focus Fox Valley Technical College
volume 1, issue 1 • spring 2008
your future Premiere Issue
inside: >
Interior Design at FVTC
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A service technician degree in one year? It's possible with the FABTECH program
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Beyond basic training with Miles Kimball
FVTC student Bonnie Tomlin is on track for a rewarding new career in IT
It’s Back
See how FVTC can help you find a new career in a hot industry
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ON THE COVER: FVTC IT student Bonnie Tomlin Photo by Patrick Kelly
Focus is published bi-annually for the communities of Fox Valley Technical College.
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IT: It’s Back The domestic IT industry is back and hungry for employees. FVTC can provide you with the skills and degree to get you on track for a new career. Power House Want to land a solid-paying career as an equipment, engine, or generator technician? Thanks to a unique educational partnership between FVTC and Milwaukee-based FABCO, it’s possible—in less than one year. Better by Design FVTC grad Kris Figy has found her niche making spaces for Wisconsin’s top companies.
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Get a Chance to Win $50 in FREE Gas! Take our short, CONFIDENTIAL reader survey at www.fvtc.edu/focussurvey.
in every issue
FVTC 2 Around A quick look at what’s new at FVTC.
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Focus on the Entrepreneur With the help of FVTC’s E-Seed program, Sandy Martin built a successful organic clothing business from the ground up. Focus on Alumni Q&A with Mike Fox, vice president and general manager of Time Warner Cable’s Northeast Wisconsin Division.
CUSTOM PUBLISHING SERVICES The Coghlan Group EDITOR Chris Mikko ART DIRECTOR Amy Bjellos CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Phil Bolsta, Dan Heilman, Erin Peterson, Mary Lahr Schier, Vicki Stavig PHOTOGRAPHY Gary Brilowski, Gary Gawinski, Patrick Kelly DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Barb Dreger
on the Foundation 15 Focus The support of former FVTC employee Ione Berg helped lay the foundation for big changes to the College’s Culinary Arts and Hotel and Restaurant Management program.
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welcome I hope you will enjoy learning about Fox Valley Technical College in this first issue of Focus. From personal experience, I have appreciated the counselors and faculty at the College, who have helped me choose my career path. I know I’ll be ready to figure out solutions to real problems thanks to FVTC.
Petros Assefa FVTC Student
Focus on Workplace Training As FVTC’s relationship with Miles Kimball illustrates, creativity and a joint problemsolving approach are key elements of a successful training program.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR/MANAGER OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS Chris Jossart
Focus on Student Life Students discover that learning opportunities abound at FVTC—both in and away from the classroom.
PRESIDENT Dr. David L. Buettner
Fox Valley Technical College 1825 N. Bluemound Dr. P.O. Box 2277 Appleton, WI 54912-2277 1-800-735-3882 TTY (hearing impaired) (920) 993-5106 www.fvtc.edu jossart@fvtc.edu (e-mail inquiries)
Fox Valley Technical College is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System. FVTC offers more than 200 associate degree, technical diploma and certificate programs, and instruction related to 20 apprenticeship trades, in addition to providing services to business and industry. Annually, the college serves about 50,000 people throughout its five-county district. For more information visit www.fvtc.edu.
© 2008 Fox Valley Technical College. All rights reserved.
aroundfvtc Stockwell Elected to NACADA Board Kathy Stockwell, associate dean and faculty advising coordinator in FVTC’s Business, Health, and Service division, was elected to the Board of Directors for the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Established in 1979, NACADA promotes quality academic advising and professional development for its more than 10,000 members. Membership consists of faculty, advisors, administrators, counselors, and others concerned with the intellectual, personal, and vocational needs of students.
“Green” Innovation Among State’s Best FVTC Landscape/Horticulture students, under the guidance of instructor Jim Beard and horticulturist Roxanne Rusch, received a 2008 Gold Award in Landscape Structures from the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association (WLCA). The Green Roof Rest Station (pictured) across from Entrance 6 at the Appleton campus was recognized for its outstanding design and environmental preservation. The WLCA annually recognizes outstanding organizations involved in the design, construction, and/or management of exceptional landscape projects in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/horticulture.
TechSpace Opens World of Exploration
50 Years of Natural Resources Training
Seventh-grade students in the Wautoma After School program at Parkside School experienced hands-on learning activities during the TechSpace Robotics Camp in February and March. FVTC coordinated the six-week camp designed to engage students in after-school offerings focused on career exploration and leadership. TechSpace Middle school students included field in the TechSpace trips to program apply their manufacturing hands-on skills by driving settings and rivets into sheet metal. FVTC’s S.J. Spanbauer Center in Oshkosh. The ventures exposed the students to the skills and job requirements needed in today’s technical careers. Students built robots and demonstrated their capabilities during a graduation ceremony as a culmination of the enrichment experience. For more information on TechSpace offerings, call (920) 735-4765.
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The Green Roof Rest Station along the picturesque trails at FVTC.
FVTC’s Natural Resources Technician program, the only one of its kind at the associate degree level in Wisconsin, celebrated 50 years of training in February. Many alumni spanning five decades returned to the College to share special memories during a formal celebration. Rick Buser, Natural Resources chairperson, says the program’s success is largely attributed to creating regular workplace settings for the students. “Employers who hire our students often comment on their high level of preparedness,” he notes. “Whether they are fighting fires or taking soil samples, our students gain a lot of hands-on application.” Program graduates carry a variety of job titles: soil and water conservation technician, fish or wildlife management technician, forestry aide/technician, campground manager, surveying assistant, mapping and appraisal technician, and wastewater technician. For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/naturalresources.
A Leader in Criminal Justice Initiatives More than 900,000 persons were listed as missing in February 2008. Finding them requires a champion to streamline resources and provide ongoing training and awareness. One such leader is the FVTC Criminal Justice Center for Innovation. In February, FVTC hosted the Investigating Missing Persons Conference in Appleton and welcomed officials from local and state law enforcement, and attendees from federal, national, and international agencies. Experts in many fields of criminal justice facilitated training workshops on techniques used during investigating and analyzing missing persons cases. Additional topics included community response planning, federal legislation, and electronic developments. For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/criminaljustice.
For the latest FVTC news, visit www.fvtc.edu/news.
Fox Valley Technical College
Wireless “Patient” Joins Virtual Training Hospital A baby cries. A youngster cuts his or her leg. Another person is having a seizure. These care scenarios are front and center in FVTC’s Human Patient Visitors during a health care simulation Simulation Lab, training students in presentation at the Wisconsin Capitol the Nursing, Emergency Medical marvel at the new iSTAN wireless human Services, Occupational Therapy patient simulator, now part of FVTC’s Assistant, and Dental Hygiene virtual hospital training. programs. In February, FVTC welcomed iSTAN to its human patient simulation family thanks to a donation from ThedaCare. The College’s iSTAN unit is one of the world’s first wireless human patient simulators used in health care training outside the military. Its capabilities enhance mobility and efficiency for use in various settings. “iSTAN is incredibly realistic,” says Bob Sternhagen, human patient simulator coordinator at FVTC. “It breathes, has heart and bowel sounds, simulates bleeding, has a pulse, and can talk.” Sternhagen notes that the technology gives students the experience and confidence needed to provide the best care possible. For more information on human patient simulation at FVTC, call (920) 735-2516.
New Waupaca Center Energizes Community A fundraising campaign eclipsing $1 million helped open the doors to the new FVTC Waupaca Regional Center in January 2008. The 15,550-square-foot center, designed as a renewable energies facility, replaces a leased building formerly located in downtown Waupaca. The new Center, located at 1979 Godfrey Dr., provides expanded offerings and customized training tailored to meet the needs of the region. Visitors to the new Center can witness green technology in real-time thanks to an energy kiosk with a touch-screen monitor, located in the entrance lobby. The Waupaca Area Job Center is also located in the new facility. For more information on the new FVTC Waupaca Regional Center, visit www.fvtc.edu/waupaca.
DuPont Recognizes FVTC The Supply Chain Solutions Team at FVTC received a special certificate from DuPont for contributing toward the corporation’s receipt of the 2007 Association for Operations Management (APICS) Excellence in Education award. The award acknowledges an organization’s commitment to education investment and productivity improvements based on the APICS body of knowledge. FVTC’s Supply Chain Solutions Team designed an effective distance learning format for DuPont in supply chain management, and provides training and education to the corporation’s supply chain professionals throughout the world. For more information on supply chain solutions offered through FVTC, visit www.fvtc.edu/cscp.
New for Fall 2008! Looking for career information and training? Look to FVTC! Fox Valley Technical College continuously provides new offerings designed to create successful pathways for students and meet employer demands. One new feature for 2008-09 includes 11 career exploration certificate programs ideal for students who have a general idea of a field they want to work in, but are uncertain about which specific career and how to prepare for it. Through these programs, students can learn about job opportunities, salaries, and benefits, and the education needed to enter specific careers. They can also apply credits from a career exploration certificate program toward degree and diploma programs. “Career exploration certificate programs are key entrypoints in preparing students for landing successful jobs,” says Carol May, FVTC’s director of Instructional Advancement. “The College has created a strong connection between students and workplace expectations through this new program.”
New Career Exploration Certificate Programs • Agriculture, Horticulture, and Natural Resources careers • Automotive careers • Business, Management & Finance careers • Engineering and Electronics careers • Health careers • Human Services careers • Information Technology careers • Manufacturing careers • Marketing and Sales careers • Printing and Publishing careers • Public Safety careers To learn more about the new exploration programs, visit www.fvtc.edu/explorecareers. To view all 39 new program and apprenticeship offerings for 2008-09, visit www.fvtc.edu/new.
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on workplace training Beyond Basic Training As Fox Valley Technical College’s relationship with the Miles Kimball Company illustrates, creativity and a joint problem-solving approach are key elements of a successful training program. By Mary Lahr Schier Corporate training is not all flip charts and trays of donuts—just ask Barbara Uecker, a quality and training team leader at the call center of the Miles Kimball Company, an Oshkosh-based specialty catalog retailer. Without question, conveying information is important, says Uecker, who trains up to 350 new employees each fall for the company’s rush season. She adds, however, that you can’t forget humor and finding ways for employees to learn through activities. Uecker expanded her training skills over the past year in part due to train-the-trainer courses offered at Miles Kimball through Fox Valley Technical College. “During one training, we had a snowball fight,” Uecker recalls. “We took all the issues we were having with preparing for our new computer system, wrote them on pieces of paper, and threw them at each other. After that, we said, ‘OK, now we’re going to address all these issues.’” In short, releasing steam helped the employees learn more later. While
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FVTC works with so many different businesses that it helps us benchmark our performance and find best practices in other organizations.
