Dave Kanagy always knew he’d go far, but didn’t know in what direction. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he attended the University of Maryland, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology education. He dreamed of being a teacher, but life had other plans. After earning his master’s degree in industrial technology from Eastern Illinois University, he was recruited by the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association as a technical coordinator, which introduced him to the nonprofit sector. And the rest is history. Between 1997 and 2004, he served as the executive director of the Iron and Steel Society, creating stability during a period of great upheaval in the steel industry. In 2004, he became the executive director of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, beginning what would become one of the most influential careers in SME history. For 22 years, Dave Kanagy served the Society, stabilizing its finances, strengthening its board, expanding its educational outreach, and modernizing it for the 21st century, all while working to improve benefits to Society members. He was integral in setting up the SME Registered Member Program, and also played a role in the development of OneMine, the vast online database. No matter what he’s doing, whether it be pitching new ideas to the board, attending trade shows and SME conferences, or answering the questions of engineering students, Kanagy understands the importance of relationships and connection. As executive director, he felt a responsibility to the people under his leadership and to the members of the Society, always doing what he believed was best for them. One of his proudest achievements is the fact that he never had to lay anyone off at SME.