Extended Learning Track (XLT) Instructors

The instructional staff for the Extended Learning Track program is an expert team of traders with decades of combined experience in real-world trading. Our instructors are gifted educators who are passionate about making sure our students understand what it takes to be successful in the markets. The team is specifically trained to deliver engaging sessions in an online classroom environment.

Instructors

Russ Allen
E-mini Futures, Options, ProActive Investor, Equities and Technical Analysis Strategies Instructor

A highly accomplished senior executive in finance and technology, Russ retired to his mountain hideaway with his wife to trade for a living as a team. Read Bio

Jose Blasco
Options and Forex Instructor

Trained as an Engineer and after a successful career in telecommunications, Jose used his passion for education by getting involved in lecturing part-time at the Polytechnic University of Valencia as a professor for the Communications department. Coming from a different field than trading and having learned how to trade, Jose has become very disciplined in both his trade plan and teaching style and imparts this knowledge and expertise to his students. Read Bio

Sam Evans
UK Forex and E-mini Futures Instructor

Sam graduated from Online Trading Academy and is now a full-time trader specializing in Stock Index Futures and Forex. Read Bio

Joann Farley
E-mini Futures Instructor

Joann’s experience in teaching and her success as a trader have given her the skills and financial freedom to become a teacher and mentor to other traders, a goal obtained that she cherishes. Read Bio

Chuck Fulkerson
Equities and Technical Analysis Strategies Instructor

With a degree in computer science, Chuck has a very logical and systematic approach to trading the markets. Aside from trading and coaching other traders, Chuck has hosted a variety of trading radio programs and was a speaker at the International Money Show in 2009. Read Bio

Robert Heitner
ProActive Investor Instructor

Robert traded Stocks and Options for a small practice at the Chicago Board of Options Exchange. Thirteen years as a Market Maker in various trading pits gave him the experience of identifying opportunities while having the ability to reduce his risk. Read Bio

Woody Johnson
Mastering the Mental Game Instructor

Dr. M. Woodruff Johnson has actively and successfully traded stock options, Forex and futures for about 10 years. His students benefit from his extensive psychology background and the mind/body healing techniques he teaches. Read Bio

Justin Krebs
Equities, Forex, E-mini Futures and Technical Analysis Strategies Instructor

PGA Golf Pro & Mensa member turned trader and teacher, Justin's goal for each student is to have them leave the class with a fiery passion and a comprehensive understanding of trading. Read Bio

Eric Ochotnicki
Options Instructor

Eric brings over 15 years of active trading expertise to Online Trading Academy. He is a member of the Chicago Board of Options Exchange and a member of the Chicago Board of Trade. Read Bio

Shamus O'Connor
Equities, Options, Forex and Technical Analysis Strategies Instructor

Shamus started in the brokerage industry and graduated to private trader and teacher. He began touring the country educating individual investors on how to trade the equity, options and foreign currency markets in 2001. Read Bio

Ryan Oleston
XLT Equities and Futures Instructor

In 2007, Ryan took his first Online Trading Academy class. With growing interest, he began XLT sessions in 2008, and he has been trading ever since. Currently, Ryan manages his own retirement accounts and uses his futures trading proceeds to supplement his income. In addition to the financial benefits, trading has helped him to grow in many important areas of his life. Read Bio

Irfan Patel
Forex Instructor

Irfan likes to keep it as simple as possible using supply and demand and price action along with strong risk management rules to generate consistent winning trades. Read Bio

Sam Seiden
VP Education

Sam brings over 15 years experience of equities, Forex, options and futures trading which began when he was on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Read Bio

Dan Sugar
Equities and E-mini Futures Instructor

Third-generation Chicago Mercantile Exchange trader, 8 years in the CBOT bond pit, converted to electronic trading in 1996. Read Bio

Brandon Tristan
XLT Assistant Instructor

Brandon began his career in 1998, as an energy trader. He made the transition to online trading after attending Online Trading Academy's Pro Trader course. Since 2009, Brandon has exclusively traded equities, futures and the Forex markets. As an XLT Instructor, he wants to share his experiences and accomplishments, helping other traders to realize their dreams. Read Bio

Gabe Velazquez
Equities, E-mini Futures and Technical Analysis Strategies Instructor and Trader Mentor

Gabe got his start in the markets a mere 3 months before the market crash of 1987. He now concentrates full time on trading his own portfolio and teaching. Students will benefit from his first hand experience of daily involvement in the market. Read Bio

Jasmine Wang
XLT Instructor

In 2007, Jasmine joined Online Trading Academy as a student where she found great success in the market. She finds it rewarding to pass the valuable knowledge she received on to other aspiring traders. Read Bio

Brandon Wendell, CMT
Senior Instructor and Trader Mentor

As a former stockbroker, brokerage trader, and hedge fund trader, Brandon has held NASD securities series 7 and 63 licenses. Read Bio

Darek Zelek
Equities, ProActive Investor and Technical Analysis Strategies Instructor

Darek started to invest in the Equities and Futures markets when he met a CBOT commodities trader who later became his mentor. Once successful, Darek returned the “favor” by mentoring others who struggled as new traders. Darek is in the final stages of CMT certification. Read Bio