Blogs

AMPP Selects Firm for CEO Search

The Association for Materials Protection and Performance ( AMPP ) has selected Sterling Martin Associates, Washington, DC, to conduct the search for its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AMPP.  The AMPP Search Committee, appointed by the AMPP Board of Directors, chose the firm based on its association recruitment focus and its track record of placing quality candidates, including its placement of AMPP’s current CEO, Robert Chalker, who has announced his retirement effective July 2023. “We look forward to re-engaging with Sterling Martin to fill this critical role within AMPP,” says Terry Greenfield, Search Committee Co-Chair.  “Sterling Martin will be a ...

AMPP CEO Bob Chalker Announces Retirement

Chalker will serve as CEO through July 2023 AMPP Board of Directors Will Initiate CEO Search in October 2022 HOUSTON and PITTSBURGH – September 30, 2022 – AMPP announced today that CEO Bob Chalker plans to retire in July 2023. Chalker has served in his role for more than 12 years, starting first with NACE International and then as CEO of AMPP through the merger of NACE and SSPC in 2021. In October, the AMPP board of directors will commence a formal search for a successor and consider internal and external candidates for the position.  “It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of this great organization, and I want to extend my thanks to AMPP’s employees ...

AMPP Global Center Selects Brad Wilder to Serve as Director of Standards

Houston, Texas – The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) proudly announces the selection of Brad Wilder as the new Director of the association’s esteemed standards program. Wilder brings over a decade of experience working in project and general management for an industrial painting contractor where he focused on bridge preservation and protective coatings. “AMPP has been fortunate to have Brad’s valuable service as a member volunteer,” said AMPP CEO Bob Chalker, “he has proven to be a passionate advocate for this industry and his peers, and we are thrilled to have him as a part of our staff team.” Wilder has been actively involved ...

AMPP Launches New Awards Program Recognizing Member Achievements

Houston, TX and Pittsburgh, PA – The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), the world’s largest society of corrosion and protective coatings professionals, today launched a new annual awards program consisting of twelve categories for industry recognition. The annual awards program is designed to recognize the achievements of individuals and companies whose contributions are changing the industry, society, and the world today. “AMPP’s member-driven Award Program Committee (APC) began designing this new awards program following the merger of NACE International, The Corrosion Society and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings,” said ...

AMPP Announces Terry Bradshaw As Annual Conference Keynote Speaker

The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is proud to announce four-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback and television personality Terry Bradshaw as keynote speaker for the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo 2023 next March.  “We’re extremely excited to announce Terry Bradshaw as our keynote speaker for 2023,” said AMPP CEO Bob Chalker.  “Terry is one of the greatest to ever play the game.  His experience, success, and leadership are unrivaled, and I know our members will enjoy hearing and learning from his story.” In addition to his hall of fame football career, Bradshaw enjoys immense success and respect in several arenas.  Terry is a ...

AMPP Opens New Hands-On Protective Coatings Spray and Blast Training Facility in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – On Wednesday, August 31, 2022, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), will host the grand opening of a new spray and blast training facility. The state-of-the-art facility offers protective coatings professionals a Pittsburgh-based, hands-on learning experience where students of all levels can develop and master critical skills such as surface preparation, safety in painting operation, spray application, and inspection fundamentals. Valued at $13.5 billion and growing, the protective coatings/anti-corrosion market needs more qualified, certified professionals today. Each year, AMPP’s new training facility will enable ...

AMPP Announces Newly Elected Board Leadership

Houston, Texas and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – AMPP proudly announces the ratification of its newly elected Board of Directors slate for 2023-2025 and 2023 Vice Chair Candidate put forth by the Nominating Committee. The slate includes: 2023-2025 Directors Khalil Abed, CORTEC Middle East – UAE Guillermo Loayza, Setmix – Ecuador Tom Weber, TWC Group – U.S. 2023 Vice Chair Candidate Paul Vinik, Greenman Pedersen, Inc. – U.S. The AMPP Board of Directors serves the 501(c)(6) branch of the association, which oversees AMPP certification, accreditation, and advocacy initiatives. The full membership of the AMPP Board includes: Sam Scaturro, Chair - Alpine ...

New Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act (H.R. 8033) is a great opportunity for our industry

The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), the world’s largest coatings and corrosion association, is pleased to support H.R. 8033, the Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act, introduced by Rep. John Garamendi (CA-3). The legislation requires corrosion planning and the use of qualified and trained professionals on all bridge construction, repair, and maintenance projects throughout the country. “We thank Congressman Garamendi for introducing this important legislation. H.R. 8033 is a decisive step toward ensuring that our bridges are protected from the harmful effects of corrosion,” said Sam Scaturro, Chair of the AMPP Board of Directors. ...

In South Florida and coastal areas worldwide, corrosion is a cry for help

By Linda E. Marquez, AMPP Surfside Collapse Task Force Chair Viewing the world as a corrosion control professional is often troubling. We notice things others don’t. Rust stains tell us to look for a problem, spalling concrete says, “fix me, find what caused me.” We are most troubled when asset owners see these issues and still fail to act. When corrosion is evident, especially to even the untrained eye, it should be considered an asset’s urgent cry for help, and as experts in this field it is our responsibility to provide that help. The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) advances the performance of materials such as protective coatings, ...

New AMPP tradeshow booth receives AMA Crystal Award

HOUSTON, TX — May 19, 2022 – The Association of Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) announced today that it has won a 2022 Crystal Award from the American Marketing Association (AMA) for the design of its newest tradeshow booth, which debuted at Coatings+ and the inaugural AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. The booth design project, led by Marketing Manager Lydia Prazak, was conceived as a warm, inviting space to welcome AMPP members and tradeshow attendees. It served as the cornerstone of the exhibit hall at the inaugural AMPP Conference + Expo earlier this year in San Antonio, Texas. In 2020, NACE International and SSPC merged to become AMPP. The ...

AMPP Updates Coatings Inspector Program, Level 1 Course and Certification.

More time in the classroom, more equipment, and more hands-on labs: Updated training course offers an immersive introduction to a career as a coatings inspector.   Together with coatings industry experts, in-house instructional designers, and experienced instructors, AMPP has redesigned its Coating Inspector Program (CIP) Level 1 course, bringing together the best components of the NACE CIP and SSPC PCI programs.  As the first step in AMPP’s flagship coatings inspector program, the CIP Level 1 course teaches over 5,000 students annually to properly perform basic coating inspections using non-destructive techniques and instrumentation. With three levels, ...

Letter on CIP Program Updates from Tom Higginbotham, AMPP Education Committee Chair

Dear Colleagues,   I am proud to have been involved, over the last several years, with the organization now called AMPP. My involvement started with achieving my Level 3 Coating Inspection certification and moving to becoming a NACE CIP instructor, getting involved with various committees and task groups, involvement with the transition teams of NACE and SSPC, and now currently serving as chair of the Education Committee.   Along the way, my life has been enriched greatly because of the outstanding leadership, staff, volunteers, and industry leaders involved with AMPP. On a personal level, I have connected with many mentors and have made many excellent ...

Our Coating Inspector Certification Program Gets a Refresh!

AMPP’s flagship coating inspector program is being relaunched! The new AMPP Coating Inspector Program will retain the best parts of the NACE CIP and the SSPC PCI programs. As NACE CIP and SSPC PCI programs continue to be specified around the globe, those credentials will remain active until the industry has fully adopted the AMPP credentials. The new certification includes new digital credentials the program’s new levels are: Basic Coatings Inspector (Level 1) Certified Coatings Inspector (Level 2) Senior Certified Coatings Inspector (Level 3) Additionally, AMPP has redesigned the Coating Inspector Program Level 1 course to bring together the ...

