CoatingsPro Interview Series

Kevin Page, vice president of commercial for Amrize Building Envelope, discusses the group’s focus on construction chemicals — including adhesives, sealants, coatings, and spray foam insulation. As a spinoff from Holcim in 2025, Amrize emphasizes innovation, product support, and digital tools to better enhance contractor efficiency. Key market segments for the company are cold storage, data centers, and commercial repair, driven by performance needs and durability, while challenges include labor shortages and complex project specifications. Amrize addresses these through digital tools, training, and systems designed for efficiency. The company aims to balance short-term and long-term costs, offering a broad portfolio of solutions to meet diverse customer needs.

Travis Crotwell, oil and gas segment director at PPG Protective & Marine Coatings, shares his outlook on tank linings and extended inspection intervals. In this exclusive interview from the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo, Crotwell explores how newer lining technologies are helping operators reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency. Discussion topics include the latest innovations in tank linings; why inspection intervals are so important for tank owners and operators; and key requirements under API 652.

Brandon Acker, president of Titan Abrasive Systems, discusses the importance of efficient abrasive blasting in the coatings industry. Topics include hidden costs in the process; the need for proper surface preparation to avoid coating failures; the importance of using the correct media and maintaining equipment; and the significance of operator training, standardized processes, and performance metrics to improve productivity and safety.

Ryan Hunn, business development manager for bridge preservation at PPG Protective & Marine Coatings, addressed the latest developments in bridge deck waterproofing as part of our interview at the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. In his role, Hunn works closely with transportation agencies, rail owners, and certified applicators across North America, all with a mission of supporting bridge projects that help keep critical infrastructure in service longer. 

Known as the “non-skid guy,” Johnny M. Sanchez is the president and owner of Prime Time Coatings, Inc. (PTC). In this exclusive interview from the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo, Sanchez reflects on his distinguished career and the latest in industry trends, and he also shares insight and perspective for the next generation of the workforce.

In today’s construction environments — where schedules are tighter, labor is limited, and budgets face constant pressure — efficiency is everything. That’s why many fabricators, engineers, and asset owners are exploring two-coat systems for structural steel, rather than the traditional three coats. In this sponsored episode, Sherwin-Williams’ Greg Hansen and Brian Hlinak explain how modern two-coat systems can improve shop throughput while still preserving long-term corrosion protection and appearance. These coating systems, which are backed by industry-validated testing, include the Zinc Clad 4100 primer and Sher-Loxane 800 polysiloxane finish coat from Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine.

Michael Black is vice president of service and maintenance at Florida-based Sutter Roofing. In this recent interview from the sidelines of the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo — where Sutter won first place in the “Commercial Roof” category of CoatingsPro Magazine’s 2026 Contractor Awards — Black shares some the company’s keys to success and its outlook for the future.  Discussion topics include Sutter’s unique and award-winning project at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Fla., as well as Black’s perspective on maintaining and developing the workforce that is needed to complete these projects. Editor’s note: Additional insights from Black will be featured in the “Industry PROFile” section of CoatingsPro’s May 2026 print issue, so stay tuned for that!

D. Terry Greenfield, principal consultant at CONSULEX, is the new Technical Editor of CoatingsPro Magazine! He’s also a past chairman of AMPP and past president of NACE International, as well as AMPP’s accredited representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In this on-site interview, Lisa Sciortino — Managing Editor of CoatingsPro — catches up with Greenfield on the sidelines of the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. Topics include his new role with the magazine; highlights from the conference; industry trends and insights; and more.

