About MWI
Our Philosophy
The Missouri Welding Institute is dedicated to providing its students with a sound occupational education. We strive to enable students to develop the attitude, knowledge, quality and skills necessary for them to be effective as a person, a family member and a citizen in an era of rapid social change.
Letter from the Founder
Dear Prospective Student:
Your career in welding is my personal concern. I have been involved in the welding profession since 1960. Through the years I have seen and experienced the progress of welding technology first hand in many varied facets of this trade.
Your career as a welding technician gives you many benefits, challenges and opportunities to be self-reliant and maintain job security. Pride in the quality of your craft is a tremendous confidence builder. A good welder is able to work in many locations across the U.S.A. The higher quality of training you receive plus the motivation from within your heart opens the door of opportunity, but not without hard work. Plain and simple, you must dedicate every ounce of energy to your craft. Every weld you make affects your reputation and is a reflection of how you perceive the importance in the profession.
You may dream of starting your own business, dream of travel or dream of having a choice as to where you work or for whom you work. I have seen these dreams turn into a reality many, many times. Students I have taught come back and visit me, and their success is apparent just by watching them walk and listening to them talk.
The personal concern I mentioned at the beginning of this letter has been enhanced through the years by the realization that welding as a trade or craft is not enough. You must develop your other qualities as well, such as motivation, positive attitude, work ethic, perseverance, self-reliance and confidence. These attributes are as important to your future goals as quality is to the industry.
Please understand that I have a deep desire to see your success fulfilled and take a great deal of satisfaction in watching it happen.
Come visit the MISSOURI WELDING INSTITUTE and we will be glad to tell you more. The decision to attend must be the right choice for you. It is your life and your decision. Choose it wisely and with care.
Sincerely,
Thomas E. Hollands
Founder
Meet the Team
Thomas E. Hollands
Founder
Mr. Hollands had over 45 years of experience in the field of construction and manufacturing. He spent 22 years directly associated with welder training, classroom instruction, practical hands-on welding, and fitting instruction. He also worked as a job placement director, welding consultant, and manager of a welder qualification testing laboratory. He worked overseas on two projects in Africa, one in Mozambique and the other in Zimbabwe. He taught over 12,000 hours of hands-on welding, classroom seminars, practical fitting, and contract training, along with international welder training in Africa. Unfortunately, he passed away. Tom will always be remembered as an amazing father, grandfather, entrepreneur and trail blazer in the field of welder training and education.
Brian Hollands
Owner
Brian holds a Bachelor’s Degree with a 3.0 GPA from the University of Kansas. He graduated from Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a 3.48 GPA in the top 25% of his graduating class of 700 students. He graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in October of 1995 and has worked as a welding instructor for nine years and has worked as Director of Training and Chief Welding Instructor for five of those years. Brian has taught over 16,000 hours of classroom and hands-on welding training and has helped to further Missouri Welding Institute’s curriculum in both the shop as well as the classroom. Brian has been in charge of and worked all departments at MWI from placement, admissions, marketing and instructing. He became the owner of MWI in 2018.
Brian holds an American Welding Society “Certified Welding Inspector” national inspection certification, and is currently studying to test for Levels I and II Society for Nondestructive Testing “Technician Certifications” in Visual Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing, Dye Penetrant Testing, Ultrasonic Testing, and Radiographic Testing. He has certified to both AWS-American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding Code and ASME-American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
Brian has certified with and has experience in all 4 major welding processes on both plate and pipe. Brian has field experience on refineries, chemical plants, paper mills, steel mills, and fossil fuel plants as a combination pipe welder and fitter. Brian is currently a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, The American Welding Society, The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, The American Society Testing and Materials, and The American Society for Metals.
Clint Parker
President/Director of Training
Clint graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in May of 1997. Since graduating, Clint has worked in several different jobs that have given him a versatile background. He’s worked at nuclear power plants, coal power plants, paper mills, refineries, and food-grade plants. Clint has been certified by both AWS – American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding Code and ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Clint has extensive experience in the following processes on pipe and plate: MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux Core. In addition, Clint is also certified in all positions with the above-mentioned codes. Clint also has the ability to read and interpret isometric and orthographic blueprints, layouts, and assembly.
