Outlook Magazine - Fall 2023

A As head of design at Trek, Hans Eckholm is helping create bicycles, accessories for world market May 2023, Trek bicycles — one of the world’s leading manufac turers of recreational and racing bikes — hosted the second annual DesignWisconsin event at its headquarters in Waterloo, Wis., east of Madison. Professional product designers and those interested in design gathered to talk about great product design by more than 15 Wisconsin-based companies. One of the designers who felt right at home was Hans Eckholm ('94) . As head of design at Trek, he was in his element – plus UW-Stout co-sponsored the event and it was founded by Assistant Professor David Richter-O’Connell. A bachelor’s degree in industrial and product design helped Eck holm find a career that he loves. “I always had an interest in math and engineering but also had an artistic side. I didn’t realize at first there was a career that combined those things. I’ve been trying to get the word out ever since,” he said. “It’s been a great career for me, to be part of a team to bring prod ucts to market, to put your stamp on something. The relationship between engineering and design is really tight. It’s great to see people get on a bike and be indirectly responsible for that.” Eckholm’s design resume includes two bikes Lance Armstrong used in the Tour de France. Trek sponsors more than 20 profes sional teams. From high-end road bikes to mountain bikes, kids’ bikes, town cruisers and now ebikes, which can power their own lights, Trek has become a leader across a crowded international market. He oversees a team of 60 to 70 designers, including one group in the Netherlands. His team works with Trek-sponsored profes sional riders but also designs bike accessories such as lights, hel mets, tools, pumps, car racks and clothing. “Hundreds of products a year come out from our staff,” he said. “We’re definitely one of the biggest players in the bike world. What’s maybe surprising is that we do more business outside the U.S. now than inside,” Eckholm said. He has been at Trek for 19 years. Several other UW-Stout alum work on his design team and one in packaging. “I thought I’d be at Trek for maybe three years because there’s only so much you can do with a bike, but that’s definitely not the case. There’s lots of innovation and cool technology.”

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MY MAJOR DID AN AMAZING JOB OF EDUCATING ME ON SO MANY OF THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OUR SOCIETY AND HOW THEY ARE ALL CONNECTED.

ENJOYING THE RIDE

Grace Minder, B.S. Applied Social Science

BUILDING THEIR CAREERS FROM DAY ONE

Ben Olkowski, B.S. Construction Ben Olkowski, of Kimberly, started his con struction career working on solar and renew ables projects as a coordinator for AZCO Inc., a heavy industrial contractor that works all over the country. “Stout’s construction major is designed to build excellent graduates that employers all over the country are looking to hire. I have gained valu able hands-on experience with building prac tices, industry software and practical knowledge to help me succeed in my future career,” Olkow ski said. “The people at Stout have been the differ ence-maker. Because of them, I have so many memories from my time here, and they are the reason I am where I'm at today,” he added. Grace Minder, B.S. Applied Social Science Grace Minder came to UW-Stout without a clear sense of direction. “All I knew is that I wanted to help people,” she said. After taking a year off school, Minder, of St. Paul, talked with faculty and discovered the applied social science program. She was hired before graduation as a practitioner at People Inc., the largest mental health nonprofit in Minnesota. “My major did an amazing job of educating me on so many of the important aspects of our soci ety and how they are all connected. I was able to

envision a career for myself. This time has given me the confidence to go out into the world and do my part in making my community a better place,” she said.

For decades, students have chosen UW-Stout for its applied learning approach to education, knowing that hands-on experiences and paid internships, among other advantages, better pre pare them for careers. And they’re correct – more students than ever have landed jobs within six months of gradu ation, according to the latest First Destination report. While every graduate has a story to tell, the following members of the spring class of 2023 perfectly embody the university’s reputation for student success and the drive of Blue Devils entering the workforce. Pablo Sotomayor, M.S. Food Science and Technology Food science first sparked Pablo Sotomayor’s fascination watching his dad, a food engineer, work in the lab. With interests in research ing pathogens that affect food, such as E. coli and salmonella, Sotomayor, of Loja, Ecuador, believed a master’s degree would help further his career opportunities. He was hired before graduation as a research and development food scientist at Downs Food Group, in Mankato, Minn. “The Stout master’s program is focused on hands-on projects that will aid me in my job as an R&D food scientist. The program allowed me to gain more practical experience in a setting that will be beneficial to my career,” Sotomayor said.

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THE PROGRAM ALLOWED ME TO GAIN MORE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN A SETTING THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO MY CAREER.

Pablo Sotomayor, M.S. Food Science & Technology

(Right) Hans Eckholm.

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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STOUT

OUTLOOK 2023