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

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

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

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

Inspiring Graduate: Porter Christenson, B.F.A. Industrial & Product Design

Hired before graduation as an associate industrial designer at Milwaukee Tool

Oshkosh Corporation will host Design Wisconsin, annual industry design event

Professionals, students will gather May 29-30 for a showcase of the cultural and commercial impact of design

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

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Room & Board furniture design competition carries Stout students’ work from classroom to catalog

Decade-long partnership with Minneapolis furniture retailer creates real-world production possibilities for industrial & product design seniors

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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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Job Title: Associate Professor / Program Director

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Area of Expertise: Industrial Design Product Design

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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Curriculum Vitae: Dan Neubauer CV (188.06 KB)

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Degree: M.I.D. Industrial Design

University: Iowa State University

Degree: B.F.A. Studio Art

University: Iowa State University

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#StoutProud Impact: Megan

jasperb — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:30:44 +0000

#StoutProud Impact: Meganjasperb September 23, 2026

Megan embraced hands-on learning, leadership and new experiences at �� Polytechnic, building skills and connections for her future in construction.

Jen Rudiger

Megan was awarded the 2026 Co-op Education & Internship Student of the Year. / Submitted photo

There were a lot of aspects about �� Polytechnic that drew Megan to campus.

"I have always been someone who learns better by doing and through examples," said Megan. "The hands-on, experiential learning approach at Stout was exactly what I needed."

Megan found more than an innovative, applied education at Stout. She found a community that encouraged her to say yes to new experiences, leadership opportunities and personal discovery. Surrounded by supportive faculty, engaged peers and a vibrant campus culture, she built the confidence, connections and sense of belonging that have shaped both her personal and professional growth.

As a construction management major, Megan has embraced the polytechnic advantage at every turn. Some of her most defining experiences have come outside the classroom. Through involvement in several professional associations and organizations, Megan is applying classroom concepts to industry-focused projects and competitions, boosting her confidence and leadership skills. These experiences have connected her with mentors and employers and reinforced her commitment to creating inclusive pathways for future professionals in the construction industry.

Megan on location during her internship. / Submitted photo

"These experiences have allowed me to learn more about the industry than just in the classroom," Megan said. "I've had networking opportunities and hands-on experiences that I wouldn't have gotten at other universities."

That preparation has already helped shape her future. Through career conferences and industry connections, Megan has completed three internships, including two with a regional construction company. The third that took her to Nebraska, where she worked on a large-scale outage project as part of a construction safety team. The experience inspired her to add a Construction Safety/Risk Control minor to her degree.

"I have learned how to make sure job sites are productive while also being safe," she said. "My education at Stout has positively shaped me into the industry professional I am today."

Megan and the Tower Saxophone quartet. / Submitted photo

Her commitment to learning through experience earned her recognition as the 2026 Co-op Education & Internship Student of the Year, a reflection of how experiential learning opportunities help students transform classroom knowledge into meaningful career preparation.

Megan's growth has also been supported by the many communities she has found across campus. As a saxophone player, she quickly became involved in concert and jazz bands, the Jazz Project and the Tower Saxophone Quartet.

"I love that students with different backgrounds are able to come together to create joyful music and perform for the Stout and greater community," said Megan.

Outside of music, she found connections through the campus faith community, while her campus employment as a lab assistant in the Research and Development Lab and an Academic Resource Coordinator in North Hall allowed her to build professional skills, serve fellow students and deepen her sense of belonging.

Megan during a faculty-led study abroad experience in London. / Submitted photo

These experiences have reinforced that student success extends far beyond academics. Whether through leadership roles, employment and mentoring opportunities or student organizations, Stout provides the support and connections that help students thrive personally and professionally.

One of Megan's most meaningful experiences came through a short-term faculty-led study abroad program in England. As Megan ��. first international trip, the experience broadened her perspective and introduced her to a different culture.

"The faculty-led program was the perfect amount of time to be immersed in a new culture while still staying on my timeline to graduate and complete multiple internships," she said.

�� Polytechnic provides a variety of study abroad programs that are flexible and make global learning accessible while expanding classroom learning into the world beyond campus. Experiences like these help students develop adaptability, curiosity and global perspective; highly valued by employers and communities alike.

When asked about her favorite memory at Stout, Megan doesn't point to a single accomplishment. Instead, she points to a mindset. "I am very proud of my commitment to saying yes."

That willingness has taken her farther than she ever expected. She has traveled to England and several states for professional competitions and conferences, grew as a student leader and developed skills that will serve her throughout her professional and personal life.

"From playing with several different musical groups to traveling around the country and world, I have been extremely proud of how many resources and opportunities I have gotten here at Stout."

Opportunities like these are made possible through philanthropic gifts to the StoutProud fund. The fund allows �� Polytechnic to remove barriers to a polytechnic education, provides robust individualized student support, advances academic innovation and success, creates dynamic learning and living environments and fosters a vibrant campus community where students can say yes to new opportunities, achieve their goals and prepare for successful careers.

Donor support empowers students to make the most of their �� Polytechnic experience and prepare for meaningful success after graduation. Megan's story is a powerful example of what happens when students are supported by a university committed to student success. Because of the generosity of donors, more students will have the opportunity to do the same.

Your gift to �� Polytechnic provides opportunities for members of our #StoutProud community by removing financial barriers to a �� Polytechnic education, providing robust and individualized student support, advancing academic innovation and success, creating dynamic living and learning spaces while ensuring a vibrant campus community – the full Stout Experience. Through your philanthropic support you provide the necessary flexible funds to ensure Stout thrives and continues to make positive impact on industry, in our communities and on society. Make your gift today.

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Megan embraced hands-on learning, leadership and new experiences at �� Polytechnic, building skills and connections for her future in construction.

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Donor support gives Cece the resources and opportunities to grow as an artist and leader while pursuing their dream of creating an independent filmmaking studio

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Megan embraced hands-on learning, leadership and new experiences at �� Polytechnic, building skills and connections for her future in construction. Megan Coop award

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Hero Caption: Megan presenting during a corporate partner visit to the �� Polytechnic campus.

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#StoutProud: Kayla Boyd ('19)

jasperb — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 19:36:01 +0000

#StoutProud: Kayla Boyd ('19)jasperb September 16, 2026

Kayla Boyd ’19 is working to bring oysters back to Mobile Bay, restoring an ecosystem that supports wildlife, shorelines and coastal communities.

Submitted photo

More than 80% of Mobile Bay ��. oyster population has declined since 1950. Kayla Boyd ’19 is working to bring it back. As oyster project manager for Mobile Baykeeper, Boyd leads restoration efforts in Mobile Bay, working with oyster farmers, commercial fishermen, researchers, agencies and coastal communities to rebuild reefs that are critical to the Gulf ecosystem and the people who depend on it.

The stakes extend far beyond the oysters themselves. Oyster reefs provide habitat for juvenile fish and invertebrates, help reduce wave energy along coastal marshes and filter pollutants from the water. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. The reefs also support fishing, seafood production and coastal communities whose economies and traditions are tied to the bay.

Mobile Baykeeper has set a goal of planting 10 million oysters and creating nearly 200 reefs by 2030. For Boyd, that long-term work is about restoring an ecosystem that has supported Coastal Alabama for generations.

“It ��. not hopeless,” Boyd said. “We as a community are going to bring this back around. We’re going to do this together.”

Submitted photo

That work is the latest chapter in a scientific career that began far from the Gulf Coast. Growing up in Hammond, Wisconsin, Boyd spent her childhood exploring lakes and streams and knew she wanted to pursue science. She chose �� Polytechnic because she wanted an applied education where she could build relationships with her professors and classmates.

At �� Polytechnic, Boyd worked as a research and laboratory assistant across areas including proteomics, botany, biotechnology, fish genetics and microbiology. She became particularly interested in understanding how environmental changes affect living organisms.

A study abroad experience in Belize expanded that perspective. Seeing changes in habitat and their effects on wildlife pushed her to think beyond what happens at the cellular level and consider how organisms respond to changes in their broader environments.

One of her most meaningful research experiences came through work with honey bees, where she helped investigate possible causes of colony collapse disorder. The work eventually contributed to research papers, something Boyd remains proud of today.

Submitted photo

“I’m very proud of that,” she said. “There ��. papers about it coming out and I’m proud to be able to point at those and know I contributed to that.”

When Boyd entered graduate school in Alabama, she turned her attention to a new species: oysters. During her PhD research, she studied how adverse environmental conditions affect oyster energy use and mortality. She also worked with oyster farmers who were trying to understand why their oysters were dying.

The questions she pursued were shaped in part by what communities needed to know. The goal was not simply to conduct research, but to provide information that could help people make decisions.

“That is probably the most proud scientific component of my career,” Boyd said. “To be able to provide accurate and adequate information to help somebody in a short span of time.”

That same philosophy now shapes her work with Mobile Baykeeper. Boyd moves between very different groups in her role, working with people harvesting oysters, people farming them, scientists studying them and agencies responsible for coastal resources. She also communicates with members of the public who may understand the bay through generations of lived experience rather than scientific research.

Submitted photo

She sees those perspectives as complementary. She can take what she hears from communities and turn it into research questions. She can take scientific findings and explain why they matter to someone whose livelihood depends on the bay.

Rather than focusing only on the oyster itself, Boyd talks about what a healthy oyster population can mean for the larger ecosystem and community. When oysters return, fish and shrimp gain habitat. Healthier reefs can help protect shorelines and improve water quality. And the people who fish, harvest seafood and rely on coastal tourism benefit from a healthier bay.

Today, finding even one oyster can be notable enough for someone to send Boyd a photo. Her measure of success is a future when oysters are once again common throughout Mobile Bay. She imagines throwing a concrete block into the bay, leaving it for a year and pulling it out covered in oysters. That future may take decades, but Boyd is willing to work toward it.

“I want to be sitting at my bay house,” she said. “And I want to look over Mobile Bay and say, yeah, she ��. OK. We’ll be OK.”

Looking back, she credits �� Polytechnic ��. hands-on experiences and close relationships with professors for preparing her for a career she could not have predicted when she enrolled.

“Stout provides so many different opportunities to get involved in a variety of different things,” Boyd said. “You never know what way your career is going to go. You never know which direction you’re going to end up doing. It could take you to Alabama and study oysters.”

She still returns to �� Polytechnic when she comes home to Wisconsin, often making a point of walking through the biology building to see who is around. The professors who taught her were not simply instructors. They were invested in preparing her for whatever came next.

That training gave Boyd the freedom to follow her curiosity wherever it led. Today, that curiosity is helping restore an ecosystem thousands of miles from where her scientific journey began, helping restore Mobile Bay one oyster reef at a time.

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#StoutProud: Kayla Boyd ('19)

Kayla Boyd ’19 is working to bring oysters back to Mobile Bay, restoring an ecosystem that supports wildlife, shorelines and coastal communities.

#StoutProud: Lisa Tepe ('96)

Lisa Tepe ’96 is driving sustainability across Disney, helping teams eliminate waste, rethink materials and build more sustainable operations.

#StoutProud: Deshea Agee ('18)

Deshea Agee ’18 is shaping stronger communities through economic development, real estate, entrepreneurship and strategic consulting

Kayla Boyd ’19 is working to bring oysters back to Mobile Bay, restoring an ecosystem that supports wildlife, shorelines and coastal communities. Kayla Boyd

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#StoutProud: Lisa Tepe ('96)

jasperb — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 21:00:19 +0000

#StoutProud: Lisa Tepe ('96)jasperb September 14, 2026

Lisa Tepe is helping Disney make sustainability part of daily operations, with major reductions in single-use plastics and new approaches to food waste across travel experiences.

Lisa onboard the Disney Wish with Captain Mickey. / Submitted photo

At Disney, Lisa Tepe ('96) is helping turn sustainability into a way of doing business. As senior manager of the zero-waste sustainability program for Disney Signature Experiences, she works with chefs, procurement teams and operational leaders across Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa and other experiences to reduce waste, rethink materials and find more sustainable ways to operate.

The impact is significant. In the last three years, Disney Cruise Line has eliminated 99% of guest-facing single-use plastics and 93% of all nonessential single-use plastics across its ships and island destinations. Tepe's team is also testing artificial intelligence to find new ways to reduce food waste.

But for Tepe, the biggest measure of success is what happens when sustainability becomes part of how people naturally do their jobs. "That's when we know it's gone from a sustainability effort to just a way of business," she said.

