William Hickey - Metal Center News

MCN Service Center Executive of the YearHickey is equally committed tobuilding trusting, reciprocal relationshipswith folks up and down the supplychain. He is invested in the success ofhis mill suppliers and his endusercustomers, and actsaccordingly. “Everyproduct that comesout of here has myname on it. My customersare going toget a quality productto make sure they keepcompetitive in their businesses.”His suppliers and customers havenothing but praise for the way Lapham-Hickey operates. “His organizationconducts its business with the utmostprofessionalism, which is a reflection ofBill,” says Jim Sarwark, executive vicepresident with Nelsen Steel & Wire,Franklin Park, Ill. “They’re people you want to do businesswith because they have integrity.”“He’s a fair, balanced, honest businessman,” says TimAs the 16th recipient of MCN’s Service Center Executive of theYear Award, Bill Hickey joins an illustrious group of past honorees:NNMichael Siegal,Olympic Steel, BedfordHeights, OhioNNDavid Hannah,Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.,Los AngelesNNNorm Gottschalk Jr.,Marmon/Keystone Corp., Butler, Pa.NNAl Glick, Alro Steel Corp.,Jackson, Mich.NNSandy Nelson, Earle M.Jorgensen Co., Lynwood, Calif.Elite CompanyNNArnold Tenenbaum,Chatham Steel Corp., Savannah, Ga.NNBud Siegel, Russel Metals Inc.,Mississauga, Ont.Lapham-Hickey Steel is not only a major general line distributor of steel products, itis also a major steel processor and fabricator, with seven locations in the eastern halfof the U.S. Its value-added processing services range from leveling and slitting to lasercutting and welding. (Photo courtesy Lapham-Hickey Steel)NNDave Lerman, Steel WarehouseCo., South Bend, Ind.NNBill Jones, O’Neal Steel,Birmingham, Ala.NNDon McNeeley, Chicago Tube& Iron Company, Romeoville, Ill.NNWayne Bassett, Samuel,Son & Co. Ltd., Mississauga, Ont.Hill, sales and marketing manager for Nucor Crawfordsville.The same sentiment is shared by his customers. “Anybodycan sell on price. He delivers on quality,” says RebBanas, president of Chicago’sNNGary Stein, Triple S Steel, HoustonNNMike Petersen, PetersenAluminum Co., Elk Grove Village, Ill.NNRichard Robinson, NorfolkIron & Metal, Norfolk, Neb.N N Michael Hoffman,Macsteel Service Centers USA,Newport Beach, Calif.Stanley Spring Stamping. “He’s agreat guy with a great family anda great company.”Eventually, the time will cometo turn that great company overto the next leader. Hickey hasno formal succession plan at themoment, though he knows fromhistory that sometimes these decisionsare out of one’s control.“We have people in seniorleadership who are in their mid tolate ’50s. If something happenedto me tomorrow, I’m sure one ofthem would step up and take onmore responsibilities. If I retire8-10 years from now, it may besomeone who’s now in their 30s.I think we have enough qualitypeople we’ll continue the organizationalexcellence we’ve hadfor a long time.”n42 ❘ Metal Center News — December 2012 www.metalcenternews.com