Faculty and Administration

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Natalie Howell is an up-and-coming graduate, wrapping up concurrent degrees in Electrical Systems Design Technology and Bachelor of Applied Management. Bryan Truemper, electrical instructor, speaks to Natalie’s drive and motivation, “Natalie started the class well prepared because of the internship she sought during the previous summer. She works hard to understand the why’s and how’s of Electrical Design and is willing to help others in the class better understand the projects we are working on.”

While on her degree path, Natalie qualified for several scholarship awards:

  • Monticello Scholarship (for female students),
  • Jaudes Endowed Scholarship (for new students), and
  • Alumni Association Scholarship (awarded to family of Ranken alumni).  Natalie’s brother Nick graduated with honors from the same programs she is completing.

“Ranken gave me the opportunity to attain a career that I am truly passionate about . . . I was able to learn about a subject and field I knew nothing about before attending Ranken,“ says Natalie. “My favorite memory is learning how to do the hands-on portion of my schooling. I believe that through Ranken I was able to learn how a specific function actually works.”

Justin Kohlman, Executive Vice President, Schaeffer Electric Company, met Natalie at the Fall 2019 Ranken Career Fair. He explains, “At that time, we were hoping to bring in a new intern who had recently started at Ranken that could have an extended internship at Schaeffer and really learn what it was like at our company. It gave us time to decide if she would be a fit and it gave her time to learn and decide the same. Natalie presented as polished, confident, and excited for an opportunity to learn. While she was new to electric, Natalie was an easy choice to offer an internship because we believed she was very capable of learning the job.”

Once Natalie was in the office, Kohlman shares,

She picked up on things quickly. Learning to be an electrical estimator can be a boring, repetitive endeavor, especially in the middle of a pandemic. Natalie has always been a positive person throughout her internship as she learned more about the position. She also displays punctuality, dedication, and an easy-going personality. Natalie gets along with everyone. She works with different estimators and project managers. She always asks the right questions. For an intern, that speaks volumes.”

Natalie will join Schaeffer Electric full-time after she graduates. Kohlman adds, [This] “is a great example of why working with Ranken and offering students internships early in their education can be very beneficial to employers . . . In addition, extended internships are beneficial to the student/intern. Natalie was always excited to share her experience at Schaeffer. Hopefully, this made her schooling easier, and allowed her to get more out of her schoolwork.”

Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/
http://schaefferelectric.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SchaefferElectric

Alumni Electrical Systems Design Technology

Ranken Faculty
Natalie Howell
Assistant Electrical Estimator @ Schaeffer Electric
Ranken Faculty
Daniel Brostron
Drafter, Sargent & Lundy
Ranken Faculty
Dustin Snyder
BFN Design Lead and Estimator at Sargent & Lundy
Ranken Faculty
Nathaniel Turner
2013 Electrical Systems Design Technology
Video Profile

Natalie Howell

Assistant Electrical Estimator @ Schaeffer Electric

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Natalie Howell is an up-and-coming graduate, wrapping up concurrent degrees in Electrical Systems Design Technology and Bachelor of Applied Management. Bryan Truemper, electrical instructor, speaks to Natalie’s drive and motivation, “Natalie started the class well prepared because of the internship she sought during the previous summer. She works hard to understand the why’s and how’s of Electrical Design and is willing to help others in the class better understand the projects we are working on.”

While on her degree path, Natalie qualified for several scholarship awards:

  • Monticello Scholarship (for female students),
  • Jaudes Endowed Scholarship (for new students), and
  • Alumni Association Scholarship (awarded to family of Ranken alumni).  Natalie’s brother Nick graduated with honors from the same programs she is completing.

“Ranken gave me the opportunity to attain a career that I am truly passionate about . . . I was able to learn about a subject and field I knew nothing about before attending Ranken,“ says Natalie. “My favorite memory is learning how to do the hands-on portion of my schooling. I believe that through Ranken I was able to learn how a specific function actually works.”

Justin Kohlman, Executive Vice President, Schaeffer Electric Company, met Natalie at the Fall 2019 Ranken Career Fair. He explains, “At that time, we were hoping to bring in a new intern who had recently started at Ranken that could have an extended internship at Schaeffer and really learn what it was like at our company. It gave us time to decide if she would be a fit and it gave her time to learn and decide the same. Natalie presented as polished, confident, and excited for an opportunity to learn. While she was new to electric, Natalie was an easy choice to offer an internship because we believed she was very capable of learning the job.”

