Session Details & Speaker Bios

September 18, 2025
 7:45 AM - 8:45 AM

Presenters
Angela Richie & Scott Norman

Session Description

Bogus backcharges are increasingly common, often surfacing only after the full delivery and erection of structural steel. Frequent claims include:

1. Increased 3rd Party Inspection Costs
2. Paint Touch-Up Claims
3. Rusting Primer
4. Normal Erection Operations (moderate amounts of reaming, grinding, welding, etc.)
5. Tolerance issues (failure to account for accumulating tolerances)
6. Clean-Up;
7. Delay and Acceleration Claims.

This session will explore the most common backcharge claims and best practices to proactively defend against them.

About Presenters

Angela Richie is Managing Partner of the Louisville office of Gordon & Rees and is Co-Chair of the Construction practice group. She frequently consults with steel fabricators and other members of the structural steel industry on issues such as: claims for non-payment; allegations of defective fabrication and erection of structural steel; OSHA violations and related retaliation actions; application of the Buy America(n) statutes and regulations; and contracts between steel fabricators, general contractors, and downstream detailers, structural engineers, and erectors. Ms. Richie is a frequent presenter at regional steel fabricator association meetings.

R. Scott Norman is an experienced litigator in the Louisville office of Gordon & Rees and a member of the Construction, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law, and Real Estate practice groups. He represents and advises contractors, steel fabricators, subcontractors, and design professionals nationwide in all phases of commercial and residential construction, including contract review and negotiation, construction and design claims, payment disputes, workplace injuries and OSHA violations, labor and employment issues, mechanics’ liens, and other construction disputes. He brings an unconditional commitment to providing his nationwide clients with prompt and strategic professional services to achieve favorable and cost-effective outcomes.

September 18, 2025
 8:55 AM - 9:55 AM

Presenter
Brian Raff, AISC

Session Description

For today's design leaders, choosing the right structural system involves not only efficiency and cost but also an understanding and analysis of sustainability goals. This presentation will cover how modern domestic steel is produced, its role as the most sustainable structural material, the supply chain, steel availability, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and sustainability commitments. Additionally, it will explore how design choices, such as lateral systems, cambering, composite design, and fire protection, can help reduce environmental impacts. Information on tools like mill-specific EPDs and design aids for hybrid design will also be provided to assist with design decisions.

About Presenter

Brian Raff is the Director of Communications & Public Affairs with the American Institute of Steel Construction.  Since 2005, Brian has lead several marketing and business development roles within AISC and the National Steel Bridge Alliance. In 2013, Brian left the Institute to serve as Marketing Director for one of North America's largest structural steel building and bridge fabricators before returning to AISC in 2017. Mr. Raff graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree and received his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago, focusing on economic business strategy.

September 18, 2025
10:05 AM - 11:05 AM

Moderator
Hope Hrabowy, AISC

Panelists:
Nolan Valenter, Red Dog Fab, LLC
Chad Fritz, SteelFab Oregon
Royce Schuenig, Iron Mountain Fabrication, LLC
Ben Finnoe, Finnoe Designs, LLC
Glenn Saastad, Mohawk Metal Company

Session Description

Coming Soon

About the Moderator & Panelists

Hope Hrabowy: As a structural steel specialist based in the Philadelphia area, Hope is dedicated to assisting architects, engineers, general contractors, and owners in achieving superior outcomes through the use of domestically produced and fabricated structural steel.

Nolan Valenter, is a Project Manager at Red Dog Fabrication LLC. Nolan has been in the steel fabrication industry for eight years, getting his start in the shop and later moving into the field to work on installations. Over time, he took on a variety of roles including hiring manager, estimating, and developing shop personnel — all of which have helped him to shape a well-rounded understanding of the trade.

Nolan is a WABO Certified Welder and works for an AISC-certified fabricator. He is also a contributing member of the Clark College Welding Program. He is proud to be involved with PNSFA, where he values the strong network of professionals and the ongoing exchange of ideas and best practices.
Outside of work, Nolan is a husband and father of two. He enjoys boating, playing soccer, and just about anything that keeps him close to the water.