Tepe, originally from a small town in Minnesota, first discovered �� during a high school visit with her DECA teacher. She returned later with her parents, and the decision became clear. "It felt like home," she said. As a first-generation college student, finding a place where she felt comfortable was important.

Backstage at Disney ��. Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney MGM Studios) on the Walt Disney World College Program. / Submitted photo

At Stout, she found leadership opportunities and experiences that extended well beyond the classroom. During her sophomore year, she earned a spot in the Disney College Program and spent the summer working attractions at what is now Disney's Hollywood Studios. That opportunity led to an opportunities in Disney's employment division, followed by roles in guest relations and food and beverage management.

Tepe credits longtime professor Dr. Carol Mooney with helping her navigate an unconventional college path. When Tepe was offered an extended internship with Disney, Mooney found a way for her to receive academic credit while away from campus, allowing her to remain an active student. "I don't regret a minute of it," Tepe said. "I had all of these life experiences and career experiences before I actually graduated."

Outside the classroom, Tepe served in residence hall leadership, the Stout Student Association, DECA and her sorority. Those experiences taught her how to lead meetings, build relationships, navigate difficult conversations and mentor others, skills she still relies on today.

Lisa pictured during the construction phase of Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa, where her role was on-boarding all of the new cast members and leaders. / Submitted photo

After graduation, due to her years of experience with the company Tepe joined the Disney as a salaried leader and spent the early part of her career in operations, eventually helping open Disney California Adventure. She later spent more than a decade at Disney University, leading orientation and leadership development programs for thousands of Disney leaders around the world. Along the way, she helped open Aulani in Hawaii and worked internationally to prepare crew members for the launch of the Disney Dream. Each role added to her understanding of operations, leadership and how to help people navigate change.

After moving into a human resources leadership role supporting Disney's Animal Science and Environment division, a mentor asked if she would consider a role in sustainability. The move brought together the skills she had developed throughout her career: understanding operations, building relationships, leading through change and teaching. "There is not a day that goes by that I don't think I use my education degree," she said. "You are always teaching. You are always learning."

Conducting a waste generation and composition study at the Walt Disney World Resort in 2022. / Submitted photo

Today, Tepe works with teams to find solutions that reduce environmental impact without sacrificing the guest experience or the needs of the business. Whether she is helping chefs reduce food waste, working with procurement teams to identify alternatives to plastics or helping leaders rethink long-standing processes, her goal is to give people the knowledge and tools to make better decisions themselves.

That approach is helping drive broader change across Disney. The company's waste strategy includes reducing food waste, increasing recycling and reuse, reducing single-use plastics and moving toward zero waste to landfill by 2030.

For Tepe, the most successful projects are those that benefit everyone by improving the guest experience, supporting cast members, strengthening business operations and reducing environmental impact. She calls them "win-win-win-wins."

After 30 years with Disney, Tepe says the accomplishment she is most proud of isn't a promotion, an award or a single project. It's saying yes to new opportunities. That willingness to embrace the unknown was shaped in part by her experiences at Stout, where she learned to put herself out there, take on leadership roles and make the most of opportunities beyond the classroom.

Tepe ��. impact can be seen in the millions of plastic items eliminated and the waste reduction efforts taking place across Disney's travel and leisure operations. Just as importantly, it can be seen in the leaders who are beginning to make more sustainable choices on their own.

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#StoutProud: Kayla Boyd ('19)

Kayla Boyd ’19 is working to bring oysters back to Mobile Bay, restoring an ecosystem that supports wildlife, shorelines and coastal communities.

#StoutProud: Lisa Tepe ('96)

Lisa Tepe ’96 is driving sustainability across Disney, helping teams eliminate waste, rethink materials and build more sustainable operations.

#StoutProud: Deshea Agee ('18)

Deshea Agee ’18 is shaping stronger communities through economic development, real estate, entrepreneurship and strategic consulting

Lisa Tepe ’96 is driving sustainability across Disney, helping teams eliminate waste, rethink materials and build more sustainable operations. Lisa Tepe 1

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#StoutProud: Deshea Agee ('18)

jasperb — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:07:06 +0000

#StoutProud: Deshea Agee ('18)jasperb September 10, 2026

Deshea Agee ’18 is shaping stronger communities through economic development, real estate, entrepreneurship and strategic consulting

Deshea Agee '18 / Submitted photo

Deshea Agee knows a thing or two about making an impact, and he has the numbers behind him to prove it. More than $250 million has been invested in Milwaukee ��. Historic King Drive district since 2016, with organizations committing another $100 million toward buildings and people. That investment has helped fuel business growth, entrepreneurship, real estate development and the continued transformation of Milwaukee ��. Bronzeville neighborhood.

In 2025, Agee was named one of Wisconsin ��. Most Influential Black Leaders by Madison365, recognizing his work helping shape the state ��. future. His impact has earned other recognition, too. Historic King Drive gained national attention, including being featured by The New York Times as one of its recommended places to visit. But his résumé also includes a less conventional claim to fame: In 2019, he appeared on Family Feud with his mother and siblings as part of the Milwaukee Wade family.

That mix of community leadership, entrepreneurship and personality has followed Agee throughout his career. But for Agee, recognition is secondary to what remains after the work is done. “I look at the work that I've been doing as legacy work,” Agee said. “It means to me that my work will live beyond me.”

Deshea holding King Drive branded t-shirt. / Submitted photo

That philosophy has shaped more than 15 years in Milwaukee ��. economic development and real estate sectors. After beginning his career in radio sales and exploring music and real estate, Agee spent nearly nine years with the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development. He saw how public investment could create opportunities for neighborhoods and businesses, but wanted a deeper understanding of the construction and development side of that work.

That led him to �� Polytechnic, where he earned a master ��. degree in construction management. His adviser, Dr. Jeanette Black, also encouraged him to consider consulting, an idea he explored through an elective course. “Dr. Black inspired me to venture into where I am now, which is consulting,” he said. “She encouraged me in a way that I probably would not have gotten from anybody else.”

His master ��. thesis brought together his interests in economic development, construction and community revitalization. Agee examined the revitalization of streets named for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., researching communities in multiple states and developing a framework and toolkit for strengthening those corridors.

