Ron Ballard, Instructor
Ron Ballard graduated from Tennessee Technological University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He accepted employment with the Department of Water Services, Metro Government of Nashville, TN, as a Civil Engineer-in-Training. His work assignments have included responsibility for the operation and maintenance of sewage pumping stations and storm water regulators on combined sewer systems as well as treatment plants. Ron has Grade IV certification by the State of Tennessee in both water and wastewater treatment plant operation and currently serves as the Plant Superintendent of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Nashville, a 330 million gallon per day facility designed to treat a combination of wastewater and stormwater. He has paralleled his Metro experience by subcontracting with the Corps of Engineers for the operation of water and wastewater treatment facilities on the Percy Priest and Center Hill Reservoirs. He is a member of the Water Environment Federation and the Kentucky/Tennessee Water Environment Association.
Ron became a member of the adjunct faculty of Nashville Tech in 1979, teaching classes in civil and environmental engineering technology. His hobbies include golf, woodworking, and model railroading.
Mike Cobb, Instructor
Michael Cobb (Mike), a Building Science graduate of Auburn University, has worked in construction doing estimating and project management for 27 years. He has been a member of the faculty at Nashville State Community College for 22 years, teaching construction estimating and project management at night. Prior to attending Auburn University, Mike spent 3-years in the U.S. Army and attended Nashville State Technical Institute for 2-years, where he received an associate degree in Architectural Engineering and Building Technology. Mike worked with Buchanan Construction Company for 11-years at vice-president of contracts and estimating, building hospitals, office buildings, schools and various government facilities. He currently works with Solomon Builders, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee as chief estimator and senior project manager. In the 8-years Mike has worked with Solomon he has built churches, office buildings, health care projects and he is the project manager on all the work that's being done at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.
Mike is a deacon at Springfield Baptist Church and he enjoys spending time with his family, travelingÊand playing golf. He has served on various committees to include the Architectural Advisory Committee at Nashville Tech. and the Awards of Excellence Committee for the local chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Paul Litchy, PE, Associate Professor, 615-353-3447
Paul Litchy, a Structural Engineering graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - 1973, is a registered Professional Engineer in Tennessee and Ohio and a licensed Tennessee General Contractor. He has been a member of the College’s Faculty since 1998.
Paul served in various capacities on international building projects for Turner International including the Gateway in Singapore (IM Pei Architect), the Central Bank of Trinidad and the World Trade Center in Columbo, Sri Lanka. Other building construction projects include construction management roles in a one million square feet warehouse, office and retail center in Cincinnati and three start-to-finish buildings; a 6 and 30 story office building and a 17 story apartment building in downtown Cincinnati. He served as a project engineer on the new Nashville Airport and then procurement and contracts manager for the Turner Construction Company Nashville office. Other United States commercial projects include a nuclear power plant, oil & cryogenic storage tanks for Chicago Bridge and Iron. Residential construction experience includes the design, completion of working drawings and Contractor for his residence.
Paul’s hobbies include furniture construction, cooking and auto repair work. Paul teaches classes in civil and construction engineering technology.
