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New statewide role continues history of economic growth for Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center

giffeyt — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

New statewide role continues history of economic growth for Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Centergiffeyt October 22, 2026

WisMOC leads effort that helps state manufacturers increase, retain $44M in sales annually

Tom Giffey

Building on more than 30 years of proven results – including creating or retaining more than 34,000 jobs and generating $8.9 billion in economic impact while serving more than 575 manufacturers annually – the Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center (WisMOC) at �� Polytechnic is poised to increase its statewide impact under new Center Director Joylynn Gilles.

The roots of the federal Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in Wisconsin go back to 1994 when the first state MEP office was created at �� Polytechnic. WisMOC stepped into a statewide leadership role earlier this year as manager of the MEP program statewide. The university was awarded a five-year, $19 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce ��. National Institute of Standards and Technology MEP National Network. The grant program ��. primary mission is to strengthen and empower small- and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers through state-designated MEP Centers across the United States.

WisMOC Center Director Joylynn Gilles

Gilles, who became center director of WisMOC in June, has been involved with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program for more than a decade. Gilles describes her role as serving as the “eyes and ears” of the program around the state, making connections and raising the profile of the WisMOC with manufacturers.

“I talk with stakeholders about the Wisconsin manufacturing ecosystem and advocate for Wisconsin manufacturing in general,” she said. “I also work with manufacturers and connect them with the right resources, both the resources we offer and the ones that are outside of our scope.”

Nationally, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership was created to connect American industry with technological advancements, which is achieved through on-the-ground work with clients. �� Polytechnic has been home to what is now known as the WisMOC for more than 30 years. Under the new structure, the WisMOC is the state ��. primary award holder and coordinating entity while also providing services to manufacturers in a 33-county area in the state ��. northwest. WisMOC works with Madison-based Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP), a subrecipient and key partner in delivering statewide services.

�� gets $19 million federal grant to manage statewide manufacturing program

MOC gets federal designation as Wisconsin ��. statewide leader in supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers

WisMOC and WMEP staff serve manufacturers around Wisconsin, helping them boost efficiency, spark innovation, and increase their competitiveness. In 2025 alone, clients recorded that working with the WisMOC and WMEP helped them increase or retain $44.4 million in sales, invest $18.1 million in their businesses, tally $4.9 million in cost savings or avoided unnecessary spending, and create or retain 300 jobs.

“There ��. a long history across the state of impacts for manufacturers,” Gilles said. “We, unlike any other consultant, are judged at the federal level and the state level based on the impacts we provide to manufacturers and the state.”

The WisMOC connects small and medium-sized businesses with the critical resources needed to thrive in a competitive global market. Support includes lean manufacturing, supply chain development and workforce acceleration. The center ��. specialized training and continuous improvement programs are customized to fit a manufacture ��. unique business objectives. A broad range of services and programs are offered with an emphasis on six critical areas: Continuous Improvement, Growth & Exporting, Supplier Development, Sustainability, Technology Acceleration and Workforce.

Executive Director of Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement Seth Hudson

According to Seth Hudson, Executive Director of Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement at �� Polytechnic, among the goals of the WisMOC is positioning the state ��. small and medium manufacturers to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy by advancing awareness, adoption and implementation of transformative technologies such as AI, quantum computing and fusion. Through coordinated industry engagement, workforce development and technology road mapping, WisMOC helps create a stronger, more innovative and globally competitive manufacturing sector.

The WisMOC has recently selected a statewide group of business and public-sector leaders to serve on an advisory committee to help guide its operations. The committee is chaired by Jeff Clark of Waukesha Metal Products with Marcease Warren of Sentry Equipment as vice-chair. Other advisory committee members include �� Polytechnic Chancellor Katherine Frank, Ruth Barratt of Milwaukee School of Engineering, Brian Binczak of 3M, Brad Dorff of United Steelworkers, Melissa Hunt of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, Kelly Ingli of OEM Fabricators, Kevin Lien of Middleby Ice Solutions, Chris Martin of the Wisconsin Technical College System, Melinda Osterberg of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Sachin Shivaram of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry, Frank Scholz of NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, Todd Zakreski of Husco Automotive, and a representative from of the Universities of Wisconsin.

Manufacturing Outreach Center

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New statewide role continues history of economic growth for Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center

WisMOC leads effort that helps state manufacturers increase, retain $44M in sales annually

�� gets $19 million federal grant to manage statewide manufacturing program

MOC gets federal designation as Wisconsin ��. statewide leader in supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers

Wisconsin manufacturing leaders unite to accelerate AI adoption across the state

MKE Tech Hub, WMEP and �� form strategic partnership to support mid-market manufacturers

WisMOC leads effort that helps state manufacturers increase, retain $44M in sales annually osseo_plastics_picture_2.jpg

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Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center

Helping Wisconsin manufacturers grow, increase profits, and compete in the global marketplace.

Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement

��'s Office of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement is your go-to organization for connecting business and community with our extensive resources.

Search Keywords: Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach CenterManufacturing Extension Parternship

Joylynn Gilles

Full Name: Joylynn Gilles

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Explore Minnesota website, neighborly campaign honored for promoting ‘Star of the North™’

goersab — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Explore Minnesota website, neighborly campaign honored for promoting ‘Star of the North™’goersab October 21, 2026

M.F.A. graduate student Graves’ design, research helping broaden state marketing office ��. nationwide reach

Abbey Goers

Minnesota ��. got stuff going on. From its tight-knit Twin Cities communities bursting with culture, music, museums and fine arts galore, to the quiet of the Boundary Waters and North Shore, the hustle of the Mall of America, and the wonders of more than 60 state parks.

Explore Minnesota has recently seen a surge in user activity on its website as potential visitors discover the “Star of the North.” Thanks to the organization ��. award-winning website redesign, the time of the average user session increased by more than 80%; AI search visibility grew from 26 million to more than 115 million, placing Explore Minnesota first in its top five state competitive set; and its accessibility and core web vitals are achieving a near-perfect score.

For its efforts, Explore Minnesota received a WebAward for Outstanding Website from the Web Marketing Association. The competition is the premier award recognition program for website developers and the online marketing community.

Explore Minnesota's website homepage after (left) and before (right) its redesign. / Melanie Graves

Explore Minnesota was also a finalist in the U.S. Travel Association ��. ESTO Awards for its standout destination marketing initiative “Come Visit Your Neighbors in Minnesota.” The initiative highlighted Minnesota ��. resilience and values around inclusion and aimed to drive visitors to local businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge, a coordinated federal immigration enforcement operation beginning in late 2025 and intensifying through early 2026.

Both the website redesign and the neighbors initiative reflected Explore Minnesota ��. “Star of the North” brand, aimed at attracting visitors from around the world and recruiting top talent to relocate to Minnesota.

Among the Explore Minnesota team leading the organization ��. website redesign and marketing campaigns is Senior Graphic Designer Melanie Graves, a Master of Fine Arts in design student at �� Polytechnic. Graves designs national ads for Explore Minnesota, creates content for its social media accounts and helps to produce the annual Minnesota Travel Guide.

Explore Minnesota's 'Come Visit Your Neighbors in Minnesota' digital billboard in New York City / Melanie Graves

“Destination marketing, at its best, is not about selling a place. It is about reflecting a place honestly and inviting people into it. For years, Explore Minnesota has been building the ‘Star of the North’ brand around exactly that principle: authentic storytelling, real community voices, and a commitment to showing Minnesota as it actually is rather than as a marketing construct,” Graves said.

Redesigning Explore Minnesota

As AI search began to impact organic traffic, Explore Minnesota ��. goals to keep users on-site longer and to provide a faster, more seamless user experience were paramount to the website redesign.

Keeping its core audiences top-of-mind, the organization internally designed a refreshed website that kept the same essential infrastructure but completely overhauled the user experience and visual look and feel, aligning with its current branding and fully integrating its “Star of the North” campaign.

“As the digital world quickly evolves to be algorithmic and AI-centered, Explore Minnesota recognizes that destination websites must evolve with it. But instead of chasing trends, we gathered direct feedback from users about their experiences with the website, analyzed user behavior to better understand how people interact with it, and used those insights to create a more intuitive, accessible experience that better meets their needs,” Graves said.

Creating an impression: Master's in design student ��. typography featured in international textbook

Graves’ design ‘Create’ celebrates beauty and power of art

Two years before the redesign began, Explore Minnesota engaged in a wraparound analysis of its site performance. This combined direct feedback from website visitors with behavioral insights to understand how people interacted with the site, where they encountered challenges, and how Explore Minnesota could improve navigation, content organization and overall design.

“By combining these methods, we were able to discern how different users used our site, where they got stuck, what worked well, and where we had opportunities to improve the overall experience,” said Graves, who conducted a survey of Explore Minnesota email subscribers as part of her coursework for the Improving the User Experience Certificate at �� Polytechnic. “I used the findings from that research, along with input from the Explore Minnesota digital team, to inform a more user-focused and accessible design.”

From that process, with Graves taking on the visual element of the redesign, Explore Minnesota upgraded its website to include clear navigation and uplift the most popular destinations and attractions to the forefront.

Designed for potential travelers and new residents, businesses, and Minnesotans who explore the website often, the website ��. “top hits” are easily searchable and offer in-depth, robust content. The website is also both desktop- and mobile-friendly.

