Speakers & Sessions

Speakers & Sessions

Connect with Industry Leaders at the Inspection Expo & Conference

Join us to learn from the top experts in inspection and quality assurance. Our speakers are selected for their deep industry experience and are ready to share insights that will transform your approach to inspection.

These sessions go beyond presentations – they’re your chance to engage directly with thought leaders and get your questions answered. Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical, actionable knowledge from those leading the way.

Explore the expert lineup and see what’s in store at the 2025 Inspection Expo & Conference.

Speakers

  • AWS Speakers
  • AISC Speakers
  • NDTMA Speakers
  • AMPP Speakers
Michael L. Turnbow

Michael L. Turnbow

Michael Turnbow has over 35 years’ experience in Nondestructive Testing. He retired from the Tennessee Valley Authority as General Manager of the Inspection and Testing Services group responsible for NDT, QC, calibration services, metallurgy, chemistry, and instrumentation engineering services for TVA’s power plant fleet. He is Past President and Chairman of the Board of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. He served nine years as Chairman of the EPRI NDE Center Steering Committee, and over ten years as U.S. delegate to ISO for the development of international NDE standards. Mr. Turnbow is the current chairman of the ASME NDE personnel qualification and certification project (ANDE), current chairman of the ANDE Nuclear Specific Industry Sector Committee, and co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of OOGA Technologies, Inc.

PRESENTATION: Failure Is Not an Option

The presentation will briefly revisit the power of steam during the Industrial Revolution and unfortunately the failure of unchecked faulty materials that way too often turned deadly. Industry responded and for over a 100 years ASME Codes and Standards safely harnessed this energy for progress and the good of mankind. And now, ASME addresses inspection and NDE issues by introducing the world’s first performance based NDE and QC personnel qualification and certification standard ANSI/ASME/ANDE-1. The Standard is unique in that it is the first to incorporate the highly successful and proven Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) process. Military and industry applications for over 70 years have shown SAT significantly improves human performance and considerably more efficient than the current time-based process by allowing individuals to progress at a rate they can demonstrate proficiency. These features of the standard will be presented in detail.

Amanda L. Young

Amanda L. Young
CWI, Vice President, McNDT Pipeline, Ltd.

Amanda L. Young is the Vice President, ASNT Level 3, and CWI at McNDT Pipeline, Ltd., where she oversees operations across multiple states in the field of nondestructive testing. With over 15 years of experience, she also serves as the welding program chair at Morton College, teaching various welding methods. Amanda actively contributes to the industry as a certified welding educator and volunteers as secretary for the AWS Chicago Section, while participating in the QCWI: Welding Inspectors Committee.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Shanen Aranmór

Shanen Aranmór
MS, NCC, CWI/CWE

Shanen Aranmór, MS, CWI/CWE, is a passionate advocate for skilled trades with over a decade of experience in promoting American manufacturing and fabrication. After transitioning from a college wellness professor to a welding and industrial technology expert, she founded Weld Like A Girl™ in 2017, offering public classes, community welding projects, and welder qualification services. Shanen's work has earned her multiple accolades, including the 2023 Dalton E. Hamilton Memorial CWI of the Year Award and the US Small Business Association Arizona Women in Business Champion Award. She also plays a vital role in Project MFG, supported by the US Department of Defense, where she helps elevate the trades and inspire the next generation of skilled workers.

PRESENTATION: Acceptance Criteria versus WPS: What Caused Those Defects?

Documents exist for the sole purpose of clarification and yet defects still exist. As one would see in an American boxing ring, professionals in both corners come out swinging, trying to defend themselves and win the title. In this session, we will explore real-life scenarios where acceptance criteria and welding processes fought a good fight yet discontinuities and/or defects still occurred. We will look at common welding defects and explore root causes, as well as discuss potential preventative measures that may reduce the rate of future flaws and failures.

