Instructor's Institute

July 19 - 25, 2026

Instructor's Institute

The AWS Instructors Institute provides welding instructors an opportunity to enhance and strengthen their teaching skills, experience hands-on learning of new teaching techniques, and learn more about programs and resources AWS offers tailored to support educators.

Each year, a welding instructor is selected at each of the 22 District Conferences to attend the institute, held in Miami (Doral), Florida at AWS headquarters.

This week-long event offering both in classroom and hands-on welding lab sessions gives participants the opportunity to communicate and share their experiences with fellow instructors in a setting that is devoted to their specific concerns.

For more information, Contact Martica Ventura at mventura@aws.org.

Instructor's Institute

Program Facilitators

Program Facilitators

J. Jones and Dr. Richard Polanin have worked together for years to provide instructors with an opportunity to enhance and strengthen their teaching skills, experience hands-on learning of new teaching techniques, and learn more about programs and resources AWS offers tailored to support educators.

J. Jones

J Jones - Vice President - headshot

J. Jones

Vice President, AWS

J Jones - Vice President - headshot

The Harris Products Group District

Sales Manager

J. Jones was elected to serve as vice president, is district sales manager at The Harris Products Group. Throughout his over 40-year membership with AWS, he has held leadership roles at the Section and national levels. This includes serving as executive committee director in 2019 and AWS District 17 director for 15 years. He is also an AWS Certified Welding Educator (CWE).

J Jones - Vice President - headshot

Rick Polanin

Dr. W. Richard Polanin - headshot

Rick Polanin

President, WRP Associates

Dr. W. Richard Polanin - headshot

American Welding Society

Former President and Vice President

Dr. Richard Polanin is a former AWS President and Vice President. He is a retired professor and program chair of the manufacturing engineering technology and welding technology programs at Illinois Central College, where he continues to teach. He is currently the co-principal investigator for Weld-Ed, chair of the AWS Peoria Section, vice chair of the International Institute of Welding Commission XIV, and president of WRP Associates. He is also involved in several AWS committees

Dr. W. Richard Polanin - headshot