We serve a community made up of lifelong learners who see welding as a craft and an art as well as a source of income. Our members choose this industry, lifestyle, and career as Plan A, taking pride in how our efforts seamlessly integrate and protect every facet of modern living, including buildings, transportation, appliances, and more. When you join the AWS staff, you are part of a team dedicated to supporting the people, careers and technologies connected with the skilled profession of welding and related processes.
Innovation and growth are at the forefront of what drives us. We design, develop, and implement the standards, certifications, educational programs, and events that support the growth of the individuals, businesses, and educators that make up our membership base. As a member of the AWS Team, you work alongside highly talented, collaborative, and creative individuals with an excellence mindset. Striving to be the best we can be in our work, our relationships, our ideas, and our services is our pledge to the welding community.
We are loyal, dedicated, and treat each other with respect and kindness. We work hard and have fun, whether we’re collaborating with one another, one of our committees or subcommittees, our more than 60,000 members, or others outside of our profession. Giving back by investing in the future of the welding industry through the AWS Foundation’s scholarships, grants, and other workforce development programs is one of our most important core values.
Becoming a member of the AWS staff means purpose−driven work towards our vision of being the preeminent global resource for enabling welding professionals to help protect and improve lives. We believe in the talent of our staff and not only offer some of the best benefits in the industry, but the unwavering support to help our employees have successful and rewarding careers. Here are just a few of the perks and benefits of working at AWS.
The benefits provided by AWS are among the best in our industry, and include:
Compensation and Gainshare: Compensation is commensurate with similar organizations in the area and in the industry. Employees are paid bi-weekly (26 pay periods). Job descriptions and responsibilities are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that salaries remain competitive. Dependent on certain financial factors, employees may receive supplemental gainshare compensation each calendar year towards the end of the first quarter.
Health/Dental/Life & Disability insurance: First day of the month, following thirty days after being hired AWS provides group health, dental, vision, basic life, Short Term and LTD insurance, EAP, Worksite and Pet Insurance to full-time employees. Our HR Department works hard to ensure that we have top-of-the-line benefits at reasonable costs to each employee.
Retirement Savings: No matter what age you are when you begin your AWS career, it’s important to start planning for retirement. Immediately upon starting at AWS, employees are eligible to participate in the organization’s 403(B) Plan. AWS automatically invests 4% of each employee’s base salary in the 403(B) program, regardless of whether or not the employee chooses further contribution to the plan. AWS matches up to 4% for every dollar the employee contributes to the AWS 403(B) retirement plan.
While we work hard, AWS recognizes that we are more than our day jobs. Therefore, all employees receive the following paid time off benefits per calendar year; pro-rated for those who start after January: Vacation, Sick Time, Personal Days, Holidays among others.
Professional Development: We truly believe in the value of continuing education for all our staff members. AWS invests in its staff’s professional development by providing tuition reimbursement, educational webinars as well as learning platforms such as LinkedIn Learning and Dale Carnegie.
Leadership Development: AWS believes in developing a strong leadership succession plan. In addition to professional development, we also provide leadership development and coaching opportunities.
References/Background Check: All offers of employment at AWS are contingent upon satisfactory results of a thorough background check. Background checks will be conducted on all newly hired staff members and on all employees who are promoted, as deemed necessary.
Drug-Free Workplace Policy: AWS is a Drug-Free workplace. As such, you will be asked to go through a pre-employment drug screening process. This offer is contingent upon the results of a successful drug screening process.
E-Verify: As a condition of employment and in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, AWS participates in E-Verify. Within the first three days of your employment, you will need to provide documentary proof that you are eligible to work in the United States. To satisfy that requirement, you will need to present approved documents that establish your eligibility to work.
Equal Opportunity: AWS is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits all forms of illegal discrimination and harassment of any kind. AWS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at AWS are based on legitimate non-discriminatory factors such as business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.
Our Senior Leadership Team is the driving force that works with our Board of Directors and Staff to ensure that AWS continues to grow and inform our industry. Senior Leadership Team Members are:
As Executive Director & CEO of the American Welding Society, I have the privilege and honor of setting the society’s strategic direction, shaping the culture, and celebrating the wins of the AWS staff.
I’ve spent more than 20 years in the welding and automation industry, most recently working for The Lincoln Electric Company. During my tenure there, I held various roles including Vice President – Global Automation, Managing Director – Southeast Asia, Korea, and Japan, based in Singapore, and Director of Business Development, based in Shanghai, China.
I earned a Bachelor of Science, Industrial & Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Florida.
The focus throughout my career has been on sales, strategic planning, international business, and fostering relationships among highly diverse teams.
As CFO|CAO for over a decade with AWS, I am involved in the execution of our global strategic plan, and responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial aspects of the Society and the AWS Foundation including our investments.
I lead the budget preparation and monthly forecasts, capital planning needs and the annual financial audit as well as ensure compliance with laws and regulation. I play a key role in mergers and acquisitions, performance measurement and I’m responsible for our fulfilment operations, property management, and leasing function.