Lee A. Pielaet

Lee A. Pielaet
Pioneer Steel Services

Lee A. Pielaet, president of Pioneer Steel Services, Inc., is a certified welding inspector (CWI), welding educator (CWE), and quality auditor (CQA) with over 45 years of industry experience. He leads his company in providing consulting services, specializing in the development of Quality Management Systems (QMS) to help organizations achieve AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) certification. Pielaet has conducted over 1,100 AISC audits and is a key figure in assisting steel erection and fabrication firms with their AISC certification processes. Additionally, Pioneer Steel Services is an authorized dealer for Skidmore-Wilhelm, offering bolt tension indicators and related consulting services.

PRESENTATION: Required Contractors (Fabricator/Erector) Inspections for Building and Bridge, Part 1 & 2

This two-part session will address the inspection requirements outlined in AWS 1.1, D1.5, and D1.8, focusing on the contractors' (Fabricator/Erector) responsibilities. Contractors must perform their own inspections visually and document their findings. In addition to AWS requirements, we will also examine the AISC 360 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, specifically Chapter “N,” which reinforces the AWS and RCSC standards. These inspections are separate from third-party inspections, which are also referred to as verification or QA inspections. Typically, they do not involve nondestructive testing, aside from visual Inspections. The discussion will include ethical considerations and a review of the RCSC specifications related to bolting and their inspection requirements, as detailed in AISC 360 Chapter “N.”

Speaker

Calvin Pepper
C. E. Pepper & Associates

Cal Pepper has over 47 years of experience in inspection, quality, engineering, and project management, both in the U.S. and internationally. He is an AWS Life Member, serves on the AWS Q&C and Handbook Committees, and is the District 9 Director. Pepper has published over 30 articles on inspection and quality and received the 2022 AWS CWI Lifetime Achievement Award.

PRESENTATION: AWS Certifications for Structural Inspectors (SI) and Owner’s Inspectors (OI)

The American Welding Society has developed many certification programs for a variety of job functions associated with welding and associated activities. Various industry sectors have approached the AWS asking that they consider creation of new and important certifications for such job functions as structural steel inspection (both high-rise structures and steel bridges) and inspection of pressure piping used in the energy industry, refineries, and chemical plants.

This presentation will introduce the methods used in determining which programs to pursue, and the steps to create a certification program that meets the needs of both the industry and the individual seeking certification.

William F. Newell, Jr.

William F. Newell, Jr.
PE, PEng, IWE, Vice President, Euroweld, Ltd.

William F. Newell, Jr. has nearly 50 years of experience in welding engineering, both domestically and internationally. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University in Welding Engineering, holds an International Welding Engineer diploma, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in several U.S. states and Alberta, Canada. He is the President of W. F. Newell & Associates, Inc., specializing in welding codes and processes, and Co-Founder/Vice President of Engineering at Euroweld, Ltd. Newell is an active member of the American Welding Society and ASME, contributing significantly to various committees and standards in the welding field.

PRESENTATION: Dealing with Challenges Presented by Dissimilar Welds

One of the major challenges facing the welding industry is joining dissimilar materials. Different properties such as strength, coefficient of expansion/contraction, corrosion and metallurgical complications arising from the base materials and weld metals involved often complicate otherwise simple situations. Operating conditions, whether constant or varying, can also affect what must be considered to achieve satisfactory results. Each of these factors are examined, examples provided and a methodology for evaluating and dealing with dissimilar welding challenges is presented.

Speaker

Brent E. Boling
AWS/CWI, ICC, SWW, Bolting/Welding Special Inspector, President, Arc-Tech Welding, Inc/Arc-Tech Inspections

Brent E. Boling has been the President of Arc-Tech Welding, Inc. and Arc-Tech Welding Inspections since 1996, bringing over four decades of experience in the welding industry. He is a certified welder and inspector with multiple certifications, including AWS CWI, ICC Structural Steel Welding, and ASNT Level II. Boling has served as Chairman of the AWS Arizona Section and has contributed to various AWS committees. He is also an accomplished author and speaker, having presented at major industry events like IEC:2020, FabTech, and ASNT meetings.

