Staff Bio

Mark Mosley - Controlling Member Mark has been the controlling owner of Elite Welding Academy since 2006 and of United Group Services since 1982.

Dan Freese - C.E.O. Dan has over 30 years in construction management and has been the President of United Group Services since 2003 and partial owner of Elite Welding Academy in 2006.

Troy Norvell - COO Troy brings over 35 years of construction industry experience to United. His career has transitioned from field laborer to several executive positions, including President, Senior Vice President, and now Chief Operating Officer. Troy joined the United team in 2019 and brings a passion for teamwork, customer service, exceptional project execution, and operational excellence. He appreciates aggressive challenges, which require a culture of high expectations, which allows for top performers to flourish and consistently deliver positive results.

Jackie Montgomery – President Jackie received a Master of Science, in Accounting, and a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University. Jackie joined Elite Welding Academy in 2021 and brings over thirty years of experience in business and operations management. After 11 years with a big four accounting firm, Jackie’s career has spanned senior management roles in both public and private companies finance, operations, and compliance departments.

Genois Thomas – Executive Director Genois received a Master of Business Administration from Texas Southern University and a Bachelor of Administration from American InterContinental University in Human Resources. Genois has over 28 years of extensive administrative, director, and executive experience, joining in 2015.

F. Michael Rice CWI/ CWE Director of Instruction Mike has over 20 years of pipe welding and pipefitting experience and at least 7 years of instructional experience. He is an OSHA instructor, also certified as an ASNT Level II VT and Scaffold Training Institute Trainer. He is the Testing Supervisor and Manager for our AWS Accredited Test Facility, NCCER instructor, and is a member of the American Welding Society. Joining in 2012

Gail Goode - Financial Aid Director Gail received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cincinnati in Education. Gail has an extensive background in Administration as a manager, supervisor, and 22 years of Title IV Administration as financial aid director in both non-profit and for-profit institutions, joining in 2016.

Garcia, Susan – Assistant Director of Financial Aid Susan Received an associate degree in Business Management from Kaplan University. She has 10 years of experience working as a financial aid advisor plus 8 years managing a financial aid department for several for-profit colleges and universities. Joining July 2021

Houston

Cincinnati

Renzi, Jessica – Administrative Assistant/Placement Jessica has anAssociate’s in Education at Morehead State University and Ashland Community and Technical College. She has an extensive background in administration as a business owner, manager, and administrative assistant in various fields, and educational background as a substitute teacher for the Russell Independent School District, joining in 2020

South Point

Wilson, Jennifer – Bursar -Jennifer has worked as a Manager for the State of New York for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities for 15-plus years.  She relocated to Ohio in 2018 to be closer to family and worked as the Executive Director/Care Coordinator for a Home Health Company throughout the pandemic. She joined EWA in November 2021.

Cincinnati

Arrowood, Tim – Instructor, Tim has 5 years of pipe welding experience. Tim graduated from Elite Welding Academy where he started his pipe welding career in the industry before returning to Elite Welding Academy and joining the team has a level 1 instructor joining in 2022

Cincinnati

Barnett, Guy – Instructor, Guyworked in the pipe welding industry for 26 years from pipe fitting, structural welding, and combo pipe welder for some of the leading companies around the Gulf Coast Region and held positions such as leadman and welding foreman, completed at Alvin Community College for Boilermaker structural welder and Brazosport Community College for advance pipe welding NCCER joining in 2020

Houston

Brockman, Ross – Instructor, Ross has 7 years of pipe welding experience. Ross graduated from Elite Welding Academy where he started his pipe welding career in the industry before returning to Elite Welding Academy and joining the team has a level 1 instructor joining in 2022

Cincinnati

Robert ‘Alex’ Calhoun – Instructor, Alex has 3 years of pipe welding experience coupled with 4 years of teaching experience.  Alex has a Master’s in Reading education from Concordia University and Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and is a graduate of Elite Welding Academy.  Joining in 2023

Cincinnati

Frazier, Michale - Lead Instructor Michale has over 26 years of pipe welding and fabrication experience, and one (1) year of experience as a Saturday welding school instructor with Untied Group Services in Cincinnati, Ohio. Michale has held a piping foreman’s position for several industrial companies and fabrication shops. Joining in 2017

Houston

Gaffin, John, - Instructor John has 37 years of experience in the construction industry. During this time, he has held these positions and certifications – structural ironworker, pipefitter, pipe welder, AWS Certified Welding Inspector, AWS Certified Welding Educator, NCCER Certified Pipefitting and Pipe Welding Instructor, Fabrication Shop Foreman, QA-QC manager, and Site QC. Joining in 2022

Cincinnati

Kessinger, Andrew – Lead Instructor Andrew has 18 years of experience in welding pipe and structural. He is a shop foreman at a major manufacturing company, has OSHA 10 certification, worked with boilermakers, and has 20 years of experience in MIG TIG and stick, joining in 2018

South Point

Kiosks, Tony - Instructor Tony worked with McGinnis INC he was a welder fitter from 85-01 and a welder fitter at AK steel from 2001 to 2018 and works with Pickett concrete as a welding and fabrication for 30 plus years also has his own welding business Kouskos welding, joining in 2019

South Point

Senay, Mike - Lead Welding Instructor Mike has over 37 years of pipe welding and fitting experience and at least 15 years of instructional experience. He has held supervisory positions while employed at Untied Group Services. Mike holds numerous welding certifications including a 30-hour OSHA card through United Group Services. He has been trained as an NCCER instructor and is a member of the American Welding Society. Joining in 2012

Cincinnati

Woolwine, M. Ben – Welding Instructor Ben is a certified pipe welder. He has been an employee of United Group Services as a pipe welder for over 7 years. Ben graduated from the Elite Welding Academy in October 2014 with years of teaching experience Joining in 2019

Cincinnati