Ben DuBose, News Editor with AMPP Media, interviewed a wide range of industry leaders as part of CoatingsPro’s exclusive coverage of January and February 2026 trade shows. That on-site coverage, which is available on our website and social media pages, included the 2026 World of Concrete (WOC); International Roofing Expo (IRE); and AMPP’s inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum. From WOC’s outdoor Exhibit Hall in Las Vegas, this mini-episode features booth interviews with leadership figures from Husqvarna Construction Products and Polyglass USA. Each interview can also be viewed in video form (complete with additional site footage) at the links below. Husqvarna video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1400288348508585  Polyglass video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3186983931467675 

To recap three industry events from early 2026, our Ben DuBose sits down with Lisa Sciortino (Managing Editor, CoatingsPro Magazine) and Jennifer Merck (Vice President of Defense and Maritime, AMPP). Discussion topics include event highlights and key takeaways from the World of Concrete show; the International Roofing Expo; and AMPP’s inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum. Both interviews can also be watched in video form at the links below. Lisa Sciortino video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1411476647277066  Jennifer Merck video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1444106733950436 

Ben DuBose, News Editor with AMPP Media, interviewed a wide range of industry leaders as part of CoatingsPro’s exclusive coverage of January and February 2026 trade shows. That on-site coverage, which is available on our website and social media pages, included the 2026 World of Concrete (WOC); International Roofing Expo (IRE); and AMPP’s inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum. From WOC’s Exhibit Hall in Las Vegas, this mini-episode features booth interviews with leadership figures from Gaco, Equipment Development Co., Inc. (EDCO), and Polycoat Products. Each interview can also be viewed in video form at the links below. Gaco video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1308691344658946 EDCO video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1826201654725397 Polycoat video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2084629952298277

Ben DuBose, News Editor with AMPP Media and CoatingsPro Magazine, interviewed several industry leaders at January and February 2026 trade shows. The on-site coverage, available at CoatingsPro’s social media pages, includes the International Roofing Expo (IRE); World of Concrete (WOC); and AMPP’s inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum. From IRE’s Exhibit Hall floor in Las Vegas, this mini-episode features short interviews with leadership figures from BITEC and Everroof. Each interview can also be viewed in video form at the links below. BITEC video: http://bit.ly/40daMrb Everroof video: https://bit.ly/4rfwvux 

In an event held February 3-4, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Va., AMPP will host its inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum. To reflect and share insight on the latest industry trends, this panel discussion features AMPP’s Jennifer Merck and Ben DuBose alongside several prominent event sponsors. Speakers include Jim Hartley of PPG; Robert Dahlstrom of Apellix; Joe McGreal of Ervin Industries; and Russell Roden of Atlantic Design Inc. (ADI). In a roundtable format, this episode also previews the event while showcasing its potential benefits for members and key stakeholders throughout the maritime coatings industry.

This roundtable conversation with leaders from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) explores the vital role of certifications in industrial painting, as well as areas in which a trained and certified workforce can boost the coatings industry. Topics include modern project requirements, certifications, and the industry’s future; QP contractor requirements; how contractor accreditation can help ensure quality and protect investments; and the IUPAT’s important role in raising the bar for industry standards.

From February 3-4, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is hosting its inaugural Maritime Coatings Contractor Forum. With a goal of serving members and the industry, CoatingsPro is a member magazine of AMPP. To share the latest event information along with insight on maritime trends and workforce development, this roundtable podcast features Jennifer Merck of AMPP; Anthony Manglona of Precise Systems; and Cassandra Frisby of Newport News Shipbuilding. Tune in!

David V. Revay, an AMPP-certified professional and founder of Revay Coating Consultants, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, recently introduced “The Paint Father” as an innovative YouTube and TikTok video channel. After 13 years of consulting and inspections work, as well as serving as an expert witness for many coatings-related legal cases, the 36-year-old now hopes to inspire and equip the next generation of inspectors. In this interview, Revay speaks with CoatingsPro Magazine regarding his unique career journey; industry trends; and his goals for the future. Revay contends that a five-day CIP Level 1 (AMPP’s Coating Inspector Program) certification course in January 2012 changed the trajectory of his life and led to him finding a deep passion for this line of work. Through these platforms, he hopes to make a similarly quick impact on today’s young minds.

This episode introduces readers to Lisa Sciortino, the new Managing Editor of CoatingsPro Magazine. Topics include her career background and what makes her a good fit for the role; opportunities for industry leaders to become more involved with the magazine; and how CoatingsPro aims to help contractors and other industry professionals do their jobs better, both now and into the future.

