Welcome New Board Members
At the March 15 meeting of our District Board Appointment Committee, two new District Board members were appointed, and incumbent board member Lauren Baker was re-appointed. Congratulations to Lauren. Welcome  Thomas Michalski and Melanie Cosgrove Holmes. Both take office July 1 and will be outstanding additions.

Ms. Holmes is vice president, World of Work Solutions, at Manpower Inc.  She has been with the company for 26 years, has been involved in many civic causes and served on a variety of boards. Mr. Michalski is an Oak Creek alderman and former member of the Oak Creek School Board. He works as a machine repair mechanic at Rockwell Automation, also serving as chief plant steward and bargaining team member for UE Local 1111.

State Rep. Pedro Colon and West Allis Mayor Jeannette Bell will be leaving the board this summer. I want to thank them for their service now, while not forgetting that more thanks are forthcoming when their current terms end in June.

Melanie Cosgrove Holmes

Milwaukee Enterprise Centers Update
We have had private discussions with potential buyers for the Milwaukee Enterprise Centers since June 2005. The administration and the board have been unable to discuss this matter publicly due to the need to preserve bargaining leverage. Now, however, MATC has issued a request for proposals to purchase and redevelop MEC North. We would become a tenant, versus owner. Current, paying tenants would not be evicted.

The major driver of this decision was our realization that the building needs some costly repairs and updates. So we are looking for a new owner willing to assume that responsibility.

The MECs began with a noble purpose, but, as the years passed, partner funders gradually pulled out, leaving us to bear the sole financial burden. The centers still can play an important role in economic development, and greatly benefit their local communities. But we reluctantly have concluded that private ownership makes the most sense. Accordingly, we are working in earnest with the MATC Board on an exit strategy.

Photo: MATC is publicly soliciting proposals to buy the Milwaukee Enterprise Center - North.

Graduation News
James McCaslin, president and COO of Harley-Davidson Motor Co., has graciously accepted our invitation as keynote speaker at spring commencement on Thursday, May 22 at the Bradley Center. The later start time of 7 p.m. is designed to allow more graduates and families to attend. As always, I encourage faculty and staff to participate in this uplifting event. To volunteer, contact Archie Graham,  grahama@matc.edu.

Smart Experience
In February 2007, our Recruitment Department began Smart Start, a series of one-hour introductory sessions about MATC for prospective students. These have turned out to be so successful that we are launching a new series called Smart Experience, focusing on one-stop enrollment.

The four-hour sessions provide an overview of academic offerings and student services, a campus tour, Accuplacer testing services and one-on-one admissions assistance. Smart Experience sessions are by appointment. I urge you to get involved by contacting Brunnetta Soward, director of recruitment.

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Electrifying Teamwork
Oak Creek Campus teamed up this semester with engineering students from Marquette University on a project that was literally electrifying. The students used our automotive shop to convert a Marquette shuttle van from an internal combustion engine to clean, electric battery power. MATC instructors chipped in with their own know-how.

Dr. Stan Jaskolski, Marquette dean of engineering, said MATC and MU made a great team and should do more projects together. I agree. Special thanks to Instructors Mike McGurk, Steve Schild and Joe Spitz.

Photo: Out with the hydrocarbons, in with the green.

New HIVE Exhibit Generates Buzz
Our partnership with Discovery World earned some glowing coverage in the March 7 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. A lengthy article about our newest HIVE pod anchored the Cue section. This interactive, 3-D exhibit has become one of Discovery World's most engaging and must-see experiences. HIVE stands for Human Interactive Virtual Education. See the article at: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=725234

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Summit of Excellence
Continuing to lead the charge for green careers, we proudly sponsored the annual Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit, March 12-14 at the Midwest Airlines Center. More than 1,000 educators, businesspeople, employers and students attended. A plethora of sessions explored topics in alternative energy and renewable resources. Reflecting the rise of the green movement, local news media paid more attention than ever before.

Special thanks to Dr. George Stone, Natural Science instructor; Dr. Joe Jacobsen, associate dean, Business Division; Dr. Vicki Martin, provost; John Stilp, vice president for the Oak Creek Campus; Dr. David Turner, dean, Technology and Applied Sciences; and Bill Quirmbach, Office of College Events. Board chairperson Bobbie Webber delivered the conference's opening remarks, and I welcomed a large number of attendees at a reception at Discovery World.

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Interior Design Students Triumph
MATC Interior Design students flexed their creative muscles in winning the Milwaukee NARI Interior Design competition at the February home remodeling show. They went up against a student team from Waukesha County Technical College to create a 144-square-foot office space. Fox 6 News and WUWM-FM covered the event. Congratulations to students Dave Abresch, De Anna Heidmann, Kelly Kuehn and Kathy Steinmetz; and to their instructor Mary Walgren.

Far from resting on their laurels, the students are staying busy with new projects. These include the lobby and reception area at the newly opened Center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing; the West Allis Campus cafeteria; and the Liberal Arts and Sciences Division office at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus.

Photo: Model office space created by our students at the annual NARI show.

Absolutely Delectable
We showcased the culinary creativity of our students and faculty at a Five Star Food and Wine event on March 10 at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. Almost 500 people attended, vastly exceeding our goal of 300. The delicious banquet featured international culinary entrees, desserts, wines and a silent auction.

Culinary Arts students and faculty members and Business Division staff staged a hugely successful evening. The Operations Department transformed our hospitality center, M605, into an inviting space. The event raised more than $11,000 for Culinary Arts scholarships. A large group made up of students, instructors, staff and administrators deserve credit. Special thanks, however, go to all the students, Chef John Reiss and Rich Busalacchi, associate dean, Business Division.

One more Culinary note: A five-member student team from MATC recently won the bronze medal at the annual American Culinary Federation regional competition in Kansas City, Missouri. Instructor Tom Surwillo accompanied the students. He notes proudly that this is the first time ever that we have medaled at the ACF regionals. A round of applause and a toast to students Kevin Griffin, Kevin McAllister, Patrick Sepe, Rebecca Skroback and Josh Unser.

Respite for Some Very Special Parents
Parents of about 60 children with special needs were able to take a Saturday afternoon break recently, thanks to about 60 Health Occupations students and faculty. MATC students, mostly from the Nursing program, and other volunteers entertained the children and their siblings with crafts, games, movies and more.

One or two volunteers worked individually with each child as part of an ongoing respite program run by the Children's Service Society of Wisconsin. Special thanks to Health Occupations Dean Dessie Levy for helping facilitate the event, and to Nursing Instructor Kristie Kroening for inspiring students to volunteer with this effort and other Children's Service Society respite events.

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'Hang Tough' Comes to MATC
Cooley Theater proudly hosted the 15th annual Time Warner Cable Hang Tough Video Contest for middle school students. Twenty schools from across the state were finalists in the contest to produce the best anti-drug/anti-violence public service video. Hundreds of students and their teachers participated in the event. Also in attendance were Jessica Doyle, Wisconsin's first lady, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

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