Donlee Wilson

Background

About Donlee Wilson

I started my first career in the U. S. Navy working in electrical, mechanical, and electronics systems for the better part of twenty years. Among these skills, I also developed a passion for training and professional develop consulting fellow sailors in electrical safety and career decisions beyond the military. Upon retirement from the Navy, and rolling into my second career, I worked at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas as a Skilled Team Member working with automation and robotics. This led me to achieving my undergraduate degree in Communications Studies. I decided to pursue a second career in education teaching students the fundamentals of factory automation as maintenance technicians through the FAME program at St. Philip’s College while earning my master’s degree in management of Technical Education. While instructing students in the field of maintenance technician, I moved up the ladder to Department Chair of the Construction trades managing a team of instructors creating a culture of servant leadership throughout the department. During my role in management, I discovered the opportunity to work for Festo Didactic as the District Sales Manager for the Northeast region of the U.S. creating solutions for educational institutions with programs in manufacturing, automation, robotics, and engineering. With the skills gap for high-demand, high-wage jobs increasing, my work is challenging in creating the proper hands-on training necessary to equip the industry with the right technicians through education and certifications. As my chapter at Festo comes to a close, I went searching for a job that puts me back into the classroom as I did with St. Philip's College. I have been afforded the position of Instructor for the Industrial Systems program at Texas State Technical College, New Braunfels. I am facilitating courses designed for the TXFAME, Lone Star Chapter students becoming maintenance technicians in the manufacturing industry.