By DCTC News — Feb 26, 2022
Event focused on the America COMPETES Act of 2022
U.S. Senator Tina Smith and U.S. Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota visited the campus of Dakota County Technical College Thursday morning, February 24, 2022. Senator Smith and Representative Craig spoke in the Dakota Room to an audience of DCTC students, staff, faculty, and administrators.
The main topic of discussion was H.R. 4521, the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (America COMPETES) Act of 2022.
Michael Berndt, president of DCTC and Inver Hills Community College, also addressed audience members as did J. Anthony McGarvey, director of government affairs for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 82, AFL-CIO.
Representing DCTC in the audience were Mike Mendez, interim vice president of academic affairs, Robert Muster, PhD, MAT, RN, dean of liberal arts and STEM, Lisé Freking, JD, director of strategic marketing, and Betty Krueger, MEd, information systems technology faculty.
President Berndt emphasized the importance of having Senator Smith and Representative Craig see DCTC and Inver Hills working together as partners in economic development.
“Our best ambassadors at the event were two student senators, Brian Barnes and Greg Gbee,” the president said. “Their stories gave our representatives compelling examples of our mission at work—helping students learn, discover, and build better futures.”