CoatingsPro Interview Series

Inclusion and Diversity: How to Start and Why It Matters

Having a contracting company that continuously works on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging can make an internal impact for your company, as well as externally for your clients. Dr. Tiffany Reed, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) consultant for InclusionP365, shares examples of what this type of workplace can look like and how to get started on that hard work. For more information, contact: Dr. Reed, https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtiffanyreed/

Reference

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Coating NYC's Tribeca Bridge and Beyond

Anthony Maracic, Vice President of Northeast Operations at Champion Painting Specialty Services Corp. (CPSSC), explains lessons learned from his company's recent project recoating the Tribeca Bridge in New York City (as featured in this CoatingsPro Magazine case study).

 

Maracic also shares highlights from his 40 years in the protective coatings industry, as well as tips and tricks for the next generation of coatings contractors.

Lifelong Partnership Takes Roofing Company to Next Level

Stella Amador joined German Duarte’s Florida Quality Roofing nearly 10 years ago. Over the past decade, the lifelong friends have created a partnership that has found success in south Florida by building relationships, giving back to their community, and doing what they say they’re going to do. Amador’s tips, tricks, and take on the roofing industry are worth a listen! You can also check out our most recent profile of their work in CoatingsPro Magazine.

For more information, contact: Stella Amador, stella@floridaqualityroofing.com; Roofing With a Purpose for the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, www.bgcbc.org/fqr19

Nano Non-Skid Coating Solution for Offshore Environments

Danos, Graco, and Tesla NanoCoatings recently worked together to develop a functional non-slip deck coating for offshore clients. Their work, which was profiled in Materials Performance (MP) magazine, explains how a coatings applicator was able to overcome many traditional challenges through the use of an innovative protective coatings pump design with a new single-coat carbon nanotube non-slip deck coat slurry.

 

In this episode, Danos' Scott Soto, Graco's John Lihwa, and Tesla's Joe Davis explore lessons learned from their collaboration, as well as future opportunities when using the system.

From Journeywoman to Business Owner

Kimberley Robles, president and owner of Robles Concrete Design, joins the podcast to discuss about her experiences in coming up through the trades as a journeyman. Based on those experiences, she has some great insight on how the industry might be able to attract — and keep — quality people to help decrease the labor shortage. She also shares some challenges and opportunities she’s seen within the industry over the years.

In the episode, Kimberley mentions a Citi Foundation ad that she was featured in last year. Check that out here. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn, or via the company’s website.

Digitalization Strategies for the Coatings Industry

Ross Boyd, founder and CEO of TruQC, joins our podcast to discuss the growing role of digitalization in the coatings industry. Topics include why it matters and how to start; tips to ensure a successful initiative; common questions and feedback from industry users; and much more. 

For more information, check out his recent CoatingsPro article titled "Digitalization for the Coatings Industry."

Member Profile of People-Forward Champion Painting

Kyle Hough, executive vice president for Champion Painting Specialty Services Corp. (CPSSC), explains how the company is achieving success in the industrial coating sector. There’s no secret sauce, but CPSSC is making sure to focus on its most valuable access: its people.

For more information, contact Champion on LinkedIn.

How Drones Are Lifting Corrosion, Coating Inspections

Robert "Bob" Dahlstrom, CEO of aerial robotic systems provider Apellix, joins our podcast to explain the increasing role of drones in corrosion and coating inspections — with a particular emphasis on aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). Topics include the past, present, and future of drone technologies, as well as the recent launch of Apellix NDT as a new field services company.

Coatings and Collision Repair Worlds Collide

Brandon Eckenrode, director of development of Collision Repair Education Foundation, joins CoatingsPro to discuss the foundation’s goals, as well as overlaps within the coatings community. The organization works to support school programs across the United States, in this instance bringing coatings to help improve appearances and safety of the repair shops. 

For more information, visit www.collisioneducationfoundation.org.

Concrete Flooring Trends and Beyond in 2021

Matthew Koerner, who recently sold his epoxy flooring contracting business (Manhattan Concrete Systems), joins our podcast to discuss conditions in the industry. Koerner is starting his own selling and distribution business for coatings and equipment, and he shares lessons learned from his extensive time in the field.