Meet Our Team
Coatings Academy is built on the expertise of practitioners who have spent decades in the field. Every instructor on our team has real-world application, inspection, and business experience—not just academic credentials.
Leadership
David Hartwell — Founder & Executive Director
David Hartwell has been involved in the polyurea industry since 1998, when he began his career as an applicator for an industrial coatings contractor in Houston. Over the following decade, he advanced to project manager and then regional director for a national coatings contractor, overseeing projects ranging from bedliner shops to multi-million-dollar secondary containment installations.
In 2012, frustrated by the lack of quality, manufacturer-neutral training available to the industry, David left corporate life to found Coatings Academy. His philosophy—that the industry needed training built on fundamental principles, not brand loyalty—has guided the organization’s curriculum development since its inception. David holds certifications from multiple industry bodies and has served on technical committees for the Protective Coatings Institute and the SPFA.
Rebecca Chen — Director of Curriculum & Education
Rebecca Chen joined Coatings Academy in 2016 after eleven years as a coatings inspector and specifying engineer for a major industrial engineering firm. In that role, she evaluated polyurea systems on projects including bridge decks, wastewater treatment facilities, and secondary containment for petrochemical plants. Her practical experience as an inspector—seeing firsthand what fails and why—has been invaluable in shaping Coatings Academy’s emphasis on quality assurance in the curriculum.
Rebecca oversees all curriculum development, ensures course content stays current with evolving industry standards, and personally teaches our Inspector Certification program. She holds a B.S. in Materials Science and is certified by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) as a Coating Inspector Level 3.
James “Jimmy” Okafor — Director of Operations & Industry Relations
Jimmy Okafor manages day-to-day operations across Coatings Academy’s three facilities and maintains the organization’s relationships with manufacturers, industry associations, and contractor networks. Jimmy came to Coatings Academy from the equipment side of the industry, having spent eight years as a technical representative for a major plural component equipment manufacturer—a background that makes him uniquely qualified to advise students on equipment selection and maintenance.
Lead Instructors
Carlos Mendez — Lead Instructor, Houston Facility
Carlos brings 20 years of hands-on polyurea application experience to the classroom, including 12 years running his own commercial coatings business in the Gulf Coast region. His specialty areas include secondary containment, industrial flooring, and large-scale infrastructure applications. Carlos is known among students for his practical, no-nonsense approach to problem-solving and his ability to diagnose application issues quickly from simple observation.
Angie Watkins — Lead Instructor, Atlanta Facility
Angie Watkins joined our Atlanta team in 2022 after a 15-year career as a coatings contractor in the Southeast, where she specialized in roofing and below-grade waterproofing applications. Angie is one of the few female lead instructors in the polyurea training industry, and she’s particularly committed to supporting women entering the coatings trades. She holds both the Coatings Academy Advanced Applicator Certification and the Coatings Academy Inspector Certification.
Derek Nguyen — Lead Instructor, Portland Facility
Derek Nguyen leads instruction at our newest Portland, Oregon facility. With a background in both spray polyurethane foam roofing and polyurea coatings, Derek brings broad expertise to instruction in our Pacific Northwest programs. He previously served as technical director for a regional coatings contractor and holds multiple industry certifications.
Join the Team
Coatings Academy is always looking for experienced industry professionals to join our instructor network, particularly in regions where we’re considering expanding our workshop program. If you have significant field experience in polyurea application, inspection, or a related discipline and are passionate about education, we’d love to hear from you.
