SCHAUMBURG, IL - As the world faces increasing division, suffering, and a breakdown in communication, leadership expert and metalcasting veteran Frank Headington is calling for a shift from power-based leadership to servant leadership. He will speak about this topic during his keynote address on April 14 at 10:30 a.m. at CastExpo 2025.
“Our world is a mess. People are suffering to some degree or another everywhere we look,” said Headington. “One major reason is the power model of leadership, which prioritizes control over service. Coupled with the decline in interpersonal communication, this has created a divisive climate in both workplaces and government relations with citizens. Servant leadership is about serving people, not using them. It is the most meaningful and satisfying way for leaders to live and lead.”
With an illustrious career spanning over 49 years in the foundry industry, Headington has established himself as a leader who not only excels in technical expertise but also advocates for leadership practices that prioritize the well-being of others. Since joining Neenah Foundry in 1989, he has earned respect for his contributions to the field of metalcasting. He holds a Master of Science in Industrial Management from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Ceramics Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
His achievements include receiving the prestigious AFS Peter L. Simpson Gold Medal in 2016 and serving in various leadership capacities within AFS.
As Headington continues to champion servant leadership, he hopes to inspire leaders across industries to shift their focus from power to service, fostering stronger relationships, improving communication, and ultimately creating a more compassionate and effective society.
For more information about CastExpo 2025, and to register for the event, click here.
The American Foundry Society is a dynamic technical and advocacy organization that serves and represents the $50 billion metalcasting industry. AFS is the only association serving the entire industry, including all metals and processes, with a three-part focus on advocacy, education, and innovation. AFS also publishes Modern Casting and Casting Source magazines and presents Metalcasting Congress and CastExpo, the largest metalcasting trade events in North America. Founded in 1896, the organization is based in Schaumburg, Illinois, with an advocacy office in Washington, D.C. More information is available at AFSinc.org.