From Stroke to SOLIDWORKS: Mike Puckett’s Unstoppable Comeback

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A driving force behind SOLIDWORKS Certification and the first ever CSWE, Mike Puckett’s journey from global leader to stroke survivor—and now to inspirational speaker—is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of believing in yourself.

 

A Legacy Interrupted—But Not Ended

Mike Puckett has never been one to follow a traditional path. Before his stroke, he had carved out an extraordinary role at SOLIDWORKS—transforming the company’s Certification Program into a global benchmark of excellence. He wrote the very first Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE) exam, became the first person in the world to pass it, and grew a once-small program into a worldwide phenomenon with nearly 1 million certified users and counting.

He didn’t just build exams—he built community. He founded the first SOLIDWORKS User Group in Southern California and created what became the most anticipated event at SOLIDWORKS World: the CSWE Event, a gathering that celebrated the best-of-the-best and embodied the heart of the SOLIDWORKS user community.

Then, one morning, everything changed.

Mike woke up in a hospital room, unable to speak. His right arm and leg didn’t move. His independence—his voice, mobility, confidence—was gone in an instant.

He had suffered a massive stroke. But what followed wasn’t an ending. It was a new beginning—one that would become the most powerful story he’s ever written.

 

On Top of the SOLIDWORKS World

Mike’s road to SOLIDWORKS wasn’t paved with degrees or formal training. He started working alongside his dad at the same Machine shop that is dad had worked for decades, running enormous EDM machines. “There was no air conditioning down on the floor,” Mike recalls. “I used to look up at the design guys upstairs and think, I want that job.”

What followed was a self-taught journey of dedication. He picked up SOLIDWORKS, learned on his own, and developed a reputation as a CAD powerhouse. In 2003, he founded the first SOLIDWORKS User Group in Southern California – where he met many key players at SOLIDWORKS – which paved the way for the next chapter in his life.

By 2009, he joined the SOLIDWORKS Certification Team—an opportunity he almost didn’t believe was real.

“I thought there was no way they’d hire me,” he says. “I wasn’t a mechanical engineer. I was just a user with passion.”

But that passion transformed into impact. Mike eventually led the entire certification program, helping it grow into a trusted global credential that shaped tens of thousands of careers. Under his leadership, SOLIDWORKS certification became a critical asset in engineering education and employment.

He also authored and passed the very first Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE) exam—earning the badge “0001” and securing his place in SOLIDWORKS history.

“That number means something,” he says. “It’s a reminder that I helped start something that still matters today.”

 

The Day Everything Changed

Mike’s stroke came suddenly—and with brutal force. He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move his right side. Couldn’t feed himself, type, or even use the bathroom without help.

“It was like being two years old again,” he says. “Everything in life, every ability I had, was suddenly gone.”

He spent three weeks in the hospital recovering and learning again how to perform all necessary life functions. After being discharged, he attempted to stay with family, but even with their support it proved too overwhelming. So he returned to his own home—facing recovery alone.

Three times a week, he walked 1.3 miles each way to therapy and back—often in 110–115°F Nevada heat—because he couldn’t drive yet. And he did it all without a cane.

“They told me I had to stop using a cane so I wouldn’t become dependent on it,” he says. “So I just walked. Slowly. Sweating. Every day. Because I had to.”

That walk became more than a way to get to therapy. It became a symbol of his grit.

 

Rebuilding Himself—One Feature at a Time

Eventually, Mike returned to something deeply familiar: SOLIDWORKS. He powered up his computer, launched the software, and tried to design a part. “I made a square block with a hole in it,” he recalls. “It took me an hour and a half.”

This, from the man who wrote the CSWE exam.

“It was humbling,” he says. “But it was also hopeful. If I could make something—even if it was simple—it meant I wasn’t done.”

He worked with one hand—his non-dominant hand—relearning how to move the mouse, click with accuracy, and type commands. His right hand remained largely paralyzed. Typing became a slow two-finger process. But he stuck with it.

