Andres (Andy) Torres - Plastering, Pre-Apprentice - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Andres (Andy) Torres

started working as a Plastering instructor working with Sacramento Job Corps Center in 2017. Prior to his employment at Job Corps, Andy spent 18 years working as a plasterer and fireproof applicator. He is a third-generation plasterer and second-generation Plastering instructor at Sacramento Job Corps Center. He believes the best part of his job is preparing young individuals for rewarding careers, providing knowledge to trainees and allowing them to explore the industry with the confidence that they built here at Job Corps.

Nathaniel Encalade Jr. - Cement Masonry - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Nathaniel Encalade Jr.

is a Cement Masonry instructor at Sacramento Job Corps Center. Leaving New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Nathaniel didn’t know what was in store for him as a California union cement mason instructor 12 years ago. He fell in love with this industry at a very young age and learned throughout the ups and downs of his career that the most rewarding honor is being able to guide youth toward cement masonry placement. 

Melchor Ferrer - Academics and Life Skills - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Melchor Ferrer

Numeracy instructor, has worked at Sacramento Job Corps Center since 2014. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Melchor completed higher education in his home town and graduated from Chabot College in Hayward in 1984 with an Associate of Arts degree in machine tool with a minor in math. In the fall of 1999, he started his teaching career primarily at the elementary school level in Oakland. As Melchor’s career progressed, he gravitated to older students. His most recent teaching position was teaching science for a middle school in Placerville.

Margrietta Geter - Career Journey - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Margrietta Geter

, CPP specialist at Sacramento Job Corps Center, is passionate about building relationships with students and helping them succeed through time, effort, compassion and understanding. She completed higher education in business administration, customer service, office management and administrative support.

Joseph L. Lee - Academics and Life Skills - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Joseph L. Lee

has taught Driver’s Education at Sacramento Job Corps Center for nearly a decade. He started in residential living as a resident assistant before accepting a position in Academics as the Driver’s Education instructor. In addition to teaching students how to drive, Joseph teaches forklift training for the Heavy Equipment Operator training areas. Joseph enjoys taking time to work with students in developing skills and obtaining their permits and driver’s licenses.

Jonathan Albert - Academics and Life Skills - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Jonathan Albert

serves as a substitute teacher and tutor at Sacramento Job Corps Center. He earned his master’s degree in education at Brown University and master’s degree in English from Indiana University. Jonathan also earned his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Iowa. He greatly enjoys the courtesy and supportiveness of his colleagues and students at Job Corps. His students’ desires to build better lives for themselves and their families drive Jonathan to continue working. 

Michael Lai - Career Journey - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Michael Lai

has served as a career preparation specialist at Sacramento Job Corps Center since December 2015. His roles at Job Corps have varied from substitute instructor to residential advisor, to his current role. Michael graduated from the California State University of Chico with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. He is always excited to see students grow both personally and professionally during their short stay at the center and finds it rewarding to hear how they are doing and the goals they have achieved in their career journey.

Steve Purk - Heavy Construction Equipment Operations, Pre-Apprentice - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Steve Purk

Heavy Construction Equipment Operations instructor, brings 30 years of operation experience to Sacramento Job Corps Center. Throughout his career, Steve worked across California on a variety of projects that taught him how to handle all types of heavy equipment. He most enjoys meeting new students and helping shape their futures. Seeing or hearing from former students about their careers and success is the biggest reward for Steve. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, hiking and biking with his wife, two children and two dogs.

Angel De La Cruz - Heavy Construction Equipment Operations, Pre-Apprentice - Sacramento Job Corps Center

Angel De La Cruz

serves as a Heavy Construction Equipment Operations instructor for the International Union of Operating Engineers at Sacramento Job Corps Center. Angel is a graduate of the Operating Engineers Local 3 Joint Apprenticeship program and has been a heavy equipment operator for over a decade. What he loves most about his job is that every day presents a new challenge. “Working at Job Corps is like nothing else out there in this field, and I feel honored to have this unique opportunity to serve the young generation of students.”