Speakers & Sessions

Speakers & Sessions

Connect with Industry Leaders at the Pipeline, Facilities & Tanks Conference

Hear from top minds in pipeline welding and inspection as they share practical insights shaped by decades of experience. These sessions are designed to go beyond theory—giving you real-world strategies you can apply immediately on the job.

Connect directly with industry leaders, ask questions, and explore the latest developments shaping pipeline work today.  Don’t miss this opportunity to gain knowledge that strengthens your skills and supports your career growth.

Holly Tyler

Holly Tyler
Engineering Sales Manager, Specialty Polymer Coatings USA

Holly has been in the pipeline coating industry for 35 years. She has owned her own coating company and been a NACE III since 1997. She was on the board of directors of Tulsa Pipeliners Club from 1998-2002, and was the Tulsa Pipeliners Club president in 2002.

She currently work for SPC a division of Carboline, and the Engineering Sales Manager, and oversees specifications and approvals for operators and the liaison to the pipeline contractors.

PRESENTATION: The Importance of Coating in Pipeline Asset Protection

The presentation will be about the importance of OQ's, testing, proper preparation and installation training for coatings in buried pipelines.

Megan Brinker

Megan Brinker
EVP of Business Development, TRU

Megan has been with TRU since 2012. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri where she studied business administration. She’s worked in business development, sales, and account management, and has built significant experience in the tech industry on the software and hardware side. Megan is extremely passionate about TRU's customer experience. She pulls from a wealth of knowledge, advancing our customer-focused business environment and operations as a whole. She is continually expanding her expertise and in 2012 she received her NACE CIP Level 1 Certification.

PRESENTATION: Optimizing Digital Pipe, Asset, Weld and Tank Inspections

In this presentation, we will explore how to modernize and streamline inspections for pipes, assets, welds, and tanks by transitioning from manual to digital processes. Attendees will gain insights into key software features that ensure effective, efficient, and secure digital inspections. We'll cover critical capabilities such as API integration for seamless data exchange, barcode scanning for rapid identification, and granular user permissions for controlled access. The software will also support progress tracking, allowing teams to monitor inspection completion rates and milestones in real time, and material traceability, enabling full visibility into the origin, movement, and usage of materials throughout the asset lifecycle. Additional features include offline functionality for fieldwork in remote locations, compatibility with both phones and tablets, robust security measures, business intelligence (BI)-ready data, support for map-based views to provide spatial context, and integration with gauges for real-time readings. This session will provide a practical roadmap for implementing digital inspection solutions that enhance accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Bill Nelson

Bill Nelson
Axxiom Manufacturing, Inc.

Bill Nelson is a Vice President for Axxiom Manufacturing, Inc. in Fresno, Texas. Axxiom is the manufacturer of Schmidt abrasive blasting equipment. Bill’s extensive knowledge of abrasive blasting is a result of over 35 years in the surface preparation industry. Bill has held multiple leadership roles since joining Axxiom in 1989, including Vice President of Production and Procurement. His deep expertise spans manufacturing, product development, and hands-on fieldwork, giving him a well-rounded perspective of the abrasive blasting industry. Bill has traveled extensively to diverse industrial environments—from shipyards to aerospace facilities—sharing insights and advancing best practices in blasting technologies.

Bill is a sought-after speaker, known for promoting education and safety within the industry. He believes that a better educated marketplace is a benefit for all. Knowledge allows companies to operate more efficiently in a safer manner protecting the longevity of our industry and its people.

PRESENTATION: Abrasive Blasting Improvements through New Technologies

This presentation will encompass current methodologies and their strengths and weaknesses in the pipeline market. We will introduce technologies that will allow for a safer, more efficient, environmentally friendly approach to surface preparation. Our goal will be to introduce methods to reduce abrasive cost/waste and we will show new products to minimize nuisance dust from the blasting process and technology to assist in the cleaning of the blasted surface for longer service life of the coatings.