Leadership Update
New Beginnings: Executive Leadership
Big news at Machinists Institute: Our Executive Director Shana Peschek has been appointed IAMAW’s Director of Training and Apprenticeships.
Senior Director of Education Ryan Davis has stepped in as Interim Executive Director, bringing over 16 years of experience in workforce and education leadership.
We’re grateful for Shana and Ryan’s leadership and excited for what’s ahead. Here’s to new chapters and continued growth for MI!
Industry-Forward
Introducing the Nation’s First Manufacturing Engineer Apprenticeship
A faster path to engineering talent—built from your own team.
We’re excited to launch the nation’s first Manufacturing Engineer apprenticeship in collaboration with SPEEA (Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace)!
Employers can find the engineering talent they need that already understands their shop, processes, and culture. Workers gain a quicker, more accessible entry point into engineering roles, with advanced placement for experienced machinists and mechanics.
A Faster Pipeline for Skilled Welders: WABO Certification at MI
We are on track to launch the first WABO welding certification program available without non-technical college enrollment! This summer, employers will have a direct route to certified welders without the long delays at technical colleges.
The program includes a WABO test prep course, with options for Structural Plate or Pipe welding, or other employer needs, and flows directly into MI’s in‑house certification pipeline. Entry‑level and experienced welders take a placement test to enroll into the 40‑hour program, compared to the 18-month program requirement to join technical college waitlists, which often take 3 to 4 months to yield testing slots.
This means faster time‑to‑certification, training aligned to project needs, and a reliable pipeline of welders who already understand business operations and goals.
MI’s WABO program is set to launch in June.
Design smarter, build faster: The Power of SolidWorks
SolidWorks training has officially landed at Machinists Institute Spokane, giving employers a direct way to add CAD‑literacy design, modeling, simulation, and production capabilities to their team with fewer errors and faster turnaround. With 7.5 million users across 400,000 companies, SolidWorks remains one of the most widely adopted CAD platforms in industry—and now your workforce can tap into those same proven workflows.
MI Spokane has already integrated SolidWorks into their Virtual Apprenticeship and select Pre-Apprenticeships. Student learn to design parts in CAD, 3D‑print prototypes, and transition models into Mastercam for machining.
For employers, this creates a powerful advantage: machinists who can design as well as manufacture, reducing engineering bottlenecks, cutting miscommunication, and accelerating production. Smaller shops gain even more, expanding capability without adding specialized engineering headcount.
An exclusive opportunity to find out more about SolidWorks Training is coming soon: our Spokane Training Center’s Grand Opening is at the end of this month! See the full capabilities of the shop and get deeper insights from our expert instructional team.
Growing Partnerships
WELCOME TO OUR NEW TRAINING PARTNERS
Columbia River Carbonates
Columbia River Carbonates is a joint venture between industrial and agricultural mineral producers Omya and Bleeck Management. Established in 1985, Columbia River Carbonates serves a wide range of industrial and agricultural markets.
Pierce Pacific Manufacturing
Pierce Pacific manufacturing is an industry-leading design and manufacturing company specifically for specialized attachments and machine conversions for small, medium, and large hydraulic excavators in forestry and heavy industry.
Deca Fabricators
Deca Fabricators supplies fabricated aluminum extrusion to the Pacific Northwest. Based in Vancouver, WA, Deca Fabrication’s expertise is in extrusion design, tolerancing, and extrusion processes for projects ranging from prototypes to large scale production.
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UNITING OEMs
TOP PERFORMING POST
MI’s Blake Horton and Adam Grim flew to meet with top leaders in the industry to discuss how we can link arms to create better opportunities across the nation.
Until next time,
Built by Workers, Backed by Industry.