Dakota County Technical College: American Congressional Exchange Visit

Press release from Dakota County Technical College:

August 13, 2021

Rep. Meijer visited Rep. Craig in her district • DCTC campus

Dakota County Technical College hosted a visit by the American Congressional Exchange (ACE) Friday, August 13, 2021, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the college’s campus in Rosemount, Minnesota.

Attendees included Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) from Minnesota’s 2nd congressional district and U.S. Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) from Michigan’s 3rd congressional district. Representative Meijer was visiting Representative Craig in her district.

Jonathan Perman, founder and co-director of ACE, which is housed at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) in Washington, D.C., also took part in the visit along with additional ACE and legislative staff.

Minnesota State participants included:

Michael Berndt
President
Dakota County Technical College
Inver Hills Community College

Michael Berndt

Mike Mendez
Interim VP of Academic Affairs
Dakota County Technical College

Mike Mendez

Bob Trewartha
Director of Continuing Education, Customized Training, Workforce Solutions
Minnesota Training Connection

Bob Trewartha

Christopher Hadfield
Executive Director
Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence

Christopher Hadfield

Carl Borleis
Director of Program Excellence
Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence

Carl Borleis

More about the American Congressional Exchange (ACE)¹

A Bipartisan Policy Center project, the American Congressional Exchange (ACE) focuses on members of the U.S. House of Representatives and is built on three precepts:

LEARN MORE… LEARN MORE… Other DCTC representatives on hand for the ACE visit included:

Tim McCluskey
GM ASEP Instructor

Tim McCluskey

Ken Klassen
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Instructor

Ken Klassen

Anna Voight
Associate Director of Student Life

Anna Voight

Pete Szybatka
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Instructor
Transportation Management Major

Pete Szybatka

Gabe Krebs
Heavy Duty Truck Technology Graduate

Gabe Krebs

ACE visit highlights

The ACE visit began with introductions and brief overview of DCTC at the college’s main entrance. Guests toured two program areas, GM ASEP and Heavy Duty Truck Technology. Transportation Management was also on the agenda.

The visitors then took in a demonstration of the Minnesota State Center of Excellence Career Exploration Trailer, a mobile lab with interactive and hands-on activities that give students the chance to explore the high-tech side of careers in the following transportation fields:

The ACE visit focused on workforce development along with domestic and global supply chain issues. Other topics of discussion included the new Minnesota State Commercial Driver Academy and congressional (community project) funding for the college’s Decision Driving Range.

A Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce meeting took place in the DCTC Dakota Room after the ACE visit. Attendees included local mayors, DCR Chamber President Maureen Scallen Failor and other chamber representatives, and Myron Orfield, director of the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity.

ACE Visit @DCTC gallery

View the DCTC Flickr album for more event photos:

Learn more about the American Congressional Exchange (ACE) visit by contacting:

Lisé Freking
Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications
Dakota County Technical College
Inver Hills Community College
651-423-8233

Dakota County Technical College
1300 145th Street E.
Rosemount, MN 55068-2999
651-423-8301

This press release was produced by Dakota County Technical College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.