Trades and industry educational workshop held in Bemidji

cte conf 3.jpg — Dozens of attendees, vendors and educators participate in a trades and industry workshop on April 17, 2025, in Bemidji.

By Pioneer Staff Report

April 28, 2025 at 4:02 PM

BEMIDJI 鈥� Career and technical education teachers from northwestern Minnesota gathered April 17 for a trades and industry workshop in Bemidji.

The event was hosted by the North Country Cooperative Center and Pine to Prairie Co-op and funded by the Minnesota Service Cooperative CTE grant.

CTE conf.jpg — Laporte High 歪歪漫画 CTE teacher Stan Townsdin and Brian Hartje of Central McGowan demonstrate a triple-function pulse welder during a trades and industry workshop April 17, 2025, in Bemidji.

In her welcome address, Director of NCVCC Elaine Hoffman thanked the participants and administrators for contributing to the networking and professional development opportunity, a release said.

Attendees shared innovative curriculum practices and program updates for new equipment, safety protocols and emerging industrial processes.

cte conf 2.jpg — NCVCC Director Elaine Hoffman and Barrett Willard from the Bagley 歪歪漫画 District participate in a trades and industry workshop on April 17, 2025, in Bemidji.

Five breakout sessions covered topics on machining training programs from Alexandria Technical College, industry-recognized credentials in heavy industry construction, CNC machining curriculum, pulse-welding technologies from Central-McGowan and more, the release said.

The keynote speaker was Doug Gjerstad, business representative for the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, who spoke on career pathways in the construction industry.

cte conf 1.jpg — Doug Gjerstad from the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, left, and Sam Moore from East Grand Forks participate in a trades and industry workshop on April 17, 2025, in Bemidji.

Tool demonstrations were provided by Jim Barta of DeWalt Tools and Gabe Baudeck of ACME Tools in Bemidji.

By Pioneer Staff Report

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