Les Breeding
Training & Development Leader · Cell Manufacturing · Instructional Design · Continuous Improvement
About
I help new associates become confident, productive team members fast. As a Training Coordinator in Tesla's cell manufacturing operation, I've onboarded more than 950 associates and trained hundreds of line workers, partnering with subject matter experts to design curriculum that sticks on the shop floor.
My path here is a little unusual, and it's my edge: 11 years at Virginia College as an instructor and then program director, years running a Texas House office as legislative director, decades as a legislative researcher, and five years teaching technology and robotics to middle schoolers.
What drives me is continuous improvement, for my trainees, my training programs, and myself.
Experience
Training Coordinator — Tesla (Cell Manufacturing)
- Onboarded 950+ associates and trained hundreds of line workers to perform safely and efficiently.
- Updated the PAL (workstation trainer) Train-the-Trainer program to align with lean manufacturing training principles and redesigned the practical exam process; teach PAL classes and proctor practical exams.
- Instructor for battery safety and thermal event response, White Belt (Six Sigma, Lean, 5S), and in-shop training classes.
- Led an update of all 45 Level 2 certification exams for all Cell shops.
Teacher, Career Exploration, Robotics & Technology — Del Valle Middle School
- Initiated, developed and implemented the district-wide curriculum for the Exploring Careers course.
- Developed and taught Technology Applications courses built around robotics, coding and project-based learning.
Program Director, Business, General Education & NetTech — Virginia College
- Launched the NetTech program, earned initial accreditation, and doubled enrollment every quarter of its first year.
- Led a 2014 ACICS reaccreditation audit with zero citations; 60–80% graduate job placement.
- Supervised 16 instructors across Business, General Education and NetTech.
Adjunct Instructor — Virginia College
- Taught business, psychology and Microsoft Office courses.
Owner & Legislative Research Consultant — Capitol Research Services
- Produced several hundred legislative histories for attorneys and other clients, including a 2,700-page history of Texas H.B. 4 (2003).
Legislative Director — Office of State Rep. Lon Burnam, Texas House of Representatives
- Ran the Capitol office for three legislative sessions, supervising and training staff, volunteers and interns.
Education
- MBA, Management — Lamar University (2026)
- M.Ed., Applied Digital Learning — Lamar University (2022)
- MBA, Business Administration — Virginia College · May 2026
- B.S., Social Work and Psychology — West Texas A&M University
Certifications & Memberships
- Six Sigma Green Belt — Kennesaw State University (via Coursera), 2025
- Google Project Management
- FranklinCovey 4 Disciplines of Execution
- Texas Teacher Certification: Technology Applications, EC-12
- Member, American Society for Quality (ASQ)