PRESENTATION: How to Start a Successful Welding and/or Inspections Business

Many welders and CWI's move quickly in their careers desiring to leave employment and start a business to work for themselves. But are they ready? What do they need to know in order to avoid being in the large percentage of those who fail in their efforts and often go broke doing so?

In this presentation we will help build a foundation of information to get those wanting to start their own business off on the right foot. Where to begin? Basic expenses and financial goals? Business plans? Business structure? Adequate knowledge, skills, experience, and education background to perform the work that the person intends to be involved with? Building contacts and procedures for bidding work.

PRESENTATION: Layers of Inspection Coverage: How Many Inspectors Do We Need on this Job Anyway?

When you get sent out to perform inspections, what questions do you need to ask to ensure you are performing the correct level of inspection? D1.1 tells us a couple of levels of QC vs QA but is the the limit to who is there and what they are doing regarding job quality? Each inspector needs to understand their role and the role of others ensuring workmanship and end product compliance and quality.

In this class we will discuss the various levels of inspection and what their responsibilities are and how to find out what you have been assigned to perform. This will affect what operations you perform and how, how you report it and who to, how often you are required to be on the job site, what authority you have for requesting work repairs, and so much more.

Richard Campbell

Richard Campbell
Bechtel Fellow; Welding & NDE Services, Bechtel Welding & Applied Technology Center, Houston

Richard Campbell is a Bechtel Fellow in the Construction Welding and NDE group at Bechtel Corporation, with over 40 years of experience in the welding industry. He holds a PhD in Materials Engineering and has contributed significantly to the field through leadership roles, including chairing the AWS D1K Subcommittee on Stainless Steel Welding, which published the AWS D1.6:2017 Structural Welding Code. He is a vice chair of the ASME B31.3 Process Piping Code committee and actively participates in numerous AWS and ASME standards committees. Dr. Campbell is also an accomplished educator, authoring over 30 technical articles and teaching AWS CWI classes for more than 25 years.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Ricky L. Morgan

Ricky L. Morgan, ASNT NDT Level III and AWS CWI
VP, FlawTech

Ricky L. Morgan is the President of FlawTech America, LLC in Concord, North Carolina, with over 35 years of experience in NDT inspections across various industries. He has been an ASNT NDT Level III since 1992, specializing in MT, PT, and UT methods, and played a key role in evaluating buildings after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. His recent landmark projects include the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Las Vegas High Roller, and Disney’s Star Wars "Galaxy’s Edge." Morgan is a past president of ASNT and currently serves on its Board of Directors, overseeing multiple committees and has received several prestigious awards, including the ASNT Lou DeValerio Technician of the Year Award and the ASNT Phillip D. Johnson Honorary Member Award.

PANEL DISCUSSION: Ethics

Panel Discussion overview coming soon.

Robert Shaw, Jr.

Robert Shaw, Jr., PE
President, Steel Structures Technology Center, Inc.

Bob Shaw is the President of the Steel Structures Technology Center, Inc., with 48 years of experience in steel construction. A registered professional engineer and ICC Certified Special Inspector, he plays a key role in several industry standards committees, including chairing the AWS D1.8 committee and vice-chairing the RCSC. Bob also leads the development of an ISO standard on structural steelwork and chairs the International Institute of Welding's Commission XVIII on Quality Management. His consulting focuses on addressing challenges in steel construction when issues arise.

PRESENTATION: Bolting – Top Ten Things that Go Wrong, and What to Do about Them

Bolt broke? In the threads or under the head? Threads stripped? Bolt threads or nut threads? Bolts that were pretensioned now seem loose? Bolt assembly failed to meet pretension during pre-installation verification testing? Bolt assembly failed rotational-capacity testing? Twist-off bolt broke before the spline sheared off? Twist-off bolt threads stripped before the spline sheared off? The direct tension indicators don’t indicate as intended? Forgot to use a washer? Holes are misaligned? The bolts were nice and oily when stuffed in the connection, but now look dry and/or rusty before getting around to pretensioning? Your bolts look pretty shiny – is electroplated OK? Don’t know where the bolt/nut/washer came from? Inspector is bringing out the torque wrench to inspect the bolting work?

