Meet The Team - Arkansas Elite Welding Academy

Meet the instructors that provide the skills, knowledge, and experience students need to find high-paying, in-demand welding jobs across the country.

Travis Bird

President

22+ Years Experience
Bird started out in 2000 at a local welding shop. He went to welding school in 2003 to learn the trade, and by 2004 he had progressed to working in refineries and power plants across the U. S. In 2007 T. Bird began running a rig truck and worked various projects such as pipelines, compressor stations, fab yards, etc. In 2016 he founded Arkansas Elite Welding Academy. In 2020, Travis was named the Arkansas Small Business Person of the Year.

Josh Waymack

CWI, CWE, API 510

Instructor / Quality Control Manager

21+ Years Experience
In 2001, Josh started working for an industrial fabrication shop as a laborer and structural welder near his hometown. After high school, Josh went to welding school where he learned how to weld pipe. Upon completion of welding school, he went to work at a fabrication shop where he gained knowledge in structural fabrication. In 2007, Josh moved into pipe and tube trades where he traveled across the nation welding in chemical plants, mills, refineries, power plants, etc. He was a top welder on heavy wall pipe and restricted welds. In 2013 he acquired his CWI and started into weld inspection as a Field QC. In 2016, he acquired an API 510 certification and became a Quality Control Manager for numerous projects across the U.S. Josh joined AEWA in 2018.

Travis Faulk

CWI, CWE Instructor

Instructor, Financial Director

27+ Years Experience
Travis Faulk started his welding career in 1995 with a local mechanical company in Conway, AR. He moved onto working shutdowns as a pipe welder until he hired in at Browning’s Welding in Wooster, AR. There he traveled the U.S. installing boilers. In 2003, Faulk started his own business upgrading the piping in food grade, water bottling, ice cream, and milk plants across the southeast U. S. In 2009, Faulk started as a Pipeline Inspector for SWN on pipeline and compressor station projects, and in that time, he was promoted to Construction Supervisor running multiple inspectors spread among various projects. Faulk obtained his CWI in 2017 and his CWE in 2019. Serving as an adjunct instructor since the founding of AEWA, he came to AEWA full time in 2019. Travis is a veteran of the United States Army.

Dennis Black

Instructor

52+ Years Experience
Mr. Dennis started his welding career in 1970, welding in a shop with his dad. In 1976, he took a job welding on a barge in the North Sea. He then spent 29 years working in various plants, specializing in stainless steel and boiler tube welding. In 2005, Dennis started pipelining until 2017, when he became an instructor at AEWA. Mr. Dennis is a veteran of the United States Army.

Jose Caballero

Instructor / Safety Coordinator

Jose graduated from the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) in 2015 with an Associate of Applied Science in Petroleum Technology. He left for training in the Army shortly after graduation. He returned home in 2019 and joined the Arkansas National Guard. Jose started training at Arkansas Elite Welding Academy in 2019 and was the first to complete the Elite Combined Structural / Pipe Program. After he completed the Combined Program, he went to work on various structural and pipe jobs. Jose joined the Arkansas Elite staff in 2022. He is married to Kathryn, and they have two children, Madelyn and Micah.

Grant Ragland

Lead Instructor / Registered Nurse

3+ Years Experience
Grant started his welding career in June of 2019 after completing the Elite Pipe Program at Arkansas Elite Welding Academy. He spent two years on the road as a pipe welder, welding in new construction and food processing plants, before coming to AEWA full time in 2021. Grant is also a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Hunter Sherman

Recruiter / Instructor

“Sherm” began his welding career in 2015 when he graduated high school early and went to work at a local fab shop in his hometown of Bryant. There he welded structural I-beams and metal buildings for four years before learning about the pipe side and traveling to refineries and power plants. Before he hit the road, he decided to pursue training at AEWA. Since his graduation, he has been in the field as a combo welder on various projects across the nation. Sherm joined the AEWA staff in 2022 and is excited to give back to those who opened doors for him.

Reid Birch

Social Media Coordinator/Instructor’s Assistant

Reid began his welding career in a fabrication shop in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2016. After a college tennis career, Reid decided to attend welding school at Arkansas Elite Welding Academy. Graduating in January of 2021, he hit the road working jobs in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Reid’s passion for video work and managing social media accounts, combined with his knowledge of welding, uniquely qualify Reid to serve as AEWA’s Recruiter and Social Media Coordinator. Reid joined the AEWA team in 2022.

Scott Davis

Instructor's Assistant

33+ Years Experience
Scott started in the welding industry in 1989 at a refinery in Memphis, TN where he welded on boiler tubes and external piping. For the next 25 years he moved on to chemical and refinery piping across the United States welding Tig, Stick, and Mig. Scott then moved on to the pipeline side for the next 12 years welding mainlines and compressor stations for the oil and gas industry. Scott joined Arkansas Elite in 2022.

Lucas Stacks

Materials, Tools, & Logistics Manager

After working as a lead warehouse manager at Amtran, Lucas went to work for Mountain Pure Water in Little Rock. While there he supervised over 60 employees, was over warehousing, and managed the sale of bottled water to Walmart. He then went to work in the oilfield industry for DNOW. While working there, Lucas managed inventory at four different branch locations and provided service for SWN. After moving four times, he decided to move back home to Central Arkansas, and he joined the AEWA team in late 2021.

Hunter Edgar

Materials & Maintenance Assistant

Sancy Faulk

Enrollment Director

19+ Years Experience
Sancy began her career in higher education administration as a Dean of Students in 2003. She then served as a college vice president from 2005 until 2021. She has supervisory experience in the areas of admissions, development, financial aid, housing, public relations, and student services. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and a M.S. in College Student Personnel Services & Administration. She came to AEWA in 2021.

Jake Odom

Student Advisor / Housing Coordinator

11+ Years Experience
Jake began working in the gas industry locally as an Electrical & Instrumentation technician and has traveled the state working in various refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants, and food processing facilities. Jake started his tenure with AEWA in 2020, to work locally, and ensure students are meeting their goals in and out of school.

Kelly Patrick

Accounts Payable

33+ Years Experience
Kelly brings a wealth of professional experience to AEWA. She has more than 30 years of experience in various customer service roles, finance administration, and property and casualty insurance. Kelly currently holds a property and casualty insurance license, is a licensed Notary Public, and is a licensed Admissions Representative. Kelly was AEWA’s first employee.

Arkansas Elite

Arkansas Elite’s mission is to provide ELITE, rigorous, and revolutionary training. We offer: