MEDIA INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2010
Career Center Salutes Seventeen Distinguished Alumni
JACKSON, Mich. – The Jackson Area Career Center honored 17 former students who have been
exceptionally successful in their chosen field during the annual Distinguished Alumni dinner on
Tuesday, Oct. 19.
“These professionals have been chosen as distinguished alumni of the Career Center because
they have excelled in their related skill field,” said Bob Engel, Career Center job placement
coordinator. “They model great work ethic, dedication, pride in their work, and are good role
models for our community.”
The 2010-2011 Jackson Area Career Center Distinguished Alumni include Cameron Smith
(Agriscience, East Jackson 1998), vice president and owner of Johnny’s Tree Service, and Zach
Brandell (Auto Body, Concord 2007), who is working for Oliver’s Collision as a auto collision
technician.
The Automotive Technology program added Joe Kresky (Western 2007), employed by Extreme
Dodge as a technician, Jeremy Czolgosz (Western 2007), working at Sears as a technician, and
Nick Mueller (Western 2007), working at Jim’s Service Center as a technician.
From the computer classes, two former students were inducted: Elliot Cook (Computer
Programming, Springport 2002), currently working as a systems manager for J.D. Metalworks;
and Kevin Krutsch (Computer Systems Technology, Hanover-Horton 2005), now working for
Davenport University as a Linux system administrator.
Former Construction student Casey Ludwig (Northwest 2008), working as an electrical
apprentice at Sexton Electric, was included along with Cosmetology alumnae Jordan Tripp
(Western 2007), who works as a stylist at Dreams & Designs.
Early Childhood Education inductee Megan Green (Napoleon 2003) is employed by Creekside
ISD in Texas as a special education teacher, and Dental Occupations alumnae Jen Baker (home
schooled, 2005) is working for Dr. Watterson, D.D.S., as a dental hygienist.
The Food Services & Culinary Arts program added to its list of distinguished alumni Kevin
Stiles (Vandercook 2010), who is currently working at Giglio’s Italian Restaurant as a
dishwasher and food preparation worker.
The Law Enforcement program was represented by Cody Jones (Michigan Center 2007),
working in homeland security at the Battle Creek Mega Center as a contract telecommunicator,
and the Precision Machining program by Jason Roberts (Napoleon 1998), who is employed by
Uniloy as a CNC Operator.
The list also included two students from Sales & Marketing: Bill Sweet (Napoleon 2006) who is
a financial services representative from Flagstar Bank; and Crystal Chalecki (Michigan Center
2000), currently working for Slingshot Transportation Inc., as an account manager.
Visual Communications was represented by Randy Van Wagnen (Columbia Central 1998), now
a computer technology instructor at Washtenaw Community College.
“Our alumni are the real ambassadors for the Career Center,” said Engel. “We want to show
them through this alumni dinner and presentation just how much we appreciate them.”
The evening began with a presentation from Rhonda Pickrell (Vandercook 1982), who attended
the Visual Communications program and now owns Fritz Advertising and Sign Company. “What
the Career Center did for me was build my confidence and paved the way for the career that I
have today,” said Pickrell.
Since 1995-96, the Career Center staff has chosen 15-25 deserving individuals each year. To
date, over 313 graduates have earned the title of Jackson Area Career Center Distinguished
Alumni.
Jackson Area Career Center 2010-2011 Distinguished Alumni
Class/Instructor
Name
High School/
Graduation Yr.
Employer/
Position
Agriscience
Mr. Hal Schmidt
Cameron Smith
East Jackson
1998
Johnny’s Tree Service
V.P./Owner
Automotive Technology
Mr. Ryan Brelinski
Joe Kresky
Springport
2004
Extreme Dodge
Technician
Automotive Technology
Mr. Ryan Brelinski
Jeremy Czolgosz
Western
2007
Sears
Technician III
Automotive Technology
Mr. Ryan Brelinski
Nick Meuller
Western
2007
Jim’s Service Center
Technician
Auto Body
Mr. Doug Edgar
Zach Brandell
Concord
2007
Oliver’s Collision
Auto Collision Tech
Elliot Cook
Springport
2002
Hanover-Horton
2005
Northwest
2008
J.D. Metalworks
Systems Manager
Davenport University
Linux System Administrator
Sexton Electric
Electrical Apprentice
Jordan Tripp
Western
2007
Dreams & Designs
Stylist
Jen Baker
Home Schooled
2005
Vandercook
2010
Michigan Center
2007
Napoleon
2003
Napoleon
1998
Dr. Watterson
Registered Dental Hygienist
Giglio’s Italian Restaurant
Dishwasher/Food Preparation
Battle Creek Mega Center
Contract Telecommunicator
Creekside ISD, Texas
Special Education Teacher
Uniloy
CNC Operator
Napoleon
2006
Columbia Central
2000
Flagstar Bank
Financial Services Representative
Washtenaw Community College
Instructor Computer Technology
Computer Programming
Mr. Jim Cox
Computer Systems Technology
Mr. William Farrant
Construction
Mr. Paul Denkins
Cosmetology
Mrs. Bonnie Romanowski
Mrs. Mary Taylor
Ms. Mary Jo Garrett
Dental Occupations
Mrs. Karen Bollheimer
Food Service & Culinary Arts
Mr. John Helmbreck
Law Enforcement
Ms. Cindi Agge
Pre-Teaching Academy
Ms. Crystal Shaw
Precision Machining/CAM
Instructed by Pat Carney
Sales & Marketing
Mr. Fritz Marin
Visual Communications
Mr. Jason Welsh
Kevin Krutsch
Casey Ludwig
Kevin Stiles
Cody Jones
Megan Green
Jason Roberts
Bill Sweet
Randy Van Wagnen
###
The Jackson Area Career Center was established in 1976 and is a service of the Jackson County
Intermediate School District. More information about the Career Center is available at
http://www.jacc-mi.net.
CONTACTS:
Bob Engel
Placement Coordinator
(517) 768-5171
bob.engel@jcisd.org
Cindy Lyons
Communications Specialist
(517) 768-5211
cindy.lyons@jcisd.org