Deshea and family members with Steve Harvey on Family Feud in 2019. / Submitted photo

Agee soon had an opportunity to put those ideas into practice — and even found himself talking about them on national television. In 2019, Agee appeared on Family Feud with his mother and siblings after his sister recruited the family for the show. During individual interviews, his family members talked about their work. Agee, meanwhile, found himself talking about King Drive, his �� Polytechnic master ��. thesis and his vision for revitalizing streets named for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As executive director of Historic King Drive Business Improvement District No. 8 from 2016 to 2021, Agee put that vision to work on one of Milwaukee ��. most historic commercial corridors. His approach to revitalization extended well beyond buildings. It focused on creating the conditions for people, businesses and neighborhoods to thrive.

Deshea at solar array project for Outreach Community Health Center. / Submitted photo

Under his leadership, the district advanced business recruitment and entrepreneurship efforts, strengthened relationships with property owners and invested in the public spaces and identity of the corridor. Programs such as Brew City Match and Pop Up MKE helped entrepreneurs establish businesses, while improvements helped create more welcoming spaces for residents and visitors.

The results were visible in the corridor ��. growing momentum. More businesses began locating along King Drive, entrepreneurs gained opportunities to establish themselves and previously underused properties attracted new attention and investment. The work also contributed to the broader re-emergence of Bronzeville as a cultural and entertainment district.

That ripple effect is what Agee sees when he looks back at his work in Milwaukee. He has described himself as a community builder, building on the work of those who came before him while creating opportunities for the people and businesses that will come next.

Deshea with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) certification. / Submitted photo

His �� Polytechnic education continued to shape that work. For five years with Emem Group, Agee applied his construction management background while managing mixed-use, apartment and office development projects. The experience gave him an opportunity to put his education into practice across the development process and deepen his understanding of how projects take shape. One project was a 50,000 square-foot new construction addition for Outreach Community Health Center, where Agee managed the process to achieve certification through the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The project allowed the health center to expand its behavioral health services and care for its patients, and the building was one of the first WELL-certified buildings in Wisconsin.

Today, Agee is applying those lessons in a new way. He launched Agee Partners, a strategic advisory and national consulting practice focused on economic development and real estate. Through his consulting work, Agee will advise communities and organizations on economic development strategy, real estate activation, and community engagement. He has been invited to advise Main Street communities in several states to assist with economic development planning, opportunity identification, and to build on the assets and initiatives currently underway.

For Agee, that work represents another stage of the same mission: helping communities create a foundation that can outlast any singular person or project.

“I’m less about titles,” he said, “and more about impact and leaving something that people can really add to.”

That is the legacy Agee wants to leave: stronger communities with the people, businesses and spaces needed to keep building.

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Deshea Agee ’18 is shaping stronger communities through economic development, real estate, entrepreneurship and strategic consulting

Deshea Agee ’18 is shaping stronger communities through economic development, real estate, entrepreneurship and strategic consulting Deshea Agee

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#StoutProud: Howard Gordon ('72)

jasperb — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:53:43 +0000

#StoutProud: Howard Gordon ('72)jasperb August 31, 2026

Howard Gordon has spent 50 years shaping hospitality through innovation and technology, with a career spanning The Cheesecake Factory, Curate Technologies and Paradise Tropical Tea

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Howard Gordon. / Submitted photo

Howard Gordon has spent more than 50 years helping people and organizations see what could come next and working alongside them to make it happen. His career includes helping The Cheesecake Factory grow into one of the industry ��. most recognizable brands, helping to increase the company ��. online sales from approximately $600,000 to more than $6 million and bringing bilingual digital recipe systems into restaurant kitchens. He also created Paradise Tropical Tea, which became the top -selling iced tea in U.S. restaurants.

“Hospitality has always been about making people feel welcome and sharing knowledge so the entire industry can improve,” Gordon says. “Technology, strategy and growth are valuable when they make the experience better for guests and employees.”

Howard Gordon during his time as a student. / Submitted photo

Gordon ��. connection to hospitality runs through generations of his family. A native New Yorker, he is a third-generation member of the restaurant business and fifth-generation member of the baking industry - Gordon's grandfather helped establish the Cake Bakers and Bread Makers Union and served as its president for more than 40 years.

After high school, Gordon attended college in New York before following the head of its hotel and restaurant department to �� Polytechnic with a group of classmates. At �� Polytechnic, Gordon completed his bachelor ��. degree in hotel and restaurant management. He remembers a close-knit campus where practical learning was central to the experience. One of his favorite memories is a microwave oven cooking class, which Gordon believes was the first of its kind in America. Litton Industries had provided microwave ovens to the university, and Gordon and several other men enrolled in a home economics course to learn how to cook with the emerging technology.

The experience taught Gordon to approach new technology with an open mind and curiosity. “There were a lot of hands-on opportunities at Stout for us to understand the business a little better,” he said. “Throughout my career I’ve come to approach new technology with an operator ��. questions,” Gordon said. “I always want to know: What problem can it solve? How can it improve the work? How will it help the people using it?”

Gordon returned to New York after graduation. With an introduction from his grandfather, he entered the restaurant industry and soon moved into hotel operations. At the Waldorf Astoria, he became the hotel's youngest American manager. The experience helped shape his belief that a manager must understand both the guest's view and the realities facing the people delivering the experience.

Howard Gordon with Kathy Ireland and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at an Athletes & Entertainers charity event. / Submitted photo

He later became a regional food and beverage director before joining a friend ��. high-end coffee and tea company. That move opened the door to product innovation, and ultimately led to the creation of Paradise Tropical Tea. Gordon and his colleagues spent about a year developing the beverage, testing fruit extracts including papaya and mango while working through formulation, flavor and shelf life. At a time when restaurant iced tea choices were largely limited to traditional or sweet tea, the tropical blend stood apart. It became the leading iced tea in U.S. restaurants and later expanded into retail.

“There was nobody doing that,” Gordon said. “It became very novel.”

In 1996, Gordon joined The Cheesecake Factory, which had seven restaurants at the time. He became the company ��. first senior vice president and took on a broad role that included business development, marketing, communications and operations. He helped support the company's rapid expansion, worked across corporate and restaurant teams, assisted with more than 150 new openings and represented the brand in national media.