“As AI continues to change how people find and engage with information online, our new website provides a stronger foundation to meet their needs. It makes it easier for users to find the information they’re looking for, explore what Minnesota has to offer, and discover experiences they might not have known about before,” Graves said.

‘Come Visit Your Neighbors in Minnesota’

Explore Minnesota ��. “Come Visit Your Neighbors in Minnesota” initiative was recognized among U.S. Travel Association ��. Bridging Communities Award nominees. The initiative was created in response to the social and economic disruption to communities across the state caused by Operation Metro Surge.

Estimated damages to the Minneapolis economy alone exceeded $203 million, with $106 million in lost wages in the metro area. But the impact was not confined to urban areas. Explore Minnesota ��. own February 2026 survey data found that half of the businesses reporting impacts were located outside the Twin Cities, in northeast, southern, central, and northwest Minnesota.

“Even in challenging moments, Minnesotans showed what it means to be good neighbors. Across the state, communities came together to support one another, demonstrating the resilience and sense of connection that make Minnesota special,” Graves said.

Explore Minnesota's 'Come Visit Your Neighbors in Minnesota' digital billboard in New York City / Melanie Graves

For the initiative, Explore Minnesota leveraged in-house creative production capabilities, collaborated with community voices, and targeted national media to reach both traditional regional markets and new national audiences. The campaign ran alongside the existing regional spring and summer tourism campaign and delivered engagement across social, out-of-home and earned channels.

The campaign ran messages on six high-profile digital billboard units in New York ��. Times Square; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; Seattle; and Portland, Oregon. A short film captured the meaning of neighborism (a word coined by Adam Serwer of The Atlantic) and featured real places and real people.

The team also created an organic “love letter to Minnesota” social video paired with a message of support. The first line read: “Immigrants are an integral part of Minnesota,” and the send-off was “We Love You, Minnesota,” written in the languages of the top five immigrant groups in the state, as well as Dakota and Ojibwe.

Its organic social media posts on Instagram hit nearly 295,000 views in less than two weeks, and on the paid social side, the campaign generated 885,488 impressions.

“With engagement rates nearly six times industry benchmarks, this campaign helped cement Minnesota as the most welcoming destination in the United States at the very moment the rest of the country was watching. More than a crisis response, the campaign affirmed that Minnesota ��. brand and its strength comes from its people. It let the people of Minnesota share what they are made of and why we are the ‘Star of the North,’” Graves said.

In 2025, Graves’ design “Create” was selected among international submissions for the second edition of the textbook “Mastering Type: The Essential Guide to Typography for Print and Digital Design” by Professor Denise Bosler at Kutztown University. Graves’ design was one of 272 designs, representing artists from 36 countries.

Graves designed “Create” as part of an exercise in illustrated typography in her Digital Illustration class, led by Professor Erik Evensen. It was also showcased in the 2023 Art on Hennepin Avenue, a Minneapolis public art festival sponsored by Hennepin Arts.

“Melanie ��. growth as a student mirrors the growth she's had concurrently in her professional career. She came into M.F.A. design program as an excellent, seasoned designer, and I've been watching her transform over the years into a creative thought leader,” Evensen said.

The M.F.A. in design is part of �� Polytechnic ��. School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. It offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production.

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Explore Minnesota website, neighborly campaign honored for promoting ‘Star of the North™’

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M.F.A. graduate student Graves’ design, research helping broaden state marketing office ��. nationwide reach Explore Minnesota billboard in New York City

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Hero Caption: Split Rock Lighthouse on the north shore of Lake Superior in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

Robert M. Fraher

Robert Fraher is a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Stout. He has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in design with an emphasis in user-experience and a Master of Fine Art degree in graphic design with an emphasis in interactivity, both from the University of Minnesota. Robert ��. research explores how interactive design and digital media can be used to promote individual expression and community involvement. This includes investigating the therapeutic potential of digital media, novel forms of mobile communication, and design for pre-literate audiences. He has exhibited, published, and presented research in the fields of graphic design, art, instructional design, interaction design, creativity, and bereavement studies.

Research Interests: Novel Interfaces, Multi-sensory Stimulation, Visual Language, Design Methodology, Design Pedagogy

Professional Interests: Interactive Design, User-Experience Design, Graphic Design, Motion Graphic Design, Object-Oriented Programming, Usability Testing, Identity and Branding

Full Name: Prof. Robert M. Fraher

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Website: Robert Fraher CV Personal Website

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Degree: Ph.D. Design

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: M.F.A. Graphic Design

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: B.S. Interactive Digital Media Design

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: Specialized Associate in Recording Engineering

University: Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts

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Supporting entrepreneurs: One Drop Refillery benefits from new website built by business, digital technology students

goersab — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:35:55 +0000

Supporting entrepreneurs: One Drop Refillery benefits from new website built by business, digital technology studentsgoersab October 19, 2026

Hudson small business collaborates with capstone class to reach sustainably-minded shoppers

Abbey Goers

A refillery is a relatively new business concept, where customers can bring their reusable containers to refill with essential oils, cleaning supplies, personal care items, or dry goods instead of buying new packaged items. The goal is to live more sustainably and reduce single-use plastics.

As the owner of a new small business, Hudson-based One Drop Refillery, Jennifer Fravel needed to clearly communicate what a refillery is, answer common questions, educate customers about sustainable and healthier living, and make it easy for people to explore products, classes, and ways to shop while continuing to build her new brand.

But before opening her two storefronts – on Sommers Street in North Hudson and on Second Street in downtown Hudson – Fravel needed a website. With the help of a team of business information technology and digital marketing technology capstone students from �� Polytechnic, she was prepared to launch One Drop.

Jennifer Fravel collaborated with BIT and DMT capstone students on One Drop Refillery's new website. / Jennifer Fravel

“The capstone students took my vision and turned it into a website that was both functional and reflective of the One Drop brand. Most importantly for me, I wanted the website to feel welcoming and approachable — not overwhelming — for someone who may be completely new to the refill concept,” Fravel said.

Since opening its doors six months ago, One Drop Refillery customers have refilled 1,270 bottles and counting. Every refill is one less bottle bound for the landfill, and a small step toward a more intentional way of living.

Its website has had more than 2,000 visits from more than 1,200 people, said BIT capstone student Kolton Dupey, director of technology and marketing at Bernicke Wealth Management in Eau Claire.

“More than 80% of visits come from Wisconsin and Minnesota, so the site is reaching the local shoppers it was built for,” Dupey said. “Over the last 30 days, 14% of visitors were returning, higher than nearly 80% of comparable home goods sites. Now that Jenny has real customer data, she can actually see how people are shopping with her and keep refining the site.”

Capstone team members also included Brock Dudley, project manager; Kaylee Sweisford, design and user experience lead; and Molly LaVick, documentation and quality assurance. Dupey served as the team ��. technical lead.

Capturing One Drop ��. current vision and future plans

The capstone team members looked at Fravel ��. business from the perspective of someone who wasn’t familiar with a refillery. They asked questions, researched the industry and audience, and helped identify what information a potential customer would need to understand what One Drop offers.

“That outside perspective was incredibly valuable because, as the owner, I can sometimes assume people understand the concept as well as I do. The students helped me step back and look at my business through the eyes of the customer,” Fravel said.

One Drop Refillery helps people live more sustainably and reduce single-use plastics. / Jennifer Fravel

The students researched Hudson ��. demographics, household income, and the products that sustainability-minded shoppers buy, and used that to build three buyer personas: a busy parent focused on safe products for their family, a wellness shopper who cares about ingredients, and a minimalist who wants zero waste without the hassle.

When the capstone team began their research, One Drop hadn’t opened yet, so there was no sales data or customer list to work from. “We had to build everything around who we expected would shop there. A lot of new businesses skip the step of asking who would actually buy from them, but it shapes everything from the wording on the homepage to how the products are organized. The personas gave us room to be creative with the design,” Dupey said.

Within the website, they built a personality-based product finder, which helps visitors find products that fit their lifestyles based on three quick questions. The website also needed to work well on a phone, as more than 70% of visits to One Drop ��. site come from mobile devices, and it needed to function alongside the business ��. point-of-sale system.

“We chose Wix because it ��. easy to use, could handle both Jenny ��. current vision and her future plans, and would let her update the site herself without needing a developer for every change. Once Jenny approved our initial mockup, I took over client communication, design, and the build, and refined the site through rounds of her feedback and user testing,” Dupey said.

As One Drop Refillery continues to grow, Fravel sees opportunities around marketing, social media, customer research, branding, sustainability education and developing new ways to reach the community. She hopes collaborative opportunities continue, as they create a meaningful connection between students, local businesses and the community.

“I think there are so many opportunities for a business like mine to benefit from both the creativity, fresh perspective and expertise that Stout students can bring to a project like this,” she said. “As a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats. Having a team of students bring their time, creativity, research and fresh perspective to something as important as a website was a tremendous gift. It was also rewarding to watch the students take a real-world business challenge and turn it into an experience where they could apply what they’ve learned.”

Capstone project leads Dupey to launch new business

Dupey had built a few websites on his own before, but One Drop was the first time he’d worked with a real business owner on something that mattered to her.

