AMPP Interview Series

AMPP’s Maritime Coatings Panel, Part Two

In the first week of February 2026, AMPP is hosting its inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum in Virginia Beach, Virginia. To preview the event and share insights into industry trends, AMPP is catching up with key sponsors and industry leaders. In the aftermath of last week’s five-person panel, this week’s edition features Matt Dowden of Av-DEC, Courtney Culpepper of Courtney Culpepper Consulting; and AMPP’s Jennifer Merck.

Then and Now: Terry Greenfield on AMPP’s Five-Year Anniversary

The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is now five years old! To celebrate and reflect on that journey, D. Terry Greenfield — principal consultant at CONSULEX and previously an AMPP chairman and NACE International president — kicks off our “Then and Now” anniversary series.

Discussion topics include AMPP’s origins as a combination of its legacy organizations (NACE and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings); highlights from the first five years; and opportunities for further growth and expansion in the months and years ahead.

Maritime Coatings Panel Identifies Key Challenges and Opportunities

On February 3-4, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, AMPP is hosting its inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum.

To reflect and share insight on the latest industry trends, this panel discussion features AMPP’s Jennifer Merck and Ben DuBose alongside several prominent event sponsors. Speakers include Jim Hartley of PPG; Robert Dahlstrom of Apellix; Joe McGreal of Ervin Industries; and Russell Roden of Atlantic Design Inc. (ADI).

In a roundtable format, this episode also previews the event while showcasing its potential benefits for members and key stakeholders throughout the maritime coatings industry.

Accreditation Matters: Unpacking Certifications in Industrial Painting

This December 2025 roundtable conversation with leaders from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) explores the vital role of certifications in industrial painting, as well as areas in which a trained and certified workforce can boost the coatings industry.

Topics on this sponsored episode include modern project requirements, certifications, and the industry’s future; QP contractor requirements; how contractor accreditation can help ensure quality and protect investments; and the IUPAT’s important role in raising the bar for industry standards.

Heat-Flex Coatings: Sherwin-Williams Targets CUI Mitigation

With an innovation known as “Heat-Flex CUI mitigation coatings,” Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine earned industry recognition as a winner in the 2025 Materials Performance (MP) Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards program. MP is a member magazine of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

Neil Wilds, global product director for corrosion under insulation (CUI) and testing at Sherwin-Williams, joins this episode alongside Kristin Leonard, energy marketing director for North America. In a conversation with AMPP Media’s Ben DuBose, Wilds and Leonard explain how the Heat-Flex CUI line came to be; marketplace trends and feedback from the field; and what the future could hold in 2026 and beyond.

Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum Debuts in February 2026

On February 3-4, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Va., the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) will host its inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum.

To share event plans along with insight on industry trends, this roundtable podcast features Jennifer Merck of AMPP; Anthony Manglona of Precise Systems; and Cassandra Frisby of Newport News Shipbuilding.

 

AMPP Accelerates Its Plans for 2026 Flagship Event

Gregory Muha, Director of Conferences, Exhibits, and Sponsorships, joins our podcast with answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. 

Held from March 15-19 in Houston, discussion topics include what members can expect at the show; highlights of the 2026 schedule; feedback-based changes from previous years; and how the latest version of the conference is being designed to meet the needs of AMPP members and the broader industry.

AMPP Honors the Legacy of Malcolm McNeil, an Industry Pioneer

Malcolm McNeil, owner and president of McNeil Coatings Consultants, Inc., passed away on August 31, 2025. He was 92 years old. In addition to his numerous jobs and roles over six-plus decades in the industry, McNeil spent many years as a lead instructor of NACE International’s flagship Coating Inspector Program (CIP) and as Technical Editor for CoatingsPro Magazine.

In this episode, longtime CIP Instructor Phil Fouche (who delivered McNeil’s eulogy this fall) joins AMPP staffers Ben DuBose and Stephanie Chizik to reflect on McNeil’s memorable life, including decades of distinguished service to both the association and the industry.

Pittsburgh Paints Execs Reflect on 2025, Look Ahead to 2026

Dennis Karnstein and Brian Carson are top executives at Pittsburgh Paints Co., a leading North American producer of interior and exterior paints, stains, caulks, repair products, adhesives, and sealants.

In this conversation with CoatingsPro Magazine, a member magazine of AMPP, Karnstein and Carson address several marketplace trends as 2025 draws to a close. Other discussion topics include strategies to make coatings more user-friendly for applicators; benefits of the group’s unique service model; new opportunities as a privately owned company; and more.

AMPP 2025 Exhibitor Spotlight: TESI Group, Lindsay Corp., Automa

As part of exclusive “Exhibitor Spotlight” interviews from our flagship AMPP 2025 conference in Nashville, we spoke with leading industry experts regarding new products and services to address today’s challenges. With emphasis on our Materials Performance (MP) audience, this mini-episode features insights from leaders at TESI Group, Lindsay Corp., and Automa.