August 2021 | Volume 19, Number 1 Paul Reardon, Western graduate and owner of Blue Steel Bike A publication for alumni & friends of Western Technical College WESTERN C O NN E C T IN THIS ISSUE - Paul Reardon of Blue Steel Bike - College News - Alumni News - Where Are They Now?— Barb Ebner - Classnotes - In Memoriam2 In this ediƟon of the Connect , we focus on Western’s “Back to BeƩer” as we all return to campus! We have many exciƟng things happening; we are finally able to reconnect with people face to face. I, for one, couldn’t be more excited to connect with more Western alums! Throughout this pandemic, we learned a lot about resiliency. We learned how to deal with challenges, stay connected, and how important the liƩle things are. As we return to campus, we can take what we have learned over the last year and apply it in many ways. Things may not always look and funcƟon the same as they did, but that’s not always a bad thing. This Ɵme has allowed us to grow, think outside the box, and make improvements. We look forward to conƟnuous improvement and seeing everyone’s smiling faces! As we move “Back to BeƩer,” I encourage all our alumni to follow the Western Alumni AssociaƟon on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay connected with upcoming events, important announcements, and fun alumni news! Very Sincerely, Stephanie Knutson Alumni RelaƟons Coordinator Western Connect is published twice a year for alumni and friends of Western Technical College. Western Technical College President: Roger Stanford, Ph.D. Writer/Editor: Lauri Hoff ’00 | Editor: Leah Call | ContribuƟng Writers: Stephanie Knutson, Eric Jacobson Alumni/FoundaƟon Manager: Stephanie Knutson Graphic Designer: Sharon Burchardt ’91, ’93 | Photographer: Jayme Hansen ’98 Western Technical College is commiƩed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmaƟve acƟon. AccommodaƟon requests, or quesƟons and complaints about discriminaƟon, harassment, and/or retaliaƟon should be directed to the Employment, Benefits, and EEO Manager, 608-785-9274 or TTY 608-785-9551. Hello Western Alumni! 22-FA-0008 Stephanie Knutson These benefits and services are just for you! Career Resources | Insurance Alumni Marketplace | Shopping Discounts AthleƟc Event Admission Library Services | Wellness Center Discount Email Address | Alumni Scholarship Visit westerntc.edu/alumni > Services and Benefits for details. Aention alumni ! westerntc.edu/alumni Connect with us!Western is a member of Tree Campus Higher EducaƟon, and has been for 10 years now. Tree Campus is an Arbor Day FoundaƟon program created to honor colleges, universiƟes, and ciƟes for effecƟve forest management, and for engaging students, staff, and community members in conservaƟon goals and creaƟng healthy community forests. This year’s tree planƟng event included the star of the show—a young London planetree—and several invested, hardworking children from the YWCA Childcare Center on campus. The London planetree is a hybrid resulƟng from the cross between the naƟve sycamore and the Asian planetree. These trees are large, rugged, fast-growing deciduous trees with moƩled patchwork bark. They thrive in spots with abundant sun, are disease resistant, and once established have low water needs but tolerate occasional flooding. The roots are excellent soil binders to prevent erosion and they aƩract buƩerflies. Typically, they grow farther south, but climate change is enabling them to thrive farther north. The kids are proud of their efforts— they even brought their parents to meet Mr. Cow. The tree of their labor will be enriching campus for years; perhaps when the Ɵme comes, they will read and doze under the tree’s splendor before their next class. Mr. Cow finds a home on campus College News Keep up to date on all of Western’s news at westerntc.edu/news The tree planters worked hard. They affecƟonately named the tree Mr. Cow, inspired by the moƩled bark. Stop by campus to appreciate their handiwork. Julia is doing the work of 10 people! “Trees are a soluƟon to some of the greatest issues we face, including climate change. Around the globe, trees lead to a healthier environment, economy, and society.” —Arbor Day FoundaƟon 34 Blue Steel Bike of La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a mobile bike repair shop for most of the year and a custom frame and bike build shop in winter. Paul Reardon , the owner of Blue Steel Bike, is the brains and the talent behind the uniquely posiƟoned and successful operaƟon. Reardon’s moƩo is, “Our frames are one in a million, not one of a million.” Reardon graduated from Western in 2008 with a welding degree and started the Blue Steel Bike business in fall 2010. At that Ɵme, he was already equipped with many years of bike mechanic and frame building experience complemented by a lengthy sƟnt perfecƟng his craŌ working as a professional welder. In the beginning, Blue Steel was a part-Ɵme gig successfully augmenƟng his full-Ɵme welding job. He was overly busy unƟl he became a laid- off welder. With clarity only afforded through hindsight, Reardon states, “It was the best thing that ever happened to me.” The business took care of the laid-off workers by helping them plan for life aŌer layoffs. Adept at making a solid case for himself and yearning to try something different, Reardon suggested the