Stronger Together: Amplify Your Voice at AMPP’s Advocacy Day

In a roundtable featuring representatives from AMPP’s member leaders and staff, Kimberly-Joy Harris, Elaine Bowman, and Tim Gonzalez share their perspectives on the importance of participating in AMPP’s annual Advocacy Day (May 15-16, 2024).

Discussion topics include tips to effectively advocate for the materials protection industry; how advocating at the government level can impact our field; specific pieces of U.S. legislation that AMPP is focused on this year; and recent additions to the advocacy campaign, such as the Corrosion and Coatings Political Action Committee (PAC) and the new International Advocacy Program.

 For more information, visit the AMPP Advocacy Day web page.

Establishing the Value of Third-Party Coating Inspectors

Ryan Bingham, business development leader at third-party inspection services provider OMC International, LLC, shares his insight regarding the value that qualified coating inspectors can have within the industry. 

Discussion topics on this episode include trends and common pain points from clients; how technologies and demands continue to evolve; the unique career arc of Bingham and the company; and areas where AMPP can help companies such as OMC achieve their goals while serving the association’s broader mission.

For more information, contact: OMC International, LLC, (281) 398-4281, www.omcintllc.com

The Past, Present, and Future of Coatings Technology

Chris O’Brien, founder and president of Polymer Nation, and Michael Douglass, technical director, join a sponsored episode of the CoatingsPro Interview Series with insight on the evolution of coatings technologies. Topics include areas of growth and concern in the industry; common challenges that need to be overcome; which technologies could make the biggest jump in the years ahead; and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their business and the industry’s future.

For more information, contact: Polymer Nation, (847) 774-5038, www.polymernation.com

Key Takeaways from 2024 World of Concrete

Stephanie Chizik, Editor-in-Chief of CoatingsPro Magazine, joins our podcast with key takeaways and observations from the recently completed 2024 World of Concrete (WOC) show in Las Vegas. Topics include common feedback themes and areas of interest for exhibitors and attendees; year-over-year market changes; memorable WOC highlights; and an early look at marquee trade shows on tap for upcoming weeks.

For more information, contact: WOC, www.worldofconcrete.com

How AMPP’s 2024 Flagship Event Meets Industry Needs

Gregory Muha, Director of Conferences, Exhibits, and Sponsorships with the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), joins our interview series with answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the 2024 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. 

Held from March 3-7 in New Orleans, La., discussion topics include what members can expect at the upcoming show; highlights of the 2024 schedule; feedback-based changes from previous years; and how the latest version of the conference serves the needs of AMPP members and the broader industry.

For more information, contact: AMPP, (800) 797-6223, ace.ampp.org

Sustainability and the Future of AMPP

In a panel discussion, AMPP members Cal Chapman (Chapman Engineering) and Sandy Williamson (Williamson Integrity Services) join AMPP Publications Editor Kerry Cole to explain what sustainability means to them and why it is critically important to our industry. Topics include how sustainability is already being practiced and its impact on business; trends and new technologies to watch for; and expectations for the future.

The conversation also explores initiatives and opportunities to get involved at an association level, such as AMPP’s Sustainability Task Force; a technical community of interest (TCI) on materials sustainability; and a Sustainability Symposium and Expert Panel session at the AMPP 2024 Annual Conference + Expo in March.

How Infrastructure Insurance Affects Contractors

As part of a new task force, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is bringing together stakeholders from a variety of roles to better understand the relationship that corrosion engineering systems have within the infrastructure insurance industry. 

In this conversation, members involved with that task force—GPI’s Tony Serdenes, Nick Kuntz of Alliant Insurance Services, and David A. Scotti of Scotti Law Group—share their perspectives on challenges and best practices that could benefit those involved in designing, specifying, supplying, and performing those services, specifically as they relate to insurance and risk management. 

The roundtable discussion also explores various paths that AMPP can take to address those challenges, as well as ways in which our industry can work together to develop best practices for risk management and insurance needs.

Coatings Knowledge for Non-Coating Inspectors: Why It Matters

On April 30 and May 1 in Houston, AMPP is welcoming members and guests throughout the industry to the first Coatings for Non-Coating Inspectors conference. Jorge T. Reyna, conference chair and a certified inspector (JRSA Inspections) and instructor, explains the many benefits for attendees and how it all came to be.

