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Amy Lasack
Welcome to The Catalyst, an exciting and insightful podcast produced by Northeast Iowa Community College. I'm your host, Amy Lasack. Together, we'll explore the people, programs, and partnerships that make Northeast Iowa Community College unique. From student success stories to behind the scenes info about athletics, innovation and industry collaboration. Each episode dives deeper into your community's college. Get ready for an inside look at the impact of community driven education at NICC.
00;00;32;11 - 00;00;53;05
Amy Lasack
All right. Welcome everyone. Today's episode is a special one because we're bringing things full circle here on The Catalyst. My guests literally grew up in the Cresco Center at NICC and now he leads it. So we are welcoming the Cresco director, Ryan Kreitzer. Ryan, thank you for joining us.
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Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah. Amy, thank you for having me. I really appreciate being here.
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Amy Lasack
Great. Well, I have to ask you before we really jump into things. So back when you were in daycare at the NICC center, did you ever think you'd be leading that? That center?
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Ryan Kreitzer
Gosh, no. I never thought I would be where I am today.
00;01;13;22 - 00;01;17;29
Amy Lasack
Yeah. What what did you want to do back then when you were four years old or so?
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Ryan Kreitzer
Oh, gosh. The goal was always to either be a professional athlete or an astronaut.
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Amy Lasack
Oh, wow.
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Ryan Kreitzer
I was obsessed with space growing up and just I don't know what it was, but yeah, just that whole thing of it just being this everlasting, that great big space and all exploring. And that was really something I wanted to do. So I was either professional athlete or astronaut.
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Amy Lasack
And an athlete in any particular sport.
00;01;42;03 - 00;01;44;17
Ryan Kreitzer
Oh, it was, it was either football or basketball.
00;01;44;19 - 00;02;03;02
Amy Lasack
Okay, okay. So, well, you didn't quite make it to the NBA. Or in space. It doesn't sound like unless there's something I don't know, but, you did make it to director of the Cresco Center at NAC. So for those that aren't familiar with the Cresco Center, what can you tell us about it?
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Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah. We're located right here in Cresco, Iowa, right on the highway, right by the school. You may see the high school's big practice football field and their football stadium, where the big, brown building right next to it. We've been here now since I believe 2002 is when the building was so ours built. So, you know, we've had a good presence in the community.
00;02;24;14 - 00;02;50;01
Ryan Kreitzer
You know, we started more so for the adult education and then partnered with the high school. So we help a lot of students earn college credits, while they're still in high school. So that's sophomore ish starting age. But juniors and seniors mainly where they're kind of navigating what they may want to do. So this is a great opportunity with us here at the center where they're able to take some classes, maybe test out the waters of a few different programs that they may be interested in.
00;02;50;02 - 00;03;00;26
Ryan Kreitzer
And but as well just kind of get that general education credits, you know, kind of out of the way. So really they're getting a good leapfrog head start into their college experience as well.
00;03;00;29 - 00;03;20;14
Amy Lasack
That's awesome. Well, there's not a daycare in the Cresco Center anymore. But one of the things no, but one of the things that was really interesting about reading about your story is how connected your entire family has been to NICC. Your mom was a student at NICC, earned college credits while in high school, and now you work there.
00;03;20;21 - 00;03;22;25
Amy Lasack
So pretty amazing story.
00;03;22;27 - 00;03;40;01
Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah. Like you said, I was about four years old when my mom went back to school in her late 30s. She wanted to be, you know, in it. So she wanted to get into, like, the computer hardware, side of things, being able to fix computers. And so she went back after, you know, having 2 or 3 jobs.
00;03;40;02 - 00;03;57;00
Ryan Kreitzer
I was growing up. So I got to see, you know, what that was like firsthand, you know, watching what my mom had to do to go back to school and being a part of the Kalmar campus where the daycare center was at that time. You know, she was taking classes or she took me with her everywhere. So I was really exposed to NICC, like you said, from a young age.
