Your Success is Our Success

At NTMA Machinist Career College, we provide the hands-on education that employers are looking for. Our 7-month program is designed for students who are ready to get out into the workforce and put their skills to work. NTMA MCC has built a college where all students have the opportunity to change their lives for the better, and to start a journey to lifelong career growth.

Team of Administrators

Team of Instructors

Kurt Preisendanz

Director of Training

Kurt started as a general machinist in 1974. His apprenticeship started in his father’s machine shop in Pasadena, California. In his 4 years of apprenticeship, Kurt was involved with machining and processing for the aerospace industry. For the next  5 years (1978-1983), Kurt worked in various job shops as a general machinist in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valley’s where his duties include conventional machining, CNC machining and programming, fixture design and building, and troubleshooting. From 1983-1990, Kurt became a contract machinist for a company directly involved with Space Shuttle Main Engines (Rockwell International, Rocketdyne). This contract position eventually led to the start of Kurt’s own Machining and Design Company called Kersey Manufacturing. After 4 years, Kurt was asked to become a General Manager for a major aerospace and defense contractor, which he accepted. From that point on, Kurt has been involved as a Senior Machinist/GM in the manufacturing industry. Kurt started teaching at NTMA , part time, for the Advanced Inspection class, and then In 2007, Kurt became a full time instructor for the MMT course at NTMA. In 2012, Kurt become the Director of Training.



Eduardo McLean

Night Manager

Eduardo completed a Six-year Machinist Apprenticeship program in 1973 and has an AA degree in General Education, a Tool Design Certificate, a BS in Applied Studies Management, a BA as a Spanish Teacher, a Manufacturing Engineer Certificate, a BPPVE Instructors Certification by the state of California and an Instructors credential by the state of California. He has worked as a machinist in the Machine Tool Technology Industry since 1973. Ed has worked in all areas of the Machining Industry (Manufacturing Engineer, Production, prototype, tooling, molds & dies, programming, R&D, Technical Translation & supervision). In addition, has been with the NTMA Training Centers since January 2001.



Luis Carlos Andrade

Instructor

Luis has been a Machine Shop Manager and Safety Manager for 11 years. He has attended Mt. San Antonio College with an emphasis in Manufacturing Technology. Currently, he instructs machinist training courses at the NTMA Training Centers. Additionally, Carlos instructs as an aid at the community college level with an emphasis on CAD/CAM.



Steve Bui

Instructor

Steve, a full time credentialed instructor, employed as a professional in machining and manufacturing industries since 1976. He then began teaching Machine Technology courses in machining, set-up, operation and programming since 1985. He attended Fullerton College, Cal. State University Long Beach and took courses in UCLA Extension program.



Ebenezer (Ben) Castellanos

Instructor

Ebenezer completed his studies (1980-1984) at the Higher Institute of Education for Vocational and Professional Training in Havana, Cuba; earning the Diploma of Licentiate in Education with Major in Machine Construction in July 1984. These studies are considered equivalent in level and purpose to the Bachelor of Science in Vocational and Technical Education, awarded by regional accredited colleges and universities in the United States. Since September 1984 to July 1996, Ebenezer has been working as Professor of Technology and Machinery Tools, turning instructor, and machinist instructor. Ben has been working in the machinery industry since 1996. He also worked as a Part-time instructor at Cerritos College in the CNC Machine Tool Technology since fall of 2001. Ben possesses a Vocational Education Teaching Credential.



Jeremy Coleman

Instructor

Jeremy started his education in 1999 at MCC Business & Tech in Kansas City in the tool & die program. He received his first job at KT Engineering in Rancho Dominguez as a tool setup specialist and tool grinder before moving up to machine operator. He then enrolled into NTMA to further his career in the machining industry. Shortly after graduating, he was offered a position as assistant instructor at NTMA. He is currently working for a company as an inspector working with various aerospace companies. Jeremy currently teaches Inspection and Conventional Machining at NTMA.



Thomas Elam

Instructor

Thomas  has been in the Inspection sector for 10 years. He is Zeiss/Calpso Certified, Microview CMM certified, and is an NTMA alumnus from the Machinist Training Program. His knowledge and experience in the industry is shared in the classroom. He appreciates the new generation learning the various methods of which to approach the inspection process. Thomas teaches Inspection classes for our ETP Programs.



German Gomez

Instructor

German has 20 years of industry experience. He currently works for a large aerospace tooling company where he does project planning. He has over 15 years of 5-axes CNC machining experience with lathes, mills, and VTL’s, in addition to several CAD/CAM systems. His family emigrated from Mexico City when he was 17-years-old, and in order for him to graduate High School he had to join an evening school program where he not only received enough credits to graduate on time, but also obtained two certificates: one as a conventional set-up person, and another one as a junior CAD draftsman. After many years of working as a machinist during the day, completing Machine Tool Technology courses at the local community college at night, and becoming an American Citizen, he landed a job as a Manufacturing Engineer where he loves what he does and makes a good living. After successfully completing a Mastercam course at NTMA sponsored by his employer, he joined NTMA as an instructor, not only because he loves to teach, but also because he feels this is the best way to give back to an industry that has given him so much. He would encourage you to join NTMA and become a machinist too. This will give you the skills needed to make a good living, and also the satisfaction to use your creativity to make great things. See you in class!



