Podcasts

In this exclusive series, Materials Performance (MP) Editor Rebecca A. Bickham and News Editor Ben DuBose interview a wide range of corrosion experts to bring you the latest news and information on key technologies and industry trends. Episodes on this page are from July 2021 and newer. Archived episodes from earlier dates are available here.

Member Roundtable, Episode 3: 2022 AMPP Updates

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

How Industry Associations and Unions Can Work Together

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.

Member Roundtable, Episode 2: AMPP’s Brand Identity

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.

Know Your Niche: Induron’s Davies Hood Looks to the Future

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.

Addressing the Deficit of Skilled Tech Workers

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

AMPP’s Bob Chalker Sees Evolution, Growth in Coatings Industry

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

Corrosion and the U.S. Infrastructure Bill: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Interview

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

What the New U.S. Infrastructure Bill Means for Corrosion Specialists

Adam Christopher and Dan Adley.

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

Member Roundtable: How AMPP Was Formed

In the first episode of the Member Roundtable Series, Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) members Jane Brown and Stephanie Decker lead an exclusive interview with AMPP CEO Bob Chalker. During that extended conversation, Chalker shares the background story of the steps taken to merge SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and NACE International into AMPP.

How Graco Sizes up Coatings Equipment Trends

Niles Hickman, global product marketing manager at Graco (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA), recently joined the “member profile” podcast series of CoatingsPro Magazine to share some of the company's keys to success.

Topics include feedback from contractors on needs and challenges in the field; how new coating technologies are changing the marketplace in 2021; potential equipment solutions from Graco; and the role of industry associations such as SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings, NACE International, and the newly formed Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) in moving industry careers forward.

Source: Graco, www.graco.com

AMPP's New Vision for Content Management

The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is working on a new initiative to collect all legacy and current intellectual property content (standards, conference papers, books, etc.) while using best practices in content management and its supporting technology to make it discoverable for the audience.

Learn more about the process and what it could mean for the association and its members in this exclusive interview with Mandy May, director of content management, and Bob Chalker, CEO of AMPP.

Managing Corrosion in Electric Transmission, Distribution Assets

Curt Hickcox, vice president of business development at Public Utilities Maintenance, Inc. (Queens Village, New York, USA), joins our "member profile" podcast series to discuss his career in the corrosion industry.

Topics include corrosion mitigation strategies of the past, present, and future for electric transmission and distribution clients; the importance of contractor certifications and a commitment to safety; and how associations like SSPC, NACE, and AMPP can play key roles in career development and company growth.

Source: PUM, www.puminc.com

Member Profile of Coatings Equipment Leader Elcometer

Joe Walker, vice president and general manager of Elcometer Inc., joins our “member profile” series to share some of his company’s keys to success. Topics include Elcometer's journey as an equipment supplier to the coatings industry; strategies on how to train clients to best use their products; career highlights and expansion strategies; and much more.

Walker, who is an immediate past chair of AMPP, also shares his thoughts on the merger of NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings — led by what he sees as benefits and priorities for the combined association and industry moving forward.

Source: Elcometer, www.elcometer.com

Discussion of the U.S. Surface Transportation and Water Infrastructure Bill


Jim Kunkle, manager of business development at AMPP, sits down with Lou Lyras, CEO of Corcon, Inc.; Sam Scaturro, president of Alpine Painting and vice chairman of the AMPP Board of Directors; and Adam Christopher, government relations manager at AMPP, to discuss the surface transportation and water infrastructure bill that is currently progressing in the U.S. Senate.

Topics include what subjects the bill is designed to address, what factors are important to AMPP members and stakeholders, and how AMPP members can help support the bill's passage.

Champlain Towers Collapse and Corrosion: Interview with Dr. Zee

This episode features our interview with Dr. Mehrooz Zamanzadeh, technical director and principal investigator at Matergenics, and Nathan Pace, corrosion engineer for Matergenics. Dr. Mehrooz discusses potential causes of the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside, Florida, and he offers safety recommendations for coastal buildings nearby and nationwide.

Dr. Zamamzadeh is a Fellow of NACE international and ASM; a NACE Certified Specialist in coatings, cathodic protection, and materials selection and design; and an AMPP Instructor for condition assessment and corrosion engineering.