00;03;57;00 - 00;04;25;24
Ryan Kreitzer
And then, as growing up in Cresco, my great uncles and my grandfather's brother, Wayne Kratzer, he was the guidance counselor for roughly 35 years at the high school. A while back in the early 2000, he thought you know, there'd be a great place for NICC to expand into the Cresco, Community School District. So he was an integral part of bringing this building, you know, together, you know, talking with people that see Mr. Kreitzer and see the relation.
00;04;25;24 - 00;04;49;06
Ryan Kreitzer
They always assume that, you know, we're one in the same or if not, he was my dad, funny enough. So, yeah, just having him, you know, be something of a guiding light for me. Yeah. He was my counselor in high school until the current counselor that's in place was there until about my sophomore year. And he always told me about the advantages of these students being able to take classes in college.
00;04;49;06 - 00;05;11;16
Ryan Kreitzer
And he was more so proud. And the very first student, I got their A.A. degree, I was probably in eighth grade and I went to NICC graduation with him. He was very, very proud of just, you know, what the students were able to accomplish while he was still a guidance counselor in high school. And seeing the students take advantage of the opportunities of, you know, taking credits, you know, dipping their toe in the water,
00;05;11;18 - 00;05;17;14
Amy Lasack
Really made really an impact for you. I mean, ever since your little education has been a part of your life.
00;05;17;16 - 00;05;36;26
Ryan Kreitzer
Oh, very much so. Education's always been really important. My two sisters leading the way, going to college, my parents both going back in their 30s and 40s, going back to community college, northeast Iowa Community College. And then my dad, went to Nyack as well. But, I mean, just seeing what they had to do to better themselves.
00;05;36;26 - 00;05;41;06
Ryan Kreitzer
I knew that you know, education was one thing that was really important to my family.
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Amy Lasack
That's fantastic. What inspired you to take college credit classes while you were in high school? It sounded like you really were impacted by seeing that high school student graduate with their AA as well. When you were like in eighth grade. But were there other reasons why you decided to do that?
00;05;59;02 - 00;06;13;22
Ryan Kreitzer
I really didn't know what I wanted to do at the time. So I thought it would be a good way for myself to get a little extra exploration into, you know, what programs are actually out there available to me. Like I told you, I was kind of always pro sports, but, you know, have to have a plan of what if that doesn't work out?
00;06;13;22 - 00;06;17;18
Ryan Kreitzer
So I wanted to take some classes just to see you know, is college the right fit for me?
00;06;17;25 - 00;06;36;09
Amy Lasack
Sure, sure. And, well, let's talk about that then. Transitioning from high school into your next step. So right after high school, you did play some sports at IU central, right? And then you studied sports management at the University of Iowa. And talk a little bit about what happened after that, because you had a really interesting path.
00;06;36;11 - 00;07;04;11
Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah. So when I was in my senior year at Iowa, I did what we called like field events. And so I went down to Denver, Colorado, and I was able to shadow and then actually do like speed round earth speed interviewing where you got about 15 minutes at a table. And then just by talking with, the director at Cronk Sports and Entertainment, who is the partnership group for the Denver Nuggets, I was actually offered a job.
00;07;04;13 - 00;07;29;22
Ryan Kreitzer
So at the far end of my senior year, I was about six credits short, and I ended up taking a job, though, to go and work in the NBA. I did the inside sales and sports. It would be called sports marketing. End up what we called promotions. So what we did is we worked with sponsorships within businesses in the Denver community and partnering them with the NBA organization there in town.
00;07;29;25 - 00;07;32;23
Amy Lasack
That's great. And you also work for the Timberwolves.
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Ryan Kreitzer
Yup. So after about a year there, I went over and transferred to Minnesota Timberwolves. I kind of wanted to get back to the Midwest. Worked for the Timberwolves, did a lot of the same work, was able to make a lot of great relationships and kind of build my network out. And, you know, through those experiences of the NBA, I kind of figured that wasn't actually more for me anymore.
00;07;54;07 - 00;08;10;09
Ryan Kreitzer
So it was able to go and live that life, but really wanted to do something more that served, you know, my community, you know, something that gets me back into the ruts. That's, you know, where we made the transition from Denver back to Minneapolis, just trying to work my way back to the Midwest.