As the company grew, Gordon saw opportunities to use technology as a practical tool for solving operational and business problems. He helped create The Cheesecake Factory's first website and online ordering system, replacing a process in which customers called an 800 number in Florida to place orders. Annual online sales rose from about $600,000 to more than $6 million.

Submitted photo

Gordon brought his forward-thinking mindset into restaurant kitchens. The Cheesecake Factory executive team recognized that kitchen display systems could do more than show orders; they could help teams manage the kitchen and access consistent information. Digital recipes in English and Spanish gave employees a faster, more useful way to do their jobs.

Gordon and his colleagues shared what they were learning with restaurant and technology companies outside the organization. "The goal really was to strengthen the industry and not just The Cheesecake Factory," he said.

That willingness to share ideas has remained central to Gordon's work. After leaving The Cheesecake Factory, Gordon continued advising restaurant and hospitality companies in strategy, growth, operations, project management, leadership development, marketing and technology.

Today, Gordon is chief business officer and a partner at Curate Technologies, where he combines his hospitality expertise with emerging technology to make the restaurant experience more seamless. Curate ��. Instant App technology lets guests access a restaurant ��. digital experience without downloading an app, reflecting Gordon ��. continued focus on using innovation to make hospitality better.

Howard pictured with his daughter at Thomas Keller's restaurant Per Se in New York City. / Submitted photo

Service to the next generation is an important part of Gordon ��. legacy. For more than 25 years, he has mentored aspiring hospitality professionals, sharing industry experience and helping students understand the realities and opportunities of the business. He has also returned to �� Polytechnic to share his experience and career advice with students.

Gordon is also preserving the lessons of his career in a memoir, “Eating Over a Garbage Can! — Tales of Survival, Success and Service in the Restaurant Industry.” The book captures the humor, challenges and rewards of a career in the restaurant industry, where meals are sometimes eaten standing up between crises and service remains at the heart of the work. It is scheduled for online release in December 2026.

Throughout his career, Gordon has embraced new ideas while staying grounded in a belief that people matter most. Whether introducing new technology, mentoring the next generation or sharing the lessons of his career, he continues to create opportunities for others to learn, grow and succeed.

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The Cheesecake Factory, Paradise Tropical Tea and restaurant technology are just part of Howard Gordon ��. ’72 five-decade career in the hospitality industry. Howard Gordon

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Luminary Alumni Award: Howard Lee (’68, ’69)

goersab — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:20:00 +0000

Luminary Alumni Award: Howard Lee (’68, ’69)goersab August 26, 2026

‘Everyone can make a difference. Just make the time and do it. As long as I can volunteer, I will continue.’

For his generous service to the Menomonie community and his inspirational mentorship and philanthropy to �� Polytechnic, Howard Lee (’68, ’69) has received the Luminary Alumni Award.

Luminary Alumni Award recipient Howard Lee

Throughout his career, Lee elevated �� . national reputation in career and technical education, strengthened partnerships with industry and community organizations and positioned himself as a respected voice and advocate.

His influence as a mentor is profound; countless students, faculty and emerging leaders credit him with shaping their professional paths and instilling in them the values of integrity, service and excellence.

In 2025, Lee and his wife, Charlotte Gomulak Lee (’67, ’68), were named Knights of Columbus Monsignor Blecha Council 2055 Family of the Year and Outstanding Dunn County Philanthropists by the Dunn County Chippewa Valley Fund Raising Professionals.

“Helping others and meeting new people gives me satisfaction. Everyone can make a difference. Just make the time and do it. As long as I can volunteer, I will continue. It ��. a great honor to be recognized for the things I have accomplished and how I may have made a little difference,” Lee said. “If you can find a partner to share things with, then you will have a good life. Charlotte has been at my side the past 58 years.”

Lee grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, and after graduating high school in 1961, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17. After basic training, he attended ordnance school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and served his remaining three years in Verdun, France, when he visited 11 European countries.

Upon returning to Hawaii, he attended the Honolulu Technical Institute, majoring in auto body. “During my first term, Yaso Abe (’47), a family friend who had graduated from Stout with an M.S. degree after the war, suggested I attend Stout and be an industrial arts teacher,” he said.

Howard and Charlotte Lee on their anniversary

Lee earned his B.S. in industrial education in 1968 and his M.S. in industrial education in 1969, receiving GI benefits during his four years at the university.

He was an active member of Alpha Phi Omega, the service fraternity at Stout. He was also a member of the Epsilon Pi Tau fraternity and served as a graduate assistant in the industrial graphics department.

“There were so many great instructors at Stout to learn from. They influenced what and how I taught, and how students should be treated. I observed Stout instructors and how they worked together, and it left me with a lasting impression,” he said.

Lee met Charlotte on his second day at Stout. They married in 1968 and started teaching in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, the following year: Charlotte in family and consumer education and Lee in industrial education, mainly auto mechanics, small gas engines and drafting. After two years, White Bear Lake opened a new high school, and Lee ��. responsibility was to work with the architect on the power and drafting labs, ordering equipment, and developing the curriculum to justify the laboratory and equipment.

“I had so much fun teaching high school students developing learning activity packages, programmed instruction and self-learning audio activities,” he said. “When I first started teaching, I asked students to complete a simple two-question evaluation: What is going well in class, and what should I do differently? Getting feedback from people you work with is very important. Treat faculty, staff, students and community members how you wish to be treated.”

Howard Lee instructing students

The Lees built a home in Marine on St. Croix and had three sons. In 1978, the family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where Lee took an assistant professor job at Northern Arizona University. He taught auto mechanics, drafting and supervised student teachers. “Teaching and working with Hopi and Navajo students and staff, I developed an understanding of different native cultures,” Lee said.

After a year, the family returned to Minnesota, and Lee enrolled at the University of Minnesota to complete his Ph.D. and worked as a graduate assistant, supervising student teachers in metro technical colleges. Upon graduating, Lee then worked for a year in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at U of M Medical School, researching, writing grants and developing curriculum. He had the pleasure of working with Dr. John Najarian, the famous surgeon, and Dr. Michael Osterholm, then director of the Minnesota Department of Health.

He then joined the professional staff at 916 Technical College in Minnesota as a curriculum developer and became district staff development coordinator, evaluating projects with the vice president of Northwestern Bell to determine the effectiveness of projects. “Working with every group of faculty and staff at 916 and addressing their individual needs was very gratifying,” Lee said.

As their boys grew, Lee became Webelos leader, cubmaster and scoutmaster, while Charlotte served as den mother. Because of his industrial education background, he led many building activities for the Scouts.

In 1986, Lee returned to �� as program director for the M.S. and Ed.S. in vocational and technical education and served as co-director for the Center for Vocational and Technical Education, working with his mentor, Orville Nelson, a prolific grant writer. Large projects early on included the Turkish Training project, where the university sent several faculty members to Turkey, and 24 technical college instructors came to learn about Stout ��. successful methods of teaching and laboratory work; and the Russian Construction project, where 40 Russians came for four weeks to learn about construction methods.

Lee ��. leadership expanded as he served as department chair and program director for the B.S. in vocational education and technology education; as associate dean and dean in the School of Industry and Technology and the College of Technology, Engineering and Management, and later as executive director of Stout Solutions.

He ultimately returned to the faculty as professor and program director of career and technical education. He was the faculty advisor for the International Relations Club, developing lifelong friendships to this day. The Lees hosted many international students and visiting faculty. He was also the research advisor to many M.S. and Ed.S. students.

Howard and Charlotte Lee with Chancellor Katherine Frank

Lee was honored to be a Bush Fellow and did post-doctorate work at Carnegie Mellon University. He was a Dahlgren Professor and completed sabbatical research for a textbook, “Instructional Analysis and Course Development,” written with Nelson.

“I had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people at Stout, including Orville Nelson, Bob Sedlak, Marty Ondrus, Bruce Siebold, Hans Timper, Diane Longsdorf, and Carol Mooney, to name a few. All of them have a legacy that influenced me,” Lee said. “It was very gratifying to watch students grow and follow them as they advanced throughout their careers.”

In 2006, the University of Minnesota ��. College of Education recognized Lee as one of 100 graduates to receive the Centennial Award.

Upon retirement in 2009, Lee earned Emeritus status. He published five memoirs about growing up in Hawaii, his army experience, academic years, family life, jobs and retirement.

“Four things that contributed to my success at Stout and in retirement and my advice for students are to believe in yourself, build on past success, put forth effort and learn to ask for help. Success builds on success,” Lee said. “Develop a passion for what you believe in and develop competencies to reach your goals. I’ve used the basic problem-solving technique and covered it in class. Identify the problem, what are the possible solutions, consider implications to each solution, which is the most effective way to produce the desired results, what support is required, implement the solution and identify the metrics for success. This can be applied to everything you do in life.

“There is so much need for Stout students in the community. Find some service you are interested in, learn what is needed and develop a plan to get there. It ��. a shame to have skills and knowledge and not use them,” he added.

It was important to Lee and Charlotte that they stay in the Menomonie community and share their education and training background in their retirement. His service to the Menomonie community reflects his exceptional achievement in philanthropy and civic engagement and demonstrates a commitment to education, dignity and community well-being.

Lee became a Master Gardener and helped establish the Dunn County Master Gardener Association. He was active with Pounding Fathers, building ramps, and worked on the first six Habitat for Humanity homes in Menomonie. He has served on the boards at Bridge to Hope, Stepping Stones, and Menomonie Senior Center, and continues to volunteer weekly at Meals on Wheels, Stepping Stones and St. Joe ��. fish fry. He washes dishes after the monthly Menomonie Senior Center meals and served as a financial coach in the Dunn County Jail, helping those who needed assistance in managing their funds.

“My happy day is Monday, when I help kindergarten kids with reading. I’ve been doing this for the past four years, and I always come home happy and share my experience with Charlotte,” Lee said.

Howard and Charlotte Lee with their family

The Lees fund programs through the Community Foundation of Dunn County and other entities that contribute to �� Polytechnic and the Menomonie area. Their philanthropic commitment helps remove financial barriers and expand opportunities for students.

“Both Charlotte and I feel it is very important to provide scholarships to Stout students as we were both recipients of scholarships as students,” Lee said. “Assisting students and student teachers has been a priority for us. It is always a pleasure to meet Stout students who received our scholarships.”

The Lees attend many functions at �� Polytechnic, including athletics events. They host international students in the summer ESL program. As a program coordinator for Chippewa Valley Learning in Retirement, Lee develops programs to serve the senior community, including arranging tours of �� Polytechnic labs.

“We are a Stout family. Our three sons, Nathan (’97), Sheldon (’98), and Jonathan (’02), and daughter-in-law Ruth May (’00) are all alumni, and now Simon, a grandson, is at Stout in electrical engineering,” Lee said. “We have five grandchildren. I’ve always told my children that there are only three for sures in life: You are born, you live, and you die. You have no control of your birth and not much control of how you die, but you can have control of how you live. What you make of your life is entirely up to you, so live to the fullest, and be a contributing member of society. Throughout life and career, most of us need a great partner, and I am so fortunate to have Charlotte.”

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Distinguished Alumni Award: Joseph G. Rossmeier (’65)

goersab — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:15:00 +0000

Distinguished Alumni Award: Joseph G. Rossmeier (’65)goersab August 26, 2026

‘My experiences allowed me to help institutions achieve their mission of improving the success of their students.’

Joseph G. Rossmeier (’65) received the Distinguished Alumni Award for his outstanding career achievements, his dedication to ensuring the power of education remains accessible and for the positive impact he has made on both his profession and �� Polytechnic.

Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Joseph Rossmeier

“My greatest accomplishments have been working in higher education, experiencing life in both academic and administrative positions as well as serving higher education with high-quality products and services,” Rossmeier said. “My experiences allowed me to help institutions achieve their mission of improving the success of their students.

Rossmeier grew up on a dairy farm near Hilbert, about 14 miles east of Appleton. As he was finishing high school in 1961, his industrial arts teacher, Richard Werblow, persuaded him to apply to �� Polytechnic, then known as Stout State College.

“After considerable thought, my only real alternative was to become a dairy farmer, something my mother was dead set against, given the daily work requirements at that time with no vacations, no real downtime,” Rossmeier said. “I applied, and the rest is history. Stout became my springboard. My time there was a life-changing experience, one that I will always cherish as the first real steppingstone to a long, long, successful career.”

Rossmeier ��. sisters Anne (’66) and Mary Kay (’67,’73) and brother, John Joseph (’69), attended �� Polytechnic after him. The legacy family created an endowed scholarship, which Rossmeier continues to support annually in honor of his siblings.

