J. Kenneth Charles From Steel Joist Institute To Be Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award
Award to be presented during NASCC: The Steel Conference in April
Florence, S.C. — The Steel Joist Institute is pleased to share the news that SJI Managing Director J. Kenneth Charles will be one of six recipients of AISC’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award will be presented at 2025 NASCC: The Steel Conference during the opening session on April 2, 2025, in Louisville, KY. The award recognizes living individuals who have made a significant impact on the success of the AISC and the structural steel industry.
“Designing, fabricating, and building with structural steel are team sports–and they work best in tandem,” said AISC President Charles J. Carter, SE, PE, PhD. “Our industry remains innovative thanks to MVPs from classrooms to executive boardrooms. It is an honor to recognize some of the people who shape our industry.”
“The Steel Joist Institute (SJI) is fortunate to have Ken leading the path to maintain and grow the joist industry,” said Keith Juedmann, president of Steel Joist Institute board of directors. “Under his guidance, SJI launched a comprehensive webinar education program in 2012. This program has delivered over 30,000 Professional Development Hour (PDH) certificates to engineers, significantly contributing to their continued learning.”
Charles responded to the news of the award, “I am humbled and honored to be a part of such a distinguished group of individuals. And looking back over the history of the award, the past recipients are quite a list of accomplished women and men. To be added to their number is very special.”
Charles currently serves as the managing director of both SJI and the Steel Deck Institute. His career in the steel industry spans over 47 years, marked by exceptional leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to advancing the use of steel in construction. Key Career Milestones and Industry Impact:
– Charles’ dedication to education and professional development within the industry is evident through his active involvement with NASCC: The Steel Conference. As a member of the planning committee for over 10 years, he has been instrumental in shaping the conference’s educational content, overseeing the development of more than 60 learning sessions.
– Charles has also spearheaded the expansion of SJI’s printed library, which now includes 13 design guides and two catalogs containing specifications for standard and composite steel joists. These resources serve as invaluable tools for engineers and architects in the design and construction of steel structures.
– Recognized as a thought leader in the industry, Charles has authored articles for Modern Steel Construction and STRUCTURE.
Charles will be formally presented with the award during the plenary session of NASCC: The Steel Conference on April 2, 2025. This recognition is a testament to his remarkable career and the profound impact he has had on the steel industry.
About Steel Joist Institute
Besides setting standards for the steel joist industry, the Steel Joist Institute works closely with major building code bodies throughout the country helping to develop code regulations regarding steel joists and joist girders. The Institute also invests thousands of dollars in research related to steel joists and joist girders and offers a complete library of publications and other training, research and design aids. The Steel Joist Institute is a not-for-profit organization. For more information, visit www.steeljoist.org or follow us on LinkedIn.
