About Dane
Dane McGraw is a recognized industry expert in industrial painting and coatings with a career built entirely at Thomas Industrial Coatings. His journey began as a shop laborer during high school summers, giving him a strong foundation in field operations.
After graduating from the University of Missouri, Dane transitioned into full-time roles as an estimator and project manager in the bridge and highway market, where he gained hands-on expertise in complex infrastructure projects.
As Vice President and Director of Business Development, Dane leads TIC’s Business Development team, overseeing new account acquisition, project estimating, and operational support through project completion. His experience spans private industry, large-scale transportation projects, inland marine work, and projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Defense.
Dane is the primary voice behind TIC’s educational resources and project insights, sharing practical knowledge gained from years of real-world experience. His leadership and deep understanding of the industrial coatings industry position him as a trusted authority for clients seeking expert guidance on corrosion protection and specialty coatings solutions.
Articles by Dane
Managing lead in bridge abatement
By Dane McGrawLead has long been a double-edged sword. It’s enjoyed serious durability in industrial settings for millennia due to its malleability and resistance to corrosion. It’s also served modern industries well thanks to chemical properties that block radiation and make it great for use as a component of batteries.Fireproofing steel: A guide to fire resistance ratings
By Dane McGrawFireproofing steel is all about time. Increasing the fire resistance of your structural steel through fireproofing buys you time—time to evacuate, time to fight the blaze, time until the total collapse of the structural steel in your facility.Fire retardant coatings protect your assets from total failure
By Dane McGrawFires are game over for many facilities, especially within the commercial, utilities and gas industries. In the unthinkable case of fire in your facility, fire retardant coatings passively fight the blaze, biding time until emergency responders arrive and fighting a total failure of structural steel.Industrial fireproofing: Cementitious vs. intumescent fireproofing
By Dane McGrawFor many owners of industrial facilities, an industrial fireproofing strategy is a prerequisite for being able to secure affordable insurance. But despite being just short of mandatory for many businesses, straight advice on what type of industrial fireproofing strategy to pursue can be hard to come by.How SSPC certifications can elevate industrial painting
By Dane McGrawSSPC certifications for industrial painters have a two-pronged effect when it comes to elevating the quality of the work performed in the industry. First, they verify that a painter has demonstrated the competence to earn and retain the certification or certifications.Coatings and asset management: A start-to-finish plan
By Dane McGrawIt’s probably not surprising to hear coatings professionals say that a good asset management program begins with the right coating, but it’s true. The industrial coating chosen to protect an asset should be selected on the basis of the asset’s environment, with the product’s particular strengths matching up against the pressures of the asset’s environment.The complete visual guide to surface prep
By Dane McGraw“Never paint a dirty surface” is something of a mantra in industrial painting circles. Without proper surface preparation, a coating will not adhere properly to the substrate and the system will fail.Planning a coatings survey for your maintenance program
By Dane McGrawIn the case of a newly applied coating, asset owners can use the coating’s warranty information, advice from a third-party inspector and the opinion of the contractor to determine when the coating will once again warrant attention.The importance of a protective coatings maintenance plan
By Dane McGrawMost of us realize that coatings are about more than making an asset a little easier on the eyes. The infrastructure, facilities and equipment we’re in the business of protecting are essential to the health of the economy.