Hosted in the Steel City, this year’s Convention & Trade Show was one of our biggest yet. With record-breaking attendance, and a sold-out trade show, the energy throughout the week was electric. From river views and inspiring education sessions, to honoring the people and projects driving the industry forward, the message was clear: SEAA’s momentum is building- and we’re just getting started.

SEAA is offering two limited-time promotions for companies planning to participate in the 2026 Convention & Trade Show, scheduled for May 5–8, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) will host its 52nd Convention & Trade Show from May 6-9, 2025, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at The Landing Hotel at Rivers Casino. The event will bring together industry professionals for networking, education, and exciting excursions.

“We look forward to welcoming steel erectors, fabricators, and suppliers in Steel City! Our annual convention is an unmatched opportunity for networking, learning, and industry engagement for steel construction business owners and managers,” said Pete Gum, SEAA Executive Director. “We encourage members to register early, as hotel space is limited and high demand is expected with major events happening in Pittsburgh,” said Gum.

We’re just days away from the 2024 convention and trade show and the association is excited to announce the recipients of its 2024 awards programs! In all, 14 member companies received Safety Excellence Awards, three companies were awarded World Class recognition for their Craft Training programs, and five projects across multiple categories were awarded Project of the Year.

​SEAA's 2024 award winners will participate in panel discussions during convention next week and will be presented with awards during the Presidents Dinner.

For Project of the Year, entries could be submitted in four classes for Structural Steel and two classes for Miscellaneous Metals. Classes are based on contract value for that portion of the job. In all, six companies were recognized for effectively solving unique jobsite challenges while safely completing projects.  Project submissions are chosen by an independent panel of judges.

Winners will get the chance to participate in a peer panel discussion at AISC’s Steel Conference and SEAA’s Convention, and will also be featured in Connector throughout the year.

The Trade Show is an integral part of SEAA’s Convention. For many years, the Welcome Reception has taken place on the Trade Show Floor. It’s a favorite part of the event because attendees get a sneak peek of the latest products. Decision makers include business owners, senior leaders and managers.

Worker safety is consistently one of the top priorities on any construction project, and with good reason. Since 2008, construction has experienced more total deaths than any other industry, and that figure doesn’t include fatalities from suicide. Our industry also has higher injury rates than most other professions, and unfortunately, safety costs.

The industry loses $5 billion annually due to construction-related deaths. The number is measured by lost productivity, loss of family income, and pain and suffering, according to the Midwest Economic Policy Institute.

However, today’s safety and training leaders recognize the impact of investing in creating a culture of safety. During a panel discussion at the 2023 Convention & Trade Show in St. Augustine, Florida, attendees were able to hear from the 2023 World Class Safety Excellence and Craft Training Excellence Winners.

The Safety Excellence Award went to seven SEAA member companies in three categories. Recipients were selected based on evaluations of their EMR ratings, OSHA 300 statistics, and safety program processes over the last three years.

Scoring was based on points assigned to a multi-criteria analysis, conducted in blind review by members of SEAA’s Safety & Education Committee. Applicants were evaluated on the portability of credentials, availability of apprenticeship programs, training, and recruitment efforts, in comparison to other companies of similar size.

“Good safety records, comprehensive training aligned with long-term career paths, and awards recognitions, are among the criteria that prospective employees consider when deciding where to apply. Beyond the inherent value of being a safe company, it’s also a great marketing tool in a highly competitive market,” said outgoing Safety & Education Committee Chairman Bryan McClure, during the panel. The following are excerpts from the panel discussion.

2022 is an exciting year for SEAA. The organization is celebrating its 50th Anniversary, and the Convention and Trade Show will resume to its normal schedule. Join us April 5-8, in Charleston, S.C. to celebrate 50 years of being STEEL STRONG!  

