Welding Digest

AWS’s Sustaining Company membership is intended for forward-thinking organizations that want to promote an internal culture of continuous improvement and take an active role in shaping the industry. 

That’s exactly what Dr. Jesse Grantham, a nationally-recognized welding expert and owner and principal investigator of Welding and Joining Management Group (WJMG), Frederick, Colo., wanted to achieve when two years ago, he became a Sustaining Company member of AWS. 

 “Initially I joined the Acadiana Section in Lafayette, La. I never regretted my AWS membership,” recounted Grantham, who has been an individual member for 45 years. But he wanted to take his membership level and commitment one step further. “Sustaining membership is a visible sign of support to industry,” he explained.

Sustaining Company membership is the Society’s highest and most visible corporate membership level and Grantham is dedicated to promoting the future of the industry and taking an active role in shaping it. 

“The biggest benefits of being a sustaining member are the ability to set a visible example for the younger corporations and younger members about what is important in my life.  AWS and the principles of my AWS membership are important to me and who I am, and that is what I exhibit to others around me,” he said. 

Sustaining Company members are able to offer ten individual memberships to employees or customers. The corporate roster membership is managed and retained by the member company, which can improve company loyalty and retention. Sustaining member companies also have access to the AWS standards library and are recognized as industry partners.  

All of these perks are important to Grantham and WJMG. WJMG is an independent metals/weld testing laboratory.  Grantham specializes in welding code consulting and contract compliance, welding process applications, forensic investigations of weld regions, failure analysis of weld regions, welding metallurgy, underwater welding, welding inspection and weld testing for all types of industries, including onshore oil, gas and mining, and offshore equipment in marine environments. He has testified in legal proceedings more than 100 times in 23 years. He explains complex technical issues in clear, understandable terms.  

“My welding business attitude,” Grantham said, “is that “a customer is the most important visitor on our premises.   He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him.  He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it.  He is not an outsider in our business.  He is part of it.  We are not doing him a favor by serving him.  He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.” 

When it comes to giving advice to other business owners about what type of AWS membership to seek, he encourages owners to not hesitate to become an AWS Sustaining Company member. 

“Just do it!” he said. “You will be glad you represent something that is important in your career.  You will realize the good about your company and yourself.” 

For more information on AWS Sustaining Company membership, visit aws.org/membership/sustainingcompany.

This article was written by Cindy Weihl (senior editor of the Welding Journal) for the American Welding Society.