That’s more than ten, but guidance and solutions for these (and likely more) issues will be presented. Bring your favorite horror story for discussion.

Patricio F. Mendez

Patricio F. Mendez

Prof. Mendez is the Weldco/Industry Chair in Welding and Joining and Director of the Canadian Centre for Welding and Joining at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on the physics and mathematics of welding and materials processing, with applications in areas like wear protection, laser cladding, and additive manufacturing. He co-founded Semi-Solid Technologies Inc. in 1995 and previously worked as a professor at the Colorado School of Mines and a consulting engineer at Exponent Inc. Prof. Mendez holds advanced degrees in Materials Engineering from MIT and a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Buenos Aires. Recognized globally, he is a Fellow of the IIW, AWS, and CWBA, and has received numerous awards and patents, with his students making significant contributions to the welding field worldwide.

Robert Shaw

Luke Faulker

Speaker description will be available soon.

PRESENTATION: Applying AI and Advance Technology to Reduce Welding Inspection Time

This session will explore the feasibility of welding electrical signals to discriminate the locations most likely to be problematic in welding during structural construction. New tests and technologies indicate that welding electrical signals can be a predictor of the presence of discontinuities or defects in the welding of structural steel. This is part of an AISC Need for Speed Initiative, the ultimate goal of which is to use available modern technologies such as AI and ML to reduce welding inspection time, resulting in overall faster construction times.

Lisa Patel

Lisa Patel

Lisa Patel is the American Institute of Steel Construction’s director of certification. She manages the AISC Certification program and oversees the certification process, including the application and renewal processes. Additionally, she is responsible for participant education, including coordinating QualityCon at NASCC, which is where industry experts share the latest on the principles of quality management. Lisa has been with the Association since 2012. Prior to joining ASIC, she spent three years as a project engineer for Harbour Contractors, Inc. and another five years as an assistant project manager at Walsh Construction. Patel holds a Master of Architecture and Master of Science in civil engineering, architecture, and construction management, both from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Zane Keniston

Zane Keniston

Zane Keniston has over 30 years of experience in the steel industry, including steel forgings, and structural steel fabrication, and steel erection of steel buildings and bridges. He is a 24-year member of AWS and has maintained an AWS CWI certification for 23 consecutive years. Additionally, he has maintained an ASQ CQA certification for 16 consecutive years and holds an AMPP BCI Level 2 inspector certification. He previously served on the AISC 420-10 Complex Coating Task Group. He has performed nearly 1,500 certification assessments for the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and currently works as a QMC Staff Quality Specialist.

PRESENTATION: AISC Certification: What does it Mean?

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Quality Management Systems (QMS) Certification sets the quality standard and is the most recognized program for structural steel fabrication and erection. Attendees will learn about the hurdles to obtain AND maintain certification, plus recent program changes which affect participants and inspectors. Also, the session will discuss IBC's 1704.2.5.1 Fabricator Approval along with AISC 360's Chapter N: Quality Control and Quality Assurance.

Larry Kruth

Larry Kruth

Larry is the owner of Kruth Engineering, LLC. He is a consultant on a broad range of consulting services for steel construction, including Steel Fabrication, Steel Erection, Safety, Quality, and Connection Design. Previously he was AISC Vice President of Engineering and Research. He has over forty years of structural engineering experience and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Michigan and Pennsylvania. He has served on the AISC Board of Directors and as the Chair of the AISC TC-12 Quality Control & Assurance Specification Committee. Member of the AISC Safety Committee, AISC Research Committee, AISC TC-6 Connection Design Specification Committee, AISC Full Specification Committee, and the Research Council on Structural Connections. Appointed to the MIOSHA Part 26, Structural Steel Erection Advisory Committee, and MIOSHA Part 10, Lifting & Digging Advisory Committee. He was named the 2011 Structural Engineer of the Year by the Structural Engineers Association of Michigan.

