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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

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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Spring 2026 commencement scheduled May 16 for more than 1,000 graduates

goersab — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:25:05 +0000

Spring 2026 commencement scheduled May 16 for more than 1,000 graduatesgoersab May 4, 2026

Chancellor, Distinguished Alum, students to speak in three ceremonies at Johnson Fieldhouse

Abbey Goers

Spring commencement will be held for 1,067 graduates on Saturday, May 16, at ��. A total of 849 undergraduate and 218 graduate students will receive degrees during three ceremonies at Johnson Fieldhouse:

9:30 a.m.: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management
1:30 p.m.: College of Arts & Human Sciences
5 p.m.: Graduate Studies

The ceremonies can also be seen via livestream on the �� commencement website and at the Memorial Student Center.

Provost Glendalí Rodríguez will host the ceremonies. Chancellor Katherine Frank will provide remarks to the graduates and confer degrees.

Outstanding and retired educator Bryan Albrecht, a three-time �� alum, will serve as guest alum speaker at each ceremony. Albrecht is a recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education, as well as �� . Distinguished Alumni Award.

Three graduating students will also address the Class of 2026:

Noah Rosenberger, of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, B.S. hotel, restaurant and tourism management, CSTEMM speaker.
Sumnima Devkota, of Kathmandu, Nepal, B.S. psychology, CAHS speaker.
Cory Bloomer, of Stevens Point, M.S. risk control and safety management, Graduate Studies speaker.

The ceremonies will include music by an octet of �� choir members directed by Jean Enyeart.

More information

Students and members of the �� community can share comments and photos on �� social media platforms using the hashtag #StoutGrad2026. Diplomas will be mailed to students four to six weeks after final grades are issued.

For more information, contact Commencement Coordinator Bethany Risler, 715-232-1279, or email commencement@uwstout.edu.

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Chancellor, Distinguished Alum, students to speak in three ceremonies at Johnson Fieldhouse Spring commencement

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High-flying: Alum ��. work with Lockheed-Martin takes him into rarefied air with F-22, other projects

polingj — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 20:00:00 +0000

High-flying: Alum ��. work with Lockheed-Martin takes him into rarefied air with F-22, other projectspolingj November 19, 2024

Barry Bauer ��. management efforts involving U.S. fighter jets recently recognized with national engineering honor

Barry Bauer remembers the moment early in his career with aerospace giant Lockheed-Martin when his team ��. four-year project was put to the test. They had been tasked with designing and developing leading edges of the Air Force F-22 fighter aircraft that would avoid radar detection.

When an F-22 vertical stabilizer was mounted on a pole for a radar range test, nothing came back. Only when a bird landed on the stabilizer during the test — something that wouldn’t happen on a plane going 1,500 mph — was a stabilizer detected.

The work was a success, one of the reasons the F-22 became a stealth jet in the U.S. arsenal.

Barry Bauer, a Durand native and Menomonie resident, is a project manager for aerospace giant Lockheed-Martin and has worked on projects such as the F-22 and F-35 fighter jets. / ��

The F-22 project is one of many successes in Bauer ��. 36-year career as a project manager with Lockheed-Martin after earning degrees from University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1983 and 1992.

The Menomonie resident has contributed to national defense success in other ways. His team ��. F-22 design remains in use on the state-of-the art F-35 made by Lockheed-Martin. On the F-35, he managed the integrated core processor project for the plane ��. onboard computer. He led the merger of IT systems when Lockheed-Martin Space and Boeing Defense formed United Launch Alliance. He has worked on projects for the F-16, F-117 and other military aircraft.

“When a plane flies, there ��. an army of people you never see working behind the scenes to make it all happen,” Bauer said. “It ��. all in the interest of national security. I’m motivated: Some of the threats out there are pretty sobering.”

The radar detection system still is in use today with the F-35 jet. / Contributed photo

Sobering also at times for Bauer is the realization that he has managed projects that “have some of the smartest people on the planet” on them, he said.

He led the design team that earlier this year received the Engineers’ Council Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award for Lockheed-Martin ��. Hypersonic Reference Vehicle Application. It was developed to support the U.S. Department of Defense-funded University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics — UCAH — involving 119 universities, 214 partners and 2,700 people, funded at $100 million over five years.

To enable UCAH, Bauer ��. team developed a hypersonic reference vehicle, a software modeling tool that could help shape the next generation of hypersonic flight vehicles, or those flying faster than five times the speed of sound.

