Tormach, a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of CNC machinery and automation tools, in partnership with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), is proud to announce Joe Leonhard, a Technical Education instructor at Sheboygan Central High School, as the recipient of its 2025 Tormach Instructor of the Year Award. The honor was presented at this year’s NC3’s National Leadership Conference, July 21–23 at Gateway Technical College.
Leonhard has spent the last 15 years teaching CNC programming and hands-on manufacturing skills to at-risk students in a high-poverty district—empowering them with career-ready certifications and opening doors to local industry jobs in one of the country’s most manufacturing-dense regions.
“I absolutely love working with students who’ve faced challenges,” said Leonhard. “Our goal is to give them an upward hand and prepare them for a future they may have never thought was possible.”
Through NC3 and Tormach, Leonhard teaches CNC Fundamentals Certification, using Tormach’s compact, classroom-ready xsTECH routers. The program emphasizes safety standards, CNC setup, conversational programming with PathPilot (Tormach’s free and open-source control software), and hands-on machining. Students graduate with stackable certifications recognized by employers and unions, credentials that can’t be taken away, even in difficult life circumstances.
“There’s a real pull for CNC machinists in our region,” Leonhard noted. “With this training, my students aren’t just getting jobs – they’re setting themselves up for careers. Some of my former students are now CNC programmers at top companies in Wisconsin.”
Despite limited resources (his classroom operates out of a repurposed 1922 building), Leonhard’s program has grown exponentially. Sheboygan Central certified over 380 students this year alone, up from just 13 in the program’s first year.
“Joe exemplifies what this award is all about,” said Domenic Giunta, Education Advisor at Tormach. “He’s not just teaching machining, he’s transforming lives. His passion, mentorship, and commitment to building America’s next generation of manufacturers is truly inspiring.”
Leonhard is also a Master Instructor with NC3, collaborating closely on curriculum development and mentoring other educators across the region. He plans to expand his program to include CNC lathe training, further bridging the region’s advanced manufacturing skills gap.
“This curriculum wasn’t created by educators or marketers, it was created by industry professionals,” Leonhard said. “So it’s exactly what employers need. And that’s why it works.”
Tormach and NC3’s partnership continues to grow, offering industry-backed certifications that prepare students for high-demand careers and support American manufacturing.
About Tormach
Tormach, based in Madison, WI, designs and manufactures CNC machines and automation tools
that are capable, affordable, and easy-to-use. Their mission is to make machining more
accessible by supporting educators, entrepreneurs, and small manufacturers with compact,
powerful tools and industry-ready curriculum. Learn more at Tormach.com
About NC3
The National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) is a network of education providers and
industry partners working together to train the next generation of skilled workers. Their mission
is to support CTE programs with certifications, tools, and resources that prepare students for
careers in advanced manufacturing and beyond. Learn more at NC3.net
