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Jul 24, 2008
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We are a National Association committed to helping individuals start or advance their career in the heavy equipment industry. We assist our member schools in providing their students with a relevant education that will help them succeed in the work force.
In addition to monitoring and approving our member schools, we also promote the heavy equipment industry to the world. Through a strong presence on the Internet and other forms of media, we strive to increase the awareness of the industry to the general public, which in turn makes a better market for our graduates to have a successful career.
NAHETS is a proud supporter of YellowMetal.TV - the media outlet for the heavy equipment industry. Yellow Metal TV gains media access to special industry events such as World of Concrete Convention, Consumer Electronics Show, and Associated Equipment Distributors/CONDEX, just to name a few.
NAHETS is currently developing a new task based curriculum, Yellow Metal Boot Camp - an outcomes based curriculum enhancement tool including text materials and video based training series that allows the student to have an instructor in their pocket when they view a video on an iPod, and then perform a drill out in the field.
NAHETS also sponsors YellowMetalUSA.com - a job searching website specific to the heavy equipment industry. Employers can sign up and post their open positions, and our current and former students can search for jobs any time the need arises. |
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Meet our Staff
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Matt Klabacka
Executive Director
Matt is the youngest of Robert Klabacka's six son's. Robert was the founder of the National Institute of Concrete Construction in 1959. Matt carries on a long family tradition of offering quality construction related training programs. Matt's other brothers also operate construction related training programs in the United States. Matt and his brothers train more heavy equipment operators than any other organization in the United States and Canada.
Soon after Robert Klabacka's death, Matt founded the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools, NAHETS. Matt's brothers continue to operate their own separate training sites. Matt was able to see a need for an educational organization dedicated to the heavy equipment operator training programs.
Matt's commitment to education can be traced back to his significant personal educational achievements:
- Bachelors of Science after 15 years of college at UNLV as a working student. (1980 - 1995)
- Master in Education from UNLV in 1997 as a working student (1995-1997)
- Founder and president Emeritus of Heritage College in Las Vegas, NV. (1990-1998)
- Accreditation Team Leader for ACCSCT 4 years, (1990-1995)
- Adjunct faculty member UNLV (1990 to present)
- Invited Guest Speaker "Focus 1996", Moscow, Russia (1996)
- Past president of the Nevada private School Association (1991-1994)
- Founder Nevada School of Construction, formerly Associated Training Services of Nevada (2003)
- Founder Oklahoma College of Construction, formerly ATS-Oklahoma (2005)
- Founder Georgia School of Construction, formerly ATS-Georgia (2006)
- Founder of Southern California College of Construction (2006)
- Founder of NAHETS (2006)
Matt volunteers in the community in many ways, including being a little league baseball coach, high school golf coach, Boy Scouts of America, and volunteer community service work. Matt is a happily married family man with three children.
Favorite Quote: "Work Like You Don't Need the Money" |
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Garry Hayes
Corporate Counsel
Garry is the corporate counsel for NAHETS, and has been providing legal advice and strategic decisions since the company began. Garry is from Harlingen, Texas, but has been living in Las Vegas long enough to call it home. Garry's formal education was earned at Brigham Young University. He is currently a member of the Clark County Bar, the NV Bar, and Preservation Association of Clark County. |
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Chris Cannon
Director of Training & Curriculum Development
NCCER Certified Operator / Training Instructor.
Co-Author & Producer of Field Training Courses & Videos.
National Training Director, Curriculum Development, Spokesperson, and Consultant for
the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools, NAHETS
- Training Director; Curriculum Development; and Technical / Training Consultant for the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools.
- Co-Producer, Author, and Narrator of "Yellow Metal Boot Camp" Heavy Equipment Field Training Series & Videos.
- Host of Yellow Metal TV / Spokesperson for National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools.
- NCCER Certified Heavy Equipment Instructor for the Nevada School of Construction.
- Field Work as a Heavy Equipment Foreman and Operator on Mass Excavation, Lake Construction, Mining, Large Commercial Building, Swimming Pool Construction, Landscape, Snow Removal, and Residential Construction Projects.
- NCCER Certified Heavy Equipment Operator:
Specializing in Crawler Excavator Operation, Loaders including Skid Steer/ Multi-terrain, and Skip Loaders, Backhoes, and Dozers. Also proficient on other pieces of equipment; Mobile Rock Crushing Plants, Articulated Off Road Haul Trucks, Motor Graders, Scrapers, Tractors, Forklifts, and Dump Trucks.
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Rhett Nielson
Media Director
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Michael Martens
Operations Director
Mike started his NAHETS career with the Nevada School of Construction back in 2004. He worked the marketing director and then the school director. Now, as the director of operations, Mike keeps our schools running and looks for growth areas and new schools. Mike earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Wyoming. When Mike is not in the office or on a business trip, he is flying sail planes (gliders) and fixing up an old car collection, including a '69 MGB, '55 Chevy, '55 IHC Pickup, and '84 Cadillac. |
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Brian Thornton
Marketing and Technology Director
Brian is an entrepreneur and humanitarian. He was one of six founders of former global internet property, DoubleClick. Brian was born in Colorado Springs and grew up in Las Vegas. Brian has founded and managed many companies. In 2003 Brian assisted MIT startups Akamai and TraderWeb through business and technology development acquistion phases.
Brian enjoys traveling, chocolate making, reading and technology.
Brian is director of volunteers for the Las Vegas based non-profits B.C. McGabe Boys and Girls Club and Las Vegas Rescue Mission. |
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Mike Wille
Internet Manager
Mike graduated from Colorado State University in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Information Systems. He moved to St. Louis to work for a multimedia production company that focused on interactive training products. Mike then took an opportunity to travel the US and Japan as a trombone player and percussionist for the Tony-award winning show, Blast!
Since January 2007 Mike has been working for NAHETS as the websites manager and flash programmer. |
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Jenene Olsen
Director of Finance
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Julie Johnson
Payroll/HR
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Sam Tielemans
Videographer
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Taylor Morris
Media Relations
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