Jerad Hembree
Vice-President/Director of Admissions
Jerad is a 2003 graduate of MWI and also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Missouri State University as well as an Associate’s degree in Drafting and Design Technology. Jerad is certified in and has experience with all 4 major weldings processed on both plate and pipe. He has experience in the field working as a pipe welder, pipefitter, foreman, and welding inspector.
Anthony Ammerman
Assistant Director of Training
Anthony graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in August of 2008 and has since worked new construction, shutdowns, add-ons, as well as shop and manufacturing. Some of the places he has worked include coal-fired power plants, natural gas-fired power plants, and nuclear enrichment facilities.
Anthony has extensive experience with all four major welding processes (MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux Core) and is also certified to both AWS – American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding Code and ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. He has been certified to weld on various alloys which include carbon steel, stainless steel, 9% chrome, aluminum, and Inconel. Anthony has also obtained his Certified Welding Inspector certification.
Dave Foreman
Assistant Director of Training
Dave graduated in October 2000 and started working shutdowns and turnarounds all around the country. Lately, he’s been running a rig truck in oilfield related industries including Natural Gas Plants, Booster Stations, and Refineries. He has a background supervising Pipefitter and Welder crews. Dave is certified to AWS D1.1-American Welding Society (structural welding code) as well as ASME Section IX- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (boiler and pressure vessel code). He has experience in all major welding processes. SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, FCAW and has certified on carbon, stainless steel, and other various alloys and welded them in all positions. He has also gotten his CWI certification.
Zach Nance
Director of Placement
Zach graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in the fall of 1998. Since graduating Zach has worked shutdowns, new construction, and expansions in oil and gas refineries, natural gas plants, coal mines, chemical plants, oil fields, ethanol plants, and fabrication shops.
Zach has worked as a certified combination welder, combination rig welder, and pipefitter. He is certified in carbon steel, stainless steel, 9% chrome, and Inconel, and is highly proficient with the four major welding processes which include: GTAW, SMAW, FCAW, and GMAW.
Michael Pommier
Digital Marketing Director
Michael graduated from Pittsburg State University in 2007 and joined MWI in January 2023. He spent 11 years as the marketing coordinator for an outreach office of one of the nation’s leading academic medical institutions and has experience in social media promotion, email marketing, graphic design, photography, and video editing. He grew up in southeast Kansas and moved to Nevada in August 2008. He is married with three children, a dog, and a cat. While he doesn’t have any welding experience, he is looking forward to learning more about the industry and learning how to weld.
Will Carneal
Admissions Representatives
Admissions representative Will Carneal was so determined to become a welder that he began attending Missouri Welding Institute the day after he graduated from Skyline High School in Urbana, Missouri. He completed his welding training in September 2011 and worked in numerous industries, including refrigeration, oil refineries, steel mills, and nuclear power plants. He has earned AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX, API 1104, ASME B31.5 certifications and used his expertise as an instructor at MWI for two years. Will enjoys sharing his love of welding with future students and encouraging them to change their own lives by learning the craft.
Montana Hembree
Admissions Representatives
Montana Hembree graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in 2012 and returned as an admissions representative in 2020. With 10 years of experience in welding, fitting and fabricating, he has worked on a wide variety of projects across the nation. He’s certified in AWS D1.1, API 1104, and ASME Section IX 6010 root 7018 fill and cap on 2”, TIG root and hot with 7018 fill and cap on 2”, and tig all the way on 2”. Montana enjoys informing high school students about trade schools and their career possibilities, helping to find scholarships and watching students establish successful careers after they graduate.
Robert Long
Admissions Representatives
Robert Long has served as an admissions representative at Missouri Welding Institute since 2018. He grew up in Hardy, Arkansas and is currently living in Salem, Arkansas where he serves as one of our outside admissions representatives.
Robert has experience as a former high school welding and trades instructor and holds a BSE in Agriculture Education and MSE in Vocational Administration.
As a graduate and employee of MWI it is Robert’s goal to aid students in identifying the benefits of welding careers and the quality of curriculum and training offered here. Quality instruction, hard work and good communication skills are essential for success in our profession.
