Meet the Training Staff
Our factory-trained technical instructors stand ready to provide training for maintenance and engineering personnel in the format, location and pace that works best for you and your team.
AutomaTech trainers deliver targeted training classes to your business. Our skilled team of trainers provides in-depth instruction on the products we sell by bringing their continuing experience to the classroom. We provide the means to produce real results in your business by boosting productivity, instilling cost reductions and increasing process optimization.
AutomaTech’s training communicates tried-and-true methods of product usage by means of the experience we have gained through years of working with GE Fanuc products.
AutomaTech’s GE Fanuc Certified Instructors:
Chris Carlins
AutomaTech Applications Engineer
Chris began working for AutomaTech in March 2007 and has the education and background that made for a perfect fit. He was able to hit the ground running because his background as a Microsoft Navison Developer and his five years experience implementing factory level projects like RSView, iFIX and LadderLogic.
“Working for an implementer for five years has provided an extensive amount of experiences. Communication with the customer, adapting to new industries with new solutions, and providing solutions to new problem sets were all components of normal operations. Working for an end-user for a year also provided a unique view. Becoming familiar with the manufacturing industry mode of operations, from the plant floor to the vice president’s office, was inherent in the job of implementing their new ERP systems.”
Not only is he a GE Fanuc Certified Trainer, but he’s Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in implementing and maintaining SQL Server 2005. Chris specializes in Plant Applications as part of AutomaTech’s Enterprise Solutions Group he provides technical solutions and advice that relate to our customers specific Plant Apps needs.
Chris received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University. He is a GE Fanuc Certified Instructor and Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) SQL Server 2005.
Russ Hotte
AutomaTech Applications Engineer
Russ has 30 years of industry experience and has worked for AutomaTech for more than nine years. Russ has been training for eight of those years and he instructs people in Proficy iFIX (Fundamentals, Advanced, VBA), Historian and Real-Time information Portal.
Russ was with Polaroid Corp as an IT Support Technician in specialized test equipment construction, calibration and support. He was also an Applications Systems Analyst where he worked with plant floor data and relational database systems. In his tenure with Polaroid Russ was also a Project Lead for production finishing end handling equipment control and data acquisition.
Being an applications engineer allows Russ to communicate with a variety of audiences. “I have been able to use my experience to relate actual control and data acquisition requirements to the classroom. This also applies to on-site work when troubleshooting customer problems.” He adds, “It is immensely gratifying to see the customer “get it” by giving them real-world methods and tools we bring through our own experience.” “It is also rewarding to learn something new from students, not a class goes by without that happening!”
Russ has an Associate’s Degree from Massasoit Community College in Electronics Engineering and majored in Computer Science at Bridgewater State University. Russ has taken the Train-the-trainer program at Langevin Learning Services and became a Certified Instructor/Facilitator as well as being a GE Fanuc Certified Instructor.
Tom Koszuta
AutomaTech Applications Engineer
Tom has been with AutomaTech since July 1997 and has been training people for over 8 years. Tom spent 7 years as a chemical process engineer working with batch reactors and batch and continuous distillation. Tom says, “Knowing the process behind the computers and PLC's allows me to talk to end users on their level. It also helps me relate to things like data collection rates and what it means to try to implement SPC, because I have been there.”
Tom has taught our FIX32, iFIX Fundamentals, VBA for iFIX, Historian and Portal classes and enjoys seeing his students “light go on” when they understand the subject matter.
Tom has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from SUNY at Buffalo. He is a GE Fanuc Certified Instructor and specializes in scripting in iFIX (VBA).
John McCue
AutomaTech Applications Engineer
John has been working for AutomaTech for 3 years and has been in the industry for 13 years. John worked as a System Integrator for several years and is very familiar with CEMS, boiler control and toxic cleanup.
John specializes in iFIX 154 and Historian 345 courses. As an Application Engineer he works closely with System Integrators and End Users. John enjoys training people to give them an edge in their work practices.
John has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee. He is a GE Fanuc Certified Instructor.
Chris Roland
AutomaTech Applications Engineer
Chris has been with AutomaTech for 2 years and has been training people for 8 years. Besides training Chris provides technical support for automation hardware and PLC programming. He said, “I can relate to our customers because I use to be one of the guys in the trenches waiting for a call back from tech-support so I know it’s important to respond to our customers quickly with correct information.”
He started his career working for a System Integrator as a senior project engineer. His projects included design, programming and implementation of small to medium control systems.
Chris is a GE Fanuc Certified Instructor specializing in Proficy Logic Developer PLC Machine Edition and PLC Maintenance with Proficy Logic Developer ME.
Chris gets satisfaction by handing over the “Golden Nuggets” of knowledge that can only be obtained from real world applications.
Chris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Bio-Medical/Mechanical Engineering at the University of Vermont.