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Jesús Pereyra

“I was at Mountain View looking at classes and passed by Steve Billingslea’s office — he had a set of floor plans out and my dad has worked in construction a long time, so I know how to read them. At the time, I was studying nursing but I started talking with Mr. Billingslea, who said I was already ahead of things starting the CADD program if I had an interest in architecture and I could read blueprints.

“Now I take CADD classes, and I’m also working towards my bachelor’s degree in architecture at UTA. My experience in community college has been wonderful, and the teachers here really know the program. It’s thanks to them that I’m doing so well at my job and have been able to apply what I’ve learned in mechanical design.

“When you go to school, you have to put in your time and not give up quickly — otherwise, you won’t get anything out of it. Steve Billingslea is a great teacher and the other faculty are as well. CADD is not just about solving problems but understanding them, and I’ve gotten that and more.”

Jesús Pereyra earned a Computer-Aided Design Operator Certificate and is working on a second CADD certificate there while also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington. In his job as an engineer designer, he works with hydraulics and mechanical fittings at Wilson Co., which engineers and builds electro-hydraulic systems, electrical controls, custom manifold assemblies and hydraulic power units for a wide number of clients including Lockheed-Martin. Jesús is bilingual in English and Spanish.


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Mike Walker

Supervisor of Mechanical Design Continental Electronics Corp.
“You should never stop learning in today’s world. If you do, you get left behind like the dinosaurs. Once you have knowledge, though, no one can take it away from you. The most important thing I learned is how to have the tools you need in today’s workforce.”
Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)
Mike Reinhardt

Mike Reinhardt

Full-Time Student and Future Underwater Welder
“The instructors in the program are really great and take time to help me when I need it. I want to take every welding course I can to get the experience I’ll need for my future career: I plan to become an underwater welder and am looking at schools where I can transfer and get that specialty.”
Welding
Paul Mears

Paul Mears

Welding Artist and Business Owner Iron Art of La Jolla, Calif.
“Welding is so much fun — it’s dangerous and exciting. Dewayne Roy is one of the best instructors you could ever want. He’s not only knowledgeable in the field, but is so upbeat and willing to show you everything he can.”
Welding
Rodney Taylor

Rodney Taylor

Management Coordinator Prevost, a division of Volvo Group; Adjunct Faculty Diesel Maintenance Technician Program
“The labs I worked in at Dallas College had all of the latest equipment, and that’s what I learned on. I think that my advanced training is part of what helped me move up the career ladder; I just knew a lot more than most of my peers because of my training.”
Automotive Technology

Jesús Pereyra
Engineer Designer Wilson Co., Architecture Student University of Texas at Arlington
Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)
School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology
Updated September 16, 2025