From Pipelines to Classrooms: How George Rolla’s Welding Career Forged a Legacy

Before the Classroom: George Rolla’s Welding Career in the Field
Before founding California Welding Institute, George Rolla built his expertise where it matters most: in the field. His career wasn’t spent behind a desk—it was forged out in the elements, under pressure, and on some of the most challenging welding projects in the industry.

George’s early career took him to North Dakota, where he worked as a rig welder on high- pressure pipeline jobs—the kind of work that tests every inch of a welder’s skill, precision, and grit. He didn’t stop there. George also took on welding projects in the Arctic, welding specialized equipment in subzero temperatures where every spark mattered.

One of his proudest career milestones? Earning a welding contractor position for Southern California Gas Company—widely regarded as one of the most demanding and competitive welding jobs in the field. Getting certified for SoCal Gas is a badge of honor in the welding community, and George wore that badge proudly.

Decades of Experience, Shared with the Next Generation
Those decades of real-world welding experience laid the groundwork for what would become California Welding Institute. George didn’t just teach welding—he taught how to build a career in welding. His former students have gone on to become inspectors, engineers, supervisors, and successful welders all across the country.

As we celebrate 50 years of welding education, we honor the hard work and dedication of a welder who took his skills from the jobsite to the classroom—and changed lives in the process.
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