SteelDays


Host a SteelDays Event

Showcase Your Company, Build Connections, and Strengthen the Industry!

SteelDays events attract a diverse audience eager to learn more about steel and your company, including architects, engineers, contractors, government and DOT officials, and students. Every year, thousands of attendees visit steel facilities nationwide to connect with industry leaders, explore career opportunities, and gain firsthand insight into the world of structural steel.

Want to:

  • Attract new talent? Entice local high school and community college students with live demonstrations, competitions, and hands-on activities.

  • Celebrate with your staff? Pick a time, bring in a food truck or caterer, and book a presenter to speak about something inspiring and innovative in the industry.

  • Showcase the benefits of structural steel to decision-makers and potential clients? Invite a local engineering or architectural firm for networking and a tour.

  • Strengthen your relationship with the community? Open your doors to the public--and invite workforce development agencies and local lawmakers--for a facility tour with equipment demonstrations.

Don’t miss this chance to put your company in the spotlight. Host a SteelDays event and be part of something bigger!

 

SteelDays Hosting 101 Webinar

Learn valuable insights, proven strategies, and expert advice to help you make the most of your event.

 

What Does Hosting Look Like, and How Do I Get Started?


Identify Your Audiences

Tailor your event and messaging to resonate with key audiences. Understanding who you’re speaking with helps you make a lasting impression during your SteelDays event.

  • High school students and staff with an emphasis on Career and Technical Education curricula
  • Post-secondary school students and staff at community colleges, 4-year colleges, and universities
  • Owner and general contractor customers
  • Architects and engineers


Event Ideas

  • Host a local engineering or architectural firm
    The easiest type of event to plan! Set a time, add some food and beverage, and invite your local contacts in for networking and a tour. Add a presentation and some hands-on activities to give attendees more in-depth info about your business.

  • Invite local high school students to show them how rewarding a career in steel fabrication can be!
    Students are looking for a lucrative, satisfying career after they graduate--could your shop be just the thing? Show them what you’re all about. Offer live demonstrations and hands-on activities. Give both longtime employees and recent hires a chance to share the story of how they started out. And highlight the projects in your area that your team points to and says, “I built that!” We've put together all the resources you'll need to make planning as easy as possible.


Best Engagement Days of the Week

Choosing the right day can make or break attendance. Align your event scheduling with your audience’s availability to maximize participation.

  • For professionals, avoid Mondays and Fridays. Friday deadlines and long weekends can prevent folks from attending.
  • For school groups, talk to your targeted schools to make it an easy “Yes!” for them.
  • If the formal SteelDays week doesn’t work for your company or guests, then pick a day that does. AISC is happy to support you.


Hands-on and Interactive Activities

Interactive experiences are the heart of an engaging SteelDays event. From friendly competitions to vendor booths and facility tours, hands-on elements make your event memorable and spark curiosity about careers in steel.

  • Competitions: Whether formal or informal, friendly competitions with fun giveaways get everyone excited.
    • A craft staff competition for spectators
    • A guest competition to sweeten the experience
    • A welding competition
  • Reverse job interviews: A reverse interview flips the traditional hiring dynamic by allowing job candidates to ask questions and evaluate whether the company, team, and role align with their values and goals.
  • Tap into your supplier vendors for interactive booth displays and giveaways.
  • Take advantage of AISC support:
  • Ask AISC


Community Connections

SteelDays is an opportunity to strengthen ties with local organizations and civic leaders whose support can amplify your impact and visibility. Engaging with these partners helps build goodwill and reinforces your commitment to the community.

  • Organizations like workforce development agencies, chambers of commerce, and other non-profits aligned with your company’s goals and values
  • Lawmakers like mayors, congresspeople, and governors


Education Topics

Offer educational sessions tailored to your audience’s interests and expertise, from high schoolers curious about trades to professionals exploring the latest innovations in steel design and sustainability. Well-chosen topics can inspire future careers and foster collaboration across disciplines.

  • Architects, structural engineers, and general contractors
    • Steel coatings and finishes
    • Architecturally exposed structural steel
    • Early collaboration
    • Sustainability
    • Technology
  • High school students
    • Trade career paths
    • Project management career paths
    • Engineering career paths


Event & Logistics Resources


Facility Tour Checklist


Attendee Registration

You have the option of handling registration via our website or through your own company’s registration link. If you have questions about which option is best for you, contact Carly Hurd, AISC's vice president of fabricator initiatives, at [email protected].

Send a reminder the day before your event with crucial logistical information, like where to park or any PPE they need to bring.

Here you'll find out how to best handle registrants and keep in touch with potential attendees.


How to Promote Your Event

Make sure your event is visible.

  • Is your event listing and information correct?
  • Do you have event information on your own website and social media feeds?
  • If you were attending your own event, would you be able to find what you need?

Let people know you're hosting an event.

  • Tell every member of your organization about your SteelDays event.
  • Invite all your contacts to your event--everyone you know!
  • Include information about your event in your company newsletter or magazine.

Told everyone you know? Extend the invitation to people you don't know (yet)!

  • Mail an invitation to local architects, engineers, and contractors.
  • Invite a local high school, community college, or university to your facility.
  • Send a press release to local television stations and newspapers about your involvement in SteelDays and about some of the local projects you have been involved in.
  • Invite the mayor, local legislators or dignitaries, or your local chamber of commerce.


Social Media Quick Tips

Here are a few things to remember when you promote your SteelDays event on social media:

  • Include a picture in every post.
  • Do not use punctuation in any hashtag.
  • Connect with users via the #SteelDays hashtag, and invite them to your event.

Example Posts:

  • If you're celebrating #SteelDays, register for our event [name of event] and receive a personalized demo! <event link>
  • We're excited to host a #SteelDays event! See you October 14-18! [include a picture of your shop/something related to your event]
  • We're thrilled to be one of the SteelDays hosts! Take a pic and tag us using #SteelDays at our event!
  • You're invited to our #SteelDays event on [date]! Come network and let us know how we can help with all of your steel needs!

Please use the following links in your SteelDays promotion:

As we approach SteelDays, keep an eye on this space for a variety of tools to help promote your event, including tips, templates, photos, and graphics.


You don’t need a large-scale production to have a successful SteelDays event. Use the resources AISC provides, focus on authentic engagement, and remember that effort and enthusiasm go a long way!

Questions or comments? Contact us at [email protected].