Educational Sessions

Boiler 2026 features insightful educational content, and unique opportunities to learn about today’s solutions to address boiler room needs and challenges.

Pre-Conference Workshops are $99/ea

Boiler Types & Applications

Presented by WARE

WARE brings their expertise from Boiler University to the BOILER Expo for this four-hour pre-conference workshop on boiler types and applications. 

This workshop offers an overview of boiler and burner types for a variety of applications along with insights on vessel selection, feedwater requirements, emissions and controls.

Attending this workshop will prepare you for your next boiler purchase or retrofit project.

Attending this workshop will prepare you for your next boiler purchase or retrofit project.

Boiler Water Treatment Workshop

Presented by AWT – The Association of Water Technologies

This workshop is designed to give boiler operators, managers, service professionals and others a complete understanding of the critical role water treatment plays in safety, efficiency, and reliable operation of boilers. Rather than focusing on theory alone, the program emphasizes real-world challenges, practical solutions, and proven strategies that directly impact day-to-day operations and efficiency in the boiler room.

Topics Addressed Include:

  • The Economics of Boiler Water Treatment: Uncovering the True Cost of Operation and the Key Drivers of Safety and Efficiency

  • Boiler Feedwater: Conditioning Techniques That Keep Your System Safe, Efficient, and Long-Lasting

  • Waterside Boiler Failures and How to Prevent Them: A Practical Guide to Common Causes and Proven Prevention Strategies

  • Regulatory Compliance in Boiler Water Treatment: Standards, Guidelines, and Operational Excellence

 

Speakers & Topics

American Society of Power Engineers (ASOPE)

The Art of Replacing Boilers in a Centralized Plant Without Impact on Production Needs

Jay Ehrfurth

Mr. Ehrfurth has over 40 years of providing training and operations/maintenance consulting in the thermal world concentrating on central plants and distribution systems. Before retiring from Boldt, Jay’s role as VP-Energy supported the repair, modification or construction of centralized thermal facilities for hospitals, industrial, higher educational, and correctional facilities. Jay has personally managed over $1 billion in power related projects. Prior to Boldt, Jay served as the State Chief Power Plant Engineer for the WI DOA. Jay’s responsibilities included the monitoring of central plant performance, fuel procurement, plant emissions, and construction projects for 33+ state thermal plants. Jay is a Licensed Professional Engineer (Mechanical – WI), a Certified Energy Manager, holds an ASOPE-Master Chief’s License and Technical Instructor credential. Jay is on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Boiler Inspectors Association (WBIA), and American Society of Power Engineers (ASOPE) – currently serving as ASOPE National President.

 

Autoflame Engineering

Emissions Standards and Monitoring Technologies: Staying Compliant and Future-Ready

Tom Garrett & William Evans

 

Tom is the North American Sales Director at Autoflame Engineering. Having joined the company in July 2017 with a BEng Hons in Aerospace Engineering, Tom oversees and manages the day-to-day operations of Tech Centres and OEMs in North America. His experience spans from high-level technical presentations and explanations, to advising on complex installations, instructing on industry best practices, building control panels, and technical account management.

In addition to looking after more than 70 partner companies from around the world, Tom spends a lot of his time travelling around North America, conducting 2-day Training Schools with Tech Centers and End Users that focus on optimizing plant efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Training includes a balance of high-level Autoflame subjects and hands-on practical demonstrations, as well as industry-relevant combustion and electrical wiring topics.

 

William Evans is Technical Account Manager for North America at Autoflame Engineering Ltd., a world leader in combustion management systems for commercial and industrial applications. He joined Autoflame in 2024 after completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering with honors, entering the company through their comprehensive graduate program. During his graduate program, William received in-depth training on boiler room operations, including steam systems, heat management, and electrical systems. His placement in the panel shop provided him with valuable experience in electrical interference issues and electrical technical knowledge, building a strong foundation in the critical components of combustion control systems.

Currently, William assists in the management of the North American market, working collaboratively with Autoflame's extensive network of Tech Centres and OEM partners across the region. His responsibilities include technical support, account management, and providing comprehensive training on Autoflame's advanced Micro-Modulation systems. In addition to his technical responsibilities, William actively identifies potential opportunities to expand the Autoflame Tech centre Network, fostering new relationships and partnerships. While new to the steam and boiler industry, William brings fresh perspectives to the technical elements of Autoflame's combustion management systems, combining his mechanical engineering background with practical experience gained through the company's rigorous training programs.