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Margie Harvey
Vice President of Human Resources, Miles Kimball Company
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snowball fights aren’t always the norm, finding creative ways to improve work skills and reinforce a company’s goals and objectives is an approach that guides FVTC’s custom training programs. Each year the College conducts hundreds of training sessions for companies ranging in size from small, Miles Kimball employees (left to right): Barb Uecker, local businesses to Sandra Cortez, and Sandy Szesterniak, discussing the multinational company’s product line. organizations such several FVTC courses related to lean as DuPont and IBM. operations and improvement, a process The relationship with Miles Kimball designed to increase capacity, eliminate is long-standing and deep. “Miles waste, shorten lead times, and improve Kimball has been a great friend to the quality. College,” says Mary Frozena, FVTC’s Sandra Cortez, a quality assurance associate director of business and specialist in the Miles Kimball call center, industry services. Frozena notes that has used the training sessions to build during 2007-08, more than 400 Miles skills that have helped advance her Kimball employees will have received career. She started at Miles Kimball five training through FVTC, in classes years ago as a call center representative, ranging from leadership skills to and recently has served as a backup computing skills to courses on trainer. “The advanced train-the-trainer continuous process improvement and course was a big eye-opener,” says navigating change. Cortez. “It helped put me at ease when I “Our programs align training with have to step into the role of trainer.” company needs,” she says. “Employees Because Miles Kimball’s workforce can use new or enhanced skills in their doubles each fall from about 700 current jobs and down the line.” workers to 1,500, workforce training is a The courses help Miles Kimball and its “well-oiled machine around here,” says employees stay up to date on business Harvey. processes, says Margie Harvey, the In addition to working with FVTC on company’s vice president of human training, Miles Kimball has partnered resources. “The entire leadership of with the College to improve employment Miles Kimball has a firm belief that lifeskills throughout northeastern long learning is a competitive advantage Wisconsin. This spring, FVTC launched for us,” she notes. “FVTC works with so a contact center certificate program to many different businesses that it helps us train workers for that industry. Miles benchmark our performance and find Kimball employees and executives also best practices in other organizations.” have shared their expertise with FVTC Sandy Szesterniak, a warehouse team students through classroom speaking leader at Miles Kimball, agrees. “Having engagements and career fairs. a third party come in pulls the group together and provides a different perspective,” says Szesterniak, whose 15person department handles returns and For more information, visit repacking of the 23,000 different Miles www.fvtc.edu/bis. Kimball products. She has also taken
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on the entrepreneur
Sowing Success With the help of FVTC’s E-Seed program, Sandy Martin of Oshkosh built a successful organic clothing business, green3, from the ground up. By Erin Peterson
Sandy Martin worked hard to climb the corporate ladder. She landed jobs at retail giants such as Carson Pirie Scott and Kohl’s during her career, and knew her way around the apparel business. Still, when she moved to Oshkosh a few years ago so her husband could take a top post at OshKosh B’Gosh, she figured she’d slip easily into soccer-mom mode. Things didn’t work out exactly as she planned. It didn’t take long before Martin was kicking around ideas for her own clothing company. She had just one problem. “I really didn’t know how to start,” she says. “But then I saw a notice in the paper about FVTC’s E-Seed program.” E-Seed promised to help budding entrepreneurs research their venture, put together a business plan, and take first steps to make their dream a reality. In early 2005, Martin enrolled in the 15-week course. Martin says the rigorous program helped give her insight on every aspect of entrepreneurship. “We had weekly homework assignments, and during each class we reviewed our work and shared constructive criticism,” she notes. “We also had special guests, like lawyers who explained some of the legal aspects of business and accountants who could discuss numbers. It was great to get their perspectives on things every week.” Martin eventually honed her vague ideas about starting a women’s apparel company to a business that sold organic women’s apparel. “Our instructors had asked us: ‘What will make your business different?’ ‘What makes it unique?’” she says. “I just started getting interested in organic products, and when I came across organic cotton and organic wool,
I realized my [clothing business] could tie into what I was already interested in on my own.” The research she did for class also suggested it was a growing and potentially lucrative market. Martin quickly launched her business after completing the program. Within a couple of months, she trademarked the brand, green 3 (www.green3apparel.com), and started lining up manufacturers to help her produce a line of t-shirts, sweaters, and tote bags made from 100% organic materials. She and her husband, Jim (who joined Sandy almost from the very beginning), began showcasing the company’s wares at trade shows around the country, quickly acquiring customers who wanted to feature the eco-friendly wares at their stores. The tiny company also picked up custom work for several companies, including the Discovery Channel. While business was booming almost from the start, there were a few hitches. The name she’d originally planned for the venture wasn’t available to trademark. She also found strong demand for custom work, something she hadn’t addressed in her original business plan. Fortunately, she knew she could contact her class instructors for advice. “Even after you finish the E-Seed program, you’re never really done,” she says. “I still talk to [the instructors] almost every month. They’re always there if I have any questions.” These days, Martin is keeping busy developing new products for green 3, including fleece tops, hats, mittens, and
Sandy Martin
scarves. The company’s products are in stores from California to Massachusetts and in cities as far away as Tokyo. Martin credits E-Seed for giving her the jumpstart she needed to make it happen. “I went into the program thinking I’d get a business plan,” she says. “I got so much more than that.”
Choose Your Own Venture Fox Valley Technical College has been helping entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground since 2000. “Graduates have started 160 brand-new businesses, and nearly 80% are still operating today,” says Amy Pietsch, director of the Venture Center.
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For more information, visit www.venturecenterwi.biz.
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IT: By Phil Bolsta Why did a 33-year-old analytical chemist in California abandon a well-paying job and warm winters to study computer programming and Web development? Simple. She wanted a better life. Bonnie Tomlin, who specialized in polymer and pharmaceutical chemistry for an analytical instrumentation company, often accompanied her co-workers on sales trips. Twice a year, she would embark on a three-month cross-country tour, conducting seminars at customer locations or hotels for groups ranging from 25 to 50 people. “It was a burnout job,” acknowledges Tomlin, who was born and raised in Appleton. “The average tenure was two to three years, and I was there for six. It was fun, but I wanted to have a life rather than just a job.” Since moving back home, she married her high school sweetheart, Heath Tomlin, and later added a Yorkie-Poo to the family. She’s also spending a lot of time with her parents and other family members. Tomlin, now 36, is putting the finishing touches on her new life by earning Programmer/Analyst and Web Development and Design associate degrees from FVTC. Choosing the computer industry allowed her to use some of the knowledge she learned in California. “I did a lot of teaching and demonstrating software, and I also worked closely with software engineers,” she explains. “I thought that these
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The domestic IT industry is back and hungry for employees. Fox Valley Technical College can provide you with the skills and degree to get you on track for a new career.
