Sessions of 2026 Connection Conference: Rick Knisley
Mr. Knisley, Rick
President
Before getting involved with the educational industry, Rick Knisely performed CNC and CAD work in the aircraft industry for approximately two years. In 1993, Rick moved to a small educational company that produced curriculum for software and equipment such as CNC machines and Robotics. He was their national sales manager, head of a product development team, performed training for teachers, and was involved with several competitions at the National SkillsUSA competition. In 2007, Rick moved to Arizona to work with AZTECH Educational Resources and have been performing teacher training, sales, and directly involved with SkillsUSA Arizona by running a few contests at the state and regional level.
Sessions:
5634: Solidworks Additive Manufacturing Certification (SAMA)
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Westin La Paloma
- Engineering, Manufacturing
- Interdisciplinary
The SAMA certification from SolidWorks is an excellent entry-level, industry-recognized credential that students can earn. In this session, we will cover the knowledge and skills required to successfully pass the certification exam, and you will take the exam as part of the workshop. All instructional materials and content used in the course will be provided for classroom use, allowing you to incorporate them directly into your curriculum with your students.
5636: Virtual Robotics Programming
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Westin La Paloma
- Engineering, Manufacturing
Step into an engaging virtual robotics platform designed to help students build real programming and problem-solving skills through gamified learning. Built for K–12 classrooms, this online solution offers multiple levels of challenge to support differentiated instruction and meet students at their individual skill levels. The platform is easy for teachers to implement, requires minimal setup, and provides structured lessons that support STEM and CTE learning goals. Students stay motivated through interactive challenges while educators gain a powerful tool to introduce coding, robotics concepts, and critical thinking skills that align with workforce readiness initiatives.
5633: Open-Source Robotics: What is ROS?
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Westin La Paloma
- Engineering, Manufacturing
ROS was created at Stanford University in 2007 and has become a leading force in open-source robotics and innovation. The SBA and US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast that 600k small businesses will automate over the next 10 years. This represents a tremendous job growth opportunity for today's students; tomorrow's workforce. The session will include ROS history, data points, growth forecasts, hands-on demonstrations, and an introduction to ATMAR.org CIRP (Certified Industrial Robotics Programmer) credential for open-source robotics.
5631: Fund Your Program with CAD/CAM/CNC in Your Classroom
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Westin La Paloma
- Engineering, Manufacturing
CAD/CAM/CNC whether interdisciplinary integration between Ag, woods, welding and fabrication or one of these areas you will learn the techniques to raise funds for your program while training your students for in demand careers with very competitive income potential. Take away skills and projects for Routing, Plasma, Lasers for wood and metals.
