Drew Wilcox, Nucor, Wraps Up Time On CFDC Board, Finding Community

With more than 33 years at Nucor Steel Florida, Drew Wilcox has been nicknamed The Man of Steel. He has served six years on the Central Florida Development Council’s board of directors.  

As Wilcox and fellow board members Deena Drumgo, Gene Conrad and Randy Knapp’s terms end, The Man of Steel, much like Superman, has left an impression.

“From the start, Drew made it clear that he was here to build more than just steel,” said CFDC board Chair David Shepp. “He was here to build relationships, pipelines and opportunities for long-term success for Polk County.” 

Nucor Steel Florida opened a $240 million steel manufacturing plant just outside the city limits of Frostproof in late 2020. It supplied jobs to about 250 people at salaries averaging $66,000 a year, plus benefits. 

Wilcox worked for Nucor in Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee and New York before opening the Frostproof facility. He is currently the Vice President and General Manager at the southeast Polk County site. This site is a micro-rebar plant. 

“He’s another guy who has brought that private-sector, entrepreneurial spirit about how to get things done in a partnering way,” said Polk County Manager Bill Beasley. “You look at what they have accomplished in Polk County and the utility support, the logistics, to get that plant up and running and what they have done for this community. And we as an organization, that’s the kind of business and success we really breed on. That makes us go a little bit further.” 

Finding Community

When Nucor moved into Polk County, Wilcox also transplanted to the region. He wasn’t familiar with the area but joining the CFDC Board allowed him to create relationships and ties that further connected him to Polk.

During the 2025 CFDC Annual Meeting, Wilcox was honored for his leadership on the board alongside fellow board members Deena Drumgo, Gene Conrad and Randy Knapp. While on stage, Wilcox shared his sentiments on how he was an “outsider” upon first moving to Polk County. But, as time went on, he become involved with the board; he began making invaluable connections and meaningful friendships. Relationships that helped him to find a sense of belonging.

Serving on the board can bring about great change and influence on economic development initiatives in the county. But beyond that, it’s a chance to connect with other amazing leaders in the area. It’s a chance to create relationships that will last a lifetime.

Wilcox’s role in helping select sites for Nucor has benefited the CFDC, Malott said. “Because of Drew’s role at Nucor, he’s seen many different location decisions across the country. It’s really helpful to have his knowledge and perspective on how we can help improve our process to be able to be a location for a future company they may be considering. We really appreciated having his expertise at our fingertips. To be able to call and get perspective and share with us his knowledge of that process.”

Nucor in Polk County

In surveys, employees cite high pay, excellent benefits, profit sharing, safety and a no-layoff policy as areas that lead to strong job security and a positive, team-oriented culture. Employee satisfaction is why Nucor frequently lands on Best Workplaces lists and receives Great Place to Work accolades like Best Company for Women and for Best Company Outlook by Comparably in 2025.  

CFDC President & CEO Sean Malott said Nucor has a reputation in the cities it’s located in for being a good company, one that’s proud of its reputation as a global leader in sustainability. It calls its nearly 29,000 U.S.-based employees “teammates.”

As Drew Wilcox concludes his service on the CFDC board, his legacy is forged not just in steel but in the strength of the relationships he’s built and the opportunities he’s helped create. From helping open doors for economic growth to finding a true sense of community in Polk County, Wilcox has proven that impact goes far beyond business. While his board term may be ending, the foundation he helped lay will continue to support progress for years to come — a lasting testament to a leader who showed up not just to build, but to belong.