It’s Back
FVTC IT student Bonnie Tomlin
Fox Valley Technical College
degrees would be a good fit for what I already knew and for enabling me to get a good job in that area.” Tomlin is glad she chose FVTC for a number of reasons. “The class sizes are small and the teachers are really accessible and knowledgeable because they all came from industry,” she says. “And they’ve recently come back to teaching; it hasn’t been 30 years since they’ve been working in the field. There’s also a lot of hands-on learning. The computers are in the lab with you and you’re typing along with the instructors, so if you have questions, they’re right there. If I had gone to a four-year university, it would have been more theoretical than hands-on.” The quality of the programming coursework is also first-rate. “The content is better than what I expected,” Tomlin says. “There’s a lot to learn in this field, but they offer a broad range of programming languages so it’s a really good start. Employers expect you to learn seven or eight languages and know those languages really well. I thought it would be difficult to gain proficiency in that many different languages in a two-year program, but FVTC introduced all of them—Visual Basic, C++, XML, PHP, JavaScript, HTML, SQL, and Flash—giving me the tools I needed to learn more about them beyond the class time allotted. “After earning my degrees I’d like to get a job in the area doing Web development-type work,” she adds. “One of my co-workers just got a great job in Web design and development just one month after graduating.” No matter where she ends up working, Tomlin plans to continue her education. “I still have a lot of material from my classes that I can go through to upgrade my skills,” she says. “I’ll also take courses at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and hopefully my employer will offer training courses as well.” That commitment to learning characterizes many nontraditional students at FVTC. “Bonnie’s been a star student in the program,” says Doug Waterman, team leader for the Information Technology department, who’s also taught Tomlin in multiple programming classes. “When someone who already has a degree and has been out working comes back, they’re very serious about their education. Bonnie is a prime example of that. She’ll take a class apart to make sure she’s getting everything she can out of it.” IT Instructor and team leader Doug Waterman shares his expertise.
IT @ FVTC In addition to its four associate degree programs, Fox Valley Technical College’s IT department offers certificate programs in the following disciplines: • Cisco CCNA Preparation • Computer Rendering & Animation • Database • Help Desk • Information Security • IP Telephony • Mainframe Programming • Midrange Programming • Network Infrastructure • Network System Administration • Network System Design • Network Workstation Support • PC Programming • PC Support • Web Design • Web Development All these certificate programs are pulled from the four core programs. For instance, a student with a Network Specialist degree has already taken Network Infrastructure. “When students pursue an associate degree, they’ll often tie in a different certificate program to differentiate themselves and give them a little more breadth in a related area,” says Doug Waterman, team leader for FVTC’s Information Technology department. “They simply take a piece from another program and get a certificate in that.” The certificate programs also hold value for working people in the community who want to continue their professional development. “They’ve already got experience in a certain area, but maybe they’re a mainframe programmer and they want to learn Web development,” Waterman says. “Because they already have a degree, they can leverage their experience against a new area with one of our certificates.” For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/IT.
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Tomlin is finishing her Programmer/Analyst and Web Development and Design associate degrees.
Rolling with the Changes FVTC students can choose from four associate degree programs. Each of the following programs is followed by a sample list of actual job titles filled by recent graduates. • Network Specialist (IT manager, communications analyst, network analyst, operations technician, PC technician) • Computer Support Specialist (network administrator, PC specialist, technical support specialist, Web developer, computer support specialist) • Web Development and Design Specialist (Web designer, Web developer, Web manager, multimedia developer, XML documentation specialist) • Programmer/Analyst (data coordinator, decision support analyst, IT coordinator, system engineer I-ETL developer, technical support specialist)
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An IT Resurgence
After eight years of dwindling enrollment (and well-documented national doldrums), IT has roared back to life. “We were growing big time up until 2000,” Waterman recalls. “We had doubled the size of our instructional staff to keep up with all the people who wanted to enter IT. Then the dot-com bubble burst. Fortunately, we pretty much held our own. We’ve started to see pre-dot-com levels of students going into IT. We have around 480 students enrolled right now. After the dot-com bust, people were saying that IT wasn’t a good place to go. Well, surprise, it still is.” Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reaffirm this assertion. According to the BLS, the employment prospects for computer and information systems managers, software engineers, Web developers and designers, and others will grow at a much faster than average rate through the next decade. Technical college graduates are prized these days. In fact, much like the heady days of the late 1990s, some IT specialists have their pick of jobs. “Last spring, most of the students in my upper-level programming classes already had jobs lined up months before the semester was over,” Waterman recalls. “So when employers came to us in May and June looking for candidates, we had to say, ‘Sorry, you’re too late. All our graduates are hired already.’ That’s the way it was before the dot-com bust. Students were ready to go to work as soon as they walked out the door.” Essentially, FVTC’s programs change in concert with marketplace changes. “We regularly seek feedback from area employers because technology changes so fast,” Waterman explains. “A year ago, we put together a DACUM (Developing A Curriculum) involving seven local companies. They spent the day with us discussing what they expected an entry-level person coming out of a technical college to know. From that feedback, we rebuilt the entire networking program.” Whatever the marketplace wants, the marketplace gets. “Our most recent degree, Web Development and Design Specialist, actually fell out of our Programmer/Analyst degree,” Waterman says. “Our Web Development cluster covered rendering a Web page with HTML, doing the scripting, and using XML for data transfer on a Web page. But what it didn’t hit was the graphics side, how to lay out a page with design elements. To address that area, we decided to create a new degree. So we took the Web Development out of the Programmer/Analyst degree and combined it with a Web Design cluster.” The Network Specialist degree also underwent a metamorphosis based on industry needs. This time, however, the feedback came from an unexpected source. “A student returning from a job interview told us that he was asked how many networks he had configured from scratch,” Waterman says. “He said, ‘None. I’ve configured routers and servers, but I’ve never done it all as part of one project.’ When we heard that, we created a Network Design and Implementation class that ties everything together at the end of the program. Students are given all the material and specs for creating a network from ground zero.” An FVTC IT degree will always be relevant. Immediately after Microsoft introduced Visual Studio 2008, the College’s IT department began integrating it into its fall courses. “If someone’s going to spend two years getting their degree with us, we have to have them prepared for two years from now when that product is going to be mainstream,” Waterman says. “It’s all about keeping up with current technology.” For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/IT.