Dennis Karnstein and Brian Carson are top executives at Pittsburgh Paints Co., a leading North American producer of interior and exterior paints, stains, caulks, repair products, adhesives, and sealants. In this conversation with CoatingsPro Magazine, Karnstein and Carson address marketplace trends in late 2025 and entering 2026; making coatings more user-friendly for applicators; the group’s unique service model and its new opportunities as a privately owned company; and more.

A new set calculator on the Enverge.App is designed to provide contractors with a quick, mobile tool displaying instant estimates for how many spray foam sets a project will need, as well as built-in calculators for circles, triangles, and corrugated metal. Ryan Decker, spray foam brand manager for Enverge, chats with CoatingsPro Magazine regarding the importance of digital integration for contractors and applicators; feedback from early adopters of these technologies; marketplace trends in the industry; and more.

Pamela Novak, vice president of finance and HR at JetRock, joins this sponsored episode of the CoatingsPro Interview Series. Discussion topics include what makes JetRock stand out among flooring options in the commercial business sector; the company’s unique value proposition; installation challenges, opportunities, and training resources; and much more.

In this sponsored episode, experts from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) explore how new and emerging technologies are transforming the industrial coating marketplace. Featuring insights from Don McClain, Andrew Croll, and Ken Seal, topics include the impact of new technologies and tools; optimal strategies for training, workforce development, and quality control; future trends to watch for; and the role of organizations such as IUPAT and AMPP in supporting the industry and advocating for its workforce.

Davies Hood, President and Owner of Induron Protective Coatings, shares his insight on marketplace trends; innovations within the industry; and feedback from clients and end users. Those innovations include Induron’s new Perma-Clean 100 SL, which was designed to offer the benefits of thick-film barrier protection without requiring complex plural-component spray equipment.

In “Exhibitor Spotlight” interviews at the flagship AMPP 2025 show in Nashville, we spoke with several industry experts regarding new products and services to address modern challenges for protective coatings professionals. This mini-episode features experts from from Best-Tec and Sauereisen.

In “Exhibitor Spotlight” interviews from the flagship AMPP 2025 show in Nashville, we spoke with experts from across the industry regarding new products and services that could help address many modern needs and challenges. This mini-episode features experts from Belzona and Corrosion Innovations.

AMPP Advocacy Day 2025 is on the horizon, and this year’s event is focused on protecting America’s maritime future through corrosion mitigation and coatings solutions. As the United States modernizes its maritime industrial base and expands naval and commercial shipbuilding capacity, AMPP is leading conversations with policymakers to ensure materials protection remains a national priority. In this roundtable discussion, member leaders Kristin Leonard (Sherwin-Williams) and D. Terry Greenfield (CONSULEX) join AMPP’s Kern Williams and Ben DuBose to explore the most important legislative storylines in 2025 and beyond.

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) represents 140,000 workers across the United States and Canada. In this summer 2025 interview with CoatingsPro Magazine, IUPAT’s Andrew Croll and Ken Seal share insights and the latest trends pertaining to safety, training, workforce development, industry influence and advocacy, and more.

Brian Carson, CEO of Pittsburgh Paints Co. since February 2025, shares insights regarding his new role and the future of the industry. Topics include opportunities for the company under private ownership; how Carson’s flooring experience helps him understand the paints and coatings market; common challenges and pain points for contractor customers; and more.

Atlantic Design, Inc. (ADI) is a family owned and operated business in Baltimore, Maryland. The company brings more than 30 years of experience in the blasting and coatings industry while aiming to provide innovative and efficient solutions for the needs of its customers.  Russell Roden, president of ADI, joins this sponsored episode with perspective gained over his three-plus decades in the business. Topics include key technologies that ADI has contributed to the market; modern industry trends, such as using a pneumatic transfer system in grit recycling; recent upgrades and innovations within blast controls; and expectations for the future.

Kirk Lipes, Global Transportation Segment Director at paints and coatings manufacturer Sherwin-Williams, shares his insight on unique needs and opportunities within the market. Topics include challenges and historical limitations; newer technologies and processes to improve performance; feedback from customers and applicators; collaboration opportunities; and more.

