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Joey aka Mullet Man
Founder & President
I am a full time welding foreman, part business owner, husband and father. I want to keep the welding industry growing and growing. I grew up in a small town in Wyoming where handshakes are signed contracts and actions speak louder than words. Growing up I didn’t always have the means to chase my dreams, in turn I worked harder to get there. In saying that I did have help along the way. Even the smallest gesture can make the biggest difference, but so many people this day in age do not always have the means to chase their dreams. So I created this foundation and surrounded myself by the best in the business. From welders of all walks of life and across this Great Nation. This is my way of paying back to all the help that was given to me, and to instill in anyone that you can make it in the greatest industry in the world. Motto: “If you’re burning, Your learning” |
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KayteExecutive Director & Register Agent
My name is Kayte. Joey, my 2 beautiful children, and I live in Moorhead, MN. I’m a person that wears a ton of different hats. I’m a stay at home mom, a PCA for my child with special needs, a wife, a business owner, a Family Peer Specialist, and a supporter of my husband’s dreams. Growing up I was always taught to be kind and help others if you are able. The Hooded Heroes Foundation is just one of my many ways of paying it forward. I don’t really know a lot about welding nor would I call myself a welder. But I do know and understand the basics and I can strike an arc. I also plan on continuing to learn. We have a lot of fun as a family as Joey teaches the kids and me how to weld. Motto: “Believe in yourself even when no one else does. If someone tells you that you can’t do it, prove them wrong.” |
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Beauaka Misfit Welder
Vice President Conroe, TX 39 years old, Married to the greatest woman for 10 years. and dad to 4 crazy kids. I’ve a Structural, mig/flux, welder/fitter for the last 18 years and I finally enrolled back in school to learn tig welding. I enjoy hanging with the family. I’m in this because I believe in it, we should never stop learning or helping others learn. My motto is “goonies never say die.” |
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Veronica HulkeTreasurer
My name is Veronica Hulke. I grew up in small town Minnesota but live in Fargo, ND. I've been a welder for 3 years now. Welding wasn't my first choice for a career. After trying university and absolutely hating it I dropped out and found welding. It sparked a passion in me I've never felt before so I decided to make a life out of it. Being a women in the trades has been quite the experience but everyday I learn something new and hope to become as inspiring as the people who have inspired me one day. Motto: "You didn't come this far just to come this far" |
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Staci Sour MartinezSecretary
My name is Staci Sour Martinez, I reside in Sioux Falls, SD. Being a dual trades woman and an advocate for multiple trades, I've built a life I absolutely love. I find myself breaking barriers and challenging myself to live a life without fear. As a woman welder, I find it absolutely liberating and I'm so thankful for this trade. Creating metal art is my passion and I get to do it for a living. My goal is to inspire and chase away the fears that other women might have about entering the trades and show them the many ways it can benefit them. There are a few core values I've picked up as a Fitness coach that I incorporate into everying I do; drive change, exceed expectations, create hope, and last but not least, build community. My hobbies are weight lifting, pushing my limits, fishing, kayaking or anything outdoors. I love absolutely love nature, my friends call me Irwin! I'm hardworking, determined and driven! Motto: "I don't want to waste my life not living..." |
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Sara ImpagliaMy name is Sara Impaglia and I live in the suburbs of Syracuse, NY! Married for 2 years and stay at home Mom to a 1-year-old little girl.
