Today we’d like to introduce you to Glenn Hauser.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My path into the coatings industry wasn’t a traditional one. I started in a vocational school during high school, studying carpentry and cabinetmaking. By the time I graduated, I had already built several pieces of furniture and refinished even more. Working with wood taught me craftsmanship, patience, and the value of attention to detail, skills that would serve me throughout my career.
After high school, I entered the construction field, framing houses and strip malls, and installing replacement windows and enclosed porches. In 1984, I enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer and spent most of my service at Fort Polk in Louisiana. When I left the Army, I transitioned into painting and eventually founded my own company, Quality Painting, specializing in commercial and industrial work.
Everything was moving forward until 1999, when I suffered a heat stroke that sidelined me for months. It was a difficult setback, but it forced me to reassess my direction. In 2002, I began taking NACE (now AMPP) Coating Inspector Program (CIP) courses. I completed Levels I, II, and III in quick succession, earning my Senior Coating Inspector certification. My CIP II instructor recognized my potential and reached out shortly after class, opening the door to a new chapter.
In 2003, I joined Tnemec in North Kansas City as a Technical Service Representative. That role allowed me to combine hands-on field experience with technical expertise. Over the next 22 years, I held positions including Technical Service Representative, Technical Service Laboratory Supervisor, Laboratory Manager, Project Manager, and ultimately Senior Project Manager. I oversaw the production of all test panels for the lab as well as in-house testing, trained new team members on testing procedures, and in failure analysis. Understanding why coatings fail and how to prevent them became a passion that shaped the latter half of my career.
In 2024, I began teaching CIP courses, which has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. Passing on knowledge to the next generation feels like a way to give back to the industry that shaped me. Turning 60 also gave me a moment of reflection. I realized the most fulfilling part of my work has always been helping others, whether educating new inspectors or guiding clients through complex failures.
I retired from Tnemec on August 29, 2025, and launched Glenn Hauser Consulting, where I continue to focus on training, failure analysis, and coating assessments.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. After relocating to North Kansas City, I experienced the devastating loss of my wife, Teri, in 2004. Navigating life was incredibly difficult during this time, and it took years to regain my footing.
Teri was a veteran, and when her flag arrived in a plain cardboard box, it struck me deeply. That moment inspired me to start crafting custom flag cases and urns for veterans who couldn’t afford them. It became a meaningful way to honor her memory while giving back to others who served.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What sets me apart is the breadth and depth of my experience. With more than 40 years in the coatings industry, I’ve worked across commercial, industrial, and marine environments and spent over two decades inside one of the leading coatings manufacturers in a highly technical role. That combination is rare. It means I understand coatings not just from a laboratory or specification standpoint, but from real-world application, performance, and long-term durability perspectives.
I’ve seen what succeeds, what fails, and most importantly, why. That insight helps me diagnose problems quickly, provide solutions grounded in both science and field experience, and help clients avoid costly mistakes. Whether I’m performing failure analysis, offering training, or conducting coating assessments, my goal is the same: deliver practical, reliable, and actionable expertise.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Attention to detail has been the defining quality of my career. Years of laboratory testing and performance evaluation taught me that success often comes down to variables most people overlook. In the coatings world, details aren’t optional; they determine whether a system performs as intended. I approach every project methodically, ensuring each recommendation is supported by accurate data, careful analysis, and a commitment to doing things the right way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://glennhauserconsultingllc.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-d-hauser-441036b6/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/glenn-hauser-consulting-llc/?viewAsMember=true
