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About JFLF

How JFLF Supports Welding Education

We promote the art and science of welding and educate people about career pathways in the welding field. We do this by publishing welding books and providing welding awards and cash prizes as part of our welding contests. JFLF’s welding awards program honors innovative and artistic student, teacher and professional welding projects that highlight the welding process.

Our educational materials include lesson plans, welding project kits and arc welding tutorial DVDs for welding classes and welding projects. Whether it's creating a cool steel sculpture for a high school shop or art class or an intricate trade-level project, we want to officially recognize the welding process and the artistic impact it creates.


Learn to Weld with JFLF’s Welding Books & Project Kits

Whether you’re a student, professional or recreational welder, resources that enhance welding education can help you develop your talents. We publish a variety of welding books on topics ranging from the history of arc welding to frequently encountered arc welding design challenges to standard weights and measures. We also offer an array of fun welding project kits that include a step-by-step guide, perfect for the classroom or individual.



JFLF Arc Welding Awards & Project Submissions

We offer an annual Arc Welding Project and Technical Paper Competition in various divisions: High School, Community College, College/University, Career, Technical School and Apprenticeship and Sculpture.

The cost to enter the welding competition is free. Winners will receive either a cash award or welding equipment, personal recognition on our website highlighting your school and instructor (for students) and your project or paper may be published in one of our welding books. We will post news about our next welding contest soon. In the meantime, we encourage you to start thinking about our welding awards and how your arc welding project could be a contender.



Board Members & Volunteers

Leslie S. Brown, President
Associate Attorney Lincoln Electric Company
President, the James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation

Leslie Brown is an Associate Attorney at the Lincoln Electric Company and President of the James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation.

Ms. Brown has been with the Lincoln Electric Company for 18 years. After graduating from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1996 she began her career at Lincoln Electric in 1997 focusing on Product Liability and Employment Law. In 2009, she was promoted to Director of Human Resources and served in that role until April of 2013 when she transitioned back to the Legal Department. She was elected to the Board of the James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation in 2013 and has served as its President since that time. She is also a board member of the Sturbridge Village Condo Association, where she has served since 2002 and currently holds the office of Secretary for that organization. She is also an active member of a Northern Ohio Local Engagement Group coordinated through Exponent Philanthropy (formerly Association of Small Foundations) whose purpose is to encourage conversation and collaboration between small foundations.


Scott Strawn, Executive Director
Director, Global Applications and Education
Executive Director, The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation

Scott is currently responsible for overseeing all of the Application Resource Center (ARC) locations, education, segment solutions marketing, and the Welding Technology and Training Center (WTTC) for Lincoln Electric. Hired in 1998 as an engineering trainee, he has had various roles including automation project manager, technical sales representative, automation sales manager in China, marketing, service, and technical director in Singapore, and now as director, global applications and education. Scott earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University and an MBA from Central Michigan University.



Lou Mendoza, International Board Member

Lou Mendoza, Board Member
Global Segment Director - Heavy Fabrication

Lou has global responsibility for the Heavy Fabrication Segment for Lincoln Electric.

Upon graduation from Penn State University with BS in Electrical Engineering, he joined The Lincoln Electric Company in 1998 as a Technical Sales Representative and has had several roles during his tenure, including living abroad for 19 years of his career, returning to the US in July 2023.

Lou has been an active Board Member of the James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation since 2008 and an active member of the American Welding Society. Lou currently is based in Houston, TX.




Lori J. Hurley, Secretary
Executive Assistant to the President of Global Automation, and the Senior V.P. of Global Procurement
Secretary, James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation

Lori Hurley is the Executive Assistant to the President of Global Automation, the Senior V.P. of Global Procurement and Secretary to the James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundation.

 

Ms. Hurley has been with the Lincoln Electric Company for 30 years. After graduating from Charon High School in 1978 she attended Lakeland Community College. She worked in banking for 16 years before being hired at Lincoln Electric as a Purchasing Clerk in 1994. In 1997, she was promoted to a buyer in the Automation Division where she worked for three years, and then in 2000 was promoted the Executive Assistant to the Senior V.P. of Corporate Acquisitions, Investor Relations, and Global Marketing. In 2002 she was promoted to Executive Assistant to the Senior V.P. of Domestic Sales. In 2022, she worked for General Counsel and EHS for two years and recently was promoted to Executive Assistant to the President of Global Automation and Senior V.P. of Global Procurement, and still holds the position of secretary to the JFL Foundation.




Panel of Judges

2024 judges


Ryan Anderson
Dr. Ryan Anderson, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Education, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666


Joe Kean
Joseph Dean, Lead Instructor, Welding Technologies, Lively Technical College, 50 Daffodil Cove, Crawfordville, FL 32327


Candace Ortega
Candace Ortega, Instructor of Welding, North Central Texas College, 9042 Vail Eton Drive, Pilot Point, TX 76258


Julio Martinez
Welding Instructor, Polaris Career Center, 1613 Tarlton Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44109




SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT

to our Awards Program

Welding Books and Project Kits

Arc Welding Awards & Project Submissions

Officers and Staff

Panel of Judges

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

to promote the art and science of arc welding

JFLF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), tax-exempt charitable organization dedicated to advancing the field of arc welding through education. When you contribute to our organization, you are not only advancing information and best practices in arc welding, but sparking the creativity that resides within enthusiasts of all skill levels.