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FABTECH students work hands-on with instructor Joe Berhausen (center).
The FABTECH program, an innovative partnership between Fox Valley Technical College and Milwaukee-based FABCO, can get you started on a new career as an equipment, engine, or generator technician—in less than one year. By Phil Bolsta It all started on Justin Goering’s grandpa’s farm almost a decade ago. Clambering around on all that heavy equipment sparked a lifelong passion in nine-year-old Justin. So last year, when his stepfather mentioned a partnership program between his employer and FVTC, Goering was intrigued. His stepfather’s employer, FABCO, the exclusive Caterpillar dealer in Wisconsin and upper Michigan, developed a creative strategy for ensuring itself a steady supply of well-trained service technicians. The Milwaukee-based company, which has 23 locations among its three business units (FABCO Equipment, FABCO Power Systems, FABCO Rents), joined forces with the College to construct the FABTECH Service Technician Education Center at FVTC’s S.J. Spanbauer Center in Oshkosh. FABTECH’s lab area replicates a typical FABCO shop, albeit on a smaller scale. Goering, who hails from Richmond, Minnesota, is grateful he was accepted into the 46-week program. “It’s fastpaced and hands-on,” he says. “The program is focused on getting you out
working as fast as possible.” That tight focus also appeals to 22year-old Eau Claire native Patrick Hartung. “From an educational standpoint, I like how you get to learn from one another,” he says. “Our instructor puts us in situations where somebody else might look at a problem differently than you would. Instead of trying to solve it yourself, all the students discuss it together. That’s a good way to learn, through hands-on work, a lot of thinking, and communicating with others.”
Program Parameters The FABTECH program was launched in August 2007 with a certification series of courses focused on four career tracks. After the first period ended in December, students had the option of leaving school and beginning a career as a rental service technician for FABCO Rents. Responsibilities include scheduled and preventative maintenance and physical inspections on Caterpillar and Allied rental equipment, as well as conducting field service work.
Students could also opt to complete the January-to-April period, qualifying them for work as an engine service technician for FABCO Equipment. These technicians maintain Caterpillar diesel engines by completing inspections, preventative maintenance requirements, and engine overhauling, along with engine testing and diagnostics. Students interested in continuing with either construction equipment technology or electric power and marine technology could stay in school for a third period, from April to August. That’s the route Goering chose; he plans to be a construction equipment service technician for FABCO Equipment. He can expect to maintain and perform repairs on building construction equipment, compact construction equipment, and heavy construction equipment. Hartung has his sights set on a position as an electric power generation/marine engine technician for FABCO Power Systems. After completing school, he’ll be removing, installing, overhauling, and repairing engines, generators, and engine components.
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Heavy-Duty Options While FABTECH is a new addition to the FVTC curriculum, diesel-based programs have had a home at the College for 50 years. FVTC’s one-year Diesel Equipment Mechanic program offers a technical diploma while the newer, two-year Diesel Equipment Technology program results in an associate degree. The Diesel Equipment Technology program is similar to FABTECH with one important distinction. “The diesel program is concentrated on trucks while FABTECH concentrates on offroad equipment,” explains Dan Poeschel, department chair of the Diesel and Truck Driving programs. “There are opportunities for graduates to work with highway trucks, agriculture equipment, marine equipment, off-road equipment, power plants, generators in hospitals, recreational vehicles, and anything else that has a diesel engine.” The Diesel Equipment Technology program includes a one-semester, 14-credit Electrical Power Generator Service Technician certificate. “Students who choose to be electrical power generator service technicians can easily find work maintaining power generators,” Poeschel says. “Since 9/11, the number of generators produced has increased unbelievably because new laws require businesses to have a stand-by generator to run elevators and other equipment, so people could get out in case of a power shutdown.” The Electrical Power Generator Service Technician certificate program, which started in the fall of 2007 in response to needs in the marketplace, trains students to be proficient with a wide variety of generator brands. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the program is its instructors: Kurt Eastling of Total Energy Systems, and Mike Moore of Baldor Electric Company. Eastling and Moore are the only two people in Wisconsin certified by the Electrical Generating Systems Association, the world’s largest organization exclusively dedicated to on-site power generation. For more information, call (920) 735-5750 or visit www.fvtc.edu/diesel.
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human resources manager. The approach works. “It’s amazing to see the students’ maturity level rise after just a few months in the program,” says Joe Berhausen, FABTECH’s lead instructor. “You The latest technology welcomes FABTECH students. can see them grow, technically and “Power generation is a high-demand, professionally. They’re dedicated to their growing field and there’s only a handful craft, dedicated to learning, and of generator schools in the United dedicated to being the best they can be.” States,” he says. “It seemed like it would offer a lot of advancement opportunities State-of-the-Art Equipment in the future.” and Commitment FABTECH students do not have to There are few corporations quite like invest thousands of dollars for lab tools. FABCO. “Caterpillar is the leading Matco Tools, a Stow, Ohio-based manufacturer of equipment in the manufacturer and distributor of world,” Bailey says. “If you want to professional tools and toolboxes, work, for example, in the construction provides tools valued at more than business as a service technician, we are $9,000 for each FABTECH student to the ultimate landing place.” use in the lab at no charge. Upon FABCO is deeply invested in every graduation, the company also offers as aspect of the FABTECH program. In much as a 60% discount on the tools to addition to generous financial the students. contributions, it also provides critical input to ensure relevancy and validity of curriculum content. “Direct As technology communication with FABCO service managers helps us continuously improve becomes more this program,” Berhausen says. specific to industry, FABCO also supplies state-of-the-art equipment to FABTECH, an advantage this is a great way for over competitive programs that often use the College to continue outmoded equipment. “The technology included in machines today is to feed the pipeline significant,” Bailey says. The number of students will vary from with skilled workers. year to year depending on FABCO’s need for technicians, which account for a third Dr. Susan May of the company’s approximately 600 employees. All FABCO technician students are currently male, although Raising the Bar High two women have already been accepted In addition to technical skills, the in the FABTECH program for the students also develop valuable leadership 2008-09 academic year. and communication skills to prepare “Partnerships like this are the future of them for on-the-job interactions with technical education,” says Dr. Susan colleagues and customers. Each week, a May, FVTC’s executive vice president different student functions as lab and chief academic officer. “As supervisor, which enhances his or her technology becomes more specific to ability to relate to supervision from both industry, this is a great way for the sides of a manager’s desk. College to continue to feed the pipeline “We are preparing these students for with skilled workers.” professional positions, so we expect them to develop behaviors that you would see For more information, visit in a professional setting at one of our www.fabco.com. locations,” says Bob Bailey, FABCO’s
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Fox Valley Technical College
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Q&A with Mike Fox, vice president and general manager of Time Warner Cable’s Northeast Wisconsin Division.
