Meet Niomi Thomas, Carbon Flat Roll Buyer at Central Steel & Wire Company. Niomi will chair MSCI's Forge Ahead Committee. The goal of Forge Ahead is to forge relationships between Millennials and GenZs industrial metals employees—the future leaders of the metals industry.
- What are your Career Journey Highlights?
- AWMI Board of Director- Programs Co-Chair
- Central Steel and Wire- Flat Carbon Buyer
- Federal Signal/ Elgin/Vactor- Buyer
- In terms of your career, where do you see yourself 5-10 years from now?
- In 5-10 years, I see myself deeply invested into a company who prioritizes diversity and career advancement. I’d be an integral leader, motivator and mentor to other young professionals.
- What is one piece of advice you would give to others just starting out in the metals industry?
- Go for it! Don’t be deterred. Jump into the industry and know you’ve got it! We are younger than most of the other professionals in this industry, but we posses many skills our youth can be very advantageous.
- What motivated you to get into the metals industry?
- I’ve always pursued a challenge. I viewed commodities as a mysterious industry. How can an industry seem so trivial and discrete yet have the biggest impact to the economy? I had to find out.
- What is the most exciting or rewarding aspect of your work?
- Having opportunities like this one! My passion is connecting with people and hoping both parties gain something positive from the interaction. In this case, I’m being rewarded with the opportunity to follow my passion. I’m hoping to inspire other young professionals to go against the tide and be the best version of themselves along the way.
- What do you hope to gain by being an MSCI member?
- I hope to gain more knowledge about the industry from MCSI and its members. There are hundreds of years of steel industry experience from all MCSI members combined. If I want to be the best in this industry, its only right to absorb what I can!
- Goals for the FORGE AHEAD Community as Committee Chair?
- Find more ways to increase the transfer knowledge from the older generation to the younger generation
- Creating dialogues to bridge the generational gap
- Increase diversity and create opportunities to promote a pipeline for future leaders
- Who is Niomi outside of Central Steel & Wire Company?
- Favorite hobby
- I’ve recently gotten into plants! I’m learning more about propagating and other plant growing tactics. I’ve even named my plant babies!
- Favorite travel destination
- I don’t have one. I tend to find beauty in every place I visit because every destination has its own unique cultural experience. The beauty isn’t always in the surroundings, but it’s also in the in the history, traditions, and people.
- Fun Fact: I recently rescued a dog, and she has already stolen my heart! She’s a 3-year-old Shih-Tzu and she’s adorable. I’ve only had her for a few months now and we’re attached at the hip. Being that she’s my only child, I can spoil her as much as I want!
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