Madison • Fort Atkinson • Portage • Reedsburg • Watertown Spring 2007

MATCProfiles
For Alumni and Friends of Madison Area Technical College

Woodworking
Wonders
see page 6

Inside
Wright Place, Wright Time
Hot Jobs: Terry’s Take
Proud to be in the Pack
 Dear MATC Alumni and Friends,

One thing sure to disrupt a busy office is the dreaded “low

toner” light. If you depend on a computer for your job, your
studies or your life (and if that’s the case, hit the escape key
every once in a while!) you know that when the printer is
down, things grind to a halt.
A Middleton entrepreneur saw a business opportunity
in this common, everyday occurrence. His idea was to sell
remanufactured toner cartridges as an environmentally-
friendly cost saving option for government agencies. But
the maze of rules, regulations and paperwork involved was
daunting. So Rob Wangard turned to MATC to learn how to
win a share of this vast market.
Rob’s Middleton business, Cartridge Savers, is
one of hundreds of Wisconsin enterprises — most
of them, small businesses and many of them minor-
Mark your calendar for the
ity or veteran-owned — to master the ins and outs
of government contracting at MATC’s Business
12th Annual
Procurement Assistance Center (BPAC). Doug Redsten
Golf Classic
Including a record $358 million last year, BPAC
has helped Wisconsin companies land $1.9 billion in
federal, state and local government business. That’s
$479 for every $1 of BPAC’s operating budget.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, which The 12th annual MATC Golf
also provides funding for our program, last year’s Classic honors the memory of
contracts resulted in more than 7,000 jobs created or retained in Wisconsin. Doug Redsten who devoted
Fostering economic development is a key part of MATC’s statutory mis-
30 years to MATC students
sion. Not only do we prepare our students for real world careers in fast-growing
fields; we also work directly with individual companies to capture new markets and alumni as a teacher,
and increase profits. coach and administrator.
In Rob’s case, the bottom line is that Cartridge Savers has become one of the
fastest-growing Hispanic-owned companies in the U.S. In 2006, Rob was recog-
nized as Wisconsin’s Minority Small Business Person of the Year. Monday, May 21, 2007
And today, from government 11:00 am
warehouses all the way to the White
House, when the words “low toner” MATCProfiles The Bridges Golf Course
flash on a laser printer, the toner
cartridge is replaced by one of Rob’s
MATC Foundation 2702 Shopko Drive
products. With a little help from his
Robert Dinndorf, Executive Director
Madison
MATC Alumni Association
friends at BPAC, Rob Wangard has Tricia Weisheipl, Coordinator of
become an MATC real world Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Host – Jim Thomas
success story. General Manager
Communications Director: Janet Kelly
Profiles editor: Bill Graf
Head Professional and
Sincerely,
Graphic designer: Amy Kittleson
MATC’s Head Coach
Staff writers: Robert Dinndorf, Robin Gee,
Bill Graf, Janet Kelly, Tricia Weisheipl
Bettsey L. Barhorst
Contributing writer: Mark Crawford
To register,
MATC President
contact Tricia Weisheipl
See “Alumni & Foundation” at
matcmadison.edu or call (608) 246-6441
(608) 246-6958
for more information tweisheipl@matcmadison.edu
2
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
 Alumni Profile

For Scott Perkins,

the “Price” is Wright
MATC graduate is curator at Price Tower —
Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper

Frank Lloyd Wright’s brilliant imprint on the built landscape

of Wisconsin spans a wide array of structures and settings, from the prairie
serenity of Taliesin near Spring Green to the vibrant sweep of Madison’s
Monona Terrace. This is the story of how a Wisconsin boy’s fascination
with Wright led to an education
in design and a career
revolving around a unique
yet little-known landmark:
Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper.
You won’t find the 19-story Price Tower in
a major metropolis, although the building was
originally proposed for New York City in 1929.
It stands in the middle of oil country
— Bartlesville, Oklahoma — where the
headquarters of H. C. Price Company became
known as “the tree that escaped the crowded
forest.” Today, 50 years after it opened, visitors can not only tour the high-rise and
peruse its Price Tower Arts Center exhibits; they can even stay overnight in the
Wright-designed high style of the Inn at Price Tower.
Scott Perkins’s path to Price Tower began with his boyhood near Wausau.
He was drawn to the colors, patterns and spatial relationships of buildings, and
was particularly fascinated by Wright-designed homes.
“I always enjoyed driving by one of these, the Duey and Julia Wright
residence, as a child with my parents,” he says. “It supposedly
was designed in the shape of a musical note to reflect the
family’s love of music. I was intrigued by the idea that
people could actually have a home ‘designed’ for themselves
according to what they wanted.”
After graduating from high school in 1986, Perkins was
disappointed by his first college experience. “I felt lost in
the large lecture halls and didn’t have any real outlet for my
creative side,” says Perkins. After a year, he left for Madison
and enrolled at Madison Area Technical College.
It was a good fit. Perkins earned his associate degree in
interior design in 1991 and continued taking architectural
drafting and liberal arts courses at MATC before moving to