Joseph Rossmeier attends a Scholarship Reception

Most of Rossmeier ��. career involved strategic and operational planning, improving business policies and processes, increasing the use of data in decision-making and modernizing institutional operations in the use of technology, all in the interest of improving services to students and increasing business efficiency.

“Continuous improvement in all of my professional positions has been a salient priority. I have always strived to be a trusted and valuable colleague in whatever position I was in,” he said. “Throughout my career, I have been involved in shaping strategy, identifying new business and operational opportunities, challenging outdated assumptions, and reducing risk.”

After earning his B.S. in industrial education in 1965, Rossmeier received a scholarship to attend Michigan State University, where he went on to earn his master ��. in college personnel work/sociology, graduating in 1967. During that time, he became heavily involved in residence hall management and other university functions serving students. This experience would serve him well throughout his career.

“As I was graduating, I received a call from Dewey Barich (’33), president of the Detroit Institute of Technology. DIT was a 2,000-student night school university, mostly for veterans, and he offered me the position of director of Admissions,” said Rossmeier, who spent two years at DIT building a respectable enrollment, until he was offered a scholarship to enter a Ph.D. program at the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Higher Education.

Joseph Rossmeier speaks at a Pathways Forward Campaign

During the first year of his doctoral program in 1969-70, he served as director of a 1,200-student living-learning resident hall, where he managed the overall operation of the entire facility. He graduated in 1972. It was also during this time that he met his spouse, Mary. They have been married for 54 years.

Rossmeier interned in the University of Michigan Survey Research Center, working on the Survey of Consumers Index, the quarterly national consumer opinion research survey still produced today. And in 1974, after completing his thesis on a national study about organization and decision-making at multi-unit community colleges, he was offered a job at Northern Virginia Community College, where he was promoted several times during his 10-year tenure, ending as dean of Management Services at the five-campus, multi-unit community college

In 1984, Rossmeier decided to enter the corporate world and joined DataTel, a company that marketed enterprise administrative systems to colleges and universities. He worked in several sales positions, achieving No. 1 in sales during 12 of his 17 years at DataTel.

In 1997, Rossmeier joined PeopleSoft, selling enterprise administrative systems to larger institutions, including the Virginia Community College System, which became the largest higher education organization to implement the company ��. software.

Then in 2002, Rossmeier returned to higher education management and was appointed vice president for Information Technology/CIO at Prince George ��. Community College (PGCC), where he was one of several key administrators for 17 years.

Joseph and Mary Rossmeier with their family

It was also during this time that Rossmeier served on the �� Foundation & Alumni Association Board for 12 years. “Given my historical Wisconsin roots, and the nature of my professional experiences, I stay informed about what is happening in both the Wisconsin universities and the technical colleges,” he said. “In my judgment, they are very well-run institutions. However, Stout remains one of the most transformative institutions, with its very progressive workforce-oriented programs.”

Upon retirement from PGCC, Rossmeier joined CampusWorks, his present employer, where he will have completed 11 years. He currently serves as vice president of Executive Advisory Services.

“I manage a group of trusted retired higher education executives who provide guidance to CampusWorks’ leadership, as well as open doors to new business opportunities as a result of my group ��. extensive higher education networking capability with current real-world experienced higher education leaders,” he said.

“As I moved through my three higher education institutions and then my corporate work experience, I have become a very, very strong advocate of supporting diverse people – people of different faiths, different ethnicities, different races,” he added. “Individuals who have been historically underrepresented or marginalized remain a very sensitive issue in my life as I strive to push for fair treatment and representation.”

When reflecting on his long-term success, Rossmeier values staying positive, attending to good health habits, looking forward rather than backward, and maintaining contact with professional and personal colleagues. “My ultimate goal has been to never burn bridges when making work or location changes in my life,” he said.

For students and young professionals who aspire to leadership roles in their fields, Rossmeier offered this bit of advice: “Achieving a post-secondary education, whether through public or private institutions, still remains the best lifetime investment chance to be successful – career-wise, financially and for community involvement.”

After spending 45 years in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., Rossmeier and Mary moved to the Sarasota area in Florida. “Mary remains the heartthrob of my life; she is truly a wonderful partner. Mary, our children, grandchildren and close friends remain the pillars of support in my life,” he said.

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Menomonie Culver ��. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecoming

Fundraisers, family-oriented activities, athletic events set for alumni, community Oct. 15-18

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

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

Distinguished alum, educator Albrecht credits �� for preparing graduates who ‘step forward’

Student speakers at May 16 ceremonies encourage peers to act with compassion, courage, and to continue learning

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Chancellor ��. Award: Ron & Joyce Wanek

goersab — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:10:00 +0000

Chancellor ��. Award: Ron & Joyce Wanekgoersab August 26, 2026

‘When industry and education align, you can create the right environment for growth, giving society opportunity and building something that lasts.’

Ronald (Ron) and Joyce Wanek are the recipients of the 2026 �� Polytechnic Chancellor ��. Award for their generous philanthropy through the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation and the ongoing partnership between �� Polytechnic, the Wanek family and their business, Ashley Furniture Industries, based in Arcadia.

The foundation ��. $3.1 million donation of high-tech equipment – which includes production-level 3D printers, a fully integrated automated manufacturing system and more – dramatically increases the university ��. ability to offer a state-of-the-art polytechnic experience for thousands of students in design, engineering and education programs.

The new equipment has created automation, robotics and 3D printing labs in multiple campus locations, including three labs in Fryklund Hall and one in the Jarvis Hall Technology Wing. It also will enhance experiences for K-12 students and professional learners, amplifying the impact of the university ��. polytechnic focus.

This gift was in addition to and in support of a two-year, $7.4 million renovation project to ensure that labs in the Jarvis Hall Technology Wing provide the technology, accessibility and visibility necessary for students to succeed in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and management.

The Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation is a philanthropic organization committed to supporting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and other community initiatives, helping to secure the country ��. position as a world leader in technology and advanced manufacturing.

“We’re very grateful for the recognition. This honor reflects the Ashley team and the partnership we’ve built with �� Polytechnic: people who invest the time, stay curious and work to create something meaningful for students and industry partners. The team at �� Polytechnic is doing important work, providing students with real-world skills with real equipment, and that ��. what builds a strong workforce. We are proud to be part of that,” said Wanek, founder and chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries.