Since opening its doors six months ago, One Drop Refillery customers have refilled 1,270 bottles and counting. / Jennifer Fravel

“You’re dealing with real feedback, real deadlines and a business counting on the site to work. A website has to be creative enough to catch someone ��. eye, but it also has to make them want to do something. A good-looking site that doesn’t lead anywhere isn’t doing its job. Visitors should be able to tell within a few seconds what the business does and what their next step is, whether that ��. visiting the store, becoming a member or finding a product,” he said.

When the capstone was completed, Fravel asked Dupey to keep helping with the website, which led him to officially start his own business, Dupey Consulting. Since then, he ��. worked on projects for a flooring company and a wedding and decor rental business, and built a software as a service (SaaS) app and a customer relationship management (CRM) system for freelancers.

“I come from a family of small business owners, so I enjoy helping local businesses grow. I’m thankful Jenny gave me the opportunity, and to my teammates for helping get the project off the ground,” he said.

Dupey plans to graduate in 2027. After graduation, he plans to stay in his role at Bernicke Wealth Management and keep growing Dupey Consulting. “I chose BIT because it fit my schedule, came from an accredited university, and lined up with the work I already do every day,” he said. “One thing I’ve noticed is that almost everyone in the program is working full-time while going to school, which says a lot about the people in it and makes the class discussions more grounded in real experience.”

Working with clients in business and industry is part of the applied learning experience at �� Polytechnic, preparing students from Day One to enter the workforce. The university ��. First Destination report shows that 100% of recent BIT and DMT graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, and have average starting salaries of $65,000 and $51,000, respectively.

�� Polytechnic ��. School of Management offers 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates that build students’ leadership skills in business, hospitality and technology innovation, military science, and operations and management fields.

Supporting entrepreneurs: One Drop Refillery benefits from new website built by business, digital technology students

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Hudson small business collaborates with capstone class to reach sustainably-minded shoppers One Drop Refillery BIT capstone project. Photo by Jennifer Fravel.

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Search Keywords: One Drop Refillerybusiness information technologydigital marketing technology

Hero Caption: One Drop Refillery, owned by Jennifer Fravel, now has two locations in Hudson.

Christie Pitzer

I love bringing real into the classroom through industry projects, industry experts and real world business problem solving!

Full Name: Christie Pitzer

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Area of Expertise: Business Information Technology Business Intelligence Data Analytics Data Visualization

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: School of Management Hospitality & Technology Innovation Department

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Degree: M.S. Management Information Systems

University: Northern Illinois University

Degree: B.S. Marketing

University: Illinois State University

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Flexsteel, Ashley, Room & Board, KI among furniture makers benefiting from industrial & product design grads’ skills

giffeyt — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Flexsteel, Ashley, Room & Board, KI among furniture makers benefiting from industrial & product design grads’ skillsgiffeyt October 1, 2026

�� Polytechnic alum on industry publication ��. ‘40 Under 40’ list

Tom Giffey

With creativity shaped by universal design principles and honed by applied learning, graduates of �� Polytechnic ��. B.F.A. industrial and product design program are creating industry-leading furniture designs, producing pieces you may already be working, sitting or sleeping on.

“One of the things that has always stood out to me about Stout's IPD program is that design is deeply connected to engineering, manufacturing and real-world implementation,” said alumnus Brian Linehan, merchandise and design manager at Room & Board in Minneapolis. “The focus extends far beyond aesthetics to understanding how products are built, produced and brought to market.”

In addition to taking leading creative roles at well-known furniture companies such as Ashley Furniture Industries, Flexsteel, KI, and Room & Board, recent industrial and product design graduates have been hired by the likes of Milwaukee Tool, Oshkosh Corporation, Procter & Gamble, Red Wing Shoe Company, Toro Company, and many more. Among IPD majors who graduated in 2024-25, 100% found employment or were continuing their education within six months, and they reported an average annual starting salary of $57,000.

“Great designers understand materials, manufacturing, craftsmanship and the people who will ultimately live with their creations,” said Associate Professor Dan Neubauer, director of the IPD program. “At �� Polytechnic, industrial and product design students develop those skills by working directly with materials, building prototypes, and learning through a process of iteration, refinement, and mentorship. The result is an education that extends beyond their design concepts to a deeper understanding of how products are developed and brought into the world. The alumni featured here demonstrate the impact of that experience. While their careers have taken different paths, they share a common foundation: the ability to transform ideas into tangible solutions and create products that improve everyday life.”

Four alumni of the industrial and product design program recently spoke about how their experience at Wisconsin ��. �� prepared them for success in the furniture industry.

�� Polytechnic industrial and product design alum Alek Eglinton tests a reclining sofa at Flexsteel. / Submitted photo

Alek Eglinton, Flexsteel Industries

Alek Eglinton, a 2013 industrial and product design graduate, was recognized as part of the “next generation of industry leaders” who earned a place on the latest “40 Under 40” list published by Furniture Today.

“Successful product design isn’t about creating something that I would buy,” Eglinton, design manager at Flexsteel Industries, told Furniture Today. “It ��. about understanding the customer, solving their needs and delivering products that fit their lifestyle and expectations.”

In practice, this has meant identifying unmet market needs. For example, a few years ago Flexsteel discovered data about the number of people who sleep in recliners instead of beds, often as a result of sleep-related issues such as sleep apnea or because of recovery and rehabilitation needs. This led to the development of the Zecliner, a line of recliners designed to be bed alternatives.

Alek Eglinton holds his Furniture Today "40 Under 40" award. / Submitted photo

“I just loved working on that project because it was something very new,” Eglinton explained. Helping people with such needs lent extra motivation – and satisfaction – to the project, he said.

Eglinton came to �� Polytechnic with an interest in woodworking, leatherworking and metalworking, and found himself drawn to the applied nature of the university ��. industrial and product design program. His projects at Stout included designing boots for Red Wing Shoes, creating a backpack, building furniture, and even addressing traffic safety for pedestrians.

“Our professors did a good job of forcing us to think and to problem-solve,” Eglinton said. “Obviously, we worked on our technical skills a lot. We did a ton of sketching and model making, but it wasn’t just about visuals; it was challenging the way we think that I really appreciated.”

Eglinton was most interested in designing furniture and went to work for Dubuque, Iowa-based Flexsteel shortly after graduation. Over the course of 13 years, he ��. worked on everything from occasional tables to soft seating to motion furniture, the product category that includes recliners. He ��. also had the opportunity to recruit numerous interns from �� Polytechnic, some of whom became full-time employees.

“What I’ve always loved about recruiting Stout grads is you just know that their skill level is at a certain bar,” he said. “Where Stout has the edge is in the skills that are developed, especially the problem solving.”

The Ashley Furniture design team includes, from left to right, Angel Kraemer, Caleb Toft, Anna Murphy and Liz Engel. Kraemer, Toft and Murphy are all �� Polytechnic alumni. / Submitted photo

Angel Kraemer, Ashley Furniture Industries

�� Polytechnic alumni are well-represented at Arcadia-based Ashley Furniture Industries, the largest manufacturer of furniture in the world. This includes CEO Todd Wanek, a 1988 graduate, as well as dozens of others, including Director of Design and Merchandising Angel Kraemer, a 2011 graduate of the industrial and product design program.

While she originally intended to pursue a graphic design degree, Kraemer discovered industrial and product design by accident when the wrong sticker was put on her binder during orientation. Once she took a few classes, she was hooked.

Kraemer ��. career at Ashley began with an internship in the casegoods design department, which led to a full-time job after graduation. “My internship showed me that you can make dreams happen anywhere,” she said. “In today ��. mobile work environment that ��. truer than ever.”

Over the past 15 years, Kraemer has hired Stout interns nearly every summer as well as numerous Blue Devil alumni as designers. “Not only do I believe in what is supported and taught there but I have seen the determined, smart and passionate students that have been received from Stout,” she said.

As a way of giving back to their alma mater, Kraemer and other members of the Ashley design team have served on the industrial and product design program advisory committee, which also includes design professionals from companies such as Harley-Davidson, Polaris, Trek and Sherwin Williams.

Kraemer said she frequently tells students, “If you ever look at products and think to yourself ‘I have ideas, on how to make products work better, include more features, and be more affordable and aesthetically pleasing,’ and you have the urge to get your hands dirty to make it and see it come to life, than you belong in industrial and product design. That ��. how I knew I belonged here.”

Brian Linehan listens to �� Polytechnic student discuss a furniture design at Room & Board headquarters.

Brian Linehan, Room & Board

Brian Linehan, merchandise and design manager at Room & Board, first enrolled at �� Polytechnic to pursue a degree in graphic design, but changed his mind when he was exposed to the work students were doing in the industrial and product design program.

“I became fascinated by the thought and intention behind everyday products and how design influences the way people interact with the world around them,” Linehan said. “The combination of creativity, problem-solving and tangible outcomes drew me in immediately.”

Linehan recalls how a molded plywood project in late Professor Noah Norton ��. class cemented his interest in furniture. “It opened my eyes to the blend of craftsmanship, engineering and storytelling that exists with furniture design,” he said.

Linehan earned his �� Polytechnic degree in 2010 and joined Minneapolis-based Room & Board in 2015. Soon after, he created a partnership between his employer and his alma mater, which evolved into a furniture-design contest for seniors in the industrial and product design program. Mentors from Room & Board, including Linehan, meet with �� Polytechnic students annually and provide ongoing critiques of their furniture designs. The process culminates in a student visit to Room & Board ��. Minneapolis headquarters, where their final designs are judged. Winners receive cash prizes in exchange for Room & Board reserving the right to manufacture their designs. This year, for the first time, the company added one of the Blue Devil designs to its catalog: a coffee table created by 2024 alum Micah Loder.

The collaboration between the university and the company has led to six summer internships at Room & Board for industrial and product design majors and the hiring of three additional �� Polytechnic alums as full-time designers.

“For Room & Board, the partnership has become an important source of inspiration, creative exploration and talent recruitment,” Linehan said. “The influence of Stout graduates can be seen throughout our design team and product development culture today. Room & Board would be a very different place without their contributions.”

Jordan Dinwiddie, KI

While some industrial and product design alums made their way to the furniture industry after graduating from Stout, Jordan Dinwiddie actually began his career as a furniture maker. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Dinwiddie moved to Minneapolis in his early 20s where he was employed as a woodworker, helping designers produce small batches of fine furniture. He became interested in industrial and product design, and a colleague who taught furniture design at another institution recommended he enroll at �� Polytechnic.

“Right out of the gate it was very clearly a great match for me because of the polytechnic focus,” Dinwiddie said. “I have a passion for craft and understanding the physicality of the objects we interact with, as opposed to looking at a screen or a piece of paper and saying, ‘This thing looks great, but I don’t know how to make it.’”

IPD alumnus Jordan Dinwiddie / Submitted photo

Once he entered the IPD program, Dinwiddie was able to exercise and expand his craft in the Materials & Process Lab. “That is just an unparalleled workshop that we have access to,” he said of the lab. “Most other programs in the country just don’t have that sort of access to real machines and real materials to make things at full scale.”

After receiving his degree in 2024, Dinwiddie went to work for CSI Creative, a Minneapolis-based architectural acoustic company that recruits extensively from �� Polytechnic. From there, he was hired earlier this year by KI, a Green Bay-based firm that creates furniture for educational, health care, corporate and government workplaces. Dinwiddie learned about KI through Design Wisconsin, an annual showcase sponsored by �� Polytechnic, which was most recently hosted at Oshkosh Corporation in May.

Dinwiddie loves his job because it gives him an opportunity to work on a wide range of design projects and even to spend time in the company ��. prototyping lab. “There is a lot of emphasis and value at KI placed on knowing how to make stuff,” he explained. “That polytechnic education is what allowed me to get this job.”

And while he ��. enjoying a career that took him back to the furniture industry, Dinwiddie knows the skills emphasized in Stout ��. industrial and product design program can benefit graduates in many realms. “The industrial design process is universally applicable,” he said. “We weren’t taught so much in school how to design a water bottle, a remote control or a chair. We were taught the process of how to come to a solution, whether it may be a water bottle, a remote control, or now in my case, a chair.”

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�� Polytechnic alum on industry publication ��. ‘40 Under 40’ list Brian Linehan gives feedback at �� Polytechnic

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Hero Caption: Brian Linehan, merchandise and design manager at Room & Board, speaks with �� Polytechnic students about their furniture designs during a campus visit.

Dan Neubauer

Dan Neubauer is an Associate Professor of Industrial Design with over ten years of teaching experience in higher education. His academic and professional focus centers on sustainable design practices, specializing in the application and development of non-petroleum-based materials. Neubauer brings expertise in materials research, manufacturing processes, and furniture design, bridging innovative material exploration with practical, human-centered applications.

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Area of Expertise: Industrial Design Product Design

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Alquist 3D concrete printing technology integrated into academic majors, new industry certificate

giffeyt — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Alquist 3D concrete printing technology integrated into academic majors, new industry certificategiffeyt September 15, 2026

�� Polytechnic's concrete printing capabilities benefit business and industry leaders, students, workforce

Tom Giffey

The term “3D printing” may conjure images of a boxy machine whirring away to create plastic pieces for a hobbyist or small prototypes for factories. Yet additive manufacturing technology has evolved dramatically in recent years, with breakthroughs impacting numerous fields, including construction.

Today, 3D printers can extrude not only slender plastic filaments but also sturdy concrete to create entire structures – up to and including commercial and residential buildings.

�� Polytechnic is at the forefront of the 3D concrete printing (3DCP) revolution, becoming one of the first universities in the Midwest to acquire 3DCP technology through a strategic partnership with Alquist, a leader in the industry.

“This partnership with Alquist aligns directly with our mission to deliver applied, career-ready education,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said. “By bringing 3DCP technology and curriculum to our students, we’re preparing them to lead in a rapidly evolving construction and manufacturing landscape.”

An employee from Alquist, left, talks to members of the �� Polytechnic community about the operation of a 3D concrete printer.

Senior Lecturer Jim Bunkelman

�� Polytechnic is integrating the cutting-edge equipment and curriculum from Alquist into its construction management, technology education, and industrial and product design programs. The relationship with Alquist will help build the workforce infrastructure required to scale robotic construction nationwide.

Among those who have taken part in on-campus 3DCP training is Senior Lecturer James Bunkelman (’00, ’20), president and CEO of Royal Construction in Eau Claire. Few universities or general contractors have access to such equipment, Bunkelman said.

“For industry and business to have a chance to provide input on how and where this technology fits into our daily business life, we need to be able to see and work with it,” he said. “Having access to it firsthand at Stout is the easiest way for us to figure out how this may help us. Labor shortages mean that we have to figure out how to do more with less, and technology like this a key part of the future of construction labor.”

�� Polytechnic faculty and staff members operate the concrete printer.

Certificate program among first of its kind

The new technology has allowed �� Polytechnic to become one of the first educational institutions in the United States to create a 3D Concrete Printing Certificate program. The certificate program will boost workforce skills by providing foundational expertise for both undergraduate students and professionals looking to add high-demand skills to existing careers.

Associate Dean Jennifer Astwood, a professor of industrial and product design and associate dean of the College of Arts and Human Sciences who has coordinated the 3DCP project on campus, has developed the university ��. curriculum and certificate program with Professor Monika Herrmann of the Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering.

Astwood has also coordinated training sessions to expose business and industry representatives, faculty and students to the new technology.

“This summer, we worked on honing our skills with the 3DCP process and printing,” Astwood said. “It requires a lot of material consideration and environmental factors and time. We're getting stronger in our knowledge and more efficient in the process.”

�� Polytechnic is already planning how the new technology will fit into the future of the campus. The Universities of Wisconsin ��. 2027-29 budget request includes funding for a new Built Environment Emerging Technologies Lab to advance the 3DCP lab as a center for emerging technologies in the built environment, providing hands-on, industry-aligned education and workforce training for Wisconsin residents interested in architecture, interior design, industrial and product design, and automation.

Preparation for adopting 3DCP technology began more than a year ago, with support from Associate Professor Kevin MacDonald and Assistant Professor Janelle Skoyen Hestekin, both from the construction management program. Astwood also credits Chancellor Frank and Professor Glendalí Rodríguez, the university ��. former provost, for their strong support of the effort.

�� Polytechnic faculty, staff and others pose with a concrete planter, one of the first items printed with the university's new 3D concrete printer.

Polytechnic printing effort connects to university ��. past

Just after spring semester, dozens of faculty members, students and business representatives gathered in the Jarvis Hall Technology Wing to learn how to use the concrete printer with the help of Alquist trainers.

Concrete was mixed and pumped through an extrusion hose attached to a delivery boom held aloft by a robotic arm. As the arm moved, a print nozzle on the end of the boom looped around in a pre-defined pattern, laying a steady bead of wet concrete. As the shape grew, MacDonald and Associate Professor Dan Neubauer carefully added curved pieces of rebar to reinforce the structure. Others, including Astwood, used tools to smooth the still-wet concrete.

Before long, a large concrete planter had taken shape – a planter that is expected to find a home on campus soon. It ��. just one relatively small example of what the 3DCP technology can do. Alquist ��. printers have been used to create everything from commercial buildings for Walmart to affordable homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Horses pull student-built structures from Ray Hall in 1925 at what was then known as the Stout Institute. / �� Archives

As it engages further with the technology, which was funded by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., �� Polytechnic has similar aspirations. “The long-term goal is that we’ll want to build houses and structures with this,” Astwood said.

Stout carpentry students work on a portion of a gable roof in this 1925 photo. / �� Archives

That would bring the university full circle: In the first half of the 20th century, students at what was then known as the Stout Institute applied their construction skills to the task of building houses for community residents. Between the 1910s and 1950s, as many as 35 to 40 houses were built by students in Stout carpentry classes. Some were built on-site around Menomonie, while others were built inside the since-demolished Ray Hall, then moved – first by horses, then by trucks – to foundations around the city. A century later, some of these charming cottages are still standing, providing another demonstration of the long-term impact of the polytechnic education provided by Stout for 135 years.

Just like moving these houses, preparing the university for 3DCP has been a big lift.

“This is a huge undertaking,” Astwood said. “The work this summer to create the curriculum and to gain expertise with the machinery and technology will ensure a strong future for this project. It takes a village to make this endeavor successful. We coordinated with multiple programs, including construction management, engineering, and industrial and product design.

