Experts in Structural Steel Grades
The UNITED STEEL team brings together decades of combined experience in metallurgy, engineering, and technical communication. We are practitioners who have worked with industrial steel materials in mills, fabrication shops, and construction sites. Our writers understand that metal material properties are not abstract concepts but critical factors that determine success or failure in real projects.
Eric Shabi
Founder & Senior Editor
Eric founded UNITED STEEL after fifteen years in quality assurance roles across the Indiana steel sector. He holds a degree in materials engineering and has worked with every major category of structural steel grades throughout his career. Eric specializes in translating complex metallurgical concepts into practical guidance about steel manufacturing basics and engineering steel applications. He personally reviews every article about carbon steel overview topics before publication to ensure technical accuracy.
Dr. Rebecca Okonkwo
Technical Director
Dr. Okonkwo brings twenty years of research experience in metal material properties and alloy development to the UNITED STEEL team. She previously led a laboratory studying industrial steel materials for infrastructure applications at a major research university. Rebecca contributes deep expertise on steel processing methods and the relationship between microstructure and performance in rolled steel sections. She ensures our coverage of metal industry standards reflects the latest metallurgical research.
James Callahan
Senior Technical Writer
James joined UNITED STEEL after a twenty-five year career in structural steel fabrication and project management. He has specified and ordered countless tons of industrial steel materials for bridges, industrial facilities, and commercial buildings across the Midwest. James brings practical knowledge of how structural steel grades perform under actual field conditions, including welding, cutting, and erection. His articles about engineering steel applications are informed by decades of hands-on experience solving real problems with real materials.