The Story Behind the Michelle Seneca Award: Honoring the Heart of Alliance 

Every year, the Alliance team comes together to honor one of our own with a recognition that carries deep meaning across our entire campus: The Michelle Seneca Employee of the Year Award.

This award isn’t simply about performance metrics or job titles. It symbolizes something bigger: the spirit of teamwork, humility, gratitude, and dedication that has shaped Alliance for decades. And at the center of that spirit is Michelle Seneca, a 26-year veteran whose kindness and work ethic leave an imprint on every person she meets.

Back in 2010, Michelle shared a heartfelt message with the entire company, a message that still circulates today and continues to inspire the culture we’re proud of. It wasn’t a speech about production numbers or milestones. It was about people, gratitude, and perspective.

Below is an excerpt from her original letter sent on Wednesday, December 1, 2010:

“I did a lot of thinking over the Turkey Day weekend and thought about all the things in my life that I am thankful for. I am most thankful for my family and friends who surround me every day.”

“Looking over the Grant-a-Wish list… we see that so many simply ask for a winter coat or diapers — the everyday essentials we can easily take for granted. It made me realize how blessed we truly are to have the basics and to have a job when so many do not, especially around the holidays.

“So, BIG SHOUT OUT to all of us at Alliance Steel. We all rock, and we all make it happen.”

“Salesmen — without you, there wouldn’t be the need for all of us. So from sales, CSRs, purchasing, merchandising, production, traffic, outside processing, reception, accounting, admin, S/R, all the guys in the shop, IT, quality, operations, GM, CFO — and the man who started it all, Andy — everyone deserves a big shout-out.”

“HOOOOO RAH & WHOOOO HOOOOO!!! I AM THANKFUL TO BE PART OF AN AWESOME GROUP.”
— Michelle Secena

Michelle’s message wasn’t just a holiday note; it was a reminder of what Alliance Steel stands for:

• Gratitude for the opportunity to work and grow together.
• Recognition for every department, every shift, every role.
• Pride in the collective effort that makes Alliance what it is.

That letter captured the heart of our culture so perfectly that, years later, when it came time to formalize an annual recognition program, naming it in Michelle’s honor wasn’t even a question. Her words, her spirit, and her commitment reflected the very best of who we strive to be.

Today, The Michelle Seneca Award celebrates employees who embody that same dedication, positivity, teamwork, and consistency. Winners are nominated by their peers, voted on by staff, and celebrated company-wide.

2011: Michelle Seneca

2012: Tracy Baker

2013: Candelario Torres

2014: Shelley Petrbok

2015: Kara Szczepaniec & Kathy Bolls

2016: Kate Ortega

2018: Chryssie Hoering

2019: Kathy Perez

2021: Olivia Sanders

2022: John Chavez

2023: Tanya Gibbs

2024: Bernice Pilatos

2025: Shelley Petrbok

About Alliance Family of Companies
The Alliance Family of Companies brings together Alliance Steel, Alliance Fabrication & Manufacturing, and Alliance Tubular Products, three divisions united on a single campus. Located in Gary, Indiana, our three divisions share a centralized, rail-accessible campus strategically positioned near major mills, ports, and highways, enabling seamless coordination and efficient logistics between steel, tubing, and fabrication operations.

Alliance Steel specializes in coil processing and distribution, including coil slitting, multi-blanking, cut-to-length processing, stretcher leveling, and toll processing. Alliance Fabrication & Manufacturing (AFM) delivers precision fabrication and value-added metal manufacturing with laser cutting, forming, press brake bending, robotic and manual welding, and assembly. AFM’s engineering team also provides expertise in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) to ensure quality and efficiency at every stage. Alliance Tubular Products (ATP) produces mechanical and structural tubing through direct forming in various sizes and gauges. ATP offers ASTM A500.

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