Leon Topalian, chair, president and CEO of Nucor, has been awarded the industry’s highest honour — the Gary Memorial Medal — at the AISI’s general meeting in Washington, DC. Topalian is the outgoing chairman of the AISI board of directors and has held numerous other leadership roles on the AISI Board.

Presenting the award, Lourenco Goncalves, incoming AISI chairman and chairman, president and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., commented, “Congratulations to Leon on this well-deserved recognition. We are grateful for his dedication and commitment to driving stronger and better steel industry outcomes. His contribution to AISI and the industry is invaluable. Thank you, Leon, for your steadfast leadership and dedication.”

“Congratulations to Leon on this well-deserved recognition. We are grateful for his dedication and commitment to driving stronger and better steel industry outcomes."

Lourenco Goncalves, incoming AISI chairman and chairman, president and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.

The citation to Topalian from the board of directors reads: “For his unwavering commitment of time and energy to the critical public policy issues that will have a lasting impact on the future of the American steel industry; for his exceptional leadership of the Institute during a time of unprecedented change for a nation still grappling with the impacts of the global pandemic; and for his dedication to promoting American steel as the material of choice to build a more sustainable world.”