SPED Calgary Chapter had the pleasure and visit from Dr. Bill Beasley in August of 2023. Visit with a couple of clients was informative and purposeful. SPED Calgary Chapter had a social and was supported by members who were happy about the Bill visit and highlights of the current industry.

Clarence Wynter, Glen Payne, William Beazley, Kevin Noakes, Bruce Fraser

 Clarence Wynter, William Beazley

 Clarence Wynter, Glen Payne, William Beazley, Kevin Noakes, Bruce Fraser

 Clarence Wynter, Bruce Fraser, Kevin Noakes

The SPED Piping Design Foundation (Foundation) is offering “scholarships” to enrolled students and fresh graduates of piping programs to apply for SPED PPD Certification. The education program must meet certain criteria to be considered an acceptable piping program. The Foundation is offering 100 “scholarships” to apply for Level PPD Certification on a first-come, first-served basis for 2023.

For more information, contact: Catherine V.D. Walt, Secretary / Executive Director

Society of Piping, Engineers and Designers (SPED)

+ 1 713 960 4478 (GMT + 2 - wwp.greenwichmeantime.com)

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 https://youtu.be/gcFQOYyXrG8

I am Sonja Pagel and a Senior Piping Designer for Hatch Engineering, working at Hatch Engineering Johannesburg office South Africa – Hatch Global Corporate Member of SPED – 2023

I have 18 years’ experience in Petrochemical and Mining, and minor underground piping design experience.

I am part of the PAS group (Piping Automation Specialist) and assisting my colleagues in the Bentley platform system for the piping and mechanical disciplines.

I also assist in coordinating model reviews taking leadership in smaller projects if no Design Co-Ordinator has been assigned. Currently taking on a role of piping lead and coordinating workload and progress to other piping designers on the current project assigned to me.

I have started off as a Piping CAD operator at Megchem Engineering and worked myself up to a Senior piping designer. Although engineering was not my first career choice after a year a started enjoying the engineering career that was chosen for me and wanted to get qualified as a Piping designer.

I then worked for Sasol polymers and then got and offer from Megchem Engineering. They had an in-house training program for Piping designers, which I then applied for and myself and a few other ladies were accepted as one of the first woman trainees for this national qualified certification (Merceta).

After a few years of working for Megchem, Sasol Polymers and Apex Engineering. I got an opportunity for permanent employment with Hatch Engineering as a Piping Designer.

My Lead Engineering at that time was Mulalo Silidi and he recommended the SPED program to grow in my Piping designer career. I have researched the program and found that SPED would be a good fit to my career development.

The reason for me choosing the SPED program is that it is an international organization promoting excellence and Quality in Piping Design and Engineering through networking, training, and certification programs. Through this program I have started gaining more confidence in my design and layout work. I started with the PBC Video Series and Level I & II, after the required number of years and remaining a Piper in good standing, I took the PPL Course and acquired PPD Level III and I am confident to continue with this program. I will develop even more knowledge and experience that I would require for my next adventure for my career development which will be Design coordinator.

SPED Forms Non-Profit Piping Design Foundation for Wider Public Outreach

 February 20, 2023, Houston, TX: A new tax-exempt organization, the SPED Piping Design Foundation, has been formed. The foundation was established to “further the art and science of piping design and educate the public on its principles and practices.” The foundation has received approval as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, which is reserved for non-profit organizations benefiting the public at large. In contrast, the Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (SPED) is a 501(c)6 organization, a non-profit existing for the benefit of its members. As a result, donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible for most taxpayers.

The foundation has been a dream of many in SPED, most notably, Kerry Millen, current SPED Board Member and Past President and Past Treasurer. “We’ve long needed this foundation to address accreditation and other educational programs for students at colleges and universities,” said Kerry. “A 501(c)3 organization can accept grants and donations to fund these important outreach needs.”

The need for the foundation became clearer after a series of outreach events in 2022, in Egypt, Spain, Canada, South Africa and Indonesia. Many university programs there need start-up support for training to faculty and local graduates. SPED membership and course fees are not sufficient to fund major outreach programs. Special attention will be given to countries requiring local content of engineering services. Corporate donations are needed for these initiatives.

Programs planned for the new foundation are:

• New graduate training, 

• Train-the Trainer training,

• Training Program Accreditation,

• Curriculum Content Grants, etc.

Our first financial contribution is from Dr. William Beazley, former longtime SPED Executive Director, current board member and SPED ambassador in the amount of US$6212. Thank you sir!

Support is welcome from all individuals and organizations.

For more information, contact:

Catherine V.D. Walt - Executive Director

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SPED Piping Design Foundation

https://spedfoundation.org/