As a country, “We were behind in hypersonic technology so we began to harness the power of universities to do research and then transition results to industry,” said Bauer, who collaborated with defense leaders and the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Barry Bauer ��. 36-year career with Lockheed-Martin began not long after he earned an industrial technology major at ��. He first served six years in the Marine Corps. / ��

He also has worked as an adjunct professor for 16 years at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, teaching project and business management.

Bauer isn’t a pilot, but aeronautics and going fast seem to be in his blood. After high school, he was an aircraft hydraulics and pneumatics technician on the F-4 and other planes for six years in the Marine Corps. He memorized the planes’ operating systems, one reason he was chosen to land on the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier with a pilot to fix an F-4 ��. landing gear.

He soon realized the big difference between himself and the military pilots and others whose careers were really going places — they had a college education.

After serving, Bauer earned an industrial technology degree at ��. He ran cross country and qualified for nationals; after graduating he competed at a high level for many years in marathons and other races. He returned to campus for a master ��. in safety and risk and eventually earned two other master ��. degrees and a doctorate.

Diplomas in hand, the Durand native began to pursue his true passion, aerospace, landing at Hughes Aircraft before Lockheed-Martin. “My goal has always been to master the job and get ready for the next one. It ��. been an amazing journey of discovery,” he said.

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The F-22 jet is one of many successes in Barry Bauer ��. career as a project manager with Lockheed-Martin after earning two degrees from ��. Barry Bauer 1

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A special ceremony to honor the sacrifice of a Menomonie native and alum who graduated more than 125 years ago will highlight Veterans Day events at ��.

Hero Caption: Barry Bauer helped lead a team at Lockheed-Martin that designed a radar-detection system for the vertical stabilizers on the F-22 fighter jet.

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Distance learning helps working mom earn risk control and safety management master ��.

powersp — Tue, 11 May 2021 13:17:08 +0000

Distance learning helps working mom earn risk control and safety management master ��.powersp May 11, 2021

Foust, WITC facilities director, credits professors and their experience with her success

Kristi Foust ended up being a pioneer for the master ��. degree in risk control and safety management program at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

When Foust, of Rice Lake, started the program in the fall of 2019 she was the first student to attend classes as a distance learner. In-person classes met, and Foust joined them through her computer via a camera focused on the instructor and another camera on the instructor ��. presentation. With her computer camera on, the other students could see Foust in the classroom as well.

Despite earning her degree at ��, Foust has never been on the campus. She had planned to attend in-person graduation on May 8, but because her daughter had a volleyball game in Webster decided to have a family celebration and watch the virtual commencement.

“It ��. just been great,” Foust said of distance education. “It saved me the drive. I was truly part of the classes. Everyone knew who I was. I could talk to them and be part of the discussions. It was a huge selling point. It was the best of both worlds.”

Foust also credited the �� professors and their experience with her success and the fact classes were held in the evenings.

“The instructors were very knowledgeable about the field, and the assignments were practical applications to the industry,” Foust said. “There is no doubt the support and encouragement of the professors directly impacted my success at ��, and I am truly grateful for each and every one of them.”

Brian Finder / �� photo

Brian Finder, professor and M.S. risk control and safety management program director, said Foust was an excellent student.

“Kristi ��. strong focus to complete the courses’ respective assignments on a timely basis and in a quality manner can reliably predict the effective consulting-based services that she will provide for future employers,” Finder said. “The task-oriented disposition that Kristi possesses will ensure that risk assessment activities are effectively performed and needed risk mitigation efforts are effectively implemented.

“As is the case with all of the M.S. risk control and safety management program ��. alumni, Kristi ��. horizons were expanded from a technical, management and communication standpoint, and there is no doubt that she is destined to be a highly respected professional. Kristi is definitely the caliber of individual that all of our �� alumni should aspire to be,” Finder said.

Foust is the director of facilities and procurement at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, serving 11 counties in northwestern Wisconsin. “One area the director of facilities and procurement oversees is safety,” Foust said. “After reviewing the �� risk control program, I felt it would provide me with valuable tools to be more successful in my career as well as earning the trust and respect of my colleagues as an expert in the safety field.”

Foust said risk management is about watching out for the safety of employees and risks employers can face. One class she enjoyed was on ergonomics, particularly as more people moved home to work. “It ��. all about keeping workers safe,” she noted, adding facility and financial safety is also a factor. “It ��. about assessing and preventing what can hurt people and what can hurt the institution.”

