Earlier this year, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) announced its creation of a nonprofit philanthropic organization focused solely on workforce development. AMPP also announced changes to its governance system to allow a greater focus on emerging and global opportunities.

“This is a critical time for any industry impacted by workplace recruitment and retention issues,” says Alan Thomas, CEO of AMPP. “So many companies are facing workforce challenges that can affect public safety, sustainability programs, and even a nation’s security. Therefore, AMPP istaking immediate steps to support workforce needs by transitioning the former AMPP Global Center organization into one focused on the unique worker-related needs of our industries.”

As part of this transition, the responsibilities of the former AMPP Global Center Board are porting to the main AMPP Board.

“The directors who served on the AMPP Global Center Board up through 2024 led the bulk of the programs in AMPP and must be recognized for the success of one of the largest nonprofit mergers in U.S. history,” says Thomas,referring to AMPP’s formation in 2021. “Now, the AMPP Board is adopting a one-board governance system to support nimble growth beyond AMPP’s historical analog nature, and to even expand AMPP to include research services, data strategies for companies, and tailored global programs.”

The first Chair of the 2025 AMPP Board will be Juan Caballero (Owner/Managing Director, NAINSO), Panama City, Panama. The Vice Chair will be Kimberly-Joy Harris (Manager of Corrosion Prevention, HF Sinclair Midstream), Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Kristin Leonard (North America Energy Marketing Director, The Sherwin-Williams Co.), Houston, Texas, USA, will serve as the Immediate Past Chair of the Board. A full list of AMPP Board members is available here. 

Kelsey May (CEO, ONEMESA) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, is the first Board Chair of the reconstituted AMPP Global Center, which now focuses on workforce development.

“At its core, workforce development is about building a strong, sustainable labor supply that can meet the needs of industries in multiple areas,” May says. “The workforce changed dramatically in AMPP communities following the pandemic, and I look forward to leading and supporting solutions to the new challenges.”

The new Global Center is in formation, and a fullphilanthropic board will be seated by the end of 2025. For more information on the emerging organization, see Global Center—AMPP.

AMPP is also addressing challenges related to the new and progressing needs of industries.

“In this digital age, AMPP must be more agile, more data-driven, and more impactful for asset owners and the whole of the materials ecosystem,” Caballero says. “Many companies will need AMPP’s support innavigating the new worlds of AI applications, GPTs, IoT, additive manufacturing, and more. AMPP must advance quickly while continuing to deliver and expand its traditional value related to networking, training, and solutions to corrosion.” 

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