Once Natalie was in the office, Kohlman shares,

She picked up on things quickly. Learning to be an electrical estimator can be a boring, repetitive endeavor, especially in the middle of a pandemic. Natalie has always been a positive person throughout her internship as she learned more about the position. She also displays punctuality, dedication, and an easy-going personality. Natalie gets along with everyone. She works with different estimators and project managers. She always asks the right questions. For an intern, that speaks volumes.”

Natalie will join Schaeffer Electric full-time after she graduates. Kohlman adds, [This] “is a great example of why working with Ranken and offering students internships early in their education can be very beneficial to employers . . . In addition, extended internships are beneficial to the student/intern. Natalie was always excited to share her experience at Schaeffer. Hopefully, this made her schooling easier, and allowed her to get more out of her schoolwork.”

Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/
http://schaefferelectric.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SchaefferElectric

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Video Profile

Daniel Brostron

Drafter, Sargent & Lundy

Ranken Technical College’s alumni, as a general rule, Pay It Forward.  They hire, mentor, teach and encourage current students preparing to enter the workforce.  One example of this tradition is Dustin Snyder and Daniel Brostron, both graduates of the Electrical Systems Design Technology (ESDT) degree program.

Dustin admits he had a rocky start: he didn’t apply himself in high school, had false starts in community college, and had trouble finding a fulfilling career.  That changed when at the behest of his stepfather he enrolled in ESDT at Ranken.  Electrical instructor Sal Francis relates it was “always so nice to be around him . . .he was so curious about things and very positive. . . It was fun to tap into his energy because he is so inspiring.”  Dustin threw himself into as many activities as he could before graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2014 – from serving as a Student Ambassador and Teacher’s Assistant to working at the on-campus BioMerieux micro-enterprise to volunteering for the FIRST Robotics competition; he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management (BSAM) at Ranken.

Daniel Brostron enrolled several years later, graduating from the ESDT program in 2020.  He found that the practical experience in electrical installation at Ranken helped him clearly comprehend writing diagrams and visualize his own electrical circuit designs.  “Ranken’s training helped a lot with preparing me,” Daniel tells us.  Instructor Bryan Truemper found that “Daniel worked hard in class and had a great attitude. He thrived learning the different design software programs.”

Their paths crossed when Dustin returned to campus to participate in a job fair.  For several years, he had worked for global energy leader Sargent & Lundy, and he introduced the company to Daniel.  Now, they work together at S&L’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Group in Alabama – Dustin as Design Lead and estimator and Daniel as a Drafter.  Nuclear Power Group Senior Manager Randy Cook, who supervises both young men, finds that Ranken students are equipped with a strong foundation for success, are work-ready on their first day of employment, and able to handle challenging assignments with minimal supervision.

Dustin continues to serve as an ambassador and express his gratitude for the opportunities the College has provided him with.  He says “the three items that had the biggest impact on my success were the quality of the instructors at Ranken, the curriculum being based on employer need, and the fact Ranken employs the latest and greatest technology.  Attending Ranken is one of the most important decisions I’ve made in my life.”

https://www.facebook.com/SargentLundyLlc

https://sargentlundy.com

Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/

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Video Profile

Dustin Snyder

BFN Design Lead and Estimator at Sargent & Lundy

Ranken Technical College’s alumni, as a general rule, Pay It Forward.  They hire, mentor, teach and encourage current students preparing to enter the workforce.  One example of this tradition is Dustin Snyder and Daniel Brostron, both graduates of the Electrical Systems Design Technology (ESDT) degree program.

Dustin admits he had a rocky start: he didn’t apply himself in high school, had false starts in community college, and had trouble finding a fulfilling career.  That changed when at the behest of his stepfather he enrolled in ESDT at Ranken.  Electrical instructor Sal Frances relates it was “always so nice to be around him . . .he was so curious about things and very positive. . . It was fun to tap into his energy because he is so inspiring.”  Dustin threw himself into as many activities as he could before graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2014 – from serving as a Student Ambassador and Teacher’s Assistant to working at the on-campus BioMerieux micro-enterprise to volunteering for the FIRST Robotics competition; he is currently pursuing a BSAM at Ranken.

Daniel Brostron enrolled several years later, graduating from the ESDT program in 2020.  He found that the practical experience in electrical installation at Ranken helped him clearly comprehend writing diagrams and visualize his own electrical circuit designs.  “Ranken’s training helped a lot with preparing me,” Daniel tells us.  Instructor Bryan Truemper found that “Daniel worked hard in class and had a great attitude. He thrived learning the different design software programs.”

Their paths crossed when Dustin returned to campus to participate in a job fair.  For several years, he had worked for global energy leader Sargent & Lundy, and he introduced the company to Daniel.  Now, they work together at S&L’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Group in Alabama – Dustin as Design Lead and estimator and Daniel as a Drafter.  Nuclear Power Group Senior Manager Randy Cook, who supervises both young men, finds that Ranken students are equipped with a strong foundation for success, are work-ready on their first day of employment, and able to handle challenging assignments with minimal supervision.

Dustin continues to serve as an ambassador and express his gratitude for the opportunities the College has provided him with.  He says “the three items that had the biggest impact on my success were the quality of the instructors at Ranken, the curriculum being based on employer need, and the fact Ranken employs the latest and greatest technology.  Attending Ranken is one of the most important decisions I’ve made in my life.”

https://www.facebook.com/SargentLundyLlc

https://sargentlundy.com

Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/

X
Video Profile

Nathaniel Turner

2013 Electrical Systems Design Technology

Ranken’s Electrical Systems Design Technology program provides hands-on training using Computer-Aided Drafting, Building Information Modeling, and REVIT software to design electrical wiring, industrial controls, circuitry, machinery, and power distribution to create intelligent 3D models to produce construction documentation for large-scale projects. Zippia.com, the career expert, reports finding a job with an electrical design engineering degree will not be an issue. Working in one of the many branches of this profession, you can earn between $65,000 to $110,000 a year. The career is expected to grow 2% by 2028, producing 8,000 job opportunities in the U.S.

Nathaniel Turner graduated from the Electrical Systems Design Technology program in May 2013. He is an electrical designer in the Physical Department at Sargent & Lundy in Chicago, IL. Nathaniel creates blueprints and schematics, showing the physical layout of the equipment. He explains, “My experience at Ranken taught me how to loosen up a bit and how to properly communicate. I learned how to be patient with myself and others to assure precision and accuracy. I also learned to ask questions, and more questions!”

Nathaniel values the mentoring and encouragement he received from Ranken staff. “My first year, I was constantly in the Student Achievement Center getting help with math. There was always someone there when I needed help. Dr. Mottert, a Mathematics professor who tutored students, was extremely helpful; he made me more confident in myself and my abilities,” says Nathaniel.

Dr. Les Mottert recalls Nathaniel as “one of the finest young men to attend Ranken. Like many students, he struggled in algebra, but I saw his desire to succeed. By asking questions in class and seeking robust tutoring he made progress very quickly. His grades improved as well as his self-esteem. Nathaniel was a real pleasure to have in class and work with daily.”

Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/
https://sargentlundy.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sargentlundy

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Ranken Faculty
Bridgett Turner
Designer @ Sargent & Lundy
Video Profile

Bridgett Turner

Designer @ Sargent & Lundy

Bridgett Wings began her journey at Ranken Technical College as a high school senior in the Dual Enrollment program, where students begin college while finalizing their secondary education.  Bridgett explains, “There were people there to help me, but it was a BIG risk for my last semester of high school. I had prom, I was valedictorian, and had to keep up my grades . . . [with] the strict attendance requirements and hard work at Ranken, it was incredibly difficult to do.”

Bridgett attended Construction Careers Center High School. Crystal Herron, then Dean of Student Affairs, recalls “Bridgett was working, attending Ranken, and responsible for her siblings . . . she was not willing to fail at any of those competing priorities. Moved by her tenacity, Ranken gifted her a Buick Century Wagon to remedy her lack of transportation.” Prior to graduation, Bridgett accepted a position with Sargent & Lundy, a global engineering and energy business that provides full-service power delivery systems for fossil-fueled, nuclear power, and renewable energy plants. Bridgett was excited but preoccupied with leaving her folks and siblings behind. “I pleaded with her several times to get established in Chicago before trying to remedy her family situation,” added Dean Herron.

Graduating from Ranken’s Electrical Systems Design Technology (ESDT) program in 2012, Bridgett became a designer for Sargent & Lundy in Chicago until 2016. While on a visit home, she spoke to students in the ESDT program about her Ranken experience and career prospects for Electrical graduates. Her husband-to-be, Nathaniel Turner, was in that class. A year later they crossed paths at Sargent & Lundy where Nathaniel was also employed as a design engineer. They struck up a conversation, fostered a friendship, and later married. Bridgett Wings Turner is now a stay-at-home wife, mother of three beautiful girls, and traditional homeschooler. Once their youngest begins pre-school, Bridgett plans to return to her field of expertise.

Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/
https://www.facebook.com/sargentlundy
https://sargentlundy.com

 

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