Chad Fritz, SteelFab Oregon

Royce Schuenig, Iron Mountain Fabrication, LLC

Ben Finnoe, Finnoe Designs, LLC

Glenn Saastad, Mohawk Metal Company

Presenter

Lacey Faught, Spry

Session Description

Posting on social media, but lost on whether it’s working or not? In this session, learn from 15-year social media expert Lacey J. Faught the analytics you want to keep track of, the strategies you can implement to see growth, and how you can use AI to make it all a LOT easier.

About Presenter

Lacey J. Faught is the founder of Spry, the Pacific Northwest’s most established social media agency. She’s been running the company for nearly 15 years and, along with her many remote employees, has helped hundreds of businesses improve their online presence. Lacey J. and her team specialize in social media marketing for companies and organizations in industrial markets such as fabrication, manufacturing, shipping etc.

Her mission is “social media for good.” She and one of her employees wrote the book “Down the Rabbit Hole - Slowing the Spread of Misinformation and Propaganda on Social Media” which came out last fall.

September 19, 2025
9:40 AM - 10:40 AM

Presenter

Sonjia Barker, CPA Perkins Accounting

Session Description

Washington’s unique tax structure presents both challenges and opportunities for steel fabricators operating in the state. In this session, we’ll break down key aspects of Washington’s tax system—focusing on how it impacts the fabrication industry and provide practical strategies to reduce risk and improve compliance.

We will cover essential topics including Business & Occupation (B&O) tax classification and surcharges, sales and use tax rules for purchases and projects, common audit issues and documentation pitfalls, and how to address multi-jurisdictional projects involving out-of-state shipments or installations. We will also touch on recent legislative changes and tax updates affecting manufacturers and contractors in Washington.

Whether you are bidding on public infrastructure, fabricating custom components, or supplying private construction projects, you will walk away with actionable insights to help your business stay compliant and competitive in the ever-evolving state tax landscape.

About Presenter

Sonjia Barker, CPA is a shareholder at Perkins & Co and leads the firm’s State and Local Tax (SALT) consulting practice. With over 23 years of experience, including time at the Washington Department of Revenue, a Big 4 firm, and a national Top 5 accounting firm, Sonjia brings deep technical knowledge and a practical, strategic mindset to SALT matters.

Sonjia advises clients across a broad range of industries including fabrication and construction on sales and use tax, gross receipts taxes, income and franchise taxes, and other state and local tax challenges. Known for her ability to simplify complexity, Sonjia thrives on navigating the unique nuances of multistate tax systems. She approaches each engagement like a puzzle, helping clients piece together the right path forward to minimize risk, maintain compliance, and uncover savings opportunities.

AI Applications for Steel Fabricators

September 20, 2024
10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

Presenter

Daniel Kamau, P.Eng., MBA, M.Eng.

Session Description

Steel fabricators face mounting pressure from labor shortages, compressed deadlines, and increasing project complexity while competitors leverage AI to gain competitive advantages. Manual take-offs consume 2-3 days per project, creating bottlenecks that limit growth potential and market responsiveness. This presentation will show you how fabrication leaders have successfully navigated the transition to AI-powered operations and achieved transformational results. Learn how they built internal buy-in, overcame implementation challenges, and fundamentally changed their competitive positioning. Discover the leadership decisions that enabled them to reduce estimating time from days to hours, expand their bidding capacity, and capture market opportunities their competitors miss.

About Presenter

Daniel Kamau, P.Eng., MBA, M.Eng., has transformed the steel construction industry through innovative technology leadership. After reading a 2017 McKinsey article on AI potential in construction, he transitioned from structural engineer at RJC Engineers to founding SketchDeck.ai in 2021. His company developed LIFT, the first machine learning solution for structural steel take-offs, reducing estimation tasks from hours to minutes. This breakthrough enables steel fabricators and erectors to bid on more projects while eliminating human error. Daniel's innovation has fundamentally transformed the competitive landscape, earning industry recognition and establishing him as a key construction AI voice.