role Ty oversees operations support functions for CMC, including responsibility for CMC's safety, engineering and environmental teams, among others. He is also responsible for developing and leading the company's integration, innovation and digital strategies, and works closely with CMC's North American Steel Group and the Emerging Businesses Group leadership.
Prior to his current role, Ty served as CMC's Senior Vice President of Operations where he was responsible for operations and commercial teams in the U.S. and Poland, along with supply chain, engineering and operational excellence. Ty joined CMC in 2000 as a salesperson and estimator in rebar fabrication. Over the last twenty years he has served in many roles across both sales and operations, including Director of Sales for the West Region, Vice President of the West Region and Vice President of the East Region, before being appointed to his current role in March 2021.
Ty has actively participated in the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Steel Manufacturers Association and is a member of the Association for Iron and Steel Technology.
Ty holds a B.A. from Texas Lutheran University in Education and Political Science.
Job Titles:
- Retired - Former President and CEO IPSCO Tubulars, Inc
From 2008 to 2013, Ms. Avril served as President and CEO of IPSCO Tubulars, Inc., a manufacturer of tubular products. Ms. Avril served in various capacities at IPSCO from 2004 to 2007, including Senior Vice President, IPSCO Tubular Operations, Senior Vice President and CFO. She served as Senior Vice President and CFO of Wallace Computer Services, Inc. from 2001 to 2003. Prior thereto, Ms. Avril served in a variety of roles at Inland Steel Industries Inc. from 1976 to 1998 before being named Vice President Finance and CFO in 1998. Ms. Avril was a 2017 NACD Governance Fellow.