Business and Industry Services Staff

 

Patti Balacek

Director of Business and Industry Services and Lifelong Learning
balacekp@westerntc.edu
608.785.9201

Patti Balacek grew up in La Crescent and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Math with a Secondary Education Licensure. After teaching high school and coaching competitive debate and speech for a number of years, Patti began organizing apprenticeship programs in the construction trades throughout Minnesota. Her role, based in Minneapolis, MN, expanded to include running a non-profit, overseeing the creation and sales of an electrical training curriculum, customized training for electrical companies and legislative lobbying in support of the electrical construction industry.

At Western Technical College, Patti oversee the Business and Industry Services (BIS) area and Lifelong Learning. BIS is the customized training unit within the college and works with local employers to provide quality training and other services when and where they need it. Lifelong Learning is all of non-credit and non-degree where individuals can find courses ranging from creating home-made Christmas cards to improving your supervision skills. In addition to running these two units, Patti also oversees the $2 Million Community Based Job Training Grant received by the college in 2009. When not working, Patti lives in La Crescent with her husband, Jeff, and their three children.

Marianne Torkelson

Product Development and Sales Coordinator
torkelsonm@westerntc.edu
715.299.1776

Marianne has over 10 years of experience in the Workforce Development arena. As a Workforce and Training Consultant, Marianne has helped businesses identify gaps and discover solutions to fill them through training and facilitation services. As the Product Development and Sales Coordinator for Western Technical College, she works closely with businesses and subject matter experts to develop solutions to help the business community overcome their barriers and needs.

Steve Bissen

Training Consultant
bissens@westerntc.edu
Cell – 608-343-5566

Steve brings an extensive background in sales, marketing, and customer service to his position as a Training Consultant with Western Technical College. Steve's broad base of experience and knowledge allows him to fully understand the challenges that businesses face on a daily basis. Working in Westerns' regional territory; Steve is available to assist businesses with everything from supervision and leadership skills, to computer and software training, to improving technical skills.

Steve McCombs

Training Consultant
mccombss@westerntc.edu
608.789.6244

Steve has over 20 years of experience as a consultant, facilitator, tradesman, and author in the fields of manufacturing, construction, health care, and education. He has been a regular contributor to Small Business Times and his writing has also appeared in Training Magazine, American Society for Training and Development Journal, In Business, Tactics, and The Business Journal. Further, Steve has worked with companies including Miller Brewing, Century Foods, Giddings and Lewis, Custom Products Corporation, FedEx, Marathon Petroleum, Merck Pharmaceuticals. As a Consultant for Western his primary focus is to help companies discover ways to improve their performance through performance technology, needs assessment, process improvement, employee development and /or training.

Lisa Smith

Administrative Assistant, Marketing and Operations
SmithL@westerntc.edu
608.785.9232

Lisa has over 20 years providing businesses with professional, competent administrative support with 10 years at Western Technical College. In her role with Business and Industry Services she will guide you through the scheduling and fulfillment process of your contract in a timely and responsive manner.

Sheila Rhodes

Administrative Assistant, Finance
RhodesS@westerntc.edu
608.785.9225

Sheila has over 11 years of experience in the accounting field with 10 of them from working at Western. She has worked in the Business Office in Accounts Payable and in the Cashier's office as a Cashier. Currently as the Administrative Assistant in BIS, she focuses on budgets and cost accounting with the many contracts BIS receives.