Alumni Spotlight: 40 Under 40 Stars Still Bringing the Heat

Each year, the 40 Under 40 initiative at Heat Treat Today recognizes 40 rising young leaders (ages 40 and younger) in heat treat who are going above and beyond in the industry. The 40 Under 40 initiative gives names, faces, and words to the next generation of heat treat professionals.

To learn more about what makes someone a quality candidate for this honor, read below to hear from the individuals themselves — alumni of Heat Treat Today’s 40 Under 40 — as they share personal updates and industry insights.

Click this link to nominate yourself, or someone you know, by June 28, 2024.


David Cunningham

At the time of David’s nomination for Heat Treat Today’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019, he was working in Process & Mechanical Design as a heat treating furnace engineer for L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc. Here he shares an exciting career (and company) update: “The biggest change since I was nominated to Heat Treat Today’s 40 Under 40 is that I have taken over ownership of L&L Special Furnace Co. I became full owner of the business in January 2023.” 

David Cunningham
L&L Special Furnace, Co., Inc.

Something David finds most fascinating about the heat treat industry is the number of markets it serves. He says, “I am always surprised looking through our list of customers and knowing what their processes are. I never considered how many industries utilize heat treating.”

David’s advice for the incoming 40 Under 40 Class of 2024 is to “Keep learning . . . there is so much more to heat treating than just making things hot. There are so many niche markets out there. One of the things that fascinated me most was learning how the glass for the Hubble was heat treated.”

Read more about David here.

Kevin Norton

An alum of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2023, Kevin describes how he rose “through the ranks” in the heat treat industry starting in 2008: “[I] started out in the field on the ground as a helper and . . . worked myself up through the ranks . . . to Level 1 technician, to Level 2 technician . . . all the way up into management.” He currently works as operations manager of heat treating at ProQual Inspections.

Kevin Norton
ProQual Inspections

To Kevin, the most intriguing thing about the heat treat industry is the advancements in technology, reducing manpower and improving safety. He states that, “different processes in heat treating will go far and beyond what we currently have . . . I’m looking forward to that.”

Kevin’s advice to anyone looking to do something different in their work is to “Be inquisitive; ask questions.”

Read more about Kevin here.

Miguel Zempoaltecatl

Previous to Miguel’s nomination for Heat Treat Today’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023, he worked as a process engineer at Nexteer. Miguel shared an exciting career update that took place soon after: “This kind of recognition gave me a plus to be considered . . . [for] the new position I have had since last year as an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer (AME)” at Nexteer.

Miguel Zempoaltecatl
Nexteer

Miguel describes what he enjoys most about working in the heat treat industry, “As a good friend . . . told me, metallurgy is the oldest of the arts but the newest of the science[s], and this relationship between metallurgy and heat treatments, gives me the opportunity to learn more every day . . . I enjoy work[ing] in this area because every day [there] are new challenges.”

Read more about Miguel here.

 

Heat Treat Today’s 40 Under 40 Authors

Check out some of the technical content that 40 Under 40 alumni have published with Heat Treat Today over the years:

Chad Beamer – 40 Under 40 profile

Michelle Bennett – 40 Under 40 profile

Alberto Cantú – 40 Under 40 profile

John Chesna – 40 Under 40 profile

Heather Falcone – 40 Under 40 profile

Humberto Ramos Fernández – 40 Under 40 profile

Brian Flynn – 40 Under 40 profile

  • Heat Treat Radio #84: Heat Treat Tomorrow — Digital Security with 4 Industry Experts

Scott Fogle – 40 Under 40 profile

Ben Gasbarre – 40 Under 40 profile

Josh Hale – 40 Under 40 profile

Mike Harrison – 40 Under 40 profile

Kyle Hummel – 40 Under 40 profile

Caleb Johnson – 40 Under 40 profile

Trevor Jones – 40 Under 40 profile

Don Marteeny – 40 Under 40 profile

Jonathan McKay – 40 Under 40 profile

Aniket Maske – 40 Under 40 profile

Ellen Conway Merrill – 40 Under 40 profile

Shawn Orr – 40 Under 40 profile

Alberto Ramirez – 40 Under 40 profile

Justin Rydzewski – 40 Under 40 profile

Humberto Torres Sánchez – 40 Under 40 profile

Justin Sims – 40 Under 40 profile

Bryan Stern – 40 Under 40 profile

Ryan Sybo – 40 Under 40 profile

Sasha Tupalo – 40 Under 40 profile

Andy Wilkosz – 40 Under 40 profile

Nic Willis – 40 Under 40 profile

Ben Witoff – 40 Under 40 profile

Víctor Zacarías – 40 Under 40 profile

Erika Zarazúa – 40 Under 40 profile


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