PRESENTATION: How does Chapter N (AISC 360) and Chapter J (AISC 341) Effect Me?

Larry Kruth has been involved with these documents since they were created. Join him as he takes you on a tour of the most significant parts that you may have overlooked! He will help you better understand the requirements outlined in each document and how to apply them in your facility. Not a session to be missed!

Christine Freisinger

Christine Freisinger

Christine Freisinger is an Associate Principal at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in the Chicago office where she has worked as a structural engineer since 2004, primarily focusing on the investigation, evaluation, and repair of existing structures. She is a voting member of the American Institute of Steel Construction Task Committee 7 - Evaluation and Repair and a voting member of the American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 11-28 committee.

PRESENTATION: The Gateway Arch – Unique Perspectives

The National Park Service and WJE investigated the Gateway Arch, including the visible stains on the stainless steel skin, from 2005 to 2014. The team used a combination of traditional techniques such as field microscopy and high-powered spotter scopes and innovative technologies such as casting molds of the surface, helmet-mounted video cameras, and cloud-based real-time communication to facilitate the challenging investigation. This presentation will discuss development of the access program, the staining assessment, cleaning trials, and the overall conclusions of the investigation.

Speaker

Mark Holland

Speaker description will be available soon.

PRESENTATION: Fabricators Shop Floor View of Nuclear Inspection

This session will cover the topic of how a structural steel fabricator deals with the inspection in the performance of fabricating safety related structural steel. What the fabricator has to do differently when performing fabrication of safety related work will be discussed. Questions like, are the tolerances stricter, is the welding code different and if so how, what changes with tracking the mateial in the shop, and so on. The goal of the session will be to remove the misbelieve that the fabrication and inspection of nuclear work is different than any other fabrication. The term “verbatim compliant” will be the lessen of the day.

Will Haworth

Will Haworth
Application Engineer (USA), Sonatest Inc.

Will Haworth is an Application Engineer at Sonatest, a top ultrasonic testing equipment manufacturer. With certifications as an AWS CWI and ASNT NDT Level III, he has played a key role in inspection projects across industries like aerospace, mining, and oil and gas. Will is dedicated to advancing ultrasonic testing and NDT, leveraging his diverse background in NDT and welding to provide innovative solutions for customers. His commitment to continuous improvement makes him a valuable asset in the field.

PRESENTATION: Enhancing Weld Inspection Reliability in Structural Steel: The Advantages of TFM and TFMi in PAUT

This presentation explores how the Total Focusing the Method (TFM) and its improved version, TFMi, enhance Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) for structural steel weld inspections. We will discuss how TFM and TFMi, with their advanced imaging capabilities, significantly improve defect detection, characterization, and sizing compared to traditional ultrasonic methods. Attendees will learn about the practical applications of these methods, shown through case studies and data that highlight improvements in inspection quality and reliability. The session aims to equip professionals with the techniques to implement TFM and TFMi in their processes, ensuring higher safety and integrity in structural steel projects.

Speaker

Roger Englebart

Speaker description will be available soon.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Speaker

Josh de Monbrum

Speaker description will be available soon.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Speaker

Starr d'Auria

Speaker description will be available soon.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Speaker

Danny Keck & Andri Orphanides

Speaker description will be available soon.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Alan Dorsey

Alan Dorsey

Alan Dorsey is a seasoned NDT industry professional with over 40 years of experience. After starting as an NDT technician, he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Lamar University. He later founded ScanTech Instruments, Inc., a company specializing in automated robotic NDT solutions for industries such as petrochemical, pipeline, and utilities. Alan continues to contribute to the field through his involvement in industry organizations like ASNT and NDTMA, while leading ScanTech in providing cutting-edge inspection technologies.

