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NASPD Education Courses (In-Class)
Steel Pipe Basic Education Course & OCTG Specialty Course
The NASPD Education Courses consists of two certified courses taught by industry experts and specialists. The core concept of the Steel Pipe Basic Education and OCTG Specialty Course is to allow new individuals in the steel pipe industry to jump start their careers and increase their value to their employers. Participants will learn about the technical aspects of making steel, how pipe is manufactured, many important aspects of pipe specifications and all types of non-technical.
Registration deadline is Monday, October 12th. Any registrations received after this date will incur a $100 late fee.
NASPD Steel Pipe Basic Education Course
October 26 - 27, 2026
Member Fee: $750
Non-Member Fee: $900
NASPD OCTG Specialty Education Course
October 28, 2026
Member Fee: $450
Non-Member Fee: $500
AMPP Career Development Center
1440 South Creek Drive
Houston, TX 77084
Sponsorships Available!
Transportation Notice: Shuttle service is not available at either hotel or the AMPP Career Development Center. Attendees should plan to drive or use Uber/Lyft. NASPD presenters only may be reimbursed for Uber/Lyft transportation.
Hotel Accommodations
Residence Inn Park Row
1550 Barker Cypress Road
Houston, TX 77084
AMPP Corporate Rate: $102/night
Studio Suite with Full Kitchen
Included: Complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking.
Book using the link below or call 281-829-2600 and reference AMPP.
Group Rate Link
Hyatt Regency Houston West
13210 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77079
AMPP Corporate Rate: $139/night or less
Included: Complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking.
Book using the link below or reference AMPP when making your reservation.
Group Rate Link
Schedule
NASPD Steel Pipe Basic Education Course
Monday, October 26, 2026
| Light breakfast/snacks available |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Lunch Provided |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Steel Making – Philip Thompson, Metallurgist, US Steel |
| 12:45 p.m. – 02:15 p.m. | Methods of Pipe Manufacturing – Gerald Merfish, Merfish Advisors, LLC |
| 02:15 p.m. – 02:30 p.m. | Break |
| 02:30 p.m. – 03:15 p.m. | OCTG – Rusty Fisher, Sr. CEO/Sr. VP Commercial, Axis Pipe and Tube Inc. |
| 03:15 p.m. – 04:00 p.m. | API Line Pipe – Rusty Fisher, CEO/Sr. VP Commercial, Axis Pipe and Tube Inc. |
| 04:00 p.m. – 04:45 p.m. | Standard Pipe – Gerald Merfish, Merfish Advisors, LLC |
| 04:45 p.m. – 05:45 p.m. | Test – Day One (Open Book Test) |
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
| Light breakfast/snacks available |
| 08:00 a.m. – 08:45 a.m. | Structural Shapes, Square & Rec., and Round Pipe – James O'Shea, Midwest Regional Manager, Zekelman Industries |
| 08:45 a.m. – 09:00 a.m. | Used/Secondary Pipe – Darren Sparks, President, COO, International Pipe & Supply, LLC |
| 09:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Coating – Todd Womble, Vice President, Womble Co., Inc. |
| 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Quality Control/MTR – Nahir Franco, Quality Manager, Axis Pipe and Tube Inc. |
| 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch Break |
| 12:30 p.m. – 02:15 p.m. | General Pipe Subjects: Transportation – Darren Sparks, President, COO, International Pipe & Supply, LLC
Sales, Math & Ethics – Bill Buckland, President, Mandal Pipe Company |
| 02:15 p.m. – 04:00 p.m. | Test – Day Two (Open Book Test) |
NASPD OCTG Specialty Education Course
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
| Light breakfast/snacks available |
| 08:00 a.m. – 09:45 a.m. | Exploring for Energy Products – Tan C. Nguyen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
| 09:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Exploring for Energy Products (cont.) |
| 12:00 p.m. – 01:00 p.m. | Lunch Break |
| 01:00 p.m. – 02:45 p.m. | OCTG – Casing |
| 02:45 p.m. – 03:00 p.m. | Break |
| 03:00 p.m. – 04:00 p.m. | OCTG – Production Tubing |
| 04:00 p.m. – 05:00 p.m. | Test |
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