When she decided to return to college, Foust said she was nervous about the course load. As the mom of two children, Ethan, 14, and Jaelyn, 12, with husband Jay, and a full-time job she worried about balancing school, work and home life. Distance learning helped. She finished work and would go immediately to classes.

“I started the program only taking a couple of classes the first year to determine how the class load could fit in my home and work life,” she said. “Surprisingly, I completed the program in two years, which is much quicker than I thought it would be.”

Kristi Foust, front left, pictured clockwise with her son, Ethan, husband, Jay, and daughter Jaelyn. / Photo courtesy Kristi Foust

Foust earned an associate degree in accounting from WITC in 2005. She earned a bachelor ��. degree in accounting from Lakeland University in Sheboygan in 2009 taking classes virtually.

Her �� graduate capstone project was on occupational radiation exposure looking at the impact of radiation on such occupations as dentists, X-ray technicians and other hospital workers.

Her final semester was challenging after her father, Scotty Hotchkiss, passed away in December 2020. Family and colleagues provided support to help her finish the degree, Foust said.

Foust would encourage others thinking about returning to further their education to do so. “I found having years of experience in the workforce helped me in my degree,” she said, noting she was able to apply the knowledge she had from working at WITC to the classroom.

Kristi Foust ended up being a pioneer for the master ��. degree in risk control and safety management program at University of Wisconsin-Stout. fousthero.jpg

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Hero Caption: �� recent risk control and safety management graduate Kristi Foust, second from left, with her son, Ethan, far left, husband, Jay, and daughter, Jaelyn. Foust credits distance learning with helping her to earn her master ��. degree. Photo courtesy Kri

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Risk control issues in spotlight for employers during pandemic

polingj — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 18:47:43 +0000

Risk control issues in spotlight for employers during pandemic polingj April 30, 2020

Brian Finder, master's program director, discusses challenges as people work, prepare to return

This Q&A was published April 29, 2020, in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

By Ryan Patterson
Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

Businesses are facing many questions about how to respond to COVID-19. If they are considered essential and remain open, how should they balance employee safety with staying operational? If they are nonessential, should they reduce pay, furlough or lay off workers?

To help sort through those thorny topics, Brian Finder, director of the �� risk control and safety management master ��. program, recently emailed with the Leader-Telegram about how employers should think of the challenges posed by the coronavirus.

Finder noted that his responses do not apply to all companies.

“The following interview reflects current knowledge and management practices regarding the methods to minimize the introduction and transmission of viral agents in the workplace,” Finder wrote. “Since different situations may result in varied types and levels of risk, readers are advised to consult with qualified legal advisement and/or representatives from Wisbar.org for further clarification on the methods to manage risks that are specific to their organization.”

This interview has been edited and condensed.

What is risk control and safety management?

Individuals who work in the risk control and safety management profession generally support the production or service sides of a business by providing timely and accurate advice on how to decrease the chance for employee injuries and illnesses as well as damage to the facility or the environment.

A fair number of our graduate program ��. alumni also work for government agencies who partner with business and industrial entities to ensure that the employees work in areas that are reasonably free of recognized work hazards … These professionals are constantly monitoring the number of employees who have contracted COVID-19 and prompt needed changes to fever detection, employee distancing, worker scheduling and the facility disinfection-related activities that we’re generally witnessing in the workplace to prevent further COVID-19 viral infections.

Are current students looking at the response to COVID-19 for applied research?

Two of our full-time graduate students recently developed and presented current information regarding the COVID-19 virus in their industrial hygiene course … One of our students, who is currently working as a facility manager for a regionally based higher education institution, was recently tasked with developing a phase-1 reopening plan for laboratories that need to provide students with hands-on lab time. One of the concerns that her administrators expressed involved the need to limit the number of people in a room that is served by a single air handling system.

After some research, she found a recent American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers-sponsored article that provided guidance for building operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only does this article offer reasonable recommendations on how to minimize the physical spread of the COVID-19 virus, but it also provides ideas on ways that the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be operated to help minimize the spread of very small airborne virus droplets.

The constant discovery and application of such current information is helping working professionals who are being tasked to reopen facilities as soon as practical and yet ensure workforce and student protection.

What ��. the largest risk posed by COVID-19?