Rylan Resco
Admissions Representatives
Rylan has been an admissions representative since 2016. He grew up in Clyde, Kansas where he worked on the family farm. Rylan graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in 2012. After graduating, Rylan went into the field and worked on coal power plants, water towers, and biodiesel plants. Rylan works to inform potential students of the many opportunities that are available after graduating from our programs. In his free time, Rylan enjoys taking his 5 kids hunting and fishing and working with his wife on their family farm in Moran, Kansas.
Austin Robbins
Admissions Representatives
Austin has been an outside admissions representative since 2018 and is located in Salem, Arkansas. He graduated from the Missouri Welding Institute in 2014. Between graduating and working as an admissions representative, Austin traveled the county welding in various coal-burning power plants and working in refineries. Austin’s goal is to give students the opportunities to change their life the way that Missouri Welding Institute changed his. He tells students that if they show up on time every day, work hard, and help others, the sky is the limit. There is a lot of money and cool places out there if they’re willing to go chase it.
Joshua Sauer
Admissions Representatives
Joshua grew up in Scott City, Kansas, and graduated in December 2001. Upon graduation from Missouri Welding Institute in 2006, he worked primarily in oil refineries and petrol chemical facilities. He also worked in food processing plants, ethanol plants, and power plants across the United States and overseas. He has also worked on some pipelines. Josh gained certificates in carbon, stainless, chrome, Inconel, Monel, and super duplex with AWS D1.1 and ASME B31.1 and B31.3. Josh began working as an Admissions Representative for MWI in 2021 covering the State of Kansas talking to students about the welding profession and some of the jobs he has had over the years.
Wes Winchell
Admissions Representatives
Since graduating from MWI in 2001, Wes has worked and welded on shutdowns, expansions, and new construction in ethanol plants, biodiesel plants, chemical, natural gas food grade as well as fabrication. Wes has also worked as a fitter as well as a foreman for 5 years for Multi-Craft contractors. He has extensive experience with all four major welding processes, including MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux Core. Wes is also certified by both AWS-American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding Code and ASME-American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
Collin Burns
Instructors
Collin Burns became a welding instructor at Missouri Welding Institute in 2019. Collin grew up around talented welders and began his welding career at Missouri Welding Institute after graduating from high school in Stockton, Missouri. Over the past five years, Collin has worked in refineries, biodiesel, ethanol steel mills, and power plants. NCCER-certified in fitter, signal person, and rigger welding, Collin strives to help his students understand all aspects of the trade, including fieldwork, safety, and welding procedures.
Chad Cargill
Instructors
Chad graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in August of 2002. After graduating he has worked on coal-fired power plants, fuel-fired power plants, food processing plants, as well as shop and manufacturing. Chad also has his own portable welding service and has worked on projects consisting of new construction, shutdowns, and expansions.
Chad has extensive experience with all four major welding processes which include: MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux Core. Chad is also certified to both AWS-American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding Code and ASME-American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
Austin Crews
Instructors
Austin Crews grew up in Stockton, Missouri and graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in October of 2019. He became a welding instructor at Missouri Welding Institute in November 2022. Before becoming an instructor, Austin worked in biodiesel, ethanol, and chemical plants. He is an NCCER-certified fitter. Austin strives to help take care of all his students and get the best education they can while they are here.
Jeremiah Heiserman
Instructors
Jeremiah Heiserman graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in 2015, and since graduating has worked on bio-diesel plants, hot-rolled metal plants, as well as shop and manufacturing jobs. Jeremiah also owns and operates his own mobile welding service. Jeremiah has extensive experience with all four major welding processes which include: MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux Core. Jeremiah is also certified to both AWS- American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding code and ASME- American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure vessel code. Mr. Heiserman has certified to weld on various alloys which include carbon steel, stainless steel, chrome mag, aluminum, and Inconel.