00;08;10;11 - 00;08;27;14
Amy Lasack
Yeah. So that's that's really interesting to me that, you know, you're the sports guy. Ever since you're four years old, you dreamed about a job in sports. But really, when it came down to it, you found yourself back in Cresco, Iowa, and helping the community and working back at Nike.
00;08;27;16 - 00;08;52;11
Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah. You know, I loved what I did. But I found out that I loved more being a resource or being almost a solution. So if, you know, I was having the conversations building the network, I found that I was getting more enjoyment and just feeling more rewarded after being a problem solver. So I wanted to see how I could almost transition myself into a position where that's my daily, you know, objective.
00;08;52;11 - 00;09;00;02
Ryan Kreitzer
You know, I walk in and wake up every day seeing, you know, what can I do to better help the people that you know are around me or my community?
00;09;00;04 - 00;09;08;29
Amy Lasack
That's pretty cool. Any surprising, similarities between working at the NBA and then working in education?
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Ryan Kreitzer
But surprisingly, there's more than what you think. It's a lot of the you know, I don't want to say I had a sales approach with the NBA, but it was more of just building those relationships and hearing, you know, what can we do to best be a resource for you guys? And then in education, really, that's the biggest thing I take out of is the listening skills that I was able to build.
00;09;30;11 - 00;09;41;15
Ryan Kreitzer
And just hearing the needs in the community and hearing the needs of students, and then seeing what we can do to best find them a path that really mirrors mirrors each other really well.
00;09;41;17 - 00;09;52;20
Amy Lasack
That's great. So let's let's continue down this journey. So now you're back in Iowa. You applied for a role with NICC, not as the Cresco director, but in another area.
00;09;52;22 - 00;10;15;04
Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah. So I actually applied for a sales position. And then about a week later I got a call that position had been filled, but with my resume, they thought, you know, there would be a good fit for the transportation program developer. And that really oversees all the transportation programs when it comes to the mandated driving driver's education, CDL, all throughout the district.
00;10;15;04 - 00;10;38;21
Ryan Kreitzer
And, you know, after doing a lot of research and coming, you know, from Iowa, a family farm, I was like CDL trucking, I get that. So I thought, you know what? I'm going to jump both feet in. And honestly, I learned so much and was able to get the job very happy about that and was able to work as a developer for my first year with NICC, and I loved every second of it.
00;10;38;23 - 00;10;48;22
Amy Lasack
Oh that's fantastic. And then came the opportunity for director at the Cresco Center. What made you say yes to that type of opportunity?
00;10;48;24 - 00;11;14;12
Ryan Kreitzer
Honestly, when I took the transportation program developer, I was always thinking, you know, what way could I get to Cresco Center? You know, I see we have NICC connection there, but really, I mean, the biggest thing that made me say yes is just the job responsibilities of what the director has. I'm rooted in the community. I get to talk with the younger demographics about, you know, what can we do to best put you in a position for success, which is kind of going along with, you know, what I love to do.
00;11;14;12 - 00;11;35;08
Ryan Kreitzer
But then as well, I have that networking and going out and being a community member, partnering with businesses. Still having that sales acumen of going out and seeing, you know, what can we do to best serve the community here? And, you know, listening to everybody's maybe wants or needs that they have and how can we best fit them with the resources we have here at NICC?
00;11;35;11 - 00;11;51;08
Amy Lasack
Yeah. And when you were a student in high school, you worked closely with the individual that worked at the Cresco Center to get into your concurrent classes. And so I'm assuming that you took a little bit of that with you as you went into this role?
00;11;51;11 - 00;12;12;21
Ryan Kreitzer
Oh, very much so. You know, very, very appreciative of the people that have been in this position before me and now seeing them in higher leadership roles to helping guide me. But then as well, my counselor that pushed me through my senior year of high school, I now work with closely on a day to day basis with the high school student base that we have now.
00;12;12;23 - 00;12;27;05
Amy Lasack
That's one of the really cool things about small town Iowa. Is that close knit? Yeah. That's fantastic. I love these stories. Let's talk about your day by day. What what do things look like? A center director in Cresco?
