Richard Teets, Jr.
Executive Vice President for Steelmaking
President and Chief Operating Officer of Steel Operations

In August 2008, Dick was appointed Executive Vice President for Steelmaking and President and Chief Operating Officer of Steel Operations. He is now responsible for all of the company's steelmaking operations, including the Flat Roll Division, Structural and Rail Division, Engineered Bar Products Division, Roanoke Bar Division, The Techs, and Steel of West Virginia Inc.

In April 2007 Dick became an executive vice president overseeing the company's four long-products steelmaking divisions and the steel fabricating business, New Millennium Building Systems.

In 1998, Dick initiated the planning for construction of SDI's structural-steel mill at Columbia City, Indiana. From 1998 to 2007, he managed the construction, start-up and operation of the structural mill and is responsible for its commercial success and growth. The Structural and Rail Division has grown to become a major part of Steel Dynamics and a major supplier of wide-flange beams in North America.

One of the founders of Steel Dynamics, Dick has served on the board of directors since the company’s inception and is a major shareholder. Dick has also served as president of the Association of Iron and Steel Technology (AIST).

Dick earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Lafayette College and a master's in business administration from Duquesne University.

Dick began his career with a 10-year stint at J&L Steel (later LTV Steel), serving in positions of increasing responsibility in the engineering, maintenance, and production areas in several of the company's plants.

In 1987, Dick joined Nucor Corporation as engineering manager at Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he was given broad responsibility for the design and construction of the new thin-cast-slab facility. He was one of the first managers hired by Keith Busse, future SDI chairman and CEO. Dick managed the design and construction process, with the additional responsibility for ensuring environmental and other standards were met during the development and construction phases.

In 1991, Dick assumed responsibility for the cold-rolling and finishing operations at Crawfordsville. He was also directly responsible for the construction of Nucor's galvanizing line at Crawfordsville.

When SDI was formed, Dick became vice president and manager of rolling and finishing at the new Butler, Indiana, flat-roll mill, with responsibilities initially for the hot-rolling and engineering departments. Later, he managed the construction and operation of the cold-rolling and galvanizing facilities.