/ EINPresswire.com / ST LOUIS, Missouri — The Materials Technology Institute (MTI) is pleased to announce that Bill Watkins has accepted a position as an Associate Director. Watkins, who has been Air Products’ MTI Representative since 2005 and is currently on the organization’s Board of Directors, begins his new role May 1, 2010.
“I’ll be retiring from Air Products on April 30, 2010 after 31 years,” reports Watkins. “This is a great opportunity to continue working in some capacity in the field in which I’ve been working for over 40 years. I’ve been told you need to retire to something rather than from something. This opportunity certainly fits the bill, no pun intended.”
As an Associate Director, Watkins will help support MTI’s growing regional and global activities, which span from North America to Europe and Asia. He will be responsible for organizing, leading, and facilitating teams of MTI member technical specialists and outside contractors to achieve project objectives. Watkins will report to MTI Executive Director Jim Macki.
“Bill is a great addition to the MTI technical staff, and we are very fortunate to be adding him,” says Macki. “In addition to his 30-plus years working on materials problems at Air Products, he has additional ten years’ experience in process metallurgy and metallurgical research.”
Watkins, who holds a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from Drexel University and an MBA in Administrative Management from Saint Joseph’s University, has in-depth experience in metallurgy and materials engineering developed with Frankford Arsenal, Alan Wood Steel Company, and primarily at Air Products, where he has worked since 1978. Air Products serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services.
Watkins fills the vacancy left by retiring Associate Director Galen Hodge, who has been an active member and leader at MTI for many years. “Knowing what I know about Galen Hodge, his shoes will be difficult to fill,” says Watkins. “I feel Galen represented the heart and soul of MTI. I hope I can be as dedicated, energetic, and successful as Galen.”
He is just happy to have that chance. “It’s a great honor and a privilege to be selected for this position with such a prestigious organization,” says Watkins. “I feel very fortunate that my association with MTI over the years has led to this opportunity.”
About MTI: Founded in 1977, MTI is a unique, not-for-profit technology development organization representing private industry. It sponsors projects focused on developing new technology and transferring existing knowledge to day-to-day practice. Practical, generic, nonproprietary studies are conducted on the selection, design, fabrication, testing, inspection, and performance of materials of construction used in the process industries. The scope of work includes evaluation of metallic, and non-metallic materials, optimum design applications, fitness-for-service, mechanical integrity and life cycle determinations, and economic factors affecting performance of vessels, tanks, piping and other components. For more information, visit www.mti-global.org.