“A special thank you goes to Monika Herrmann, Kevin MacDonald, Dan Neubauer, Janelle Skoyen-Hestekin, and Michael Miller,” she continued. “Not only were we working to become adept in the technology, we were also working to make sure that the technology was safe and effective to use. Thanks also goes to Brandon Dick, Jim Uhler and Paul Craig for their efforts in this area. We also couldn’t have gotten this project off the ground without the support of Xuedong Ding and Justin Utpadel.”

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�� Polytechnic's concrete printing capabilities benefit business and industry leaders, students, workforce �� Polytechnic staff learn to operate concrete printer

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Jennifer Astwood

Teaching Interests: DES 331 – ID3: Product Interface Design (2 sections) DES 231 – ID2: Ergonomics DES 205 – Design Drawing and Concept Visualization ART 256 – Slip-Casting for Designers and Artists DES 231 – ID1: Product Form and Visualization DES 333 – Professional Practice DES 405 – Advanced Presentation Techniques DES 431 – System, Environment, and Context DES 432 – Theory, Society, and Application DES 712 – Sustainable Design Practice SUST 432/632 – Global Sustainability Experience in Design & Manufacturing

Professional Interests: Skills: Creative Problem-Solving Freehand Sketching/Rendering Sketch Model Making Project Management Sewing

Full Name: Jennifer Astwood

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Degree: M.F.A. Art & Design

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�� Polytechnic announces budget proposals to build state workforce, next generation of businesses

giffeyt — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:10:48 +0000

�� Polytechnic announces budget proposals to build state workforce, next generation of businesses giffeyt August 12, 2026

Chancellor Frank joins other Universities of Wisconsin leaders to discuss Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals

�� Polytechnic Chancellor Katherine Frank joined Universities of Wisconsin Regent President Kyle Weatherly, UWs Interim President Renée Wachter and other university leaders today to announce budget proposals focused on building Wisconsin ��. workforce and the next generation of businesses.

The Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals represent new initiatives from the UWs’ 2027-29 budget request proposal, which the UW Board of Regents will vote on next week. The goal is to create 300,000 career-ready workers, upskill 1 million workers for better jobs and create 2,500 new businesses over a decade.

Chancellor Katherine Frank

“We consistently hear from employers across the state of the need for strategic, high-skilled workers ready to lead emerging technologies like 3D concrete and metal printing, advancing computing, and applied industrial AI,” Frank said. “Wisconsin needs these workers to compete in the global economy, and given the nuanced ethical and environmental considerations that accompany innovation, �� Polytechnic is perfectly positioned to prepare the next generation of leaders.”

UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Thomas Gibson and UW-Parkside Chancellor Lynn Akey joined Weatherly, Wachter and Frank to announce the initiatives. Tech for Tomorrow, Accelerate Wisconsin and other workforce-oriented proposals seek state investment to allow the UWs to help build Wisconsin ��. workforce and the next generation of businesses.

Tech for Tomorrow would speed new technologies from the research lab to commercialization while Accelerate Wisconsin would help entrepreneurs create and expand businesses and develop new products and markets. The other proposals include UW for U, which supports continuing education, online learning, and competency-based education, and U Succeed, which provides student support in academic advising, career counseling, and more.

“The Universities of Wisconsin have long helped Wisconsin address some of its biggest challenges,” Wachter said. “Our budget will offer opportunities to invest in people and education that will help Wisconsin meet its workforce challenges, while providing targeted funds to help grow the next generation of businesses.”

The budget initiatives that would impact �� Polytechnic, outlined below, will reinforce the university ��. polytechnic tenets of Applied Learning & Research and Business & Industry Collaboration.

Applied Learning & Research

• Built Environment Emerging Technologies Lab. Funding will advance �� Polytechnic ��. 3D Concrete Printing Lab as a hub for emerging technologies in the built environment, providing hands-on, industry-aligned education and workforce training for Wisconsin residents interested in architecture, interior design, industrial and product design, and automation. Investment would fund staff as well as additional equipment to enable the university ��. current 3D concrete printer to be portable/moveable to job sites and related activities.

• Advanced Computing & Emerging Technology Lab. Provide introductory quantum computing access via cloud-based platforms as well as high-performance computing resources for simulation and research.

• Re-entry Student Support. These funds would provide significant additional support for re-entry students to promote degree completion and timely graduation rates. �� Polytechnic is already working to re-enroll these students so they can complete their degree. The academic advisor would serve as a continued reference point, working with them throughout their remaining time to ensure they have the proper support for student success.

• Competency-Based Education Infrastructure. �� Polytechnic has been serving working professionals since the initiation of our service-based pricing structures in 1999. With this investment, the university can expand its service-based pricing structures to support competency-based instruction, particularly for working professionals and returning students.

Business & Industry Collaboration

• Stout Applied AI Innovations Hub. The Stout Applied AI Innovations Hub will provide a shared space for applied AI learning, industry collaboration and regional partnership development. It is intended to connect students, faculty, staff, industry and other UW institutions through project-based work, consultation and community-focused programming.

• UW‑Stout Polytechnic Center for Innovation and Development: PROPEL Initiative. The initiative establishes a coordinated student venture studio that will help students move ideas from concept to commercialization through structured, hands-on support. It integrates venture coaching, interdisciplinary faculty-led projects, mentorship, prototyping resources and market access tools to advance student-founded ventures.

“The investments outlined today, along with those of our colleagues throughout the state, are critical to meeting employer demand and keeping Wisconsin competitive,” Frank said. “At �� Polytechnic we remain committed to elevating and accelerating the innovation of entrepreneurs and ensuring that our graduates think ethically, critically, and strategically at the helm of tomorrow ��. technology.”

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Chancellor Frank joins other Universities of Wisconsin leaders to discuss Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals 3D Concrete printer installation May 2026

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Hero Caption: A technician assembles a 3D concrete printer in a �� Polytechnic lab.

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Miron Construction projects give construction students professional experience

giffeyt — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Miron Construction projects give construction students professional experiencegiffeyt July 22, 2026

Construction majors get up-close experience on multimillion-dollar Heritage Hall, Recreation Complex upgrades

Tom Giffey

Two major ongoing construction projects have provided �� Polytechnic students with exceptional applied learning opportunities without having to leave campus.

This summer, 13 �� Polytechnic students are interning with Miron Construction, Co. Inc., general contractor for both the $144.3 million renovation of Heritage Hall and the $31.7 million upgrade of the Recreation Complex. In addition, a recent two-semester master class led by Miron staff members gave students unique access to the Heritage Hall renovation.

“We are proud to maintain a strong relationship with �� Polytechnic, including helping train the next generation of construction professionals through a variety of internships each year,” said Andrew Daniels, senior vice president of the company ��. Eau Claire office. “The ongoing work to transform Heritage Hall and the Recreation Complex has created a unique opportunity to foster these applied learning opportunities right on campus.”

This summer, Miron interns from �� Polytechnic are gaining skills in project management, risk management, network security and technology support. Over the past decade, more than 40 �� Polytechnic students have interned for Neenah-based Miron, one of the largest construction contractors in the Midwest.

Among this summer ��. Miron interns from �� Polytechnic is Tyler Evans of Shawano, who is pursuing a degree in construction management and a minor in construction safety and risk control. As a risk management intern, Evans focuses on maintaining safety both at the Recreation Complex site on campus as well as at Miron projects around western Wisconsin. That means conducting safety walks, performing safety audits and learning the numerous factors on a job site necessary for maintaining safety.

“Safety isn’t just about us being safe and going home and not getting hurt,” said Evans, who will begin his junior year in the fall. “It ��. also about how we can do things easier and faster, but also in the right way where we’re all being safe and taking care of ourselves.”

Tyler Evans, Miron Construction intern and �� Polytechnic construction management major

For Evans, being a risk management intern doesn’t mean sitting in a trailer filling out paperwork. It means getting out on job sites and pitching in alongside the construction crews. “It ��. allowing me to gain the knowledge and experience of what people are doing and what they have to do to make their career,” he said.

This summer ��. internship, he added, will add a great deal of value to his education: Even if he goes on to become a project manager or a superintendent, the internship will have given him a strong understanding of safety. “The biggest thing about this internship is it ��. allowing me to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life,” Evans said.

Miron Construction ��. John Younger, project manager for the Recreation Complex renovation, is a 2011 graduate of the B.S. construction management program, as are many of his coworkers. He said his �� Polytechnic education prepared him for his current role, and he sees Evans getting the same experience on the campus job site.

“Tyler ��. always asking a lot of questions. He ��. trying to get a handle on what we do and why we do it,” Younger said.

On-campus internship leads to full-time job

Every year, the �� Polytechnic Cooperative Education & Internship Program oversees nearly 1,000 co-op and internship experiences. More than one-third of the time, these internships and co-ops lead to job offers – and Miron is no exception.

Consider recent graduate Lucy Krieg of Kaukauna, who received her construction management degree in May and immediately took a job as safety manager for Miron.

Lucy Krieg, safety manager for Miron and recent �� Polytechnic graduate

Krieg ��. journey with Miron began at an on-campus career fair, which led to two consecutive summer internships and then a year-long opportunity to work on the Heritage Hall project as an intern.