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By Vicki Stavig Mike Fox is the vice president and general manager of the Northeast Wisconsin Division of Time Warner Cable, located in Kimberly. It’s an enormous job; he oversees more than 500 employees who serve more than 600,000 customers throughout Wisconsin, from Kenosha/Racine to Marinette. We sat down with Mike recently for a quick chat about why he chose FVTC and his experiences at the College, past and present.
When and why did you attend FVTC? I attended from 1979 to 1981. It was local, well regarded, affordable, and didn’t require four years to earn a reputable degree. My cousin was also attending FVTC.
What degree did you earn? Electronics looked like it had a future in the business world, so I earned a degree in Electronics Technology. With the help of FVTC ’s Student Employment Services office, I earned a job with GE Medical Systems in New Berlin, Wisconsin. I was a technician, testing and certifying CT X-ray scanners before they were shipped to hospitals around the world. The opportunity, friends, and knowledge I gained at this job remain important to me. My degree was a springboard to many new opportunities. Electronics provided the technical background that I needed to succeed in many roles.
What challenges and opportunities do you face in your job? We are experiencing increased competition in the marketplace from other programming and entertainment
My degree was a springboard to many new opportunities.
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Mike Fox
providers. This competition brings opportunity to increase and improve the customer experience that Time Warner Cable provides. We are building a state-of-the-art, LEEDcertified [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; a rating system for environmentally sustainable construction] building on the south side of Appleton and will move in before the end of the year. Our goal is to double our workforce in the Fox Cities area from just two years ago, which will go a long way in improving our customers’ experiences with our many cool products.
How did FVTC help you get to where you are today? In 1979, computers and automation were just beginning to have a big impact on the business community. FVTC’s Electronics program opened my eyes to a whole new world. It gave me the foundation I needed to work and succeed in the medical and telecommunications fields.
When and why did you become a member of the FVTC Foundation Board? My career has taken me from the Fox Cities to Milwaukee to various cities in California to Minneapolis. Twenty-five years later, I returned home to the Fox
Cities. It was the least I could do for the college that launched my career.
What do you do in your spare time? I enjoy taking family trips and hanging around with my three young ladies—my wife, Cindy, and two daughters, Kaeli, 14, and Kiana, 11. I enjoy traveling to exotic places; standing on the Great Wall and overlooking China and Mongolia remains one of my favorites. Snowmobiling and motorcycling are also great get-away moments.
Career Focused
> > >
92% of FVTC alumni are employed within six months after graduation. The number of FVTC graduates has increased nearly 25% in the last five years. The average starting salary of a 2007 FVTC graduate is nearly $33,000 a year.
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Source: 2008 Fox Valley Technical College Graduate Employment Research Report.
For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/alumni.
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By Mary Lahr Schier
by Design BETTER Fox Valley Technical College grad Kris Figy has found her niche enhancing office spaces for Wisconsin’s top companies. FVTC grad Kris Figy’s personal design style is what you might call eclectic. Her approach is to blend traditional furniture with modern elements to create a home environment that’s comfortable, kid-friendly (she has three), and sharp. She describes it as
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“traditional with a twist.” At work, though, Figy is all business, designing office spaces that reflect the style and brand of her clients. As a designer for Green Bay-based VerHalen Commercial Interiors, she creates spaces that are productive as well as goodlooking. Working as a commercial interior designer is more than picking out office chairs and selecting wall colors, she notes. It’s a career that requires computer skills and business savvy as well as a keen eye for designs that meet client expectations. At 42, it’s Figy’s third career. It’s one that she finds demanding, yet satisfying.
Fox Valley Technical College
The right
A new
Figy’s first degree was in home economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She worked for a few years as a residential interior designer, mostly with kitchens. As much as she enjoyed the field, she wanted to try teaching. So she returned to the classroom, earning a master’s degree in elementary education from Elms College in Massachusetts. But after eight years of teaching, she found the job emotionally demanding, especially as her own family grew to three children, now ages 13, 10, and 5. For a time, she was a stay-at-home mom, but eventually decided to return to work. “I wanted to get back into a creative field,” she says, “and give all my kid energy to my own kids.” While she had experience in design, she also wanted to refresh her skills. She began looking for a training program that would offer her rigorous coursework, along with a schedule that was convenient for her family. She found it at FVTC and began taking a few credits at a time. At first, she worried about being the only person with significant work experience in her classes, but soon discovered that fear was unfounded. “About one-third of Interior Design students are adults wanting to change careers,” says Kathy McDonald, instructor and department chair of the program. “FVTC was a really good experience,” Figy says. “As someone going back into school, I wasn’t sure if everyone would be 20 years old. But that wasn’t the case at all. My closest girlfriends now are all designers who I met at FVTC.” In addition, her youngest son attended the College’s Parent/Child Center, which “was a terrific perk for the program,” Figy adds. “It is a wonderful child care center and it was great having him so close while I was just down the hall.” The support network was vital for Figy as she juggled the competing demands of coursework and family. “Balancing school and home life was a challenge,” she says. “Finding quiet time to do the work when you have children can be a little difficult.”
