AFS Institute Instructors | American Foundry Society

	Doug DeSmit ASK Chemicals Doug DeSmit is the Technical Service Manager for ASK Chemicals and has been working in the metalcasting industry since 1974. DeSmit oversees the training of all new Technical Representatives as well as maintaining training for ASK Chemicals.
	Luke Dix Profound Alloys Luke Dix earned a B.S. in manufacturing technology with an emphasis in metalcasting from the University of Northern Iowa. He received his M.S. in metallurgical engineering from the University of Alabama. Currently the regional sales manager for Profound Alloys, Dix previously was a regional sales manager for Miller and Company and a melting engineer and assistant superintendent for American Cast Iron Pipe Company.
	Walter Evans Walter J. Evans Consulting Walter Evans is the owner of Walter J. Evans Consulting where he works with the AFS Institute in developing new courses and teaching current ones. Evans worked for the Ford Motor Company for 30 years as a supervisor and staff technical specialist. Prior to working at Ford, Evans completed his PhD in metallurgy at Case Western University.
	Dr. Sudesh Kannan Co Power LLC Dr. Sudesh Kannan helps foundries reduce their casting scrap and rework rates to improve their profitability. With over 20 years of global foundry support, Dr. Kannan has helped businesses generate new products and services and tackled commercialization challenges of new technologies. He has authored over 25 technical papers, conference publications, and has been printed in Modern Casting and AFS Transactions.
	Patrick Kluesner Sr. Product Engineer, Grede Castings Patrick Kluesner, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology Management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, recently took a position with Grede Castings. Patrick served as a Training Engineer at MAGMA where he taught basic and advanced simulation techniques, with an emphasis on HPDC and sand casting. When not teaching, he was also responsible for creating content for seminars, webinars, and online tutorials for defect analysis and resolution.
	Brandon Lamoncha Humtown Products Brandon Lamoncha is sales manager/director of additive manufacturing for Humtown Products (Columbiana, Ohio), where he has worked for more than 19 years. Starting as a computer aided machinist (CAM), Lamoncha learned to produce tooling for aerospace, engine components, glass molds, and other foundry products. Most recently, Brandon has focused on 3D sand printing and establishing Humtown’s 3D printer facility in partnership with Youngstown State University and America Makes.
	Edward Marczyszak Retired Since starting his metalcasting career in 1973, Edward Marczyszak has worked in all facets of foundry work, including coremaker, material handler, green sand molder, production manager, and president/general manager. He has implemented lean manufacturing and safety programs in several plants.
	Randy Oehrlein Carley Foundry Inc. Randy Oehrlein has been involved with numerous foundry engineering tasks since 1974 and has been with Carley Foundry since 1999. He serves as VP of Engineering, overseeing a multi-disciplined team of engineers. He is active at the national level in the AFS Aluminum and Research Committees and has given presentations in specialty conferences.
	Dave Palmer, P.E. BRP-US Inc. Dave Palmer has a B.S. in materials engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an M.S. in materials engineering from UW-Milwaukee. He worked for Modine Manufacturing Co for several years and recently took a position with BRP-US Inc as supplier quality development engineer. Palmer is an experienced teacher and has worked for both producers and end-users of metal castings.
	Michael Porfilio Stainless Foundry & Engineering, Inc. Michael Porfilio is director of quality, foundry engineering and technical departments at Stainless Foundry & Engineering, Inc. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin). His specialties include metallurgical sciences, quality management and assurance, foundry operations, and third-party specification interpretation. Porfilio is responsible for maintaining the ISO 9001:2015, 2014/68/EU Pressure Equipment Directive, ISO 17025, Nuclear, NAVSEA and other compliance programs in the foundry and machine shop
	Sairam Ravi ATEK Metal Technologies, LLC Sairam Ravi is a process engineer for ATEK Metal Technologies. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in applied physics. Sairam previously worked for UNI (University of Northern Iowa) where he worked on applied research projects related to the advancement and development of foundry technologies. He received the AFS Howard Taylor award in 2015, the Ray Witt award in 2016, and Division IV Best Paper awards in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
	John Roth Prairie Industrial Products and Prairie Metallurgical Products John Roth is president of Prairie Industrial Products and Prairie Metallurgical Products (Prairie du sac, Wisconsin). Roth started Prairie Industrial Products in 2001. In 2008, he founded Prairie Metallurgical Products, which produces and markets highly exothermic risers and other metallurgical products for foundries. Before starting these companies, he already had decades of experience in the foundry industry, including as an operations manager, core room supervisor and technical sales associate. Roth has a B.S. in industrial education from University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He has been a member of AFS since 1982. He is a past chairman and current board member of the AFS Stateline Chapter, and he has been an AFS Institute instructor since 2008.
	Ted Schorn Enkei America, Inc. Ted Schorn is currently responsible for quality and technology for Enkei America’s North American operations as Vice President. He has worked in the field of quality over 35 years, spanning automotive, aerospace and medical markets. Ted also operates his own consulting firm, Schorn Consulting, LLC which provides training, management consulting and expert witness services. Ted’s areas of special expertise include quality management, wheel design and engineering, foundry safety and visual inspection. He has degrees in Physics and Mathematics and is the author of two books: Understanding the Wheel Fastening System on Trailers (RVIA/NATM) and Improving the Effectiveness of Visual Inspection (AFS). Ted is frequently called on to speak on both technical and management topics and has authored over 40 technical articles. Ted is a recent Thomas W. Pangborn Gold Medal award recipient. He was also awarded the Scientific Merit Award by AFS, was the 2005 Hoyt Memorial Lecturer and has been the recipient of the Ray Witt Management Paper Award three times. He served on the AFS board of directors 2011 – 2015, chaired the Division Council and the Engineering Division, serving on the Quality Systems committee over 25 years. Ted serves as President of the Lean Network, Inc. an association of Honda suppliers.
	Jiten Shah Product Development and Analysis LLC Jiten Shah is founder and president of Product Development & Analysis (PDA) LLC. He has over 30 years of metalcasting design and manufacturing experience and is proficient in computer aided engineering tools, including process simulation and 3D scanning. Shah specializes in product and process development, redesign for optimization, reverse engineering, additive digital manufacturing and value engineering of metal castings.
	Ken Way Miller and Company Ken Way has a B.S. in materials science and engineering from Purdue University. He is director of technology for Miller and Company. Way's other experience includes working as an engineering manager, senior plant metallurgist, laboratory manager and melting supervisor at Intermet Corporation; and as a technical, operations and quality manager for Citation Corp.
	Shannon Wetzel American Foundry Society Shannon Wetzel is managing editor of AFS’s Modern Casting and Casting Source magazines. Over the course of 18 years covering the industry for AFS, she has visited more than a hundred foundries, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities for North American metalcasters. The award-winning Modern Casting is the flagship magazine for AFS, published monthly, while Casting Source is a bi-monthly magazine providing designing and sourcing content for customers who buy and specify castings.
	Jim White Expert Consultant With over 20 years' experience in the foundry industry working for Caterpillar Inc. Jim White was responsible for developing processes for iron castings, advanced product quality planning (APQP), design for manufacturability, and continuous improvement at Caterpillar’s Cast Metals Organization. The second half of Mr. White’s career was spent at Caterpillar’s Purchasing Division, providing leadership and technical expertise to both non-ferrous and ferrous casting suppliers. Eventually Mr. White would lead a team of purchasing professionals responsible for $200 million in world-wide casting spend. His unique blend of experience as both a casting producer and purchaser gives him a unique perspective on the Casting Industry. Mr. White has addressed the AFS Executive Conference, and Casting Congress concerning the state of the foundry industry from the purchaser’s perspective. White is the 2010 recipient of the Childress-Loebler Lifetime Achievement Award, the AFS Howard Taylor Award in 2015, the Ray Witt award in 2016, and Division IV Best Paper awards in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.