The Hi-Tech Team

Kent is a seasoned engineering professional with 30+ years of project experience, with his initial career beginning in the truck/trailer industry involving the design/fabrication of aluminium beverage vehicles. In 2000, Kent began his career in the Automated Weld Overlay industry involving critical projects for power generation facilities, petroleum refineries, chemical facilities, and pulp & paper mills. He has been with Hi-Tech since 2005, starting as a Project Engineer and then progressing into the role of Vice-President in 2015, and now President as of 2024. Kent has an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University (Go Wildcats!) and is thankful to work and live in his hometown of Kansas City near family and friends.

Scott has 15+ years of Project Management/Engineer experience, starting in Commercial Construction and transitioning to industrial construction/maintenance in 2013. Scott began with Hi-Tech Weld Overlay Group in 2016 as a Project Engineer for Automated Weld Overlay projects within chemical facilities, pulp & paper mills, power generation facilities and petroleum refineries. Scott has critical responsibilities involving customer and staff engagement from receipt of project inquiry through project delivery and completion. He also handles the Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) requirements for equipment development and product fabrication, while managing our office and warehouse property management duties to ensure a safe and efficient work environment at Hi-Tech Weld Overlay Group.

Janel has a diverse professional background that spans healthcare, staffing, and logistics. She joined Hi-Tech Weld Overlay Group in the accounts payable department and has transitioned into the Construction Coordinator role. Currently, she manages staff assignments and travel arrangements, ensuring projects run smoothly and efficiently. A graduate of the Kansas College of Nursing, Janel brings extensive experience with her background in hospital coordination, dementia care, and hospice support. Her unique blend of organization expertise and compassionate care allows her to connect with both our corporate teams and important clients on a meaningful level. Outside of her professional life, Janel is an active volunteer in her church and community, where she continues her commitment to service and support.

Antonio brings nearly two decades of hands-on experience in welding quality, fabrication standards, and code compliance across high-stakes industrial environments. He currently serves as Corporate Quality Control Manager at Hi-Tech Weld Overlay Group, LLC, where he leads company-wide QA/QC programs, manages welding/NDE compliance, and supports field execution of ASME-code and NBIC-code repair and overlay projects. As a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), Antonio offers deep technical expertise in ASME Sections I, VIII, IX, and B31 piping codes, as well as API and AWS structural codes. He has played a pivotal role in advancing code compliance and welding innovation across the power, petrochemical, military, and industrial fabrication sectors. Notably, he has served for 14 years on the ASME Section IX Subgroup General Requirements and 8 years on the API 1104 Subcommittee for Welding Procedures and Welder Qualifications, contributing to the development of national codes and standards. Originally from Detroit, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics, associate degrees in Computer Science and Pre-Engineering, and a post-education certificate in Welding Construction.

Cyndy brings 40+ years of Payroll & Accounting experience including Human Resources, Benefit admin and AP & AR. Her background includes full-cycle accounting and end-to- end payroll processing while working in public accounting with 27 payroll/accounting clients. In the early 2000’s, she transitioned to private accounting and payroll department for a manufacturing company. Cyndy has been with Hi-Tech Weld overlay for 17+ years. She is known for her reliability, discretion and deep understanding of both technical and business side of the business operations. Whether it’s streamlining processes, meeting tight deadlines, or supporting a growing team, she takes pride in being a dependable resource and problem-solver. In her off time she loves to watch Nascar and football games, and going fishing and bowling. She has 8 grandchildren that take up a lot of her weekends.

Greg has over 35 years in the welding Industry. He attended Lex/Ray Technical for welding and Devry for electronics. He started as a Field Equipment Technician for the George P. Reintjes Company and also worked in their Research and Development department qualifying ASME Welding Procedures and testing new equipment. Greg also worked for 2 years as Quality Control Manager for George P. Reintjes Company. Greg currently works as Field Project Manager and continues to work closely with Research and Development for Hi-Tech Weld Overlay Group, LLC. Over the years, Greg has worked around the Globe on projects in Petro-Chemical, Pulp and Paper and Resource Recovery industries. Prior to Greg’s career in welding, he grew up in Missouri and after high school was self employed in construction.