Chicago Blower

The Truth About the Fan Industry's Unrealistic Sound Ratings

Scott Kossman

With over 35 years of experience in the engineering and manufacturing industry, Scott has dedicated his entire career to driving innovation, operational excellence, and employee-focused leadership. As President of Chicago Blower Corporation for the past five years, Scott has transformed the company from regular employee turnover a stable “want to work at” environment, expanding its global market in 22 countries with licensed partners worldwide. 

Clark-Reliance

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Section I Requirements for Level Instrumentation

Nate Klein

Nate Klein is the Reliance Product Manager at Clark-Reliance®, where he leads strategic product development and market positioning for the company's flagship product line offering boiler trim products for water level monitoring and control. With over ten years of experience in engineering and boiler systems, Nate brings a unique blend of technical expertise, customer insight, and cross-functional leadership to his role.

He is responsible for driving innovation through new product initiatives, conducting market and competitive analysis, and aligning product strategy with emerging technologies and customer needs. Nate also plays a key role in the boiler industry by presenting ASME BPV Section I requirements for level indication to refineries, power plants, boiler insurance providers, and state inspection agencies.

Prior to his current role, Nate began his career at The Babcock & Wilcox Company, where he held roles in field service and applications engineering. His work included commissioning large-scale emissions projects, conducting boiler inspections during outages, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex engineering solutions.

Elliott Tools

Mastering the Heavy Wall Challenge: Tooling and Techniques for Successful Drift Rolling

Brandon Fultz

Brandon Fultz is an Application Specialist at Elliott Tool Technologies with over 15 years of experience in industrial sales, technical support, and manufacturing solutions. He has worked extensively in equipment design, project management, and customer training across both domestic and international markets. Brandon’s background in manufacturing processes and machinery design allows him to deliver practical, customer-focused solutions and support successful product launches.

Emerson

Boiler Valve Operations

Tim Dwyer & Russell Wilfong

Tim Dwyer is a Business Development Manager of Steam and Industrial Regulators with Emerson. He covers pressure control devices and steam equipment. Tim has been with Emerson for 9 years and held multiple roles that have given experience with many of the various valves found in process industries. He is involved in the FCI standards committees for various steam valves used in industry and ABMA. Tim has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University and is a Certified Energy Manager.

E-Tech

New Heat Recovery Retrofit into Legacy Systems

Jamie Tighe

Gestra

Improve Boiler Efficency Through TDS Control

Dominik Mahne & Bernie Sapp

Dominik Mahne is Sector & Business development Manager Boiler house  at GESTRA in Bremen, Germany, specializing in steam and condensate systems. With over 10 years of experience, he supports industrial customers in optimizing boiler house operations with a focus on energy efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Dominik works closely with end users across various industries to implement smart control solutions for blowdown management, TDS control, and continuous level monitoring. He supported numerous customer-focused projects that improve system reliability and reduce operational costs, while ensuring alignment with standards for boiler such as UL60730 or EN 12953.

His expertise includes digitalization of boiler systems, integration of advanced technologies like conductive level limiting, capacitive level sensing, and translating technical requirements into practical, user-friendly solutions. Dominik regularly contributes to technical trainings, customer workshops, and market analysis, helping clients navigate the evolving landscape of boiler technology.

Paul Bernard “Bernie” Sapp is a seasoned technical sales and operations leader with over two decades of experience driving growth and operational excellence in the industrial valve, instrumentation, and process automation sectors. With a strong foundation in mechanical products and process control, Bernie has consistently delivered results through his deep technical knowledge, strategic vision, and hands-on leadership.

At FCX Performance, Bernie led the reorganization of sales territories to maximize efficiency, successfully integrating and aligning multiple teams and establishing new P&L structures. His technical acumen enabled him to streamline inside sales operations and foster cross-functional collaboration, ensuring optimal resource allocation and improved sales performance.

During his 20-year tenure at Spirax Sarco Inc., Bernie held progressive leadership roles, including Direct Strategic Account Manager, National Food and Beverage Manager, Midwest Regional Sales Manager, and Energy Services Manager. He spearheaded the implementation of new sales force structures, aligning strategic and distributor teams to better serve end users. Bernie’s technical expertise was instrumental in evaluating workload, contribution margins, and resource needs, leading to data-driven workforce planning and increased return on investment.