“It reminded me of students who are just starting out,” he says. “They might struggle at first, but if they stay with it, they’ll get there.”

Mike’s recovery was not only a testament to his determination—it was also a testament to SOLIDWORKS’ design. The software’s intuitive interface, visual feedback, and learnability helped make it accessible—even to someone rebuilding his cognitive and motor skills from scratch.

Marie Planchard, Director of Education & Early Engagement at SOLIDWORKS, has been a longtime champion of accessibility in education. “When I was a teacher, I had students with learning challenges, motor skill issues, or ADHD. SOLIDWORKS opened doors for them,” she says. “It’s visual, intuitive, and forgiving—ideal for learners who’ve been told they can’t.”

 

A Message for Students: If I Can Do It, You Can Too

Mike has a new mission now.

“I want to share my story with students,” he says. “Because if I can come back from this, if I can relearn how to eat, walk, talk—and design again—then there’s nothing they can’t do.”

He hopes to visit schools, colleges, and community groups, not just to talk about SOLIDWORKS, but to show what resilience looks like.

“Students want to be YouTubers or influencers,” he says. “But what if you could be the engineer who designs the tech those influencers use? What if you could be behind the scenes, building the future?”

And his impact won’t be limited to those who’ve had strokes or physical disabilities.

“There are students with learning challenges, reading issues, or who’ve just been told too many times they’re not smart enough,” says Marie Planchard. “Mike’s story tells them: yes, you are. And SOLIDWORKS can help you get there.”

 

It’s Not Just a Comeback—It’s a New Beginning

Mike knows he won’t return to leading the certification team. He knows his typing may never be as fast, and his body may never move quite the same.

But he also knows he’s not done.

Today, he contributes to SOLIDWORKS certification in new ways—including helping expand into 2D certifications through DraftSight—and continues to share insights with the team he once led.

He also proudly wears his CSWE “0001” shirt to 3DEXPERIENCE World, reminding attendees that he is—and always will be—a pioneer in the SOLIDWORKS community.

“I may not be running things anymore,” he says. “But I’m still here. Still creating. Still trying to make a difference.”

Today, Mike is on a new mission: become the SOLIDWORKS Global Inspirational Highlight Speaker—a real-life example of how the right tools, paired with the right mindset, can overcome even the toughest odds.

 

From Certification to Inspiration

Mike Puckett has done what most never even attempt. He’s fought his way back from the edge—step by slow, determined step.

He’s not just a certification expert or power user. He’s not just the founder of a user group or the former host of the legendary CSWE Event.

He is a living example of what it means to persevere, to rebuild, and to inspire.

“We talk about emotional paychecks,” he says. “If I can help even one student realize they’re capable of more—of anything—then I’ve earned mine.”

This blog post is the first chapter of Mike’s next act. We hope to bring Mike’s story to the world—not just to honor his legacy, but to build a new one: one about resilience, creativity, and inspires the next generation of creators, makers, and engineers to pick up SOLIDWORKS and build their future, no matter the odds.

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Connect with Mike in person at the RoboSub 2025 competition in Irvine, CA, August 11-17, and be on the lookout for Mike attending student competition events in the future!

If you’re a teacher or SOLIDWORKS user and you’d like Mike to speak virtually to your school or community—reach out to Michael.Puckett@3ds.com. Let’s make engineering more human, more inclusive, and more hopeful. Together, we can design a world where no one is left behind.

Brian Hillner

Brian Hillner

Brian Hillner is a Senior Product Portfolio Manager for SOLIDWORKS, responsible for Education and Early Engagement, and specializes in the intersection of business, technology & user experience. He focuses on creating customer-driven software products tailored for schools, educators and students to develop designers, engineers and dreamers of the future. Prior to joining the Education team, he was the Product Manager for SOLIDWORKS Visualize, eDrawings and the Extended Reality (XR) workflows.