00;12;27;07 - 00;12;43;28
Ryan Kreitzer
You know, I have a few things that are, you know, usually going to be an everyday occurrence, things that I need to do. But really, every day is different. Whether it's students calling in, having questions, concerns, wanting to have a two year plan for year plan, or sometimes it's just, hey, I don't know where to start.
00;12;44;01 - 00;13;17;27
Ryan Kreitzer
And that conversation can take me into a full days or weeks worth of work, which I absolutely love doing. But then there might be another day where I have my more business to business hat on and I'm going out and I'm seeing, you know what needs do businesses have? You know, listening to our partners and listening to, you know, potential new partners and seeing, you know, how can we best either round out their best potential current employees or what can we do to help them maybe get exposure to the new, younger demographic that's going to be coming into the, workforce?
00;13;18;00 - 00;13;21;02
Amy Lasack
Yeah. It doesn't sound like you ever really have a boring day.
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Ryan Kreitzer
No no no not here.
00;13;24;14 - 00;13;29;06
Amy Lasack
What do you, what gives you the most energy in this role.
00;13;29;09 - 00;13;46;28
Ryan Kreitzer
When I see a lot of students they come in and they're very, very nervous with the first meeting with me. Just because I think it's just this whole ever changing, you know, landscape of what college or what higher education looks like and really just showing them that, hey, you have an idea. You have, you know, this guiding light.
00;13;47;01 - 00;14;03;05
Ryan Kreitzer
There is a way out or out. I shouldn't say a way out. There is a way to get to the end goal. And it's a lot easier than a lot of students think are maybe are thinking about. And really the most rewarding thing is when the student walks away and they have a plan or they at least know their next action items.
00;14;03;05 - 00;14;17;23
Ryan Kreitzer
And there you can see that there's just a relief off their shoulders, right? Because, I mean, when you think about for your school that, you know, do I want to live close to home away from home, right? What what kind of classes should I be taking? What? You know, if I want to study this program, do I need this class?
00;14;17;23 - 00;14;28;19
Ryan Kreitzer
And just making sure that they have their X's and O's lined up, and you can just see that weight lifted off? I feel like it's really just rewarding for me because not so long ago I was in their exact same shoes.
00;14;28;22 - 00;14;39;22
Amy Lasack
Yeah, can be a lot of pressure nowadays for for kids to make a decision. They're already being asked in middle school, what do you do in after high school? So that's a lot of pressure for them to make a decision that young.
00;14;39;24 - 00;14;47;17
Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah, very much so. And you know that's one thing that I just I'm happy that I'm able to just help them along the way and be that resource for them.
00;14;47;20 - 00;14;56;24
Amy Lasack
Yeah. What a great support system for our high schools. You don't do it alone. You have a great team there in Cresco. Can you tell us a little bit about that team?
00;14;56;26 - 00;15;13;01
Ryan Kreitzer
Oh, yeah. My center supervisor, Haley, she's been here for just over a decade, and. And he's been here, 85. She's been our center associate now for the last 5 or 6 years. Between the three of us, I mean, we're just kind of a three man wrecking crew. I mean, they handle a lot of the personal enrichment.
00;15;13;01 - 00;15;31;06
Ryan Kreitzer
So we also host a lot of youth camps, where we're bringing in, you know, the younger grade school kids to have fun activity days. We have a beer on base camp where there's an entrepreneurial day that they help lead, but then as well, they're just that welcoming face. When you walk into NICC, you know, they're the first two people that you see when you walk in.
00;15;31;06 - 00;15;43;07
Ryan Kreitzer
They're usually smiling. They're always the most helpful. And really, I'm so thankful that they are so student first, thinking, making sure that, you know, we're doing the best we can to make sure the students are, you know, set up for success.
00;15;43;10 - 00;15;58;05
Amy Lasack
I think that's one of the cool things, too, about the fact that the center's been there for over 20 years is I had a chance to attend that be your own boss camp a couple of years ago, and there were kids attending whose parents attended the same camp. And yeah, that was pretty cool.
