Our Team
Michael Cowden, Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief of CRU’s Communities, including Steel Market Update and Aluminum Market Update, Michael has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported extensively on steel long products, pipe and tube, and aluminum markets. Before joining SMU, he worked as a reporter for Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and The Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. Michael also held roles in copy editing and marketing at the University of Chicago Press. He holds a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Greg Wittbecker, Senior Advisor
Veteran aluminum executive Greg brings over 40 years of leadership experience from Alcoa, Cargill, and CRU. He offers rare depth in commercial strategy, policy analysis, and industry evolution, with expertise spanning the trading floor to the boardroom.
Nicholas Bell, Senior Editor
Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.
Stephanie Ritenbaugh, Reporter
Stephanie is an experienced business journalist, holding a variety of positions for trade publications and newspapers, including covering shale development for Gas Business Briefing/Platts and for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Luis Corona, Senior Account Executive
Luis brings broad sales experience across the real estate, steel, and market intelligence industries. Prior to joining Aluminum Market Update, he held roles as an account manager at a major steel tube and pipe supplier and as an account executive with a metals market information provider. Luis uses his industry knowledge to deliver tailored solutions that drive value for our customers.
Matt Aboud, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Century Aluminum
Matt Aboud brings over two decades of leadership experience in the global aluminum industry. Before joining Century in 2021, he spent 18 years at Hydro Aluminum in roles including Vice President of Extrusion Ingot & Wire Rod in Europe and Vice President of Primary Metal North America. He also served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the U.S. Aluminum Association. Matt holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
Lewis Leibowitz, Owner The Law Office of Lewis E. Leibowitz
Lewis practices in the areas of international trade law, customs law, and international commercial transactions. He represents clients in front of all federal courts and agencies dealing with international trade matters. Leibowitz advises and assists clients in diverse matters including trade remedies, customs, foreign-trade zones and free trade agreements, trade negotiations, and related matters.
Laura Miller, Reporter and Editor, Steel Market Update
Laura has held a variety of positions within the steel industry since 2007, including reporting and editing for Steel Business Briefing/Platts, the Association for Iron and Steel Technology, and Kallanish Commodities. She also worked in marketing for what was then known as ThyssenKrupp Steel USA (now AM/NS Calvert). After a five-year hiatus working across other industries, she returned to steel in 2021 and has covered the flat rolled, tubular, and trade areas of the industry. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
David Schollaert, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Steel Market Update
David has been in the metals and mining industry since 2009. Before joining SMU in 2020, Schollaert covered steel-making raw materials and ferroalloys for CRU, and more recently held roles as a metals buyer and operations manager for raw material suppliers in Pittsburgh and Montreal.