Kathleen Hohl, Communications and Events Director
414-297-6208 (office); 414-235-7105 (cell); hohlk@matc.edu

Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education
to Visit ECAM at MATC’s Oak Creek Campus, HIRE Center

MILWAUKEE (Sept. 2, 2011) – Dr. Brenda Dann-Messier, U. S. Department of Education, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, will make two stops in southeastern Wisconsin on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011.

From 8:30-11:30 a.m., she will meet with business representatives and Milwaukee Area Technical College students and instructors at the Center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing (ECAM) on MATC’s Oak Creek Campus, 6665 S. Howell Ave. Participants will discuss how collaborative partnerships have led to a well-prepared workforce and innovative ways to increase efficiency in education and training of incumbent and future workers.
 
From there, Dr. Dann-Messier will head to the HIRE Center, 801 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, from 1:30-4 p.m. She will meet with representatives of community-based organizations that provide education and training services for dislocated workers and other adult learners, as well as MATC instructors and students. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss programs that enhance employability for adults.

"We look forward to welcoming Dr. Dann-Messier to MATC as part of the 'Education and the Economy: Investing in Our Future' tour," said MATC President Dr. Michael L. Burke. "The programs at our Center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing and the HIRE Center are indicative of the innovative strategies we are developing for new and emerging technologies and to help people get back to work."
 
The four-day bus tour features stops by senior U.S. Department of Education officials in five Great Lakes states to promote “the work of our nation’s educators, parents, administrators and education stakeholders in building a strong cradle-to-college and -career continuum that prepares our students to compete in the growing global economy.”

Her visit to the Milwaukee area precedes President Obama’s special address to a joint session of Congress on job creation and economic growth Thursday evening.

Dr. Dann-Messier has served as assistant secretary for vocational and adult education since October 2009 and leads the Department‘s efforts in adult education and career and technical education, as well as efforts to support community colleges and correctional education.