Hal's experience in the door and hardware industry spans over 35 years. He currently serves as the VP of Product Management for an independently owned manufacturer of door products. Throughout his career, Hal has conducted safety, security, classroom lockdown, and annual fire door inspections across the U.S. and Canada. He has also consulted with other inspection companies and industry manufacturers regarding annual inspection requirements and has provided expert witness consulting services to legal teams seeking expertise in the opening industry.

In 2008, Hal founded DOORDATA Solutions, Inc. and developed the first dedicated fire door inspection application. Additionally, Hal has contracted with QAI Labs for over a decade as a Field Inspector and Field Inspector Trainer.

For 30 years, Hal has passionately shared his industry knowledge by writing articles, lecturing, and teaching. In 2022, he was appointed as a Principal Technical Committee Member for NFPA 80 and NFPA 105 as a Special Expert, and now also serves on the BHMA.

Wally has been in the door and hardware industry for over 39 years, starting his career as a truck driver in 1984 delivering finish material to construction sites. Wally's drive for continued learning helped him climb the corporate ladder where he now serves as Sr. Business Development Manager for the same company he started with so many years ago. Wally has a deep understanding of the manufacturing process and green building initiatives. Wally truly lives by the motto, "as iron sharpens iron, so one person shall sharpen another". 

No one know, understands or loves wood doors more than Wally, his excitement when instructing is contagious. He really loves the opening industry and has a passion to pour his knowledge into anyone who is ready to receive it.

Paul is a proud Marine veteran with over 25 years experience in the door and hardware industry. Paul started out his career as an Institutional Locksmith in the 1990’s. He achieved his first certification as a Facility Locksmith and later earned accreditation as a Certified Fire Door Assembly Inspector. In 2016, Paul started his own company, Revelation Door Inspections. His business grew rapidly, expanding to nationwide service within the first year. Paul is also a Field Inspector for QAI Testing Laboratories and is the developer of Door Compliance Tracker, a fire door inspection software program.

Paul is dedicated to training and educating those in and around the opening industry, making openings safer for building occupants in every situation, every day.

Lee has well over 40 years' of experience in the door and hardware industry with an expertise in commercial door hardware. Lee is a proud recipient of the Founders Award, the highest and most prestigious award in the door security and safety industry, for outstanding service and technical expertise. Lee specializes in key system design and key control initiatives. He is the author of several books related to door, frame and hardware application and installation and was instrumental in the creation and maintenance of Key Systems and Nomenclature, a technical document which is referenced in most specifications used today.

Lee has developed multiple training courses for various industry associations, organizations and private companies over his four decades in the industry. He retired from a major manufacturer but still continues to teach and advocate on behalf of the opening industry.

Ben has been in the door, frame and hardware industry, working for the same distribution firm, for nearly 15 years. Prior to his opening industry career, Ben was a math and science teacher for a private Christian academy. His love for teaching quickly made him a great asset as an instructor for our industry.

Ben's passion for the sciences has given him a significant advantage in the disciplines of detailing and estimating and made him a fast expert in electrified hardware and access control. Ben is also a fire door and egress assembly inspector, training that has given him a well-rounded understanding of the total opening. Ben is an avid learner and continually strives to pass on all he has learned.

Nicole has over ten years of experience in the construction industry. From codes to applications, Nicole has centered her career around commercial door openings, whether it be manual doors and hardware, automatic swinging and sliding doors, or special-purpose accordion style doors. Nicole’s knowledge and awareness drives her passion for compliance and safety, specifically fire. Nicole has earned multiple certifications such as, AAADM Certified Inspector, Won-Door Certified Inspector, and Certified Fire Door Inspector. Her professional and academic training have led her to be appointed Principal to the NFPA 80 Technical Committee in 2022, proudly representing her company.

Nicole has a passion for spreading knowledge and awareness around commercial opening solutions and a particular interest in the growing initiative for woman in the industry to achieve their educational goals and certifications.

John was born into the opening industry and now has over 28 years’ experience. He started his career as a key cutter, completing different tasks required by the family business.  John had a natural drive for education and training and devoured any chance to build his skills, earning certifications in multiple disciplines from different organizations.

John now runs the family business as Owner and President and has grown it to a cutting-edge security and safety equipment company. John still has a laser focus on education and even instituted his own inter-company training program. He is happiest when giving back to others and his patience and true concern for his students shows in the great care he puts into his teaching.

Audrey has been involved in the door opening industry for nearly 30 years. Her very first job was as a bookkeeper for a distributor. Her attention to detail and interest in the industry helped her develop her skills in detailing, where she later spent nearly 15 years. Audrey spent the next 5 years writing specifications for a large manufacturer before she began working for the Door and Hardware Institute as a Technical Manager, working with students from all over the world.

Audrey is now retired but generously donates much of her free time working with DOIT and continues to help students and instructors alike.

Brad has been in the door and hardware industry for more than 37 years, with over 22 years spent on the distribution end of the business. Brad also spent over 14 years on the manufacturing side working as a specification writer and consultant. Brad has expertise in all aspects of the opening industry with a continued emphasis on project management, a part of the business that he thoroughly enjoys. He works currently for a distributor, running his projects "cradle to grave", something not many firms do nowadays.

Brad has been instructing for the majority of his career. He devotes much of his time giving back to the opening industry by training others and sharing his many experiences, from both the supply and manufacturing sides of the business, with all of his students.

Bob has been actively engaged in the security door hardware business for nearly 50 years. In that time, he has continuously improved his skills and knowledge about life safety issues relevant to our industry. Bob has and continues to serve on various committees for industry trade groups. He has instructed a wide variety of classes, all focusing on the opening industry. Bob has created training curriculum on complex subjects, and has developed methodologies and best practices for installers, door service technicians, systems integrators, and locksmiths.

Bob's interest in mechanical and electronic gadgets often spills over into his free time, he has a genuine joy for sharing information about what interests him most.