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Rodney Hinkle

“A few months out of high school, I found out about the motorcycle, small-engine and marine courses offered at Cedar Valley. In my early childhood, my father had a custom bike-building shop, which allowed me to become familiar with repairing bikes. I also took a small engine class in school, which helped equip me with the skills I needed to repair small engines. 

“I felt it would be to my benefit to take the marine course offered at Cedar Valley since I enjoyed being around the outdoors and water as well. After completing the course, I received a certificate on Evinrude/Johnson outboard engines. I was able to get a job quickly at the marina Texas Hydro Sports, where I repaired personal watercraft for 10 years and also attended Sea-Doo courses that allowed me to become certified in Sea-Doo repair. 

“I was ready to move on to a more challenging career and took a position at Kawasaki City of Dallas. I have been with Kawasaki City for 11 years now, and in my job, I repair personal watercraft, motorcycles and ATVs. I have also received several Kawasaki certificates as well. 

“I truly believe that I am where I am today because of the basic skills I acquired at Cedar Valley 21 years ago to launch my career.”  Rodney Hinkle earned a certificate in Marine Technology from Cedar Valley.


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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
Rodney Hinkle
Rodney Hinkle
Service Technician, Kawasaki City
Automotive Technology
School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology
Updated September 16, 2025