DCTC Delivers Customized Training to Bayer Built

$250,000 MJSP grant will fund training for 222 workers at millwork manufacturer

Aaron Bayer, Paul Weller, Bayer GM, Mike Bayer, owner, Joe Bayer, owner, Ronald E. Thomas, DCTC president, Paul Moe, MJSP executive director, Larry Raddatz, DCTC CT director

Photo courtesy of Bayer Built Woodworks Marketing & Graphics

On Wednesday morning, May 18, President Ronald E. Thomas, Ph.D., of Dakota County Technical College and Larry Raddatz, the director of railroad, manufacturing and technical training in the college’s Customized Training division, traveled to Belgrade, Minn., for a signing ceremony celebrating a $250,000 Minnesota Job Skills Partnership grant awarded to Bayer Built Woodworks, Inc., and DCTC. The grant will fund training for 222 Bayer Built employees in a customized virtual-reality coatings program delivered by the college.

With 250 employees plus 375,000 square feet of floor space at its Belgrade facility, Bayer Built is a premier millwork manufacturer and distributor. The company runs a fleet of 50 trucks that deliver millwork products to 850 lumber retailers in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Montana.

“I wish to congratulate Larry Raddatz and our Customized Training division for their fine work on this grant,” Thomas said. “We enjoyed our trip to Belgrade and are very impressed by the Bayer Built Woodworks operation. This is a great partnership.”

Director Raddatz added that DCTC has a strong history working with DEED and MJSP, including a $314,103 grant with Universal Hospital Services, a $300,000 grant with Uponor North America, and another $300,000 grant with Capital Safety—all since February 2010. “The DCTC mission is Education for Employment,” Raddatz said. “To achieve that mission, our CT division brings technical training at its best directly to the workforces of business and industry. Grants like this make all the difference.”

Ron Thomas, Joe Bayer, Paul Moe

Photo courtesy of Bayer Built Woodworks Marketing & Graphics
  • Official DEED Media Release

For more information about DCTC Customized Training, contact:
  • Richard Hawkins | CT Director of Corporate Transportation | 651-423-8765
  • Patrick McQuillan | CT Director of Trade & Industry | 651-423-8318
  • Larry Raddatz | CT Director of Railroad, Manufacturing and Technical Training | 651-423-8276
  • Bradd Strelow | CT Director of Technology/Innovation | 651-688-1187