downsized business send him to a Ɵtanium bike building class offered in Oregon, instead of the standard welding classes in which his colleagues enrolled. The advisor said, “if you can prove to me you can make money at it, my answer is yes!” It’s worth menƟoning that one inspired soul was able to secure funding to aƩend watch-making school. As a nontradiƟonal student with a great business idea, Reardon earned Western’s nine-credit Entrepreneurship CerƟficate. With insight, experience, and collaboraƟon, the classroom project transformed Reardon’s vision into a pracƟcal, workable business plan. New to online instrucƟon, Reardon once showed up in person to virtual office hours, searching for the seemingly absent instructor; he laughs as he recalls the misguided effort. “The instructors were cool and easy to work with. Pam Culver, my markeƟng instructor, really helped me with the pracƟcal elements of owning and running a business.” Reardon knows he is lucky. He loves what he does; he has a passion for his craŌ. He teaches bike maintenance classes to kids in his charming and eclecƟc shop. The classes are more like essenƟal life lessons as he shares pearls of wisdom about life and educaƟon: “Don’t resist learning, respect what they’re teaching you in school; it’s OK to be smart. I use geometry every day in a career I love. Take risks and try something new. Don’t seƩle and deeply consider what you enjoy.” He extolls the virtues of working with his hands and his mind to create something excepƟonal, beauƟful, unique, and life-enhancing. To date, his biggest regret is not starƟng his business a decade earlier. The best Paul Reardon—passion, artisan craftsmanship, and a good business plan 5 “Paul was a great student and we had many great discussions about his business during the formaƟve stage. He was always open to my suggesƟons and challenging quesƟons. I truly believe his ability to ask quesƟons and consider the answer, even when it differed from what he had in mind, is the secret to his success. Paul is a fun and great conversaƟonalist, another contribuƟng factor to his success!” —Pam Culver, Western instructor advice he received and now freely shares: “There’s never a good Ɵme to jump off a moving train; you just have to do it.” Reardon and Blue Steel Bike are essenƟal assets and integral components of La Crosse’s thriving bike community. You have likely noƟced the Blue Steel Bike van around town. It’s a mobile service that comes to you—schedule an appointment anywhere within the greater La Crosse area; he will travel farther for a fee. Reardon works on any bike without a motor, new or old, and stocks most basic spare parts in the van. You will be up and riding in no Ɵme at all! It’s strongly recommended that any self-respecƟng bike enthusiast research Reardon’s custom bike builds. He offers steel, stainless steel, or the previously menƟoned Ɵtanium frames to construct your perfect dream bike. Each bicycle is built from meƟculously measured components, one at a Ɵme, from start to finish, in his northside shop. Each bike is a work of funcƟonal art with a personal custom fit that handles precisely how you like it. As a customer, be involved in the process as much or as liƩle as desired: it’s exciƟng to see how the metal tubes and custom cut and burnished pieces eventually become a bike, perfect for only you. Three years ago, Reardon completed a class at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to become a cerƟfied race mechanic. As a bike mechanic, Reardon travels the country every summer to help with the Juvenile Diabetes Research FoundaƟon’s summer ride series to find a cure. He has also worked at an internaƟonal five-day road cycling race starƟng in Seoul, South Korea, called the Tour D’DMZ. The five-day racing route travels the length of the demilitarized zone—a genuinely thrilling experience. The work trip speaks directly to Reardon’s philosophy of conƟnual learning and staying interested in the world. Reardon realizes that knowledge opens doors to more adventures, meeƟng new people, and trying unique cuisine in less-traveled places. This is what life is all about: rich experiences are superior to riches. However, the reality is there are few things he enjoys more than building and fixing bikes. The stolen bicycle The daughter of Western instructor Stephanie Gauger had her bike stolen. In an unlikely confluence of coincidence, three days later the La Crosse police retrieved and returned the bike. As pleasantries and thanks were shared by all, Paul Reardon happened to drive by in his unmistakeable van. He stopped for a quick, on-the-fly break repair. Incidentally, the two police officers and the mechanic are all Western graduates. Another fun fact: Reardon helps the police by fixing recovered bikes. Everyone loves a happy ending! Blue Steel Bike 970-470-6668 | bluesteelfab@gmail.com Service Hours: Mon - Fri | 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekend hours by appointment only6 DriŌ Bike Share commissioned Paul Reardon (see front cover and page 4) to construct the noƟceably branded orange bike racks for the program. College News Keep up to date on all of Western’s news at westerntc.edu/news Thanks to a number of community-minded generous sponsors—including Western and Western’s student government—DriŌ Bike Share officially launched in La Crosse. The program is run through Koloni, an Iowa-based sharing company. DriŌ Bike Share is an easy-to- use program open to residents and visitors that contributes to a healthier and more vibrant La Crosse. Currently, the system consists of 40 bikes in eight designated hubs, or docking staƟons, located throughout downtown La Crosse. Users access bikes by downloading the Koloni app onto their smartphone, creaƟng an account, and then using their smart device to unlock the bike. The DriŌ Bike Share program is intended to get users from point A to B efficiently without having to use a car. Therefore, DriŌ rides are designed to last less than 30 minutes. Drift Bike Share—take care to share As of now, users can purchase memberships of either $10 per month, $25 per season, or $50 per year, which give unlimited 30-minute rides. There is an opƟon to pay-per-ride without a membership: $1 per 30 minutes and then .50 cents per half hour for anyone using a westerntc.edu email address. Users can rent up to five bikes at a Ɵme from one account, ideal for families and small groups. For more, including a map of current DriŌ hub locaƟons, visit www.explorelacrosse.com/project/driŌ-cycle-la-crosse and www.koloni.me/driŌ Your first ride is free! Check out a DriŌ bike for up to an hour for FREE by downloading the Koloni app and using this referral code: 4MX5QN FUN FACT: The Drift Bike Share logo was designed by Luke Shaw ’21, one of Western’s talented graphic design graduates!Western HorƟculture staff and students are working hard to bring NaƟve Prairie Plants back to campus. The Landscape HorƟculture Students prepped the chosen site and selected the naƟve plants seeds to be sown. NaƟve plant roots have co-evolved in this region to provide several benefits to our campus and community. Unlike annuals or even regular turf grass, naƟve plants have roots that grow deep into the ground up to 11 feet or more. The ultra-deep plant roots stabilize the soil to prevent erosion and retain excess storm water. NaƟve plants don’t require damaging ferƟlizers and pesƟcides, they are drought tolerant, and once established, outcompete weeds! The simple act of planƟng naƟve species saves Western Ɵme and money in irrigaƟon and maintenance costs. NaƟve plants also provide valuable food and habitat for the insects and birds people rely on to pollinate our food. The boƩom line is that naƟve plants help our campus and community be more resilient to the impacts of climate change in a way that helps people, our organizaƟon, and our community thrive. Native plants bring resiliency 7 College News Western Technical College’s selecƟon for the 2021- 22 Student Ambassador is Alyson Graef . Graef is the official representaƟve for Western in the Wisconsin Technical College System. As Student Ambassador, Graef has many opportuniƟes to educate potenƟal and current students, community leaders and stakeholders, and more. She highlights the vital role of technical colleges in society and our community. At the state level, Graef represents Western as she collaborates with other student ambassadors throughout the Wisconsin college system. Graef, of West Salem, Wisconsin, is a recent Criminal JusƟce graduate. She iniƟally selected Western because of the hands-on learning focus, proximity to home, and the low instructor-to-student raƟo. Graef explains Western’s appeal in earnest personal terms, “At Western, the instructors truly care about you as a person. If something isn’t working, they work Student Ambassador Alyson Graef with you to find the best way to succeed. I have truly grown as a person during my Ɵme here.” Graef is a member of Western’s Security staff. Her colleagues recognize the great value of her compassion and empathy while dealing with sensiƟve conflicts and her ability to work with a diverse student body effecƟvely. Brooke Bahr, Western security manager, nominated Alyson for this honor and said, “As long as Alyson has been a student at Western, I’ve been impressed by her natural leadership skills. When working with others, she is humble and helpful. She exemplifies kindness and selflessness, qualiƟes we need more of in the world.” Graef intends to use this opportunity to develop leadership and speaking skills and looks forward to meeƟng other student ambassadors across the state. Graef will conƟnue her educaƟon using Western’s transfer agreement with UW- Green Bay. She plans to complete a bachelor’s degree in OrganizaƟonal Leadership with an emphasis in Emergency Management. CongratulaƟons to Alyson Graef. We look forward to her conƟnued success and are exceedingly proud to count her as a Western graduate!8 Job automation: how do I adapt? College News Groundbreaking and forward-thinking, Western offers a new academic program, the Internet of Things (IoT) Integration Specialist. This program merges Informational Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT). After much research and advisory committee meetings, this state-of-the-art-program launches this fall! We have witnessed significant technological developments and disruptions. IoT is an all- encompassing concept, and despite the current hype is more than just the latest buzzword. The IoT and the Industrial Internet of Things are robust systems that every business and industry will use to remain relevant. Companies are beginning