Corey Hurshman
Instructors
Corey grew up in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, and graduated from Missouri Welding institute in April 2013. After graduating, he worked in steel mills, tank farms, compressor stations, food-grade fabrication shops, railroad load-out stations, ethanol plants, coal-fired power plants, plastics plants, chemical plants, and oil refineries. He has extensive experience in all four major welding processes (MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux Core). Corey is also certified by both AWS- American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding code and ASME-American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure vessel code. He has been certified to weld on various alloys which include carbon steel, stainless steel, chrome mag, aluminum, and Inconel. He also is able to read and interpret isometric and orthographic blueprints, layouts, and assembly.
Ryan Larson
Instructors
Ryan is a 2000 graduate of Missouri Welding Institute, and since graduating he has worked on several jobs that gave him professional experience in a variety of areas that have shaped him into a well-rounded craftsman and instructor.
Mr. Larsen has worked on chemical plants, food processing plants, boilers and steam generating systems, ammonia refrigeration systems, portable custom welding ships, industrial electrical, custom racecars, and automotive fabrication.
Ryan has also been certified by both AWS- American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding code and ASME- American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure vessel code. Ryan has years of welding experience with the four major welding processes (TIG, Stick, MIG, and Flux Core) on carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
Thomas Montgomery
Instructors
Thomas Montgomery is from Preston, Missouri and graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in 2018. He is certified in structural, flux core, and 6010/7018 pipe. He has spent time in the field working on crude oil tanks and power plant outages. As an instructor, he works to make sure each one of his students has the best advantage at passing a weld test and becomes more efficient that the rest of the welders on the job site.
Dakota Redburn
Instructors
Dakota Redburn is a second-shift instructor. He came to Missouri Welding Institute because he had two uncles who were welders who encouraged him to attend after seeing his welding skills developing in high school. He learned a lot in the classroom about reading blueprints and understanding each welding procedure. Dakota owns his own business and has been a superintendent for a few companies in the field.
Bill Redburn
Instructors
William (Bill) Redburn grew up in a small town about 20 miles from Nevada, Missouri. A high school friend attended Missouri Welding Institute and was making a good living as a traveling welder when he convinced Bill to attend. Bill graduated from MWI in 1998 and spent 22 years traveling across the country. While on the road, Bill worked as a welder, pipefitter, and field machinist. Bill began his instructor career at MWI in 2021 and has since enjoyed training the next generation of tradespersons.
Scott Schluckebier
Instructors
Scott Schluckenbier grew up in Columbia, Missouri. He graduated from Missouri Welding Institute in 2009. Before joining MWI as an instructor, he worked all over the country working in oil and gas refineries, ethynol plants, powerhouses, chemical plants, and processing plants. He has had certifications in various pipe materials, from carbon steel to almost all exotic alloys. He also has certifications in most welding processes. As an instructor, Scott aims to give as much direction and advice as he can to all his students who come to Missouri Welding Institute. He has obtained his CWI certification.
Natasha Carney
Director's Assistant
Natasha Carney joined the Missouri Welding Institute staff in 2020 and wears many hats as director’s assistant. From overseeing government agency reporting and course recertifications to organizing finances, Natasha plays a crucial role in office operations and education compliance. Formerly a banker, Natasha uses her experience in finance to help students secure grants and scholarships for their welding education.
Vanessa Howell
Housing Assistant
Vanessa is the Housing Assistant for Missouri Welding Institute. In this role, she manages the Simple Housing properties and helps in the office. She grew up in Nevada, Missouri, and joined the MWI team in November 2022. Vanessa works to ensure that the tenants are comfortable while attending MWI.
Jason Hinds
Head of Maintenance
Jason began working at Missouri Welding Institute in 2015 as the head of maintenance where his goals are to ensure that the day-to-day function of facilities for smooth. He grew up in Nevada, Missouri where he has more than 20 years as a machinist and auto mechanic.
Jordan Chadd
Secretary
Jordan grew up in the Nevada, Missouri area and has been with the Missouri Welding Institute since April 2022. While she is not a certified welder herself, she learned to weld growing up. She has a degree in business and is currently working on a bachelor’s degree in finance. Jordan is currently married with two little boys and a dog. She works on improving the organization of the office, store, and warehouse, as well as digitizing the paperwork, and improving the work environment.
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