continued on page 4 >

3
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
 Scott Perkins
continued from page 3
Chicago. He completed his bachelor’s
in fine arts in interior architecture at the
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
in 1997. Six years later, he received a
master’s in decorative arts, design and
culture from Bard Graduate Center in
New York, where he is currently pursuing
doctoral studies.
Perkins completed an internship at the
Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture
in Spring Green during his undergraduate
years in Chicago. He was given the
opportunity to catalogue and photograph
the entire furniture and artwork collection
at Wright’s Taliesin estate. “Handling the
furniture on a day-to-day basis, and seeing
the construction of these pieces close-up,
really did wonders for my Frank Lloyd
Wright fever,” he says. “Working in the
large drafting room there almost became a
religious experience.”
As part of his doctoral studies, Perkins
was preparing a research paper on Wright
and his Prairie School movement when
his advisor suggested he write an essay on
Wright's designs for the Price Tower Arts
Center’s 50th anniversary commemorative
exhibition catalogue. Soon, his in-depth
knowledge of the building's interiors,
furniture and history made Perkins the
perfect choice to become the center’s curator
of collections and exhibitions in 2006.
4
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
One of his first projects was “Wright
Restored,” an exhibit highlighting the
detailed restoration and conservation work
that Perkins directed to return the tower’s
upper three floors to their original 1956
appearance.
“With ‘Wright Restored,’ my design
skills kicked in, since I had to redesign
three floors of historic interiors spaces as
well as design and install the exhibition
in our galleries,” says Perkins. “Besides
educating the various contractors on the
complexities of Wright’s furniture and
interiors, I coordinated the conservation of
historic objects, supervised the crews who
were replicating built-in furniture from
photographs, and negotiated with vendors
to not only meet our budget, but also
complete the entire restoration in a very
short 10-week time frame.”
Looking back, Perkins remains
impressed with the way his MATC
instructors prepared him for the working
world. The studio format of MATC’s
interior design department gave him the
basic trade qualifications he needed,
especially the teamwork skills necessary
to work in a design studio.
“Our courses were structured around
realistic projects. We were able to get out
of the classroom and visit different types of
work environments — retail design studios,
“I have great memories
of MATC. We had a great
sense of camaraderie,
both in and out of the
classroom. MATC, in
general, got me interested
in learning again…”
Overnight with Wright
T H E I N N AT PRI CE TO WER
21 high-design guest rooms in
Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper
For reservations and information,
visit www.pricetower.org or
call (918) 336-1000.
large architectural offices, furniture dealer-
ships and factories,” Perkins recalls. “These
experiences gave me an edge when I decid-
ed to complete my bachelor’s in fine arts,
as I already had a little taste of the outside
world and, therefore, an advantage in
juried critique sessions.”
Perkins gets back to Madison twice a
year to reconnect with friends and class-
mates. “I have great memories of MATC.
We had a great sense of camaraderie, both
in and out of the classroom. MATC, in gen-
eral, got me interested in learning again and
for someone still ‘in school’ after twenty
years, that’s perhaps the biggest outcome of
my time spent there.”
 MATC News
Students Travel South to Lend a Hand
MATC students took an Alternative Winter Break trip
in to the Florida Everglades, where they worked at a
refuge for injured and abused animals. Alternative Spring
Breaks took 100 students to four locations:
• Appalachia, mentoring high school drop-outs and
working on home construction for coal miners in
West Virginia;
• New York City, preparing and distributing meals
to people with HIV/AIDS;
• Washington D.C., learning about homelessness
and hunger by volunteering at shelters, food pantries
and youth centers; and
• New Orleans, helping to rebuild the damaged areas
continuing to suffer the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Help the students who help
To make a tax-deductible donation to sponsor
a student volunteer, please send a check payable
to the MATC Foundation to:
MATC Student Life
Re: Alternative Breaks Donation
3550 Anderson Street • Madison, WI 53704
For more information, call (608) 259-2953 or email
stensven@matcmadison.edu.
More MATC News on page 10 >
4 for the future
Economist Terry Ludeman
sees good jobs in
high-growth sectors
What’s hot in the job market?
The answer seems to vary day by
day as technology, global markets
and demographic trends converge
to change the workforce. Terry
Ludeman, retired chief labor economist
for the state of Wisconsin, shared his
insights recently with Profiles.
Health Care
“Wisconsin adds about 20,000–25,000 new healthcare jobs every
year, about 25% of which are in Madison. If you add to that the
5,000 to 6,000 baby boomers in these jobs who retire every year,
there are 10,000 to 12,000 healthcare opportunities available in the
Dane County area every year — an ideal market for nurses and
medical technicians.”
Finance/Insurance
“There are probably 1,500–3,000 new jobs created in this sector
every year in Wisconsin. Although most aren’t professional
positions, they do require very strong skill sets, especially in
computer operations and information technology.” Law firms,
engineering companies, scientific/research firms and medical
practices will also be looking for computer programmers,
operators and technicians.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is increasingly dependent on technology for running
innovative business processes, such as “just in time” production
and delivery. Of the 2,000–3,000 jobs available every year in this
field, many require high-tech computer skills such as CAD and
other engineering applications.
Construction
Despite the downturn in housing starts across the country,
construction in Wisconsin has stayed strong, thanks largely to
commercial construction. There are currently about 120,000
construction jobs in the state — 30,000 in the Madison area.
Although strong new-job growth isn’t in the forecast, there should
be about 2,000–3,000 job vacancies created every year by retiring
construction trade workers.
5
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
 Getting Down to Business
in Cabinetmaking and Millwork

