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SMDI recognizes steel advocates with awards

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in Detroit, has presented its third annual Men and Women of Steel Awards to two honorees who are championing the use of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS).

The Industry Innovator Award was presented to Gregory Warden, executive director and global functional leader, body, exterior and dimensional engineering at General Motors. The award acknowledges automotive designers or engineers who showcase superior innovation in their use of AHSS. Warden's team is leading in the application and advancement of AHSS.

The Community Hero Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose work using steel impacts the quality of life of the community. The 2017 recipient is Steve Marks, industry technical support manager at Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). He has conducted research on collision repair, provided OEM contract training and development, and is a lead instructor for certification programs. Marks educates the next generation of technicians about the repair processes for steel. As steel is reinvented and new grades are produced, he assists in the redevelopment of the repair process.