6/25/2019

Meet the Candidates for the 2019 WJTA Board of Directors

Updated August 20, 2019

Voting for six (6) open positions on the WJTA Board of Directors opens on August 12, 2019. Click here to login and vote online 🔒

On August 12, 2019, a link to vote online will be circulated to WJTA members eligible to vote. Members may also request a paper ballot by emailing wjta@wjta.org or calling +1-314-241-1445. All ballots (written or electronic) must be received by the WJTA office no later than October 1, 2019.


James W. Ashmead

James W. Ashmead

James W. Ashmead, DuPont Specialty Products USA, LLC, has been an employee of the DuPont Company for 33 years and holds the title of research investigator. During his career, Mr. Ashmead has built competencies in many fields, including machine design, robotic automation, micro-fluidics, hygienic design, and industrial cleaning. He has participated in updating DuPont's safety standards for industrial hydroblasting as well as leading the industrial cleaning and hydroblasting team. He has strived to keep DuPont up-to-date in hands-free technology, as well as the industry best practices.

Mission/Vision: I am honored to be nominated as a WJTA board member. Over the past several years I have been fortunate enough to participate in updating the WJTA's orange book, Industry Best Practices for the Use of High Pressure Equipment, as well as present at two boot camp sessions, "Panel Discussion: Lessons Learned from Hydroblasting Incidents and Near Misses" and "Hands-Free Hydroblasting from an Asset Owner's Perspective." As an asset owner, I am supportive of the WJTA's efforts to create a hydroblast operator training program. If elected, I will work diligently to drive and support the WJTA mission. I look forward to participating in the effort to develop global standards, improve productivity through operator training programs, improved safety manuals, as well as the adoption of hands-free hydroblasting.

Nominated by: Kerry Siggins, Chief Executive Officer, StoneAge, Inc., Durango, Colorado

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Hans Borgt

Hans Borgt

Hans Borgt is globally responsible for industrial cleaning within the Dow Chemical Company, where he is the technical associate-industrial cleaning in the Technical Expertise & Services Technology Center. Before joining Dow in 2007, he worked for 10 years in the industrial automation space. Mr. Borgt holds a degree in chemical engineering and in material science. He was the driving force working to non-manual hydroblasting and the introduction of other, new and innovative cleaning technologies to Dow where the focus besides safety is towards efficiency and quality improvement. Besides his extensive work at the Dow Chemical Company, Mr. Borgt is a part of the executive board of the Foundation for Industrial Cleaning (SIR) in the Netherlands and Belgium, co-chair of the Global Industrial Cleaning Recommendations Committee, project lead within the Knowledge and Innovation Center for the Maintenance Process Industry (KIC-MPI), board member of the European Water Jetting Institute (EWJI), and editorial board member of the Heat Exchanger Design Handbook (HEDH). Mr. Borgt also lectures on industrial cleaning at Avans University for Applied Science in Breda.

Mission/Vision: Over the last twelve years I have dedicated myself to improving the safety in the industrial cleaning space. We have driven the development and use of automation and continue to look for new and innovative ways to clean the equipment at Dow. I want to help WJTA improve the areas of safety, hands-free technology, and productivity through technology, safety, training, and best-demonstrated practices to current and potential industry participants and its employees.

Nominated by: Jimmy Peck, General Manager, MPW Industrial Services, Inc., Hebron, Ohio.

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Michael K. Brumfield

Michael K. Brumfield

Michael K. Brumfield's career began as a shop mechanic for CH Heist Corp. working on positive displacement pumps in February of 1988, progressing to a crew operator at Mobay, and water-blasting tank cars by the summer of 1990. From 1990-1994, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a bulk fuel specialist serving in Operation Desert Storm and Operation "Restore Hope" in Mogadishu, Somalia until "End of Active Service" in 1994. From 1994 to 2004, he held positions that included division manager, operations manager, field supervisor, safety coordinator, and safety manager for CH Heist, which was purchased by Veolia. Mr. Brumfield was the accounts manager for three different refineries and petrochemical plants in the Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas, area and Sulphur/Lake Charles, Louisiana, area from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, he achieved the level of regional waterjetting manager covering southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana for United States Industrial Services until going back to Veolia in 2011. Mr. Brumfield maintained the position of regional waterjetting manager for Veolia and United States Environmental Services until 2015. In 2015, Mr. Brumfield joined Peinemann Equipment USA, Inc., as an application and support specialist until 2016 when he assumed the position at Peinemann of manager for the U.S. and Canada.

