School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Student Experiences

No matter where these current or former students are in the process of reaching their goals, we salute them. They have dared to turn dreams into reality through education in the School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology. Could you be next?

Alonzo L. Adams

Self-Employed Mechanic Adjunct Automotive Technology Faculty Cedar Valley

“I was eager to learn, and the Diesel program really excited me. The more I learned, the more I realize it’s not so hard. All of my instructors have been knowledgeable; any questions I had for them, they were pretty much able to answer everything. These are great courses if you want to work on diesel engines.”

Automotive, Automotive Technology, Automotive Technology - Diesel and Heavy Equipment

Rafael Merren

Owner/Operator Grump’s Rod Shop

“It’s great to have intelligent capabilities, but if you don’t have the skillsets to back them up, what’s the point of going out into the real world? If you have a practical skill, you can always put bread on the table.”

Auto Body Technology

Kathryn Jaeger

Technician, Trophy Nissan of Mesquite

“People look at a car and open the hood and see all the hoses and connections, and maybe think, ‘I am never going to figure this out.' Then you learn the basic concepts, and it’s more simplistic than you would think.”

Automotive Technology

Doug Jochum

Art Teacher Skyline High School

“The students here are also attentive and helpful — I found out right away that there’s a group of them who have been here a while and who will chip in to help you do anything you don’t understand or help hold something you’re working on. I think that attitude is a reflection of the teaching here as well.”

Welding

Dan Walter

Owner Energy Efficient Solutions

“I would recommend this program because it gives you a good background in air conditioning. Probably 70% of technicians out there don’t have a good idea of how air conditioning works. They’re taught what to do to make systems work, but they don’t have real understanding of what they’re doing.”

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology

Austin Brooks

Full-Time Student

“I’m taking welding for my own knowledge so that I can build what I want to and know how to handle the metal part of my construction projects. If I’m not in school or with my girlfriend, I’m in the garage working on something.”

Welding

Abdul Jebbar Ali

Map Specialist Federal Flood Certification Corp./First Horizon Home Corp.

“In my current job as a map specialist, I process a request from clients for flood determination on their property. Someday, I would like to combine my job skills in engineering, construction and CADD, added to the new geospatial technology skills I’m developing.”

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technology

Geoff Tchon

Student, Dallas College Aviation Maintenance Program

“I had always loved airplanes growing up, so when I had a chance to start over, I fell right into it ... . I’ve discovered it takes a lot of perseverance and determination as well as not being afraid to roll up your sleeves and get your hands a little dirty.”

Aviation Maintenance Technology

Mike Walker

Supervisor of Mechanical Design Continental Electronics Corp.

“You should never stop learning in today’s world. If you do, you get left behind like the dinosaurs. Once you have knowledge, though, no one can take it away from you. The most important thing I learned is how to have the tools you need in today’s workforce.”

Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)

Rodney Taylor

Management Coordinator Prevost, a division of Volvo Group; Adjunct Faculty Diesel Maintenance Technician Program

“The labs I worked in at Dallas College had all of the latest equipment, and that’s what I learned on. I think that my advanced training is part of what helped me move up the career ladder; I just knew a lot more than most of my peers because of my training.”

Automotive Technology

Anthony Eaton

Auto/Diesel Instructor Lincoln College of Technology

“My experience in both the Diesel and Automotive Tech programs was excellent. I got such a good background of updated technology in school, which I later found out put me ahead in the industry.”

Automotive Technology - Diesel and Heavy Equipment

Erick Flores-Ortega

CADD Student and STEM Ambassador

“Within different clubs like STEM, you find opportunities that could lead to a job or just a friendly face to talk about shared experiences. Having that community helps.”

Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)

Mike Reinhardt

Full-Time Student and Future Underwater Welder

“The instructors in the program are really great and take time to help me when I need it. I want to take every welding course I can to get the experience I’ll need for my future career: I plan to become an underwater welder and am looking at schools where I can transfer and get that specialty.”

Welding

Paul Mears

Welding Artist and Business Owner Iron Art of La Jolla, Calif.

“Welding is so much fun — it’s dangerous and exciting. Dewayne Roy is one of the best instructors you could ever want. He’s not only knowledgeable in the field, but is so upbeat and willing to show you everything he can.”

Welding

Rodney Hinkle

Service Technician, Kawasaki City

“I felt it would be to my benefit to take the marine course offered at Cedar Valley since I enjoyed being around the outdoors and water as well. After completing the course, I received a certificate on Evinrude/Johnson outboard engines. I was able to get a job quickly at the marina Texas Hydro Sports, where I repaired personal watercraft for 10 years and also attended Sea-Doo courses that allowed me to become certified in Sea-Doo repair.”

Automotive Technology

Ronnie Sunker

Service Manager, American Eagle Harley-Davidson

“I recommend their program all the time. It’s a very detailed program, with one-on-one instruction, and it provides a far better education than most places.”

Automotive Technology

Matt Mitchell

Co-Owner James Andrews Custom Homes, Realtor, Manufacturer’s Rep Vantem Panels

“This program is giving me lots of practical skills. These instructors have been in the business a long time, and they have a lot of practical information to share.”

Construction Management

Marques G. Washington

CADD Program Coordinator and Faculty

“Mike Kirkpatrick was one of my favorite professors, and my favorite CADD class was 3-D modeling. Now I’m the CADD program coordinator and a faculty member. What I love about my job is helping students who start out not being able to draw anything, then go on to four-year universities or get good jobs.”

Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)

Suzanne Weber

CAD Technician Teague Nall & Perkins

“When I took a job doing office work for an engineer, I tried my hand at CAD and enjoyed it enough to take a course in it. It was possible with Dallas College because the courses were at night and mostly done through the workshop experience, where they can be done any time you have time.”

Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)

Spencer Lindstedt

Contract-Term Pipefitter

“One thing I’ve appreciated learning in the program is the gas tungsten arc welding process; it’s something that’s used widely in the industry but that I’ve had little experience with. I’ve also learned more about stick welding, which I hadn’t done in 10 years — it’s another technique that’s widely used in the process piping industry.”

Welding

View Additional Student Experiences

Someone uses a stylus to manipulate a CADD drawing on a laptop screen.

Transform Your Career with the School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology at Dallas College

Step into the future of skilled trades and advanced manufacturing with the School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology at Dallas College. Designed to meet the growing demands of North Texas industries, our programs equip you with hands-on training and high-demand skills in areas like logistics, automation, precision machining, and industrial maintenance.

Whether you're starting your career, reskilling, or advancing in your field, you'll benefit from expert instruction, industry partnerships, and flexible learning options. Join a workforce-ready community and build a career that keeps the world moving.