One of the main activities that risk control and safety management professionals perform is to help their employers prioritize the organization ��. moderate to high risks, especially those to the employee, and then work with the applicable areas to develop needed risk-reduction plans … At a minimum, it ��. predictable that the current virus situation holds a high potential to cause forms of monetary loss because of workforce, time, material, product, energy and legal issues, as well as company reputation.

This is where the term “risk control” is used to emphasize a company ��. need to manage all moderate-to-high risk situations. In our profession, we often use the term “total asset protection” in order to stress the organization ��. need to protect all living and material items that have monetary value.

Are you consulting with area businesses or �� on how to respond to COVID-19? If so, what are the most common questions/concerns you’re hearing?

While I am currently not consulting because employers are trying to minimize the number of non-employees who enter the working environment, it ��. interesting to learn of the varied questions that are posed to risk control and safety management professionals for companies that are still open.

Examples of questions that I’ve heard include “Should we perform employee forehead temperature monitoring during mid-shift times in addition to the beginning of the shift? Should we check the forehead temperatures of employees who leave and then return to the facility? Should we not allow employees to leave the facility during their lunch breaks? What are my options if another employee refuses to maintain the company ��. current social distancing requirements?”

The answers to these and other questions are what risk control and safety management professionals need to research and recommend and then provide the necessary support to implement the desired controls in a cost-effective manner.

What should employers prioritize to keep employees safe?

It ��. nearly a given that individuals who work in our profession realize the importance of understanding what the employees’ job duties entail. Within progressive organizations, teams of trained management and hourly employees perform formal risk assessments of certain worker tasks and/or equipment so that any higher-than-acceptable risks can be identified, analyzed and controlled.

Prior to this pandemic situation, it ��. likely that a fair number of industrial risk assessments wouldn’t have examined the threat of a pathogen being transferred between two employees who are working side-by-side. Now we’re realizing that it ��. necessary for any type of task and/or equipment-based risk assessment to also examine how close employee interface can result in pathogen transmission.

How can risk management professionals convey the gravity of the situation to their bosses? For example, what if a CEO didn’t initially take the health concerns seriously enough?

It ��. likely that individuals who work in the risk control and safety management profession will likely speak a different risk-reduction language with the various audiences that they deal with in a given day. For example, in situations where discussions involve the hourly employees’ need to follow certain workstation sanitizing procedures, it works well to emphasize that following such practices will help them avoid carrying the pathogen back home to their family or else continue their ability to perform a certain hobby.

For lower to middle management individuals, it helps to list the reasons for them to perform infectious disease training or ensure that employees use required personal protective equipment by emphasizing how such measures are intended to minimize employee absenteeism, turnover and injuries, as well as to promote production and quality.

When it comes to discussing the need for a CEO to take the protection of worker health seriously, the conversation should focus on money, since this is the language that company executives are usually good at speaking. The risk control and safety management professional needs to first perform her/his homework in order to identify the financial costs as well as gains of performing certain activities, like paying the wages and equipment costs for a gloved, face-shielded, aproned and masked employee to scan forehead temperatures whenever workers are entering the production facility.

While it ��. difficult to come up with a specific cost to a company ��. reduced public reputation due to possible media reports of lacking virus detection or control measures, it ��. sometimes necessary to emphasize to a CEO that such negative PR is likely to hurt the company ��. bottom line due to reduced sales or an inability to attract qualified employees.

We’ve observed that successful risk control and safety management professionals use this cost-benefit approach to sell process improvement ideas to the organization ��. CEO so that she/he will commit to involving all of the lower management and hourly employees who will ultimately be held accountable for carrying out the needed risk-reduction activities.

Do employers have policies in place to deal with a pandemic? In other words, how much of this response is being done on the fly?

In larger organizations where the complexity of the work is compounded by the presence of numerous individuals who closely interface and/or share the same machines or equipment, then it ��. likely that the respective employers are constantly developing, revising, communicating and enforcing the plans or policies designed to control the introduction and transmission of a potentially harmful pathogen. Many risk-reduction procedures or policies that I’ve observed contain the top management individual ��. statement of commitment to control a given risk as well as specific expectations of all employees that the requirements apply to.

What gives you hope?

My continued hope stems from witnessing the dedicated effort that hourly and management employees have displayed throughout numerous types of government as well as private institutions in order to help each other and thus keep our society rolling. Our ability to overcome this pandemic situation and eventually reflect on the lessons learned from it will likely result in the development of sound management methods to protect our workers and ultimately their organizations during future pandemic events.

