Register now for Aalberts University, September 24 & 25, 2024 in OSHKOSH, WI

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

Kathy L. Hayrynen, PhD, FASM – Kathy has a BS, MS and PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. Her graduate work focused on production of ductile iron and ADI. Following a post-doctoral research position on Ausformed/Austempered Ductile, Kathy joined Aalberts surface technologies (Applied Process) companies in 1995. She is currently the Vice President of Research & Development. Kathy is well known in the Austempering world having authored and co-authored many papers on ADI and frequently speaks on said topics. She is a past Chair of the AFS Cast Iron Division, a former President of the Foundry Educational Foundation and a member of the AFS Research Board as well as the External Advisory Board for the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at Michigan Tech. Kathy has received several industry/academic honors including: an AFS Award of Scientific Merit, an AFS Ray H. Witt Management Award, the AFS Women in Metalcasting Award of Excellence, ASM Fellow, ASM Education Foundation George Roberts Award and induction into the MSE Academy at Michigan Tech. More recently, she received an AFS John H. Whiting Gold Medal for her exemplary work in cast iron research and standards, leadership in streamlining the AFS Cast Iron Division committee structure, as well as for advocacy and mentorship of students and women in metal casting. Kathy is a passionate advocate of STEM education and spends her spare time organizing an annual ASM Teachers’ Materials Camp that enables high school and middle school teachers to offer materials-based education to their students.

Steve Metz – Steve holds a BS and MS degree in Materials Engineering and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. He has worked in the metals manufacturing industry for his entire 30+ year career. He was with Kohler Company for 14 years where he gained significant experience in quality systems, pattern and tooling design, process engineering, gating/risering design (using traditional and computer modeling methods) and operations management. He then worked for Castalloy (a division of Wheelabrator) as Director of Engineering for a jobbing foundry specializing in alloy white iron, stainless steel, alloy steel and Manganese steel production. Steve joined Aalberts surface technologies (Applied Process) in 2011 after having been a customer of, or a supplier to Applied Process for 19 years. Steve truly enjoys all aspects of the Aalberts surface technologies value proposition, be it excellence in operations management, assisting customers in developing unique solutions to opportunities or problems as well as direct sales and educating customers through personal visits and presentations.

Jeremy Lipshaw – Jeremy received a Bachelor’s in Materials Science and Engineering in 2017 and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering in 2018, both from the University of Michigan. In addition to his studies, Jeremy worked at, and eventually managed Joyworks Studio, a prototype foundry specializing in castings education and ductile iron research. After graduation, he joined Aalberts surface technologies (Applied Process) as a Product Development Engineer where he assists with cycle development, designs lightweight and sustainable casting conversions, characterizes novel heat treatments, and improves internal modeling capabilities. Jeremy also serves as the Chair of the Ductile Iron Society Research Committee

Jeremiah Ferguson – The newest addition to the Aalberts HTU instructor’s team, Jeremiah earned a Bachelor’s in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 2018. Immediately after graduation, he joined Aalberts surface technologies (Atmosphere Annealing) as a Metallurgical Engineer in the Canton facility. With responsibilities in process development and quality control for steel heat treatment, he quickly moved on to the Quality Manager role for the Wadsworth facility. He specializes in heat treating aluminum alloys for applications in aerospace and defense industries and recently accepted a promotion as Technical Services Manager – Ferrous & Aluminum. He will continue to apply his metallurgical knowledge as a go-to resource for aluminum and ferrous business inquiries. Jeremiah is noticeably passionate about his work and is excited to share his technical expertise.