Description
Join fellow New England CAD instructors and industry professionals for a professional development event focused on the future of CAD education and workforce readiness. Attendees will hear from experienced teachers sharing classroom strategies, student engagement ideas, and successful program initiatives, while industry professionals provide insight into current trends, in-demand skills, and the technologies shaping architecture, design, and engineering careers. This event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build connections, and gain practical knowledge to help strengthen CAD programs and better prepare students for future careers.
This is a free event, and all attendees will receive a PD certificate.
Host
Mark Lyons, AET Labs
Mark has deep experience in career and technical education as a former CAD teacher at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School and Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School. His 30-year career includes sales and product roles for CAD software, including SolidWorks, and a bachelor's degree in occupational education from Fitchburg State College. He is actively involved with schools in Massachusetts, serving on a number of program advisory boards and the DESE CTE advisory council, leading SkillsUSA Massachusetts competitions, speaking at the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators annual conference, and has led the annual New England CAD Teachers Summit since it began in 2007.
Agenda
8:30-9 Arrival, Coffee, Networking
9:00-9:15 Introductions
9:15-9:45 SkillsUSA MA Update - Mark Lyons
- Technical Draft (Mark Lyons)
- Architectural Drafting (Mike Rannikko, advisor for SkillsUSA)
- Additive Manufacturing (Mark Lyons)
- 3D Animation (Michael Wechsler, advisor for SkillsUSA)
9:45-10:00 Break
10:00-10:45 Teacher Presentation (Greg King, McCann Tech)
10:45-11:30 Architecture Industry Presentation (Greg Joynt, KBA)
11:30-12 Teacher Presentation (Todd Rathier, Leominster High School)
12-12:30 Lunch
12:30-1:15 Architecture Industry Presentation (Cody Russell, KBA)
1:15-2:00 Teacher Presentation (TBA)
2:30-3:00 Wrap Up