Amer Khafagi

Instructor

Amer has worked as a Tool and Die Maker from 1990 working with progressive headers, 4-years prototyping parts for Bristol Industries, CNC Setup Machinist and Programmer, and managed the CNC Department for LE Tipfer Co. for 6 years. Amer has an AS Degree in Machine Technology & CNC from Los Angeles Trade Technical College. He has a full time teaching credential from California State Long Beach cleared until 2011, and a certificate of Authorization for Service (in Teaching) from the county of Los Angeles. In addition, Amer has over 25 certificates in the machining field from NTMA, Haas Automation, Machinery Sales, FADAL Engineering, Quality Plus Enterprises Technical Institute, and Society of Manufacturing Engineering’s. Amer has been a teacher at NTMA since 1999 and has taught ETP classes for 4 years, Title IV for 2 years, as well as Basic CNC and Advanced CNC. Amer has worked extensively on course curriculum development and lesson planning for Conventional as well as CNC Machining.



Jean-Luc Lopez

Instructor

Jean-Luc is a third generation machinist, following his father and grandfathers footsteps. He started in machining at the young age of 12 in the family machine shop, BBL Space Projects. He branched out and started working at Fairchild Fasteners on their very first CNC lathe, the year of 1983. Jean-Luc has worked for medium to large aerospace companies, taking his experience to the level of manufacturing manager. Jean-Luc has over 30 years’ experience at all levels of the manufacturing industry. He brings a background of CNC mill and lathes, conventional trained, Apprenticeship trained, CNC certified, programming certified, and first responder certified. He has experience on a wide range of equipment, has been trained in the 5s/6s, Kanban, JIT, Cell manufacturing etc… Jean-Luc has attended El Camino, Fullerton and Cypress College. He continues his education in the area of Business Admiration and furthering his teaching credentials.



Gilbert Martinez

Instructor

Gilbert possesses more than 28 years of progressive experience in the manufacturing field. He has been a lead man at Bar Precision and a machinist at NC Dynamics. Most recently he was an instructor at Dynamic Air where he was in charge of programming and setting up 5axis DMU with Siemens control. He also assisted with the completion of prototype impellers. Gilbert graduated from NTMA in 1986 and completed the apprenticeship program in 1991.



Gary Metchkoff

Instructor

Gary has over 13 years’ experience as a CNC machinist and is certified in CAD/CAM programming and Machine Tooling. Gary recently joined our NTMA family and has quickly become a student favorite. His passion for this industry coupled with his knowledge is evident through his teaching. Gary currently teaches Apprenticeship classes as well as substitutes for all Machinist Training modules and CNC programming classes.



Manny Monarrez

Instructor

Manny a credentialed instructor with over 28 years’ experience in the machining industry. He attended Mt. San Antonio College, Orange Coast College and Rancho Santiago College.



Hussein Nasser

Instructor

Hussein is a credentialed instructor teaching Mastercam. Education includes a BS degree in manufacturing Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona and an AS degree in Drafting Production Design from LA Harbor College. Hussein works in the advanced woodworking industry, machining wood products and furniture components.



Michael Nguyen

Instructor

Michael Nguyen is a full-time credential instructor. He has experience in operation, setting up, programming and editing CNC mills, lathes, boring machines and conventional machines. Michael earned a BS in Business Administration from Van Khoa University. He completed advanced machining courses with perfect attendance from the NTMA Training Centers of Southern California, Inland Empire location and Wilshire Computer College. Currently, Michael instructs module training courses at NTMA Training Center.



Jonathan Perez

Instructor

Jonathan has been working in the aerospace industry for over 16 years. He is knowledgeable of both mills and lathes; specializing in CNC lathes machine tools with multi turrets and multi spindles capabilities. Jonathan is an alumnus of NTMA’s ETP Program and obtained an Inspection certificate.



Vincent “Dee” Ridenour

Instructor

“Dee” was first introduced to the metalworking world in the high school where he majored in industrial arts. He took his desire to Bowling Green State University in Ohio where he majored in Product Design. Dee reentered the machining community through the California retraining program later receiving his training through the NTMA taking a position as a Tool & Die Maker. Returning to the NTMA as an apprentice and earning his journeyman certificate, Dee returned to the NTMA for advanced CNC and CAD (Mastercam) training. He then took a position as a shop manager and programmer in the motorcycle industry for the next 4 years. Dee is currently teaching module 3 at the NTMA Training Center and owns a contractual programming business.



Joseph Taglialavore

Instructor

Joseph completed a five-year Machinist Apprenticeship program in 1973 has an Associate of Arts degree in Machine Tool Technology, a BPPVE Instructors Certificate by the State of California, a full-time Instructor’s credential by the State of California and Supervision and Coordination credential by the State of California. He has worked as a machinist in the Machine Tool Technology Industry since 1968. He has worked in all areas of the Machining Industry (Production, prototype, tooling, molds & dies, programming, R&D, & supervision). In addition, has been with the NTMA Training Centers since January 1995 working as an Instructor, Sr. Instructor & Lead Instructor.