Leadership

Donald Lawson, MBA

Donald Lawson is the Chief Financial Officer for AA Metals. In this role, Don is responsible for leading the company in the achievement of its overall growth, service and profitability goals.

Don has a wide-ranging professional background spanning 25 years and multiple functional experiences including general management, sales, manufacturing, supply chain and engineering/R&D. His industry experiences include building products, consumer packaged goods, metals, plastics and pulp & paper manufacturing.

Don excels in strategic planning, building strong cross-functional teamwork and customer/supplier relationships. He enjoys solving complex problems within organizations and building platforms capable of sustainable growth.

Before joining AA Metals, Don was a VP with Omnimax International where he was responsible for procurement, supply chain, transportation and coating operations. Prior to that, he served in a variety of leadership roles with Trinidad-Benham, Novelis and Kimberly-Clark. Don holds an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Global Business – both from Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA..

Ying Jiang, LL.M.,SHRM-SCP

Ying Jiang serves as the Corporate Secretary and Vice President of Personnel and Public Relations of AA Metals. Ying joined the company in 2018 and works directly with the CEO, Dr. Jack Cheng, while also overseeing public relations and human resources. She strives to optimize corporate operational effectiveness, promote company culture and amplify brand recognition and value with talent development, employee engagement and strategic marketing and PR campaigns.

Ying enjoys welcoming new members to the AA Metals family and facilitating their transition and growth within the Company. Ying has extensive experience managing employees and employment policy and public affairs related issues in both the public and private sectors. Ying has been invited to speak about her experience in these areas at conferences and understands the importance of clear and effective communication.

Ying earned a bachelor of law degree from Soochow University, China, where she graduated near the top of her class, and also has earned a Master of Law degree in Comparative Law from the University of Florida, College of Law. As a HR professional, Ying is certified as SHRM Senior Certified Professional® (SHRM-SCP). Ying also serves as the President of Jetport Park Nonresidential Property Owners’ Association and is actively involved in the local business community’s development.

Nestor Rentas

Nestor Rentas is the VP of Information Technology for AA Metals.

Kent Benson

Kent Benson is the Vice President of Sales and Operations at AA Metals. In this role, Kent is responsible for providing strategic leadership crucial to achieving sales targets, improving operational efficiency, and driving both revenue and market growth.

Kent joined AA Metals in April 2023, after spending 25 years in supply chain management. He brings hands-on experience in sales and operations management. In his previous role as Chief Operating Officer, Kent oversaw 900 employees and was responsible for managing over 5 million square feet of 3PL distribution space for the furniture industry. His expertise is in team building, KPI standards, planning and price modeling.

Kent holds a BS in Business Management from Grand Valley State University, and holds several other certificates in sales, operations, safety management.

Ruth Gomez

Ruth Gomez is the Director of Business Development for AA Metals. In this role, she is responsible for developing new business opportunities globally, including oversight of customer relations to ensure customer satisfaction. She has a proven ability to leverage business acumen and tactical planning skills to drive change, resolve complex business challenges, and attain superior results.

Ruth joined AA Metals in 2015 and previously held positions in both Operations and Administration within the company. She has over two decades of experience in international trade, business development, operations, and project management.

Ruth has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Universidad Externado De Colombia in Bogota, Colombia and a master’s degree in International Business from both Universidad Externado De Colombia and Columbia University in N.Y.

Robert Rogers

Robert Rogers is the Director of Sales for AA Metals. In this role, Robert is responsible for the continuous growth and overall sales of the company’s metals division. His holds primary responsibility in leading the sales team in achieving and surpassing sales goals.

Robert joined AA Metals in 2010, with experience in sales, operations, and supply chain management. His experience spans several industries including metals, electronics, retail, distribution, and hospitality, with companies such as Hewlett-Packard, 3M, Avery Dennison, Walt Disney, Universal, and Sony.

Robert has an established track record of obtaining and growing market share aa well as the ability to combine business acumen with leadership skills to build strong relationships with top performers.

Maria Villasmil

Maria Villasmil is the Director of Supply Chain for AA Metals. In this role, Maria is responsible for developing global procurement and trade strategies to satisfy customer demand. She oversees all international logistics, purchasing, inventory management, trade compliance and adherence to U.S. Customs law and regulations.

Maria joined AA Metals in 2022 and has more than 20 years of experience managing global trade activities and cost-optimization projects across many industries. She has held both consultant and corporate level roles, specializing in building global trade networks focused on strategic logistics operations. Maria holds a BA degree in Economics with advanced studies in International Business from the University of Central in Venezuela.

Ni NI, MBA

Ni Ni is the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for AA Metals. In this role, she is responsible for the company’s budgeting, forecasting, planning and strategic analysis.

Ni joined AA Metals in 2013 and has previously held positions in both the Sales Department and Supply Chain Department. Ni always finds swift resolution to organizational challenges through her solid understanding of the metal market products and suppliers..

Ni holds an undergraduate degree with double majors in Accounting and Technology Management, an MBA and a master’s degree in Supply Chain Management from Indiana University Bloomington..

Terry Nelson

Terry Nelson serves as the Controller for AA Metals. In this role, Terry ensures the company maintains operational cash flow and provides financial metrics that better inform organizational decisions, expand growth, and drive profitability.

Terry’s finance career spans 35 years across industries such as manufacturing and wholesale distribution. His experience includes oversight of financial activity across countries such as China, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Italy, and Canada.

Terry excels at treasury management, financial analysis, building cross-functional teams, and relationship development. Before joining AA Metals, Terry held senior leadership roles at companies such as Dixon Ticonderoga, Sun & Skin Care Research, Louisville Slugger, and Zeon Chemicals. Terry holds a CPA certification and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois.

Daniel Day

Daniel Day is the Director of Operations for AA Metals. In his role, he is responsible for domestic shipping, drayage, and warehouse operations. He leads the company’s quality and safety programs by maintaining OSHA standards, ISO and CTPAT certifications.

Daniel joined AA Metals in 2012 and has held positions in the Sales, Logistics, Claims, Purchasing, and Compliance departments. His experience has given him unique insight into company operations, assisting in the delivery of quality products to customers. He holds certifications for a wide breadth of programs, including OSHA, ISO, CTPAT, and DOT.