Meet Our Instructors

Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Business Administration, Member of the American Institute of Architects

Chief Academic Officer

David has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Penn State University and an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University. He has been teaching Autodesk programs for over 10 years and enjoys working and teaching in the architectural industry. In addition to working with the Autodesk suite, he has significant experience in 3D modeling, the Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam Revu, and SketchUp. David enjoys spending his free time with his wife, biking, hanging out with his kids, and listening to audiobooks by the fire.

• Licensed Architect
• Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI SILVER – Certified > 5 Years)
• Autodesk Certified Professional: AutoCAD, Revit, Fusion 360
• Adobe Visual Design Specialist
• SketchUp Certified 3D Warehouse Content Developer

Bachelor of Arts

Student Experience Manager | I.T. Specialist

John has been working in the Multimedia World for more than 15 years but has had an interest in it ever since he was a child. He moved to San Diego to attend the University of California, San Diego, and upon graduating, decided to stick around “because of the weather.” He joined the VDCI Team in 2019 and has since come to appreciate a multitude of VDC Software.

• Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI)
• Bluebeam Professional

Bachelor of Architecture

Software Certification Specialist

Luis has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Southern California and over 10 years of professional AEC industry experience. He has made extensive use of AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit and Photoshop in his work, and is happiest when helping others achieve success. He’s an avid traveler who has run 10 marathons and enjoys reading, yoga, camping, volunteering and attending music festivals all over the world.

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, TEFL Certified, NICET Certified

Fire Sprinkler Engineer | BIM Coordinator

Derek’s background is in both education and MEP. He earned his BA in Music Education from San Diego State University and is a TEFL certified English language instructor. In addition to educational roles, he is an experienced fire protection design engineer and has extensive knowledge in many programs and processes used in AEC industries. He brings his unique and eclectic skillset to VDCI as their Curriculum Coordinator. In his free time he can be found weightlifting in his garage, hanging out with his wife and pug, or painting and drawing in his studio.

• BA Music Education – San Diego State University
• MA Applied Linguistics (in process) – San Diego State University
• TEFL Certified English Language Instructor
• NICET 1 Certification

Bachelor of Architecture, Registered Architect

Revit Instructor

Mike is recognized by Autodesk as one of North America’s leading Revit Certified Instructors. He has significant experience integrating Revit, 3ds Max, and Rhino and uses Revit Architecture on medium and large-scale bio and nano-tech projects. Mike has been an integral member of the VDCI team for over 15 years, offering his hard-charging, “get it done right” approach and close attention to detail. In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, children, and dog.

• Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI GOLD – 1 of 20 Awarded Globally)
• Autodesk Certified AutoCAD Professional
• Autodesk Certified Revit Professional
• Revit

Licensed Professional Engineer

Civil 3D Instructor

Mike is a Civil Engineer and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He brings a wealth of experience working on transportation engineering and site development projects that involve working with Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and MicroStation. Mike is an avid hiker and enjoys spending time with his family in the local Cuyamaca and Laguna mountains.

• Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI)
• Autodesk Certified AutoCAD Civil 3D Professional
• Civil 3D

Bachelor of Arts, Registered Architect, LEED AP BD+C Accredited

AutoCAD Instructor

John graduated from VDCI in 2010. He has over 10 years of experience using Revit and AutoCAD in commercial, government, and residential architectural projects. He has served as an onsite TA for several years and teaches many of the online AutoCAD courses. An avid bicycler, John enjoys traveling and experiencing the great outdoors all around the world.

• Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI SILVER – Certified > 5 Years)
• Autodesk Certified AutoCAD Professional
• Autodesk Certified Revit Professional
• AutoCAD

Master of Landscape Architecture , LEED AP BD+C Accredited

SketchUp and Blueprint Reading Instructor

Chris has an undergraduate degree from UC Santa Barbara and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona. He is a California-registered landscape architect. Chris is actively engaged in the professional community and is well known for how he addresses multifaceted issues to craft solutions for community enrichment. In his spare time, Chris enjoys camping with his family in the wild open spaces of rural San Diego County.

• Autodesk Certified AutoCAD Professional
• AutoCAD, SketchUp

Professional Estimator

Construction Estimating Instructor

Ed started Wenz Consulting after 35 years as a professional estimator. He continues to work on various projects while also dedicating time to teaching and training through Wenz Consulting and VDCI. Ed has over 10 years of experience in Sage Estimating Development and Digital Takeoff Systems and has an extensive background in Construction Software and Communications Technology. Ed enjoys spending his free time with his wife and grandchildren in San Diego.

• Sage Estimating Certified Instructor
• Construction Cost Estimating

Mechanical Engineer

Revit MEP Instructor

Katie has worked for more than 5 years in the mechanical engineering industry, focusing on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design and coordination for GMP clients in pharmaceutical production. She has recently joined a new engineering firm in Kansas City, where she continues to broaden her engineering design and management skills.

• Autodesk Certified Instructor
• Revit MEP

 Bachelor of Architecture

SketchUp Pro Instructor

Over the course of the last 10 years of his architectural experience and training, Derek has developed a very strong set of skills and talents towards architecture, design and visualization. Derek grew up in an architectural family with his father owning his own practice in custom home design. Throughout the years, Derek has had the opportunity to work and be involved at his father's architecture office, dealing with clients, visiting job sites, and contributing in design and production works. Recently, Derek has built up an incredible resume of architecture experiences working at firms such as HOK in San Francisco, GENSLER in Los Angeles, and RNT, ALTEVERS Associates, HMC, and currently as the lead designer at FPBA in San Diego. Derek has specialized in the realm of architectural design and digital design.

• SketchUp Pro