​The keynote speaker is entrepreneur and former star quarterback for the Washington Redskins, Joe Theismann.  Theismann has spent the last 20 years working for ESPN and the NFL Network as an NFL analyst, and is an Emmy award winning analyst.  ​

Award-winning projects include sports arena, performance centers, and a museum

Seven steel erection companies have been named as recipients in the annual Project of the Year awards by the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA). One winner was selected in each of four categories based on the dollar amount of the erection contract. In addition, three companies received Honorable Mention. Categories are Class I up to $500,000; Class II $500,000 to $1 million; Class III $1-2.5 million; and Class IV over $2.5 million.

Three of the projects were part of broader redevelopment plans in the local communities where they were built, and five of them house centers for cultural expression—including performing arts, sports, and a museum.

Chosen by an independent panel of judges, the companies received notice of their awards in April 2021 for projects that were topped out in either 2019 or 2020.

“Erectors often work in close collaboration with other teams and trades, and sometimes the customer. Challenges frequently deal with logistics, crane selection and rigging methods, and execution of complicated connection plans,” said Alan Sears, SEAA Awards Committee Chairman. “We congratulate these companies for excellent delivery of these unique structural steel construction projects.”​

Steel erectors are getting real in Orlando this year for SEAA’s 48th Convention and Trade Show on October 13-14, 2021. The convention and trade show will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton at the entrance to Universal Studios. This year’s event will include dedicated trade show time, three education sessions for managers and owners, and a panel discussion with the 2021 Project of the Year winners.

The Convention & Trade Show is preceded by the Dave Schulz Memorial Golf Tournament at
the MetroWest Golf Club in Orlando on October 12, 2021. SEAA renamed the annual Education
Fundraiser Golf Tournament in memory of Dave Schulz, SEAA past president, who was instrumental in organizing the event for many years.

The Captain’s Choice style tournament is open to members and non- members. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams, longest drive, closest to the pin, and more. Separate registration is required. Fees include green fee, cart, range balls, lunch, and beverages. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

SEAA’s Trade Show provides erectors and fabricators a chance to see the latest products, services and innovations they need for safer, more productive work site.  This year, SEAA is offering exhibitors a choice of indoor or outdoor booth locations, and all exhibitors have the option to participate in live demonstrations at no extra cost.

“We will have three hours of dedicated trade show time, with hands-on presentations from exhibitors for a highly-engaged trade show experience,” said Carrie Gulajan, Chairman of the Convention Committee.

To accommodate social distancing and small group engagement, attendees will be split into two groups. Half will visit indoor booths, while half will visit outdoor booths. Groups will rotate at the mid-point in the schedule, and the live demonstrations will be staggered between two time slots.

“We are offering two promotions to encourage exhibitors to confirm their booths early,” said Gulajan. The Early Bird Special is for exhibitors that reserve and pay for their booth by May 31. They receive (1) complimentary e-mail blast in our Convention Products & Services Showcase.

In 2022, SEAA’s 49th Convention & Trade Show returns to its regular schedule in North Charleston, S.C. “The All that Jazz Discount is for members only. Make a $500 deposit on your 2022 booth by October 31, 2021 to secure 2021 Trade Show Rates,” said Gulajan.

Learn more at https://www.seaa.net/seaa-convention--trade-show.html

In 2021, SEAA renamed the annual Education Fundraiser Golf Tournament in memory of Dave Schulz, SEAA past president, who was instrumental in organizing the event for many years. The 2021 tournament will be held in Orlando, Fla., on October 12, preceding the 48th Convention & Trade Show.

The Captain’s Choice style tournament is open to members and non-members. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams, longest drive, closest to the pin, and more.

Registration fees include green fee, cart, range balls, lunch, and beverages. Sponsorship opportunities are also available at seaa.net/daveschulzgolf.

Through this event, SEAA has awarded more than $40,000 in Craft Training grants and for the
development of training videos. SEAA is working toward developing approximately 20 Level 1 videos that can be used to accompany the SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Craft Training Program.

The SEAA Board of Directors announces that its 48th Convention and Trade Show, previously scheduled for April 2021 in Orlando, Fla., will now take place Oct. 12-14, 2021. The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton at the entrance to Universal, in Orlando, Fla.

