WCNY Coatings & Corrosion Forum
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2024 WCNY Coatings & Corrosion Forum Presenters:
Melanie Diaz
AMPP
Senior Manager/Education Business Development
Results-driven, tenacious global business development and education/training leader, with an entrepreneurial spirit and ability to grow business internationally in oil and gas, pipelines, and corrosion industries. Over 25 years’ experience in training, project management, accounting and auditing. Built and/or managed five education teams from inception for various organizations.
Currently, Senior Manager, Global Business Development of AMPP, responsible for researching and pursuing new business development opportunities, creating and maintaining global corporate relationships, serving a multiple industries and market segments.
Previously worked for ASME as Sr. Education Manager for 7 years. Specific industry experience includes: corrosion, oil and gas, pipelines, ocean, offshore, automotive, waste management, information technology, and manufacturing.
Dave Evans is the Director of QP and Coatings Credentialing and Business Development for The Association of Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). Dave’s career brings decades of technical expertise working in the protective coatings and corrosion industry using his in-depth knowledge of quality assurance and control processes where he specializes in coating recommendations, specification development, failure analysis, facility audits, and Sales and Marketing from holding senior positions with leading organizations in the coatings field. He currently manages the QP Accreditation Program in addition to being heavily focused on Business Development and has been working collaboratively across AMPP to drive greater momentum to its core coatings certifications and educational programs. AMPP and its members have been honored to have Dave which holds NACE CIP III and SSPC PCS credentials, as a NACE CIP instructor for 33 years. For more information, contact him at dave.evans@ampp.org.
Dave Evans
Director of QP and Coatings Credentialing | Business Development for AMPP
Carl Borgh
Regional Sales Manager
GMA Garnet
Carl Borgh
GMA Garnet Regional Sales Manager
24 Years abrasive sales
CIP level 1
Saint Joseph’s University
BS Finance
As an abrasive supply representative, Carl has been involved in surface preparation applications in scales as large as aircraft carrier 10,000sqft zones to small homeowner restoration over the last 25 years.
Alexander Kaplun
N.A.C.E. Level III Certified Coatings Inspector # 37446
American Welding Society Certified D.1.1 Welding Inspector #1505001
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Alexander Kaplun currently serves as a Permit Compliance Coordinator for the City of Rochester within the Department of Environment Services Architectural and Engineering group, in Office of Right-of-Way (ROW) Permits.
Mr. Kaplun is a graduate of both the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and the University of Rochester Simon School of Business (MBA) and brings over 23 years of varied experience in Engineering, Coatings Application, Surface Preparation, Corrosion Control, and Coatings Quality Assurance/Control. He is a part-time instructor for the Finishing Trades Institute of Western New York, and holds a wide variety of certifications including, but not limited to: AWS D1.1 Certified Welding Inspector, Bridge Inspector, OSHA 500 Trainer, ICC Structural Steel/Concrete Inspection, Lead Abatement, and NICET Construction Inspection. Mr. Kaplun has completed over 50+ successful coatings rehabilitation projects throughout the Alaska and New England, and also has extensive experience serving as a Health and Safety Trainer officer for previous employers and providing continued safety and CPR/ first-aid training with respect to OSHA and the American Red Cross.
In addition to supporting the enormous workload of overseeing approximately 1300 permits annually along 1000+ miles of City streets and areaways within the City of Rochester, Mr. Kaplun plays a key role in facilitating better coordination between the Permit Office and Construction/ Street Design divisions to mitigate the impact of private sector work on City of Rochester projects.
Justin Cigal
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Coatings Consultant
The Righter Group
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Experienced Coatings Consultant with over 22 years of experience in epoxy coating installation. Excellent reputation for resolving problems and improving customer satisfaction.
Robert Emmerson
Project Development Manger- Sherwin Williams Protective and Marine Coatings
Rob Emmerson has been involved in the coatings world for over 30 years.
Starting in the field as an applicator, project manager, estimator, Rob moved into protective coating technical sales in 2006 with ICI, Akzo Nobel and PPG all through acquisition. Rob also served as a rep with Sprayroq covering the North East US and Canada.
Rob is an AMPP Certified Inspector, active in AMPP, NYRWA, PWEA, NASSCO and WV-WEA
Presenting educational programs in W&WW, Intumescent fireproofing, tank linings and resinous flooring, throughout the US.
Rob is currently a Project Development Manager, working with the engineering and general contracting communities representing Construction Solutions from The Sherwin Williams Company, whose headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio. Rob is located in Warrendale PA at Sherwin Williams district Headquarters and covers the states of Pennsylvania, New York & West Virginia.