W
hen tornados ripped through
Dane County two years ago, the
damage included a number of
uprooted trees in a west side research park.
But where storm chasers saw debris, a local
nonprofit business saw opportunity.
It was only natural for the Wisconsin
Energy Conservation Corporation
(WECC), a company devoted to
promoting energy efficiency and
renewable energy, to see the potential in
those damaged trees. So it approached
MATC’s Cabinetmaking and Millwork
Program with a proposition: WECC would
donate a brand-new portable sawmill
to MATC, and students would make
office furnishings for its new green-built
headquarters out of trees removed from
the construction site.
While the instructors in the program
are eager for their students to gain the real
world experience of working on special
projects for area businesses and organiza-
tions, they are selective about the proj-
ects they take on. Projects must include
a learning component that fits into the
curriculum. The WECC headquarters, a
showplace of sustainable building prod-
ucts and methods, fit the bill.
Cindy Moubry, WECC contracts and
procurement manager, learned that the
MATC program might be able to help.
In exchange for donation of the portable
sawmill, Patrick Molzahn, lead instructor,
agreed to mill the wood from the site and
have students turn the wood into a recep-
tion desk for the new building.
“This has turned out to be a wonder-
ful partnership for us,” says Moubry. “It’s
been a great opportunity for students to
experience green or sustainable building
firsthand, and it allows us to keep all the
trees onsite.”

6
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007

The added bonus for WECC is the
MATC project adds to the many sustain-
able features of the building that the com-
pany hopes will earn them a prestigious
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
The program:
Cabinetmaking and Millwork
The degree: One-year technical diploma
Career potential:
Cabinetmaker, finish carpenter, architectural
woodworker, finishing specialist, fixtures
manufacturer, CAD/CAM operator.

Design (LEED) Certification from the Current employers of MATC graduates include
U.S. Green Building Council. Carley Wood Associates, Techline USA, Nonn’s
Flooring, Hensen Manufacturing, Wisconsin-
Partnerships like this are one of the Built, The Carlson Company, Brunsell Lumber
things that keeps the cabinetmaking and and Woodjoiners.
millwork lab at MATC Truax bustling Typical salaries:
with activity every day. Students and From $24,000-$60,000. Entry level, $12-
instructors cluster around the room at dif- 15/hr.; highly skilled employees can earn up
to $25/hr.
ferent stations, each completely focused
on the task at hand — sawing, sanding, For more information: Call (608) 246-6842
gluing, nailing — all of the things one
would expect in a wood shop, and more.
Maintaining an efficient pace is impor-
ing for building contractor J. H. Findorff. MATC and WoodLINKS:
tant, says Molzahn. “I want to ground stu-
They also invite industry experts to The Latest Word on Wood
address students on the latest products An innovative program that offers online,
dents in the real world. They need to learn
and methods. self-directed curriculum for woodworking
to work in teams, plan projects, keep track
“When I decided to pursue turning is going national through a partnership
of hours, calculate production costs and
my woodworking hobby into a career, with WoodLINKS, an industry-driven
profit, and manage their time as they would
my wife and I sat down and explored our educational partnership.
on the job.”
options,” says Dave Lauher, who was a Patrick Molzahn, lead instructor for
Patrick and his brother, Jeff, also an
nurse for 20 years before he graduated MATC’s Cabinetmaking and Millwork
instructor in the program, bring their
from the program last year. “We settled Program, developed the curriculum
own work experience into the classroom.
on MATC because it had a good reputa- because he found that there were practi-
Patrick was trained as an architectural
tion.” He now is working at Carley Wood cal challenges to the traditional lecture
designer and ran his own woodworking
Associates in Madison, an architectural and demonstration method of teaching.
business, while Jeff, a journeyman car-
woodworking firm. “We’d have 16 students crowded around
penter, has 20 years of experience work-
With family responsibilities that a machine. Some couldn’t even see the
include three children, Lauher says he details of the demonstration. Then they’d
really had to stay focused. “I was on a wait in line to use equipment.
mission, so I was very happy that basical- “By providing online modules using
ly everything Patrick and Jeff said about PowerPoint, short videos and PDFs, stu-
the industry was right on the money. They dents can work at their own pace. They
pushed us and challenged us but it made can study and review theoretical, safety
me very well-prepared to work in the and operating information online, freeing
field.” up class time for hands-on work in the
Molzahn has discovered that to suc- laboratory. Because students are working
ceed in his program, “students must be at their own level, not everyone will be
detail-oriented and have a strong desire trying to do the same task at once.”
to work with their hands. But the number WoodLINKS-USA now is making
one requirement is the desire to learn.” In Molzahn’s learning modules available to its
that regard, Patrick Molzahn feels blessed. members. This year the organization also
awarded MATC its Partnership of the Year
Award for developing the curriculum.