Mission/Vision: My goal for being a member of the WJTA board is to lay the groundwork and inspire more conversation to finally elevate the waterblaster from being viewed as an unskilled laborer to a craft that obviously requires a very specific skillset. I want to bring awareness to the many risks at all levels of this field. I also want to bring the modern tools and techniques that are available on the market to the forefront of our industry. Through this membership, I can influence the industry by using my experience with automation, as well as the connections I've acquired over the last 27 years to achieve a safer and, eventually, a hands-free industry that reveres the "common" hydroblaster with a higher regard. I feel like it is a very exciting time in the industry, as I have seen the progression of very few robotics and automation when I first started, to where we are now with many "hands-free" tools, and the future possibilities with 100% automation.

Nominated by: Bill Krupowicz, Vice President and General Manager, Jetstream of Houston LLP, Houston, Texas.

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Jerry Carter

Jerry Carter

Jerry Carter is vice president of sales and chief commercial officer of SPIR STAR Ltd., a supplier of high pressure thermoplastic hose and related accessories located in Houston, Texas. Mr. Carter has 22 years of experience in high pressure thermoplastic hose development and sales with a strong knowledge of high pressure waterblasting applications. In his career with SPIR STAR, he has been involved with many aspects of the high pressure waterblasting industry, including new product development, providing training in the safe care and use of high pressure hose, as well as consultations regarding high pressure hose with various companies and safety councils. Mr. Carter was a member of the 2011 WJTA committee established to evaluate and contribute to the color coding of high pressure hose that was later implemented for safe working pressure identification of high pressure hose.

Mission/Vision: As high pressure thermoplastic hose is a key component to the majority of high pressure waterblasting applications, I believe that my experience and focus on the safety of high pressure hose development and use would be beneficial in furthering an overall safe culture within our industry. I would like to work to further the knowledge and safe practices of those directly involved in the use of high pressure components through training using multiple outlets and possible collaboration of the primary manufacturers of high pressure components. I would also like to work towards expanding the reach of the WJTA into other industries where the guidelines and practices in place could be used and beneficial.

Nominated by: Joseph Derzapf, President and Chief Executive Officer, SPIR STAR Ltd., Houston, Texas.

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Pat DeBusk

Pat DeBusk

Pat DeBusk is executive vice president and senior consultant for USA DeBusk, Deer Park, Texas, and has been involved in the WJTA since its beginning. Mr. DeBusk has over 50 years of experience in the industrial cleaning business and has tremendous knowledge of the industry from all aspects. In addition, "Pat is an excellent person who is respected by more people than any person I know," says Dee Green.

Mission/Vision: My name is Pat DeBusk. Having been involved in the WJTA since it was formed in the early 1980s, as well as having been in the industrial cleaning business since the mid-1960s, I have observed many changes in the waterjetting industry. It is my belief that there are more changes and waterjetting uses in the future. I am proud of the progress our industry has made in safety applications and automation. In addition, end users are becoming more involved in the WJTA. It is my belief that the end users promoting our organization is a major key of our continued success. I want to help bridge the gap between end users of high pressure water and those providing the service and to promote the use of high pressure water throughout industry in a safe, constructive and economical manner.

Nominated by: Dee Green, Vice President of Operations, USA DeBusk, Deer Park, Texas.

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Luis Garcia

Luis Garcia

Luis Garcia is president of the gulf coast region, Northern Safety and Industrial. He has been in the personal protective equipment (PPE) distribution business for over 28 years. Mr. Garcia is responsible for taking his start-up company, Channel Safety & Marine Supply, Inc., from an initial $1,000.00 investment in 1995 to a diverse, multi-million dollar company with multiple locations. His strong sense of entrepreneurship has helped develop significant relationships across varying industries. He has extensive experience working closely with key companies in the PPE industry to develop innovative industry-specific PPE products. During his career, Mr. Garcia's proximity to numerous industrial and petrochemical industries has provided broad experience in the industrial vacuuming and hydroblasting industry.