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) represents 140,000 workers in the finishing trades across the United States and Canada. In this episode, IUPAT’s Andrew Croll and Ken Seal share insights on the organization’s mission to support and train professionals in the coatings industry; its strategies pertaining to recruiting and retaining workers; emerging technologies and jobsite trends in the industry; and much more.

Gary Gray, a longtime coatings contractor and an executive with Tenor ESOP Partners and ESOP Consulting Group, LLC, says he is seeing considerable momentum toward broad-based employee ownership as a growth tool. With the strategy (learn more) also representing a tax advantaged exit alternative, Gray explains why he believes the momentum is especially strong in the construction sector. 

While at the 2025 World of Concrete show in Las Vegas, CoatingsPro Magazine caught up with leaders from several industry companies for brief interviews on the Exhibit Hall floor. Companies profiled in this series, in alphabetical order, include BrandSafway; Crown Polymers; Graco; Key Resin Company; Polymer Nation; PPG; and Quikspray Inc.

Greg Mulholland, founder and CEO of Citrine Informatics, shares his perspective on how artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly affecting the coatings industry and others linked to materials protection and performance. Discussion topics include development processes influenced by AI; feedback from industrial users; strategies for using AI to adapt to industry trends and new regulations; what the future evolution of AI may look like; and available resources to learn more.

Russell Raad, president of “one-stop shop” Abrasives Inc., joins a sponsored episode of the CoatingsPro Interview Series with insight on his company’s unique specialties and market position. Discussion topics include marketplace trends, changes, and regulatory impacts; unique challenges to the surface preparation of industrial coatings jobs; strategies to incorporate feedback from contractors and end users; an outlook for the future; and available resources from Abrasives Inc. to assist in these processes.

Kaveh Meghdadpour, Director of National Accounts and Business Development and the East Region Manager at Crown Polymers, joins this sponsored episode. Discussion topics include industry trends and pain points within floor coatings; successful case studies using Crown solutions; the importance of manufacturers and contractors working together; and strategies to address potential industry concerns in the years ahead, such as workforce development.

Kyle McDonald, Project Manager at Western Specialty Contractors in Delray Beach, Florida, joins the CoatingsPro Interview Series with insight on his job and beyond. Discussion topics include standout projects from his time at Western; unique coating factors to consider with concrete substrates and his regional market; industry trends related to technologies, materials, equipment, and workforce development; and much more.

U.S. Navy Veteran Matt Flory is a global business director at Sherwin-Williams, where he leads the industrial group’s military coatings segment. With a team comprised largely of Veterans, Flory shares perspective on what they bring to the coatings industry and the role they can play in overcoming workforce development challenges. For the military market, Flory also outlines recent technological innovations such as chemical agent resistant coatings (CARC); anti-microbial solutions; enhanced corrosion primers; and more.

Ken Wells, co-owner of Elite Insulation & PolyPro and president of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) Board of Directors, joins the CoatingsPro Interview Series. Discussion topics include goals for his current SPFA term; challenges and opportunities within the evolving marketplace of the SPF industry; and resources from the SPFA that can be of assistance.

Jeff Jirak, managing director of AkzoNobel’s global powder coatings business, explains how new coating technologies are helping to mitigate corrosion in the built environment. The show also explores the manufacturer’s recent development partnership with CoatingAI, which aims to assist contractors and installers with application processes while reducing their carbon footprint. Related links: U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partners, Interpon, AkzoNobel on LinkedIn

Winn Darden, North American business manager forLUMIFLON fluoropolymer resins, shares his perspective on key decision-making processes pertaining to paints and coatings. This sponsored show explores how experts can develop strategic planning approaches that best adapt to current structural and future market demands. Discussion topics include the details of LUMIFLON and how it works in tandem with coatings; industry trends and feedback from the market segments it plays in; the role of new and emerging technologies; and educational resources available to assist in these challenges.

