Construction Division at Ranken Technical College

Today! St. Louis Location IT Division Job Fair. Present information about your company to the College and/or collect resumes from Ranken students. Learn more, https://ranken.edu/employers/

Welcome to the Fall 2023 semester! College is a time to learn, discover, and have fun with friends. We are here to help. If you need assistance check this list for office contact information, https://ranken.edu/contact-us/

Did you know we are adding a new HVACR program to our Perryville location? Learn more about this in-demand program, https://ranken.edu/programs/hvacr-technology/

Are you looking for an online Bachelor of Science in Applied Management? Ranken is your answer. An education from Ranken will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to become a manager. https://ranken.edu/programs/applied-management/, apply now! https://ranken.edu/apply

Open houses at all the Ranken locations are coming in June. This is a great time to experience Ranken. Learn more at, https://ranken.edu/summer-open-house/

Walter ‘Joe’ Gillespie is a graduate from the Architectural Technology program, class of 1988. As a high school student Joe knew he wanted to get an education but was not interested in a four-year degree. He wanted a degree that would prepare him for a job and Ranken fit the bill. “My education at Ranken was structured and taught me the work ethic that was desired by employers.” recalls Joe. “I knew from the time I was in fourth grade that I wanted to be an architect and that also influenced my decision to go to Ranken.

Joe’s first job after graduation was at a small architecture firm in Edwardsville, IL that specialized in nursing and retirement homes. After 4 years at this firm, he took a job in civil engineering as a surveyor, where he worked for four years. Since then, he has been with the City of Highland, Il, for 27 years, where he started in construction inspection and design. He advanced to Engineering Technician, Assistant Director of Public Works and is now the Director of Public Works for the city of Highland. Joe is currently working on his degree in Civil Engineering.

Find your career path at, https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path

Joseph Carl Kleba, Sr. graduated from Ranken in 1928 and went to work for Lawlor Construction Company. His son Joseph Carl Kleba, Jr. class of '65, said, “As long as I could remember I wanted to follow my father’s footsteps and be a carpenter." Joe, Jr. also went to work for Lawlor Construction Co. where he became a Journeyman in less than two years and eventually an Estimator/Project Manager. Joe added, " I believe that my education at Ranken played a major role in my success due to business classes offered along with the occupational training. I would tell any student considering Ranken that it is as good as it gets and that many, many employers seek out Ranken graduates.”

Joseph Lawrence Kleba, Sr. ’95, tried college for a year and realized it was not for him. His dad told him he only hired Ranken grads, so he signed up for the Architecture program. “Ranken had a profound effect on me as a person entering the workforce. It was really good at instilling the work ethic that I still have to this day.” Joe also met his wife, Rebecca at Ranken.

Rebecca Kleba ‘95 (nee Rainbolt) chose Ranken because, “it was an affordable way for me to get a degree in architecture.” Rebecca was recently featured in the St. Louis Business journal. “Ranken has an incredible reputation for producing strong graduates that employers seek because of their strong work ethic and drive to succeed.” Link to article, https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2022/11/17/st-louis-character-2023-rebecca-kleba-architect.html

Ethan Kleba ’22, enrolled in Ranken’s Collision Repair program and went to work at Bommarito Collision Center in Hazelwood. Ethan advises, “If you are looking to get into a trade Ranken is a great way to get started. They have all the equipment you could need to learn the trade that you desire in a hands-on and interactive fashion.”

Find your career path at, https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path

Tom Scholz attended Ranken after graduating from High School and joined the Air Force nine days later. In the Airforce he became an aircraft mechanic which he did for four years. Tom continued working for the Airforce for nine more years as an airplane mechanic in the civil service. Tom had the opportunity to work on the F-4, F-15, F-111 and the A-10 fighter jets during this time.

Tom got bored with this job and tried a number of other jobs for many years and in 1997 returned to school and received a two-year degree in Architecture where he learned Auto CAD. He worked for three different Architecture firms but none of these jobs lasted long. At his fourth job he became a project manager. While a project manager people would ask him to make home plans for them which he did as a side job at first and this grew into a successful business.

Tom has been running BASE Design and Drafting from his home for 17 years and has been so successful that he has stopped marketing because the work just keeps coming his way. He loves the independence and creativity that owning his own business provides. Tom says, “Architecture is a magical business. If you get trained in this field, you will always be able to find work.” Remembering his time at Ranken, Tom Says, “Ranken is a great place. This is where I learned to work hard. Mr. Ruth and Mr. Kopp taught me to do the job right the first time. They would say ‘if you have time to do it wrong you have time to do it right.’”

Find your career path at, https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path

Jack Worstell came to Ranken right out of high school and enrolled in the Architectural Technology program and graduated in 1955. He worked for one year with Gensler, an architectural service company, and then was hired by HOK where he worked for 21 years. While employed with HOK he was the project manager for several major projects including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dallas Fort Worth Airport, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, at which he was only 26 years old when he was made project manager. In 1975 Jack passed the NCARB architecture certification exam. At HOK Jack had risen to the position of Vice President. He became good friends with two other HOK Vice Presidents, Bill Valentine and Bob Stauder, and remains close with them to this day. Bill was a Harvard graduate and Bob is a Washington University in St. Louis alum. So, at that point in HOK’s history they had VPs from Harvard and Wash U and one with a two-year degree from Ranken.

Bill Valentine, eventual CEO of HOK, had this to say about Jack, “Jack and I worked together on the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. People loved working for Jack because he was a really nice man, a great leader, positive, talented, knowledgeable and he worked like a dog. He definitely embodied the Ranken work ethic.”

Bob Stauder, eventual Vice Chairman of HOK, had the following to say about Jack, “Jack and I started together at HOK in 1958. We grew up their together and became close friends. I was running the California HOK office and Jack was running the Dallas office when he and his wife decided they wanted to move to California. When he arrived in California I put him in charge of the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. This was a $300 million project in the late 70s. Jack is one of the finest human beings I know and the only person I know who became a registered Architect without a bachelor’s degree.”

In 1980 Jack started his own Architecture firm, Hornberger + Worstell. This firm had an expertise in four star and above hotels designing 60,000 hotel rooms in China, Mexico, and California which included the Ritz Carlton and the Village at Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, and JW Marriot in Arizona. In Beaver Creek, Colorado they designed the Park Hyatt, the Villas at Villa Montane and much of the village. They also specialized in historic renovations. Giradelli Square, considered the first successful adaptive reuse project in the country, the world famous del Coronado, on Coronado Island, San Diego, the Ahwahnee at Yosemite Park to name a few. Jack is now retired but Hornberger + Worstell is still in business.

With all of these major projects for which he was responsible, one of Jack’s proudest accomplishments is the restoration of the Eichler home where he now lives. It is truly inspiring to know that a Ranken alum with a two-year Architecture degree has his fingerprints on so many major projects around the world. He states, “I am very thankful for the success I have had, and I credit Ranken for the solid base that I received.”

Find your career path at, https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/

Marcelous Marty Peshlakai graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ranken’s Plumbing program in 2021. He is currently a first-year apprentice with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562.

One of his instructors, Stephen Felling, tells us “Marty toured Ranken with his fiancée in 2020. He came into the program with some prior training he’d received in New Mexico. He is a member of the Navajo Nation and is very proud of his American Indian heritage. Raised in a strong matriarchal society, Marty has a high respect for women and is very family oriented. He displays a strong work ethic and was a standout student. Marty is highly respected by his peers and clearly leadership material. It was not unusual to find Marty assisting other students when they were struggling with an assignment. I perceived Marty as a man seeking knowledge in order to become independent.”