Rob is married, raised a family and has 3 grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with family, golfing, sports, writing & representing Sherwin Williams.
Brian Cheshire
Director of Sales-Water/Wastewater Tnemec Company
Brian Cheshire is a 20+ year veteran in the coatings industry, with time spent at several national coating manufacturers. He is an AMPP Senior Certified Coatings Inspector and is the current chair of the SC-18 Water and Wastewater Standards Committee.
Brian is also a member of the American Water Works Association, the National Rural Water Association, the Water Environment Federation, along with other industry associations. As the Director of Sales for the Water and Wastewater market at Tnemec Company, Brian guides the overall market strategy for the company in this key market.
Tom Tambe
Carboline Project Development Manager-Northeast
Tom Tambe, Carboline Project Development Manager - Northeast
Tom has been with Carboline for 2 years
and in the coatings industry for 20. In
his current role, he assists owners, specifiers,
engineers with design of to specifications,
industry regulations while developing projects
both nationally/internationally. He is an
AMPP Master Coatings Inspector and Senior
Certified Coating Inspector, which has
enabled him to recognize, evaluate and
promote unbiased coatings solutions with
integrity.
Daniel Kenimer
Account Manager
Mr. Kenimer brings years of experience with coatings products, representing BlastOne as Logistics Coordinator, Warehouse Supervisor and Account Manager. He is a champion for the coatings industry and brings his analytical, communication and negotiation skills to bear on all his work.
Chad M. Sellman
KTA Tator, Inc.
Chad Sellman is an Area Manager in the KTA Coatings Group. He is a NACE Certified Coatings Inspector Level 3 (#21050), an ODOT certified inspector in Work Types 26 and 57, and successfully completed the OSHA 10-hour and 30-hour Construction Safety & Health training courses. Mr. Sellman is an ASTM D4537 Level II inspector as well as an SSPC C-3 Supervisor/Competent Person for Deleading of Industrial Structures. He holds a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
Midwest Area Manager. Responsible for technical and administrative oversight of personnel and projects in the Midwest area (PA, WV, OH, MI, WI, IN, IA, ND and IL) for various industrial structures including bridges, water and fuel tanks, pipelines, refineries, and commercial properties. Responsibilities also include financial accountability for the region as well as business development.
Continues to serve as Contract Project Leader for Marathon Petroleum Company by performing tank liner assessment services and managing QA coatings inspection work during maintenance painting operations. Mr. Sellman also conducts coating condition surveys and QA inspection work for nuclear power stations during refueling outages.
Hiedi Brooks
Director of Sales & Marketing, VCP Sales
As Director of Sales and Marketing for VCP Sales, Ms. Brooks oversees global sales and marketing strategy for innovative protective coating lines that fill voids in the energy, utility and waste/wastewater market. Heidi works in-field nationally with end-users and operators on the safe, certifiable training and implementation of Protective Coating Wraps for ther external corrosion management.
Ms. Brooks is a current member of the AMPP 2024 Eastern Committee. Outside of work she enjoys the outdoors, Lake Michigan and spending time with her family.
Kathy Romans
Water & Wastewater Segment Manager, PPG Protective and Marine Coatings U.S. & Canada
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Kathy Romans is the Water & Wastewater Segment Manager for PPG Protective and Marine Coatings in the US and Canada; Kathy held the same position with Raven Lining Systems and joined PPG 3 years ago during the Raven/VersaFlex acquisition. She has more than 25 years in the wastewater industry, spanning a broad range of disciplines, including chemical grouting, flow monitoring and SSES, mechanical seals and coatings and linings.
Kathy has been an active member of NASSCO having served on the Board of Directors and as President of the organization, chair of the Health & Safety Committee for many years and Co-Chair of the NASSCO Manhole Rehabilitation Committee. Kathy is a NASSCO ITCP Certified Manhole Inspector.
Kathy studied Chemistry and Psychology at the University of Houston, she lives in Central Texas and enjoys many outdoor activities.
Brian Wersinger
PPG Protective & Marine Business Development Manager Water/Wastewater North Zone
Brian Wersinger is the PPG Protective and Marine Business Development Manager for Water & Wastewater in the North Zone. Brian’s role rounds out and compliments PPG’s Team of support for our Water and Wastewater product line including the Raven Lining Systems brand. Brian works with Owners, Engineers and PPG’s Certified Applicator community in areas relating to specifications and application of PPG coating systems. He has over 23 years of experience in high performance coatings and linings and is NACE CIP Level III certified.
He studied Business Management at SUNY Plattsburgh and trained in Dale Carnegie programs.
Brian resides in Ontario, NY outside of Rochester with his family and enjoys traveling and the great outdoors.