From Hardship to High-Tech: Alec Tomasula’s Journey to Lincoln Tech and Beyond

Alec Tomasula aspired to join the military right after high school. That was the plan until leg surgery derailed it completely. Unable to enlist, Alec was in a tight spot, not sure about his future or what to do next. To earn money while he figured things out, he took a job at a bagging plant. Working on topsoil packaging, Alec learned how automation played a critical role. Automation and machine work sparked an interest he didn’t know he had. Could he find work in automation technology? He wasn’t sure. But life took another turn in 2020, when his father passed away. The loss was a wake-up call.

“That was my come-to-Jesus moment,” Alec said. “I realized I needed to do something bigger with my life. I needed to get somewhere.”

Finding the Right Fit at Lincoln Tech

Alec never felt like traditional schooling was the right path for him. He struggled in high school and knew that a four-year college wasn’t in the cards. But he still wanted a career that would challenge and engage him.

So, he turned to the internet, searching for hands-on training programs that had to do with automation and robotics. That’s when he found the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) program at Lincoln Tech. At its Mahwah, New Jersey campus, he saw all the equipment, robotics, and machinery used to teach students and made his decision from there.

“I saw the machines, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I could definitely get behind this.’ It was like the program crossed over with my real life,” Alec said.

Training for a Future in CNC Machining and Manufacturing

The Lincoln Tech CNC program turned out to be exactly what Alec was looking for - a program that wasn’t just about learning the basics. Instead, it offered real-world applications at every turn. Alec said he worked alongside his CNC classmates, but also other students from welding and electrical programs, collaborating on projects just like what would happen in an actual manufacturing setting.

“The biggest draw to Lincoln Tech was that everything was right there,” Alec explained. “It wasn’t like some schools where your program is in one building, and everything else is somewhere else. It felt like a real shop, where all the different trades worked together.”

One of his favorite parts of the program was the robotics section. His experience working at the bagging plant had already created an interest in automation, but Lincoln Tech took it to another level.

“When we got to the robotics section, I knew I made the right decision,” Alec said. “We worked with universal collaborative arms, and that hands-on experience actually got me my first job.”

Launching a Career in CNC Manufacturing

Alec and his classmates had been given a project to program robotic arms to pass a golf ball back and forth using sensor inputs. But they took it a step further, figuring out how to make the arms communicate with each other in real-time. Lincoln Tech posted a video of their work on Instagram, and that’s when Alec got his first big break.

“ saw the video and reached out to me,” he said. “They took a gamble on me, and I was super grateful.”

That opportunity led to a two-year stint as an applications engineer, where he worked on industrial robotics and automation. Eventually, he moved on to ThorLabs, a company specializing in lasers and optoelectronics, at their shop in his hometown of Newton, New Jersey.

Giving Back at Lincoln Tech

Despite his busy career, Alec hasn’t forgotten where he started. He’s had a handful of opportunities to return to Lincoln Tech and talk to new CNC students about their future in the field. He even helped recruit new hires for Allendale Machinery, showing students that working in CNC machining isn’t just about cutting parts—it’s about designing, programming, and maintaining the machines that build the future.

“Going back and talking to students, answering their questions, helping them troubleshoot—it’s a really cool feeling,” Alec said.

Words of Advice for Future CNC Machinists

Alec doesn’t claim to have everything figured out, but he knows that taking action is the key to success.

“You have to work at it every day,” said Alec. “You can’t expect to come out of school and be an expert. Lincoln Tech gives you the foundation, but it’s up to you to build on it.”

For anyone considering Lincoln Tech, Alec’s advice is simple: make the most of it.

“You can just do the bare minimum and get your certificate, or you can spend a little extra time, take on an extra project, and really learn something,” said Alec. “Find what interests you and go all in.”

Lincoln Tech offers hands-on, comprehensive CNC Machining and Manufacturing training that provides real-world experiences in automation, industry standard Haas Automation, CNC milling and turning, and advanced machining. Fill out the form for more information.