Fox Valley Technical College Focus Magazine Spring 2010

FOX VALLEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE : Appleton Campus, Entrance 10

OSHKOSH2424 Westowne Ave.1492 W. South Park Ave. DE PERE1700 Lawrence Dr.MANITOWOC1100 S. 30th St.

APPLETON2626 S. Oneida St.509 N. Richmond St.2701 N. Ballard Rd.455 S. Nicolet Rd.1235 W. Spencer St.

NEENAH125 E. Forest Ave.2300 Industrial Dr. GREENVILLEN1230 Cty. Rd. CBDARBOYW6089 Cty. Rd. KK

WAUPACA1006 Royalton St.NEW LONDON603 W. Wolf River Ave.NICHOLSW5644 Cty. Rd. F

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Focus is published bi-annuallyfor the communities of Fox Valley

Technical College.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/MANAGER OFMEDIA RELATIONS

Chris Jossart

CUSTOM PUBLISHING SERVICESThe Coghlan Group

EDITORChris Mikko

ART DIRECTORAmy Bjellos

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSChuck Benda, Sara Gilbert,Vicki Stavig, Chris Jossart,Chris Mikko, Sue Wilson

PHOTOGRAPHYGary Brilowski, Gary Gawinski,

Patrick Kelly

DIRECTOR OF COLLEGEMARKETINGBarb Dreger

PRESIDENTDr. Susan A. May

Fox Valley Technical College1825 N. Bluemound Dr.

P.O. Box 2277Appleton, WI 54912-2277

1-800-735-3882TTY (hearing impaired) (920) 735-2569

[email protected] (e-mail inquiries)

Accredited by The Higher LearningCommission and a member of the NorthCentral Association, www.ncahlc.org.

FVTC offers more than 200 associatedegree, technical diploma and certificateprograms, and instruction related to

20 apprenticeship trades, in addition toproviding services to business and industry.Annually, the college serves about 45,000people throughout its five-county district.

Member of:

© 2010 Fox Valley Technical College.All rights reserved. Equal Opportunity

Employer/Educator.

Around FVTCA quick look at what’s making news at FVTC.

Focus on Workplace TrainingAn innovative FVTC program helps the City ofOshkosh bolster its customer service.

Focus on the EntrepreneurWith help from FVTC’s Pro-Seed program, Dave andGerry Kozlowski clarified their company’s directionand boosted sales and profits.

Focus on AlumniHow FVTC alumnus Paul Sturgis is helping bringfarming into the 21st century.

Focus on the FoundationThe FVTC Foundation is helping Sulayman Jobefinish his long journey to a nursing degree.

Focus on Student LifeA student leader broadens her skills and perspectivethrough campus activities, and a Mechanical Designstudent’s project puts him on the inside track toinnovation.

Occupational Therapy TodayA chance hospital encounter openedLucy Vanden Heuvel’s eyes to acareer possibility. FVTC’s OTAprogram helped open the door.

Running on All CylindersDespite the recent recession, there’s abig demand for trained dieseltechnicians, and graduates fromFVTC’s highly respected DieselEquipment Technology program areproving to be hot commodities.

An Idea-MakerFVTC Marketing grad ShelbyMilock has big ideas for the world ofsmall business.

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Fox Valley Technical College is a great place to get real-worldexperience. I’ve written marketing plans for real businessesand competed in marketing competitions in Anaheim,California, and Atlanta, Georgia. I’ve even built my own blog!This is how I’m setting myself apart.

Follow my journey at fvtcdan.wordpress.com.

Dan HahnFVTC Marketing alumnus, Business Managementstudent, and student blogger

welcome

contents

5What’s NowA look at the true value ofoccupational and technical education.

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New Programs for2010-2011

Associate Degree Programs• Forensic Science• Laboratory Science Technician• Liberal Arts Collaborative Program• Safety Engineering Technology

Technical Diploma Programs• Medical Office Assistant

Certificate Programs• Intelligent Interface Design & SCADA• Peachtree• QuickBooks• Renewable Energy Engineering Technology

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/new.

National Training Center forCollision Repair on HybridsIn November, Fox Valley Technical College became one of only 40training centers in the United States that make up the NationalAlternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC). The college helpspromote the adoption of alternative fuel and advanced technologyvehicles through automotive training programs for technicians, fleetmanagers, public safety and first-responder organizations, and the public.

Headquartered at West Virginia University, NAFTC is the country’sonly alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle trainingorganization. Alternative fuel vehicles within the NAFTC continuuminclude those using fuel-cell, propane, hydrogen, ethanol, biodiesel,natural gas, and hybrid electric systems.

Fox Valley Technical College attained NAFTC training center status bydemonstrating its dedication to sustainability through an extensiveapplication and review process. The college’s NAFTC training centerstatus by demonstrating its dedication to sustainability and collisionrepair of hybrids through an extensive assessment process.

For more information, call (920) 996-2914.

FVTC students Ben Schlais, Auto CollisionRepair and Refinishing, and Kim Anderson,

Vehicle Refinishing and Repair,work on a hybrid vehicle.

2 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

FVTC’s offerings incorporate the latesttraining technologies.

aroundfvtc

Focus is also on the Web!Visit www.fvtc.edu/focus for the online version

NewsBriefs

Child Safety AdvocateHighlights Missing PersonsConferenceEach year, the national spotlight on best practices forresponding to missing and unidentified persons shines inAppleton during a training conference sponsored by FVTC'sCriminal Justice Center for Innovation. The conference isdesigned to enhance collaboration among local, state, andfederal law enforcement and criminal justice practitionersregarding missing persons.

