Dan Hawk
Director of Accounting – Flat Rolled Products, Bedford Heights, OH
Data driven. Energized by new challenges. Believes true career achievement is a marathon – not a sprint.
Accounting is so much more than crunching numbers, and Dan Hawk has shown just how big of an impact a “number cruncher” can have on the business. From mentoring divisional accounting staff to accounting systems integration for acquisitions to leading his local chapter of MSCI, Dan is always finding ways to continue learning, to help make Olympic Steel a stronger organization.
Twenty-four years ago, Dan began his career at Olympic Steel as a Tax Accountant. After three years, he was promoted to Accounting Manager for two automotive joint ventures. In 2002, he was promoted to Controller of the Detroit Division and relocated to Michigan. Four years later, Dan moved into purchasing as the Purchasing Manager. In 2007, he accepted the Divisional Controller position at the Cleveland Division, and moved back home. As Olympic Steel grew, so did the scope of Dan’s responsibility – his position evolved into Regional Controller, in charge of the Dover, Kentucky and Gary divisions. In 2017, he was promoted to his current position, Director of Accounting – Flat Rolled Products, where some of his primary goals include analyzing potential acquisitions, reviewing legal agreements, and overseeing Olympic Steel’s 401(k) plan. Dan gets involved with many special projects and directives from our Executives and looks for ways our accounting team and our systems can help measure and achieve those directives.
One of Dan’s professional accomplishments he is proud of was his role in establishing reports within the SEMS system that could be used to perform the accounting close, comply with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations and, most importantly, help manage the business more effectively. He also takes pride in his role in training newly hired Accountants, helping them learn our procedures and understand Olympic Steel’s accounting systems.
Dan is happy to come to work each day because he enjoys the people he works with, locally and across the Company. He loves the fact that every day brings different challenges and special projects. “I often plan my day out, then the day takes a turn and someone needs help with an issue. I enjoy being able to analyze a problem and help figure out how to solve it.”
When asked for his advice on how to build a strong career with Olympic Steel, Dan suggests you try to learn something new every day – learn from others, learn from your successes and even learn from your failures. But, most importantly, Dan reminds us what he was told from Rick Marabito early in his career: building a career is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Work hard, be patient and your reward will come.
