Alumni Accolades
It is our privilege to recognize our talented alumni and their inspirational accomplishments. These updates are gathered from news outlets and from notes sent by graduates themselves. You can be proud that tens of thousands of MATC alumni are transforming our region, state and world.
We’d love to hear your stories! Call MATC Alumni Coordinator Bob Holland, 414-297-6825. And follow us at Facebook.com/MATCalumni.
Featured Alumni
Ann McClain Terrell, Early Childhood Education
National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) article about Ann McClain Terrell (link)
Hector Borges and Jeff Fleetwood, Computer Simulation and Gaming
Wisconsin Inno: Milwaukee Developers Launch Foresight, a New VR/AR Company (link)
Jon Riemann, TV and Video Production
'HOCUS POCUS DRIVE WITH FOCUS': A Sheboygan native is in charge of those clever messages you see on Wisconsin freeway signs (link)
Business & Management
William Coffer Jr., Accounting, received the Congressional Gold Medal in August 2019 for his service as one of the first African Americans in the Marine Corps.
Brandon Hayes, Marketing and Advertising, became owner of the Milwaukee Cavaliers in August 2019, a new American Basketball Association team in the North Central Division.
Maryann Kmet, Marketing, owns The Ladle Lady and was spotlighted in Small Business Milwaukee in November 2019.
Johanna Ortiz, Business, opened Johanna’s Cakes & Desserts Café in Milwaukee in October 2019 and was spotlighted in the Shepherd Express in January 2020.
Timothy Wagner, Hotel Management, was noted in Boutique Hotel News in February as the new director of food and beverage at the Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown.
Kendrick Watkins, Marketing, is the publisher of books released in April that Ajamou Butler wrote to provide inspirational messages for children 4-10 years old.
Lavelle Young, founder and CEO of Young Development Group, was featured in the Milwaukee Business Journal in December for his redevelopment vision and plans.
Community & Human Services
Tamara Cheek was sworn in as a West Bend police officer in August 2019.
Jim Jacobs, Environmental Pollution Control, earned the 2020 District 2 Operator of the Year Award in June from the Wisconsin Rural Water Association. He is the lead water operator for the water utility serving Ripon, Wisconsin.
Sue Krier, Early Childhood Education, retired from St. John XXIII School in Port Washington, Wisconsin, after 42 years serving schools in that area. Her retirement was covered by the Ozaukee Press in May.
Daniel Lendma, Funeral Service, expanded services by acquiring Legacy Care Partners - Kuehl Funeral Home in Gillett, Wisconsin, in December 2019.
Peter Sorenson, Barber, retired in December 2019 as owner of Pete’s Main Street Headliners in Menomonee Falls. His retirement was noted in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.
Ann McClain Terrell, Early Childhood Education, was named president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children based in Washington, D.C., in May.
Creative Arts, Design & Media
Jason Alston, Culinary, was featured in the Milwaukee Business Journal in October 2019 regarding his business Heavens Table Catering and BBQ LLC at the Crossroads Collective.
Cindy Barber, Culinary, received Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Ag in the Classroom program’s “Outstanding Teacher Award” in November 2019.
Allison Beilke, Interior Design, created custom-designed textiles inspired by Bay View architecture and was featured in The Bay View Compass in December 2019.
Karen Bell, Culinary, and her Bavette restaurant were highlighted in the Milwaukee Business Journal in November 2019.
Hector Borges and Jeff Fleetwood, Computer Simulation and Gaming, launched Foresight, an augmented and virtual reality business solutions company, which was featured by Wisconsin Inno in December 2019.
Patrick Chaves, Photography, photographed what he called “the faces of COVID-19” for his final class project in May and was featured on Milwaukee’s TMJ4 News (WTMJ-TV).
Chef Al, Culinary, was recognized for providing free lunches during the COVID-19 pandemic for the Open Door Cafe at The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. He was one of Natalie’s Everyday Heroes on Milwaukee’s CBS-58 (WDJT-TV).
Dandin, Music Occupations, had his new song “World of Angels” streamed on 88Nine in Milwaukee in December 2019. He wrote it while an MATC student.
Mario Diaz, Culinary, opened his new Milwaukee restaurant in December 2019, Triciclo Perú MKE, specializing in empanadas and other Peruvian offerings.
A.J. Dixon, Culinary, was featured in the Milwaukee Business Journal in November 2019. She is the chef/owner of Lazy Susan.
M.K. Drayna, Baking & Pastry Arts, was noted via the OnMilwaukee website for her creative gingerbread house designs made for North Shore Boulangerie in December 2019. In April, her business, Whisk Chick, was spotlighted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Kevin Johnson, TV/Video Production, was named Hearst TV’s director of veteran recruiting in May.
Lisa McKay, Culinary, was featured in the Milwaukee Business Journal in January and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in February.
Rosemarie Patterson, Culinary, opened the Hillside Coffee House in Oak Creek in March.
Karen Perry, Photography, now living in Arkansas, had artwork selected for the January Small Works on Paper Exhibit by the Arkansas Arts Council.
Tia Richardson, Graphic Design, was part of “A Community of Voices” exhibition at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend in July. She is a full-time community muralist working with community centers, schools, businesses and local government. To date, she has completed more than 50 collaborative murals and other creative projects with youth around Milwaukee.
Jon Rieman, Television & Video Production, was spotlighted by the Green Bay Press Gazette in March for writing clever messages for Wisconsin Department of Transportation freeway signs.
Glenn Riley, TV/Video, retired as a Milwaukee PBS director/producer and MATC instructor in June after almost four decades of working for the PBS station.
Julie Tucker-Voeller, Interior Design, was named a vice president at Mequon-based Ruvin Bros. Artisans & Trades Inc. in January.
Brian Ward, Culinary, owner of Ward’s House of Prime, was featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in April for donating four days’ worth of profits to feed the hungry.
General Education
James E. Watkins, Associate of Arts, began a co-facilitator role for a Marquette University philosophy course in January.
Healthcare
Jeffrey Couillard, Surgical Technology and Nursing, received a 2019 Health Care Hero award from Milwaukee BizTimes Media.
Mandy Macachor, Dental Hygiene, received Today’s RDH 2019 Honor Award in September.
Manufacturing, Construction & Transportation
Daniel O’Grady, Woodworking, opened his own custom woodworking company, O’Grady Custom, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Hannah Paulson, Landscape Horticulture, was interviewed in October 2019 for Total Landscape Care articles about work she does for the Cedarburg landscape company owned by her former MATC instructor, Jim Drzewiecki.
Jim Stingl, Automotive, announced his retirement as columnist from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in January.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)
Reid Petges, Mechanical Design, was listed in Pumps & Systems Magazine in August 2019 for his new foundry engineer role at Badger Alloys in Milwaukee.