Topics discussed include key challenges that non-coating inspectors often face; why a better understanding of coatings can enhance the overall effectiveness of non-coating inspectors; areas in which their roles are changing; and strategies to bridge the gap between traditional inspection practices and the specialized knowledge required to understand coatings.

For more information, visit AMPP’s Coatings for Non-Coating Inspectors website.

The Future of Workforce Development in Skilled Trades

This roundtable panel features Alan Thomas, CEO of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP); Dr. Rick Polanin, past president of the American Welding Society (AWS); and Ricky Morgan, past president of The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT).

Discussion topics include the current state of workforce development, as well as common challenges encountered, innovative solutions, and initiatives where these associations can work together. Other discussion points are recent technological advancements within those industries; lessons learned from each panelist’s career journey; and the role of diversity and inclusion in building the workforce of the future.

Wells Bullard on PPE Trends in 2023 and Beyond

In this sponsored episode, Bullard CEO Wells Bullard looks ahead to the future of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the protective coatings industry and beyond. The discussion spotlights her vision for the company and the importance of its family lineage and history; feedback from clients regarding marketplace needs; and industry trends and new technologies to watch for within the PPE space.

Other topics include a year-end review of Bullard’s 2023 and a preview of what’s to come in 2024, along with new developments and products within the company that will lead the way into the new year.

For more information, contact: Bullard, (859) 234-6616, www.bullard.com

Dave Evans on AMPP’s Industrial Coating Application Launch

Dave Evans, director of business development at the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), explains what the newly released Industrial Coating Application (ICA) program could mean for members and the industry at large. 

Topics include how and why the new program was developed; updated features and opportunities to address current marketplace needs; and how it could help shape AMPP’s future education and training offerings.

For more information, contact: AMPP, (800) 797-6223, www.ampp.org/education.

Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment

Job Coenen, AkzoNobel’s sustainability program manager and a strategic global corporate advisory board member of the World Green Building Council, explains how sustainable solutions for the built environment can address the challenges of producing more green buildings.

Discussion topics on the newly released podcast include the role of circularity in product development; science-based targets and goals; and how new technologies can help.

For more information, contact: AkzoNobel, www.akzonobel.com.

2024 Contractor Awards: FAQs and Why to Nominate

Stephanie Chizik, Editor-in-Chief of CoatingsPro Magazine, joins Ben DuBose, News Editor with AMPP Publications, to discuss CoatingsPro’s 2024 Contractor Awards. 

With the 2024 nomination window open now and extending through Oct. 31, 2023, the conversation addresses many frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the annual program, along with reasons to get involved and potential perks for winners.   

For more information, contact: CoatingsPro’s Contractor Awards Program, www.coatingspromag.com/contractor-awards, CPcontractorawards@coatingspromag.com.

62Archer’s Eric Nenninger Finds Value in Coatings Education

Based near St. Louis, Mo., Eric Nenninger is a founding partner of 62Archer Inspection and Consulting and a member of CoatingsPro Magazine’s 2023 Editorial Advisory Group. In all, Nenninger has served the industrial coatings field for close to 20 years.

Having worked for application companies, paint manufacturers, and inspection firms, Nenninger has a broad knowledge of the industry. He is a NACE Level 3 coating inspector and a member of the Association of Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), and he was chairman of his local NACE chapter for many years.

As part of this “member profile” interview, Nenninger shares lessons learned after nearly two decades in the industry. Discussion topics include market trends over that time; ways in which Nenninger’s many certifications have boosted his transition into inspections; advice for the next generation of coatings professionals; and how associations such as AMPP, NACE International, and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings have helped his career.

For more information, contact: Eric Nenninger, LinkedIn, www.62archer.com

What OSHA’s New PPE Rule Means for Contractors

The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) recently proposed a new rule for the construction industry that explicitly requires properly fitted personal protective equipment (PPE). While OSHA currently requires construction employers to provide and maintain PPE, this would be the first time it instructs employers to provide PPE that actually fits each employee.

Joe Brandel, business development manager at helmet-based safety company Mips, joins our podcast to discuss the proposed OSHA ruling and the importance of safe PPE usage. During the episode, Brandel shares insight on why many traditional hard hats may be failing in common workplace accidents, and he outlines precautions and new technologies that can protect workers against traumatic brain injuries.

For more information, contact: Mips, www.mipsprotection.com.