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 14th. Any registrations received after this date will incur a $100 late fee.

NASPD Steel Pipe Basic Education Course

October 27 - 28, 2025
Member Fee:  $750; Non-Member Fee:  $900

NASPD OCTG Specialty Education Course

October 29, 2025

Member Fee:  $450; Non-Member Fee:  $500

AMPP Career Development Center

1440 South Creek Drive

Houston, TX 77084

Sponsorships Available!

PLATINUM - $2,500

GOLD - $1,000

SILVER - $700

BRONZE - $350

A room block available at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor at 16011 Katy Freeway, Houston TX.

Click the link below to make reservations or call 281-829-5525.

Group Rate includes:

• Reduced AMPP rate of $122.00 per night, plus taxes (Single/Double)
• Daily complimentary Breakfast Buffet
• Mini refrigerator in all rooms
• Complimentary Shuttle service to AMPP’s Houston Career Development Center – Monday through Saturday ONLY.  The shuttle leaves the Marriott each day at 7:15 a.m.  Evening shuttle pick-up from the AMPP Career Development Center is available upon request until 7:15 p.m.  
• Please call the hotel directly at 281-829-5525 by 5 pm to schedule your return pickup.
• Complimentary WIFI Access
• Complimentary Parking

Please remember, to receive the special AMPP student pricing, you must book your rooms using the link below or by calling the hotel directly.  You cannot book via a 3rd party or on the Marriott website and receive AMPP student rates.

NASPD Steel Pipe Basic Education Course

Monday, October 27, 2025

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 28, 2025

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)

05:30 p.m. – 07:30 p.m.                               Top Golf Houston-Katy 

NASPD OCTG Specialty Education Course

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

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