their journey into IoT. Now is an optimal time to prepare entering this in-demand field that is filled with exciting opportunities. IoT encompasses many elements, each demanding specialization and expertise. Western’s IoT Integration Specialist program equips you with a solid foundation in IoT knowledge and the accompanying concepts and technologies that make it possible. You will understand what IoT systems require and analyze how OT and IT systems merge. Explore how business and industry use IoT technology to evolve and improve operations and gain the technical skills to implement IoT systems. A complete IoT system requires many components working seamlessly together at every architectural level. To be successful in this emerging job market, you must possess skills from both IT and OT. You may have noticed this trend when looking at classes listed on Westerntc.edu/IoT-Integration- Specialist/Courses. This is not by accident; it is what our industry advisors asked us to do. During the first term, you will learn about OT from the electromechanical field. Topics include mechatronics, robotics, industrial electricity, and industrial control systems. In the second term, you begin to marry OT, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), with IT, through the introduction of Cisco networking and database concepts. In the third term, IT courses from the service level of IoT architecture are introduced through cybersecurity, data utilization, and Linux administration courses. In the fourth term, higher level electromechanical OT is covered with courses in advanced PLC programming, automated systems integration, and safety circuits. Cybersecurity knowledge is strengthened with Cisco cybersecurity operations. The fifth and final term builds on the trend of interfacing IT and OT with courses in tag- based SCADA systems, Python programming, and machine learning. Students will also work directly with employers in the IoT Integration Field Study course. Think of it like this—the world is connected on many levels and in countless ways. There are concrete examples of physical connections such as shipping routes, air travel, canals, roads, and bridges. This developing technological revolution is simply the next way to connect— we are expecting it, embracing it, and planning to use it to make incredible technological strides. This giant connective system evolved to make our lives easier, from mundane household tasks to greater efficiency and predictive analysis on the plant floor. Previously dangerous or repetitive jobs are now better suited for robotics—people must learn to work with and integrate these systems. When we talk about the systems we connect, we are really talking about an evolution in the way we connect. The Internet of Things is a potent tool, a tool for commerce, communication, and convenience. As a graduate of this program, you can be the one to help businesses implement the future of systems communication and build a successful career in the modern world. Contact Kevin Hoeltzle | 608-789-2064 | hoeltzlek@westerntc.eduCavaliers welcome a new team: ESPORTS! Western Athletics needs help from alumni like you Western AthleƟcs has a strong tradiƟon since 1967. Our teams have success on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the community. In fact, the Cavaliers’ most recent victory includes winning the 2020 NJCAA Women’s Basketball NaƟonal Championship. Will you help us build a strong future for our athleƟcs department? Most recently, the Western AthleƟcs department has made the following improvements: • Resurfacing of gymnasium basketball/volleyball court • Livestreaming capabiliƟes of home athleƟc compeƟƟons • Purchase and installaƟon of indoor baƫng cages • New volleyball system and net • New equipment for all sports teams Join the Club! Support from donors like you is criƟcal for our long-term growth and success. Show your pride and support for our Western AthleƟcs. Your donaƟon supports elevated athleƟc compeƟƟons, uniforms, equipment, faciliƟes, and enhancing the Cavalier experience. Your generosity is criƟcal to creaƟng the EssenƟal Experience for our student-athletes playing the games we all love, learning valuable life lessons, and making memories. For more informaƟon, contact: Ryan Monroe, Western AthleƟcs manager 608-789-6276 | MonroeR@westerntc.edu Stay up to date with Cavalier AthleƟcs by following us on Facebook and TwiƩer. 9 College News Western Technical College formed a new Esports team which will compete in the NaƟonal Junior College AthleƟc AssociaƟon Esports (NJCAAE) league this fall. The NJCAAE consists of over 60 two-year colleges across the United States, compeƟng in games such as Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, NBA 2K21, and Call of Duty. CompeƟƟon includes nine weeks of queue- based Swiss-style play where parƟcipants play one match per week, per Ɵtle. Top performers are invited to a single-eliminaƟon bracket at the end of each term. We are excited about providing Western students with the opportunity to parƟcipate in Esports, learn more about gaming, and compete on a naƟonal level! To learn more informaƟon on the program, contact Ryan Monroe at MonroeR@westerntc.edu. Visit us at westerntc.edu/ athleƟcs for more informaƟon on our schedules, events, promoƟons, and how to donate.Next >