Our Experts

Scott Funderburk is a recognized leader in the welding industry, with three decades of seasoned expertise driving innovation and growth. His career is a testament to integrity, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning. At NS ARC, the welding wire division of National Standard, Scott’s strategic vision redefined the company’s direction, improved operational efficiencies, and spearheaded a successful rebranding initiative that reinvigorated its market presence. His leadership style, characterized by relentless improvement, resilience, and a deep commitment to employee and community welfare, embodies the principles of servant leadership, hard work, and continuous learning.

Tom Wehner started his employment with National Standard in 2012 as a Regional Sales Manager for welding filler metals. In 2020, he was promoted to Director of Weld Sales and then in 2022 named Vice President of Sales for all product lines for DW-National Standard-Stillwater. He oversees all product lines within the Stillwater portfolio, including tire bead wire, industrial wires, welding filler metals as well as Customer Service and Inside Sales. Tom’s extensive experience and insight make him a valuable and highly respected member of the National Standard team. Prior to working for National Standard, Tom held leadership roles with Pelican Products, ITW, ESAB, and multiple welding distributors.

Heidi Valenzuela, MBA, has over three decades of experience in data management/analysis, marketing, advertising communications. Specializing in Customer Relationship Management platform management and architecture, she has developed a deep understanding of how data and business intelligence drive sales success in the welding filler metals industry.
Heidi’s experience in other industries including healthcare, software, restaurant franchising and professional sports has given her insight into unique ways to approach sales challenges. In over a decade as a member of NS ARC’s welding wire sales team, Heidi has been recognized for her skill in data and process management and analysis, which has been instrumental in advancing the success of the company’s sales, production, purchasing and inventory management efforts. Heidi continually seeks to find ways to enhance existing data tools, such as Salesforce.com, as well as to implement new sales tools to help make the sales team more efficient and successful.

Nate Vanderhoof has over two decades of experience in the industry serving in roles from welding distribution sales, welding engineering, and management. He has formal training in welding engineering technology and an MBA with a focus on performance metrics from Ferris State University. Nate began with NS ARC as Senior Welding Applications Engineer (CWI/CWE), overseeing all aspects of the company’s welding and technical needs, where he developed a deep understanding of the welding wire manufacturing process and how each step in the process works together to create a superior performing product in today’s industrial markets.
Nate now serves as the Industry Segment Manager for Automotive where he is responsible for leading strategic initiatives and growing our welding wire business within this segment.
Throughout Nate’s career at National Standard, he has contributed to the improvement of quality, packaging, welding wire performance, and technical expertise. Nate’s dedication and commitment to advancing the growth of NS ARC and providing customers with innovations in the welding wire space is recognized through his ability to connect real-world welding applications from the manufacturing floor to the boardroom. Nate’s contributions were instrumental in relaunching National Standard’s ‘Pit Crew’ program through NS ARC, which provides unrivaled expertise and solutions for improving customers’ welding applications. Nate is passionate about continuously improving the organization every day, and his perspective on these enhancements is shaped by his years of hands-on industry experience and a forward-thinking approach, making him an invaluable asset to NS ARC’s team.

Dayne Heimburg has over 30 years of welding industry experience in many different applications and capacities, from structural fabrication to piping, having held roles in welding supervision, sales, and sales management. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the NS ARC team.

Jason Elliott brings to his role as Industry Segment Manager for Oil & Gas, a strong background of experience as a welding technical consultant as well as welding product sales. Prior to Joining NS ARC, Jason worked as a consultant for Elliott Welding Solutions, and held various sales leadership roles with Gulf Coast Gas and Equipment, Coastal Welding Supply, Red Ball Oxygen, and IRCO Automation.
As Industry Segment Manager, Jason is a key sales resource for our welding wire portfolio and is responsible for managing our existing distributor and end user accounts as well as developing new business relationships, concentrating specifically in our Houston, Texas sales market.

Rusty Reneau has over two decades of welding industry experience. This experience has given him the opportunity to have expertise in several fields with the welding processes of GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, SAW and SMAW. Having spent many years in the shipbuilding industry, he has developed a deep understanding of the different types of ship construction and products to use according to ABS and NAVSEA codes.
Rusty supports the sales group as NS ARC’s Western region sales manager, reflecting his commitment to positioning NS ARC as the premier welding wire of choice. He is recognized for his skill in the technical aspects of welding and building customer relationships, which has been instrumental in advancing partnerships throughout the welding industry to bring a complete solution to customers. With a passion for continuous learning and improvement, Rusty continually seeks to engage with customers and distributors to enhance the recognition of the NS ARC brand. His perspective on GMAW and FCAW processes is shaped by hands-on experience and a forward-thinking approach, making him a valuable asset to NS ARC’s team, as we continue to drive innovation in the ever-evolving field of welding wire.

