Maritime Welding School for Careers and Jobs in Welding
Our Staff
DAVID H. WEISMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. Weisman has be
en a recreational diver since 1967. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and majored in environmental science. He holds a USCG operator’s license and has extensive experience in offshore sailing/racing; Mr. Weisman served as navigator for the Halifax/Bermuda race and skippered the Bonzo Voyager in numerous sailing competitions. Mr. Weisman has operated successful maritime businesses and sold his interests to a publicly traded company. Mr. Weisman oversees the operation, administration, curriculum and content of Commercial Diving Academy, maintaining the Academy’s reputation as an innovative learning facility, consistently providing the Commercial Diving Industry with the most qualified, well trained graduates.
ALLEN G. GARBER, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Mr. Garber has been a recreational diver since 1974 and has dived in such places as the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, St. Martin and the Great Barrier Reef. He holds a BBA from the University of Massachusetts in Marketing with a minor in Civil Engineering. He also holds a USCG operator’s license and has sailed both offshore and competitively. Mr. Garber has been involved in the marine industry for the past nine years and most recently was the Brand Manager & National Sales Manager for a major manufacturer of offshore recreational boats. Mr. Garber is the Business Development Director and is responsible for all the Marketing, Recruiting and Promotion of the Academy.
BOBBY HATHAWAY, LEAD INSTRUCTOR
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Mr. Hathaway began his welding career in 1986 working for his family’s business. In 1989, he went to work as a pipeline welder in the Midwest. He has worked for various fabrication shops throughout Oklahoma. In 2001, he started his career in education when Tulsa Welding School in Oklahoma recruited him as an instructor. He was transferred to Jacksonville to establish their new location. He became the Director of Training in 2007 and he brings his extensive background and experience to our program. Mr. Hathaway is skilled in SMAW, GTAW, SAW, FCAW, and GMAW, and has worked in power plants, paper mills, and on drilling rigs. He has been a member of the American Welding Society (AWS) for ten years and is currently working towards obtaining his Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welding Educator credentials through AWS. Mr. Hathaway is the lead instructor for the Maritime Welding Program
TRAVIS WASHINGTON, INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Washington is originally from Oklahoma and is a former Naval aviation boatswain’s mate equipment operator. He was a part of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and was a part of the Tsunami relief in Indonesia. Mr. Washington graduated from a technical welding school and was valedictorian of his class. He is experienced in SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW, as well as oxy-fuel cutting, plasma cutting and arc-gouging. Mr. Washington has work experience in heavy fabrication, stainless and aluminum TIG and was an ironworker building commercial buildings. Mr. Washington is an instructor in the Maritime Welding Program and teaches welding in the Air/Mixed Gas diving program.
VINKO KOTESKI, INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Koteski started diving in 1987 as a Diver in the Yugoslavian Navy. He left the Navy in 1989 and worked as a commercial diver for Irix, a Commercial Diving and Construction company. Vinko fabricated concrete forms for docks and pilings, worked in electrical power plants and installed underwater pipelines for municipal water delivery systems. He also worked for the Macedonian Government excavating a 4000 year old underwater archeological site. Mr. Koteski has performed underwater salvage operations and opened Kaneo Diving in 1998, a recreational scuba instructional school. Mr. Koteski has worked as a Commercial Diver in: Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and the United States. He speaks English, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Slovenian, and Macedonian. Vinko is an Unrestricted Surface-Supplied Diving Supervisor with the DCBC a NASE Master Instructor, SDI Instructor Trainer, NAUI Instructor and an SSI Instructor.
MACK FOGLE, INSTRUCTOR
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Mr. Fogle is a native Floridian and made his first scuba dive in 1972 in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas. He joined the US Navy and after a tour of active duty, he attended the Florida Institute of Technology’s Commercial Diving Program in 1982. He became qualified as an Air/ Mixed Gas Surface Supply Commercial Diver. Upon graduation he went to work for Gulfstream Divers providing a wide scope of services to the nuclear power industry in South Florida. Mr. Fogle is a qualified Law Enforcement Officer, Heavy Equipment Operator, Licensed Professional Surveyor and Mapper and he is a graduate of CDA’s Maritime Welding program. Most recently, he worked for Blackwater Divers Inc. as a commercial diver and hydrographic mapper, before becoming an instructor and assisting with placement for the Maritime Welding Program.
DREW DUFFY, ADMISSIONS
Mr. Duffy is a Veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving for nine years as a helicopter crew chief, flight instructor and trainer. Over the last 14 years, he has worked for post-secondary educational institutions & regional workforce development organizations. He has held assorted positions such as Business Office Manager, Corporate Trainer, Employment Specialist, Employer Liaison and Director of Graduate Services. He is a member of the American Welding Society and an active player in the Northeast Florida Section. Drew was recruited to CDA because of his welding industry and educational experience and is currently the Admissions Specialist for the Maritime Welding Program. His duties include recruiting and placement assistance.
LAUREN IMHULSE, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID
Mrs. Imhulse has been a recreational diver since 1998 and has been diving throughout Florida and the Bahamas. She graduated from the University of Florida and majored in Marketing. She was a student assistant in the Accounting and Financial Aid departments and worked in the mortgage industry as a Loan Officer. She currently serves as the Director of Financial Aid, handling all aspects of student financing and enrollment. She also contributes to marketing and recruiting, assists with developing and managing the website.
AMBER JAXON, COMPTROLLER
Amber brings several years of bookkeeping experience to CDA. She is currently enrolled in accounting classes at a local college. Amber maintains all student accounts, ledgers and records. Her duties also comprise compliance with State and Federal accrediting agencies.
HEATHER HODGES, FINANCIAL AID ADMINISTRATOR
Ms. Hodges is originally from Greenville, South Carolina. She graduated from Lander University with a Bachelor’s degree in math, where she ran cross country all four years, and received a Master’s degree from Clemson University in math. Ms. Hodges brings experience as a math teacher and financial aid processor to CDA as the Financial Aid Administrator.