I struggled with addiction for a long time. Eventually my bad choices caught up to me and I was sentenced to serve 5 years in state prison. It was there that I was introduced to welding for the first time, and I fell in love with it. After my release I put myself through trade school and after that got a job as a full-time welder. I worked making industrial laundry equipment for nearly a decade. Welding has brought so much good into my life and has opened a lot of doors for me. I now have over 11 years in recovery. I like to say that welding was the glue that held my life together for a long time. I quit my job after my daughter was born but remain active in the welding community. My hobbies include gardening, canning, making my own cleaning & hygiene products & living a low tox life. We have 3 beautiful dogs, live on the lake and like to spend lot of time outdoors! My goal is to show other felons and addicts that recovery and a life filled with happiness and passion is possible with hard work and dedication. Your past does not have to hinder your future. I also strive to be a role model for other women who may be interested in the trades and hope my story may inspire others. |
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Jason SasakiBoard Member
My Name is Jason Sasaki, I live in the beautiful Greers Ferry Lake area of Arkansas. I have been a pipe welder since 2002. After my service in the Army as a Chemical Operation Specialist I decided to learn a trade that I could use for life. I made the best decision for me and that was to become a pipe welder. For over 20 years I have had the opportunity to see the nation and build some amazing things. I love the trade and all that goes with it. I am thankful that I have been an instructor at Arkansas Elite Welding Academy and Western Welding Academy and have had the opportunity to share knowledge and help develop skills in those wishing to learn. I live by the motto “Iron sharpens Iron” Now I am back in the field and use my spare time volunteering to build the trade and support blue collar men and women. |
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Mitchell MooreBoard Member
My name is Mitchell Moore. My wife of 7 years and I and 2 kids live in Vancouver Washington. I started with welding classes during high school and have continued that journey ever since for 10 years. My first welding job was producing $50+ million yachts then moved to building NAVY Seal aluminum boats and am now a full time production TIG welder in the medical industry. I have always been eager to learn, and help others. I am honored to be a part of The Hooded Heroes Foundation and to be able to aid ones that are in need of a "hand up." |
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Ian FreemanBoard Member
My name is Ian Freeman I'm from small town Oklahoma. My wife and I are small business owners dealing mainly with farm repair and small fabrication. At 13 years old, my grandfather, who was a pipe hand in our local refinery, started teaching me the trade. With that I've been welding for over twenty years 13 of that being in the oil and gas industry. I'm now an instructor at a technology center, a CWI and a supporter of the trades. I was happy to join in the Hooded Heroes mission because I love this industry and want everyone to have a chance to live their dreams. Welding has opened so many doors for me and I look forward to helping it do the same for others. |
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Bob MoffattBoard Member
My name is Bob Moffatt here. AKA Ram_Nation58 I was born in Oklahoma and grew up around Osage County. I started working in the oil fields with my dad at a very young age. Dad was a petroleum engineer and a geologist. I was influenced into welding by my brother-in-law, a highly skilled rig welder, to help my dad as an independent petroleum producer. I officially started welding in my junior year of high school at a new vocational school, Pioneer Vo-Tech in Ponca City, Oklahoma in 1974. Graduating high school and Vo-tech in ‘76 I enrolled in Drafting and Design at Northern Oklahoma College. In ‘78 I enrolled in Welding Process Technologies at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Oregon. With my education and experience I was able to land a job as a construction millwright in a plywood mill at the ripe age of twenty. It was a small crew of seven. I worked alongside my welding instructor and machining instructor. My lead man was an absolute beast of a craftsman on anything wood or metal. I learned so much about layout and prep, it helped shaped my work ever since. We had a hippy on our crew that welded and cut so smoothly it made you cry, another big influence on my work. My foreman was an old lanky, easy going, gentleman that loved to hunt and fish but he was very capable of supporting his crew with supplies, scheduling, communication and safe working practices. I worked numerous jobs all over the west coast and Alaska and returned to Oklahoma in 1983. I started teaching night classes in ‘86 at Pioneer Tech in Ponca City while working at Conoco Refinery. Due to layoffs, I started working in welding supply sales in Oklahoma and Kansas. In 1996, I applied for a full-time teaching position at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas. In 2012, I was asked to make an appearance doing a video with Weld.com. I made multiple video contributions for several years and in 2016, I was asked to host the channel. I did so, while teaching full-time, until Jan 2020. I retired from public education in 2022 and have been consulting, judging competitions and supporting several welding related YouTube channels. While at Cowley College I obtained my AWS CWE / CWI which I held for 9 years. I was voted District Educator of the Year through AWS and obtained a Master Teacher Award through NISOD at the University of Texas. In summation: Through all my education and work history I have met some great folks and highly skilled crafts persons, male and female. I feel fortunate to have been influenced as such. I have helped many students over the years with resources or referrals so they too could become successful in their pursuit of a career in the welding trades. I am honored and humbled to have been asked to serve as a Board Member of The Hooded Heroes Foundation. |