Michelle Applebaum is Managing Partner of Steel Market Intelligence and lead analyst. Mrs. Applebaum is a former Salomon Brothers top-rated steel analyst and Managing Director with more than 30 years  of experience following the steel sector. Mrs. Applebaum joined Phibro-Salomon Inc in 1981 and spent her early years as a Salomon equity analyst learning the ropes from her Phibro steel trading colleagues, where the combined firm was engaged in steel distribution, domestic and global steel and steel product trading, scrap trading, coke trading, and was one of the largest distributor/traders of ferroalloys in the country supplying key raw materials to virtually every steel mill in North America. She lives in the suburban Chicago area with her husband, two dogs and occasional grown children.  Michelle can be reached at michelle@michelleapplebaum.com.

Brookelynn Schmeck began as the Administrative Assistant and Office Manager at Steel Market Intelligence in September 2011, and was promoted to Research Assistant in August 2013. Brooke is a magna cum laude graduate from Asbury University and has a bachelor’s degree in biblical languages and a minor in classical languages. Her passion for the steel industry began in childhood when steel windmills were put up on her family’s farm and she marveled at the construction and assembly of such large steel machines. She lives in suburban Chicago with her husband, cat, and dog. Brooke can be reached at assistant@michelleapplebaum.com.