Greetings, I’m Joel Hawthorne, President and CEO of TMS International.

One hundred years. That’s a milestone very few companies ever reach—and it’s one we don’t take lightly. To reach 100 years is extraordinary. This anniversary celebrates the unwavering spirit, dedication, and pioneering vision of everyone who built and sustained our legacy. We stand on the shoulders of generations before us who have persevered and built the foundation.

The story began in 1926, when our founder, David Coslov, set out with a simple but powerful belief: take care of the customer, deliver excellent service, and always work safely. His vision and courage created the foundation for success and the basis of our core values today. Since then, many members of the Coslov family provided leadership, which was then carried on by leadership of Joe Curtin and Ray Kalouche.

To our past and present teammates—thank you. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment through every challenge—the Great Depression, World War II, 9/11, the Great Recession, COVID-19, and so many other global market dynamics—have been the true driving force behind our success.

Over the years, we’ve experienced both boom times and tough times—some shaped by the global economy, others specific to our industry. We’ve seen competitors come and go, some new enter the market and longtime competitors reinvent themselves. And time and again, TMS has emerged stronger. That resilience is a direct reflection of the incredible people who make up the culture of this organization.

I’m incredibly proud and grateful to carry on the leadership heritage and work alongside such talented, dedicated individuals every day.

To our customers and partners, thank you for placing your trust in us over the years. Your confidence in TMS has allowed us to grow, innovate, and reach this historic milestone together.

As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we’re not looking backward—we’re looking ahead. We will continue to honor our heritage by investing in our people, fostering a culture of safety, integrity, creativity and collaboration, and embracing innovation as we build the future.

We’re excited about what lies ahead and eager to write the next chapter of the TMS story—together.

We're more energized than ever to serve our customers, work with our partners and support the communities in which we operate in the decades to come. Here’s to the next 100 years!