Management Team

Susan Avila, Training / Safety Coordinator

Susan has over fourteen years of thermal spray experience. Sue uses that experience to train TST’s employees to become efficient, effective, and safe thermal spray technicians. The training systems Susan uses at TST follow ISO 9001 guidelines.

Andrew Birkett , Project Engineer

Andrew completed his B.S. Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Materials Science and Engineering Department. He started at TST as an intern immediately out of college, and was brought on as a product engineer a few months later.  Outside of work, Andrew coaches youth hockey and baseball.

Suzanne Bowen, Plant Accountant

Suzanne is an Accredited Business Accountant with 22 years of accounting experience in a variety of industries including engineering, restaurants and wholesalers.   Her ability to find the links between the big picture and the details make her a great addition to the team.  Outside TST she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her 1- and 2 yr-old grandsons Ayden and Alexzander as well as watching NASCAR and the Minnesota Vikings!!!

Daryl E. Crawmer, FASM, Director of Technology

Daryl has been extensively involved in various aspects of the thermal spray industry since 1972. Daryl began work with Miller Thermal, Inc., in Appleton Wisconsin in 1990, which was later acquired by Praxair Surface Technologies, Inc. He served 10 years as Director of Engineering for that operation. Daryl became TST’s Director of Technology in September of 2000. Daryl was co-founder of ASM Thermal Spray Society and was an active Board member for several years. He also served for many years as Vice Chairman of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology Committee, and Chairman of the ASM TSS Recommended Practices Committee. Daryl presently serves on several TSS committees.
Daryl was elected as an ASM Fellow, “in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of materials science and materials engineering.”

Carrie Dushenski, PHR, Human Resource Manager

Carrie is a certified Professional Human Resource Manager, PHR. She has a B.B.A. Degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She is very active in the Greater Madison Area Chapter of Society of Human Resource Management. Carrie is also a loyal Wisconsin Badgers sports fan.

Dan Heiden, Maintenance Manager

Has thirteen years of experience with the maintenance of thermal spray equipment. Dan has helped develop TST’s preventative maintenance system which incorporates the concepts of “Lean Manufacturing” and complies with ISO 9001 standards. Dan also has designed and developed several specialized processes and equipment to automate thermal spraying for TST’s customers. Dan enjoys snowmobiling, boating and fishing with his family.

Karen Hitchcock, Quality Assurance Manager

Karen has over 20 years of experience in Quality Assurance.  Karen has implemented and directed quality management systems implementation in four organizations in a wide variety of industries.  Trained in the U.S. Navy in with a degree in radio electronics, Karen also has achieved certifications in quality management, MRP, lean manufacturing, and service management.  Karen is a certified IRCA Lead Auditor with over 200 audits in her audit log and is active in the United States ISO standards development as an officer and Secretary of the U.S. TC/TAG 176.  Karen is also an active senior member of ASQ.  In her off time, Karen is active in public speaking, motorcycling, camping, and traveling. 

Eric Kitowski, Materials Engineer

Eric has a B.S. Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has over eight years of direct thermal spray experience. Eric started his work with TST as a thermal spray technician and worked his way to a full Materials Engineer. He has experience in metallographic techniques as well as project management. Eric is a volunteer firefighter and an avid hockey player and fan.

Ryan Lawton, Production Manager

Ryan has a B.S. Degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has over three years of Industrial Engineering experience. Ryan is trained and experienced in the many aspects of Lean Manufacturing. He has completed a Lean Certificate Training Series including 5S, value stream mapping, TPM (total productive maintenance), quick changeover, and Kaizen (continuous improvement). Ryan has been implementing into TST’s production processes the Lean Manufacturing concepts along with ISO compliant production systems. Ryan enjoys baseball, fishing, and repairing vehicles.

Andrea Loppnow, Systems Engineer

Andrea has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University. She has over 14 years experience in quality engineering, twelve years experience in quality engineering management, and six years of direct thermal spray experience. Andrea has lead two companies in the complete development, implementation, and certification of ISO 9002, QS 9000 and ISO 9001 quality systems. Andrea is trained in Black Belt in Six Sigma techniques and is leading TST in implementing Six Sigma projects. She is a senior member of ASQ. She is a member of ASM and Andrea was the chair of the TSS, (Thermal Spray Society of ASM) Training Committee. Andrea and her husband enjoy raising alpacas and keeping up with their two active little boys.    

Bill Lenling, Vice President, Materials Engineer

Bill has a B.S. and M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He began working in the thermal spray industry in 1986 and has extensive experience in research & development, sales, and management. His graduate research at the University of Wisconsin was concentrated on thermal spray, and he spent fifteen months working at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico studying the sciences of thermal spray. He has four thermal spray related patents, and has written and published several papers. Bill is an active member of ASM and ASM/TSS. Currently he is an elected member of the TSS Board and serves on the TSS Board’s Executive Committee. He is the past chair of the TSS Training Committee. He currently is a member of the ASM Education Committee. He is the TST’s company representative for the ITSA, (International Thermal Spray Association). Bill is active in his children’s school committees. He enjoys many outdoor sports including, skiing, biking, running and fishing. He is also a big Wisconsin Badger sports fan.

Timin Musallam , Project Engineer

Timin has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and over four years experience in design and project management. He is currently implementing Lean Manufacturing methods to both production and office environments. Timin enjoys playing soccer and coaching youth soccer.

Cheryll Oestreich, Production Scheduler/ Customer Service

Cheryll has over sixteen years of direct experience in the thermal spray industry. She has been with TST since it’s beginning and has performed most of TST’s job functions. She has a very good understanding of what TST does and how we get it done. If a customer wants to know when their parts are going to be processed and how long it will take to process them Cheryll can get the answer. When Cheryll is not at TST she enjoys taking care of her children, quilting, gardening, and riding her motorcycle.

Kyle Robbins, Project Engineer

Kyle has a B.S. degree in Industrial Technology with an Electronics minor from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville.  He has over 18 years of engineering experience including controls engineering, automation integration, project management and robot programming.  He enjoys coaching youth basketball and baseball, hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.   

Peter Zoellner, Project Engineer

Peter has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has over three years of Mechanical Engineering experience. Peter is trained in Six Sigma and is using the tools of Six Sigma to improve TST’s processes. He is also involved in TST’s implementation of Lean Manufacturing at TST. Peter enjoys running, volleyball, and softball.