7
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
 Businesses share ‘Future Thoughts’
S
tudents had the day off, but the halls
were still buzzing. Professionals
from small firms, corporations,
government agencies, trade associations
and the UW were gathering at MATC
for “Future Thoughts,” a January
in-service activity designed to share
strategic information with over 400
college faculty about the future of their
professions and industries.
Nurses, engineers, CEOs, scientists,
transportation managers and state agency
and university administrators, along with
a fire chief, animator and art director, met
with instructors in 17 sessions organized
by career field, with anywhere from five
to 50 instructors participating in each.
“For decades, our occupational
programs have received ongoing input
from advisory committees, made up of
local employers, working professionals
and graduates, for a real world check on
what our students learn and bring to the
workplace,” states Terry Webb, MATC’s
associate vice president of Learner Success.
“Our programs will continue to work with
their advisory committees, but we took this
opportunity to really look into the future,
five to 10 years out. We asked all faculty
to join with our local employers and begin
our planning to meet future needs.”
Each session began with employer
presentations, then moved into facilitated
but free-flowing dialog focused by five
questions designed to provoke thoughts
about trends, emerging needs and future
demands. Some groups became so
engaged they chose to skip lunch and
continue their sessions well beyond the
two-hour time period.
What did MATC learn from
organizations as diverse as Vierbicher
Associates, Inc., Wisconsin Hospital
Association, Peterbilt, Raven Software,
Office Team, Covance, Voltedge and the
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture,
Trade and Consumer Protection?
8
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
The end result of the
Future Thoughts sessions
All of the business representatives
expressed a need for MATC to educate
is to help develop a
more skilled workers with up-to-date comprehensive academic
technical skills specific to their fields.
plan for the college with
Many also expressed the importance of
developing complimentary “soft skills” first-hand information based
in students — such as customer service, on employers and projected
emotional intelligence and interpersonal
abilities. demographic and economic
Employers also stressed the need trends for the college’s
for students to gain knowledge in good
manufacturing practices, instrumentation
12-county service area.
skills and process improvement
methodologies such as Six Sigma.
Other needs identified included:
• new curriculum to support the
emerging biofuels field;
• laboratory technicians trained
for converging sciences such as
biotechnology, energy, agriculture,
chemistry and animal care;
• specifice skills to support growth in
the video gaming industry, which
is expanding into new markets due
to business applications for virtual
conferences;
• more emphasis on developing students’
business writing and technology skills;
• continuing education for culinary
and hospitality workers; and
• training to help our community’s
growing population of Latino workers
advance into management.
The end result of the Future Thoughts
sessions is to help develop a comprehensive
academic plan for the college based on
first-hand information from employers and
projected demographic and economic trends
for the college’s 12-county service area.
The academic plan is scheduled for
completion this summer and according to
Webb, “will guide decisionmaking at the
college over the next five to 10 years by
providing a model for future programming
and outreach activities, as well as
recommendations for how MATC
serves our community.”
 Alumni Notes
Tom Brice, a graduate of the Marketing and
Supervisory Management programs, marks 35
years at Madison Gas and Electric, where he is
currently materials manager. He has been a part-
time teacher in the Supervisory Management
program (see ad on page 11) since 1987,
and is past president of the MATC Alumni
Association.
Lara Klipsch Elliott,
a 2000 graduate of the
Graphic Design Program,
is an associate art director
for American Girl, a
lifestyle magazine for
girls ages 8–12. She was
initially hired as a graphic
designer by American Girl at her portfolio
show. Now, Elliott works with photographers
and illustrators from around the world.
Graphic design graduate
Kristin Erickson’s
successful magazine
Brava celebrates its
fifth anniversary in
May. Formerly known
as Anew, the full-color,
glossy monthly tells the
stories of exceptional women who empower
others. In May, Erickson is set to launch Brava
Encore Edition, an annual publication that
will follow notable women through a day or
a pivotal moment in their life.
Medical coding graduate Darla Lockman is
employed full-time as a coder at UW Hospital
and Clinics. A former junior high school
teacher, she worked in manufacturing for 25
years before seeking a career change. “I wish
to express my thanks to [MATC instructors]
Rhonda Voelz and Loretta Brunell for doing Lasting Skin Solutions,
such a great job of preparing me for real world whose founder and
coding.” president, Kim
Schuchardt, is an MATC
Dave Mahoney, who
graduate, has opened a
has been both a student
new Middleton location
and instructor at MATC,
in the Discovery Springs
was elected Dane County
Center. It provides a
Sheriff last November and
multifaceted approach to preventative and
began his term in January.
corrective skin care, including the latest in laser
Mahoney’s career includes
technology. A graduate of MATC and UW–
service with the Middleton
Madison, Kim has over 17 years of medical
EMS, Middleton Police Department, Cross
experience and is a registered nurse, physician
Plains Police Department and Dane County
assistant and certified laser technician.
Sheriff’s office. He also has served as
President of the Wisconsin Professional Police
Association. A way to remember,
Bill Neeman, general manager of Ad-Tech a way to renew
Industries in Watertown, is president-elect
The losses of Stan Burek, Carl Jensen and Sara
of the Watertown Rotary Club. Neeman,
MATC alum, is a long time donor to MATC Sherkow in the past year have been deeply felt
and has established a reimbursement plan for by the MATC community. But they and many
his employees to attend the college. Cindy others have left a legacy of hope for MATC
Schroeder, a graduate of the MATC Business students for many years to come.
Mid-management Program, is office manager at Those who wish to remember their loved ones
Ad-Tech, an industrial painting company. by making learning accessible to future stu-
dents are encouraged to contact the MATC
Dennis Ruchti has joined
Foundation Office. Many named funds, as well
Strang, Inc. of Madison
as the Foundation Endowment for scholarships
as HVAC design engineer.
and grants, provide opportunities for students to
Ruchti holds an associate
carry on in the tradition of our Stan, Carl, Sara
degree from MATC and
and other MATC legends.
has over 28 years of
comprehensive HVAC Gifts to these and all of the MATC Foundation’s
design experience. Strang, scholarship accounts are tax-deductible.
Inc. is an integrated architecture, engineering
and interior design firm. Larry Barton, an For details, contact
architectural technician alum, is vice president MATC Foundation • (608) 246-6441
of Strang and a member of the MATC rdinndorf@matcmadison.edu
Foundation Board.

