About Us

Gene has 20+ years of distance education business experience. Gene has a trade skills background, distance education credentials, and is a licensed contractor.

Ken is responsible for advancing Accelerated Training Institute’s educational mission through strategic planning, program/curriculum review and implementing organizational systems that make learning possible. Ken’s dedication to life-long learning is shown in his 50-year history on both sides of the classroom podium. His academic achievements include an Associate’s degree in Electronics, a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, Dual Masters of Science in Computers and Cognitive Psychology, and an EdD in Educational Leadership with a minor in Organizational Psychology. He has served as adjunct faculty at three colleges, and taught classes at every grade level K-12. Ken also teaches Technician, General, and Extra class amateur radio classes and is NRA certified RSO and rifle/shotgun/pistol and Archery instructor. Additionally, Ken has also taught courses in industry, written and produced educational media, and taught how to teach on four continents. He is a published author on a variety of subjects.

Liz is responsible fo establishing, reevaluating, promoting, and executing the admissions process for ATI. Liz’s love of learning is shown in her academic achievements with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy, MAM In Management, Masters in Psychology, PhD in organization development.

As the Director of Student Accounts Jeff has a 25-year history working in and around commercial and residential Job sites working directly working with the varies trades. Jeffs experience as a Student Advisor and Student Care Coordinator, and his unique skill working with Students through a systematic process provide guidance and works with Students as the explore their academic interests, provides additional course information and together with the student develop a plan of study that meets the students educational goals.

Caitlin maintains student records and course data, which can include helping students schedule or register for classes. She helps students make sure their academic performance meets graduation requirements in order to reach an institution's goals by verifying grades.

Providing telephone and online support to answer student questions and provide services for such needs as how to access and participate in online courses, online testing, taking retests, contacting faculty or any other questions they may have related to school policy and procedure that are not directly related to the instructional content of their course.

Instructor Emeritus, Master Gunsmith Robert "Bob" Dunlap was recognized nationally as the top instructor in his field and was an expert witness in firearms court cases. His unique and personally developed Design, Function, and Repair system is at the core of ATI’s Professional and Consumer courses. Throughout his career, as a state-accredited college gunsmithing instructor, Bob also ran a fully staffed gunsmithing shop performing warranty work for Colt, Smith & Wesson, Charter Arms, Hi-Standard, Remington, Browning, Winchester, and numerous other well-known manufacturers. Bob has been personally responsible for the repair of well over 250,000 guns. At the Accelerated Training Institute we work to carry on Bob's legacy of teaching Design, Function, & Repair, and growing current and future generations of gunsmiths and firearms enthusiasts.

Mr. Elola has more than 36 years’ experience in the electrical trade working as a licensed electrical contractor, college instructor, private consultant, senior electrical project engineer and electrical systems engineer. His passion is teaching the electrical trade. In addition to his electrical degree, Mr. Elola also earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering.

Jack has built, repaired, and modified guns for over 50 years. He is a graduate of 20 consecutive summers at the NRA Summer Gunsmithing Programs at Lassen and Yavapai Colleges. After 30 years in the security industry, he went to work for the American Gunsmithing Institute and ATI where his broad knowledge and logical problem-solving abilities resulted in his becoming the Tech Services Manager and “Go-To” person for student and customer technical questions on the courses, content, and test questions.

Mr. Woolman is an expert in all aspects of locksmithing and is considered the go-to-guy with regards to learning about rare and collectible locks and safes. He has worked in the Locksmithing trade and has owned his own company for more than 30 years.

Mr. Rizzetto has more than 37 years of experience in the welding trade and is a NCCER-credentialed Welding Instructor. Because of his thorough training and experience, he understands exactly what is happening when students are welding and how to explain it to the student in a detailed, yet easy, way to understand. He enjoys teaching and introducing students to the amazing, demanding, yet rewarding world of welding.

Mr. Bush is a Master Armorer and has a long and colorful connection with firearms. John is constantly traveling as a consultant to manufacturers and importers of military firearms, and he is certified as an expert witness in firearms casts.

Mr. Graham is a known authority, author and gunsmith specializing in Glocks and other handguns. An NRA-certified Pistol Instructor, T. R. has worked in all facets of the civilian firearms industry including research and development, public relations, manufacturing, instruction and gunsmithing. His personal training includes instruction and certification from several manufacturers on their weapons.

Mr. Holland is well known as a custom rifle builder, writer and lecturer. He builds some of the tightest shooting rifles in existence. Darrell is always inventing new performance shooting products, and he is constantly pushing the envelope with regards to integrating the latest technology and ideas into his rifle designs to increase accuracy and improve reliability. Darrell has instructed many courses that take advantage of his unique knowledge and expertise. His simple, direct instructional style makes learning any subject easy, and his attention to detail is legendary. His unique “V Block” one-screw bedding system is an excellent example of his thinking and machining skill.

Gene is a former Mr. America (1960), a top International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) shooter, a founding member of the Southwest Pistol League and a former consultant to Colt Firearms. He was also the first sectional coordinator and helped start IPSC in Texas. As a Master Gunsmith specializing in 1911-style IPSC limited and open class guns and high end custom rifles, Gene has contributed a great deal of knowledge and information to American Gunsmithing Institute’s instructional gunsmithing courses. Some of the American Gunsmithing Institute courses he has instructed include: Building the Reliable 1911, Building the Custom Mauser Rifle, Stock Refinishing, Glass Bedding, Professional Metal Finishing, Parkerizing, Rust Bluing and Professional Gun Cleaning: Tricks, Tips and Techniques. He has also provided consulting and insight on many of the School’s other courses.

Mr. Burch is a retired second-generation licensed plumber with more than 52 years’ experience in the plumbing, heating and cooling industry and a business now run by his sons. Gene has also been teaching all aspects of the plumbing trade since 1969; and currently also teaches at a high school. He is certified by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) to teach plumbing and a blended curriculum in construction technology.

A graduate of and former instructor at the renowned gunsmithing program at Lassen College, Ken worked with Bob Dunlap at their shop in Coquille Oregon. When Bob retired from gunsmithing, he turned his entire operation over to Ken because he has developed into such a great design, function, and repair gunsmith. Ken is the host of the Gunsmithing Club of America's monthly troubleshooting segment, "Over the Gunsmith's Shoulder" and has filmed over 180 "Disassembly and Reassembly" courses on various guns.