May 6 marked an exciting milestone for the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), as the association opened the doors to its newly renovated training center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Alan Thomas, CEO of AMPP, was joined by Corey O’Connor, Allegheny County Controller, and Rick Matthews of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) for introductory remarks and a ceremonial ribbon cutting—all while celebrating the future of hands-on education in corrosion prevention, coatings application, and materials performance.
Attendees experienced many cutting-edge demonstrations. These included VR/AR (virtual reality/augmented reality) training with John Schulz, learning innovation specialist at AMPP; cathodic protection testing with Heather Groll, instructional designer at AMPP; and coating inspection practicals, lab equipment displays, and a tour of the site’s advanced blast booth.
The evening wrapped up with a lively reception where industry professionals connected, shared ideas, and explored how AMPP is shaping the next generation of workforce training.
Source: AMPP, www.ampp.org.