Join the fun! Become a member of the MATC Alumni Association.

Name _______________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City ________________________ State _______ Zip _______________
Phone ______________________________________________________
Email _______________________________________________________
Membership: _____ $25 annual _____ $100 lifetime
Payment Method: _____ Personal check (payable to MATC Foundation)
_____ Visa / MasterCard _____ Discover
Credit card number _____________________________________________
Mail this form with your payment to:
MATC Foundation • 3550 Anderson St. • Madison WI 53704
Or make your credit card payment by phone: Call (608) 246-6441
What’s New? Let Us Know!
We would love to publish your special news in Profiles.
Please share your information in the space below, or email
it to tweisheipl@matcmadison.edu.
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9
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007

Keep up with the pack!
visit matcmadison.edu/athletics
for the latest Wolfpack news
10
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
MATC News continued from page 5
Proud to be in the pack!
MATC’s intercollegiate athletic teams
experienced tremendous success during
the Fall 2006 season. The WolfPack golf,
soccer and women’s volleyball teams
swept their way through state competition
as all three teams claimed conference and
state titles. The teams experienced simi-
lar success on the regional and national
levels.
Kristin Brochtrup (above) and Kara Hilmanoski
became the first two volleyball All-Americans in
MATC history.
The volleyball team, ranked third
in the nation in the final NJCAA poll,
advanced to the regional final. The
WolfPack fell to Ridgewater College,
the eventual Division III national
champions but finished the season with
a stellar 33-6 record. Kristin Brochtrup
and Kara Hilmanoski became the first
two volleyball All-Americans in school
history.
The MATC golf team overcame a nine
stroke first day deficit to win the NJCAA
Region XIII title by eight strokes. It was
the program’s fourth regional title in
MATC golfers Josh Pantel (above), as well as Paul
Jacobsen, Eric Isberner, Bryan Leschensky and
Ben Steeger have qualified for the 2007 NJCAA
National Golf Tournament.
MATC history and its first since 2003.
MATC golfers Josh Pantel, Paul Jacobsen,
Eric Isberner, Bryan Leschensky and Ben
Steeger qualified for the NJCAA National
Golf Tournament June 5-8, 2007 in
Chautauqua, N.Y.
The MATC Soccer team, ranked 15th
in the nation, also claimed a Region XIII
title with a 2-1 victory. The regional title
was the second straight and the seventh
in program history. With the win, MATC
advanced to the District Tournament in
Dallas, Tex. The WolfPack advanced
to the District Final against Richland
College but lost to the eventual national
champions.
Come catch the action this spring as
MATC continues to make its mark as one
of the premier junior college athletic
programs in the Midwest!
Foundation focuses on photography
Solar summit boosts
renewable energy
MATC’s Center for Education in Renewable
Energy Technology (CERET) recently hosted
the Wisconsin Solar Working Group to explore
strategies to grow the solar energy industry
in Wisconsin.

