DCTC Foundation Board
Chair
Lowell Miller Stolte has nearly 30 years of environmental engineering experience that includes consulting for local and federal regulators, 10 years in environmental engineering with 3M, and nearly 15 years in petroleum refining with Flint Hills Resources, a leading supplier of petroleum fuels in the Midwest. As environmental director at Flint Hills, Stolte is responsible for environmental regulatory compliance programs and strategic planning for the site. He is a chemical engineering graduate from the University of Minnesota and has previously served on the city of Lakeville Planning Commission, including the role of chairman. He has always had a strong interest in education as exemplified by previous volunteer work with SMART and Storybook Readers literacy programs, Engineers in Schools, Science Olympiad and University of Minnesota student mentoring.
Joel Trinkle assists clients with environmental permitting, compliance, and management projects. He has more than 15 years of experience in air quality permitting, regulatory applicability analyses, compliance audits, risk management planning, dispersion modeling, and regulatory-agency negotiation. He has assisted a broad range of clients—including petroleum refiners, renewable fuels producers, forest products companies, utilities, and manufacturers—at facilities in states from Alaska to Louisiana. Joel's assistance has included completing air permit and regulatory applicability analyses in 15 states, managing and preparing PSD and Title V permit applications for clients in a wide range of industries, and presenting instructional courses on air quality permitting to more than 200 clients including Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff, industry representatives, and environmental consultants.
Scott D. Kadrlik is the Managing Partner with the CPA firm of Meuwissen, Flygare, Kadrlik & Associates, P.A., with over 38 years of experience in public accounting. Mr. Kadrlik's experience includes tax and financial planning for individuals, professional corporations, partnerships, estates and exempt organizations. Scott Kadrlik was named one of Twincities Business 2010-2018 Five Star Wealth Advisors. Mr. Kadrlik carries the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He also currently holds a Life/Health insurance license. Mr. Kadrlik is a member of the American Institute, and Minnesota Society of CPA's. Mr. Kadrlik is a member of the Tax Section and the Personal Financial Planning division of the AICPA. He also Chairs the Accounting Advisory Board for DCTC and received the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award from the college.
Scott laughs at himself and his profession the way no accountant has laughed before. We all know an accountant, but we rarely meet one who can take the awful experience of tax preparation and make it fun. Scott has performed at the Acme Comedy Club, Comedy Gallery, and more. He was a semi-finalist in the Funniest Person in the Twin Cities contest in 2007. Scott believes that you need to laugh at yourself because everyone else is already laughing at you. He is the second funniest accountant in America.
A resident of Dakota County, Ann Byre joined the board with a strong desire to help students prepare for the future. Byre has extensive pharmacy operations experience, including expertise regarding health-system based pharmacies, large-chain retail pharmacies and health system strategies. As the director for Allina Health Pharmacy, she oversees retail/outpatient pharmacy locations at Allina Health hospital and clinic locations across the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area. She earned her PharmD and Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences at South Dakota State University. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, ages four and one. Her interests include traveling, reading, volunteering, scrapbooking and visiting the family cabin. She looks forward to helping grow the Pharmacy Tech program at DCTC based on recent Minnesota Board of Pharmacy changes in training requirements.
Amy Diede, M.D., practices family medicine at the Apple Valley Medical Center in Apple Valley, Minn. Diede earned a Bachelor of Science and her M.D. at the University of North Dakota. She did her residency at Methodist Hospital and the University of Minnesota. Her professional focus is on family medicine, women's health, pediatrics and preventive health. She chose her field of medicine because she enjoys the rewards of taking care of an entire family. Diede belongs to the American Academy of Family Physicians, Twin Cities Medical Society, Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians and the Minnesota Medical Association. She is certified with the American Board of Family Medicine, Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She is actively involved with Crystal Lake Elementary Junior Great Books.
Stephen Engel has nearly 20 years of research, development, and engineering experience at Ecolab, the global leader in water, hygiene, and energy technologies and services. Engel's experience includes chemistry and equipment product development and commercialization, technical service, and team management with focus in the food service and hospitality markets. He is a University of Minnesota chemistry graduate and a retired U.S. Navy veteran with 20 years of active and reserve service. He is an active board member with the Rosemount Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Network providing support for community veterans and service members, including support for DCTC veteran students. He also leads a military employee business resource group at Ecolab to support professional development, community outreach, and talent acquisition initiatives.
Emily Fox Williams practices law with Dakota Law, P.L.L.C. in Lakeville, primarily in the areas of for-profit and non-profit business law; business succession planning; employment law; contracts; business mergers and sales; and wills and trusts agreements. She completed her undergraduate degree at Iowa State University, and received her law degree at Hamline University School of Law. Emily is licensed to practice law in the states of Minnesota and Iowa. She is also admitted to practice in the United States Court, District of Minnesota. Emily is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association and Dakota County Bar Association. She is involved in Lakeville Rotary and the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce, where she also serves on the board.
