• About NWTI
• About Our Management
• Labor Market Info
• Start/End Dates
• Recent Graduate Updates
• Computer Tools
  • Chief Architect
  • Timberline Precision Estimating
  • MS Project

Robert Earle, the driving force of Northwest Tech, developed the school in the late 1980’s. His goal to provide injured and displaced workers with the training, skills, and confidence to succeed is the same goal today, years later. As a veteran of the construction trades, and as a business owner, Mr. Earle desired to create a training program where students could learn how to develop fast, accurate estimates, and successfully manage projects for profitability and early completion. He, along with the school, continue to fine-tune this process in order to keep the school on the cutting edge of today’s estimating technology and management techniques.

Mr. Earle’s prior company, Robert G. Earle, Inc., provided Northwest-based industries, and the United States government, with marketing, estimating, scheduling, and general management services from 1959 until the 1990’s! His project list included: Nike, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Corp of Engineers, Intel, PepsiCo, and Tektronix, and multiple other projects for the United States government and national corporations. Robert has earned a number of service awards throughout his career including:

• Administrator of the Year
  (Small Business Association, SBA)
• Business Person of the Year
  (Small Business Association, SBA)
• Contractor of the Year
  (Federal Executive Board, FEB)
• Design and Construction Recognition
  (Associate Builders and Contractors, ABC)
• Also selected by the US Government as the contractor for the US Saber Program to develop rapid cost saving construction methods for use by the United States military.

Lyonell Keplar first came to Northwest Tech as a student in 1994, (when it was Vo-Tech Institute.) After spending time as an Estimator and Project Manager working in paving, excavation, residential construction, underground utilities and CAD design, Lonnie came back to the school to teach. He has been with Northwest Tech as an Instructor off and on since 1996. During that time Lonnie has also worked as a freelance consultant to various organizations, providing instruction and counsel on the implementation and use of Timberline software, as well as other scheduling, project management and construction processes.

Since 2003, Mr. Keplar has devoted himself to teaching (instructing the Project Management/Advanced Computer Training segment of NW Tech’s program) and maintaining the operation of the school in order that Robert’s vision may continue successfully into the future. In 2007, Lonnie took over as Director of Northwest Technical Institute and became Robert Earle’s partner in ownership.

Prior to attending Vo-Tech Institute, Lonnie served in the United States Marine Corps for four years. After his Honorable Discharge in 1975, Lonnie returned to school to study industrial processes and went on to work as a machinist manufacturing precision titanium components. On a clear night, Lonnie can be found pointing his telescope to the sky while contemplating the majesty of Ancient Rome and the sublime Brotherhood that is the United States Marine Corps.