AMPP Interview Series

Bob Chalker, CEO of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), discusses his decision to retire in July 2023 and what the path forward looks like for the corrosion and coatings organization. 

Topics include motivations for the decision; the process of naming a replacement; highlights from Chalker’s 13-year tenure at AMPP and NACE International; and the legacy he leaves behind.

Coatings industry leader and consultant Alison B. Kaelin (ABKaelin, LLC) joins us to discuss proposed changes to OSHA’s Lead Standards for General Industry and Construction.

Topics include the expected timeline and its implications for U.S. coatings professionals; what companies should be doing now to prepare; the role of engineering controls and new technologies (PPE, equipment, and materials) in the transition; and what industry organizations like AMPP and its members can do to help.

In our latest member roundtable, longtime member Stephanie Decker discusses recent updates to AMPP's Coating Inspection Program (CIP) with Alicia Yust, senior manager of learning and development, and Pam Nicoletti, senior director of global operations.

Phil Scisciani, coating specialist and owner of Specialty Coatings & Consulting, Inc. in Pittsburgh, shares his advice, lessons learned, and feedback from the field after four decades in the industrial coatings market. Topics include industry trends and emerging technologies; memorable projects; workforce development challenges; and how associations like AMPP and its members can help.

Ed Kruft, CEO of American Innovations (AI), shares his insight on trends in the compliance solutions market. Topics discussed include feedback from the field and evolving needs by AI’s customers; advances in remote monitoring technologies for cathodic protection; how private companies and industry associations, like AMPP, can work together to accomplish shared goals; and what the future may look like, both from technological and regulatory perspectives.

Jim Kunkle, Manager of Engineering Specifications for North America at AkzoNobel’s International Protective Coatings, joins our “member profile” series.

Topics include how the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of our industry; what changes may be temporary, and which appear to be more permanent; key technology trends to watch for over the next decade; and how industry companies and associations like AMPP can work together to meet the various challenges.

For more information, contact: James (Jim) Kunkle, james.kunkle@AkzoNobel.com, LinkedIn

In collaboration with industry stakeholders, the external corrosion prevention team at Enbridge is developing a unification of corrosion monitoring and mitigation strategies, with a goal of minimizing and effectively managing external corrosion risks. Known as IECM, more information is available in the April, June, and August print issues of Materials Performance (MP) Magazine.

For a deeper look about what this could mean for the corrosion industry, this panel discussion features Keith Parker, external corrosion specialist at Enbridge; Trey Johnston, principal engineer at Corrpro; and Christophe Baete, manager of corrosion engineering at Elsyca.

U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (CA-3) recently introduced H.R. 8033, the Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act, to the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation requires corrosion planning and the use of qualified and trained professionals on all bridge construction, repair, and maintenance projects throughout the country.

As part of our exclusive conversation, Garamendi explains the origins of the bill and the motivations for it; what the path forward could look like; and how AMPP members can get involved to help.

Bob Baughman, CEO of HUVRdata, shares how industrial market trends led to the founding of a new company with a purpose-built inspection data management platform. Created in the cloud, the mobile-connected HUVR platform is designed to enable the aggregation, analysis, and automation of visual and quantitative inspection data from any device, sensor, robot, or field technician.

Topics include feedback from the company’s users and partners in the field; inspection tools the system can be integrated with; where it fits within a corrosion management plan; and what the next steps are over the coming months and years.

Sam Navarro, vice president of business development and marketing at industrial solutions provider IPC Industries, joins our “member profile” series. Topics include industry trends; strategies for the future; what associations like AMPP, NACE, and SSPC have meant to Navarro’s career; and how he’s personally working with students in his local community to try and address a growing craftworker shortage in skilled trades.