###

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Businesses are facing many questions about how to respond to COVID-19. Brian Finder

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Curriculum Vitae: Dr. Brian J. Finder CV (448.93 KB)

Education:

Degree: D.I.T. Doctorate of Industrial Technology

University: University of Northern Iowa

Degree: M.S. Safety

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: B.S. Industrial Education

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: Drive Program Instructor

University: Mooshire Group

Degree: Operation Lifesaver Instructor

University: Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co.

Degree: Student Empowerment Workshop Instructor

University: F.R. Mottola

Degree: Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)

University: American Board of Industrial Hygiene

Degree: Defensive Driver Instructor

University: National Safety Council

CSTEMM

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Bachelor ��. degree helps hard-working student realize dream, brighter future

polingj — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 16:18:09 +0000

Bachelor ��. degree helps hard-working student realize dream, brighter futurepolingj January 31, 2020

At 50, DeAngelo still focused on his future with master ��. program

Can asking yourself a simple question result in a brighter future?

When Golden DeAngelo was in his mid-40s —midcareer for most people — he would pass University of Wisconsin-Stout every day on his way to work and wonder, “Could I go to school there someday?”

The Navy veteran was a full-time production supervisor at Cady Cheese factory near Spring Valley and hadn’t been in the classroom for a quarter-century. So, although it was a simple question it was complicated.

One question begat another: How would he go to school full time and continue to work full time in order to pay for it? Could he even get accepted at ��? Could he handle the stress, academics and stick it out with classmates young enough to be his children? Would it be worth the effort in the end?

On Dec. 14, at a commencement day reception for 750 �� graduates, DeAngelo stood tall with diploma in hand knowing that all of the questions had been answered. “It ��. about like a dream,” he said, realizing that at age 50 he finally was a college graduate with a Bachelor of Science in business administration.

Golden DeAngelo, 50, of Menomonie earned his bachelor ��. degree Dec. 14 at �� while working full time and is beginning a master ��. program.

The dream is about to get even better. DeAngelo has been accepted into �� . Graduate School and is beginning the Master of Science in risk control program.

He ��. on the final leg of his seven-year plan to build a better life through education, a quest that in some ways goes back to his childhood and, as an African-American, hundreds of years.

“My mother always told me to get an education. Nobody can take that away from you,” he said. “She told me people have died so I could get an education. That always stuck with me.”

Chicago, Mississippi, Menomonie

When he graduated, DeAngelo thought about his unstable childhood on the south side of Chicago, at 63rd Street and Vernon, with the elevated train — El — rumbling overhead. “If I could tell those people I have a college degree, they probably wouldn’t believe it,” he said.

DeAngelo had a strained relationship with his father, a neighborhood bookie, citing physical and verbal abuse while he was growing up. “I didn’t have a lot to look up to or look forward to,” he said.

After high school, he lived with a grandmother in Mississippi and began junior college. He played baseball and had dreams of a pro career before joining the Navy, serving eight years active and 12 years in the reserve.

After working in the paint and decorating business in the Chicago area, including starting his own business, he came to Menomonie with a friend, fell in love with the area and decided to stay.

DeAngelo and his wife, Shelly, celebrate Golden's graduation with Associate Professor Brian Oenga.

He realized his career was limited without a college degree. “From a minority standpoint, moving up without education is more difficult,” he said.

DeAngelo decided to stop at �� one day in 2015 and see if there was a reasonable answer to his nagging question. He met with Linda Young, associate director of transfer and articulation in Admissions, and she gave him hope.

Young advised him to ease back into the classroom and work on an associate degree in business administration at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire. He graduated from CVTC in 2018 and, with Young ��. guidance, was prepared for ��.

Linda Young

“He communicated with me pretty much every semester after that either by email, phone or another face-to-face meeting to make sure what he enrolled in at CVTC would transfer and apply to his degree program,” Young said.

�� has 146 articulation agreements with schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois, with more being developed. Learn more about transferring to ��.

“His enthusiasm and dedication to completing his bachelor ��. degree was evident from the first meeting. He had a goal in mind and would not be deterred from it,” Young said.

Some CVTC and �� courses were out of his comfort zone, and he sought one-on-one help from professors and tutors.

“When I was accepted at Stout, I knew it was my last chance to go back to school and I had to make the most of it,” he said. “I found the resources to help. I’d meet with professors a lot, and they’d explain it to me until I got it.”