While Figy entered FVTC with the intention of going back into residential design, she found herself gravitating toward commercial work. “The coursework in the program covers the basics for either field,” she says, “everything from computeraided design to color theory to rendering and drafting.” Students usually do an internship as they reach the end of their program. Figy interned with Building Services Inc. (BSI), an Appleton-based commercial design firm, and then was hired by BSI as she finished her program in 2006. Later, she attended the NeoCon World Trade Fair, an annual trade show and meeting for interior designers, where she heard about jobs in the commercial design field. Before she knew it, she was part of the three-person design team at VerHalen Commercial Interiors, which provides design and office furnishings, walls, ceiling tiles, and other products for a wide range of businesses. Figy’s experience is typical of FVTC students. “We work with a lot of different types of businesses,” says McDonald. “Many students find their niche through an internship.”
focus
fit
Designing Graduates Like Kris Figy, graduates of FVTC’s Interior Design program tend to find careers quickly after graduation. A survey of the program’s 2007 graduates found that nearly 100% of the ones who looked for work found employment; two-thirds were employed full-time and one-third part-time. Of the employed students, salaries ranged from $19,000 to $45,000 a year. Ginny Sattler, associate dean of FVTC’s Business, Health and Services division, notes that many of the students are like Kris Figy in that they already have college degrees or work experience. “We’re getting more and more students who want specific training to help them get jobs,” she says. “Life-long learning is very true for our students.” Kris Figy
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Beyond
Design on Display
fabrics
Television design shows may make it look like interior designers spend their time shopping and looking fabulous. “In reality, the work is as much about customer service and number crunching as it is about fabrics and paint colors,” Figy says. Projects range from designing an office space for a one- or twoperson company to laying out more than 100 workstations for a large corporation. Depending on the time of day, she may be working on her computer, developing plan views and threedimensional drawings to let clients and installers know how a space might look, or pricing products and developing a design that reflects a company’s image and brand. “Every day is a little different,” she says, noting that’s one reason she enjoys her job. When working with a client, Figy first learns about the company’s space needs and budget parameters. Does it want desks and chairs or systems furniture for cubicles? If she is designing a reception station, she’ll need to find out how many people might work there and how the company wants to greet its customers. Once space planning is complete, she’ll begin to lay out the furniture and get into the details of finishes. “For some jobs we are selecting finishes such as carpeting and wall colors,” she says. “A lot of companies are budget-conscious these days, so we also have to work within what they want to spend.” As a commercial designer, she also needs to be mindful of the client’s image and brand to ensure that the design reflects the company’s values. Case in point: A recent project involved designing an acoustical panel for a meeting room with 16-foot-high ceilings. The client’s overall space design reflected the Mission style of the early 20th Century. In keeping with that, Figy designed a pattern for the panels that mimicked a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed stained glass pattern. She selected fabric for the panels that was reflective of the period and flowed with the existing finishes.
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Interested in design? You can see what it’s all about at the Fox Valley Technical College Annual Design & Portfolio Show. Each year, FVTC’s Interior Design program students unveil their designs at two portfolio shows, in May and December. “FVTC invites potential employers and the public to view the designs in a setting that is much like an art show,” says Kathy McDonald, department chair of the Interior Design program. “The College’s Interior Design graduates enter a wide variety of fields from kitchen and bath design to floral design to retail visual display,” McDonald adds. The great diversity in the field can be seen in the show, which features a variety of projects from graduates. For more information on show dates and times, call (920) 735-2501.
The Gallery at FVTC’s Appleton campus
For another client, Figy created a modern look throughout the company’s interior spaces, including conference rooms, waiting areas, private offices, and open-floor plan offices. “I needed to work with the client’s existing space and finishes to help create a more consistent, modern look,” she says. “And I had to do it all while meeting the client’s tight time frame for completing the project.” She also notes that while commercial spaces are not as influenced by fashion as residential design, they do respond to trends. Lately, companies have been seeking lighter, warmer colors in their spaces, along with furniture that allows for flexibility. Modular carpeting tiles are a popular item, she adds, because they can be installed quickly, replaced easily if soiled, and have a wide range of color options. But the biggest trend in office design, as well as residential design, is a greater emphasis on sustainability. More companies want to use “green” products that do not harm the natural environment or create potential health hazards in the work environment. Figy is excited about her new career. She’s had additional training in designing health care spaces and is now working with one of VerHalen’s sales representatives to develop that aspect of the company’s business. “The people here are wonderful to For more information, visit work with,” she says, “and we have www.fvtc.edu/interiordesign. a beautiful facility.” As a designer, she should know.
Fox Valley Technical College
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The gift laid the cornerstone of private funding for the dining remodeling project.
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Chef Jeff Igel Department Chair, Culinary, Hotel and Restaurant Management
Student Chanda Foley (left) and Ione Berg.