Bernie earned his bachelor's degree in Business – Economics in 1986 from UW-River Falls and began the first 10 years of his career working at what was Northern States Power Company (now Xcel Energy). In 1996 he moved to Dakota Electric Association where he currently holds the position of Utility Services Manager. His ground up, hands-on approach has served him well both in learning and in educating others in the field along the way. He has been an active member of the Upper Midwest Utility Fleet Council; currently a Board Member, past positions include Secretary/Treasurer and President. He married Georgene in 1989 and became a resident of Dakota County where they raised their two children, Alex and Sydney. He became active with the South St Paul Lion's Club in 2001 and has enjoyed and respected the work they do to give back to their community. Bernie and his wife enjoy traveling, golf, boating, winter sports and cabin life.
As a resident of Rosemount, Scott Manwarren can see DCTC becoming more visible in the community. He recognizes the college's ongoing commitment to students through the application of additional resources. Manwarren has a Masters of Business Administration–Management from the University of North Alabama and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Marketing with an Agronomy emphasis from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He is a traveling board member for the Rosemount Area Athletic Association; his previously served on the Minnesota 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees; he is the U of M CFANS Scholarship Golf Tournament board chair; he serves as a committee member for the CHS-United Way Golf Tournament in 2011. Recognized with the U of M Alumni Association Alumni Service Award in 2008, Manwarren is involved with the university's College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources.
Ryan O'Gara has worked for SKB Environmental for over 20 years in various positions. For the last seventeen years, he has been SKB’s Government Affairs liaison. He is responsible for monitoring and lobbying issues at the Minnesota State Capitol as well as political issues at the county and city level. He is a registered lobbyist in Minnesota. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's Solid Waste Subcommittee. He is also currently serving on the the Dakota County Technical College Foundation Board of Directors. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) and the Minnesota Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). He was appointed to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Environmental Innovations Advisory Council (EIAC), the Construction/Demolition/Industrial Landfill Workgroup and has been active on the Advisory Committees for writing Non-MSW rules, Beneficial Use rules, Transfer Station rules, Demolition Landfill Guidance, and Industrial Landfill Guidance. He has been active in the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) and National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA). He received a B.A. in English at the University of Colorado.
Dan Sjolseth is the owner of Superior Service Center, a mechanical and collision shop with two locations in Eagan and Apple Valley. Dan has 44 years of experience in the automotive business. He shares his passion for the industry by speaking with parents and teachers at the middle and high school levels to encourage a degree in the Automotive field by way of technical colleges. Sjolseth also serves on the DCR Chamber Board of Directors as well as the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers on the local and national board. Dan also enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters and four grandchildren.
Jim Bjorklund began his career at Ziegler in 1999 interning as a Heavy Equipment Technician while attending the Diesel Mechanics program at Alexandria Technical College. He continued working at Ziegler after graduation as a Technician until advancing into his current role as Branch Operations Manager at Ziegler Inc.'s corporate headquarters in Bloomington, Minn. He has had the opportunity to hire many intern Technicians from the technical colleges Ziegler has built strong relationships with. These partnerships provide an integral pipeline of quality trained technicians. Jim joined DCTC's Heavy Construction Equipment Technology Advisory Board providing key information and support from the industry. Jim is an advocate for continuous improvement and learning. While advancing at Ziegler, he also completed the Business Management Certificate program at Rasmussen College helping him become a more effective leader and manager. Jim lives in Prior Lake, MN with his wife Ashley and two daughters; Avrie and Isla. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors and spending time at the lake with friends and family.
Angela is the Community Relations Manager at DARTS, a non-profit serving older adults in Dakota County. Angela works closely with volunteers and communities to create lasting connections that enrich aging. Her background includes over 15 years experience in marketing communications; working in various industries including non-profit, education, hospitality and medical. Angela earned her Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Communications and a Minor in Business Administration from Bemidji State University. She has always been a strong advocate for continuing education and volunteering. Angela previously served on the board of directors for the International Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Bemidji Downtown Alliance and is an Ambassador for the River Heights Chamber of Commerce.
Kathleen has been a practicing certified medical assistant since obtaining certification in January 2000. A 1999 alumna of the DCTC Medical Assistant Program, Kathleen joined the MA faculty in fall 2010. In 2016 Kathleen became the campus SkillsUSA advisor and enjoys working with the faculty and students in this student-led organization. Kathleen is a member of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the Minnesota Society of Medical Assistants (MSMA) and is active in both professional organizations. She lives in Northfield, Minn. with her two daughters and granddaughter.
Michael Berndt has served Minnesota State for 18 years in several capacities including as faculty member, dean, and executive leader. In his current role, he has served as the vice president of Academic Affairs at Century College since 2014.
Previously, he served Normandale Community College as the administrator overseeing research, planning, accreditation, and online learning from 2008 to 2014. He was a full-time English instructor at Normandale from 2000 to 2008 and the English Department chair from 2002 to 2004. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota Morris and a master’s from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Kim is the Interim Executive Director of Foundations and Community Relations for the Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College. As director Kim leads fundraising efforts for the foundation as well as advocates for students and the colleges by engaging community partners.
Kim earned a Masters degree from the University of Utah and also holds Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies.
Before coming to the colleges, Kim's career focused on working in the Human Service field. She began working at Inver Hills Community College in February 2014 where she was able to combine the human service with higher education as the TuitionMatch-MN Program Manager. She sees her current position with the foundation as a continuation of her human service work by engaging the community to support student success at both colleges.
