OUR HISTORY

The Small Manufacturers Institute (SMI) was established in 1994 as a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit through a partnership between the Small Manufacturers Association of California (SMA), the California State University Institute, and the Department of Energy’s Sandia and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.

Created to strengthen the voice of small and mid-sized manufacturers, SMI has spent three decades helping companies modernize operations, improve training systems, and connect with schools and workforce partners.

Working with California Community Colleges and school districts, SMI has guided more than $12 million in funded programs and introduced statewide initiatives such as Project Lead the Way, NIMS, VEX Robotics, and the WESTEC Student Summit.

Through its Regional Network model, SMI has supported local manufacturers and educators by relocating $1.5 million in training equipment, placing 470+ interns, and developing certificate and credential programs that link learning with real careers.

From its California roots, SMI continues to evolve as a national model for rebuilding America’s manufacturing ecosystem—strengthening companies, developing talent, and revitalizing communities.

Our Mechanics

Creative Mechanics

William Jackson

WordPress Dev.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary

William Jackson

WordPress Dev.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary

William Jackson

WordPress Dev.

A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary

Board of Directors

The SMI Board of Directors is composed of experienced professionals who serve in voluntary, unpaid positions. Current and past members bring expertise from manufacturing, aerospace, metalworking, electronics, venture capital, academia, business management, and consulting. Together, they guide SMI’s mission to strengthen small manufacturers, advance workforce development, and expand opportunities across California and the nation.

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David Goodreau

President/Co-Founder
David Goodreau is a manufacturing entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and longtime advocate for small and mid-sized manufacturers. He founded and leads the Small Manufacturers Institute (SMI) and previously served as president of the Small Manufacturers Association of California (SMA). Over his career, David has built and operated multiple manufacturing companies and guided initiatives that connect employers, educators, and policymakers to rebuild America’s workforce pipeline. His vision for SMI focuses on strengthening companies, developing skilled workers, and ensuring manufacturing remains a foundation of U.S. economic vitality.
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John Chocholak

Board Director
John Chocholak has devoted more than 36 years to teaching Industrial Technology at the middle school, high school, and community college levels. Among the first educators in California to complete General Motors’ Special Electronics Training (SET) program, he champions a strong foundation in electricity as essential to all areas of Career Technical Education (CTE). A past President of the California Industrial and Technical Educators Association (CITEA), John has served as a subject matter expert to state legislators on CTE funding and teacher credentialing reforms.
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Kenneth Mechsner

Board Director
Ken Mechsner has been in the Engineering and Manufacturing business his whole life as a third-generation manufacturer. His background stems from the aerospace, robotic, and tech industries. He is currently taking on multiple roles as a Manufacturing Manager, North America Operations Manager, Manufacturing Consultant, and also serving on the Board for the Small Manufactures Institute. His personal passion in life is designing and building autonomous robotics as well as rocketry.
roberto-gutierrez

Roberto Gutierrez

Vice President
Roberto Gutierrez is a veteran manufacturing educator and workforce connector with more than two decades of experience linking schools and employers across Southern California. He helped establish the Van Nuys High School Manufacturing Academy, a model program replicated statewide, and has served for over 22 years as the Education and Training Liaison for the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA). Known also as “The KongaKid,” Roberto brings creativity and collaboration to everything he does—including his work as a professional percussionist leading team-building drum circles ...
marshall-gartenlaub

Dr. Marshall Gartenlaub

Board Director
Dr. Marshall Gartenlaub retired in 2010 after a distinguished career spanning industry and education. He served as an engineer, plant manager, and VP of Operations before spending 19 years as Statewide Director for Applied Competitive Technologies with the California Community Colleges, managing millions in grants to train and retrain thousands of industrial workers. A tireless advocate for industrial economic development, Dr. Gartenlaub has worked with businesses, educators, and policymakers to help small and mid-sized manufacturers adopt advanced technologies and keep California—and the nation—competitive in global manufacturing.
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Antonio Cordova

Board Director
Antonio is a manufacturing engineering leader with more than a decade of experience in the aerospace industry. He currently serves as a Manufacturing Engineer at Northrop Grumman, overseeing the design, development, and production of complex aerospace components and deployable systems. Previously, he managed aerospace programs at Advanced Structural Technologies, specializing in the hot-spinning process for propulsion systems, and worked at Aerojet Rocketdyne on advanced rocket propulsion components, including NASA’s RS-25 nozzle for the Space Launch System. Antonio brings hands-on innovation and industry insight to SMI’s board.
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Dr. Ralph Mills

Secretary/Treasurer/Co-Founder
Dr. Ralph Mills is a longtime leader in higher education and industry collaboration. As Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs at the California State University Chancellor’s Office, he founded the CSU Institute to align university R&D resources with industry needs. A co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of the United States Distance Learning Association, Dr. Mills was inducted into the REC Foundation STEM Hall of Fame in 2008 for SMI’s leadership in expanding VEX Robotics education across California.
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Martin J. "Marty" Mechsner (1953-2017)

Co-Founder
Marty Mechsner is a founding board member and former president of the Small Manufacturers Institute (SMI), where he helped shape its mission to support small manufacturers and strengthen manufacturing education across California. Working closely with the Small Manufacturers Association of California (SMA), he played a key role in SMI’s early development and advocacy for small businesses in an increasingly global market. Marty’s leadership has long focused on fostering local collaboration, rebuilding skilled workforces, and promoting sustainable economic growth through manufacturing.

SMI Advisory Board

SMI researches, creates, and/or supports grassroots reforms in manufacturing education and economic development. The Century Club is an advisory structure within SMI that collaborates with multiple corporate, foundation donor.

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CMC is a body of association stakeholders collaborating to support apprenticeship and training for the manufacturing industry. The association partners contribute by giving our mutual support of manufacturing education...

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