Recipe for Success The support of former FVTC employee Ione Berg helped initiate big changes to the College’s Culinary, Hotel and Restaurant Management program. By Vicki Stavig It was the perfect job for Ione Berg. Raising seven children, she spent much of her time in the kitchen—planning menus, preparing meals, and feeding her growing family. It was only natural then when she decided to look for a part-time job in 1988, she would find what she wanted in the kitchen at FVTC. “I started as a dishwasher and did all kinds of things, including serving, cooking, running the deli, and putting together setups for meetings,” Berg says. “I was a multitasker. We worked hard, but we had fun.” In 2002, 14 years after taking that job, Berg sold some property near the College and decided to retire. “When I sold it, it didn’t make sense to work anymore,” she says. “When the College needed help redoing the dining room, I said I’d be interested in helping.” She wasn’t kidding. Berg committed to donating $50,000 toward the project ($10,000 a year for five years), and the College raised another $60,000 to establish a student-run restaurant called, not surprisingly, Ione’s Dining Room. Ione’s gift was in addition to four annual Ione Berg scholarships for Culinary Arts and Hotel & Restaurant Management students. “The gift laid the cornerstone of private funding for the dining room remodeling project,” says Chef Jeff Igel, FVTC’s department chair of Culinary, Hotel and Restaurant Management. “Given that we are a public institution, it was difficult to secure the type of funding we needed to do the dining room the way we wanted. We embarked on a private fundraising campaign that netted us in excess of $110,000 to take our project to the next level. Restaurant
Operations, the course that is housed in Ione’s Dining Room, is the capstone course of the College’s Culinary Arts program. Students are expected to bring all their skills together there, including all the cooking components, as well as management and leadership.” “Ione’s gift provided immeasurable support to the FVTC Foundation and our partnership with the College,” says Deb Woodworth, FVTC’s development manager. “The gift started the restaurant upgrade project without impacting the College budget. Ione is very proud of her affiliation with FVTC and enjoys giving back to the institution that provided benefits and income to her family.” Thanks to Ione Berg’s gift, those students, as well as staff, faculty, and members of the community have the opportunity to enjoy delightful meals in the new dining room. Ione’s features an appealing and ever-changing menu, from casual brunches to classical tableside French cuisine. “I’m spoiled eating there,” Berg says. “I’m German and I love the German food.”
Invest in Someone’s Future When you contribute to the FVTC Foundation, you invest in tomorrow’s workforce. Ways to give include: • Gifts of cash, stocks, annuities • Gifts to support programs or departments • Event sponsorship • Planned giving. Your gift can support scholarships, student projects, or the purchase of cutting-edge equipment or supplies. Consider a gift today! The FVTC Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization and charitable donations are fully tax deductible.
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To see how easy it can be, go to www.fvtc.edu/foundation.
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Students discover that learning opportunities abound at Fox Valley Technical College—both in and out of the classroom. By Dan Heilman Part of FVTC men’s basketball coach Glen Orsburn’s job is to make sure his players know what they’re doing on the court. But an equally important part is making sure they know what they’re doing off the court. Orsburn is a firm believer in skill building. He is proactive in making sure the lessons learned at every level of the college experience translate into the workplace later on. “I believe the biggest thing in both cases is preparing to be successful,” he says. “In basketball practice you prepare for the games. And in class you prepare for a career.” As an instructor in FVTC’s Information Technology department, Orsburn has many opportunities to teach life lessons to both his students and his players. And very often, he finds those lessons are remarkably similar. Mike Chivington, a 19-year-old student from Oshkosh, learned that firsthand. A member of the basketball team, Chivington is studying Web Development & Design, and hopes to
have his degree by 2009. “Some of the guys from the IT department were on the team, so that helped us work toward our goals—we already knew each other and were friendly,” Chivington says. “I am now a better communicator from being on a team and working toward a career in IT.” Sometimes the lessons learned on the court can pay unexpected dividends. That’s what Aaron Gillum discovered last year when he was unexpectedly put in a position of authority on the team. “I was co-captain my first year,” recalls Gillum, a 19-year-old Green Bay native. “That was a little unusual. The fact that I was a co-captain and also the youngest person on the team meant I had to work harder to get people’s respect. That was a good lesson.” Gillum quickly learned to lead by
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE POST-CRESCENT
Life Lessons
FVTC men’s basketball team recently completed its second season.
example. “I learned that actions speak louder than words, and you can’t force people to respect you,” he says. “When the other players saw how hard I was willing to work, I think that helped to establish me as a leader.” While pursuing a General Studies transfer certificate with aspirations to become a teacher, Gillum is looking forward to applying the lessons he learned both in class and on the basketball court. “It’s not much different in real life than it is on the court— a lot more gets done when everyone pulls together,” he says.
Student-athlete Aaron Gillum.
Building Blocks FVTC offers plenty of opportunities for students to develop the skills they’ll need in the workplace, while having fun at the same time. • The College has 43 student organizations, all of which help students develop and refine their communication, organizational, and conflict-resolution skills. • Through volunteering in their local community with friends, or joining fellow classmates on service trips to destinations like Jamaica and Chicago, FVTC students develop hands-on leadership skills during these life-changing experiences.
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• In addition to competitive men’s basketball, participating in intramural athletics fosters teambuilding skills. • FVTC’s Student Government Association is fertile ground for cultivating a skill set called for in today’s workplace.
Fox Valley Technical College
Study Abroad! Immerse yourself in the experience of other cultures and countries through one of many study abroad programs.
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For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/global.
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For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/studentlife.
Shine
Students in Global
Spotlights Students enrolled in FVTC’s Printing and Publishing program won the Best Use of MetalFX in Education award at the 2007 International Printer and Design Agency of the Year Awards competition. The student team was one of only two winners from the United States. They received the award for a 2008 calendar entitled “Printing with Metal,� which employed silver metallic ink to produce striking images. FVTC Agriculture students placed in four different categories—including two first place honors—at the annual national Postsecondary Agriculture Student competition in Dallas. Competitions and placements included: Crop Specialist Team: First Place to Robert Laubenstein and Craig Rieckmann, and Third Place to Nathan Knaack and Jason Muck. Crop Specialist Individual: First Place to Robert Laubenstein, and Third Place to Nathan Knaack. Employment Interview: Third Place to Jason Muck. Dairy Specialist Individual: Third Place to Alex Geiser.
FVTC’s international award-winning Printing and Publishing program team members (front row, left to right): Jesse Dart; Dale Drake, instructor; John Prost; (back row, left to right): Tim Bieritz, Liz Ewald, Kyle VandenBoogaard.
National Agriculture winners from FVTC (left to right): Jason Muck, Nathan Knaack, Alex Geiser, Craig Rieckmann, Robert Laubenstein.
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Fox Valley Technical College 1825 N. Bluemound Drive P.O Box 2277 Appleton, WI 54912-2277
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