One of the conference highlights was a visit by Ed Smart,father of Elizabeth Smart, whose abduction and miraculousrecovery captivated the nation in 2002. Mr. Smart deliveredthe keynote address during the conference and shared hisinsights on safety education during a public presentation.

This year's conference included law enforcement personnelfrom 17 states, in addition to Puerto Rico and England. Anational film producer also attended the conference toacquire footage for a documentary on missing persons,which will be unveiled at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/cj.

• Nursing Instructor Patti Mijal,RN, MSN, was selected as anitem writer for the NationalCouncil of State Boards ofNursing LicensureExamination. An alumnus ofFVTC’s associate degree Nursingprogram, Mijal was one of only12 nurses in the nation to beselected for this assignment.

• Students from the college’sGlobal Education & Servicesdepartment helped lead on-campus and public fundraisingevents to benefit disaster relief in Haiti. The projects raisednearly $5,300 to help the country’s restoration efforts.

• Students from the Package & Label Printing programearned a national 2009 Award of Excellence during theannual Print Excellence and Knowledge (PEAK) awards,sponsored by Print Solutions magazine. The winning entrywas a corrugated “Tractor Trailer Bank,” created by sixFVTC students at the college’s Graphic Arts Center.

• The U.S. Bank Foundation has awarded $20,000 to theFox Valley Technical College Foundation to supportscholarships for displaced workers. The Foundation awardsscholarships twice a year.

• Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyleannounced the appointment ofEdward Paul, a graduate ofFVTC’s Vehicle Refinishing andRepair Technician program, toserve as a studentrepresentative on theWisconsin Technical CollegeSystem Board. Paul is currentlypursuing a second associatedegree in BusinessManagement, and is employedat Inter-Industry Conference onAuto Collision Repair, or I-CAR.

Patti Mijal

Edward Paul

focus spring 2010 3

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Ed Smart (left) with Ed Krueger, program administratorfor FVTC’s Criminal Justice Center for Innovation.

Solving thePuzzleAn innovative program helps theCity of Oshkosh bolster service toits customer base.

By Vicki Stavig

Customer service has long been a focusfor private industry. For the City ofOshkosh, however, the goal is simply toprovide its customers—its citizens—with the best possible experience whenworking with city employees.

Well aware of Fox Valley TechnicalCollege’s excellent reputation forworkplace training, Oshkosh City

Manager Mark Rohloff contacted thecollege’s Business & Industry Servicesdivision to develop and provide aprogram that would sharpenemployees’ customer service skills.“The training staff at Fox Valley Techis fantastic,” he says. “The trainersunderstand our needs and developed aprogram that was exactly what wesought. We have a core of people whoare doing great work, and we wantedthat magic to travel throughout thecity’s departments. We want to ‘WOW’people with great customer service.”

The WOW FactorNot surprisingly, the city calls itstraining program “WOW” (WhatOshkosh Wants). It’s based on TheCustomer Service Puzzle, a programdeveloped by FVTC CommunicationsSkills instructor Sandy Eyler. “Icustomize The Customer Service Puzzlefor specific groups,” she says. “For

Oshkosh, it focused on identifyingwhat city employees think goodcustomer service is and buildingrelationships with customers. Anotherpiece is ensuring everyone is on thesame page and has the samephilosophy of delivering goodcustomer service. It’s a shared vision.”

Eyler began training city employeesa year ago, starting with a pilot groupof 25 that Rohloff identified as alreadyhaving a strong commitment tocustomer service. He knew they wouldprovide feedback to fine-tune theprogram. “Their insights moved theprogram forward,” he says.“Sometimes customer service trainingis viewed as ‘we’ve done somethingwrong.’ I wanted to discuss what we’redoing right so we can learn from eachother’s positive experiences.”

The program has providedadditional benefits, according toAssistant City Manager and Directorof Administrative Services JohnFitzpatrick. “Plus-one service helpscitizens receive more than they expect,and in turn provides increased jobsatisfaction for our employees,” hesays. “Our employees like that alldepartments and all parts of theorganization are involved.”

The second group consisted ofsupervisors and managers, who wereequally impressed and recommendedthat the program be offered to everycity employee. Hence, all 575 Oshkoshcity employees will experience theprogram in 2010.

“Oshkosh employees are looking todo an even better job for theircitizens,” Eyler notes. “They aredelivering good customer service now,and yet, they are striving to do more.They have a great deal of pride andwant to meet their citizens’expectations.”

The program also has strengthenedemployees’ relationships. “It has givenus a sense of family, with moreinteraction between departments,”Rohloff says. “There is a renewed senseof optimism about what we do.”

Fox Valley Tech provides trainingand technical assistance that hasattracted clients from throughout theregion and United States. In fact, the

college provides training and technicalassistance to some 20,000 employeeseach year on such topics as agriculture,engineering, health care,manufacturing, marketing, andconstruction, and more.

on workplace training


FVTC’s Business and IndustryServices division and WHBY1150 AM discuss trainingtopics each month during“Creating a High PerformanceWorkplace,”a live radiosegment.

Learn more about trainingsuccess stories andupcoming radio interviews atwww.fvtc.edu/successstories,or tune in to WHBY on thesecond Tuesday of eachmonth at 12:45 p.m.

