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Luna’s Gene Martinez continues to lead successful welding program
Gene Martinez has been teaching welding at Luna Community College since 2019. Little-by-little he has seen the welding program grow.
“I started off with about five students per class and now I am at 15 or more students per class,” says Martinez. “This semester I am teaching eight classes; I would teach nine but there is not that many hours in the day.”
All of Martinez’ classes are eight-week courses. They are: vocational 117 blueprint reading and construction math; intro to welding; welding level I; welding level I applications; welding level II; welding level III; ornamental art welding and welding level I applications advanced.
“One instructor that helps me is Paul Vance who teaches machine operations in metal working,” says Martinez.
There is about 50 students registered in welding classes with many taking more than one class.
Martinez, who is no stranger to hard work, has taken an unusual trek to Luna.
“I needed a career change,” says Martinez. “I ran our family restaurant for 28 years, Pancho’s Roadside Café until 2018. My mom wanted to retire and unfortunately she got sick and I didn’t want to run the restaurant by myself.”
After earning his American Welding Society (AWS) certifications at Luna, Martinez eventually took over as the welding program’s primary instructor.
“It was supposed to just be a temporary thing and ended up being a permanent one,” says Martinez.
Perhaps welding compliments Martinez’ prior education.
“I went to the University of New Mexico and majored in architecture and did my internship with the department of defense/department of the Navy,” says Martinez.
Again, hard work is nothing new for Martinez.
“As an independent design professional for the last 20 years, I can multitask,” says Martinez. “When I was running the restaurant, I was the cook, manager, owner, dishwasher, waiter and part-time counselor.”
Is Martinez surprised with his welding program being near the top of the mountain at Luna?
“The success we have had here has surprised me,” says Martinez. “When I first started I had very few students, now we have many students. I could probably have more students, but I have learned when you have too many students, you end up neglecting a couple of them.”
What is the formula for Martinez’ success.
“I have a philosophy that we have set a standard to either be consistently good or consistently bad and I try to be consistently good,” says Martinez. “My goal is to try to build up our communities. I would like to see our students stay and work here but it’s okay that they leave town and earn their money while they can. They can always come back home.”
Martinez says that once his students earn their American Welding Society certificate, most of them go out and get a job.
“Over 90 percent of our students pass their AWS certification,” says Martinez.
What can students expect when taking a class with Martinez?
“Students can expect to show up on time and work hard,” says Martinez. “I coach my students on technique. I do not tell my students that they are wrong, but I do tell them that there is a better way to do it. I teach them to think and problem solve. I try to get them as prepared as I can. I give them a good foundation.”
Martinez says that nothing is easy. However, it can be done.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” says Martinez. “I work about nine or 10 hours a day including Saturday classes with high school dual credit students. I believe I have good, solid program here at Luna, that’s what I contribute my success to.”
Martinez says that welding is for everyone.
“I have increased the amount of female students in my program, averaging about five or six female students per semester,” says Martinez. “There are female welders out there, although it is male dominated field. Some of our students are working in Los Alamos National Laboratories or they are self-employed.”
For more information on Luna’s welding program, email Gene Martinez at gemartinez@luna.edu.