Mission/Vision: My vision as a WJTA board member is to bring awareness to the personal protective equipment side of the vacuum truck and hydroblasting technology industry. In my opinion, this area is an important aspect to the expansion of this technology. I feel my 24 plus years of experience with PPE manufacturers will allow me to draw the two industries together, thus spurring development of new and improved methods to keep our end-users safe. I feel I have a unique view to bring to the WJTA organization, having had wide-ranging experience with equipment manufacturers, as well as the end-users. As a member of the WJTA board, I believe my ability to lure the interest of the PPE industry to waterjet technology, will serve to trigger more development in the safety aspect of the technology and place the WJTA as a go-to progressive organization promoting and setting the standard for the safe implementation of industrial vacuuming and waterblasting equipment.

Nominated by: Bill Gaff, Vacuum Truck Rentals, LLC, Streator, Illinois.

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Terry Gromes Jr.

Terry Gromes Jr.

Terry Gromes Jr. has acquired his knowledge of waterblasting during his employment at Terydon, Inc., with over a decade of experience. Working in the family business, he has acquired advanced machinist and design skills and has assisted in the manufacturing and development of waterblasting products. With an educated background and previous work experience in technology-driven industries, he has been focusing on recent advancements from other technical fields and applying them to enhance productivity as well as safety within the waterblasting industry. Mr. Gromes has combined his critical thinking and intense mechanical background to morph the finesse characteristics of electric, mechanical, and computerized solutions to the challenging environments of industrial cleaning. These efforts have enabled the company to develop elite safety equipment; as a result, Terydon has been recognized as the recipient of the 2017 WJTA-IMCA Safety Award. Throughout his career, Mr. Gromes has been invited to speak worldwide and deliver presentations on the importance of safety within industrial cleaning as well as the benefits of integrating new technology into industrial cleaning.

Mission/Vision: Our objective at Terydon is to empower end-users with the safest and most efficient cleaning solutions available – to work smarter, not harder. Our approach has evolved the waterblasting industry to embrace technology previously unforeseen to industrial cleaning, notably the integration of electronics and computer software applications into hands-free tooling. On the board of directors, I will provide the same unique and technology-driven perspective to complement the existing foundation on which the WJTA is built. I aim to bring energy and enthusiasm into the WJTA to ensure that the waterblasting industry continues to progress forward down its evolutionary path. Optimistic of the industry's future, I intend to accelerate the waterblasting practice as a positive and appealing experience to the upcoming generations that will inherit the forthcoming realm of industrial cleaning.

Nominated by: Denny Mesarvey, Vice President and General Manager, Hammelmann Corp., Dayton, Ohio.

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Bill Krupowicz

Bill Krupowicz

Bill Krupowicz is a vice president of Federal Signal's Environmental Solutions Group. He is the general manager of Jetstream of Houston, LLP, and the vice president of FS Solutions. He has been with Federal Signal for 19 years. His current role spans Jetstream waterblasters and Guzzler industrial air movers. Mr. Krupowicz's industry experiences span the functions of engineering, materials management, finance, marketing, global sales and general management. Over the past 35 years, Mr. Krupowicz has worked in the aerospace, construction equipment, papermaking equipment and environmental solutions industries with such companies as Boeing, Caterpillar, Beloit Corporation and Federal Signal. He holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA, both from the University of Illinois.

Mission/Vision: The WJTA should provide our members and organizations with solutions to their business, operational and financial needs. I believe these needs range from training and certification programs, to safety initiatives, to expanding our market reach, to inter-industry collaborations. I have truly enjoyed my first term on the WJTA board of directors, particularly working on the revision to our orange book on waterblasting practices. The WJTA should work towards creating a framework for the safe and effective growth of our industry.

Nominated by: Sam Norris, Managing Director, Asia Waterjet Equipment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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Kerry Siggins

Kerry Siggins

Kerry Siggins is the chief executive officer of StoneAge, Inc., a manufacturer of high pressure waterblasting and sewer cleaning tools and equipment based in Durango, Colorado. Ms. Siggins joined StoneAge in January of 2007 as the director of operations and was named chief executive officer in 2009. Ms. Siggins has been a WJTA board member since 2011 and currently serves as vice president. She is the chair of the Global Standards Committee and is helping to affect lasting change across the world by advocating for the adoption of basic hydroblasting standards. She also sits on the Fort Lewis School of Business Advisory Board and E.P.I.C. Magazine.