PRESENTATION: POD, Accuracy, and Repeatability Considerations for Ultrasonic Storage Tank Evaluation

Presentation overview coming soon.

Matthew L. Taylor

Matthew L. Taylor
Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Deepwater Corrosion Services, Inc.

Matthew Taylor is the Chief Technology Officer at Deepwater Corrosion Services, Inc., where he has focused on offshore corrosion prevention and asset life extension since 2012. Under his leadership, the company has successfully extended the operational life of offshore assets globally. He recently served as a corrosion industry advisor for an offshore wind turbine foundation project led by Tufts University. Taylor holds a Ph.D. in Material Science from Penn State, along with advanced degrees in metallurgy and materials engineering.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Joshua Gray

Joshua Gray
Technical Sales Representative, Elcometer

Josh Gray is a Technical Sales Representative at Elcometer of Houston. He is responsible for sales and technical support in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He is the current Vice President of the Coating Society of the Houston Area having been involved with the organization since 2014. As a CIP level 1, having 10 years of experience in protective, industrial, and powder coating inspection, Josh strives to stay abreast of the most cutting-edge advances in coating and inspection. His continued commitment to the importance of having first-hand experience in the industry affords him a diverse perspective on which to draw from.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Jorge T. Reyna

Jorge T. Reyna, MCI
Consultor/Inspector, JRSA Engineering

Jorge T. Reyna is a highly experienced professional in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), welding, and coatings inspection, holding multiple advanced certifications, including AMPP Master Coatings Inspector and ASNT Level III in various NDT methods. He is also an AWS Senior Certified Welding Inspector and has extensive expertise in coatings and concrete field testing. Jorge has managed inspection projects globally, with experience in countries like Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, and China, and is fluent in Norwegian and Italian. Since 2013, he has successfully operated his own company, JRSA Engineering, based in Monterrey, Mexico, handling complex inspection projects.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Michael Pardo

Michael Pardo

Speaker description will be available soon.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Tony Serdenes

Tony Serdenes, P.C.S.
Corrosion Protection Pursuits Leader, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.

Tony Serdenes is the Corrosion Protection Pursuits Leader at Greenman Pedersen, Inc. (GPI) with over 38 years of experience in the bridge coatings industry. He holds multiple certifications, including AMPP Protective Coatings Specialist and Senior Certified Coatings Inspector. Tony chairs AMPP's Technical Committee 04 Transportation and serves as Vice Chair of both the AMPP Certification Program Committee and AASHTO's Bridge Preservation Partnership Coatings Working Group. His contributions span leadership in technical committees and the development of industry standards for coatings and corrosion protection.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Andy Shingledecker

Andy Shingledecker, AWS-CWI, AMPP II CIP, ASNT II
Area Manager, Campos EPC, LLC

Andy has dedicated his career to the Energy Sector, focusing on building and inspecting pipelines, compressor stations, and major facilities. He has a proven track record of successfully managing projects on time and within budget while collaborating closely with stakeholders and field assets. Committed to enhancing the industry through accountability, honesty, and integrity, Andy aims to remain relevant and reliable in a rapidly evolving market.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.

Michael L. Turnbow

Michael L. Turnbow

Michael Turnbow has over 35 years’ experience in Nondestructive Testing. He retired from the Tennessee Valley Authority as General Manager of the Inspection and Testing Services group responsible for NDT, QC, calibration services, metallurgy, chemistry, and instrumentation engineering services for TVA’s power plant fleet. He is Past President and Chairman of the Board of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. He served nine years as Chairman of the EPRI NDE Center Steering Committee, and over ten years as U.S. delegate to ISO for the development of international NDE standards. Mr. Turnbow is the current chairman of the ASME NDE personnel qualification and certification project (ANDE), current chairman of the ANDE Nuclear Specific Industry Sector Committee, and co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of OOGA Technologies, Inc.

PRESENTATION: TBA

Presentation overview coming soon.