Bernie’s technical leadership extended to process improvement initiatives, where he identified inefficiencies and implemented changes that enhanced operational workflows. He managed complex, multi-million-dollar projects, coordinated inter-departmental teams, and drove significant reductions in operational losses. His ability to analyze employee strengths, territory dynamics, and distribution networks resulted in market share gains and improved sales coverage.

Throughout his career, Bernie has demonstrated a commitment to technical excellence, continuous improvement, and customer-focused solutions. His expertise in sales management, process optimization, and technical training has made him a trusted advisor and leader in the industrial automation industry.

Nationwide Boiler

Emissions Regulations, Control Strategies, Lessons Learned

Jim Lieskovan

Jim Lieskovan has worked within the Boiler Industry for more than 40 years. Beginning his career as a Field Service Technician, Jim and his partners built one of the larger Boiler / Burner Sales and Service organizations in California. Since the late 1980’s, Jim worked with Nationwide Boiler as a Contractor and as a customer, participating in many Rental Boiler and CataStak™ SCR sales, installation, and start-up projects. In 2014, after selling his own Company, Jim joined the Nationwide Boiler Team, bringing 30 plus years of Technical, Managerial and Sales experience to his current role as Vice President of Sales.

Preferred Utilities

Understanding the Fundamental Safety Principles of Burner Management Systems

David Eoff

David Eoff is a mechanical engineer with 34 years of experience in the electric power, industrial boiler, and commercial fueling industries. He currently serves as Vice President of Sales and Service, where he specializes in the design and commissioning of diesel fueling systems for emergency generators and dual-fuel boilers. His work supports mission-critical applications across hospitals, universities, data centers, and secure government facilities.

R.F. MacDonald

Hybrid Systems with Gas or Electric Boilers Plus Heat Pumps

Matt MacDonald

Matt MacDonald is a seasoned professional with a robust educational and career background. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Standford University in 2003, followed by a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia in 2010. Matt’s early career included clerking for a federal judge in Alexandria, VA and working as an associate at a prominent law firm in Washington, D.C., before joining RFM in 2014.

At RFM, Matt started as a sales engineer in the Hayward office, where he focused on business development, collaborating closely with engineers and desgin/build contractors. His expertise and leadership skills quickly propelled him to the role of Business Development Manager for the HARP office in 2016, where he successfully built and managed the Business Development Team. By 2021 he was promoted to VP of Sales for the New Equipment Team. In this role, Matt launched significant partnerships with manufacturers like TACO and Galletti and continues to work directly with RFM’s manufacturers to develop sales strategies, build forecasts, monitor pipelines, implement training, and serve as the company’s key point of contact.

Rogue Combustion

CFD Modeling

Troy Edens, Director at Rogue Combustion 

  • Over 20 years of experience in design and operation of fired equipment. Including Boilers, Dryers, Thermal Oxidizers, Evaporators, and Cement Kilns.

  • Last 3 years working for Rogue Combustion as a ClearSign partner in the development of the Rogue Burner System with ClearSign Core Technologies(TM).

Steamworks

Top 10 Must-Have Skills for Boiler Operators

Jon Kapel

Jon Kapel is husband to his high school sweetheart and a father of four. In his free time, he is the CEO of Steamworks and author of Skill Stigma. Steamworks provides made-to-order training, consulting, and operations for steam systems across the US and beyond. He and hs team values imparting competency and confidence in steam boiler safety, operation and maintenance. Hundreds of 5-star reviews describe how Steamworks trainings leave students with renewed excitement about their role in the steam industry and how their approach to training is fresh. Beyond the steam industry, Jon’s book. Skill Stigma, breaks the myths about work in the skilled trades and informs educators on how to present the skilled trades to students as a viable career path for emerging generations. He enjoys sharing his story about being pleasantly hoodwinked into a career in the skill trades.

Weishaupt

Combustion Theory, Low NOx Legislation and Low NOx Burner Technology

Robert Reid

With 30 years in the burner and burner related industry locally, in Europe and across North America, Robert’s industry knowledge is derived from years spent in technical sales, applications, education and R&D. Robert is currently the Manager of Technical Services and Training with Weishaupt Corporation in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Superior Boiler

Firetube vs. Watertube: The Right Boiler Type for Your Application

Speaker and Bio To Come