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Yavapai College > Academics > Areas of Study > Academic Departments > Residential Building Technology > Faculty & Staff

Faculty and Staff

The RBT program has three full-time faculty members and several adjunct faculty with particular building-technology expertise in the local community.

Tony Grahame

Tony joined Yavapai College in 1996 as the RBT Program Director. In this capacity, Tony has developed a curriculum that emphasizes green and sustainable construction, and applied building-science principles incorporated into mainstream construction practices. Additional biographical information can be summarized as follows:

Tony is extremely well networked with the regional and national building science and green building community, and through these contacts brings information and opportunities to share with YC students
Tony's qualifications include: Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) certified Master Builder; National Trainer for the EEBA’s Houses That Work workshops; Environments For Living Diamond Certified builder; Arizona-licensed general contractor for building select green custom homes and consulting; and 30 years general contractor and construction experience in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

Tony's teaching philosophy: "stay current with cutting-edge building technologies"; “never stop learning”, “always prepare yourself for opportunities”, and “what about the concept of making money and doing the right thing”

David Solomon

David comes to Yavapai College with more than thirty years in the construction industry, primarily residential. A carpenter by trade—as well as skilled in many other trades—and a licensed Arizona General Contractor since 1985, he has spent his career delving into every aspect of contracting—from office management, to architectural design and drafting, to being a working supervisor on construction projects. Whether at the job site or in the class room, he hopes to be a contributor to an already dynamic, residential construction program.

Keith Mion

Working in close coordination with Tony Grahame, Keith supervises students and day-to-day construction activities associated with the student-built "college houses". Keith draws on 20 years of experience in remodeling and home construction in Maine and Arizona.

Keith was responsible for remodeling the historic landmark "La Posada Hotel" in Winslow and the Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado, Arizona. Keith also teaches ART 106DD "Traditional Southwestern Furniture Making" at the Chino Valley campus wood shop.

Adjunct Faculty

Ben Mancini - Ben co-instructs RBT 231 (Solar and Renewable Energy). Ben is the owner of EV Solar Products in Chino Valley.
Patti Olsen - Patti co-instructs the Solar and Renewable Energy course. She is a registered Architect and a LEED-accredited professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree, a Master of Science in Building Design, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning. Patti is also an instructor at the ECOSA Institute in Prescott.
Ron Taylor - Ron is the instructor for RBT 241 (Energy Efficient Building and Design). Ron performs home testing and analysis services in Prescott.
Neil Christensen instructs RBT 114 and 126 (AutoCAD I/II).

Staff

Richard Peterson - Rich provides technical and administrative support in RBT program planning and development. Rich has received a Yavapai College AAS degree in Residential Building Technology, a certificate in Construction Management, and has a B.S. in Geology from Arizona State University.