November 11-12, 2025
Chicago, IL
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SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SXC) supplies high-quality coke to domestic and international customers. Our coke is used in the blast furnace production of steel as well as the foundry production of casted iron, with the majority of sales under long-term, take-or-pay contracts. We also export coke to overseas customers seeking high-quality product for their blast furnaces. Our process utilizes an innovative heat-recovery technology that captures excess heat for steam or electrical power generation and draws upon more than 60 years of cokemaking experience to operate our facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Brazil. Our industrial services business provides export and domestic material handling services to coke, coal, steel, power and other bulk customers, as well as mission-critical services to leading, global steel producing companies. The logistics terminals have the collective capacity to mix and transload more than 40 million tons of material each year and are strategically located to reach Gulf Coast, East Coast, Great Lakes and international ports. Additional industrial services include the removal, handling, and processing of molten slag at customer sites, as well as preparation and transportation of metal scraps, raw materials, and finished products.
Bio to come!
Nathan Hyrne is Director of ClimateBright for The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W), a leader in energy and environmental products and services for power and industrial markets worldwide.
Nathan is responsible for the Company’s strategic growth in Clean Energy including B&W’s SolveBright CO2 capture system, OxyBright oxy-firing system, BrightGen hydrogen firing system, and BrightLoop hydrogen production system.
Nathan is a military veteran who then earned is Bachelor of Science, Engineering Degree. He started with Babcock & Wilcox in 2005 as a Field Service Engineer. Nathan’s role grew in complexity quickly. He was invaluable as lead commissioning engineer for a 3x700MW scrubber project that paved the way for B&W’s SolveBright CO2 scrubber design & build knowledge. His B&W project execution knowledge grew as he worked closely with process & design engineers while on site advising the construction team.
From 2009 to 2014 Nathan commissioned and tuned environmental systems for NOx, SOx, CO, Hg, & HCl reduction. He worked on coal, gas, and biomass fired power plants around the world. Clients trust in Nathan grew as he turned over reliable systems and followed up with support.
In 2015 B&W asked Nathan to lead efforts in strategic growth. He developed new projects in biomass, utility coal conversions, petrochemical, and steel. His knowledge of B&W technology and organization continues to lead to many successful projects.
Dr. Joseph J. Poveromo (Ph.D., M.S. Center for Process Metallurgy, State U. of New York/Buffalo; BS Chem. Eng. Rensselaer Poly). From 1974 he was at Bethlehem Steel’s Homer Research Laboratories. In 1993 he established his consultancy, Raw Materials & Ironmaking Global Consulting. Through 2008 his principal client was the Quebec Cartier Mining Company, serving as Director Technology-International. Currently, he consults for steel, iron ore, other natural resource, technology provider, financial and consultancy companies on a global basis. Dr. Poveromo is a Distinguished Member of AIST (Assoc. of Iron & Steel Technology); his awards include the T. L. Joseph Award for long-standing contributions to ironmaking technology. He is also a Special Member of the IIMA(International Iron Metallics Association).
Stephen Klejst, the Executive Director of Investigations and Recommendations, joined the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) in February 2018. He is responsible for leading the agency’s investigation and recommendations programs including the Drivers of Critical Chemical Safety Change advocacy program. Mr. Klejst comes to the CSB after nearly ten years of experience with the National Transportation Safety Board where he was deputy managing director and director of the agency’s Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations. During his tenure with the NTSB, Mr. Klejst led the agency’s investigation of several major pipeline and railroad accidents including the explosion of a natural gas transmission line in San Bruno, California, the rupture of a hazardous liquid transmission line in Marshall, Michigan and several significant freight railroad and transit rail accidents. Prior to joining the NTSB, Mr. Klejst had a distinguished executive career in the railroad industry with responsibilities in the areas of safety, accident investigation, regulatory compliance and technical training. Mr. Klejst received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and a master of science degree in management from the Stevens Institute of Technology. Mr. Klejst is a Certified Safety and Security Director.
David Ailor has been with the Washington, D.C.-based American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute for more than 20 years. His tenure with ACCCI includes 16 years, from 1989 – 2005, as ACCCI’s first Director of Regulatory Affairs; and, six years, from 2015 to the present, as President of the Institute.
As ACCCI President, Mr. Ailor, who reports to ACCCI’s Board of Directors, organizes and manages four off-site meetings of the Institute each year, including ACCCI’s Annual Meeting, a Business Meeting of the Board, and biannual meetings of ACCCI’s “Manufacturing, Environmental, and Safety and Health” (MESH) Committee. Additionally, he prepares and manages an annual budget for the Institute.
Mr. Ailor also has many of the same responsibilities he had from 1989 – 2005, when he served as ACCCI Director of Regulatory Affairs. His overall responsibility in this area is
monitoring and reporting to ACCCI’s membership on Federal agency actions on environmental and employee safety issues of potential concern to the membership. Related responsibilities include analyzing regulations/legislation; formulating policy positions; developing regulatory responses; and, working with the relevant regulatory agencies (EPA, OSHA) to ensure the reasonableness of the regulations being developed.
