Ashley Applegate
KWI Director of Training/Lead Instructor
Ashley began his career in welding upon completion of a diploma in welding technology from KCTCS – Rowan Campus in 1994. After an apprenticeship at Big Sandy Terminal in Ashland, KY and employment at Fetters Welding, in 1997 Ashley established his own fabrication shop, Applegate’s Welding, LLC. Products from Applegate’s Welding, LLC were shipped across the nation as well as overseas.
Ashley joins the KWI team as Director of Training and Lead Instructor, serving all teaching needs and overseeing all student training. His years of experience in the field make him a good fit for KWI and the students that come through the program. Ashley is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Educator. Ashley is also an NCCER Master Trainer and Welder, Boilermaker, Rigger, and Pipefitter Craft Instructor. Ashley holds instructor credentials for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), and is a practical examiner with the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO).
Ashley, his wife Michelle and 2 daughters reside in Poplar Grove where they maintain the welding business as well as manage Triple A Farm, Inc.
Garrett Maddox
Garrett’s varied work experience gives him a wealth of knowledge to share with KWI students. As a traveling boilermaker and tube welder he has worked in New York, Wyoming, Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, and Ohio making his living working spring, fall, and emergency outages. Through his career he has built an impressive resume including pre-down work and responsibilities, demo, boiler and tube welding, mirror welding, and inconel and stainless welding.
Employment includes: Williams Industrial Services, Hetsco, Ranch Cryogenics, CCSI, RSO, and Day and Zimmermann.
Certifications: Garrett has tested to the AWS D1.1 and ASME IX codes: 1″SMAW open root 3/4G, 1″FCAW 3/4G, 2.75x.625 SMAW 6G, 2.75x.625 TAW/SMAW 6G, 2.75x.625 309GTAW 6G, 2xsch10 ssGTAW 6G. In addition to the numerous weld certifications Garrett is also an OSHA 1926 Outreach Instructor, NCCER Instructor, ASHI CPR and First Aid Instructor, NCCCO certified Rigger and Signaler Practical Examiner, and an AWS Certified Welding Inspector.
Garrett resides in Bluebank, Kentucky.
Blake Hawkins
As a traveling combo pipe welder Blake Hawkins travelled across the U.S. as a tube welder and pipe welder. He has worked in boilers across Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. In addition he has worked in several chemical plants and refineries as a combination pipe welder in Illinois, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.
Employment includes: National Boiler Services, Starcon, SWS, Elwood Tradesmen, Edwards, TEI, Grus Int, Industrial Field Maintenance, and Blacks Welding.
Certifications: Blake has Tested to the AWS D1.1 and ASME IX codes: 1” SMAW open root 3/4G, FCAW 3/4G, 2.75x.625 SMAW, 2.75x.625 GTAW/SMAW, 2.75x.625 309 GTAW/309 SMAW, 2”sch10 ss316 GTAW, 2”sch10 NiCrMo-10 GTAW, 2”sch10 CuNi GTAW, 2.75x.625 90sB3 GTAW/SMAW, 2.75x.625 NiCrMo-10 GTAW. In addition to the numerous weld certifications Blake is also a NCCER Instructor, ASHI CPR and First Aid Instructor, NCCCO certified rigger and Signaler Practical Examiner, and an AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Blake resides in Hillsboro, Kentucky.
Dalton Grayson
With past employment in Louisiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Maryland, Dalton shares a lot of road knowledge with KWI students. As a traveling combo pipe welder, Dalton made his living working in new construction of power plants, chemical plants, and refineries. The majority of his experience includes welding stainless, food grade stainless, heavy wall, inconel and carbon pipe.
Employment includes: Matrix, Tradesmen International, VIP, PCL
Certifications: Dalton has tested to the AWS D1.1 and ASME IX codes: 1″SMAW open root 3/4G, 1″FCAW 3/4G, 2.75x.625 SMAW 6GR, 2.75x.625 GTAW/SMAW 6GR, 2.75x.625 309GTAW 6GR, 2.75x.625 NiCrMo-10 6GR, 2.75x.625 ER90s-B3 6GR, 2xsch10 ssGTAW 6GR, 2xsch10 NiCrMo-10 GTAW, 2xsch10 CuNi GTAW, 2xsch80 ER2594 6G. In addition to the numerous weld certifications Dalton is also an NCCER Instructor, ASHI CPR and First Aid Instructor, NCCCO certified Rigger and Signaler, and an AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Dalton resides in Wallingford, KY with his wife, Courtney and daughter, Oaklynn.