“Being able to see things both on the construction site and in the classroom and being able to go back and forth between the two was really important to me,” Krieg said. For example, Krieg could experience something new during her internship, then return to the classroom and ask a faculty member about it. This kind of networking with professors and peers helped fortify the construction knowledge she gained on job sites, Krieg said.

“Looking back, I feel like my internship prepared me exactly how I needed going into my career,” she said. “It gave me the skills and the confidence that I need to back up those skills.”

Sawyer Steineke of Kaukauna is another construction management major who is interning with Miron this summer, working on projects in Green Bay, Kaukauna and elsewhere around the state. Steineke said the internship has given him a deeper understanding of the construction business, “Especially when you get in the field with people who’ve been doing this for the past 30 years.”

Steineke expects to bring his internship experience with him when he returns to class in the fall. “When I get to Heavy Construction and certain classes like that, I’ll have the knowledge that I’ve been on a job that was similar to this,” he said.

Sawyer Steineke, Miron Construction intern and �� Polytechnic construction management major

Likewise, the skills he ��. gained this summer will follow him into his professional life. “If you speak to a lot of construction management majors, they’ll tell you a lot of the things you’re going to bring with you into your future career are going to be learned through these internships,” he said. “So, Stout allowing us to be able to do something like this and get credit for it is a really cool opportunity.”

Miron helps create year-long construction master class

The Heritage Hall project also created the opportunity for a new course that gave students unique access to the site and the construction experts working on it.

When the Heritage Hall project was in its planning stages, Lecturer James Bunkelman of the operations and management department reached out to Holly Nowak, a senior project manager with Miron, to see if he could arrange a site visit for students. Instead of offering only a tour, Nowak suggested creating a master class that would be built around the Heritage Hall project.

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Once a quarter during both the fall and spring semesters, students met for a four-hour class, which began with Miron staff members presenting topics which were then explored on the job site so students could see their real-world application.

“This was polytechnic at its finest. You couldn’t define polytechnic any better than how this class ended up,” Bunkelman said. “It can be very challenging for the students to take the academic side of what we’re trying to teach them and put it into perspective. The goal was to use the fact that Heritage Hall couldn’t be any closer or any better suited for that.”

The course turned out better than Bunkelman could have hoped: Because of the size and complexity of the project, Miron is using cutting-edge technology that might not be found at other job sites, giving students a richer experience. For example, students were able to use a virtual reality 3D model to better understand how site planning works as construction managers determine the placement of construction cranes, parking and pedestrian pathways.

Opportunities for student engagement will continue for the coming semesters, as both construction projects are expected to continue into 2028.

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilities

Renovation, addition funded in part by record-breaking alumni gift

The long-awaited work on Heritage Hall, which opened in 1973 as the Home Economics Building, began last September. The extensive, clean-slate renovation will double the number of students the building will be able to serve to about 4,000. The project was primarily funded through the 2023-25 state budget, with an additional $13.5 million in private funding from university supporters, industry partners and alumni made through the �� Foundation & Alumni Association.

The Recreation Complex project, which began last spring, will add nearly 12,000 square feet of recreation space and renovate an additional 28,000 square feet at the facility, which was built in 1963. The project is primarily funded through student fees as well as a record-setting $5 million gift from alumnus Dallas Pankowski and his wife, Edye, a Menomonie native.

Construction management majors get up-close experience on multimillion-dollar Heritage Hall, Recreation Complex upgrades Miron Construction Scaffolding Training

Heritage Hall Renovation

This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

Recreation Complex Renovation

A new renovated recreation complex to improve the student experience with expanded, improved fitness and recreation space.

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Hero Caption: Miron Construction conducts safety training at �� Polytechnic.

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Video production program work highlights viability of Wisconsin as film hub

goersab — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:00:25 +0000

Video production program work highlights viability of Wisconsin as film hubgoersab June 24, 2026

Students, alums assist in Deming ��. unique medical drama ‘Winter Hymns,’ filmed in Menomonie

Abbey Goers

Los Angeles-based Wisconsin filmmaker Nathan Deming believes that there is an immense, untapped wealth of authentic storytelling in his Midwestern home state, and his goal is to continue highlighting regional characters and communities that audiences instantly recognize.

With his latest film, “Winter Hymns,” Deming also highlighted regional filmmaking talent. His professional crew worked alongside �� Polytechnic video production students and recent graduates: Doran Acero, Braden Borgerding, Parker Cmeyla, Bennett Johnson, Ethan Kulinski, Connor Nelson, Ryan Rumary and Caleb Sander.

“Making movies in the Midwest allows us to capture a genuine, grounded human element that also hasn’t been seen that many times authentically on film before,” said Deming, originally from Tomah.

Bennett Johnson (center left) and Parker Cmeyla (right) on the set of 'Winter Hymns.' / Parker Cmeyla

“Having �� Polytechnic students work alongside a more experienced crew was an incredibly rewarding aspect of this production. The creative energy on set was fantastic because the students brought an immense eagerness to learn, and the professionals involved were incredibly generous with their mentorship,” he said.

“Winter Hymns” was featured at �� Polytechnic ��. 4th annual Unspooled Film & Animation Festival, May 9-10. This year ��. festival placed a strong spotlight on regional talent and locally produced cinema.

Bringing filmmaking to the Midwest

With his creative roots firmly planted in the Midwest, Deming was at the forefront of the movement for Wisconsin ��. new film office, Film Wisconsin. Operated by the Department of Tourism, Film Wisconsin promotes and supports the film and television industry in the state.

The office ��. film tax credit makes $5 million available annually to assist the production of feature and short films, scripted and unscripted television shows, documentaries, broadcast advertisements, and production infrastructure in Wisconsin. The tax credit helps drive economic development, builds long-term investment in Wisconsin ��. creative community, boosts domestic and global reputation and inspires movie tourism in Wisconsin.

Colleen Madden (left) in a scene from 'Winter Hymns.' / Peggy Trojan

Video production Lecturer Co O’Neill believes filmmaking is on the rise in Wisconsin, as productions decentralize from the coasts. “The passing of the film tax credit was a big deal for Wisconsin. Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan already had state film offices. The opportunity upped the profile of people already making movies here. More people now have a platform and are building a state network of resources for local folks,” he said.

Gabe Roeske, a department assistant in the School of Art & Design and 2019 alum, thinks that with the new tax credit being passed, more potential crew coming out of the university ��. video production program, and more independent productions, like “Winter Hymns,” coming to the area, things are starting to move in a positive direction.

“There are already a lot of very passionate and incredibly talented video production people living in Wisconsin,” Roeske said. “They’re people who want to make films just as much as anyone else in the country, and they have the skills to pull it off. Unfortunately, with previous tax laws, lack of film incentives, and just a general lack of productions going on, a lot of people end up moving away in search of video production work.

“Hopefully projects like these, and the work of the video production professors and students, keep the momentum rolling and we can see Wisconsin filmmaking really flourish for the first time,” he said.

Doran Acero assists with sound on the set of 'Winter Hymns.' / Ericka Kreutz

Acero ��. “You Must Destroy,” also featured at Unspooled, was filmed in his hometown of Grand Marais, Minnesota. Having graduated in May, he plans to remain in the region, knowing the rich storytelling culture and wanting to represent on film the places he feels most connected to.

“I am so happy to have been a part of the making of ‘Winter Hymns,’ and I want more films like it to be made here in the Midwest. I love the craft of filming and ideally, I can continue to pursue that here; in a place I love with people I love,” he said.

Bringing filmmaking to Wisconsin is something Johnson believes is “incredibly important, especially given the current state of the film industry. As independent filmmaking continues to grow and with the launch of the film tax credit, many young filmmakers in Wisconsin want our voices to be heard and our work to be seen around the world.

“Our goal is to help attract more film and television productions to Wisconsin and establish the state as a viable production hub,” he said. “Beyond the economic benefits, I think it ��. an opportunity to showcase what Wisconsin truly has to offer. We are more than our accents or the Green Bay Packers – we’re a state with stunning landscapes, unique locations, and diverse, creative people whose stories deserve to be told.”

‘Winter Hymns’ – A golden opportunity

“Winter Hymns,” which was featured on Wisconsin Public Radio, was inspired by Deming ��. father, a family physician who practiced palliative care late in his career. The unique drama, set over the course of a single day in a Midwest hospital, follows a dedicated palliative care doctor, played by Colleen Madden, who meets with a series of dying patients and their families.

Ethan Kulinski and Parker Cmeyla on the set of 'Winter Hymns.' / Parker Cmeyla

Working on a small budget, Deming reached out to O’Neill to see if video production students were available to help. O’Neill ��. small-town connections also served well in helping Deming secure the lease of an affordable office building near the hospital in Menomonie for filming.

“Nathan learned about Stout ��. program and the quality of our students,” said O’Neill, who ��. taught video production for more than 20 years. “They’re composed, professional and excited to be on set. Working on the production of ‘Winter Hymns’ helped the university ��. and the program ��. profile, while giving the students professional experience. It was a symbiotic experience.”

Acero and Johnson joined Deming ��. production team to help with lighting the week before principal photography. As second assistant camera, Johnson was responsible for changing lenses, helping build and prep the camera each day alongside Cmeyla, first assistant camera, and assisting with the on-set camera workflow. Acero served as production assistant, assisted the gaffer, operated the c-camera and ran sound.