Carlos Felipe Barrera is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the mining and energy sectors, currently serving as the Managing Director for John T. Boyd in South America. With a strong background in business planning, contract negotiation, and corporate governance, he excels in leadership and project management. Carlos has a proven track record of fostering cross-cultural teams and developing innovative solutions to complex challenges. His academic credentials include advanced studies in governance and negotiation from prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Oxford. Passionate about transforming the mining industry, he is committed to promoting better practices and sustainability. Carlos is also known for his ability to build strong client relationships and drive business development initiatives across Latin America. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is dedicated to mentoring others and helping them achieve their potential. His multilingual capabilities enhance his effectiveness in diverse environments.
Dr. Kodukula is a mineral processing expert specializing in iron-making raw materials and carbon-neutral technologies, with over 30 years of experience. He has led breakthrough process initiatives for coal & coke, iron ore, and by-products in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Liberia and India. As an advisor, he recommends metallurgical and PCI coal for blast furnace operations worldwide and connects mines with iron and steel-making facilities. Dr. Kodukula combines deep scientific and technical expertise with dynamic market conditions, strategic leadership and global collaboration. He has received several recognitions, including the National Mineral Award (India), the Raman Research Fellow, and ArcelorMittal Global Performance Excellence Award.
He holds a Ph.D. in Geology/Mineral Processing and has authored a significant number of technical publications and technical reports.
Dr. Bristow has been actively involved in the steel and steelmaking raw materials industries for over 22 years. During this time, he has led numerous investigations in coal and iron ore technical and market research, minerals strategy development, and market planning for BHP’s coal business, and was Chief Analyst for BHP Billiton’s Carbon Steel Materials Group, leading the Market Intelligence Group in Singapore.
His key expertise in steel, metallurgical coal, iron ore, and manganese ore and ferroalloys, coupled with strategic vision and long term analysis on future directions in emerging markets, saw him as an early proponent of the rebirth of the global steel industry, the rise of China and of coal’s growth story, together with a strong belief in China’s emergence as a major seaborne metallurgical coal importer. He has been a strong advocate for India’s growing coal demand.
In April 2009, he formed H&W Worldwide Consulting, putting his strong market analysis and strategy skills to good use across bulk commodities, including iron ore and coal –for both coking and thermal.
As an internationally recognized expert in areas of steel and steelmaking raw materials, long term trends and scenarios, he has written and presented numerous publications at highly respected international conferences and meetings.
Dr. John F. Quanci is SunCoke Energy’s Vice President of Engineering and Technology, and Chief Technology Officer. In his present position, Dr. Quanci is helping build critical competencies and improving/advancing SunCoke’s existing technology as well as leading the development of next generation coking technology for both US and international applications in the pursuit of global growth opportunities.
Dr. Quanci has over 25 years in US and overseas experience in process research, development, plant optimization and in plant manufacturing experience, and has managed a breadth of organizations internal and external to Petroleum industry such as Mobil Research, Mobil Oil, BP/Mobil, Exxon/Mobil, Sunoco, Rodel and Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials (now Dow Electronic Materials). Prior to SunCoke, his most recent position was Director, Corporate Technology within Sunoco’s Corporate Engineering & Technology organization in which he leads their initiatives to consolidate and leverage process technology/expertise across all of their business units.
Dr. Quanci earned a Ph.D. and Masters in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Art and Science in New York City. Dr. Quanci is also a registered Professional Engineer and has over forty US and international patents and patent applications.
Manager of Technology and Operations. Cokemaking, AK Steel Corporation 2005-2019
Senior Stuff Engineer. Cokemaking, AK Steel Corporation 1990-2005
Director of Research Laboratory . Eastern Coal and Chemicals Institute, Russia , 1985-1989
Senior and Principal Research Fellow. Eastern Coal and Chemicals Institute, Russia , 1973-1985
Over 40 years experience in all aspects of Cokemaking including R & D, Operations, Quality and Process Control, Environmental and Safety management.
20 publications and 2 patents, Russia, related to cokemaking, preheat charge technology, heat transfer in coke ovens and process optimization.
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Metallurgical Engineering. Eastern Coal and Chemical Institute, 1979 – 1985
MS, Metallurgical Engineering. Ural State Technical University, 1967-1973
AIST Cokemaking Technology Committee, Chair, 2014-2016
Dr Hardarshan Valia retired as a Staff Scientist at Inland Steel Research Laboratories (now Arcelor Mittal), and is currently the President of Coal Science, Inc. He has published more than 85 scientific articles and various book chapters including in “Making, Shaping, and Treating of Steel,” and in “New Trends in Coal Conversion,” and co-authored a book entitled “Indiana Coals and the Steel Industry,” and is a contributor to American Iron and Steel Institute’s web site. He has been honored with the Joseph Becker Award (Iron & Steel Society), the Joseph Kapitan Award (Association for Iron & Steel Technology), and the American Iron & Steel Institute Presidential Medal. He received his Ph.D. in Geology from Boston University.
Currently residing in Fernie, British Columbia. Attended University of Alberta and got a degree in Materials Engineering in 2007.
Began working at Fording River Operations as a Metallurgist with Elk Valley Coal company, which later became Teck Coal. In Teck I have worked as a Metallurgist at Teck’s Fording River Operations, Greenhills Operations, Line Creek Operations and its Lead-Zinc smelter. For the last 3 years I have been working with Technical Marketing for our Coal Business Unit.
