Our Instructors

David is a practicing artist and Professor of Jewelry/Metal Arts at California College of the Arts. His work includes numerous public commissions in several states and architectural details for Stanford University.

Trainings Taught:

• ShopBot CNC Router - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Intro to Metal Shop - Safety & Operation
• Metal Bending - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Welding – MIG - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Welding - TIG Steel - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Welding - TIG Aluminum - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Manual Mill - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Manual Lathe - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use

Emily Coker oversees the metal shop, wood shop, and electronics lab. Her broad skillset includes experience in hands-on early-stage prototyping, fabrication, and rapid evaluation, industrial and desktop 3D printing, and an extensive understanding of small to mid-scale manufacturing operations. Emily also works on the Connected Workshops Data Capture group leading hardware and sensors.

Michael is an engineer and visual artist, with a background in digital fabrication, medical device development, and musculoskeletal kinematic research.

Trainings Taught:

• CNC Pathway 1 - Concepts of CNC
• CNC Pathway 2 - Beginner CAM Programming
• CNC Pathway 3 - Advanced CAM Programming
• DMS 5-Axis Router - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Test Kitchen - Safety & Basic Use

Noa Kaplan is a Shop Supervisor at the Technology Center San Francisco where she oversees the additive workshop and machine training. Noa is passionate about teaching 3D modeling processes including photogrammetry, dynamics simulation, generative design, and volumetric data visualization. She is equally invested in refining digital fabrication workflows and supporting research-driven physical prototyping. Before joining Autodesk, Noa researched 3D Reconstruction technologies at USC and taught design and digital fabrication at UCLA.

Orion Beach Manages the CNC shop at the San Francisco Technology Center. He is a subject-matter expert in CNC machining, DFMA, Automation/Machining work cells, Plastic Injection Molds, and also works as part of the Data Capture team for the Connected Workshops.

Steve teaches classes in the wood shop, metal shop, and CNC shop, including the CNC pathway. He is passionate about creating inclusive and safe spaces for learners of all backgrounds and levels of understanding. He is involved in arts, education, design, and high-end fabrication at various institutions around the Bay Area.  

Trainings Taught:

• CNC Pathway 1 - Concepts of CNC
• CNC Pathway 2 - Beginner CAM Programming
• CNC Pathway 3 - Advanced CAM Programming
• Haas VF2 3-Axis Mill - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Omax Waterjet Cutter - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• ShopBot CNC Router - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Intro to Wood Shop - Safety & Operation
• Planer, Jointer, & Router Table - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• ShopBot CNC Router - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Wood Lathe - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Intro to Metal Shop - Safety & Operation
• Metal Bending - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Welding - TIG Steel - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Welding - TIG Aluminum - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Welding – MIG - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Manual Mill - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Manual Lathe - Safety, Operation, & Basic Use
• Spray Booth - Safety & Basic Use