AMPP Celebrates #NationalRoboticsWeek

The mission of National Robotics Week (aka RoboWeek) is to inspire students in robotics and STEM-related fields and to share the excitement of robotics with audiences of all ages. Throughout the week, look for AMPP social media posts about how robotics is driving advancements in the corrosion/coatings industry — from pipeline inspection crawlers to power washing drones to laser-guided painting bots used by the military. Social media features include photos and videos showcasing a variety of robotic technologies used in our industry, along with insights from AMPP members who are leading the way in this field. Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter ...

First AMPP Annual Conference + Expo Successful on All Fronts

The inaugural AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in San Antonio, Texas, USA drew nearly 5,000 attendees from the corrosion and protective coatings industries worldwide. From informative programs and workshops to exhibits and networking, the conference featured the very latest information on materials, corrosion and coating trends, best practices, and products. The technical program, with 41 symposia, featured paper presentations on a wide range of corrosion and coatings topics, including corrosion management, marine corrosion, coatings failure, cathodic protection, and much more. Forums included everything from achieving successful leadership and digital asset transformation ...

AMPP Diversity & Inclusion Panel Announces Recipients of the Association’s New Grant Program

Houston, Texas and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is pleased to announce the first recipients of its new Diversity and Inclusion Grant. The grant was established in 2020 with an initial investment of $50,000 to support equality and opportunity for underrepresented and disenfranchised AMPP members worldwide. The grant provides financial resources to help recipients advance and achieve professional success in the corrosion and protective coatings industry. Candidates were selected by AMPP’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Panel, which is comprised of six members from five countries including the United ...

AMPP Online Communities Provide Technical Exchange, Networking

Earlier this year AMPP introduced “Communities of Interest” to its lineup of online groups. Through these moderated groups, industry professionals can engage with others who share a common professional interest, demographic, or geographic location. Online communities complement in-person meetings, facilitate networking, and provide an environment for information exchange. With optional email digests, members can stay current with discussions in their selected communities. Social Community of Interest (SCI) Exclusive to AMPP members, SCIs are based on a common demographic or interest. These groups allow members to engage with peers, build a network, exchange ...

Statement by AMPP CEO, Bob Chalker on Today's Bridge Collapse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Today’s collapse of the Fern Hollow bridge near Frick Park in Pittsburgh is another stark reminder of the instability of our nation’s infrastructure. Our thoughts are with the Pittsburgh community and those affected by this disaster. Like this bridge, so many others in Pennsylvania and nationwide are listed in “poor” condition by state departments of transportation. While the experts have considerable work ahead of them to identify the cause, all too often it is extensive corrosion and deterioration which leaves a bridge vulnerable to this type of collapse. It is critical that action is taken to rebuild and reinforce the infrastructure so many Americans rely ...

TPC Communication

Dear AMPP Members, Many new things are happening behind the scenes within AMPP, to engage our membership like never before. One of those things is the formation of the Technical Program Committee. Our scope, as defined by the AMPP Global Center Charter, is “The Technical Program Committee (TPC)  shall oversee the Center’s programs and initiatives intended to provide or enhance technical understanding (except for education/training & standards). One of the TPC’s responsibilities is to introduce and oversee AMPP’s Technical Communities of Interest (TCI).  A TCI is a group of people who share a common technical interest, and each TCI is a subset of the Technical ...

Statement by AMPP CEO, Bob Chalker on the signing of H.R. 3684 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

“This bipartisan legislation makes a historic investment into infrastructure programs throughout the country and has the opportunity to fundamentally transform how we ensure asset integrity, promote sustainability, and protect the environment. As the process of implementation begins AMPP urges policymakers to engage industry experts and stakeholders to ensure best practices are utilized throughout the design, build and maintenance of these critical assets . AMPP’s members nationwide look forward to being a resource in this process and helping rebuild lasting national infrastructure.”