James T. Thielens has been with Republic Engineered Products Inc. and its predecessor companies since 1989. He was appointed to his current position in March 2004, and is responsible for inside and outside sales, marketing, production planning and inventory management.

Thielens began his career with Jones & Laughlin Steel as a sales management trainee in the Chicago District Sales Office in 1980. In 1984, Jones & Laughlin merged with Republic Steel to form LTV Steel. In 1989, LTV sold its bar division, creating Republic Engineered Steels. Thielens held positions of increasing responsibility from 1986 to 1996, including sales representative, product manager, marketing manager, and regional sales manager, and general manager, marketing, in the company's Bar Products Division.

With Republic's predecessor companies, Thielens served as vice president, sales and marketing, for the hot rolled bar division, was named vice president, commercial for the hot rolled bar division and vice president, marketing, in February 2001.

Thielens is a graduate of Lehigh University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in finance. He is a member of the American Iron and Steel Institute, participates in the association's Market Development Committee and is a board member of the Canton Urban League.