“In order to accommodate evolving recommendations for in-person gatherings related to the
coronavirus pandemic, the Convention Committee has set the new dates with high hopes that the
environment will be back on track by the third quarter,” said Carrie Gulajan, Convention Committee
Chairperson. “We made this decision based on travel industry projections and watching what other
trade organizations are doing. We feel strongly that the biggest value to be gained is from in-person
networking,” she said.

Details of the agenda are being finalized, but the tentative program is as follows:

Tuesday, Oct. 12: Education and Training Fundraiser Golf Tournament

Wednesday, Oct. 13: Exhibitor Setup, Project of the Year Award Winners Panel Discussion, Welcome Reception

Thursday, Oct. 14: Trade Show and Indoor and Outdoor Exhibitor Demos, Education Sessions, Closing Night Awards and Reception

Hotel, meeting, and trade show registration links will open by February 15.

In addition, plans are underway for the 2021 George R. Pocock Memorial Golf Tournament and a tour of Universal Studios. Headlining the convention will be speaker Bob McCall, President of Inspire High Performance, LLC. He will draw on more than 30 years of experience in the utility industry to address leadership, culture, expectations, and behaviors that need to be changed. McCall will follow up his inspirational opening presentation, 5 Steps to Improving your Team’s Safety Performance, with a workshop later in the week.

The convention will include other sessions on management or field topics. Plus, winners of the annual Project of the Year competition will present case studies of their structural steel erection jobs.
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Registration is now open online for exhibitors and attendees. Learn more at seaa.net/events.

How to become a SEAA/NCCER Training Unit/Assessment Site
Tim Eldridge, SEAA’s Craft Training and Assessment Administrator, will discuss how to become a
member of SEAA’s network of Craft Training providers. Participation in the program provides SEAA
member companies with access to nationally recognized credentials for ironworkers. Benefits include reduced costs and administrative requirements. Because of SEAA’s affiliation with NCCER, members also have access to the dozens of other construction craft training materials, assessments, and certifications.

Common Rigging Mistakes
Scott Seppers, a former rigger and ironworker, warns that employers should never assume those doing rigging have all the knowledge and training to account for the many variables affecting rigging scenarios. Drawing on 19 years of field experience and leadership as a general foreman and trainer for Trivent Safety Consulting, Seppers will identify some of the most common mistakes made in rigging.

Make Your Quality System Work for You
Continuous change to the AISC Certification program keeps erectors scrambling to keep up with Quality and Safety Management Systems. Lee Pielaet of Pioneer Steel Services, Inc., has conducted more than 1,000 AISC audits. He’ll share his experience to help erectors achieve, manage, and upgrade AISC certifications.

Structural Steel Field Fixes & Solutions
Problems encountered during construction and erection of structural steel buildings often requires field fixes. Dr. James Fisher, Ph.D., P.E., is Vice President Emeritus for CSD Structural Engineers. He will share case studies, common problems, and how to respond when they occur.

Workforce Development is a Team Effort
A panel discussion, moderated by Tracy Bennett, SEAA’s Managing Editor of Connector and marketing consultant, includes experts representing technical education, craft training, curriculum development, and apprenticeship. The discussion will include trends in CTE education, practical tips for establishing workforce development and how to get funding for training and apprenticeships.

Top Notch Networking
SEAA’s focused trade show offers erector and fabricator companies to see the latest products, services and innovations they need for safer, more productive work sites. Regularly rated as a favorite part of the meeting by attendees, exhibitors are encouraged to reserve booths early as space is limited.

November 11, 2019 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA), will hold its 48th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Charleston, S.C., April 1-3, 2020.

By RT Ferrell
RT Ferrell is a copywriter and creative director at UpperNinety, a project-based creative agency. He can be reached at [email protected].

Attracting and retaining the next generation of workers was a common theme of the 2019 Steel Erectors Association of America Conference, held April 24-26, 2019 in Concord, N.C. Keynote speaker Kayleen McCabe and closing speaker Peggy Smedley both offered keen insights and valuable action plans to address skilled labor shortages.

Two women leading the charge in promoting workforce development initiatives will be featured as speakers at the April 24-26 Convention of the Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA).