Miami, FL --The American Welding Society (AWS), the world’s largest organization dedicated to advancing the science, technology and application of welding, announced the appointment of John Filippi as managing director of certification operations. In this role, Filippi will support AWS’ global expansion strategy and help to manage the overall development, integrity and technical content of the Society’s certification programs.

Filippi is a 20-year veteran with wide-ranging expertise in operations management. Most recently he served as operations manager at Ikon Office Solutions, Inc., a large independent channel for document management systems and services with 2007 annual revenue of $4.2 billion and approximately 25,000 employees in over 400 locations throughout North America and Western Europe. In that capacity, Filippi was responsible for several operational duties including production and facility management, equipment maintenance and budgeting. Prior to that, Filippi was plant foreman at Facelifters Home Systems, a manufacturer of home improvement products. In that role, he managed production planning and operations, quality control and OSHA compliance.

At AWS, Filippi will support the Society’s mission to expand AWS certification programs both within the U.S. and around the globe. Toward that goal, Filippi will focus on strengthening certification programs while maintaining positive relationships with national agencies and partners that conduct business on behalf of AWS. These include AWS accredited testing facilities.

Filippi holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bernard Baruch University in New York, NY.