�

The trainers understandour needs and developeda program that wasexactly what we sought.

Mark RohloffCity of Oshkosh

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focus

For more information, visitwww.fvtc.edu/bis.�

John Fitzpatrick (left)and Mark Rohloff, City of Oshkosh

Taking Care ofBusinessThe Pro-Seed™ program helpedDave and Gerry Kozlowski clarifytheir company’s direction andboost sales and profits.

By Sue Wilson

For a family-owned business, growthoften leads to an unexpected turningpoint: hiring non-family employees towork in the company. Dave and GerryKozlowski, husband and wife ownersof Kwik Investments, Inc., a Fox Valleyresidential real estate investment firm,faced this transition in December 2008when the first non-family memberjoined their company.

Gerry says the change was moresignificant than they expected andprompted them to take a hard look attheir business organization. “We knewwe needed written policies andprocedures, but we had neither the timenor knowledge to create and implementthem,” says Dave. “We were swampedby the day-to-day details.”

When a friend mentioned the Pro-SeedTM program offered throughFVTC’s Venture Center, they jumped atthe chance.

The Pro-SeedTM DifferencePro-Seed powered by E-Myth® is a six-month program for entrepreneurs andbusiness owners who want to create afoundation for success. Through in-class sessions, online modules,networking events, and one-on-oneinstruction, participants learn aboutleadership, management, finances,

marketing, sales, and customer service.Venture Center Director Amy Pietsch,says participants develop a clear visionof where their business is headed, alongwith better management strategies.

For nearly a decade Dave and Gerrystruggled over the company’s direction.Pro-Seed helped them settle on adirection, along with priorities for eachemployee. “An initial activity involvedtracking how everyone spends theirtime,” says Dave. “It sounds basic, butit led to interesting results.”

The time logs revealed that staffmembers were spending lots of time onlow-priority tasks. So Dave and Gerryeliminated some services and focusedemployee efforts on more productiveactivities. Kwik Investments nowfocuses on providing peace of mind tohomeowners burdened by houses theyno longer want. By buying homes in“as-is” condition without a realtorcommission, the firm helpshomeowners solve real estate problems.

Pietsch served as the instructor forKwik Investments. She and humanresources expert Andrea Hogan helpedDave and Gerry create systems andprocesses to profitably expand thebusiness, define employeeresponsibilities, and develop marketingstrategies. “We helped free up theirtime to focus on activities that generaterevenue and respond to marketopportunities,” says Pietsch.

Dave says the changes weren’t

dramatic, but the results were amazing.“From 2008 to 2009, we doubled oursales and tripled our gross profit,” henotes. “What company wouldn’t bethrilled with that? The Pro-Seedprogram motivated us to work on ourbusiness, and it paid off in a big way.”

Small Business, Big ResultsNeed marketing and planning tools but lacktime to create them? An FVTC VentureCenter program launching in Fall 2010 maybe for you.E-Seed Express is an eight-week version of

the center’s 15-week E-Seed program.Designed for experienced entrepreneurs andsmall business owners, it provides theinformation and structure to develop abusiness plan. It also features an all-day BootCamp, in-class programs and labs, and willbe offered on the Appleton and Oshkoshcampuses.“We created E-Seed Express to meet

demand for a shorter yet highly effectivebusiness planning program,” says AmyPietsch, director of FVTC’s Venture Center.“It’s great for entrepreneurs and smallbusiness owners who want to thoughtfullyand quickly create a strategic direction.”

For more information, visitwww.venturecenterwi.biz.�focus spring 2010 5

on the entrepreneurfocus

Dave and Gerry Kozlowski

We doubled sales andtripled our gross profit.What company wouldn’tbe thrilled with that?

Dave KozlowskiCo-owner, Kwik Investments

“”

More students than ever are choosing to begin their education at Fox Valley Technical College. Why isthat important? A 2009 study released by the Brookings Institute indicates that jobs in the neweconomy will be in areas requiring more than a high school diploma, but less than a baccalaureatedegree. The value of occupational and technical education has never been higher, and the educationalexperiences at FVTC deliver the skills necessary to be successful in the new economy.

The Value of an FVTC EducationAs educational costs rise, students are increasingly seeking a better return on time and moneyinvested in their education. Tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year at FVTC is around$116 per credit. On average, the FVTC full-time student pays about $3,800 a year, comparedto around $7,000 a year at a four-year public university. The lower costs and occupationallyfocused degrees mean students pay less out of pocket and enter the job market sooner.

“With virtually no debt, Fox Valley Tech quickly prepared me to enterthe workforce in a skilled position and continue my education,”

says graduate Adam Shea, a former pressroomsupervisor for a local printing firm and now

freelance photographer and board member forthe FVTC Foundation Inc.

Fox Valley Tech’s effective track record ofjob placement rates for alumni six months after graduation still averages89% (for the past three years), reaffirming the college’s value toward thelocal economy as well. In addition, the average starting salary for FVTCgraduates from the class of 2009 is $32,282 a year, with an averagestarting hourly salary of $15.26.

When you also consider that Fox Valley Technical College offers the samefinancial aid opportunities available at other colleges (scholarships, grants,and federal loan programs), it all adds up to a great education at a greatvalue.

