About
About Arkansas Elite Welding Academy
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Arkansas Elite Welding Academy, LLC was established in 2016 by owner, Travis Bird, to train dedicated individuals to fill the growing demand for qualified pipe welders in various industrial plants such as refineries, power plants, chemical plants, etc. Now located in Quitman, Arkansas, Arkansas Elite has grown from an initial six students to an alumni base nearing 700. Arkansas Elite graduates are sought after by contractors all over the United States.
Arkansas Elite Welding Academy is licensed to operate by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.
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Meet the Team​
Travis Bird
Owner/Recruiter/Job Placement Assistance Coordinator
Bird started out in 2000 at a local welding shop. He went to welding school in 2003 to learn the trade, and by 2004 he had progressed to working in refineries and power plants across the U. S. In 2007 T. Bird began running a rig truck and worked various projects such as pipelines, compressor stations, fab yards, etc. In 2016 he founded Arkansas Elite Welding Academy. In 2020, Travis was named the Arkansas Small Business Person of the Year.
Grant Ragland
Lead Instructor/Registered Nurse
Grant started his welding career in June of 2019 after completing the Elite Pipe Program at Arkansas Elite Welding Academy. He spent two years on the road as a pipe welder, welding in new construction and food processing plants, before coming to AEWA full time in 2021. Grant is also a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Dennis Black
Instructor
Mr. Dennis started his welding career in 1970, welding in a shop with his dad. In 1976, he took a job welding on a barge in the North Sea. He then spent 29 years working in various plants, specializing in stainless steel and boiler tube welding. In 2005, Dennis started pipelining until 2017, when he became an instructor at AEWA. Mr. Dennis is a veteran of the United States Army.
Reid Birch
Communications Coordinator/Student Advisor/Instructor’s Assistant
Reid began his welding career in a fabrication shop in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2016. After a college tennis career, Reid decided to attend welding school at Arkansas Elite Welding Academy. Graduating in January of 2021, he hit the road working jobs in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Reid’s passion for video work and managing social media accounts, combined with his knowledge of welding, uniquely qualify Reid to serve as AEWA’s Recruiter and Social Media Coordinator. Reid joined the AEWA team in 2022.
Hunter Edgar
Purchasing and Inventory Control
​In addition to serving in the Marine Corps and working as a dental assistant, Hunter has a retail background that covers everything from sales to tech support. In 2022, he started part time at Arkansas Elite and quickly moved into a full-time position in Materials and Maintenance. He works to ensure students have the materials they need to succeed.
Sancy Faulk
Enrollment Director
Sancy began her career in higher education administration as a Dean of Students in 2003. She then served as a college vice president from 2005 until 2021. She has supervisory experience in the areas of admissions, development, financial aid, housing, public relations, and student services. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and a M.S. in College Student Personnel Services & Administration. She came to AEWA in 2021.
Jake Odom
Recruitment and Housing Coordinator
Jake began working in the gas industry locally as an Electrical & Instrumentation technician and has traveled the state working in various refineries, chemical and petrochemical plants, and food processing facilities. Jake started his tenure with AEWA in 2020, to work locally, and ensure students are meeting their goals in and out of school.
Kelly Patrick
AP/AR/Human Resources
Kelly brings a wealth of professional experience to AEWA. She has more than 30 years of experience in various customer service roles, finance administration, and property and casualty insurance. Kelly currently holds a property and casualty insurance license, is a licensed Notary Public, and is a licensed Admissions Representative. Kelly was AEWA’s first employee.
Campus
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Arkansas Elite Welding Academy, LLC is located at 333 Rosebud Road in Quitman, AR. Arkansas Elite is located on approximately 4 acres and consists of the following facilities:
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Main Shop and Administrative Offices:
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Shop/lab which has 68 welding booths and various real-world welding simulators
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Tool room
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Simulator room
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Administrative offices
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Student break and vending room
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Student computer lab
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Classroom
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Alumni Brush Up Facility
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8 welding booths
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Classroom
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Material Cutting Shed: outdoor covered area for cutting
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Prep Shack: grinding area for material prep
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Outside Simulator: This mock pipe system offers multiple weld positions for simulated field welding.
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Fab Yard