David Finke

President Virginia Values Vets (V3) Dec 2013 Eagle Crest Training Institute, LLC was awarded the Bronze Certification as a company that supports hiring and retaining veterans.

Press release in Virginia Pilot Virginia Pilot Nov 2013 Virginia Pilot 11/18/13David Finke served in the Navy for 20 years, retiring in 1996 as a lieutenant. Then came a string of jobs at contractors, most involving quality assurance. The layoff in the summer of 2012 left him both disillusioned and liberated. It freed Finke, then 60, to pursue his long-held dream of starting a business. He and his wife, who raise and show Tibetan Spaniels, once tried selling canine health products but they couldn’t devote enough time to make a go of… Show more Virginia Pilot 11/18/13David Finke served in the Navy for 20 years, retiring in 1996 as a lieutenant. Then came a string of jobs at contractors, most involving quality assurance. The layoff in the summer of 2012 left him both disillusioned and liberated. It freed Finke, then 60, to pursue his long-held dream of starting a business. He and his wife, who raise and show Tibetan Spaniels, once tried selling canine health products but they couldn’t devote enough time to make a go of it.He took the name of that business, Eagle Crest, for his new one and divided it into two branches – Eagle Crest Training Institute, for instruction, and Eagle Crest Enterprises, for consulting. His start-up expenses were relatively small – $3,000.Finke specializes in training welders and inspectors --“I watched and monitored welding for 20 years” – and in educating workers about international quality standards. “I recognized that to do something unique and find a niche market would make a successful business,” he said.On Thursday, he monitored a welding procedure and trained an employee in an inspection of materials at Coastal Mechanical Systems LLC, a ship-repair company in Norfolk.“He is extremely knowledgeable in his field and really helps small companies such as ours,” Ralph Bollinger, president of Coastal Mechanical, wrote in an email. “He listens to what we need and guides us in the direction to where we need to go. At the same time, he is getting our name out to other companies he works with, and we are doing the same thing for him.”Finke’s only worry: What if all of his clients call him, asking for help at the same time? That hasn’t happened yet, though he’s already had to juggle assignments to accommodate everyone.“The nice thing is, I don’t have any bosses,” Finke said, then corrected himself. “The customer is your boss,” he said. “ If you do a good job, the customers love you.” Show less

President and Founder Worldwide Who's Who Jul 2013 For Immediate ReleaseDavid A. Finke Recognized by Worldwide Who’s Who for Excellence in Maritime TrainingDavid Finke specializes in process development for naval nuclear propulsion and ship alterationSUFFOLK, VA, July 8, 2013, David A. Finke, Vice President of Eagle Crest Training Institute, has been recognized by Worldwide Who’s Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in maritime training.With four decades of professional… Show more For Immediate ReleaseDavid A. Finke Recognized by Worldwide Who’s Who for Excellence in Maritime TrainingDavid Finke specializes in process development for naval nuclear propulsion and ship alterationSUFFOLK, VA, July 8, 2013, David A. Finke, Vice President of Eagle Crest Training Institute, has been recognized by Worldwide Who’s Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in maritime training.With four decades of professional experience, Mr. Finke has thoroughly honed his expertise in process development for naval nuclear propulsion and ship alteration. He utilizes his experience and skills in his role as vice president of Eagle Crest Training Institute, a division of Eagle Crest Enterprises Ltd. Mr. Finke plays a key role in the management of the company, an esteemed maritime technical training and consulting business. His further responsibilities include creating procedures for welders and inspections, as well as training people in small companies for national certification. Mr. Finke first pursued his line of work due to his interest and training in the U.S. Navy. He is a retired Limited Duty Officer who completed 20 years of service. The highlight of his career was surfacing through the polar icecap on his second submarine in 1984. He has also sailed two nuclear fast-attack submarines, one submarine tender and one nuclear powered cruiser. His travels included countries all over the world.A Certified Welding Inspector, Mr. Finke holds a business administration certification in ISO 9001 auditing. In addition, he is a certified NDT Level II Examiner in VT, PT and MT. His professional affiliations include the The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, American Society for Quality, American Welding Society, and The American Maritime Modernization Association. In the future, Mr. Finke intends to expand Eagle Crest Training Institute as a certified welding training center available for maritime and construction trade training. Show less

Master Training Specialist (US Navy) US Navy, NTPU, Ballston Spa, NY Aug 1982