Meet Our Staff
Tracy Rascoe
Director Wind Energy Technology
Prior to joining the wind industry, Tracy served 10-years in the US Navy as a Surface Sonar Technician. While in the Navy, he successfully completed many courses including: Technical Mathematics, Digital Electronics Training, and Naval Instructor Training. As a Navy Instructor, he specialized in the training of others on the maintenance and repair of a modern sonar system. After completing a short tour as an Avionics Technician for an airline, he decided to apply his technical knowledge and experience to the wind industry and is now serving nearly 9-years in the wind industry. Tracy is well-respected by his peers and brings with him a rare blend of adult learning, program design, and instruction - all combined with hands-on wind turbine expertise. His previous wind experiences include: Director Wind Energy Technology, Mesalands Community College. During his tenure in New Mexico, he periodically served as a Guest Speaker for various State gubernatorial and economic renewable energy conferences. Mitsubishi Power Systems where he assisted the Wind Turbine Operations & Maintenance Department. Wind Farm/Site Manager for 17-wind farms of various Vestas and NEG Micon Wind Turbine models - offices in Palm Springs & Tehachapi, CA. Sr. Technical Trainer with Vestas Americas responsible for development and delivery of technical training and field certifications of wind technicians on various models.
Since joining the wind industry Tracy continues to demonstrate his dedication and passion towards proper education of wind technicians in hopes of their opportunity of entering an exciting and often well-paying career. He serves or participates on various committees within the American Wind Energy Association including; Education Work Group Team Leader of Sub Group Community Colleges and Technical Schools, Safety Committee and the Human Resource Committee. In addition; he is a member of the American Society for Training & Development and proudly supports his community and country as an American Legion, Elks, and National Guard member.
Michael Merrick
Manager Wind Energy Technology
For over 20-years Mike has gained extensive knowledge and skills in various areas of wind power. His past employers include; Zond Systems and Vestas, USA. In addition, Michael has experience working in High Voltage and Research & Development. His work has included many different construction projects throughout the United States and Canada he has traveled to Denmark, Holland and Belgium. His past turbine experience includes working on several different types of turbine manufactures and models.
Michael is a member of the AWEA Education Working Group Sub-group of Community Colleges and Technical Schools. Throughout Michael’s career he has demonstrated his dedication and passion towards the wind turbines and training his technicians to perform both efficiently and proficiently.
C.J. Leffler
Hydraulics Instructor
C.J. has 12 years of experience in heavy equipment construction and the logging industry. A majority of his time in these industries has been spent as a mechanic, heavy equipment operator, and site manager. He has many hours of hands on experience with hydraulic systems as well as mechanical equipment. C.J. has managed many crews with tasks ranging from entry level projects to projects worth over 1.5 million dollars.
C.J. believes in hard work and determination. Along with these traits, and his hands-on experience hydraulics, he knows that he will be able to pass his knowledge to students.
David Morrill
Mechanical Instructor
Prior to becoming an instructor, the majority of David’s career was in the high-technology industry as an electronic, electrical and mechanical equipment maintenance technician.
David’s career started in 1973 with the U.S. Navy where he became an Aviation Electronic Technician where he was responsible for maintaining communication, navigation and electronic countermeasure systems on the A-6 Intruder jet aircraft.
In 1978 he was hired as in Electronic Maintenance Technician by Union Carbide Corporation (UCC). His responsibilities included maintaining the crystal growth stations where he was able to hone his electronic and mechanical skill set.
David made the career move in 1991 to Camas, WA where we went to work for Heraeus Shin-Etsu America (HSA) manufacturing high purity quartz glass crucibles for the semi-conductor industry. In the new position he put to use is wide skill set maintaining everything from chemical distribution pumps, to proprietary mechanical drive systems. In 1995, David became a Maintenance & Facilities Supervisor. In 1997, he became the company’s Facilities Administrator.
In August of 2009, he joined the teaching team at Northwest Renewable Energy Institute as one of its Mechanical Instructors. David is very proud to be part of the future in this opportunity to help train the maintenance technicians of the future.
James Pekarek
Electrical Instructor
James began his career in electronics in 1994 after receiving his A.A.S. in Electronic Engineering from I.T.T. He worked for 13 years at Asyst Technologies, the leading supplier of Semiconductor automation equipment. The first 3 years he spent as a field service technician, the next 5 years as the regional Service Supervisor and lead service technician and the last 5 years as the Regional Service Manager and lead technical trainer. He developed and assembled the North American training center for employees and customers and served as lead technical trainer on all equipment. The past 2 years James spent at Cummins Northwest as the field service manager for the industrial power generation team. There, James gained knowledge of the industrial power generation industry and large scale generators in general.
James came here to NW-REI in August of 2009 as an Electrical instructor.
Jason Bodily
Introduction to Wind Instructor
After spending 17 years in commercial and residential construction, Jason decided to change industries and instruct here at Northwest Renewable Institute. Jason is the Unit one, “Introduction to Wind” instructor. During his time in the Construction industry, he worked for some of the largest homebuilders in the United States. While working with those companies he served as Construction Manger, Project Manager, and Division Construction Manager. He is extensively trained in Safety and Environmental Regulations. While working as Division Construction Manager, he also did corporate training, throughout Oregon, Washington, California, and Texas. He managed construction projects from one to 150+ units at any given time. He graduated from Concordia University in Portland with a Bachelors of Science in Business Management and a Minor in Leadership and Communication.
