Podcasts

Tom Higginbotham, manager at PPG Industrial Coatings and chair of the AMPP Education Committee, explains the latest Coating Inspector Program (CIP) updates from the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

Topics include new features of the updated courses; feedback from members and others in the industry; how AMPP is addressing concerns related to the legacy NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings programs; and how people can learn more information about the CIP updates and/or get more involved.

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Intech Contracting, LLC performs inspection support and rehabilitation work for highway bridges, as well as structural steel fabrication and erection work, for commercial and industrial clients. For over a decade, a key player in their growth has been Brad Wilder, bridge painting division manager.

In this episode, Wilder shares advice and perspective on his road to success while outlining the role of organizations like the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)—where Wilder currently chairs multiple committees—in helping him achieve it.

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.

Stephanie Decker, longtime member of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), sits down with CEO Bob Chalker for an in-depth conversation about AMPP’s social media presence and its approach to negative comments. Other topics include the role of AMPP customer service, as well as answering member questions regarding the AMPP Ethics course and professional development hours (PDHs).

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org. 

Lesley Martinez, manager of conferences at the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), joins our podcast to share her takeaways from the first AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. 

Topics discussed on this episode include feedback, data, and lessons learned from the 2022 in-person event in San Antonio, Texas, USA; information on the newly released virtual component; and key dates and highlights for the 2023 AMPP show in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Source: AMPP Annual Conference + Expo, ace.ampp.org.

In celebration of National Robotics Week, Robert Dahlstrom—founder and CEO of Apellix (Jacksonville, Florida, USA)—joins us to discuss new trends in the aerial robotics market.

Topics on the podcast include recent developments in the industry and at Apellix; feedback from users in the field; workforce implications; and what the future looks like for using robotics across various phases of corrosion control and protective coatings projects.

Source: Apellix, www.apellix.com. 

The annual IAAPA Expo is the largest trade show for the attractions industry. Janna Schulze, social media specialist at AMPP, recently attended the show and interviewed corrosion experts including Chris Ball (Vector Corrosion Technologies) and Ryan Tinnea (Tinnea & Associates, LLC) about industry trends and what to watch for.

Sources: AMPP, www.ampp.org; IAAPA, www.iaapa.org. 

This “member profile” episode features Bill Corbett, chief operations officer at coatings and corrosion engineering and inspection firm KTA-Tator, Inc., and Pete Ault, incoming president.

As part of this new podcast, Corbett and Ault share insights on their time with the company and industry trends; perspectives on the merger of SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and NACE International; and hopes for the future with the newly merged organization known as the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

Source: KTA-Tator, Inc., www.kta.com.

In the latest episode of the AMPP Roundtable Series, association member Stephanie Decker asks CEO Bob Chalker for updates on AMPP chapters and sections; headquarters information for legacy NACE/SSPC and the new organization; and how staffers from both legacy groups are transitioning to AMPP. The episode concludes with a frequently asked question (FAQ) regarding the merger.

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org. 

District Council 57 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT DC 57) is an organization of more than 2,500 members in Western Pennsylvania. Formed in 1997 as a council made of several local unions, its goal is to represent tradespeople in the region while helping them achieve careers with good wages, benefits, safety, and dignity in the workplace.

Andrew Croll, director of organizing at IUPAT DC 57, has found his affiliations with SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and now AMPP quite helpful to both his career and the objectives of the union. In this podcast, Croll elaborates on the relationship and what the associations have meant to him and IUPAT over the years, and he also offers some thoughts on what the future may look like.

Source: IUPAT DC 57, www.iupatdc57.org.

In the second episode of the Member Roundtable Series, Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) members Jane Brown and Stephanie Decker continue their conversation AMPP CEO Bob Chalker.

During this episode, Chalker explains the back story of AMPP’s brand, including how the name was formed, what the logo stands for, and the legal process taken to ensure AMPP's brand remains strong for decades.

(Episode 1)

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.

Davies Hood, president and owner at Induron Protective Coatings (Birmingham, Alabama, USA), has worked in a leading executive role for the past decade. In this exclusive interview, Hood shares some of his insight on current industry trends and keys to Induron’s success; his perspective on the merger of SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and NACE International; and some hopes for the future with the newly merged organization known as the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

Source: Induron Protective Coatings, www.induron.com.

With reputable studies showing a high deficit of technological know-how in the traditional oil and gas sector, as well as related fields like corrosion mitigation, digital transformation and investment in workers is necessary to ensure the industry’s future.

Travis Parigi, CEO of field management software company LiquidFrameworks, a ServiceMax company, shares his insight on how training, learning management systems, and comprehensive tools and solutions can help workers grow their skills and allow the industry to evolve.

Source: LiquidFrameworks, a ServiceMax company, www.liquidframeworks.com. 

Bob Chalker, CEO of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), recently joined the special 20th anniversary podcast series at CoatingsPro Magazine.

Topics include the magazine’s evolution over the years and its outlook moving forward; changes and trends in the coatings industry over his time with NACE International and AMPP; priorities for the newly merged association and where publications such as CoatingsPro and Materials Performance (MP) fit in; and much more. Tune in!

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org. 

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, who represents the 7th District of Texas, joins our podcast to discuss what the corrosion industry can expect from the newly signed U.S. infrastructure package. District 7 is where the longtime NACE International headquarters and current AMPP office complex is located in West Houston.

Topics on the new episode include motivations for the bill and why it got to the finish line in this Congress; highlights of the deal that pertain most to corrosion engineers and contractors; how a person or company can position themselves to earn work; how industry associations like AMPP can help; and much more.

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org. 

With the landmark U.S. infrastructure bill recently being signed into law, we discuss its implications for the corrosion industry with Adam L. Christopher, manager of government relations at the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), and Dan Adley, recently retired CEO of engineering consultancy KTA-Tator, Inc. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA).

Topics include a legislative outline of the bill and insight into some of its major topics; what the infrastructure legislation means for the corrosion industry as a whole; what AMPP members can do to prepare themselves; and where people should go to find out more information about the bill and any opportunities.

Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.