ESP and Controls Technical Training Seminar

Steve Sneed

Steve Sneed has more than 35 years’ experience in software development for projects spanning a wide variety of industries including space launch vehicle telemetry, telecom, military, law enforcement and legal office support, health care, scholastic records management, and more.  For the last 16 years, he has served as software technical leader for B&W’s ESP business, designing and developing our worldwide suite of control and precipitator management software and hardware and assisting our customers with plant-system integration and precipitator optimization.  He earned his Associate of Science in Technology and Engineering (ASET) degree from the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College.

Paul Griffin

Paul Griffin is QA Coordinator for B&W’s ESP team based in Newport News, Va. He has more than 29 years’ experience with B&W. He began his career soldering circuit boards and building control cabinets. Currently, he coordinates quality testing of electrical products, precipitator software, and computer systems. He also has expertise in assisting customers with DCS integrations, troubleshooting and setup.

Rob Hummell

Rob was honorably discharged from the United States Navy in 1990 after graduating from several technical schools with specialized training in electronics, nuclear prototype instructor, nuclear power, and submarines. He has 27 years of experience in the design, installation, operation, and troubleshooting of electrostatic precipitator control systems and has been awarded four U.S. patents in recognition of his commitment to advancing innovative ESP technology development.

Rob frequently presents at technical training sessions, leading discussions that encourage the sharing of knowledge and valuable, actionable ideas among participants.

James ”Buzz”  Reynolds

James “Buzz” Reynolds is the Director of Industrial Sales for Babcock & Wilcox’s Environmental division with more than 30 years of experience in the air pollution control industry. He’s known as an expert in wet ESP technology and industrial marketing.

During his professional career, he’s helped companies position themselves in the CO2 capture pre-treatment space by piloting wet ESP technology ahead of CO2 capture technology. He’s helped new coal-fired power plants address SO₂ emissions, established Clean Air Technology divisions, and executed over 80 wet ESP projects.

Buzz is an innovator, holds several patents, co-authored technical papers, and is a frequent presenter at industry conferences. He has been recognized for his contributions to the Institute for Clean Air Companies and has served on the World Pollution Control Association. He has an MBA from the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College and a BA from the University of Notre Dame.

John A. Knapik

Mr. Knapik served as an Applications Engineer for Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) at B&W, for 38 years before retiring this past December. He has spoken multiple times on ESP topics at the Western Canada BLRBAC Conference; Eastern Canada BLRBAC Conference; MEGA Symposium; Energy, Utility, Environment Conference (EUEC); PRB Coal Users Group; Catalytic Cracker Conference; Western Regional Boiler Association; American Forest & Paper Association Conference; and at the International Conference on ESPs. In addition, he has spoken at the Reinhold ESP Users group seven times. He has authored many technical papers on electrostatic precipitators, two published in “Power Magazine.”

He has served as a consultant on precipitator performance and operations to the Electric Utility, Paper, Refining, Cement, and Mining industries. He is known as an expert in terms of “reading the ESP” through a close examination of the automatic voltage control readings. In addition, he is able to easily convey, in simple laymen's language, “What is going on and why.” He has conducted hundreds of ESP training courses for all industries over the last 30 years.

Royce Warnick

Royce Warnick has been focused on serving the environmental needs of power and industrial customers since 1977.

He began his career at Virginia Power, where he was responsible for the performance and maintenance of electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) at one of its flagship power stations for more than 12 years. He went on to serve in various sales, technical and managerial roles at Epscon-FLS and Stock Equipment Co., and most recently was Director of Aftermarket Services at Hamon Research-Cottrell, where he had direct responsibility for field service, parts and engineered improvements on ESPs and fabric filters across North America.

In his current role as Service Manager – Environmental for the ESP Parts & Services group at B&W, Royce helps customers evaluate ESP performance and collaborates on project strategies for existing and new ESPs.  

Matt Williams

Matt was honorably discharged from the United States Navy in 2014 after graduating from several technical schools with specialized training in electrical, nuclear power, and submarines. In 2017, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering. He understands that precipitator control and proper ESP operation is a vital part of plant functionality. He and B&W’s other customer support engineers work hand-in-hand with design teams and repair departments to deliver a tailor-made solution for each and every customer.