Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Ratsch, Garcia, Bauer
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/23/2021
Ratsch Retires From CVTC Board (2021)
After a nine-year tenure on the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) District Board, Russell Ratsch of Neillsville is retiring from his role.
His last meeting will be this Thursday, June 24, when the board meets in Neillsville.
Ratsch the founder and longtime owner of Ratsch Engineering in Neillsville, is easing into retirement in his personal and professional life. He remains vice president of the company he sold a few years ago, but his circumstances have changed, and he no longer qualifies as an employer member of the board, which also consists of a school superintendent, elected official, employee and at-large members.
“I enjoyed my time on the board,” Ratsch said. “The first year was kind of a learning curve understanding how the college works and who all the people were. I enjoyed working with the other board members, who are all competent, high-functioning people.”
Ratsch sought the position after being encouraged to apply by a community member.
“I’ve always believed in education as the key to upward mobility and success,” he said. “Over the years, I’ve mentored about 30 employees and tried to pass along my knowledge to help people.”
Ratsch has been a voice for the rural parts of the district, particularly the eastern side.
“It’s important that each area of the CVTC district have representatives,” Ratsch said. “The people on the eastern side of the district accept that to avail themselves of many of the opportunities at CVTC, they would usually have to drive to Eau Claire. But I have advocated for programs at Neillsville, where we have telepresence capabilities at the campus.”
CVTC has also provided its mobile manufacturing lab at the high schools in Greenwood and Owen-Withee. The high schools, including Neillsville have several dual credit classes through CVTC.
Ratsch cited the decision to hold a referendum in April 2020 and what projects it should include as one of the most significant and difficult issues he dealt with as a board member. The decision to hire Sunem Beaton-Garcia as the new president to replace Bruce Barker, who retired as president, was also significant but less challenging.
“The search for a new president was an extensive process, and we had many qualified and prepared candidates,” he said. “There was a lot of discussion, and we came to a consensus.”
“Russ has been a very thoughtful and considerate board member,” said Paul Bauer of Ellsworth, the board president. “He has always been focused on how to get the services of CVTC to all members of the community, regardless of where they have been located. Russ continues to make sure the college is doing the right thing to support our community by its actions, policies and meaning.”
Ratsch said he plans to say involved in the Neillsville community as he eases into retirement. He still works part-time at the company he founded.
