A Brief History of CTMAA

Forty years ago the rapidly expanding Bay Area spawned a number of highly technical machine shops north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Started by entrepreneurs and former machinists from Silicon Valley - they sought more reasonable costs of living for their employees. The Novato to Santa Rosa area simply exploded with small, specialist precision shops. They served the burgeoning North Bay technology companies building high-tech communications, semiconductor, medical, optical and aerospace components. Soon however, they realized the intensive training necessary to grow their machinists, CNC, setup and tool-makers simply didn't exist.

Working with Dan Sunia - a former Mare Island machine shop professional and a remarkable man who dedicated himself to making hundreds of his high school students aware of this wonderful trade - four owners got together and formed the California Tooling & Machining Apprenticeship Association. Starting from Mr. Sunia's Petaluma High machine shop class - the group offered classes at night and the rest as they say, is history.

Today - Throughout California

Today CTMAA has active apprentices located throughout 21 California counties. The program is supported through employer-paid apprentice fees and we partner with California Community Colleges - 20 currently - whose machinist certificate programs CTMAA has reviewed and certified.

CTMAA Recruiting the Next Generation