Oil Analysis One, Noria three day course.

Certified Level I Machinery Lubricant Analyst by the International Council for Machinery Lubrication. See Internet site www.lubecouncil.org.

Dredge Pump Seminar, Thomas Foundries, Birmingham, AL.

Studies in Hydraulic Dredging – John Huston Course, 250 hours.

Dale Carnegie Course in Human Relations and Public Speaking – Received award for best speaker.

Caterpillar Technical Training: - Ten one-week courses in trouble-shooting and repair of hydraulic systems, power shift transmissions, diesel engines, electrical systems and other Caterpillar equipment components.

Graduate: Bailey Technical School, St. Louis, MO. - Diploma in Diesel and Gasoline Engine Mechanics.

Dredging Contractor – My company, Dredging Specialists has completed approximately 150 dredging projects in 22 states for many of the nations largest corporations and government agencies.  Clients include General Motors, Ford, Cargill, E.I. Dupont, Mobil Oil, City of Philadelphia, Pa, State of Pennsylvania and many others.  Since 1979 all work has been done with dredges, dredge pumps and specialized dredging systems that were designed and build by Dredging Specialists.  Click Here to see project list.

Personal responsibilities have included project investigation, bid preparation, project manager, project engineer, dredge operator and mate.   Directly involved in dredge plant set up and tear down.  Over 2,000 hours operating dredges.

Dredge Construction: Dredging Specialists has designed and built seven uniquely different dredges including the dredge pumps.  Personal responsibilities have included, project manager, purchasing, design supervision; as well as hands-on participation in steel fabrication, welding, machine shop activities, assembly, delivery, testing and training.

I Designed and built a chain ladder drive for a 16” - 2000 HP sand and gravel dredge.

Designed and built fluid power systems for seven hydraulic dredges, including the drive systems for the cutterhead, dredge pump, and winches.
 

Designed and built a 300 HP electric driven hydraulic system, as well as the hydraulic drive for an 8-inch underwater gravel pump.
 

Designed and built hydraulic system for shoulder stone spreading machine.
 

Designed hydraulic system for sand and gravel conveyor and shaker screen.
 

Designed hydraulic system for straw blower.
 

Designed, built, and operated a hydraulic powered sand bag handling system for E. I. DuPont.  Click Here to see hydraulic power units.

Diagnosed and repaired well in excess of 50 fluid power systems on dredges, construction equipment, scrap metal balers, shears, car-crushers, and refuge equipment.  Have rebuilt pumps, motors, valves, and cylinders. 

Experienced in repairing, dredges, cranes, bulldozers, excavators, front end loaders, car crushers, motor graders, tractor scrapers, scrap metal processing equipment, diesel engines, gasoline engines, winches, belt presses, filter presses, hydraulic systems, and computers.

Experienced in machine shop practice, and operation of machine tools including lathes, drill presses, milling machines and shears.  Operate a machine shop as part of dredging activities.

Employment and business activities have provided experience in the operation of construction equipment.  Have operated dozers, front-end loaders, scrapers, cranes, backhoes, fork-lifts, hydraulic dredges and mechanical dredges. Twenty-six years a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

Dredging Specialists was the parts, service and plant installation representative for Diemme of Lugo, Italy, a manufacturer of belt presses and plate and frame filter presses, used for dewatering industrial and municipal sludge.  I Have repaired this equipment, installed them in plants, and provided dredging to a set-up of 5 belt presses.

Have completed dredging, machinery design and fluid power, [hydraulic], consulting projects throughout the U.S., Canada, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico and for firms in Costa Rico, India, France and Belize.  Click Here to see a list of consulting projects  

Have provided consulting services and expert witness testimony for attorneys in cases involving dredging operations and equipment, personal injury while working on dredges, fluid power hydraulics, as well as construction and farm equipment failures. 18 years experience, 22 cases in 16 states. Qualified as an expert in Federal and State Courts. Click Here to see a list of legal consulting and expert witness cases.

• Piranha Diver Cutterhead: Improves diver dredging production by 233%.

• Wire rope clip wrenches: Holds wire rope clips while tightening the nuts.

• Cable Tensioning Machine: Provides tension when installing new wire rope on large winch drums.

• No Spill Fueling System: Prevents spills when fueling marine or land equipment.

Founder of Machinery Maintenance for Extended Life.  Providing consulting services and implementation of methods to extend machinery life.  Internet site www.mmel.biz

Dredging Specialists Founder, owner, manager.  Firm is active as Hydraulic Dredging Contractor, Builder of Hydraulic Dredges, Builder of Specialized Dredging Systems, Dredging Consultants, Fluid Power Design.

During this time, active in several businesses including:

Service Equipment Co.  Founder, owner, and manager of J. I. Case construction equipment dealership. 

Service Disposal Co.  Founder, owner, and manager.  Refuge contractor and operator of sanitary landfill.  Quotation from 1972 State of Illinois EPA Report.  “Under the ownership of Service Disposal, the unsightly, odor causing, Coles County Landfill has been turned into a model of compliance with state regulations.”

Mattoon Excavating, Inc.  Farm drainage and terrace construction, industrial excavation, demolision.  Part owner. 

Reliable Auto Crushing Co.  Founder, owner, manager - scrap metal processing.  Scrapped 24,000 cars in 1972.

Held position of Field Service Technician with two Caterpillar dealers in Central Illinois.  Held position of Master Mechanic for Howell Asphalt Co. of Mattoon, IL.  Shop Forman for Standard Paving Co. of Chicago and Mattoon, IL.  While employed for Standard Paving Co., had the responsibility for the repair and maintenance of over 100 pieces of construction equipment.

2005               

Dredging Specialists Takes Environmentel Remediation To a New Level.

World Dredging and Marine Construction Magazine

You Can Learn a Lot From A Filter.
Machinery Lubrication Magazine

How Employees Can Fight Back.
Oil Analysis Magazine

Dredging Specialists Develops Drag Scraper Dredging System.
World Dredging and Marine Construction Magazine

Engine Lube Oil System Powers Hydraulic Clutch Control.
Hydraulics & Pneumatics Magazine

Switching to O-Ring [ORB] Sealed Fittings.
Hydraulics & Pneumatics Magazine

Lectures

Safety When Working With Hydraulic Systems.
Two day safety seminar for St. Charles Sand Co.

Mining Sand and Gravel with a Hydraulic Dredge.
Chicago Section - Society of Mining Metallurgy and Exploration

The Fundamentals of Hydraulic Sludge Dredging
Annual meeting - Midwest Chapter, Western Dredging Association.

Maintenance of Construction Equipment.
University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) Annual 3-day seminar, Construction Equipment Maintenance.

Fluid Power Technology - Lake Land College, Mattoon, IL.

Western Dredging Association

Past board member, Mattoon Babe Ruth Baseball, three years

Past board member, Mattoon Association of Commerce, three years

Private pilot, single engine, land.