00;15;58;07 - 00;16;13;14
Ryan Kreitzer
And that's really been a staple for us. And just such a unique experience for kids to come in on a Monday with a business plan and then leave with a full on business presentation, a Shark Tank style presentation and commercial, and just seeing how they grow in that week is very cool.
00;16;13;22 - 00;16;24;05
Amy Lasack
Yeah, very proud of what they've learned. What's something that you handle in your job that maybe people are surprised by?
00;16;24;07 - 00;16;54;22
Ryan Kreitzer
That's a great question. I think the thing that people are surprised by the most is the coaching aspect that I've kind of talked into of, you know, really being a support for the students, but also just the community presence of, you know, just going out and being at when new businesses are opening, when, you know, what can we do to partner with businesses, whether it's contract training, like I said, to help round out individuals within the business or even if it's just to train a new skill, I think a lot of people are surprised by just the scope of what NICC does.
00;16;54;22 - 00;17;14;08
Ryan Kreitzer
It's not just, you know, education for those students in high school, but it can be helping professionals either change paths or even help round out their skills well into their careers. So really, it's not just helping you know, one, I would say just small demographic here, but really just how far and how robust we can help the community.
00;17;14;12 - 00;17;29;12
Amy Lasack
Yeah. And you you mentioned welding. You have a pretty robust welding program at the center. You have a very dedicated instructor and a couple employers that are pretty major in the Cresco community that so it's a nice system that you have there.
00;17;29;15 - 00;17;51;15
Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah. Very thankful for Jason by our instructor. He has the skills from working in, you know, a tool and GUI factory. But then as well, bringing that over and showing students from a young age how to be safe in the welding shop. But then as well, how to round out their skills so they're certified welders when they leave our program, even while graduating high school.
00;17;51;17 - 00;18;13;25
Ryan Kreitzer
And we couldn't do it without, like you said, the two big supporters of the line and feather light here in town who donate supplies or come in and, you know, have opportunities for the students to be able to go into our facilities and really get that, you know, first step into what it looks like to be an employee for one of these companies after the skills that you're obtaining in our program.
00;18;13;27 - 00;18;21;19
Amy Lasack
That's great. Well, looking ahead, Ryan, what's your vision for the Cresco Center? Where would you like it to go next?
00;18;21;21 - 00;18;58;21
Ryan Kreitzer
I think I would like for everybody to know, you know, just a little bit more about what we're doing. You know, we've been here, we've been in the community, but just knowing how much we've expanded. So really my goals are for me to go out and meet more new businesses, maybe expand to our surrounding community areas for people who may not have, been able to benefit from us in the past, and showing them, you know, that we do more than just education, we do contract trainings to help businesses and really just getting more, versed in or just getting our word out that we're, you know, here to help the community in all aspects
00;18;58;21 - 00;19;06;04
Ryan Kreitzer
when it comes to, you know, businesses, when it comes to the kids in school, but really just more so wanting to be a partner in the community.
00;19;06;07 - 00;19;21;23
Amy Lasack
That's great. And so if somebody is listening and maybe they're scared to take that first step, they know there's opportunity. They know they want to try something different or maybe take a college class. What would be your advice on what they should do next?
00;19;21;26 - 00;19;46;28
Ryan Kreitzer
I would say the first thing you should do is give us a call. I'm always here and not just me, my entire team. We're always here to just hear you all. And even if it's not an actionable item that you can do today, I'd think you'd be surprised. After you have a conversation with us and we start going through the ins and outs of what it might take to get a degree, I think it becomes a lot less hectic for the student or individual, and you get that clear path.
00;19;46;28 - 00;20;07;20
Ryan Kreitzer
So maybe if it's not a yes right now, it's, you know, later down the road when it makes more sense for them and just showing that anybody can do it. I saw my parents do it, you know, in their 30s and 40s. I went back to school after taking off a decade and just knowing that you have the resources here within our center, we have the resources that we're still in touch with at the Kalmar campus.
00;20;07;20 - 00;20;16;14
Ryan Kreitzer
And it's not just you alone. There's a whole community, and there's a whole committee of us here at the Carrasco Center here to support you along the way.