In order to take classes during the day, he began a new job at Andersen Corp. in the crating department in Menomonie, first the 3 to 11 p.m. shift then the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift.

Work all night, straight to classes all day, catch some sleep and do it again. He would study all weekend to catch up, but he also worked Saturdays — 50-hour weeks — for most of one year.

He walked into one class, realized quickly he wasn’t prepared for the curriculum then re-enrolled later — after getting the book and tutoring in advance so that he was ready.

“It takes a profound commitment to get up and go to class every day. I was there for a purpose, and nobody was going to stop me from achieving that purpose,” DeAngelo said.

“I’ve done it with prayer, ambition and hard work.”

A brighter future realized

DeAngelo already is realizing the value of a college degree. He has been drawing interest from employers about jobs in management — something that never happened previously. “It ��. opening doors,” he said.

He ��. trying to balance the options with his commitment to earning his master ��. and becoming “an expert in risk control,” he said.

He continues to work at Andersen, at its facility on the north side of Interstate 94. He thanked the company for partially reimbursing his tuition expenses.

“I’m happy to see that he accomplished his goal,” Young said. “He will do well wherever he decides to go from here.”

DeAngelo and his wife have bought a house near ��, close enough so he can walk to his master ��. classes.

The university that he used to drive by and that seemed so far away is right across the street. It has become his new vehicle to a better life.

Can asking yourself a simple question result in a brighter future? Golden DeAngelo

University Communications

B.S. Business Administration

Our B.S. Business Administration program leverages business and industry partnerships to offer you real-world enterprise experiences.

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Hero Caption: Golden DeAngelo was one of 750 graduates Dec. 14, 2019, at ��. / �� photos by Chris Cooper

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Graduate Testimonials - M.S. Risk Control

schusterg — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 20:39:44 +0000

Graduate Testimonials - M.S. Risk Controlschusterg June 22, 2018

Graduates of ��'s M.S. Risk Control degree share insights on the program and its impact on their careers.

The opportunities for employment in this dynamic profession typically exceed the number of interns as well as graduates in any given semester, and it's no secret that M.S. in Risk Control graduates are offered excellent jobs. Employment opportunities exist nationwide in broad areas of industry including general manufacturing, construction, paper and wood products, food processing, metal fabrication, healthcare, insurance, transportation, utilities and government.

Testimonials

"Having run the Bridge Manufacturer maintenance department prior to taking on the additional responsibilities of "Safety" allowed me to gain our employees trust and respect, so that when I applied my graduate degree within the organization "they" knew I am a person of my word and action thus, our OSHA recordable incidents have decreased to a historic low. Without the knowledge gained at UW Stout, my success would have been limited to the achievements within the maintenance department, now the entire organization benefits from my passion.
The professors, instructors and faculty in the Loss Control program, at UW Stout, inspired me through their passion and dedication. It was the program director that made me realize that the path I was on would be a fantastic building block to a much more rich and rewarding career by continuing my education and earning a Graduate degree in Loss Control.The degree afforded me the opportunity to reach a new level of responsibility and respect in my organization, along with significant salary and merit-based financial gains. The University of Wisconsin-Stout professors, to this day, still remain close as mentors, friends and colleagues in some cases. For anyone dedicated in growing their career through reducing unfavorable behaviors and/or conditions and truly protecting an organization's assets, you will find this field extremely rewarding and the University of Wisconsin- Stout a highly recognized academic setting to realize your goals."

- Jason Miller
Maintenance, Facilities and EHS Manager
Bridge Manufacture

"I provide direct support to our human and animal food processing facilities with Environmental Health and Safety as well as food safety/quality compliance. I currently serve as our Enterprise Food Safety Risk Governance Committee Chair with the responsibility of enterprise collaboration and system integration. I also serve as a committee member for the National Grain and Feed Association on their Feed Manufacturing and Technology Committee, which provides food safety support and resources for the animal food industry.
The reason I chose to attend the Risk Control Master ��. Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout was based on the methods they used to develop and prepare students for post-graduate careers. The instructors provided real-world examples and materials for students to learn and utilize when they complete the program. The program not only prepared students for entry-level positions in the area of Environmental Health and Safety but as well as management positions by integrating systems and leadership components into the coursework."

