DCTC Foundation Board
Chair
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.
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.
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.
Jeannette lives and works out of her home here in Rosemount. She is a licensed attorney, and other than practicing a little on the side, has been with Thomson Reuters throughout her professional career, a tenure of over 23 years. Jeannette enjoys volunteering, particularly for causes that support children. She and her husband have been Dakota County foster parents for over 20 years. Also an avid photographer, Jeannette recently took on the role of volunteer photographer for the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) organization providing remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby.
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.
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.
Jeff has nearly 20 years of engineering and operations experience with electrical distribution utilities. He has been with Dakota Electric Association since 2007 and worked in the engineering department for the first 11 years. In 2018, he moved to Utility Services/operations where he oversees Dakota's Electric's 24/7 control center, line crews, technician electricians, warehouse, transportation, and facilities. Jeff has a strong interest in supporting the leadership and development of students interested in pursuing electric utility jobs and careers. Jeff has degrees in applied physics and electrical engineering from St. John's University and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He is an active licensed professional engineer in the State of Minnesota and has a certificate of Distinguished Leadership and Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management. Jeff is also a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has served on the Minnesota Power Systems planning committee and was technical lead on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Distributed Generation Working Group.
Kathy Funston is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Pathways for the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Public School District, bringing over 34 years of experience in K-12 public education. Her work has been pivotal in the development of award-winning high school career pathways, the development of over 200 business/community partnerships, and securing over $1.6 million in grants and donations in the past 5 years. She is co-founder of the Business Education Network. Previously, Kathy was the Secondary Curriculum Coordinator for Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Schools and held district/school leadership positions in Charleston County (South Carolina) Public Schools. She also worked at The American College in Paris and at Parsons School of Design in Paris, France. Kathy earned her Masters and Specialist/Superintendent degrees from The Citadel, and a Doctorate from Argosy University. Kathy and her husband are avid travelers with over 70 countries in their travel log. Together, they enjoy cooking, fishing, and scuba diving. They are the parents of an adult daughter who lives in Philadelphia.
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 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.