Mission/Vision: I am honored to be nominated for a third term as a WJTA board member. Over the past four years, we have achieved several key milestones that I am proud to have been a part of. Most significant is our effort to formalize hydroblasting standards around the world. I am grateful to be the chair of the Global Standards Committee, partnering with global asset owners and safety associations to develop the Seven Basic Principles for Safe Waterjetting. I am supportive of the WJTA's efforts to create the Hydroblast Operator Training Program and continually improve our safety manuals. If reelected, I will work diligently to progress the global standards effort, promoting the adoption of hands-free hydroblasting equipment to create safer and more efficient working conditions within our industry. I will also work to strengthen our internal working committees, assist in the revision of our safety manuals, and help to get the Hydroblast Operator Training Program off the ground and running.

Nominated by: Alan E. Smith, Contractor Safety Specialist, BASF Corporation, Geismar, Louisiana.

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Robby Speights

Robby Speights

Robby Speights is executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer at Clean Harbors. Mr. Speights has a 29-year managerial track record of top performance in operations and sales at companies including DOW/Schlumberger, MPW Industrial Services, Aquilex HydroChem, Transfield Services, and Aegion Corporation. Mr. Speights is well versed in strategic planning, business development, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, turnarounds and performance/profitability management. He is also experienced in managing business in the upstream, midstream or downstream operations and dealing on a daily basis with Fortune 500 clients.

Mission/Vision: To listen to the voices of the industry to make industrial services a professional career, paid fairly, and treated with the same respect as other skilled contractors. We will do this by creating training, automation, and technology to continue improving our overall performance in safety and productivity, which will allow us to become world class leaders for other trades to aspire.

Nominated by: Bill Wilkinson, Director of Industrial Services, Clean Harbors, Corpus Christi, Texas.

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Drew Waltenbaugh

Drew Waltenbaugh

Drew Waltenbaugh is the chief executive officer of NLB Corporation. He began his professional career in 1982 with Pure Carbon Company. Mr. Waltenbaugh earned his BS in chemical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 1982 and his MBA in finance from Oakland University in 2003. Mr. Waltenbaugh has been a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) since 1980 and became a lifetime member of the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) Honors Fraternity in 2003. While at Pure Carbon Company (manufacturer of seal faces and bearings for pumps), Mr. Waltenbaugh held numerous positions: engineering, quality, production control, business unit manager and plant manager. Mr. Waltenbaugh relocated to Michigan in 1996, joining Foamade Industries (automotive component supplier) as the plant manager and held several positions culminating in the role of chief operating officer. Mr. Waltenbaugh joined NLB in 2010 and became its chief executive officer and president in 2012. Mr. Waltenbaugh was inducted to the Who's Who Worldwide Membership of Business Leaders in the 1992-1993 Who's Who Registry. His work at NLB includes a vision to utilize the very strong positive brand and product reputation that NLB has established since 1971 as the springboard in moving the organization forward as the safest provider of waterjetting products in the world, while simultaneously striving to deliver exemplary customer service to all customers.

Mission/Vision: My vision for WJTA is to become integral to our organization in expanding the safest use of waterjetting technology through an educational process to current and prospective waterjet users. The goal is to drive this vision through a worldwide endeavor, requiring an ongoing honing of the skillsets of all WJTA members in the uses of existing and new technology. Key areas of focus include working towards implementation of industry wide safety standards (color coding, best practices, etc.); assisting WJTA to make this the organization that both industrial contractors and industrial contract services buyers look to for direction and best practices (inclusive of waterjetting manufacturers and vacuum equipment suppliers); working towards consistency in developing and implementing an industry wide training program; assisting in identifying and publishing information regarding the latest advancements in the market through our publications, papers and seminars; and enhancing WJTA's presence in the areas of surface preparation, hydro-demolition and cutting applications. Driving our members to rely on the WJTA for guidance, safety and performance standards must be core to our mission.

Nominated by: Jim Van Dam, Director of Product Development, NLB Corporation, Wixom, Michigan.

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