Photography students Dustin Walsh, Austin Hillebrandt, Karolina Romanowski and Reesha Lopez focus on part-
time instructor and full-time administrator Herb Nelson with cameras donated to the MATC Foundation. The
cameras were given by David and Stephanie Dean, Sara Hart McGuinnis and Lew Terpstra. [Photo by: Briana
Montgomery, Creative Photography Student]

Career Upgrades Available Here Town hall for a day

MATC hosted one of Governor Jim Doyle’s
BUILD ON THE DEGREE YOU ALREADY HAVE Town Hall meetings in December. A packed
house at MATC Truax heard the governor’s
Do you have the experience but now need management skills to move to the goals for his second term.
next level?
The Fastrack Supervisory Management/Leadership Development Program at
MATC can help!
• Focus on one subject at a time, one night a week
• Earn a second associate degree in 18 months
• Study contemporary topics in: management, leadership, managing change, conflict,
critical thinking, creative problem solving, workplace ethics and improving quality
• Earn credits that transfer to many 4-year and online colleges

Applications are being accepted for the August 2007 cycle.

Seats are limited, so apply today!
For more information contact: Cindy Spankowski
(608) 258-2372 • cspankowski@matcmadison.edu

GET YOUR CAREER UP AND RUNNING IN 2007

11
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
 Foundation News
Grateful alumni fund the future
“For the strength of the Pack
is the Wolf, and the strength
of the Wolf is the Pack.”
These words of Rudyard Kipling well
describe the interdependence between
individual and community — as well as
the name of MATC’s athletic teams. A
few recent examples of MATC friends
giving strength to the pack through schol-
arships and other gifts:
Jack and Bob Bolz recently decided
to create a permanent endowment in the
Madison Community Foundation for
MATC students in the visual and perform-
ing arts. This fund will provide a substan-
tial increase in the amount of scholarships
available each year to MATC students.
The Bolz family had been funding schol-
arships annually through the Eugenie
Mayer Bolz Family Foundation.
A continuing happy 100th to Spike Ehlers, mainstay
of the Lona M. Ehlers Nursing Scholarship. Spike and
friends celebrated with a televised birthday party on
December 30, one day prior to the special occasion.
The memorial to Lona is the MATC Foundation’s
largest fund.
12
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
Jim Ballard, a retired Chicago photographer, who
donated his extensive collection of pictorial books,
instructional and other texts to the MATC Photography
Program.
Occasionally, faculty members like
Betty Hurd of the Fashion Marketing
Program, are called on for advice by
other organizations. Betty dedicates the
consulting fees from these engagements
to help build the Fashion Marketing Fund
for Learning Enhancement. Betty’s gifts
maintain a tradition of generosity estab-
lished by Nancy Tans, Mae Laatsch and
other department members.
Gene Laubengayer, an Emergency
Medical Services alumnus, has estab-
lished an endowment in the MATC
Foundation that will support Fire
Protection Technician students. Gene’s
daughter Andrea is a Fire Protection Calendar Cast Takes a Bow
Technician alumna. According to the calendar, it was time
The Alexander Fortney Memorial for a party. Local alumni featured in
Scholarship honors this Fire Protection the MATC Foundation’s popular 2007
Technician Program student, who died in Calendar and Report to Our Community
a motorcycle accident in 2005. The col- gathered recently for a “cast party”
lection of funds and scholarship selection at Smoky’s Club, which is owned by
is coordinated by the Shorewood Hills brothers Tom and Larry Schmock (Mr.
Fire and EMS Association. and Mr. August). Community activist
Sherri Kliczak is a proud MATC Jacqueline Hunt (top photo) was among
alumna and employee of National those honored at the event by MATC
Guardian Life, a long-time scholarship President Bettsey Barhorst. To request
donor. Sherri volunteered this year as a a copy, call the Foundation at
member of the foundation’s scholarship (608) 246-6441.
continued >

