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Optima Steel International is open, with all Sales and Staff working a hybrid schedule. To get in touch with any OSI contact, please call their direct office line, as all lines continue to be forwarded. If you need assistance reaching any OSI contact, please call 925-338-2300.

Sales Team

Aroldo Hernandez

VP Sales – Western Region

D: 909-425-0305
C: 909-771-8369

Mr. Hernandez joined Optima (then Oxbow) in 2005 as a sales executive based in Southern California. Prior to joining, Aroldo spent 14 years with California Steel Industries where he held a number of sales, marketing, and customer service positions. Aroldo received a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Redlands.

Zach Lockwood

VP Sales - Eastern Region

C: 210-863-6198

Mr. Lockwood joined Optima in 2023. He has over 25 years of carbon steel sales experience and has worked for mills such as Ternium and AHMSA. Zach enjoys relationships with suppliers around the world and customers across the United States. Zach is fluent in Spanish, and graduated from Trinity University with a B.S. in International Business.

Eric Black

Sales Manager - Eastern Region

D: 713-485-4179
C: 925-457-3835

Mr. Black joined Optima in 2021. Prior to joining, he spent the previous 10 years in international steel trading with an emphasis in tubular products. Eric started his career working for a domestic steel mill. He received a B.S. in International Business & Philosophy from St. Mary’s College of California. Eric is a proud husband, and father of four.

Matt Nemec

Trader

C: 724-480-7356

Mr. Nemec joined Optima in September of 2013. Prior to joining, Matt spent two years in the banking industry where he held various sales and management roles. He is a 2011 graduate of Bethany College, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science. He is a busy husband and father, but in his free time, Matt enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and officiating high school and youth baseball and basketball games.

Eric Rusnock

Trader

C: 724-601-9470

Mr. Rusnock joined Optima in April of 2015. Prior to joining, Eric spent three years in various sales and project engineering roles designing and manufacturing custom engineered systems. Eric was responsible for bidding, designing, and overseeing projects which would allow end customers to seamlessly retrofit new equipment into both existing and predesigned layouts and footprints. Eric is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

Chad Black

Trader

D: 925-338-2318
C: 925-878-9485

Mr. Black joined Optima in March 2015, and is currently a Sales Representative with an emphasis in Western regional customers. Chad attended the University of San Diego and has B.S. degrees in Finance and Real Estate. Outside of Optima, Chad enjoys spending time with his family, staying active in his community, and continuing to play basketball in various recreational leagues.  

Kyle Tebbe

Trader

C: 713-628-7614

Mr. Tebbe joined Optima in May 2023 as a trader, with a focus on coupling and steel pipe sales. Based in Houston, Kyle has spent the last eight years in the oil and gas industry specializing in OCTG Sales. Prior to moving to Houston, he spent five years in Central Texas working in the highway and sports construction industry. Kyle graduated from Texas State University with a B.S. in Construction Management. Kyle enjoys traveling, golfing, attending Houston-area sporting events, and spending time with friends and family.