AMPP Interview Series

Sarah Olthof, AMPP’s Senior Technical Manager specializing in corrosion protection, chats with AMPP Media regarding the recently completed 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. In that role, Olthof leads AMPP’s technical engagement team, which supports the association’s standards and research programs.

Discussion topics on this episode include her team’s highlights from the conference, as well as next steps for the numerous Standards Committees (SCs) and Technical Communities of Interest (TCIs).

Ken Seal, Deputy Director for the International Finishing Trades Institute (IFTI) of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), caught up with AMPP Media on the sidelines of the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo.

Discussion topics include the importance of workforce development and recruitment initiatives, as well as how industry bodies like the IUPAT and AMPP can work together to enhance training and workforce retention.

In his interview, Seal also cites key market sectors driving investment, such as data centers and bridges, and he explains the benefits of union representation in navigating market challenges. With the help of organizations such as the IUPAT, this can be done while maintaining high standards and ensuring job security and safety for workers.

At the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo, discussions highlighted sectors including energy production and transportation; maritime and defense operations; and civil infrastructure systems to support global communities. To help AMPP best serve these industries, the association has three vice presidents — Tim Gonzalez (2:02), Jennifer Merck (9:41), and Ernst Toussaint (18:19) — leading these market verticals.

In a series of studio interviews inside the AMPP 2026 Exhibit Hall, the three VPs shared their unique insights and priorities with Sammy Miles and Ben DuBose of AMPP Media. Topics include key takeaways from the conference; exciting developments within AMPP; and expectations for the future.

A record-breaking AMPP Annual Conference + Expo is now complete! Inside the new AMPP Media Studio on the Exhibit Hall floor (video), AMPP CEO Alan Thomas joined Ben DuBose to discuss highlights from the 2026 show in Houston. Interview topics include the launch of TalentForce; key takeaways from the conference’s keynote address; reflections on AMPP’s five-year anniversary; and expectations for the year ahead.

A record-breaking show in Houston is officially in the books!

Inside the AMPP Media Studio, Greg Muha, Director of Conferences, Exhibits, and Sponsorships at AMPP, joined our Ben DuBose and Lisa Sciortino to recap the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference & Expo. The interview can also be viewed in video form here.

Discussion topics include packed sessions and new technologies in the Exhibit Hall to the TalentForce launch, first-timer programs, and memorable networking events throughout the week.

AMPP extends its gratitude to everyone who attended, presented, exhibited, sponsored, and volunteered, as this annual event is only made possible because of our community.

Next stop: Columbus, Ohio, in 2027!

Dr. Alan Rose, CEO at Corrdesa, and Dr. Siva Palani, CTO, are the latest guests in our ongoing series profiling MP’s 2025 Corrosion Innovation of the Year Awards. In this episode, they discuss the company’s award-winning innovation, “Portable Plating Shop for On-Aircraft Coating Repair.” Used in over 100 systems globally, the technology addresses aircraft corrosion issues by providing rapid, non-drip plating solutions.

Dr. Nick Birbilis, FNACE, is Executive Dean of the science, engineering and built environment faculty at Australia’s Deakin University. In his 20+ year career to date, Birbilis has worked in corrosion fields including monitoring, remediation, life prediction, asset design, durability management planning, and the development of corrosion-resistant materials. He has led large research teams and brings significant management experience, having served as head of department at Monash University and deputy dean at Australian National University.

This year, Birbilis is the 2026 recipient of AMPP’s prestigious Willis Whitney Technical Achievement Award. In this roundtable interview to discuss his groundbreaking work and distinguished career, Birbilis is joined by Lucrezia Scoppio, Chair of the AMPP Awards Program Committee, and Dr. John Scully, Chair of the Whitney Award Task Force.

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 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in March.

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.

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.

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.