Instructor
Carpentry
413-863-9561, ext. 257
mnobrega@fcts.us
Mike has been a carpentry instructor at FCTS since 2012. He is licensed in Massachusetts as a construction supervisor, and as a professional vocational technical teacher.
Prior to joining the FCTS vocational faculty, Mike developed a passion for teaching his trade to others while contributing to community service projects as construction manager for Habitat for Humanity of North Central Massachusetts from 2007 to 2011.
His unique blend of over 40 years of engineering, project management, and construction experience, coupled with a passion to usher students to successful achievements, lends itself well to delivering an exciting, modern learning environment where students thrive.
At FCTS, Mike has developed a standardized carpentry curriculum that integrates software applications and emphasizes classroom management and shop administration to deliver high quality technical instruction in all aspects of the carpentry trade.
Mike’s motto is, "Play it safe, play it smart, play it with love and kindness."
Mike is one of the original carpentry graduates (1976) from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School in Fitchburg, MA, or “Monty Tech”. Following high school, he worked at several manufacturing companies in Gardner, MA, which is known as The Chair City of the World and the Furniture Capital of New England.
After graduating in 1980 from Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA, he continued his education at the University of Lowell, and continues to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Occupational/Vocational Education at Fitchburg State University. Mike completed training in Sheltered English Immersion in 2020.
Mike spent 20 years in the high-tech industry as a manufacturing engineer designing electronic test systems and bar code tracking systems used worldwide. He was an engineer for Wang Laboratories in Lowell, MA for 14 years, and subsequently worked as a national consultant for Computer Sciences Corporation in Massachusetts for five years.
Following a major downturn in the computer manufacturing industry, Mike re-entered the construction industry as a carpenter in 2000, building residential and light-commercial projects while also managing his own small business.
Mike is married with two daughters and enjoys family, woodworking, gardening, cooking, and the great outdoors.
Instructor
Carpentry
413-863-9561, ext. 257
kvautrin@fcts.us
One of the carpentry instructors, Ken focuses on large scale construction. In particular, Ken leads students through an actual house building project - from beginning to end.
Instructor
Carpentry
413-863-9561, ext. 257
jlivingstone@fcts.us
Johan is a 2003 graduate of Franklin County Tech School. After graduating from the carpentry shop, Johan worked for local builders as well as worked in a lumberyard before moving into the commercial construction field. For 7 years, Johan traveled the northeast working in the commercial building sector gaining experience in large-scale construction projects. In 2010, Johan formed his own construction company based out of Franklin County focusing on residential carpentry. Many of these homes have provided an opportunity to experience old craftsmanship techniques while meeting the specific needs of the homeowners. Over the course of this time, Johan completed many projects such as new home construction, renovations, additions, and remodeling of bathrooms and kitchens. In 2005, Johan obtained an Unrestricted Constructions Supervisors License and a Home Improvement Contractors License. Johan and his wife have been married since 2005. They have four daughters and two sons.
