He spent 19 years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. There, he worked as a Master Production Scheduler and later as a Group Lead in Manufacturing Engineering. His work focused on making sure complex systems could be built the right way.

Alongside his career, he began teaching manufacturing and machine tool technology. He has now taught for over a decade. Today, he continues to share what he has learned, helping others connect ideas with real-world results.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My day starts early. I like to review what I need to get done before anything else. When I was at JPL, I learned that planning saves time later. Now, I still follow that habit. I break my day into small tasks. I also leave room for unexpected issues, because they always show up.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I start by asking how something will actually be built. That question guides everything. I’ve seen ideas fail because no one thought about the process. I sketch things out, then I think about tools, materials, and steps. If it doesn’t make sense in production, I adjust early.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I like seeing more focus on practical manufacturing again. There’s more attention on how things are made, not just designed. That shift helps close the gap between engineers and production teams.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Writing things down. I keep notes on what works and what doesn’t. Over time, that builds a personal reference. It helps me avoid repeating mistakes.