Meet the Team

OUR INSTRUCTORS TRULY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

SLI’s instructors hold the most respected certifications in the networking industry. To enable our instructors to be true experts in their field, we have developed an instructor specialization program. Each instructor is assigned as the resident expert for a specific technology area and is responsible for enhancing the existing curriculum to best fit the needs of our customers. By having such focus, our instructors excel in training delivery and development.

Cisco technical instructor

Russell Hughes

Cisco & Arista instructor

Best Concert I’ve Been To:
Prince & Pink Floyd

Favorite Place I’ve Been:
Galway, Ireland

Favorite Sports Team:
Nebraska Huskers


“Russell is a great instructor. He involved the class throughout the course and never hesitated to provide deeper explanations whenever there were questions. He also did a great job showing feeling and excitement rather than just dictating a course from a script.”  – Brett, Systems Engineer


Cisco contact center instructor

Mike Keutzer

Cisco instructoR

Hobbies Outside of Work:
Working on cars, keeping bees, tractor-time

Favorite Movie of All Time:
Blazing Saddles

Best Concert I’ve Been To:
Grateful Dead
Rainbow Theater, London, 1981


Mike is the best instructor I have had to this day. He really broke the material down so you could get the whole picture.  I appreciate the opportunity to come and learn and I am for sure this will help launch my career.” – Nicholas, Network Operations


Cisco technical instructor

Andrew Stibbards

Cisco & Arista instructoR

If I Won the Lottery, I Would:
Go back to work on Monday, it takes time to setup trusts and accounts, can’t stop working right away.

Favorite Concert:
TYR

Favorite Movie:
Blazing Saddles or
Monty Python and the Holy Grail


“Andrew is one of the best instructors I’ve ever had. His knowledge of the course was great; he explained every little thing in detail without skipping making sure that we understand the concept of everything instead of just completing the course. Thanks Andrew!” – Sharjeel, Field Engineer


Cisco contact center instructor

Mark Wilson

Cisco instructoR

Biggest Accomplishment:
The fact that I have such a great family and great friends speaks more for me than anything else
 
Favorite Movies:
The Philadelphia Story
 
Favorite Place:
The top of the Tooth of Time watching the
sunrise with my kids
 

“Mark is very knowledgeable and engaging with the way he runs the class. Amazing work as always!!!”  – Ian, Systems Engineer


Bruce Wilkinson

Cisco instructoR

Favorite Place I’ve Been:
Tae Kwon Do-I’m a third-degree black belt
Australia

Favorite Part About Working for SLI:
Workmates

If I Won the Lottery Tomorrow, I Would:
Go home first class


The instructor, Bruce, was wonderful and extremely helpful. The class was MUCH more than I thought it would be. Great course, fantastic instructor, and I loved the way the labs were written in a human aspect. ”   – Christine, Systems Engineer


Cisco technical instructor

John Gardner

Cisco instructoR

Hobbies Outside of Work:
Playing keyboard and guitar/Hiking and camping with my son

Favorite Sport:
Swimming

Biggest Accomplishment:
Becoming a father


Very knowledgeable and understood the product very well. Could answer questions and understood a lot of the other technology around the products.” -Brian, Systems Engineer


Cisco wireless technical instructor

Dennis Nofsinger

Cisco & CWNP instructoR

Favorite Place He’s Been:
Disney Vero Beach Resort in Vero Beach Florida

Hobbies Outside of Work:
Mountain bike trail riding and Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Favorite Movie:
Caddyshack


“Dennis did a good job of using his experience to show how the principles he was teaching could be used in the real world. He took his time and explained the concepts behind how the wireless environment works and how the Cisco products work to help manage that wireless network.” – Paul

Vick Tagawa Instructor Bio

Vick Tagawa

AWS instructoR

Favorite Place to Visit:
Kauai, HI and Yellowstone National Park

Hobbies Outside of Work:
Working on cars, showing cars at shows, racing cars

Favorite Movie:
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly


“Vick is an outstanding instructor. He explained everyone’s questions so even the most novice person could understand.” – Denise

Cisco collaboration technical instructor

John Meersma

Cisco instructoR

Favorite Sports Team:
Dallas Cowboys

Hobby Outside of Work:
Chess

Favorite Movie:
Top Gun


“John is probably the best instructor I have seen over my 20 years in IT training. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about his job. Two thumbs up!!!!” Tad, Systems Admin

David Santana Headshot

David Santana

AWS & Microsoft instructoR

Hobby Outside of Work:
Cycling and running marathons

Favorite Places:
Milan, Italy


“David was great! He really knew the material and presented it well. He was very interactive and engaging to everyone!”
Andrew, Security Engineer