Our Instructors

Trainings at the Autodesk Technology Centers are taught by a diverse group of experts and industry leaders.

David Cole

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.

Ian Kimmerly

Ian Kimmerly is a Senior Research & Design Engineer at the Autodesk Technology Center San Francisco where he manages a variety of on-machine trainings and coordinates equipment procurement. He assists with a range of digital and analog fabrication projects including woodworking, CNC routing, and water jet cutting.

Ian served as the Director of Operations at the San Francisco Art Institute and has taught design courses at the University of Arizona and City College of San Francisco.

Michael Koehle

Michael is a Senior Research & design Engineer at the Autodesk Technology Center San Francisco. He holds a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from UC Davis and a master’s degree in fine art from Mills College. He has 7 years’ experience as an R&D engineer, developing patient specific prosthetic instruments. He began with Autodesk as an artist in residence in 2016, and now is the Shop Supervisor for robotics.

Steve Thompson

Senior Research & Design Engineer at the San Francisco Technology Center. Steve most recently served as Prototype Lab Manager at Peak Design, has been an Instructor at TCSF for nearly a decade, and is the author of CNC Beginner’s Guide.

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.