Officers
On behalf of the entire AWS organization, welcome! I hope you’ll take a few moments to learn more about each of us and how we’re working as a united team to help you reach your goals successfully.
- You may be an experienced welder or a prospective student exploring a possible welding career
- You may be an equipment or manufacturing company president or independent welding shop owner
- Or perhaps you’re educating our next welding generation
Regardless of your personal connection to welding, you all have an important stake in seeing our industry continue to grow and thrive.
Our AWS officers have the in-depth knowledge to support your efforts. Each office has decades of leadership experience representing every facet of our industry. From senior level engineering and certified inspector rolls, to spearheading standards committees, to running successful manufacturing, equipment and other welding-related businesses, AWS officers have the background to support your goals.
I hope you’ll get to know all of us better and continue to partner with us in our mission: to advance the science, technology and people of welding for ourselves and the next generation.
Dennis Eck
AWS President 2023
President & Owner
Diversified Services & Solutions, LLC
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
Michael A. Krupnicki
Vice President, AWS
Executive Director
Rochester Arc + Flame Center
125 Fedex Way
Rochester, NY. 14624
Michael Krupnicki was elected to serve as vice 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 Holdren
Vice President, AWS
ARC Specialties Technical Services / Welding Consultants LLC
301 Holdren Road
Little Hocking, OH 45742
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.
D. Joshua Burgess
Vice President, AWS
Metallurgical Engineer
General Electric
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
Treasurer, AWS
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.