On top of it all, for the last nine years he and his wife also own a Professional Photography Business.
Jeff Engle
Hydraulic Instructor
Jeff moved to the Portland metro area in August of 1999 with a hydraulics degree in-hand and a job working for a well-known hydraulics manufacturer. Several years later Jeff brings the Wind Energy Program 10-years of hydraulic related experience that includes; research and development, engineering, heavy equipment and fabrication maintenance. Three of those past years Jeff also applied his hydraulic knowledge working with Vestas American Wind Technology as Senior Tool and Equipment Specialist, where he was involved with projects, service sites, and developing service programs for hydraulic and mechanical tools.
John Rhoderick
Electrical/Electronics Instructor
Prior to teaching in the wind industry John received a BS degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. He worked as an Engineer with Boeing for the CFM-56 engine. He also worked as a Flight Controls Engineer on the 757 and 767 Flight Management System. Next John accepted a position with Northrop as a Sr. Reliability Engineer for the Cruise Missile Flight Management System.
After working as an Engineer for 7-years, John then turned his sights to teaching and received a MA degree in Pastoral Studies from Multnomah University. John taught life skills to young people in Juvenile Detention for 6-years. He then began teaching Computer Electronics in the High Schools for 5-years, and Programmable Logic Controllers and Micro electronics for two years at Mt. Hood Community College. John then was asked to teach at ITT-Technical Institute teaching general education, electronic devices, AC, DC, microprocessors, process controls, basic computer and networking, and Strategies for the Technical Professional.
Since coming to the Northwest Renewable Energy Institute John has shown the same dedication and concern for his students learning as he did for 7-years teaching Electrical/Electronics to the High Schools, College and Technical School
Henry (Rick) Garcia
Metal Science Instructor
Rick is a certified Manufacturing Engineer with over twenty years of experience in product design and development in the plastics and Medical device industry.
Academic credentials include; Bachelor of Science Degree in Operations Management which includes extensive management and mentoring skills, Certified Manufacturing Engineer through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, he graduated from Arizona Automotive and Drafting Institute in Mechanical Drafting & Design. Some of his past positions held are; Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Owner of a Tool & Die company and Manufacturing supervisor of a Blood Gas measuring device, responsible for tooling and product design. Other achievements have been receiving a patent, patent number 5,005,568 for a filtered resuscitation valve.
Terry Mantia
Electrical Instructor 
Terry has a unique background with both electrical and mechanical skills at the forefront. He comes to NW-REI with genuine enthusiasm and the belief that hard work and dedication are the key ingredients to achieving one’s goals. He has over 13 years of on-the-job training, and vendor certifications in the semiconductor industry. Repairing and maintaining a wide range of industrial plant equipment by applying sound working knowledge of modern control systems and services including; high vacuum, high voltage, gas, pneumatics, electronics, PLC and computer control systems, parts management, database, presentations, engineering design & improvement, water distribution and filtration.
His employment experience includes: Fujitsu Micro Electronics as an Equipment Maintenance Technician, DNS Electronics as a Field Service, Sumitomo Electric Semiconductor Materials, Inc., as a Facilities Maintenance Technician and Ushio America as a Field Service Engineer, Inc. He graduated with a Bachelors degree from ITT Technical Institute in electronics and manufacturing.
In addition, Terry has worked abroad and has extensive working experience with Japanese and German companies. He served as a board member of a Japanese study school in Japan where his daily interaction with business professionals and students provided the essentials for instructor training and learning Japanese as a second language.
Troy Luttrell
Introduction to Wind Instructor
Troy has 27 years of experience in the construction industry, 20 as a carpenter, and the most recent 7years he has spent as an Environment Health and Safety Manager working for general and sub contractors on large commercial, industrial and residential projects. Risk Management experience includes work with Intel and Microsoft as well as various public works projects in the Northwest. Troy is certified to teach the OSHA 10 and 30, and his passion for safety, project experience, and technical knowledge of the industry are a valuable asset to the program.
Joel Gentleman
Mechanical Instructor 
Joel left his hometown of North Pole, Alaska looking for a place to thaw. He settled in Phoenix, Arizona where he completed a Bachelors degree in Electronics Engineering. He immediately went to work in the semiconductor industry, staying with the same company for 14 years while living in Phoenix, Austin, Texas, and Vancouver, Washington.
In late 2007, he started a fitness business with his wife, Tawnya. Joel completed his Masters in Business Administration while growing the business. Once the business was matured, he decided to follow his passion for sustainable energy, joining NW Renewable Energy Institute in 2009.
Joel has a restless, inquisitive mind, so he takes everything apart to see how it works. He often manages to get it put back together…
David J. Hastings
Instructor Metal Science and Rigging
David has been the Director of Engineering for two aerospace companies with a total work history spanning more than 30 years. He also worked as a journeyman machinist during employment at a steel mill and a glass factory.
His experience includes: Honor Graduate Basic Electronics - U.S. Air Force • Inertial Navigation System & Doppler Rader - U.S. Air Force • Aircraft Weapons Control - Air National Guards • Airborne Electronic Countermeasure - Air National Guards • Crane Inspection and rigging • Non-destructive Inspection • Certification for Aerospace TIG welding • AutoCAD, SolidWorks • Aerospace Inspector • Mechanical Engineering • Machine Technology • Hydraulic Components and Systems • Business Management.
With his diverse training and background he is a welcome addition to our program.