00;20;16;17 - 00;20;35;07
Amy Lasack
That's great. And well, before we wrap up, Ryan, I'd love to hear. Is there a standout moment or a moment that you remember since you've been working at Nike that, you know, just warms your heart or gives you kind of a, insight to the passion that you have for working in ICC.
00;20;35;10 - 00;20;54;18
Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah. Without naming names, I had a student who really when I first got here, so almost two years ago, there was only about a semester left for the student, and we met on a weekly basis, and we went from the student to not having a plan. Didn't want to go to college, didn't know if he was going to work or not, and then finding one of our programs.
00;20;54;18 - 00;21;17;26
Ryan Kreitzer
So we have academies and different programs. So we have a heavy equipment operator program that went through student joined it, was able to complete the program, get their certification, was able to land a job within that program with a company that is in our area. And the student then was able to graduate high school early, so graduated in January and then worked full time.
00;21;17;26 - 00;21;39;17
Ryan Kreitzer
And I've talked to him now time to time. And just seeing that that student went from having no idea to nine months later into a job and then a year now talking with them today, just ecstatic that they were even able to think about this opportunity. And every time we talked to, seeing how happy they are really warms my heart because I know where they came from.
00;21;39;17 - 00;21;53;10
Ryan Kreitzer
With that confusion and not having any idea to seeing where now they have success and they're honestly just happy with their day to day life, and just knowing that we were kind of the middleman in that making that happen just really warms my heart.
00;21;53;13 - 00;22;11;21
Amy Lasack
Oh that's great. I love I love hearing those types of stories because in education, you don't always get to see the immediate results of the work that you do to help support students. But in a small town community like Cresco and your opportunity to leave fingerprints all over the community, you're able to see that growth. So that's that's the fantastic.
00;22;11;21 - 00;22;13;04
Amy Lasack
Thank you for sharing that.
00;22;13;06 - 00;22;14;10
Ryan Kreitzer
Yeah.
00;22;14;12 - 00;22;24;15
Amy Lasack
Well, Ryan, if somebody wants to get Ahold of you and learn more about what's happening at the Cresco Center, where would they go? You are you on social media? What sort of contacts do you have there?
00;22;24;17 - 00;22;43;07
Ryan Kreitzer
So we have a Facebook page, the NICC Cresco Center. But as well you can go out to the nicc.edu slash Cresco Center. All of our contact information's there. You can read about everything that we have to offer here through both the Facebook and our website. Our Facebook. We try to keep that up to date as much as possible.
00;22;43;09 - 00;22;52;02
Ryan Kreitzer
Or you can always feel free to give us a call. Our number is (844) 642-2338. Extension 4700.
00;22;52;04 - 00;23;06;25
Amy Lasack
Great. Well, Ryan, I am sorry you were never able to make it as a professional athlete or land on the moon, but it certainly sounds like your story has come full circle and is heartwarming nonetheless. So we're glad to have you here at Nscc.
00;23;06;27 - 00;23;10;02
Ryan Kreitzer
Well, thank you and I'm glad I ended up where I am.
00;23;10;04 - 00;23;13;23
Amy Lasack
That's awesome. Well, thank you for joining. We really appreciate it.
00;23;13;26 - 00;23;14;24
Ryan Kreitzer
Thank you, Amy.
00;23;14;26 - 00;23;15;27
Amy Lasack
Thanks for joining us.
00;23;15;27 - 00;23;17;15
Amy Lasack
On this episode of the Catalyst.
00;23;17;19 - 00;23;20;05
Amy Lasack
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Amy Lasack
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Amy Lasack
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00;23;29;18 - 00;23;42;13
Amy Lasack
Visit nicc.edu for more resources and upcoming opportunities. This podcast is produced by Northeast Iowa Community College and hosted by Amy Lasack with producer Tessa Hill, audio engineer Andrew
00;23;42;13 - 00;23;46;22
Amy Lasack
Saunders, story editor Doug Ropa, and graphic designer Ashley Konzen.