Prior to AWS, I spent a decade in public accounting as an auditor overseeing audit engagements in two main industries, nonprofits, and financial institutions. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Masters of Accounting with Concentration in Information Systems from Florida International University.
As the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Membership Development, I oversee marketing, product ideation and management, and membership growth and engagement opportunities. My teams create, implement, and integrate strategies and tactics to drive awareness of welding, the Society and its diverse product and service portfolio. Realizing the importance of increasing AWS stakeholder value, my teams also look for market-driven opportunities to serve and engage members and customers in new ways.
I have nearly 30 years of progressive nonprofit management experience and lead with a members-first mindset and believe everything we do should have a tie to serving AWS members.
I earned a BS in business management from the University of North Carolina. I am a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management and a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives.
As Senior Vice President – Welding & Technology for the American Welding Society, I am responsible for overseeing its certification, accreditation, technical, and customer service operations.
In these related but distinct segments of AWS’ activities I am responsible for coordinating and directing all facets of business global activities for the Society’s personnel certification programs, company accreditation and certification programs, customer technical and nontechnical support, and its technical liaison strategies.
Throughout my tenure with the Society, I’ve been dedicated to ensuring that AWS fulfills its role to support its membership and our welding related industries.
I earned a bachelor's degree in Materials Science & Engineering, specializing in Metals from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in business administration from Florida Atlantic University.
I currently serve as the Executive Director of the AWS Foundation, a role I’ve held since 2017. Prior to this, I served as Corporate Director for Workforce Development with the Foundation.
Concurrently, I also serve as Principal Investigator for Weld-Ed, the National Center for Welding Education and Training, located at Lorain County Community College.
Before joining the American Welding Society, I spent 6 years at Sinclair Community College, leading their manufacturing workforce development efforts. In my 12-year career at General Motors, I’ve held numerous positions of increasing responsibility, including Manufacturing Training Manager and Superintendent of Production.
I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University.
I assist the Executive Director and serve as the staff liaison to the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Constitution and Bylaws Committee, and the National Nominating Committee. I also oversee and maintain Society policies and aid key executives of historical precedents, procedures, and bylaw regulations. The best part of my role is being able to work closely and engage with our volunteers regularly through correspondence and assisting with the onboarding and training process of Board members and staff committee secretaries.
Shortly after earning an M.B.A., I began my career at AWS in 2016 where I’ve had the opportunity to work in different roles, including Accreditation, Seminars, and awards.
AWS supports and prioritizes professional growth which aligns with one of the things I value most – education. When I’m not working, you will find me reading or practicing yoga.
As Senior Director, Human Resources, for the American Welding Society, I’m responsible for leading the strategic and operational human resources activities in multiple states as well as navigating the legal and regulatory requirements for hiring and benefits in those states.
My focus is on implementing best practices to elevate the employee experience, hiring, development, engagement, and retention.
Prior to joining AWS, I served as head of human resources with companies such as OBMI, a luxury architectural and interior design services firm as well as Fortune International Group, a high-end, high-rise developer in Miami.
I earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Florida International University and hold senior level HR certifications by both the Society for Human Resource Management and the Human Resource Certification Institute. I’m currently the President for HR Miami, the local chapter of SHRM.
I currently serve as Managing Director, Publishing, responsible for leading the Publications and Standards Development teams. I am also part of our senior leadership team, where I am involved in discussions and decisions about the strategic direction of the organization. My role allows me to interface with many of the members and volunteers who serve as our bedrock and inspiration.
I came to AWS from academia, having worked both as an educator and administrator at the university level. I helped develop academic programs, facilitated research grantwriting and grant management training, and worked in marketing communications as a writer and editor.
I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Michigan, where I also was a PhD candidate focused on cultural and literary studies. I’ve also earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management from the Institute of Organization Management of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
I currently serve as Managing Director, Information Technology for AWS. I am a strong believer in growing and developing team talent. I focus my efforts on automation and the customer experience, as well as on building capacity for business units, developing cross-organizational teams, and establishing how we can exceed business continuity and excellence for our internal and external clients.
I have more than 25 years of experience bringing innovation and growing high-performance teams across organizations, chiefly in the non-profit sector. My educational background includes an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Leadership from Bauer Business College, a Bachelor of Science, Economics from the University of Houston.
These words from Aristotle have been a lifelong philosophy for me: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not an act but a habit.”.
As Director of Global Sales at AWS my responsibilities include the day-to-day activities of the AWS global Sales Organization. I oversee not only the commercial aspects of the organization, but also sharing the benefits of all AWS products and Services to customers worldwide.
I have held Sales, Marketing and Senior Management positions with notable organisations such as ASME (A Standards Development Organization) and McGraw Hill (A Technology and Professional Publisher). I have built a network of global resellers and have developed direct business in Corporate, Industry, Academic, Government and other sectors.
I earned Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University. I have been a guest speaker at New York University and previously participated on various board of advisor’s positions with technology and standard development organizations.
