Rod Jones’ diverse education and career experience allow him to blend engineering and manufacturing with his application of psychology and counseling to develop an expertise concentrated in adult learning.

Rod’s experience includes over thirty years in industrial and commercial markets for IBM, American Axle, GE Fanuc, DeVlieg Machine Company and the establishment of his own business development, research and training consulting firm, Decision Technology. Rod had held positions as a Machinist, Industrial Engineer, CNC Sales and Applications Engineer, as well as Machine Tool Sales Manager. Rod also has over ten years of experience in the educational and not-for-profit sectors, including managing a private academy, teaching as an adjunct college professor and managing a family counseling center. Since founding Decision Technology in 1992, Rod has worked with over 100 of the world’s premier manufacturing and technology suppliers. He is a consultant, trainer and speaker for the Association of Manufacturing Technology (AMT), the American Machine Tool Distributor’s Association (AMTDA) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). Rod is a co-author of the AMTDA’s Certified Machine Tool Sales Engineer training curriculum, as well as the book Speaking of Success.

Rod holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Oakland University, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Applied Psychology from the California Graduate School of Theology. Rod is also a graduate of General Electric’s Technical Marketing Program.

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Since his first plant tour as a child at the John Deere facility in Waterloo, Iowa, Marlow Knabach has been driven by a passion for manufacturing and its impact on society.

Marlow earned a Manufacturing Technology degree with a concentration in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Wisconsin - Stout in 1988. Upon graduation, Marlow developed comprehensive process solutions in a Rapid Reaction Facility for Texas Instruments’ Defense Division. As a user of Mori Seiki equipment at Texas Instruments, Marlow’s move to the position of Applications Engineer at Mori Seiki was a natural transition. During his tenure at Mori Seiki, Marlow has served in various capacities, including Project Manager, National Applications Manager and Vice President of Marketing. Marlow earned his MBA in Marketing Management from Benedictine University in 2006.

In addition to providing strategic direction and leadership for MSU, Marlow will be responsible for course instruction involving various topics, including Program and Operation Training, Conversational Programming, High Speed Machining and Custom Macro Programming.

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Lionel Maron earned a Masters of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Metalworking Production Equipment and Cutting Tools from Byelorussian Polytechnic Institute located in Minsk, Belarus (former Soviet Republic) in 1973.

From there, he began his career in the Soviet Union as a design engineer, designing a variety of machine tool components ranging from workholding fixtures to complete special machines and transfer lines. Lionel advanced to Design Team Manager before immigrating to the United States in 1988. Once in the U.S., he started with Heller Machine Tools as a Design/Process Engineer, and was later promoted to Chief Engineer. In 1997, Lionel accepted the same position at Mitsubishi Machine Tools where he worked for over 7 years until he began his work at Mori Seiki as the Strategic Accounts Manager in Technical Sales. As an engineering professional (MSME), Lionel is an accomplished professional and has the unique overall comprehension of machine tool design, metal cutting principles, and the ability to apply them to realize optimum productivity and part quality.

Lionel will be responsible for Program and Operation training, Machine Tool Design, Process Engineering, and Engineer Mentoring.
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While other children his age worked at the local restaurant or grocery story, Randy Peacock’s first job during high school was at a job shop.

Randy went on to earn his Manufacturing Technology degree from Rock Valley College in 1982. Since then, Randy has dedicated his career to the pursuit of manufacturing excellence. Motivated by learning, his passion is the application of his diverse experience to the development of optimum manufacturing solutions, and sharing his expertise with others in educational settings. Prior to operating his own consulting company, which provided turnkey engineering to major corporations, Randy acquired skills as a machinist, shop foreperson, Service Engineer, Applications Manager, Turnkey Manager and Product Specialist. Randy also served as an instructor at the Rock Valley College. Randy maintains his Certified Manufacturing Technologist accreditation with SME.

Randy will be responsible for course instruction involving topics ranging from Program and Operating Training to Advanced Custom Macro Programming.
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John Roufis earned dual certificates in Electrical Maintenance and Electronics Maintenance from the Coyne American Institute.

Upon completion of his certificates, John began his career supporting high speed packaging machinery. John’s inherent drive to master complex machine systems and emerging technologies attracted him to the machine tool industry at an early age. He has since served as a Service Engineer, rising to the position of Service Center Team Leader over the years. John’s appreciation and commitment to customer service makes him the ideal candidate to lead the launch of Mori Seiki’s Midwest Call Center, which continues to grow and expand year after year.

John will be responsible for course instruction on topics including Electrical Diagnostics for Fanuc and Mitsubishi controls, as well as various product specific courses.
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Jim Stephens’ fascination with complex mechanical systems drove him to the machine tool industry.

He successfully completed a 4-year apprenticeship with Cincinnati Milacron in England. Jim also received a National Certificate for Mechanical and Production Engineering from Birmingham Polytechnic in England. Jim then began his career in the UK as an Electro-Mechanical Runoff and Test Engineer for Cincinnati Milacron, where he advanced from the production environment into Research and Development. After moving to the U.S., Jim joined Mori Seiki in 1991 as a Service Engineer and has since been promoted to Service Team Leader at the Corporate Headquarters. He has been instrumental in developing service procedures and course curriculum.

Jim’s responsibilities include instruction in Electrical Diagnostics for Fanuc and Mitsubishi Controls, Installation and Adjustment, as well as various product specific courses.
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Jeff Snow, at the young age of 19, was already full of ambition and an affinity for manufacturing, was managing the electronics assembly perations at Power Conversion Products in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

After advancing into the Research and Development Center, Jeff pursued his interest in metal cutting by joining the local Mori Seiki distributor as a Service Engineer. From there, he was promoted to Regional Service Manager, and later transferred to the Application Engineering Department before joining Mori Seiki as the Applications Team Leader. In every capacity, Jeff has realized success by imparting his knowledge and expertise to others so that they also strive for excellence and achieve success. Jeff earned an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Electronics Engineering from McHenry County College, as well as a Machining Certificate from the College of Lake County.

Jeff will be responsible for course nstruction on topics involving Programming and Operation Training and Advanced Mori-APL and Mori-APM programming.
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