Rotary members toured the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) in River Falls. The main campus for CVTC is in Eau Claire. CVTC has 110 programs including 36 granting certificates, as well as 16 apprenticeships: many but not all are offered in River Falls. Our guide was Minda Matthys, whose job title is College Navigator. We started the tour in the main building, but the tour also included their most recent acquisition, the former Moody’s business nearby.

 

As our fifth Tuesday service, Rotary donated about 370 food items to the student food pantry so that students can grab a snack as they are on their way to class, on a break, or heading home after a day of learning. 

Kellie grew up in St Paul in a family with 2 older brothers.  She told us that her full first name is Kellene and that, with a maiden name of Sullivan, she had plenty of Irish.  Kellie also said she had strong women role models, including a grandmother who was a stabilizing force in her childhood.  Her mother, as a single mom, had to be more than was required of standard motherhood.

 

After a quick review of her early years, Kellie told us that she was a Pan Am flight attendant in her 20’s, in New York City (becoming a Mets fan in the process).  After UWRF, Kellie’s flight attendant role took her to much of the world, and convincing her that international exposure is important in education for anyone who can get the experience.  Kellie was first in her family to graduate from college.  During her college years, she worked part-time at Bo’s and Mine; from those days, Kellie has maintained some of close friendships.

TW vending started in garage in Woodbury in 1997 as a vending machine company.  In 2001 the company got a lucky break when they were offered entry to Dakota County sheriff’s office, leading to focus on service to correctional facilities.  As the company expanded, they moved into a facility in Hudson, and now are based in River Falls. 

 

Dewey Wahlin, CEO of TurnKey Corrections, described TurnKey as the lifeline between inmates in jails in prisons and their families outside.  The company can handle finances, commissary, email, communications, video visits, and other inmate needs.  Handling these types of issues for the inmates in facilities can make the staff’s jobs much easier.  He also said that TurnKey stands out because it has in-house software development.