SeverCorr to be examined during Leo Seal speaker series at MSU

Contact: Maridith Geuder

STARKVILLE, Miss.--The concept, financing and construction details involved in a state-of-the-art Lowndes County steel mill will be the subject of three separate lectures over the next two weeks at Mississippi State.

Located on a 1,400-acre megasite between Columbus and Starkville, the SeverCorr plant is designed to produce 1.5 million tons of flat rolled steel products annually. Its finished products will have applications for the automotive and appliance industries.

During the April 5, 7 and 11 public programs, company officials and others associated with the company's construction and operation will be featured. Titled collectively "A Steel Mill is Born," their presentations are part of the 2006 Leo W. Seal Jr. Distinguished Executive Speaker Series sponsored by the university's College of Business and Industry.

All programs will take place in McCool Hall, home of the academic unit.

The series is named for 1949 MSU business graduate Leo W. Seal Jr. of Gulfport, longtime head of the Hancock Banking System and a major benefactor of the 128-year-old land-grant institution.

"SeverCorr wanted to introduce the project to Mississippi State students, as well as to the local business community and others who are interested," said associate dean Louis Capella.

The programs, their times, locations and speakers include:

Wednesday [the 5th], 3 p.m.--"The Concept Behind the SeverCorr Project," Rogers Auditorium, John Correnti, president and chief executive officer, and Michael Wagner, executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Friday[the 7th], 10 a.m.--"The Financing of a Steel Mill," room 243-44, Edward Lehner, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Greg Wicander, senior vice president of GE Capital Markets, Rob Janes, vice president of Stephens Group, and David Stickler, senior managing director of Global Principal Partners.

Tuesday [the 11th], 9:30 a.m.--"Engineering and Construction of a Steel Mill," Rogers Auditorium, Richard Painter, SeverCorr vice president of construction, and Thomas Elmore, president of Eutaw Construction Co.

For more information about the 2006 Leo W. Seal Jr. Distinguished Executive Speaker Series, telephone Emily Keith at (662) 325-9082.