reading committee, which broadened
her view of MATC students’ needs and
led to increased funding for the National
Guardian Life scholarships.
Jack Lussier has provided new fund-
ing for participants in the Community
Scholars and Continuing Student
Scholarship programs. Community
Scholars perform volunteer work and
meet specific grade and enrollment crite-
ria while they earn tuition scholarships.
Jack is a well known community builder,
providing opportunities for persons of all
ages and abilities.
W. W. Grainger continues its leader-
ship support of the annual MATC Math
Competition this year, helping the MATC
Math Club promote the importance and
enjoyment of mathematics. The Spring
2007 event capitalizes on the new popu-
larity of Sudoku.
Robert Keller has established the
first endowment fund for scholarships
in the Real Estate Program. The Keller
Real Estate Group Endowed Scholarship
focuses on students with an interest in
property management and/or real estate
investment careers. The new scholarship
adds to Bob’s support of MATC students
through grants from the Nelson and Vera
Hicks Foundation.
Celebrating Scholars
in Reedsburg
MATC Reedsburg’s first Scholarship
Award celebration honored students
in accounting, practical nursing and
associate degree nursing in January.
Front row (seated): students Celia Pfaff
and Alissa Faber. Second row: students
Katie Ann Mundth, Jennifer Cone, Marie
Johnson, Paula Wedig and Michael
Hutchison; Diane Jetzer, North Region
campus manager. Back row: John Alt,
MATC North Region executive director,
economic and workforce development.
It takes “will” power
Update your estate to help
students succeed.
Name: John Lalor
Education: marketing degree from MATC;
Ph.D. in educational administration
Career: 32 years in higher education;
dean at three Wisconsin technical
colleges; joined MATC staff in 1985
Estate plan: recently updated to
include an endowment gift to the
MATC Foundation
“Working with my attorney,
I found it very easy to update
my estate plan to benefit
students long into the future.”
To learn how you can help
MATC students in your estate plan,
contact Bob Dinndorf at rdinndorf@
matcmadison.edu or (608) 246-6440.

Support student success. Make a gift to the MATC Foundation

I will contribute $_____________ to the following fund(s): Payment Method
$_________ Forward Fund (scholarships and grants) ______ Personal check (payable to MATC Foundation)
$_________ Specific MATC program: ____________________ ______ Visa / MasterCard ______ Discover

Credit card # ______________________________________

Name ____________________________________________
Expiration date _____________________________________
Address __________________________________________
Cardholder’s name __________________________________
City _____________________________________________

State _____________ Zip ___________________________
Phone ___________________________________________
Email ____________________________________________
Mail this form with your payment to:
MATC Foundation • 3550 Anderson St. • Madison WI 53704
Or make your credit card payment by phone:
Call (608) 246-6441
13
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
 Program News
New certificates offer
quick skill upgrades
One word: Plastics
Wisconsin is known for its dairy, paper and
even metal fabricating industries, but few
know that plastics manufacturing also is
one of the state’s largest industries and a
major source of employment in the south-
central region in particular. MATC offers a
two-year Plastics Technology Program, but
there has been a continuing need for short-
er-term training for those already working
in this $2.7 billion industry.
The new Basic Plastics Operator
Certificate offers short-term training
designed to help workers upgrade their
skills to meet rapidly changing technol-
ogy and methods. Classes meet one night
a week for three hours, offering
face-to-face instruction and a top quality
laboratory for hands-on learning.
14
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
Got a nose for news?
Liberal Arts Transfer students who are
interested in writing and reporting now
have an opportunity to “add value”
to their associate degrees. The new
Journalism Certificate is designed for
those interested in gaining skills for entry-
level news reporter positions at small
newspapers or radio stations, or for build-
ing a basis for further education, includ-
ing internships at larger papers.
To obtain the certificate, students are
required to complete their two-year liberal
arts degrees in conjunction with taking
17 credits necessary for the Journalism
Certificate. Required courses cover an
introduction to mass communication,
news reporting and feature writing with
elective options in photojournalism, web
and professional writing.
A great shot
Photography student Jaime L. Forrest, spon-
sored by MATC instructor Mario Quntana, won
an honorable mention in the international Photo
Imaging Education Association's 2007 contest
for her "Soccer Player."
$2 million will boost biotech
To meet the fast-growing biotechnology
sector’s workforce needs, MATC has
been awarded a $2 million federal grant
to train 435 workers for laboratory techni-
cian positions with local bioscience com-
panies, including Covance Laboratories
and Promega Corp. MATC will work
with employers to create “career ladders”
allowing new, current and displaced work-
ers to advance in the biotech field.
MATC, one of only 72 institutions in
the nation to receive one of the highly
competitive grants, is partnering with the
University of Wisconsin and Workforce
Development Board of South Central
Wisconsin (WDB) to develop curriculum
for the program.
HEP, HEP, hooray!
MATC has received a federal grant,
expected to total more than $2 million
over five years, to help migrant and
seasonal farm workers obtain diplomas
through the High School Equivalency
Program (HEP). The program provides job
advancement, post-secondary education
and training opportunities in rural commu-
nities in the MATC District.
The program puts a high school diploma
within reach for rural agricultural workers
who must work during much of the school
year, making it impossible to complete a
traditional high school education. Through
a previous HEP grant, MATC has served
nearly 500 migrant workers and their adult
children since 2001.
1 Faculty Profile
IT image is McCullough’s mission
Ken McCullough loves problem solving,
puzzles and mysteries — characteristics
he says are necessary in information
technology professionals because “they
need the ability to listen and understand
problems so they can fix them.”
“IT has come back …
right now, we have
a shortage of skilled IT
accepted a full-time faculty position at
MATC in 1997.
His students say McCullough has had
a tremendous impact on them. Danielle
Fossum, now a web programmer/analyst
at Hiebing Group in Madison, will always
remember McCullough’s supportive and
caring attitude. “He believed in me and
my abilities, which was key in my finding
employment.”
In addition to the success of his
students, he is most proud of securing the
“Teaching is in my family.
This is the best job in
the world — to be able
to make a difference in
somebody’s life, even if
what you do is small.”
Kenneth McCullough
Education
• Bachelor’s degree & graduate studies in
communication arts, UW–Madison
• MATC associate degree in data processing/
computer programming, 1983

