About AWS

Richard L. Holdren was elected to serve as President after serving three years as Vice President. He is a senior welding engineer at ARC Specialties Technical Services, president/principal welding engineer at Welding Consultants LLC, and owner of Holdren Engineering LLC. He has served over 40 years as an AWS member and chair of numerous AWS certification, education, and technical committees. He also served as director-at-large. He is an AWS Counselor, Life Member, Senior CWI (SCWI), and Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng).

Dr. D. Joshua Burgess was elected to serve as Vice President. He is senior program manager of metallurgical and welding at the Tennessee Valley Authority. Throughout his 22-year membership with AWS, he has served the Society in many 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. He is also an AWS CWI and AWS Level III Expert Welder.

Kerry E. Shatell was elected to serve as Vice President and is retired from Pacific Gas & Electric Co., where he worked as a senior advising welding engineer. A 27-year member of AWS, he has served the organization in multiple capacities, including director-at-large for three years; chair of the CWI Lifetime Achievement Award Committee; Dist. 22 director from 2013 to 2015 and 2016 to 2019; and chair, vice chair, treasurer, newsletter editor, and executive board member of the Sacramento Valley Section. He is also an AWS CWI and CWEng.

J. Jones was elected to serve as Vice President, and is district sales manager at The Harris Products Group. Throughout his over 35-year membership with AWS, he has held leadership roles at the Section and national levels. This includes serving as executive committee director in 2019 and AWS Dist. 17 director for 15 years. He is also an AWS CWE.

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.

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Alex is a welding instructor at Catoosa County College and Career Academy in Ringgold, GA. He earned his AAS in Welding Engineering Technologies from Chattanooga State Community College and is a CWI/CWE. Alex is heavily involved with the AWS Chattanooga Section and is the current Chair.

Erin graduated from Ferris State University with a bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering Technology. She is the Welding Engineer in charge of the Kuka Robotics USA Tech Center, a certified welding inspector, and a future chair (in 2029) of the AWS Detroit Section.

Edward Peterson is a degreed Welding Engineer with a B.S. from LeTourneau University in Longview, TX, is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), and is a past chair of the AWS Houston Section. He currently works for Laser Welding Solutions, LLC., a laser cladding and build-to-print job shop, as their Welding Engineer and Manager of Quality Control. Edward is involved in the development of the codes covering metal additive manufacturing as Vice Chair of the AWS D20 main committee and an active member of the AWS D20B and the API 20S subcommittees.

Jose (Joe) Ocasio is a high school welding teacher in the Syracuse Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Jose was first exposed to welding in Puerto Rico through his upbringing. Learning from a young age the value of community involvement, Jose has actively supported community projects involving students and lower-income communities. Jose has helped design and develop curriculum for Local schools, colleges, and SCSD's first high school welding Lab. He is currently a CTE Welding Teacher at SCSD, Adjunct teacher at MVCC, Adjunct Professor at OCC, District 6 Deputy Director, Section 49 Chairman, and the attendee of the 2023 Leadership Symposium.

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.

Michael Krupnicki 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.

Dr. Richard Polanin 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.