David Munie, Chair of the Plumbing Department, invited Marty to share his Ranken experience in a candid interview video as he approached graduation. You can view the video at https://youtube.com/shorts/2jwRDu9kq2Q

Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/

How Rebecca Kleba overcame obstacles to build a career in architecture

Are you looking for an opportunity to start a career that can open doors for you in today's high-tech world? Ranken's Major Appliance Technology program has the reputation of preparing students for successful careers in the fast-growing appliance repair industry. With our training, you will gain valuable skills, learn how to diagnose problems, and get hands on experience working with appliances. https://ranken.edu/programs/major-appliance-technology/

Aron Johannsson graduated Cum Laude from Ranken’s Architectural Technology program in 2020. He is presently on the Architectural staff of Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC). Aron tells us, “I had the resources at Ranken to develop the skills necessary to succeed in my career which helped guide me toward a career path I am now very happy with.” Aron’s favorite memories while attending Ranken were the Architecture department field trip to Dana Thomas House, and late nights in the studio wrapping up projects with friends.

Nina Thompson, English instructor, says “I am so very proud of Aron’s accomplishments; I can truly say that I am NOT surprised. He was a great student, a kind young man, and a very intelligent individual. I loved his presentations, and he always had a smile or a laugh to share with the other students. It was great having Aron and I know I’ll continue to hear about his successes.”
Andy Sebacher, LEED AP Principal, LJC, explains “Aron has an unusual capacity to listen, process information, develop a vision and then incorporate that into graphic format. It puts him at an advantage over his colleagues and promises to move his career forward quickly.”
David Junge, Senior Principal, LJC, states “Aron has a great work ethic, he’s anxious to learn, and always willing to help out. He is a great multi-tasker. Aron has a very good design sense and fits perfectly into my team. His graphic skills are wonderful, giving us so much flexibility. We look forward to his growth to become a dominate force on our team,” he adds, “Ranken students help us keep moving forward. We need Ranken to keep doing what they are doing. Your students fit perfectly into my team and have totally enhanced the ability of my team to win new opportunities with great design options, outstanding graphics and then complete the projects with fine technical skills.” LJC employs ten Ranken grads and is training two interns.
Learn more at https://ranken.edu/find-your-career-path/
https://theljc.com/
Lamar Johnson Collaborative

Do you see people around you changing careers and wonder, "How can I do that? I’m working. When would I have the time to learn a new skill?" Here's how: it’s called LEAP (Learn. Earn. Advance. Prosper.) at Ranken Technical College. Amazing career opportunities exist in the Technical Trades and with just 2 nights a week, you can get the training needed to LEAP into your next career. Hands-on learning, amazing facilities, and affordability are just a few of the many reasons Ranken is the school of choice for working adults. LEAP into Ranken’s evening classes starting May 9th. Visit ranken.edu to get started.

Do you see people around you changing careers and wonder, "How can I do that? I’m working. When would I have the time to learn a new skill?" Here's how: it’s called LEAP (Learn. Earn. Advance. Prosper.) at Ranken Technical College. Amazing career opportunities exist in Construction and with just 2 nights a week, you can get the training needed to LEAP into your next career. Hands-on learning, amazing facilities, and affordability are just a few of the many reasons Ranken is the school of choice for working adults. LEAP into Ranken’s evening classes starting May 9th. Visit ranken.edu to get started.

To help you land the job you want, we focus on hands-on training over time spent sitting in a classroom. Our students receive construction training in “learn by doing” style. Learn more, https://ranken.edu/divisions/construction/

Happy Easter! Have a great day. https://ranken.edu/

3M is pleased to partner with NC3 to provide scholarships to students interested in pursuing skilled trades careers, especially those students who are from underrepresented populations. These scholarships will encourage and support students to pursue their dreams. Submissions are due by Friday, March 25, 2022, at 5:00 pm CST. for the Skilled Trades - 3M Transformational Scholarship. Please use this link for application information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5n93UHjgel6ZHGsX0m92MqWa4xxqDVfvCzl5M80cfLB2fXw/viewform

Ranken’s Architectural Technology program teaches through projects, often with emphasis on design, which seeks to integrate your creativity. Learn more, https://ranken.edu/programs/architecture/

If you want to learn carpentry, but aren’t sure how to become a carpenter, Ranken’s carpentry and building construction program may be just what you’re looking for.
https://ranken.edu/programs/carpentry-building-construction/

Ranken provides hands-on training in our plumbing technology program. Get more information, https://ranken.edu/programs/plumbing-technology/