The leadership of the first Western Dakota Tech (WDT) Board of Trustees was determined during the Board's regularly scheduled meeting, in the Event Center, on Sept. 9.
Mike Roesler, former Rapid City Area Schools (RCAS) Board President and retired firefighter, of Rapid City, was elected Chair of the new WDT Board of Trustees. Tom Brunner, South Dakota State Representative and farmer from Nisland, S.D., was elected Vice-Chair. WDT President Ann Bolman, Ed.D., or a designee will act in the role as Secretary.
Officers will be voted on annually with a two-year consecutive term limit.
The first WDT Board members and their term limits are as follows: Tom Brunner, 2020-2021; Brad Heltzel, 2020-2022; Dick Johnson, 2020-2022; Curt Pochardt, 2020-2023; Andrea Powers, 2020-2023; Ron Riherd, 2020-2021; Mike Roesler, 2020-2022; Todd Watson, 2020-2021; Dr. Steve Willard, 2020-2023.
Heltzel is the Plant Superintendent at Scotchman Industries in Philip; Johnson is the CEO/General Manager of West River Electric Association in Wall; Pochard it the President, Area 2 Representative on the RCAS Board; Powers is the Executive Director of the Southern Hills Economic Development Corporation in Hot Springs; Riherd is a retired RCAS Board President and Area 3 Representative; Watson is a Claims Appraiser/Estimator for Bunney's Body & Collision Center in Belle Fourche; and Dr. Willard is the Superintendent of the Belle Fourche Schools District.
"I appreciate the board members’ commitment to WDT. They are an amazing group with broad experience, ideas, and talents, and I’m looking forward to their support in carrying out WDT’s mission," Dr. Bolman said.
Additional WDT Board of Trustees information is available at https://www.wdt.edu/about/board-of-trustees.
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About Western Dakota Tech
Western Dakota Tech was established in 1968 and is the only technical college serving the western South Dakota region.
Western Dakota Tech offers programs in a variety of fields, including Business and Computers, Construction and Manufacturing, Energy and Environmental Technologies, Health Sciences, Legal and Public Services, and Transportation Technologies.
Ninety-nine percent of Western Dakota Tech's most recent graduates are working, continuing their education, or are enlisted in the military. [Placement information is derived from graduate surveys, faculty-collected data, placement surveys started six months after graduation, and the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. Overall placement rate is figured by: (responding graduates employed, continuing education, or in military service)/(responding graduates who are seeking employment). The number of program graduates are unduplicated by CIP code.]
Western Dakota Tech faculty, staff, and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, Western Dakota Tech students graduate ready to make a real and immediate contribution to their employers and to their communities.
For information about Western Dakota Tech, call (800) 544-8765 or (605) 718-2565 or send an email to Admissions@wdt.edu. Visit us on the web at wdt.edu.