An Investment that Keeps PayingAn FVTC education is designed to provide a direct path to the latestcareer opportunities, but it’s also a door to other promising educationalexperiences. Students who want to continue their education can do sowith UW System colleges, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, andMichigan Tech University, just to name a few. These educational partnersrecognize that real work experience and rigorous instruction provided byFVTC build a firm foundation from which students can continue theirstudies.

Want to Learn More?Many financial aid seminars and informational events are heldthroughout the year at all FVTC campuses and regional centers.

To learn more about the affordability and value of occupationaland technical education, call (920) 735-4814 or visitwww.fvtc.edu/finaid.

what’sNOW

Invest in You!

By Chris Jossart

>>


$3,800/year

$7,000/year

FVTC

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Lucy Vanden Heuvel’s future career was decided upon when she was a senior inhigh school and her grandmother had knee surgery. Vanden Heuvel was at anursing home when an occupational therapist entered the room. The therapisthelped her grandmother work on improving the range of motion of her kneeand showed her how to use a sock aid so that she didn’t have to bend her kneeto put on her socks. “I saw how much better it made my grandmother feel,”Vanden Heuvel says.Now Vanden Heuvel is one of more than 80 students enrolled in Fox Valley

Technical College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. In May,she’ll graduate with her associate degree. After passing her national exams, shewill likely have her choice of jobs in one of the country’s fastest-growingemployment fields.

focus spring 2010 7

A chance hospitalencounter opened LucyVanden Heuvel’s eyes toa career possibility.FVTC’s OTA programhelped open the door.

By Sara Gilbert

Student Lucy Vanden Heuvelworks with a horseback rider

during a therapy session.

OccupationalTherapy

Today

Job opportunities for OTAs are expected toincrease by 26% between 2008 and 2018,according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Not all of those jobs will be in hospitals, nursinghomes, and schools. While many OTAs still findjobs in those traditional venues, others are alsoworking for home health care organizations,medical and adaptive equipment vendors,community organizations, and private treatmentfacilities. “The field is expanding,” explains PatHolz, who has chaired the college’s OTAprogram since 1989. “Our students graduatewith qualifications that give them many careeroptions and ways to help people with a numberof different issues.”That’s exactly what Vanden Heuvel is looking

forward to. She’s open to almost any jobopportunity within the Fox Valley, fromworking with patients in an outpatient setting orproviding care to clients in their homes. Whatmatters most, she says, is that she’ll be able tohelp people. “Occupational therapy is one waythat you can really better someone’s life,” shesays. “That’s why I wanted to do this.”

OTA FundamentalsOTAs help people develop, recover, or maintainbasic living and working skills. They useeveryday activities and adaptive equipment tohelp clients regain motor skills after an accident,for example, or to teach clients suffering fromdiseases or disabilities to master simple, dailytasks. Their goal is to help clients of all ages andall abilities lead independent, productive, andsatisfying lives.The demand for OTAs has increased over

recent years, triggered in large part by the aging


Technology at Work...and PlayNew therapy innovations and technology are ushering fresh practices into the occupational therapy profession.The popularity of Nintendo’s Wii entertainment system, released in 2006, extends beyond use in households asa stereotypical modern teenage pastime. The Wii’s wide range of games and exercise programs now has astrong presence in the occupational therapy industry.

Wii game systems are used as part of occupational therapy routines for patients recovering from manyconditions. Patients use the motion-sensitive game controller to enhance reflexes and hand-eye coordination, inaddition to rebuilding muscle.

FVTC’s OTA program received a Wii system and other supplemental materials in the fall of 2009 to incorporateinto the program’s curriculum as part of a collaborative grant from the J. J. Keller Foundation and St. ElizabethHospital community.

The field is expanding. Our studentsgraduate with qualifications thatgive them many career options andways to help people with a numberof different issues.

Pat HolzOTA Program Chair, FVTC”

“

population and the changing health care system. Holz says the approach to teaching the program has changed over theyears. When she earned her occupational therapy degree in 1974, many of her classes were lecture based. But that’s notthe approach she and the other faculty members have adopted at FVTC. Students sit in groups of six and work togetheron projects. Although they occasionally listen to short lectures, they more often are engaged in hands-on activities orvisits to off-campus sites TO practice the skills they are learning. “It’s much more participative,” Holz says. “The studentsare, in essence, teaching themselves. They are learning by engaging themselves in the process.”

Occupational Therapy in ActionBesides the hands-on classroom activities and field trips to see occupational therapy in action, students enrolled in FoxValley Tech’s OTA program are also required to participate in three fieldwork experiences. The first places students in agroup or one-on-one setting for 27 total hours over the course of a semester; the next two are both full-time placementsin different facilities with a licensed occupational therapist or OTA, each running for eight weeks.For her first fieldwork experience,

Vanden Heuvel worked with SandraSandee, an OTR at BEAMING Inc.,a nonprofit organization that useshorseback riding as a therapeuticactivity for people with physical,cognitive, emotional, or behavioraldisabilities. The horse’s movement,Sandee explains, helps the rider’sbody in a number of ways, fromimproving muscle tone and postureto settling down an over-activenervous system. The sights, sounds,and smells of the barn environmentand the horse can provide animportant experience for peoplewith certain sensory needs.Language and social skills improvethrough group riding activities.Although BEAMING’s services are

open to riders ages four throughadult, Vanden Heuvel spent most ofher time working with youngchildren with special needs. She wasamazed at the difference therapeuticriding made for each of them. Onechild who couldn’t ride or steer herhorse independently when shestarted was completely on her ownafter several sessions. “It was such acool experience,” Vanden Heuvelsays. “It has really opened me up todifferent kinds of therapy options. Ialways left there with a smile.”Vanden Heuvel is well prepared

for whatever job she might find aftergraduation. “I’m looking forward tobeing able to use what I’ve learnedto help people,” she says.

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/ota.

focus spring 2010 9

OTA instructor Pat Holz(LEFT) works with SarahBuser and Lucy VandenHeuvel.

Josh Janssen knows a good thingwhen he sees it. And when he sawthe opportunity to move into anew career that could bring somesecurity to his future, he seized it.A native of Little Chute, Janssen

spent 10 years working as amachinery operator in local mills.The 31-year-old liked the work andthe pay, but the industry wasstruggling to stay afloat. Janssenwas laid off three different times. “Iwas lucky enough to get rehired atanother mill after each of the firsttwo layoffs,” says Janssen. “Butafter the third one, I decided it wastime for something new.”His search for a new career led

him to Fox Valley TechnicalCollege. Working with counselorsat the Appleton campus, Janssenquickly zeroed in on the DieselEquipment Technology program.“I was looking for something thatwould be hands-on, as well as acareer that would let me stay inthe area,” he says. “Plus, I wantedto find a job that wouldn’t losework to outsourcing.”

An Industry in NeedIn years past, working with dieselengines had a reputation of beinga dirty, low-tech job with limitedopportunities for advancement.Not anymore. “Today, diesel

Despite the recentrecession, there’s a bigdemand for traineddiesel technicians, andgraduates from FVTC’shighly respected DieselEquipment Technologyprogram are proving tobe hot commodities.

By Chuck Benda


Running CYLon all

Thanks to FVTC, Josh Janssen has founda hands-on career with a bright future.

technology is about as high-tech as it gets,” says Dan Poeschel, an instructor in theDiesel Technology programs and chair of FVTC’s J. J. Keller Transportation Center.Poeschel’s 30 years of experience in the industry has allowed him to witness a big

paradigm shift. Modern diesel engines have an intricate array of electronics and housemultiple computers on board. “The market offers hard-working technicians the opportunityto grab high-paying, high-tech jobs that don’t require you to bust your back,” notesPoeschel.What’s more, the demand for trained technicians is high, and is projected to go higher,

thanks to an aging workforce. “Nationwide, 40 to 50% of diesel technicians are expectedto retire within five years,” says Poeschel. “About 205,000 new diesel technicians will beneeded by 2014, but only 3,500 of them are graduating each year.”

The FVTC AdvantageEven though the demand is high and expected to climb, the better the training, the betterthe job prospects, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.Fox Valley Tech is preparing its students to compete for high-end positions that can pay upto $28 per hour for experienced technicians.“Our program requires students to complete a full year of training to earn their technical

diploma,” says Poeschel. “Plus, students can also earn an associate degree. Both degreesinclude federal certifications in air-conditioning systems, air-brake systems, and annualinspections.”Classroom work is complemented by five hours of training per day in a shop setting.

Students learn their craft in real-life situations by working on some of the more than 40vehicles that FVTC uses in its Truck Driving program.The program can be demanding for students, but Janssen has taken it in stride. “It’s been

a real challenge to return to school after being away so long,” he says. “But in some ways,it’s easier than when I was in high school. Things like house payments and car paymentshelp you keep focused.”Janssen and his wife, Amber, are making

ends meet on her salary and hisunemployment benefits, but some outsidefinancial assistance has helped as well. TheState of Wisconsin provided Janssen with adislocated worker program grant of $2,500per semester for up to four semesters. He alsoreceived a Trade Adjustment Assistant grantfrom the federal government.Along with the financial assistance, Janssen

gives a lot of credit to the FVTC faculty and advisors for helping him forge a new career.“Everyone has been eager to work with me and answer my questions,” he says. “Theproram’s instructors have been in the field and know what they’re doing.”Though he’s only been in the program since August 2009, Janssen has come to share his

instructors’ passion and excitement for diesel technology. He’s chosen to pursue an associatedegree. He thinks it’s the best way to get himself back into the same salary range he was inwhen he worked for the paper mills. “I’m taking some business and management classeswith the hope of maybe becoming a shop foreman or a service manager,” he says. “I’m veryexcited to be here.”

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/diesel.

SteeringToward aSolid CareerIn addition to a high-octaneeducation, Fox ValleyTechnical College’s DieselEquipment Technologyprogram offers anunbeatable advantage intoday’s economy: a 100%job-placement rate during thepast three years.

Last year, 54 studentsreceived 147 job offers inWisconsin. Before theeconomic downturn, theprogram was receiving around300 job offers per year.

The jobs also aren’t yourtypical low-paying, entry-levelgigs, either. “We’ve surveyedour alumni six months aftergraduation,” says DieselTechnology InstructorDan Poeschel. “They typicallyearn anywhere between$25,000 and $43,000 peryear. And after five years onthe job, they’re earning from$31,000 to more than$56,000.”

The program’sinstructors have beenin the field and knowwhat they’re doing.

Josh Janssen”“

focus spring 2010 11

INDERSDiesel Tech students also maintainFVTC’s fleet of semis.


Shelby Milock has made her mark atFox Valley Technical College for sometime now. When some health problemsinterfered with her education atOshkosh West High School, Milockturned to FVTC to complete her highschool diploma in 2006. Then sheenrolled in FVTC’s Marketing program,

IdeaShelby Milock says FVTC has prepared her well for thebusiness world.

FVTC Marketing grad Shelby Milock has big ideasfor the world of small business—as an entrepreneurand student, she’s already making it happen.AN

By Chuck Benda

MAKERlocated on the Oshkosh Riversidecampus, earning her associate degree in2009. But she’s not done yet.“I’m working on an entrepreneurship

certificate at the Oshkosh campus also,which I’ll finish up this semester,” saysthe 21-year-old, who describes herself asan aspiring entrepreneur. “And then I’m

going to get my associate degree inBusiness Management.”Don’t misunderstand. It isn’t that

Milock can’t make up her mind. She justbelieves the hands-on, real worldexperience she’s getting in the classroomat Fox Valley Tech is something shecouldn’t get elsewhere.

Ahead of the CurveAs part of the coursework for her marketing degree, Milockcompleted three different projects—each of which replicated thekind of work most students never see until they hit theworkplace. “We completed a marketing plan for a real start-upcompany, created a full-blown advertising campaign for anOshkosh steel manufacturer, and did a market research projectfor the Fox Valley School of Massage,” says Milock. “Workingon real jobs with real clients helped me decide that this is what Iwant to do the rest of my life.”The “rest of her life” is happening at a remarkable pace. Along

with Milock’s work in the classroom, she has three different jobs, including her ownfledgling freelance marketing business and a job working for her mother’s marketing andWeb design firm. She’s also active in the FVTC chapter of Delta Epsilon Chi, a marketingand management association for college students, and has worked on campus as a volunteerand a tutor. “She is unstoppable,” says Sandy Plank, an FVTC Marketing instructor.“Shelby knows what she wants and where she’s going, and she has the ability to reallyconnect with people.”That combination helped Milock win the 2009 STAR Ambassador award, which

recognizes the most outstanding student from each of the 16 Wisconsin technical colleges.In winning the award, Milock won the right to give the commencement address for hergraduating class, an experience she described as “absolutely amazing.”

All in the FamilyMilock’s love for FVTC is perhaps rooted in her family’sgenes. She is part of the third generation in her family totake classes at FVTC, following in the footsteps of hergrandmother, dad, mom, stepmother, older brother, and oneof her sisters. “My sister, Krystal Maloney, studiedmarketing at Fox Valley Tech before me,” says Milock. “Itwas inspiring to see someone accomplish so much in such a

short time. And she gave thecredit to the courses and heradvisors.”“Sandy and Teri Stark, my

Delta Epsilon Chi advisor, are likefamily to me,” Milock adds. “Thepeople at Fox Valley Tech have alot of passion for teaching, andthey care about their students.”When Milock finishes her

studies at FVTC, she plans topursue a master’s degree inMarketing; then she wants towork with small companies. “Aslong as I can help others generateideas like so many people did forme, that will be very worthwhile,”she says.

To find out more, visitwww.fvtc.edu/marketing.


A Touch of EntrepreneurialismReady to start your own business? FVTC’s Start-Up Venturecertificate can provide you with the training you need.

FVTC’s Entrepreneurs Start-up Venture certificate prepares buddingentrepreneurs to start their own business.

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/entrepreneurship�

• Entrepreneurial Innovation/Choice Analysis (3 credits)

• Planning Your Entrepreneurial Venture (3 credits)

• QuickBooks (1 credit)

• Entrepreneurial Marketing (3 credits)

• Venture Financing (2 credits)

• Business Internship (1 credit)

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Working on real jobs with real clientshelped me decide that this is what Iwant to do the rest of my life.

Shelby Milock”“

A New WorldFVTC alumnus Paul Sturgis ishelping bring farming into the21st century.

By Chris Mikko

For the last 10 years, Paul Sturgis hasbeen at the forefront of dramaticchanges in the farming industry. TheFox Valley Technical College graduate’scompany, Croptech Agronomics, helpsfarmers use detailed planning and high-tech tools to maximize their yields andboost sustainability. It’s a big and oftenbusy job—Sturgis is the company’s soleemployee—but one that he relishes.We caught up with him recently to

learn about his industry and how histime at FVTC prepared him forrunning a business in the new world ofagriculture.

How would you describeyour job?I’m an independent crop consultant, butthat job has changed in the last decade.When I started the company, it meantworking with farmers to develop cropplans, make seed selections, create pest-management plans, and put togetherfertilizer plans based on soil test results.That changed for me at least whennutrient management planning took off.Basically, nutrient management planninglooks at all of a farm’s nutrient resourcesand allocates them according to cropneed, soil types, pest levels, and more. Italso involves making sure that what youdo doesn’t adversely affect waterresources. I also employ GPS receivers tocollect data and monitor yield.

Farmers have always been goodstewards of the land, and they’ve beendoing nutrient management planning foryears—just not in the more formalcapacity that we’re using now.

What types of farms do youwork with?When I started the company, I wanted todeal with fewer, but larger clients. It justso happens there are no large dairyfarms in my area. I need to travelapproximately 50 miles one way to mostof my clients. Of course, the concept of“large” has changed. It used to be that200- to 300-cow farms were consideredbig; now it’s more like 1,000 cows andlarger.

How did you get into thisbusiness?I grew up on a small farm in Larsen,Wisconsin. I originally thought I’d studybiology, and went to a four-yearuniversity for a year, but wasn’t happythere. Then I heard about FVTC andspoke to an instructor, Dave Gerlach,who told me about the college’s Agri-Business Service and Supply program(now Agri-Business & ScienceTechnology). I graduated in 1988. I thenworked at an area co-op and earned abachelor’s in Business Administrationfrom Lakeland College.From there, I worked as a seed

company district sales manager for fiveyears before starting my business.

What was it like to start thecompany?I was married with two young kids, so

it was scary. I was starting fromscratch, but I had contacts andpotential clients from the seed business.I got a call from a farmer who wasreferred to me by a colleague. Hebecame my first client. Things took offfrom there.

How did FVTC prepare you?It gave me exposure to agronomy,animal nutrition, and agriculturalequipment, along with a solidfoundation of technical skills. I also gotinvolved with extra-curricularactivities. I was shy in high school, butat FVTC I got involved with studentgovernment and the nationalPostsecondary Agricultural Student(PAS) organization. I served as studentgovernment president, and was laterelected as PAS’ national president.Those experiences gave me self-confidence, organizational skills, andpeople skills.

What is the most rewardingaspect of your business?It’s rewarding to do something I love.I also work with progressive clientswho are willing to try new things.The flexibility is nice too. Things getreally busy for me in the spring andfall, but I do have the ability to leavework a little early to attend my son’sbaseball game or my daughter’sbasketball game.

on alumnifocus

For information, visitwww.fvtc.edu/alumni.�


Paul Sturgis

Those experiences[at FVTC] gave meself-confidence,organizational skills,and people skills.

Paul Sturgis

“”

Next StepsThe FVTC Foundation is helpingSulayman Jobe finish his longjourney to a nursing degree.

By Vicki Stavig

Sulayman Jobe’s journey toward anursing degree has been a long one. Anative of Gambia, Africa, he came tothe United States in 2002 at the age of21. Today, thanks to financialassistance in the form of scholarshipsfrom the Fox Valley Technical CollegeFoundation, he is well on the way toreaching his goal.Jobe spent his first three years in the

United States living with his uncle inNew York City, where he worked in aclothing store. Three years later, hejoined friends in Madison and earned

certification as a nursing assistant whilealso working for a shipping company.Like many students, Jobe needed to

balance his desire to further hiseducation with the need to supporthimself. When he moved to Appleton inthe summer of 2007, he enrolled at FoxValley Technical College, taking pre-requisite courses before starting thecollege’s two-year Nursing program. Healso began working at a local nursinghome, but money was tight, so Jobeapplied for a scholarship from theFVTC Foundation. He was awardedthe scholarship and has since receivedtwo others, including the FVTC BenefitGolf Outing Scholarship.

Help at handEstablished in 1976, the FVTCFoundation awarded nearly $580,000to almost 900 FVTC students and highschool seniors during the most recentlycompleted academic year. The

scholarships wentto students whohavedemonstratedstrong academicperformance,have skills thatemployers value,and in manycases, have afinancial need.Jobe possessed

all three. He is adetermined youngman, driven by astrong desire tosucceed. Growingup in Gambiasurely had animpact.“Situations backhome are noteasy, and people see it as anopportunity to come to the UnitedStates to chase their dreams,” he says.“My parents are farmers. My fathergrows peanuts, and my mother doesvegetable gardening and grows riceduring the rainy season. They sell someof their produce for cash and keepsome for sustenance. My family wasdelighted about me coming here.”Jobe credits the scholarships he has

received from the FVTC Foundationwith allowing him to continue hisstudies in hopes of earning his nursingdegree by 2012. “Without thescholarships, it would take me longer tofinish the program,” he says.Rebecca Polk-Pohlman, an FVTC

Anatomy and Physiology instructor, haswitnessed Jobe’s dedication andprogress in the classroom. “You couldtell he was attentive and really listeningin class,” she says. “He had to workvery hard to do as well as he did.”When Jobe asked Polk-Pohlman to

write a recommendation for an FVTCFoundation scholarship, she readilyagreed. “The foundation scholarshipsmake a huge difference for studentswho are trying to work and attendclasses,” she says. “I highlyrecommended him. He is motivated andappreciates having a chance to get aneducation. A scholarship was a hugebenefit for him.”

Jobe is grateful for the FVTCFoundation’s support, and he is anxiousto earn his degree and pursue a career.“Nursing changes all the time,” he says.“I want to bring new insight to helpothers.”

on the Foundationfocus

FVTC Foundation 2010 GolfOutings Are On The Move!

Please join us!

Wednesday, July 21Foxfire Golf Clubin Waupaca

Wednesday, August 4Royal St. Patrick’s Golf Coursein Wrightstown

Same great signature events providingscholarships for:• High school seniors• Returning adults• Displaced workers• Current students with financial

needs

Sponsorship and participationopportunities are available. To learnmore, visit www.fvtc.edu/golfouting.

For more information, visitwww.fvtc.edu/foundation.�focus spring 2010 15

Without thescholarships, it wouldtake me longer tofinish the program.

Sulayman Jobe

“”

Sulayman Jobe (left)and Rebecca Polk-Pohlman

NEW Locations!