The Master Painters Institute (MPI), a subsidiary of AMPP, has announced the launch of its MPI Decision Tree tools. This digital platform is designed to transform the way industry professionals specify coatings for new construction and restoration projects. Pam Nicoletti, president of MPI, explains how this innovative platform encompasses all project variables while greatly reducing manual efforts.

While at the 2024 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in New Orleans, our AMPP Publications team interviewed a series of experts regarding new products, services, and technologies related to the coatings industry. Subjects in this series of sponsored Exhibitor Spotlight interviews include Rust-Oleum, BrandSafway, Induron, PPG, Abrasives Inc., and Axxiom.

In a recently published white paper, experts at Induron examined the expected service life of coatings for potable water linings while combining that knowledge with an interpretation of the total applied costs of these systems. On this sponsored podcast, Induron’s William “Bill” Seawell, technical service manager, and Andy Odorzynski, national sales manager, elaborate on expectations for water tank primers (both zinc and epoxy); how corrosion processes work; and the most important properties a water tank primer should have. Founded in 1947 and based in Birmingham, Ala., Induron produces high-performance coatings to serve a wide range of industrial applications. These applications include industries such as wastewater, electrical transmission and distribution, and potable water storage and treatment.

Sam Scaturro, President of Alpine Painting & Sandblasting Contractors, shares his insight on industry trends and career highlights after nearly two decades of success. Topics include the process of buying his family business and its transformation over the years; emerging trends in the marketplace; optimal strategies for workforce development; and highlights from his time as an association member leader, including a stint as Chair of the AMPP Board of Directors in 2022.

In a panel discussion, member leaders Dawn Eden and Sandy Williamson join Ben DuBose, News Editor with AMPP Publications, to explore the association’s latest efforts and intel related to materials sustainability. Topics include what’s new within AMPP’s Sustainability Task Force; key takeaways and insights from the recently completed 2024 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo; and what they see on the horizon as AMPP ramps up its global outreach around this fast-paced growth topic.

Ryan Bingham, business development leader at third-party inspection services provider OMC International, LLC, shares his insight regarding the value that qualified coating inspectors can have within the industry.  Discussion topics on this episode include trends and common pain points from clients; how technologies and demands continue to evolve; the unique career arc of Bingham and the company; and areas where AMPP can help companies such as OMC achieve their goals while serving the association’s broader mission. For more information, contact: OMC International, LLC, (281) 398-4281, www.omcintllc.com

Gregory Muha, Director of Conferences, Exhibits, and Sponsorships, responds to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the 2024 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo. Held from March 3-7 in New Orleans, discussion topics include what attendees can expect at the show; highlights of the 2024 schedule; feedback-based changes from previous years, including a greater emphasis on coatings content; and how the latest version of the conference serves the needs of membership and the broader industry.

Chris O’Brien, founder and president of Polymer Nation, and Michael Douglass, technical director, join a sponsored episode of the CoatingsPro Interview Series with insight on the evolution of coatings technologies. Topics include areas of growth and concern in the industry; common challenges that need to be overcome; which technologies could make the biggest jump in the years ahead; and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their business and the industry’s future. For more information, contact: Polymer Nation, (847) 774-5038, www.polymernation.com

As part of a new task force, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is bringing together stakeholders from a variety of roles to better understand the relationship that corrosion engineering systems have within the infrastructure insurance industry.  In this conversation, members involved with that task force—GPI’s Tony Serdenes, Nick Kuntz of Alliant Insurance Services, and David A. Scotti of Scotti Law Group—share their perspectives on challenges and best practices that could benefit those involved in designing, specifying, supplying, and performing those services, specifically as they relate to insurance and risk management.  The roundtable discussion also explores various paths that AMPP can take to address those challenges, as well as ways in which our industry can work together to develop best practices for risk management and insurance needs.

Stephanie Chizik, Editor-in-Chief of CoatingsPro Magazine, shares key takeaways and observations from the recently completed 2024 World of Concrete (WOC) show in Las Vegas. Topics include common feedback themes and areas of interest for exhibitors and attendees; year-over-year market changes; memorable WOC highlights; and an early look at marquee trade shows on tap for upcoming weeks.