“We believe our support gives students a stronger starting point. When you’ve already been exposed to real systems and challenges, you come in with a different mindset, ‘a growth mindset.’ You’re there to contribute. That shift makes a difference early in a career and is the difference with gaining a polytechnic education from �� Polytechnic,” he added.

Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation donation transforms labs with advanced manufacturing equipment

Machinery for automated manufacturing, 3D printing and more will impact thousands of students’ polytechnic experiences

Wanek ��. family worked on a sharecropper ��. farm in Utica, Minnesota, where he was instilled with a strong work ethic and ambition to succeed.

“In farming, you don’t wait for perfect conditions. You work with what you have. Business is the same. We started with very little and learned as we went, sometimes the hard way,” said Wanek, who began his career in 1961 as a cabinetmaker with the newly formed furniture company, Winona Industries.

In 1970, Wanek took his knowledge of the furniture industry and set out on his own to establish and manage Arcadia Furniture, a small manufacturing company, which began with 35 employees in Arcadia. Now Ashley Furniture, the company is the world ��. largest furniture manufacturer and the largest retail furniture store brand in North America, with more than 1,100 retail locations.

“The mentorship that I received at Winona Furniture taught me where opportunity lies. What I mean by that is: In life, you either make it, mine it or grow it. I chose to be a maker, which led to Ashley Furniture. And once you start, you keep at it, one day at a time. Progress is like planting a field. It doesn’t happen overnight, but if you do the work consistently, great things can happen,” Wanek said.

Outside of the business, Wanek is highly regarded for his philanthropic initiatives. In 1998, the Waneks started the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation, making personal gifts of tens of millions of dollars to a multitude of their favorite causes, including the furniture industry, helping children in need, medical research, education and the arts, and honoring our armed forces.

“We’ve always felt a responsibility to keep moving things forward, building on what ��. been done so others have a better path ahead,” Wanek said. “That means advancing opportunities so future generations can benefit and grow. Our goal is to create real momentum in our communities: stronger jobs, stronger skills and more ways for people to succeed. If you build it right, it carries on long after you’re gone.”

The equipment donated by the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation includes:

An Amatrol Smart Factory Enterprise system is being used to create a new Automation Training Center. Through the Smart Factory Enterprise system and �� Polytechnic ��. groundbreaking Automation Leadership and Engineering programs, the university will be able to offer a wide variety of industry-recognized certifications through the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA).
Three new Universal Cobots (collaborative robots) and six AI-powered Cognex Vision Cameras have been added to the already impressive Industrial Robotics and Machine Vision Lab.
The Additive Manufacturing Lab has been upgraded with state-of-the-art industrial printers, enabling the printing of a wide variety of materials, from stainless steel to nylon to high-performance plastics.
The Fryklund 101 Machining Lab has been upgraded with 6 Haas VF-2SS CNC mills; a Haas ST-20Y CNC lathe with Y-axis capabilities; a bar feeder and live tooling; and a Fanuc Robodrill with a machine tending robot system.

“When we think about philanthropy, we look at it as an investment of time, resources and partnerships into things that will create lasting impact. We operate at a global scale, so we see where industries are going and what ��. needed to stay competitive,” Wanek said. “That gives us an opportunity to work alongside strong partners, like �� Polytechnic, to help build toward that future. Real progress comes from collaboration. When industry and education align, you can create the right environment for growth, giving society opportunity and building something that lasts.”

The Waneks believe that education gives people a tool, and the right tools give people and the U.S. a chance to compete globally, not just on a small scale. “We’re competing globally for talent, innovation and ultimately for market share. If we want the U.S. to stay strong, we have to make sure our workforce is prepared to meet that challenge,” Wanek said. “That starts with education that connects to doing. When students are working with real equipment and real problems, they’re better prepared to step in and contribute right away. That ��. what keeps us competitive, and that ��. why we support it.”

Partnerships between industry and higher education help shape the future workforce because when industry is involved, “students see how things actually get done, not just how they’re supposed to work in theory. That exposure helps them think differently, solve problems faster and understand what ��. expected of them. If you close that gap early, you don’t have to catch up later.

“Innovation doesn’t stand still, so training can’t either,” he added. “If you invest in the right environment, students begin to understand how everything connects: people, processes, production and economies. That kind of understanding builds a stronger workforce, and over time, that ��. what keeps industries and communities moving forward. It ��. like preparing the ground before you plant. The effort you put in up front will show up later. Or another way to think of it is – the harder you work, the luckier you will be.”

For students who are preparing to enter manufacturing, engineering and business fields, Wanek offered this bit of advice, “Stay curious, be willing to work hard and don’t be afraid to start at the ground level. That ��. where you build the foundation for long-term success. When you stay curious, you learn by doing – by trying things, making adjustments and figuring it out along the way. Listen to the people around you, ask questions and take pride in your work.”

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Menomonie Culver ��. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecoming

Fundraisers, family-oriented activities, athletic events set for alumni, community Oct. 15-18

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

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

#StoutProud: Kayla Boyd ('19)

Kayla Boyd ’19 is working to bring oysters back to Mobile Bay, restoring an ecosystem that supports wildlife, shorelines and coastal communities.

‘When industry and education align, you can create the right environment for growth, giving society opportunity and building something that lasts.’ Ron and Joyce Wanek Learn More About Alumni Award Recipients

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Connect with the #StoutProud community

Stay connected. Stay inspired. Stay #StoutProud.

Your Connection to �� Polytechnic Doesn’t End at Graduation

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#StoutProud in Action

Read #StoutProud stories and share your own

Make an Impact

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Foundation & Alumni News

Menomonie Culver ��. Clue-themed Flavor of the Day, Brewery Nonic ��. limited-edition brew will support Blue Devils at homecoming

Fundraisers, family-oriented activities, athletic events set for alumni, community Oct. 15-18

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

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

Distinguished alum, educator Albrecht credits �� for preparing graduates who ‘step forward’

Student speakers at May 16 ceremonies encourage peers to act with compassion, courage, and to continue learning

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Contact Information

�� Polytechnic Foundation & Alumni Association

Office: Louis Smith Tainter House