Meet The Speakers

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Daniel Hoke - A Better Inspector LLC -  President & COO

 Daniel Hoke began his career as an NDT technician before advancing into inspection and earning certifications including AWS-CWI, API 510, and API 570. But inspection was only the beginning.

His interest in technology led him into 3D modeling, app development, and eventually virtual reality. What started as a weekend project became the A Better Inspector app-an affordable way for inspectors and NDT technicians to refresh their knowledge, prepare for certification, and continue learning.

Daniel has since expanded A Better Inspector into VR-based NDT and API training, bringing hands-on learning into a safe, repeatable virtual environment. Level III professionals can proctor practical assessments remotely, students can practice without industrial hazards, and even parents can introduce their children to NDT technology at home.

While API certification exams have traditionally had no practical component, VR creates the opportunity to train, test, and demonstrate real-world competency without exposing students to the risks or costs of an operating industrial facility.

Daniel’s goal with A Better Inspector is simple: make high-quality inspection education more accessible, practical, and affordable through technology. 

Dillon Banner - Keyence -  Sales Manager – South Central Region 

will be joining to discuss their  VR Optical profilometer and an automated visual inspection system designed for inline factory applications.

 Dillon is a graduate of Texas A&M in the class of 2019. He is now the Central South Regional Manager for the profilometer division and has been with Keyence's surface analysis team for 6 years. This time has been spent mainly handling applications in the Aerospace, Defense, Microelectronics, and Oil & Gas industries. Applications in these industries have predominantly focused on roughness measurements, scratch/pit/defect analysis, flatness mapping, wear/corrosion, and chamfer/radius measurements.