Steel Deck Institute Managing Director J. Kenneth Charles was recognized with the prestigious American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Lifetime Achievement Award on April 2 at NASCC: The Steel Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Ken was honored for “advancing the use of steel, working tirelessly to provide education and guidance to engineers and contractors, and serving on the NASCC: The Steel Conference planning committee.”
Ken’s journey to this milestone didn’t follow the expected blueprint. It started far from the manufacturing or steel world — inside a bank in South Carolina.
An Unexpected Start
Ken never expected to work in the steel industry. After graduating from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in finance, he began his career as a credit analyst for a bank in South Carolina.
One evening, as Ken had dinner with his wife and her parents, Ken’s father-in-law — who had co-founded a steel joist company called Socar, Inc. 10 to 12 years earlier —asked him a question that would change everything: Had Ken ever considered joining the steel industry? His company’s credit manager was planning to move on, and they needed a replacement.
After some back-and-forth, Ken agreed to join. But when he showed up to work the first day, his father-in-law greeted him with surprising news: The credit manager had decided to stay, so there was no opening after all.
“But have you considered sales?” his father-in-law asked.
Ken wasn’t sure what to say. He considered himself an introvert, and sales was nowhere on his radar. But he took a leap and said yes.
That was 48 years ago.
Finding Himself in Charge of Two Steel-Advocacy Organizations
Ken steadily climbed the ranks at Socar, starting in inside sales, moving into outside sales manager, and later serving as vice president for sales and administration. His leadership and industry acumen eventually led him to become president of the steel joist company.
After 29 years in manufacturing at Socar, Ken transitioned to CMC Joist and Deck, where he worked for three years before the company exited the industry in 2010. He stayed for an additional eight months to help wind down operations. He was now 58. While still too young to retire, he thought it was time to step away from the manufacturing side of things.
He heard that the managing director at the Steel Joist Institute (SJI) was retiring. Having volunteered at SJI for years, Ken knew the organization well. So, he applied for the job and became the managing director in 2011. Today, he holds the same role for the Steel Deck Institute (SDI).
Reflecting on his career, Ken has identified two main contributions he’s made to the steel industry.
First, Socar, where he spent most of his time, was known as “the quality producer.” Under Ken’s leadership, it developed a reputation for doing the best work and being the most reliable, easiest company to work with. Socar also pioneered the use of steel in shapes no one else was using for roof systems. A slogan they employed in the office and marketplace: “It Can Be Done.”
Second, Ken has been involved with the AISC for a decade on its planning committee for the steel conference. He’s shepherded about 65 or 70 sessions, and while he’s not a presenter or engineer, he was able to coordinate and guide educational initiatives to elevate the industry’s standards.
“I get a lot of credit from AISC,” he said, “but there’s a lot of teamwork involved. People like Bruce Brotherson have been instrumental. Like any athlete will tell you, success is never solo.”
Advice to Young People Entering the Steel Industry
Ken was heartfelt and practical when asked what advice he would share with young professionals entering the steel industry. “There’s definitely plenty of opportunities for personal growth — and yes, financial gain — in the steel industry,” he acknowledged. “But that’s not what makes it special.”
For Ken, the steel industry stands out for two reasons: the people and the ability to create something tangible.
Throughout his decades-long career, Ken has worked with individuals from every corner of the steel industry — engineers, manufacturers, and administrators — and consistently found them to be passionate, collaborative, and deeply dedicated to their craft.
The tangible nature of the work is equally meaningful to him. In an increasingly digital world, steel provides something enduring and real. “Being involved in the built environment by creating things you can touch, live, and work in brings a kind of satisfaction that’s hard to describe,” Ken shared. “There’s a real sense of pride when you pass by a building and know you had a hand in making it possible.”
Looking to the Steel Industry’s Future
With several decades of experience behind him, Ken remains deeply engaged with the steel industry’s evolving landscape. He shared three major trends that he believes will affect the industry in the next 10 to 15 years.
“First,” Ken said, “we’ll see more involvement with higher-strength steel. Currently, the steel joist industry has a baseline of approximately 50 KSI steel. This is probably going to go up. As such, you can provide the same support for a structure using less weight, less steel.”
“Second, AI will be an important part of where our industry goes. Like other new technologies, it’ll pose both opportunities and risks. While you can ask ChatGPT to design a building, the results can be hit or miss. Sometimes it’s right, but sometimes it misses important nuances. So we need to stay on top of that.”
“Third, there’s the U.S. government’s growing push for mass timber over steel in commercial construction,” Ken mused. “While wood is a great material, the full story isn’t being told. The federal market is promoting wood, even on ChatGPT, to help tree farmers, which is great. But we in the steel industry should tell our story and tell more people about steel’s benefits.”
Ken’s Thoughts on Receiving the AISC Lifetime Achievement Award
Ken was candid and reflective when asked about his thoughts on receiving the AISC Lifetime Achievement Award. “I was very surprised when I got the note from AISC,” he said. “The Lifetime Achievement Award usually goes to engineers or educators. Less than 5% of recipients aren’t from those fields.”
“Ultimately, this was a special honor and a humbling experience,” said Ken. “To be recognized for something you’ve given so much to — it was a real joy.”