workers and need to National Science Foundation (NSF) grant Professional

attract more people into
the profession.”
As lead instructor for MATC’s
Information Technology Department,
McCullough shares much in common
with his students. In fact, he knows
what it is like to turn to MATC to build
a career. In the early 1980s, he enrolled
at MATC to “top off” his UW–Madison
degree with the hands-on skills employers
demand.
McCullough’s associate degree in
data processing/computer programming
prepared him for a position building
applications for the state’s driver license
and vehicle registration systems at the
state Department of Transportation.
From there, he moved to CUNA Mutual
Insurance Group, where he managed
programmer teams.
The chance to share his professional
expertise with students brought
McCullough back to MATC.
“Teaching is in my genes … it
was probably inevitable,” he says.
McCullough counts nine teachers in
his family, including both parents and
all three siblings, from pre-school to
university professors. After teaching
computer programming part-time, he
for MATC’s network security programs, • Six years at Wisconsin DOT as programmer,
systems analyst and team leader
creation of the IT Faculty Development
Institutes, and his support of department • Eight years managing programmers at CUNA
Mutual Insurance Group
initiatives to promote IT careers to
• Part-time instructor in MATC’s Midrange and
women.
Mainframe Computer Programs
“IT has come back,” McCullough
• Full-time MATC faculty member since 1997
proclaims. “Today I frequently hear from
• Five years as lead teacher, Information
employers who cannot fill solid IT jobs Technology Department
offering good pay and benefits. So, right
• 2005 Outstanding Service in IT award,
now we have a shortage of skilled IT Wisconsin Technical College System
workers and need to attract more people
into the profession.”
His current mission is to help turn
around the image of IT professionals,
which has suffered from news reports
that make the collapse of dotcoms
and outsourcing of IT jobs seem more
prevalent than they are. The Dilbert
cartoons aren’t especially helpful, either,
he addds.
“Ken has a great personality and he
has a special gift for motivating others,”
recalls Annie Vang, a recent graduate
who works on the fast-paced web
team at American Family Insurance.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today
without Ken’s encouragement
and support.”

15
MATC Profiles • Spring 2007
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Coming up at MATC
For details on these and more MATC events, visit matcmadison.edu,
click on A-Z Index and select Calendars. Events are at MATC Truax unless noted.

For Mitby Theater information

April and tickets, visit the box office

or call (608) 243-4000.

July
April 28

11 Concerts on the Square Patio Party

April 10

For alumni and friends

28 An Evening of Good Taste of MATC Foundation
Unique appetizers and desserts prepared 5–7 p.m., Capitol Square
by culinary and pastry arts students. For Check matcmadison.edu for details.
10 College Spotlight
For returning and prospective students. more information, call (608) 246-6958 or
19 MATC at the Mallards
See matcmadison.edu/collegespotlight see matcmadison.edu/culinaryevents. Warner Park, Madison.
for more information. 7–10 p.m., Gourmet Dining Room, Truax 4 p.m. tailgate party followed by game.
4–7 p.m., Truax For ticket information, call Tricia

14 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Musical based on the C. S. Lewis story.
May Weisheipl at (608) 246-6958 or email
tweisheipl@matcmadison.edu.
2 p.m., Mitby Theater
21 RedstenGolf Classic
For information, call Tricia Weisheipl
The Ambrosia Trio at (608) 246-6958 or email
New York group performs tweisheipl@matcmadison.edu
chamber music at its best. 11 a.m., The Bridges Golf Course,
8 p.m., Mitby Theater Madison.
July 19

22 Big Top Chautauqua

Stories and songs celebrating
Wisconsin Wild Woods and Waters.
3 p.m., Mitby Theater

26 Scholarship Awards Breakfast

May 21

7:45–9 a.m., Redsten Gymnasium