Mike began his career as a 2nd generation family member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers National Transit Lodge in 1999 by working in the Automated Weld Overlay industry. Over the next 26 years and over 45,000 hrs safely worked in the trade, he has been involved in several different types of Heavy Industrial projects including new construction and repair of Fossil Fuel, Natural Gas, Solid Waste fueled Power Generation plants, Paper/Fiber Board production facilities, and Chemical production facilities; as well as Oil and Bio-Fuel refining production plants around the world including the US, Canada, South America, and the Netherlands. He is a 1999 Graduate of Missouri Welding Institute in Nevada MO where he completed the Master Pipe and Structural Welding courses with certifications in both Pipe and Plate welding in all 4 major welding processes including a Master Pipe fitting certification. Mike has completed advanced Rigging and Competent Scaffold building modules provided by the Boilermakers MOST program at the Local 83 Boilermakers Union Hall as well as current DISA and MOST drug and alcohol screening programs. Mike is a 1996 Graduate of Brookfield High School in Missouri and resides in the same area on a small farm with his wife Holly and 3 children. Most of their free time in the summer months is spent camping and boating at the lake, softball games in the fall, and girls high school wrestling in the winter.

Don began his career two months after graduating high school, joining the Geo. P. Reintjes Co in 1979 as a Field Technician/Boilermaker. His dedication led to a promotion to Field Project Manager in 1994. Throughout his career, Don has executed projects globally, spanning Europe, Asia, South America, and Canada. He possesses deep expertise in the Automatic Weld Overlay industry, having mastered every aspect from equipment maintenance and all phases of the welding process to managing multiple projects, both large and small. Outside of work, Don is a National Champion Chuckwagon Racer (2021), along with multiple state championships. He and his wife of 45 years reside in the Kansas City area, where they are active in their church, and enjoy time with their two daughters and seven grandchildren who play multiple sports and activities.

Duane started with Hi-Tech in 2018 as a Field Technician in support of Automated Weld Overlay projects. Over the next 5 years he became a Lead Technician supporting on the job training efforts and leading the test based analyses of prototype machinery for the R&D department. After a brief hiatus in late 2024, Duane returned to fill the role of Equipment Manager, as well as provide Project Management, QC, and Technician support for field projects that call for additional staffing requirements. He graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2009, and finished his graduate coursework at Western Washington University in 2014. Additionally, Duane is certified NDT Level II persuant to SNT-TC-1A in VT, UTT, and PT methods, OSHA 30 certified, and currently working on his CWI certification. Duane’s hometown is the Kansas City area where he lives with his partner Jillian, their dog Eleanor, and 20-30 vintage mopeds and small displacement motorcycles.

Jesse Luviano has two decades of experience in the occupational safety and health industry, with a strong focus on high-risk environments such as refineries, chemical plants, and industrial construction sites. As Safety Specialist at Hi-Tech Weld Overlay, he leads all safety initiatives, ensures compliance with ISNetworld, AVETTA, and TAPPI Safety, and provides technical training to promote a strong safety culture. He has managed safety programs for major clients including ExxonMobil, Marathon, Valero, and Goodyear. As a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist, he also holds his OSHA certifications, CSST, NCCER, Forklift Train-the-Trainer, CPR/First Aid, and training as a Scaffold Competent Person. In addition to being bilingual (English/Spanish), Jesse brings valued experience, strong leadership, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to workplace safety and risk prevention.

Ron began with Hi-Tech in the summer of 2021 after being self-employed for over 20 years in a service related business in Phoenix, AZ. His strong work ethic, communication skills, and quick learning abilities has helped him become a valuable member of our operations. He has been able to quickly transform our warehouse with increased organization and more efficient work areas, while also assisting with the important development of enhancements to weld testing stands within our weld shop. With the responsibility of procuring all shop and equipment supplies, Ron works directly with a number of vendors to procure the best suited products at a fair market price. He also has the duties of logistics involving critical transportation arrangements associated with our field project equipment and materials. Getting our equipment moved to and from the warehouse, while meeting all scheduling timelines, is a task he performs diligently every day. In his down time, Ron enjoys working on his small acreage farm, working on his vintage car, and hunting in different states. But, his biggest smiles come from the achievements of his two kids and two grandsons.