- Matthew Surdick
CHS Inc.
(Inver Grove Heights, MN)

"In my current role, I provide safety leadership, oversight, and direction in all aspects of our group operations. These operations include the construction of large-scale energy, heavy highway, and marine projects.
The �� Risk Control program provided me with an excellent foundation of knowledge and skills to direct and manage Safety in a wide variety of industries. The breadth of the program, along with the expertise of the instructors gave me a significant competitive advantage as I entered my career. The culture of the program facilitated a high level of comradery and fostered both personal and professional friendships that have proven invaluable to my career."

- Jonathan Morgan
Safety Director
MA Mortenson, Construction Civil Group

"Within my current Hutchinson Technology position, I oversee the safety, health, and emergency services for a company of roughly 1,000 employees. Outside of work I own and operate a safety consulting company called Integrated Safety, LLC. Integrated Safety provides a wide variety of tailored safety services to both general industry and construction based companies.
The Risk Control masters program was truly the best decision I have made for my career and life. Not only do I have the opportunity to do what I love each and every day but; the �� Risk Control program provided me the education and resources to be a competent safety advocate."

- Savannah Runstrom
Safety Engineer
Hutchinson Technology, a TDK Company
(Eau Claire, WI)

"Upon graduation from the Risk Control program, I accepted a position at the Rockwell Automation Ladysmith, Wisconsin facility. I am currently the Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Manager for the plant and in addition, recently took on a new role as the Rockwell Production System and Productivity Manager. I absolutely love problem-solving, working in manufacturing, and seeing the cultural impact of our work throughout the years.
When I was in high school, I was employed by the �� Dining Service. After graduation, I continued my work while pursuing a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management and enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. To this day, working for the dining service was my favorite job and �� inspired a long-lasting passion for my career. In 2009, my unit deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and I returned with a new sense of appreciation for occupational safety. Once again, �� was there to excel my knowledge and experiences in the field. Obtaining my Master's Degree in Risk Control is one of my proudest moments. From dish-washer to safety professional, �� truly changed my life."

- Ashley Neby
Rockwell Automation
(Ladysmith, WI)

"The M.S. Risk Control program is a dynamic and rewarding program where the student covers a board and base range of safety-based program areas. It has a good mixture of classroom lecture and hands-on learning aids. The Risk Control umbrella of total asset protection is a superb model that will serve students well as they perform their role within the business and provide value to the organizations in which they serve."

- Stephen Gauger
Petroleum Safety Industry

"The UW Stout Risk Control program utilizes an appropriate mix of technical information which prepares the student to find, read, and interpret regulations as well as several management philosophies so a new professional is prepared to approach safety from a regulatory, best practice, and business perspective. The ability for safety professionals to "bridge the gap" and to be able to speak the language of the front line employees and upper management is invaluable. Those skills are a big part of the Risk Control program."

- Jeremy Ralston
U.S. Compliance Corporation

"I opted to pursue my graduate degree within the Risk Control program from the University of Wisconsin - Stout as it was one of the few graduate degree programs within the Midwestern region of the United States, and its distinguished and long-standing reputation within the fields of risk management, occupational safety and health, and industrial hygiene. While active as a student within the Risk Control program, I found course scheduling to be flexible for a student who was both working full time and raising a family."

- Ben Wood
Minnesota OSHA, Workplace Safety Consultation Division

Graduates of ��'s M.S. Risk Control degree share insights on the program and its impact on their careers. victorio_angulo.jpg

Programs/Degrees

M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management

Are you interested in promoting occupational safety/health and preserving other organizational assets?

Learn More

Hero Caption: M.S. Risk Control alum Gbenga Ogungbe, Loss Control Specialist

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News

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

Presenting a complete construction plan

Students contributing to the greater community

B.S. Construction Management

Spring 2026 commencement scheduled May 16 for more than 1,000 graduates

More information

Commencement

High-flying: Alum ��������. work with Lockheed-Martin takes him into rarefied air with F-22, other projects

Fallen Spanish-American War alum to be honored on Veterans Day

Distance learning helps working mom earn risk control and safety management master ��������.

Risk control issues in spotlight for employers during pandemic

M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management

Bachelor ��������. degree helps hard-working student realize dream, brighter future

B.S. Business Administration

Graduate Testimonials - M.S. Risk Control

Testimonials

M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management

High-flying: Alum ��. work with Lockheed-Martin takes him into rarefied air with F-22, other projects

Distance learning helps working mom earn risk control and safety management master ��.

Bachelor ��. degree helps hard-working student realize dream, brighter future