Kirk J. Lewis, a Black leader in the steel industry, is the Chairman and President of Blue Springs Metals, Georgetown Metal Processing, and Madison Metal Processing, LLC.
Blue Springs Metals, situated in Northeast Mississippi, provides steel products to the automotive and oil & gas industries. Additionally, the corporation generates $160 million in sales annually. Georgetown Metal Processing, based in Northeast Mississippi and with a plant in Northern Kentucky, with an annual revenue of $210 million. It sells aluminum and steel goods to the automotive industry, whereas Madison Metal Processing provides steel products. Madison, headquartered in Alabama, is projected to generate $100 million in yearly sales, according to a recent announcement.
Lewis began his work as a staff accountant at a large accounting firm in 1984. He also spent seven years working in finance and budgeting at a large domestic automaker’s credit arm, where he worked his way up to become a registered investment professional.
He joined a Tier 1 Automotive Supplier as Director of Finance in 1994, and was later elevated to Chief Financial Officer before becoming CEO and Partner. Lewis has served as President of a joint venture with a global Tier 1 automotive supplier worth billions of dollars.
As an executive in the automobile industry, he leveraged his extensive experience to address challenges. When automotive sales fell, he was in charge of reorganizing the operations and finances of the Tier 1 automotive supplier for which he worked as CEO.
When he noticed a gap in the supply of steel to the automobile and oil and gas industries, he resolved to fill it. In 2003, he founded Blue Springs Metals, as reported by Billionaires.Africa. He later expanded his steel empire by acquiring Georgetown Metal Processing in 2007 and Madison Metal Processing in 2014.
Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Michigan State University. He also earned a master’s degree in finance from Wayne State University.
In addition to his business career, Lewis served as Deputy Mayor/Chief of Staff for the City of Detroit under Mayor Dave Bing. He formerly served as Mayor Bing’s Chief Governmental and Corporate Affairs Officer. In addition, he oversaw the City of Detroit’s Departments of Health and Human Services.