Parker Cmeyla (right) on the set of 'Winter Hymns.' / Parker Cmeyla

The students also worked with sound recordist Roeske, who handed the main audio dialogue to a professional post-production sound mixer at Warner Bros.

“As the whole film takes place in a single room, we had to figure out how to make the doctor ��. office visually appealing and squeeze a lot of visual variety out of this one location,” Acero said. “This short stint on an independent production was golden. I picked up so much new terminology, got to use tools that were a step above what I previously had, and I made professional connections that have already benefited me greatly.”

O’Neill added that watching professionals work, like cameraman Leo Purman, was life-changing for the students. “Watching his methods was an immersive experience for them that they wouldn’t have had in the classroom. In these guided experiences, they build soft skills while gaining knowledge of equipment and processes. They understand more and come back to the classroom changed in ways of professionalism,” he said.

Nathan Deming (right) and cinematographer Leo Purman on the set of 'Winter Hymns.' / Nathan Ouellette

2026 Unspooled Film & Animation Festival

The Unspooled Festival recognized outstanding achievements across multiple categories:

Best Documentary: “Making It” by Benjamin Mohr (M.F.A. design student).
Best of the Midwest: “A Date with Your Family” by Joel Sacramento (Madison)
Best Short Film: “Stay” by Aden Gonzalez (Racine)
Best Student Animation: “Badge of the Dead” directed by Hannah Brown (B.F.A. animation student)
Polytechnic Pioneers: “Delivery Life” directed by El Ovall (B.F.A. animation student)
Best High School: “Everything I Am, Everything I’m Not” by 17-year-old Xavier Alexander (Texas)
Best Student Short: “Seeing Diabetes” by Ryan Rumary (B.S. video production graduate)

The festival hosted animation premieres, including “Closet Combat 3” by alum Augustus Hinton, with support from a Minnesota Arts Grant; and “Glow” produced by Professor Jesse Woodward alongside several �� students.

Beyond screenings, the festival offered educational programming and workshops that provided hands-on industry experience to Wisconsin students, including �� Polytechnic students and secondary students from Eau Claire, Mauston and Milwaukee.

Guest speakers included Deming, who discussed the art of cinema and regional production, drawing on his decade-long “The Year Project” and his upcoming, untitled Wisconsin thriller. Jeff Kennel, an immersive documentary and editorial filmmaker who has documented conflict, post-disaster recovery, and poverty across 11 countries for NGOs like Americares, alongside commercial work for Trek Bikes and NMDP.

Eau Claire-based filmmaker Tim Schwagel joined the festival to share his invaluable expertise on the art of the short film. Guest speaker Hinton offered audiences an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at his creative process. Bowling Green State University animation instructor Rachel Immel, Sacramento, and alum Reed Theship-Rosales led hands-on mentorship sessions for students.

The 2026 Unspooled Film and Animation Festival was supported by a $10,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation and the Modern Language Association.

�� Polytechnic ��. School of Art & Design offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, and an M.F.A. in design.

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Hero Caption: Nathan Deming (center left) directs Colleen Madden (center right) in a scene from 'Winter Hymns.' Photo by Nathan Ouellette.

Keif Oss

Keif has an M.S. in Career and Technical Education and an MFA in Digital Filmmaking. He is an Assistant Professor of video production and serving as Program Director for the B.S. Video Production degree. Keif teaches a variety of courses in video production and photography with both narrative and commercial aspects.

Keif has worked on a range of professional and commercial video projects as a senior video producer and owner/independent contractor of A Creative Advocate, LLC. His work includes television/web advertising, documentary, motion graphics and a variety of marketing-oriented materials. Keif ��. expertise and creative contributions include work for 100+ clients including Mayo Clinic, Seventh Generation, State Farm Insurance, Royal Credit Union and others.

Keif has also worked on short and feature film projects in various capacities including writing, producing, directing, camera operation and post-production/VFX.

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Ashley, Cadrex, Apogee among companies benefiting from engineering students’ prototypes

giffeyt — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:45:05 +0000

Ashley, Cadrex, Apogee among companies benefiting from engineering students’ prototypesgiffeyt June 15, 2026

Capstone projects demonstrate mechanical, manufacturing know-how, leadership skills

Tom Giffey

�� Polytechnic mechanical engineering student Dominick Marco faced several challenges when he became team leader for the second semester of a capstone project on behalf of Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions.

In addition to designing and building a prototype that would automatically assemble a plastic latch and a steel bracket into a completed part, Marco had to ensure that his six-member team stayed on track as the project deadline – and graduation – approached.

Marco wasn’t just learning engineering; he was learning leadership.

“I worked on delegating by asking questions rather than directing, and through this and similar techniques, I was able to stay up to date on my team ��. progress while helping direct team members to work on important tasks without overstepping or feeling like I was micromanaging,” explained Marco, of Eleva.

“Working on a project like this with a team is a very valuable experience,” Marco continued. “Learning alongside other up-and-coming engineers has been an incredible two semesters.”

Students, faculty and industry representatives examine the prototype for Cadrex after the demonstration.

Such applied learning, which is key to the polytechnic mission that distinguishes �� Polytechnic, was on display in mid-May as mechanical engineering and manufacturing engineering seniors presented their capstone projects to industry leaders, faculty members and peers. These two-semester projects aren’t theoretical exercises. They lead to real, working prototypes designed to solve problems for industrial sponsors. In addition to Cadrex, one of the nation ��. largest metal fabricating firms, corporate sponsors included Ashley Furniture, Tomahawk Manufacturing, Apogee Enterprises, Genesis Industries, Frost Inc. and Industrial Heat Transfer.

“This course sequence truly is a capstone on a student ��. academic career at �� Polytechnic,” said Assistant Professor Nathan Spike, part of the capstone teaching team. “Over the two semesters, a student completes the transition from engineering student to a full-fledged, career-ready manufacturing or mechanical engineer – or, in some cases, both for students pursuing a dual major. Students can put what they have learned in these courses directly into practice as they transition into their engineering career.”

According to the university ��. most recent First Destination Report, 100% of 2024-25 graduates from the manufacturing engineering program reported they were either employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation, with an average starting salary was $76,000. During the same period, mechanical engineering graduates had a 99% employment rate within six months and an average starting salary of $66,000.

A �� Polytechnic student adjusts piston positions in the prototype. / Submitted photo

Process teaches communication skills

At the culmination of the capstone process, second-semester teams offer presentations of their mechanical and manufacturing solutions, then demonstrate them. During their presentation, Marco and his team – fellow seniors Aiden Koepsel, Ben Swift, Will Schlafke, Darren Byle and Josiah Castleberg – described their project scope and how they reached their final design. Originally, they considered a conveyor belt to carry the two parts. However, this was ultimately replaced with static, angled ramps that bring the two pieces together to become the completed part, which ultimately will be used in a battery holder in a data rack enclosure.

Later, the Cadrex group and other capstone teams moved into a nearby lab in Fryklund Hall to demonstrate their projects. The Cadrex prototype, a single workstation on casters, came to life, smoothly combining the pieces into completed latches, which flowed into a plastic bin.

The prototype that students developed for Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions combined these two pieces into one component.

After the demonstration, team members chatted about the prototype with Wayne Greensky, an automation engineer at Cadrex ��. Osceola plant, who provided technical input during the project. While the students had solid technical understanding when they began the project, what really grew over the course of two semesters was their communication skills, Greensky said.

“Communication with project stakeholders helps students shake off communication anxiety and prepares them for proper meeting etiquette, structure, and progress update communications, while also dealing with customer dictated deliverables,” Greensky said.

The �� Polytechnic students handled challenges – including bill of materials ordering and issues with electrical schematics – promptly and professionally, he added.

“This type of project is useful for getting engineering students comfortable with solving an unsolved problem,” Greensky explained. “Undergraduate degree curriculums typically do not prepare the students with coursework that does not have a ‘correct’ answer or solution method. This senior design experience fills that gap nicely.”

Students discuss a pallet destacker they designed on behalf of Ashley Furniture.

Efforts aimed at automation

During the spring semester, the Cadrex capstone group was just one of 13 teams composed of 83 students from �� Polytechnic ��. Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering who worked on projects in Fryklund Hall labs.

Senior Sawyer Boigenzahn, a manufacturing engineering major from Mondovi, was the first-semester team lead for a project to create an automated system to wash and dry extruded aluminum window frames for Apogee Enterprises, owner of the Wausau Windows and Walls brand.

The frames, Boigenzahn explained, are processed in a CNC machine and emerge covered in chips, coolant and cutting fluid. Currently, the parts must be washed by hand, which leads to inconsistent cycle times. Automation would improve the quality and consistency of the process, ultimately saving Apogee time and money.

The five-member team – which also included Boigenzahn, Logan Boettcher, Brody Bongaarts, Brooks Brewer, and Joseph Gardner – conceived of a device that operated something like a car wash, but they pondered whether the sprayer or the aluminum part itself should be what moves. Ultimately, Boigenzahn explained, they decided it was easier to move the part through the sprayers than vice versa.

Based on feedback from their end-of-semester presentation, the team will return to build a prototype of their design in the fall semester. “We are at the start of that process, because this is a very difficult process to automate,” he said.