Cast in a Leading RoleA student leader broadens herskills and perspective throughcampus activities

Electrical Engineering Technology majorKamilah Coffin likes making thingshappen. That’s one reason why sheenjoys her involvement in a variety ofFVTC student organizations. She issecretary of the Student GovernmentAssociation, secretary of the ElectronicsClub, and treasurer of the FAB LAB(Fabrication Laboratory) Club. “Student

activities take you beyondyour experiences in theclassroom,” she says. “Youmeet other people anddiscover what’s happeningon campus.”Kamilah’s club

experiences havestrengthened her leadershipskills. She helped generateexcitement with club members bydistributing a survey and then using theresults to create activities. One newprogram involves Electronics and FABLAB club members working together tocreate two machines that demonstrateelectronics-related functions forcompetitions and events.The experiences taught Coffin valuable

lessons. “When working in a diversegroup, you must balance personalities,attitudes, and backgrounds,” she says.“As a club officer, I’ve experiencedturning ideas into programs, as well asworking as a team to resolve conflicts,solve problems, and achieve goals.”Vicky Barke, FVTC's director of

Student Life, says students can getinvolved in more than 45 studentorganizations, ranging from the studentnewspaper to program-related clubs tointramural sports. “Becoming involvedon campus and developing leadershipskills are important parts of yourcollege experience,” Barke says.“Participation allows you to build yournetwork with potential employers,fellow students and staff, and helps youdevelop a co-curricular transcript toinclude in a job search.”

on student lifefocus

For more information, visitwww.fvtc.edu/studentlife.

Student of InventionA Mechanical Design student’s project puts him on the insidetrack to innovation.

Shannon Carlson is fascinated by how cars and planes work. Thislifelong interest in automobiles and airplanes led him to enroll inFox Valley Technical College’s Mechanical Design program in 2008.So when the final project for a product design and rapid prototypingclass required the full assembly of an invention, he quickly decidedto create a remote control race car.His first step was to review remote control race car designs on the

Internet and pinpoint the best approaches for his project. Afterdesigning parts on two different three-dimensional product designsoftware applications, Carlson merged his two designs into a singleconcept. “My development process simulated real-life worksituations that involve creating designs with different softwarepackages or incorporating vendor-supplied parts into yourprototype,” he explains.With design in-hand, Carlson began building a prototype in the

FAB LAB, which provides industrial-fabrication and electronics toolsto enable students, instructors, and inventors to rapidly createproduct prototypes. He used the lab’s desktop 3D printer to buildhis car’s steering mechanism and drive-line components out of layersof plastic. Using the laser engraving cutter, he cut out the chassis andother flat car parts in plexiglass. He also purchased an off-the-shelfelectronic remote control system and began assembly.

Shannon Carlson

�


Kamilah Coffin (right)

Student activities take youbeyond your experiences inthe classroom.

Kamilah Coffin

“ ”

“FAB LAB technologyenabled me to quicklyproduce the parts Ineeded,” says Carlson.“However, whileproduction was easy, myoriginal design did notquite fit together because of the different tolerances each machine holds. So I fine-tunedmy designs and built a second set of parts to solve the problem. I quickly learned theimportance of working out design flaws before producing the final prototype.”Dean Sommerfeld, team leader for FVTC’s Mechanical Design program, says these

sorts of projects help students develop critical skills. “Through varied projects, studentslearn about the overall development process, from creating a design to producing a finalproduct,” he notes. “Project work prepares them for future jobs and teaches them theimportance of creativity and new ideas.”What’s next for Carlson? He plans to build a second car that is three times the size of

his first one, powered by a two-cycle engine. Carlson lends advice to students who mayaspire to be inventors. “The design field is so broad; you can take it wherever yourinterest lies,” he notes. “Seeing a project reach fruition, like someone using a kitchenblender that you designed, brings satisfaction to the work we do as mechanicaldesigners.”FVTC’s FAB LAB is open to students, faculty, and the public (via varied packaged

options). For more information on the FAB LAB, visit www.fvtc.edu/fablab.

FAB LAB technology enabled me toquickly produce the parts I needed.

Shannon Carlson“ ”

For more information, visitwww.fvtc.edu/mechanicaldesign.�


COMMUNITYOPEN HOUSE

Mark Your Calendars!

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 20103-7 p.m.Appleton Campus

Tour high-tech labs,meet with faculty, andmore!

Find out more at:

www.fvtc.edu/openhouse

Take landscaping, for example. Make your yard the envy of theneighborhood this summer! Classes include:

Organic Lawn CareTake your lawn off drugs! If you're tired of treating your lawnwith harmful and expensive chemicals, this class will teach youhow to restore your lawn to its more natural, drug-free state.You'll learn all about composting, including how to make andapply compost tea.

Maintenance of Landscape PlantsThis course covers the maintenance and care of evergreens,vines, garden flowers, bulbs and nursery stock. Keep yourlandscape plants healthy and thriving!

Landscape Construction 1Want to enhance your yard with an arbor, fence, pergola,trellis, or other lawn or garden structure? This course coverssite conditions, landscape tools and design planimplementation.

Watch for classes like these and more in the Take a Classsummer booklet, available in your community startingApril 27.

For more information on these classesand more, visit www.fvtc.edu/schedule.�

TTaakkee aa ccllaassss jjuusstt ffoorr ffuunn!!Discover hundreds of course listings for a variety of credit and non-credit classes.

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Documents

Fox Valley Technical College Focus Magazine Spring 2010