Dr. George E. F. Brewer is generally credited with the original idea of electrodeposition of paint through his work and research during the late 1950’s while at Ford Motor Company.  Through his initiative, the technology became more precise, and the market expanded.  Throughout his career, he published numerous papers and Patents.  He earned many honors and awards in the areas of paint technology, chemistry, and engineering.  After retirement, Dr. Brewer remained instrumental in the expansion of the market through his work as a coating consultant.  His contributions to the industry were exemplary.  By loaning his name to this prestigious award given during the Electrocoat Conference, recipients stand out among the best in the field of electrocoating.   The Brewer award began in1990 and is awarded for the following categories:  Paint and process technology; Market promotion of the technology and Application of the technology.

2026 Brewer Award is in the area of Market Promotion.  Our award winner is a Surface Treatment Technical Manager at Henkel. In his 38 years with Henkel, he has held various positions within The Automotive Applications Engineering Group including Director, as well as Global Technical Sales Manager, and Head of Henkel’s Automotive Training Programs. Throughout his career, he has given numerous presentations to technical/trade organizations including SURCAR, Fabtech, CCAI, FOCUS and The Electrocoat Association. In his current role, David provides technical expertise and support for Automotive OEMs’ conversion coating processes, focusing on innovations in sustainable metal pretreatment technology. He and his Henkel team have won two Automotive News PACE awards for the introduction of zirconium oxide (Thin Film) technology in 2009 and Henkel Flex (Two-Step) hybrid technology in 2014. Our winner is our current ECOAT Conference Committee Chair who has sat on The Electrocoat Association Board of Directors for many years.

Our Brewer Award winner in the area of Market Promotion of Electrocoat Technology for 2026 is David George, Henkel.

2026 Brewer Award is for Application of Electrocoat Technology. With over four decades of experience in industrial coatings, manufacturing operations, and business management, our recipient is a seasoned leader recognized for his extensive technical expertise and outstanding record of operational success across multiple industries. A graduate of Aquinas College with both a BSBA in Marketing (1980), and a Master’s in Management (1983), he has held senior leadership positions spanning product management, plant operations, sales, and general management within some of the coatings industry’s most respected organizations, including PPG Industries, BASF, Chemetall, NCP Coatings, and Lippert Components.

As Product Manager for Coatings at Lippert Components, he has led company-wide initiatives to enhance manufacturing efficiency and coatings performance for large-scale industrial applications. Prior to that, he served as Account Manager at NCP Coatings, driving 7.5% sales growth through strategic business development across transportation and general industrial markets. His earlier leadership roles include Plant Manager at Collins & Aikman and Lacks Enterprises, where he directed large teams, guided operational recoveries, and managed multimillion-dollar budgets with P&L responsibility.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, he carries the same discipline and commitment to excellence into every professional endeavor. Beyond his corporate career, he has shared his knowledge as a college professor teaching finishing technologies and has authored a comprehensive textbook on electrodeposition coatings and processes. His technical expertise spans powder, liquid, E-coat, UV/EB cure coatings, and pretreatment systems—making him a go-to expert for end-to-end paint finishing solutions.

This year’s winner of the Brewer Award for Application of Electrocoat Technology is George Lovell, Lippert.

2026 Brewer Award is in the area of Development of Electrocoat Technology.  He is the founder and visionary leader of ECOAT.US, a premier provider of industrial coating solutions with a national footprint. Since establishing Oklahoma Custom Coating in 1995, he has transformed a small regional operation into a powerhouse enterprise with four major facilities across Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee. Under his leadership, the company consolidated in 2021 to better serve OEMs and end-users across North America to become ecoat.us.

A pioneer in the industry, he holds five patents and has developed disruptive, trademarked technologies such as Zpex and Finkote. His innovations in anode switching systems and internal pipe coating have allowed Ecoat to replace traditional materials like stainless steel in the oil, gas, water/wastewater and heavy industrial sectors.

Beyond his technical and sales expertise, he is deeply committed to his workforce of over 220 employees. He fosters a supportive corporate culture through comprehensive benefits, benevolence funds, and chaplaincy services. Guided by his faith, he views his role as a steward of his business's success and remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of coating technology to serve new global markets.

Our Brewer Award winner in the area of Development of Electrocoat Technology is Sam Adkisson, ecoat.us

Congratulations to all of our winners!