AMPP Interview Series

Now Privately Owned, Pittsburgh Paints Company Sees Bright Future

Brian Carson, CEO of Pittsburgh Paints Co. since February 2025, shares insights regarding his new role and the future of the industry. Topics include opportunities for the company under private ownership; how Carson’s flooring experience helps him understand the paints and coatings market; common challenges and pain points for contractor customers; and more.

AMPP Advocacy Day 2025: Key Initiatives in Washington, DC

AMPP Advocacy Day 2025 is on the horizon, and this year’s event is focused on protecting America’s maritime future through corrosion mitigation and coatings solutions. As the United States modernizes its maritime industrial base and expands naval and commercial shipbuilding capacity, AMPP is leading conversations with policymakers to ensure materials protection remains a national priority.

In this roundtable discussion, member leaders Kristin Leonard (Sherwin-Williams) and D. Terry Greenfield (CONSULEX) join AMPP’s Kern Williams and Ben DuBose to explore the most important legislative storylines in 2025 and beyond.

IUPAT Leads the Way in Safety, Training, Workforce Development

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) represents 140,000 workers across the United States and Canada. In this summer 2025 interview with CoatingsPro Magazine, IUPAT’s Andrew Croll and Ken Seal share insights and the latest trends pertaining to safety, training, workforce development, industry influence and advocacy, and more.

Introducing the AMPP LatinCORR + Panamerican Corrosion Conference

Held in Panama City, Panama, this July, this groundbreaking event unites two premier corrosion conferences under one roof. With technical, strategic, and community perspectives, Juan Caballero, Chair of the AMPP Board of Directors, and Greg Muha, Director of Conferences, Exhibits, and Sponsorships, explore what the program will bring to members and industry attendees.

Coatings for Transportation: Sherwin-Williams Director Explores the Market

Kirk Lipes, Global Transportation Segment Director at paints and coatings manufacturer Sherwin-Williams, shares his insight on unique needs and opportunities within the market. Topics include challenges and historical limitations; newer technologies and processes to improve performance; feedback from customers and applicators; collaboration opportunities; and more.

How AMPP Is Renewing, Growing Its Maritime Focus

Terry Greenfield, principal consultant at CONSULEX and a past AMPP chairman and past NACE International president, shares insight on AMPP’s growing and renewed emphasis on the maritime industry and the critical role of materials protection, particularly in relation to the White House’s new shipbuilding initiative.

As AMPP’s accredited representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Terry explores how AMPP and the industry can proactively address risks before they become costly failures.

AMPP Honors 2025 Whitney Award Winner

Dr. Narasi Sridhar, CEO of MC Consult LLC, is the 2025 recipient of AMPP’s prestigious Willis Whitney Technical Achievement Award. In this roundtable interview, Dr. Sridhar is joined by Lucrezia Scoppio, Chair of the Awards Program Committee, and Dr. John Scully, Chair of the Whitney Award Task Force. The discussion surrounds the groundbreaking work he’s done throughout his distinguished career, ranging from pitting corrosion to computational modeling for corrosion prediction.

Scoppio and Dr. Scully also discuss the AMPP Awards Program, its objectives, and the importance of recognizing outstanding contributions in the field of corrosion. Insight into what the task force is looking for in candidates is shared, along with ways in which award winners will be honored at the 2025 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in April.

Mersedeh Akhoondan Brings Technical Expertise to AMPP

Dr. Mersedeh Akhoondan is joining the Materials Performance (MP) Magazine team as Technical Editor. In that role, she is replacing Jack Tinnea, who is retiring in April 2025 after a distinguished career.

In this position, Akhoondan is responsible for selecting and reviewing MP’s technical articles. She will collaborate with authors, members, and the magazine’s editorial advisory board to provide readers with timely and accurate technical content. Dr. Akhoondan, an active AMPP member and a corrosion specialist for HDR Engineering, brings over 15 years of experience in corrosion control and condition assessment of water and wastewater facilities, bridge infrastructures, solar power plants, and transit systems. 

This 1-on-1 conversation with Ben DuBose, AMPP News Editor, explores her impressive career and outlook for the new position with MP (a member magazine of AMPP).

IUPAT Raises the Bar to Support Finishing Trades

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) represents 140,000 workers in the finishing trades across the United States and Canada. 

In this March 2025 episode, IUPAT’s Andrew Croll and Ken Seal share insights on the organization’s mission to support and train professionals in the coatings industry; its strategies pertaining to recruiting and retaining workers; emerging technologies and jobsite trends in the industry; and much more.

Employee Ownership: A Growth Tool for the Industry?

Gary Gray, a longtime coatings contractor and an executive with Tenor ESOP Partners and ESOP Consulting Group, LLC, says he is seeing considerable momentum toward broad-based employee ownership as a growth tool.

With the strategy also representing a tax advantaged exit alternative, Gray explains why he believes the momentum is especially strong in the construction sector.