AWMI is proud to announce that Tamela Olt, International Membership Chair and member of the Chicago Chapter has been chosen as the 2009 AWMI International Member of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes one special AWMI member who has advanced the goals and objectives of our association in a way that surpasses the expectations of a simple job description.

Tammy graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Marketing and minoring in psychology. She began her metals career at National Steel Corporation in November 1984 and held positions of Inside Sales Representative, Inside Sales Manager, Sales Representative and Account Manager for the electrical steel market. She currently is a Senior Regional Sales Manager with SSAB Americas, covering the areas of Chicago, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, having been with SSAB (formerly IPSCO) since October 2001.

Since becoming a member of AWMI in 1988, Tammy has served in numerous board positions of increasing responsibility including the Chicago Chapter Membership Chair, Marketing Chair, President and Past President, and Midwest Regional Director. In 2003, Tammy was elected International Membership Chair, the position she currently holds. She sits on numerous AWMI committees, remains actively involved in her home chapter, and uses her frequent and extensive travel schedule to support AWMI chapters across the US and Canada and champion the cause of our Association.

In her spare time, Tammy is an active member of the Metals Executive Committee of the Boy Scouts of America, Chicago Council. In 2006, she chaired the annual Boy Scouts Dinner and raised $490,000 in donations, becoming the first woman to receive the Good Scout Award in 2007. Tammy has also been involved with the American Diabetes Association and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since 2000 when her daughter Taylor, was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. This past December, she and her son Max volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Bogalusa, LA. You can read about it here.

Tammy is married to Olaf Klutke and has two children - Taylor, 21, is a senior at Indiana University and Max, 17, is a freshman at Marquette University.

AWMI will present Tammy with her Member of the Year award at the upcoming Leadership Conference in Tucson in September. Watch your email for registration details.

CONGRATULATIONS, TAMMY!