Meet Our Faculty

Nigel Allen
Assistant Professor-Machining
Email: nallen4@cocc.edu

Nigel brings industry expertise, operations leadership and a passion for workforce training to his work at COCC. Prior to joining the faculty, Nigel served as the academic lab specialist for Manufacturing at COCC, supporting students in welding, machining and CNC operations. Earlier in his career, he led large teams in retail operations, specializing in workforce training, process development and aligning staff toward shared goals. Those experiences shaped his ability to facilitate learning, build strong teams and create systems that drive success. Today, he brings that same focus to the classroom and lab — helping students grow technical skills, professionalism and confidence as they prepare for careers in manufacturing and beyond. Outside of COCC, Nigel is a lifelong maker and car enthusiast, often working on his DeLorean or exploring new projects in his home shop. 

Rosie Day
Assistant Professor-Welding
Email: rday3@cocc.edu

Originally from the United Kingdom, Rosie brings more than a decade of teaching experience from classrooms in the U.K., Japan and across the U.S. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Arts London and a Master of Arts from Falmouth University and has completed multiple welding training programs with the Ohio-based Lincoln Electric. Before joining COCC, Rosie taught welding at Spray High School in Oregon, where she especially enjoyed working with first-time welders, helping build both technical skills and problem-solving confidence through a strong foundation in theory and practice. Outside the shop, Rosie enjoys photography, traveling, camping and paddleboarding — and as an animal lover, she’s always happy to hear about your pets. 

Gabriel Franco
Assistant Professor-Machining
Email: gfranco3@cocc.edu

Gabriel has a background rooted in both military service and industry experience. He spent eight years stationed around the world with the U.S. Air Force, specializing in machining, welding and fabrication for aircraft and support equipment. Afterward, Gabriel worked in engineering firms, small production shops and job shops in Florida and Central Oregon, gaining a wide range of practical experience in machining and fabrication. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and real-world experience with students while helping them develop the skills needed to thrive in modern manufacturing. Since moving to Oregon, he has embraced the outdoors, spending his free time hiking, climbing, off-roading and exploring the forests and mountains. 

Brian Keechle
Assistant Professor-Welding
Email: bkeechle@cocc.edu

Brian has been in the welding and manufacturing industry since 2004. His career started in the fabrication of aftermarket off-road vehicle accessories and then shifted into commercial building maintenance, construction, renewable energy, welding supply sales and process engineering. Brian holds an associate degree in welding technology and an Associate of General Studies from Clackamas Community College and a certificate of completion in adult learning and instructional design from South Seattle College. Brian previously worked for Clackamas Community College, Chemeketa Community College and the Clackamas Education Service District covering career technical education fields, course and curriculum development and program building. In his free time, you can find Brian out on the river fishing, in the mountains hunting or somewhere outside playing around.

Boone Tompkins
Adjunct Instructor
Email: btompkins@cocc.edu

Boone has two decades of experience in welding and machining. Originally from California’s North Bay, he has spent the past 20 years in Oregon working across a wide range of industries. Boone specializes in TIG welding and manual machining, with much of his career rooted in the bicycle industry, where precision craftsmanship and material innovation are key. His experience extends from bicycles to airplanes and from steel to carbon fiber, giving him a broad perspective on materials, processes and applications. At COCC, Boone enjoys sharing this diverse background with students and helping them acquire the hands-on skills needed to succeed in modern manufacturing.