A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight: Todd Young

When Todd Young started working in the steel industry in 1995, he had no idea it would lead to more than three decades in the field. He has now served as president of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6103 for the past three years, after a career full of hard work, honor and integrity.

Young began his union leadership career as an assistant griever in 1999, a position he held for 18 years. He later joined the safety department before becoming vice president of the Local.

“I like helping people. I like to have some control of what goes on with my job. You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem. When I was younger, I’d hear people complaining. They always wanted someone else to fight for them. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no one better to fight for than yourself,” Young said.

His desire to help others eventually led him into the Local’s top leadership role. After the previous president retired early, Young stepped into the role of president in May 2023. He was elected president in 2024 and is currently serving a term that runs through May 2027.

Young helps manage the Local as a whole. He serves on the executive board, sits in on disciplinary hearings with the grievance committee, and is a member of each committee, handling much of the union’s administrative work.

Young has often advocated for decisions that benefited the membership, even when they did not benefit him personally.

“If it’s what the majority of the people want, then I fight for it like it’s something that I want,” he said. “I worked a lot of overtime. I worked on the holidays. I worked weekends. I did what I had to do and I figured it out.”

He credits much of his leadership style and work ethic to lessons he learned growing up and serving in the United States Marine Corps. A Valparaiso native, he graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1988, before attending Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego, California later that year. After serving until 1992, he followed in his family’s footsteps as a third-generation steelworker.

“It keeps you on your toes. I like fighting for people when they feel like they’ve been wronged. When people are owed money, it’s nice to be able to hold a company accountable and get people paid what they’re deserved and what they’ve earned. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but at least you know you’re putting up a fight.”

While the job may not be physically demanding, it takes a mental toll. Young is on call 24/7, whether he’s heading to the mill or answering the phone when someone needs him.

“I feel more tired with the mental aspects of the job than I ever did physically,” Young said. “I answer the phone whether I’m on vacation or not. When you take a position in a local, you don’t have the luxury of not answering anymore. In the positions I’ve held for 31 years, there were times I wanted to call off and go to a ball game or a concert, but I didn’t.”

Young believes in setting an example for others as a leader. 

“I need to be held to a higher standard if I’m going to represent people,” Young said. “How can I chew out one of the people I represent for not coming to work, if I can’t come to work? Absenteeism and tardiness is one of the biggest problems we have. It’s black and white. You’re either at work and on time or you’re not.”

That philosophy extends beyond everyday responsibilities. When one of his employees was badly injured during a major snowstorm, Young drove through a blizzard at 2 a.m. to check on them and participate in the accident investigation.

Young is proactive, refusing to sit back and watch things happen. He attributes this strong work ethic to the way he was raised, the leadership he learned from being in the United States Marine Corps, and 31 years of learning something new every day.

“I’m very hands on,” Young said. “I see people going through things, and if I can make things better, I’m going to. I’m not going to just sit back and watch it happen. I get in there and I get involved. It’s in all of our best interests to be there when you can be there instead of just caring about yourself.”

The job is not always easy, and Young admits he doesn’t always love it. However, he approaches it with the same commitment that has guided him throughout his career, focusing on helping others rather than seeking recognition.

“If we succeed, it’s because of the people. If I succeed, it’s because of the people around me. If I fail, it’s because of me. I take all that burden on me. I don’t push that blame on anybody else. If we fail, it’s because of what I did, or didn’t do. We succeed together.”

Outside of work, he stays busy keeping up with his wife, an avid runner, and regularly supports her at races. The couple also enjoys spending time together at live music events and trying new restaurants. When time allows, they love to travel and value spending quality time together.