Bob Gulas has nearly two decades of experience in the Welding Industry. With NS ARC, he has served as Industry Segment Manager and is now the Regional Sales Manager for the eastern part of the country. He has a strong background in Welding Product Sales with experience as a Product Manager, Regional Sales Leader, and knowledge of Filler Metal product applications. Bob has a great passion for continuous learning and improvement by seeking out opportunities to expand his knowledge of the industry.

Richard Temple has over four decades of experience in the welding industry with multiple years in the nuclear power industry and is specialized in the processes of GMAW, GTAW, and SMAW. Richard has a deep understanding of welding processes using robotic welding, fixed automation, and handheld, which he applies when interacting with current and prospective customers, demonstrating to the customer the capabilities of NS ARC and its team. Richard understands the importance of selecting the best processes and wires and understands how to help implement cost-reduction programs. Richard stays current with the industry’s best practices, attending multiple continuous education classes to improve his skills. He has also been a CWI (Certified Welding Inspector) and CWE (Certified Welding Educator) for over 20 years and is an active member of AWS, again enabling him to demonstrate to customers the talent level and capabilities of the NS ARC team and delivering increased sales to the company.
Throughout Richard’s career at NS ARC, Richard has contributed to helping customers improve welding processes and reduce fabrication costs and has held training classes to help customers improve quality and provided technical assistance to customers. As NS ARC’s sales manager for the Carolinas and Southern Virginia, Richard is committed to working with customers to provide the best service and product from NS ARC. Richard is recognized within NS ARC and by customers for his skills and technical knowledge in the welding and fabrication industries, which has been instrumental in advancing NS ARC to the forefront of the industry. Richard continually seeks to continue his education in welding knowledge to enhance the customer experience, resulting in increased customer retention and sales. Richard’s focus on staying current with welding and industry trends, applying his hands-on experience and a forward-thinking approach, makes him a valuable asset to NS ARC’s team.

Scott Hansen is a District Sales Manager at NS ARC, where he is responsible for the sales territory of Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska & South Dakota. He has a focused role in value-added welding filler metals sales. Scott has three decades of experience in welding distribution prior to joining NS ARC. Having worked for several major welding distributors, such as Air Products & Chemicals, Airgas, and Linweld – Matheson, he has gained a beneficial knowledge of a wide variety of welding wire sales processes. He has successfully developed and put into effect sales strategies, built long-term relationships with clients/distributors, and delivered consistent results.

Scott D Essenberg has nearly forty years in the industry as a seasoned District Sales Manager/Technical Representative. Specializing in helping his end users and customers find solutions that make their business better, Scott has developed a deep understanding of the welding wire industry. Throughout Scott’s career at NS ARC, Scott has continued to push the envelope to build relationships that are long lasting with his team, distributors and customers alike, reflecting his commitment to customer relationships. He is recognized for his passion for excellence in helping his customers and building relationships, which has been instrumental in advancing growth in his assigned territory. As NS ARC’s sales manager for North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and part of Michigan’s upper peninsula, Scott continually seeks to educate current and future customers on the benefits of NS ARC products to enhance their business. His perspective on mentoring welding professionals is shaped by hands-on experience and a forward-thinking approach, making him a valuable asset to NS ARC’s team.

Kelly Biggs has over three decades in the welding industry as District Sales Manager, specializing as an application specialist, R & D lab and technical engineering support.
As NS ARC’s sales manager for Tennessee and Kentucky, Kelly has worked to provide technical weld advice to both distributors and end users. Kelly continually seeks to work provide leadership and training in automated and robotic welding systems with NS ARC welding wire.
Kelly seeks to lead by example, focusing on weld wire improvement and enhancement through tried and skilled practices in welding. Kelly is shaped by his perspective and a forward-thinking approach making him a valuable asset to NS ARC’s team.

Steve Coker is NS ARC’s District Sales Manager covering Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, where he is a source of knowledge for all of our product lines in our portfolio. Steve has a strong background with more than two decades of success in sales management, having worked for several leading companies in the welding distributor industries, for both corporate and independent distributors. Steve holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Langston University. He is passionate about creating value for customers through his expertise and leadership skills.