Boigenzahn, who previously worked as a welder, said the capstone project is a reminder that engineering isn’t about a single input inevitably leading to a single output: It ��. a practical discipline that involves hands-on craft.

“For us, it ��. an experiment in terms of our ability to understand the mechanical and engineering principles that we’ve been taught and actually apply them in the real world,” Boigenzahn said. “And more importantly, when you encounter real world problems – including teamwork issues, design problems, people giving you conflicting advice – how do you try to solve them? The thing about design is that you can’t just plug it into a computer and it spits out the right answer. That is just not the way this works.”

Despite the challenging work involved in the capstone process, Boigenzahn said it ��. ultimately a valuable part of the �� Polytechnic experience. “I don’t think Stout would stand out as much if we did not do these things,” he said.

Capstone students cut holes in an electrical box while building their prototype for Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions. / Submitted image

Teamwork connects students, faculty, industry partners

The capstone process is a team effort, and not just among the students: In addition to Spike, instructors include Senior Lecturer Glenn Bushedorf, Lecturer Anwr Albaghdadi, Lecturer Brandon Dick and Lecturer Niloofar Moradian, with technical support from Paul Craig, program director for manufacturing engineering.

And it ��. an effort that leads to results for industry sponsors, Spike explained. “The prototypes students develop often serve as a starting point or otherwise inform the direction a company will go with their process or product,” he said.

In addition, two semesters of intensive, iterative capstone work provide invaluable experience for emerging engineers as they enter the job market.

“Getting the chance to be a part of a project like this and create such a cool prototype machine for Cadrex has honestly been one of the best experiences to date,” Marco said. “This is the largest, most expensive project I have ever been a part of, and it makes me emotional seeing it come to a close. I am sad knowing that I will most likely never see it after it ships away, but I am so very happy to have gotten to design, develop and assemble the prototype.”

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Capstone projects demonstrate mechanical, manufacturing know-how, leadership skills Cadrex capstone demonstration

Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering

The Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering focuses on enhancing the learning experience for students in �� Polytechnic's engineering programs.

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Hero Caption: �� Polytechnic students demonstrate a prototype they created for Cadrex Manufacturing Solutions as part of their senior capstone project.

Nathan Spike

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Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro project supports construction students’ industry experiences

goersab — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Xcel Energy Cedar Falls Hydro project supports construction students’ industry experiencesgoersab May 12, 2026

Collaboration encourages students to consider impacts of infrastructure on greater community

Abbey Goers

Donning hard hats and safety vests, construction management and risk control students from �� recently stood at the base of the Cedar Falls Hydroelectric plant and peered up at the 60-foot-tall dam that creates the 1,800-acre Tainter Lake, north of Menomonie.

Cedar Falls Hydro is one of 19 hydroelectric facilities in Wisconsin operated by Xcel Energy, with a total generating capacity of about 272 megawatts of renewable and carbon-free electricity.

Xcel Energy is in the midst of a multi-year, $50 million+ project designed to improve the safety and increase spillway capacity of the Cedar Falls Hydro Dam. The phased upgrade first involves upgrades to the spillway, including tie-back anchors and mass concrete infill work. Future phases involve installing upstream cofferdams to install new spillway gates and constructing a downstream stilling basin to help reduce erosion of the riverbed at the dam.

Students in the Heavy Construction Methods & Equipment class, led by Assistant Professor Janelle Skoyen Hestekin and Lecturer John Beckfield, visited the site to see Xcel Energy ��. project in operation and witness real-world applications surrounding the major community asset and capital project.

“Xcel Energy supports investment in educating the next generation of construction professionals by providing exposure to real-world construction projects and practical work experiences with �� students interested in the field of engineering, design and construction,” said Xcel Energy Project Manager Anthony Witkowski.

Prior to their visit, students worked together as a mock construction company to develop a broad-based construction plan for a mass concrete infill project, inspired by the Cedar Falls Hydro project. They presented their plan, which included materials, equipment, scheduling, staffing, permits, environmental quality, safety and job hazard analysis, and cost estimates to Witkowski and other Xcel Energy staff at the Cedar Falls site.

“It is clear the students put a significant amount of thought and preparation into their presentations in the areas of construction planning, construction safety, project scheduling and project cost estimating. I appreciated the clear written and verbal communication presented by the students,” Witkowski said.

Xcel Energy is an active member of �� . Construction Industry Advisory Committee, from which the collaboration and learning opportunity arose. Hestekin adapted her course structure to incorporate the project and guided students throughout the process.

The class project kicked off with a visit from Witkowski and Dean Steines, chief dam safety engineer – hydro operations, who introduced the project background and design goals to the students from the owner ��. perspective. They also met with Shane McFadden, CEO of Engineering & Construction Innovations, Inc. (ECI), the project's prime contractor, and ECI project staff to compare their planned approach to how ECI is actively completing the work.

“The project exposed students to the heavy civil sector of construction work, where new talent is needed to grow the workforce. A sincere thank you to Xcel Energy for offering this opportunity to the students,” said Hestekin, who is looking forward to additional opportunities for students to collaborate at the Cedar Falls site and other nearby facilities.

Students from Associate Professors Calvin Chen ��. Building Electrical and Control Systems class and Assistant Professor Ashely Der ��. Construction Safety / Risk Control class also visited the site to see the operations of the power distribution network to the nearby cities, and safety management procedures, such as hot work – welding, cutting, soldering, and other tasks that produce heat, sparks or flame – and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), a safety procedure used to protect workers by preventing the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment.

Presenting a complete construction plan

The Cedar Falls dam, constructed in 1910, is one of a few remaining Ambursen dams – hollow dams with open sections between the buttresses on the downstream side of the dam. It is the hollow sections that will be filled with mass concrete, which was the focus of the students’ presentation.

Their broad-based construction plan and estimate for a mass concrete infill project, presented to Xcel Energy as the owner, included staff wages, material and machinery costs, transportation of material, equipment and personnel, and overhead costs.

The students’ simulated work would consist of four separate concrete pours in each of the dam ��. 18 bays, with work beginning on Aug. 10 and completion on Nov. 12, taking into account rainfall, river flow and potential temperature-related concrete issues.

Their safety plan listed OSHA safety training requirements; the inspection of equipment, causeway, the local road and dam; and more.

Allie Hubbard, of Forest Lake, Minnesota, Ben Larson, of West Salem, and Blake Bargender, of Abbotsford, think the project was the most beneficial experience in the course, allowing them to visualize their classroom learning in a real-world setting.

“What stood out most was experiencing the project as if we were part of an actual company. I gained a better understanding of how important communication is across all team roles. I also learned the importance of maintaining strong relationships with subcontractors, since the construction industry is highly interconnected,” said Hubbard, who is also majoring in interior design.

Being able to visit the site and talk to the people actually working on the project gave Larson a new perspective and helped him see what the student group did well on their project and what they could have done better, Larson said.

Bargender plans to one day serve as a project manager for a commercial construction company. “This research project, presentation, and site visit significantly helped me prepare for my future career because it simulated a very realistic situation of estimating and planning in the role of a project manager,” he said.

Students contributing to the greater community

Xcel Energy ��. long-standing partnership with �� continues to grow in meaningful ways, said Community Relations Manager Tim Bartels. “We are pleased to connect students directly with real-world infrastructure and community assets. We’re especially proud that these collaborations support broader commitment to sustainability, giving students the opportunity to engage with projects that advance clean energy and the communities we serve,” he said.

Hubbard thinks that with industry partners and collaborators, like Xcel, that encourage hands-on learning, “Stout students can continue to make lasting impacts on community and environmental projects by applying what we learn in class to real-world situations. Projects like the hydro facility show how we can contribute to the greater community. I am most interested in the opportunity to contribute to how our world is built in the future and to make a lasting impact on the places people use every day,” she said.

Larson and Bargender agreed and added that students can also make an impact on community or environmental projects by getting involved with student organizations, like the Student Construction Association, Women in Construction, and Sigma Lambda Chi, and by volunteering or joining a construction competition team to gain real experience.

“The more you put in, the more you get out of it,” Larson said. “What I like most about my construction management major is how many opportunities it opens up. In our program, we are exposed to a little bit of everything. So, when we graduate, there are so many directions within the industry. I like that flexibility and the fact that the possibilities are pretty much endless.”

As a construction management and interior design double major, Hubbard enjoys being a part of the entire process “from the very beginning, meeting with clients, understanding their needs and wants, and then bringing their vision to life. It ��. especially rewarding to guide clients through the process and ultimately hand over the keys to a finished structure they can be excited about,” she said.

Xcel Energy provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Its spillway modernization project was approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in 2021, with the multi-year project beginning in 2022. The project is part of Xcel Energy ��. investment in a cleaner electric system, as it drives toward 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.

Graduates from �� . B.S. construction management program reported a 100% employment rate within six months of graduation and an average starting salary of $70,000, according to the latest university First Destination Report.

�� . School of Management offers 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates that build students' leadership skills in operations and management, business, hospitality and technology innovation, and military science fields.

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Collaboration encourages students to consider impacts of infrastructure on greater community Construction management students at Xcel Energy's Cedar Halls Hydro Dam

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Janelle Skoyen Hestekin

Courses I've taught in the Construction Management program include AEC131 - Architectural Graphics, AEC273 - Concrete and Masonry Technology and AEC357 - Site Engineering.

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