About AWS

Michael Krupnicki was elected to serve as President. He is the owner of the Rochester Arc + Flame Center, a private welding, smithing, and glass arts school. He was previously involved with Mahany Welding Supply for 37 years. An AWS Life Member, his more than 35-year involvement includes supervising Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) exams and serving as District 6 Director. He also served as Chair and Treasurer of the Rochester Section..

Richard L. Holdren was elected to serve as Vice President. He is Senior Welding Engineer of ARC Specialties Technical Services and Principal Welding Engineer of Welding Consultants LLC. With nearly 50 years experience in welding engineering and nondestructive examination, he has served more than 40 years as member and/or chair of numerous AWS certification, education, and technical committees. The is also an AWS Life Member.

Dr. D. Joshua Burgess was elected to serve as Vice President, is the senior program manager of metallurgy and welding at the Tennessee Valley Authority. Throughout his 20-year membership with AWS, he has served the Society in many different capacities at the board, Section, and committee levels. This includes serving as chair of the Northeast Tennessee Section in 2013 and Dist. 8 director from 2013 to 2019.

Mary Bihrle was elected to serve as Treasurer. She is retired from Hypertherm Inc., where she worked as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2013 to 2018. Prior to that, she worked as the company’s director of global finance from 2010 to 2013 and the director of internal controls from 2009 to 2013. Bihrle has been an AWS volunteer for more than five years, serving on the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees.

Dennis Eck was elected to serve as Vice President of AWS from 2018 to 2022 and as President in 2023. He is also President & Owner of Diversified Services & Solutions LLC, where he serves as a consultant for independent welding supply retailers and small fabrication shops. He retired from Praxair in 2020 after 10 years of leadership throughout the Gulf Coast. He was formerly Vice President & Partner of National Alloy & Equipment in Houston, Texas, which was sold to Praxair in 2011. Dennis has been in the welding supply industry more than 40 years and has been active as a member and leader in the AWS Houston section and District 18 for 35 years. His involvement with Skills USA, the Craft Training Center, and AG Mechanics in Texas allows him to focus on the next generation of leaders.

Neil is a Welding Process Specialist for Airgas where he travels his region helping customers with weld process selection and optimization, as well as capital equipment purchasing and training. He earned an associate degree in Welding and Fabrication from Southwestern Oregon Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering Technology from Ferris State University.

Jonathan is a welding teacher at Chippewa Falls High School in Wisconsin who excels in developing strong, student centered, career and technical education (CTE) programs through community supported projects, business and industry partnerships, and specialized facilities and equipment. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UW-Stout in Technology Education while working as a welder and fitter in the sanitary process industry.

Brandy is the Program Director and Welding Instructor at West Virginia Northern Community College. She is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector and earned an associate degree in Welding Technology from West Virginia Northern Community College.

Robert is a Welding Engineer with the Weld Execution Team at General Motors Corporation in Warren, Michigan. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering Technology and an associate degree in Welding Technology from Ferris State University.

Hannah is a full-time faculty and outreach specialist for the trades at Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and a technical diploma in Welding and Metal Fabrication from Madison Area Technical College.

Dr. Richard Polanin was elected as President after serving three years as Vice President. He is a retired professor and program chair of the manufacturing engineering technology and welding technology programs at Illinois Central College, where he continues to teach. He is currently the co-principal investigator for Weld-Ed, chair of the AWS Peoria Section, vice chair of the International Institute of Welding Commission XIV, and president of WRP Associates. He is also involved in several AWS committees.

Mr. Lienert was elected to serve as president, was formerly a technical staff member and a R&D engineer 4 at Los Alamos National Laboratory for more than 16 years. He is also an active member and officer of several national-level committees, has served as chairman of the AWS New Mexico Section, and has been named an AWS Fellow.