Date of Event: 04/01/2025
Location: State of Kansas — This event was at multiple locations throughout the month
Number of Attendees: 100
Presenter/Notable Guest(s): Laura Kelly — Kansas Governor
Event Summary: To kick off National Welding Month, members of the Kansas Section and Kansas City Section of AWS gathered at the state Capitol in Topeka at the end of March for an official proclamation signing. This event recognized April as National Welding Month in Kansas and highlighted the vital role welding plays in supporting the state’s workforce, infrastructure, and economy.
Throughout April, the Kansas Section hosted several impactful events. Members toured Vortex in Salina, a global leader serving over 20,000 companies worldwide with innovative solutions for handling dry bulk solids. Vortex’s products are essential to moving materials through production — if you ate today, there’s a good chance their products helped get that food to your table.
The section also visited DJ Engineering in Augusta, known for its advanced aerospace manufacturing and welding capabilities. This tour gave members an inside look at high-precision fabrication and showcased career opportunities in aerospace welding.
To close out the month, the section hosted “Sparks and Smoke,” an industry panel and networking event held during the Kansas State SkillsUSA welding competition. This event included food and welcomed local high school and postsecondary students to engage with industry professionals. Panelists included Edgar Banuelos (Union welder, Wichita), Tracy Gaylord (Southern Star Gas Company), Ryan Bugner (Yoder Smokers), Derek Blackston (DJ Engineering), and Byron Nield (Miller Electric). They shared their personal stories, discussed career paths, and inspired students to explore welding careers.
Throughout April, the section also promoted welding awareness through social media and local outreach, emphasizing welding as a vital, rewarding, and accessible career. These activities celebrated the strength and diversity of the Kansas welding community and demonstrated the section’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and welding excellence.