Rob Sufana has over four decades in the industry as a seasoned territory manager specializing in cryogenics and fabrication. As NS ARC’s sales manager for Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, Rob employs his deep understanding of the technical techniques of metal fusion including STICK, GTAW, SAW, GMA, FCW, SA and the old school of gas welding.
Throughout Rob’s career at NS ARC, Rob has contributed to uncovering opportunities, building strong relationships, strengthening the presence of NS ARC, and sharing industrial knowledge, reflecting Rob’s commitment to be a leader and viable assist to the organization. Rob is recognized for persistence, skill in penetrating accounts and dedication which has been instrumental in advancing the presence and growth of NS ARC in the Northeast through distribution and end users. With a focus on continuous learning and improvement, Rob continually seeks to open new doors to enhance his perspective on joining metals.

Scott Brockman has nearly three decades in the industry as a seasoned District Sales Manager. Specializing in submerged arc and flux core welding applications, he has developed a deep understanding of Naval (NAVSEA) and ABS ship building and has worked on many projects for some of the largest shipyards in North America. As NS ARC’s sales manager for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida, he has contributed to expanding NS ARC into the ship building industry. He is recognized for his skill in discovering continuous improvement projects which has been instrumental in advancing NS ARC to develop new welding filler metals. His perspective on the ship building industry is shaped by hands-on experience and a forward-thinking approach, making him a valuable asset to NS ARC’s team.

Jacques Jones has over a decade of welding industry experience as a seasoned territory rep, specializing in developing solid relationships with our distribution partners and large end users. Thoroughly learning what the daily hurdles are in the welding industry has been instrumental for Jacques to create quick penetration within large opportunities and bring NS ARC to the forefront as the industry standard. As NS ARC’s sales manager for Northwest USA, Jacques continually seeks to broaden his knowledge through collaboration with professional colleagues and his willingness to adapt new creative ideas.

With nearly two decades of welding industry experience in both sales and manufacturing, District Sales Manager Matt Sharp uses his knowledge to continually contribute to the success of customers which is a reflection of commitment to excellence. He is recognized for his skill in welding wire applications, which has been instrumental in advancing methods and technologies that improve welding processes. As NS ARC’s sales manager for Southwest USA, Matt seeks to help his customers win by being creative in welding methods and utilizing technologies to enhance the quality and productivity of welding processes.

Scott Mazzulla is a graduate of Hobart Institute of Welding Technolgy and a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI). Scott is an industry professional of more than three decades, during which he was a pipe welder and welder fabricator throughout the US, holding multiple certifications. As NS ARC’s sales manager for Michigan and Western Ohio, Scott brings substantial robotic arc welding experience, spending over 20 years in robotic automation in various technical, sales and leadership roles. Before joining NS ARC, Scott was the President and CEO of Hobart Institute of Welding Technolgy, becoming an advocate for welding education and skilled trades.

Michael Mitchell has three decades of experience with National Standard/NS ARC and is currently the Plant Manager for DW-National Standard-Stillwater. Mike has specialized in electro-mechanical maintenance, project management, modernization and wire making. Mike has worked extensively with machine manufacturers and engineers to develop processes around our state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring a consistent quality product that we can bring to the marketplace. Mike’s passion is centered around his team members and the ever-changing landscape of the welding wire industry.

Chris Pruett is a respected figure in the welding filler metal community, currently excelling as Product Manager at NS ARC. With a rich background in wire manufacturing, Chris has held pivotal roles, including Industrial Wire Sales Manager and Bead Wire Sales Manager at National Standard. His expertise was further honed during his tenure as North American Sales Manager for Extreme Engineering, a division of Schlumberger.
In his current capacity, Chris oversees all facets of welding filler metals, from research and design to marketing. Drawing from his extensive experience in sales management at renowned companies like Schlumberger Technology Corporation and Evolution Engineering Technologies, Chris possesses a profound understanding of client needs and market dynamics.
A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management technology, Chris is driven by a passion for delivering value. Combining technical proficiency with adept leadership, he continues to spearhead initiatives that push the boundaries of innovation in the welding filler metal industry.

With a strong background in quality control and over twenty years of experience in directing quality assurance programs, Kyle Shirm serves as a key business partner in executing continual improvement of our quality programs. His background includes management of quality systems and ISO programs, root cause analysis, lean and Six Sigma, as well as leadership and development in the manufacturing industry.
Kyle is responsible for managing quality assurance functions, including ISO 9001:2015, CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau) certifications and ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) certifications.

Laura Green, DW-National Standard-Stillwater’s Environmental Health and Safety Manager, has a strong background in Safety and Environmental compliance with years of experience in directing environmental health and safety functions, including training, ergonomic assessment, program management, and environmental compliance for both the manufacturing and construction industries. With NS ARC, she is responsible for managing the Environmental Health and Safety functions and serves as a key business partner in executing continual improvement of our programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Oklahoma State University.