Corey Porter
With former employment in Canada, California, Kentucky, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware, and Iowa Corey shares an extensive amount of critical knowledge with KWI students. As a 15 year member with the Union Boilermakers, Corey has made his living working in new construction, maintenance, and turnarounds in power plants, chemical plants, refineries and steel mills. Corey also owns and runs a fabrication and repair business. The majority of his experience includes welding cast machinery parts, structural aluminum, stainless, inconel, monel, and carbon heavy wall pipe/tube.
Employment includes: MIller Industrial Services Team, Enerfab, Minnotte, JJ White, Nooter, CB&I, Madison Industrial Services Team, Shurtleff&Andrews, Apcom Power, ICI Skanska, and Ragan Mechanical.
Certifications: Corey has tested to the AWS D1.1 and ASME IX codes: 1″SMAW open root 3/4G, 1″FCAW 3/4G, 2.75x.625 SMAW 6GR, 2.75x.625 GTAW/SMAW 6GR, 2.75x.625 GTAW 6GR, 2.75x.625 NiCrMo-10 6GR, 2xsch10 ssGTAW 6GR, 2xsch10 NiCrMo-10 GTAW, 2xsch10 CuNiGTAW. In addition to the numerous weld certifications Corey is also an NCCER Instructor, ASHI CPR and First Aid Instructor, NCCCO certified Rigger and Signaler, and an AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Corey and his wife Sarah raise their two boys in Tollesboro, KY
Ryan Norris
Ryan’s unique experience makes him a valuable asset to KWI. As a traveling boilermaker and tube welder he has worked in Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, West Virginia, Alabama, and Ohio making his living working spring, fall, and emergency outages in coal fired plants and papermills. In addition, he has experience in nuclear dry cask fuel storage. His welding career has built him a long resume including pre-down work and responsibilities, demo, boiler and tube welding, pipe welding, and stainless welding. Along with various custom welding projects he does while home.
Employment includes: CCSI, Thompson, TEIc, Orano, TN Americas, Edward’s, Williams Industrial Services, Industrial Field Maintenance
Certifications: Ryan has tested to the AWS D1.1 and ASME IX codes: 1″SMAW open root 3/4G, 1″FCAW 3/4G, 2.75x.625 SMAW 6G, 2.75x.625 GTAW/SMAW 6G, 2.75x.625 308GTAW 6G. Ryan is a NCCER Instructor, ASHI CPR and First Aid Instructor, and NCCCO certified Rigger and Signaler.
Ryan resides in Flemingsburg, Kentucky.
Lindsey Howell
Lindsey is Director of Admissions/Student Services. She earned her Bachelors degree from Morehead State University. Prior to working at KWI, Lindsey was in restaurant management and ran public relations and digital management for a realty company.
Lindsey and her husband Brandon raise beef cattle in Hillsboro, KY. They enjoy working their beef cattle, riding rzrs and traveling together.
Bobby Pease
American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and Certified Welding Educator (CWE), Bobby Pease has been a teacher for over 15 years and certifying welders through the KY DOT for 9 years. Beyond teaching, his resume includes 9 years with the KY Army National Guard where he commissioned as Captain, served as a combat engineer and completed one tour of duty oversees in Afghanistan.
In addition to his CWI/CWE credentials, he is also a certified inspector Level 1 with ASNT, an OSHA Outreach Instructor for both Construction and General Industries, an NCCER Master Trainer and Instructor, an NCCCO Practical Examiner, an ASHI CPR/First Aid Instructor of Instructors, and a National Safety Council Instructor. Bobby received his B.S and M.A. in Education from Morehead State University. In 2018 he earned his National Board Certification for Teaching.
Bobby serves at KWI as the Director of Education.
Bobby makes his home in Hillsboro raising beef cattle with his three children and beautiful wife.
Adam Hinton
In addition to his leadership role with Kentucky Welding Institute, Adam Hinton currently serves as Vice President for Hinton Mills, an operation of four retail farm supply locations and feed mills based out of Flemingsburg, KY. Adam is also the founder and President of A Better Community Foundation, a not-for-profit, grassroots fundraising and advocacy organization for agriculture education in Kentucky.
Adam serves on the Kentucky FFA Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Economic & Market Development Advisory Committee and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Feed Advisory Board. Adam is a graduate of the Kentucky Ag Leadership Program and is Kentucky’s first graduate of the American Farm Bureau Federation Partners in Agriculture Leadership Program.
He earned a B.A. in Economics from Centre College in 2000. Prior to working for Hinton Mills, Adam worked as Director of Sports Marketing & Promotions at Embry-Riddle University and was the recipient of eight National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators awards. Adam received his Sports Marketing Professional Certification from the University of Kentucky Sports Marketing Academy in 2003.
Adam is also a partner in a coffee business and owns an insurance agency along with his wife, Melissa, who manages the business. The couple have one daughter, Addie. Adam and his family enjoy travel, attending music festivals and sporting events, and following University of Kentucky basketball.[/three_fourth_last]