By Ben DuBose, News Editor, AMPP Publications

The 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo began with celebration at Sunday night’s Opening Reception, cosponsored by Proxxima and the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

Hundreds of guests gathered over food and drinks inside the Houston Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis, one of the official conference hotels. The Marriott Marquis is adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center, host site for the show.

“It’s a home game for us,” said Greg Muha, AMPP’s director of conferences, exhibits, and sponsorships.

Houston is one of the association’s two global headquarters, and it is widely known as the “energy capital of the world,” making it pertinent to many members.

“We haven’t been here since 2011,” Muha recalled. “We were supposed to be here in 2020 but with COVID-19, we weren’t able to be back. So, people are really coming out this time, and it’s been awesome. We’ve been running about 400 people ahead of pace from last year, and it’s been amazing from that standpoint.”

“The other thing that stands out is partnerships. We’ve seen exhibitors taking larger spaces, and sponsors who are also exhibitors that are doing multiple sponsorships. So obviously, our members and customers want to be here in Houston. They realize there’s a huge opportunity, and they’re really going after it.”

With thousands of delegates expected over the coming days, Sunday’s event set the tone for a week of meaningful dialogue and conversations between industry leaders and key stakeholders.

Over a two-hour window, the reception highlighted a shared commitment to corrosion prevention, environmental stewardship, and advancing education across the materials protection and performance community.

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