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MSES Is Recapping 2020 and Looking Ahead to 2021

12/24/2020

Thank you to all of our Members and all of our Sponsors!

MSES Is Recapping 2020 and Looking Ahead to 2021 and wishing you all a very
HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

Recap of 2020

MSES has many reasons to celebrate!

Hosted a very successful and fun Winter Event/Annual Meeting in February

Provided $40,000 in Scholarship Awards to 20 deserving students in July

Spring Golf Outing that was originally postponed, was played in August

Grandview Lodge welcomed us again for our 98th Annual Fall Outing. It was slightly different in 2020, still there were lawn games, golf and fun times

Emerging Professionals hosted TWO very fun Virtual Trivia events.

While some events were cancelled due to limits on gathering, we made the best of it and gathered outdoors where we could and virtually!

We do intend to host in person events again just as soon as we are able.

Looking Ahead to 2021

2021 Membership Dues are DUE! Please pay your MSES Membership dues by February 4, 2021. Please share with your co-workers who are not currently MSES members.

The MSES Annual Meeting will be held VIRTUALLY on February 4, 2021 from 4:30-6 pm - Details will be emailed separately. We will vote on updated bylaws, the slate of Officers for 2021 and have a Virtual Happy Hour with Door Prizes. We would appreciate donations for door prizes, if you wish to donate, please contact Heidi Holste at info@mses.org. Also, a Sponsorship for the Annual Meeting is also a Sponsorship for the Winter Event!

Given the current situation, an in-person, outdoor Winter Event is tentatively being planned for April, 2021. This will be separate from the Annual Meeting this year. However, a sponsorship for one is a sponsorship for both!

We are still planning on holding a 125th Anniversary Celebration and will be planning the BIG Party for February, 2022. In the meantime we will be re-launching the efforts to raise money at our Annual Meeting in February of 2021. Donate here

The Scholarship Applications are now live on the MSES website - please share with your family, friends and co-workers!

The Spring Golf Outing is scheduled for Monday, June 7, 2021. Mark your calendars and secure your SPONSORSHIPS today! Title Sponsor spot is currently open - don't delay!

The 99th Annual Fall Outing is scheduled for September 15-17, 2021 Grandview Lodge, Nisswa, MN

Emerging Professionals and Membership/Networking are planning virtual events and outdoor networking events. We hope to be able to announce some of these plans in future newsletters.

Partner with MSES and Sponsor an Event. Sponsors and participants are key to our organizational success and our event success. Please consider partnering with MSES and become a Sponsor Today!

Pay your 2021 Dues Today

Partner with MSES and become a SPONSOR Today!

2021-2022 MSES Scholarships Now Available

12/11/2020

MSES is proud to announce the opening of its Annual Scholarship Program available to undergraduate students pursuing a Major/Career in the Minnesota Transportation Infrastructure Industry.

Please share with your friends, family and colleagues!

MSES Scholarship Qualifications and Application

Qualifications:

Undergraduate student who is a resident of Minnesota or enrolled at one of the following schools: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, University of Minnesota – Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, North Dakota State University, St. Cloud State University, Iowa State University, Michigan Technological University, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, South Dakota State University, University of Iowa, University of North Dakota, University of Wisconsin – Madison, University of Wisconsin – Platteville, University of St. Thomas.

Junior or senior undergraduate class standing during the entire 2021-2022 academic year.

Maintain an academic load of 12 or more credits per semester during the entire 2021-2022 academic year.

Pursuit of a career in the Minnesota transportation infrastructure industry.

Submission Process

Scholarship awards are granted based on a two-round determination process including a written application and interview. All written applications will be scored and top scoring applicants will be asked to complete an interview.

Important Dates

December 11, 2020: MSES Scholarship application posted at www.mses.org
February 5, 2021: Application Submission Deadline
February 22-26, 2021: Top Scoring Applicants Notified to Schedule Interviews
March 8-March 22, 2021: MSES Scholarship Interviews
April 13, 2021: MSES Scholarship Award Winners Announced

Scholarship Program Questions?
Contact Heidi Holste, MSES Executive Director at info@mses.org

New Executive Director

6/21/2020

The MSES Board is very excited to announce our new Executive Director, Heidi Holste.

Heidi has experience as a Non-Profit Executive for nearly 6 years and has more than 20 years of experience in state, federal and local Government Relations. Heidi has three daughters, a husband, two dogs and lives in Rosemount. In normal times she has very active kids in traveling basketball and fastpitch softball. Heidi loves to work. In her free time she enjoys watching kids play sports, gardening, reading and traveling when possible. Heidi is looking forward to working with and meeting all of you. Heidi has a lot of energy and likes to learn new things, we are looking forward to her leadership. Heidi officially started on Monday, May 4.

January 27th, 2020

1/27/2020

Dear MSES members,

We are sorry to share that our MSES Executive Director, Jennifer Dzioba has recently been diagnosed with an extreme medical issue. Due to this life event, Jennifer has reflected on her personal goals and priorities and has decided to step away from her role as the Executive Director. It was a difficult decision for her because she has appreciated the opportunity to support MSES and is extremely proud of how far we have come in such a short period of time. She wishes MSES future success.

We have benefited from Jennifer’s attention to detail, willingness to take on any new challenge, resolve issues, along with her organization skills and leadership. Jennifer has improved the way MSES operates and provided benefits for our members and scholarship recipients. We will truly miss her, we already are! We wish her a quick recovery and all our best in the weeks to come.

We are searching for a new Executive Director, a job description will be sent to our membership soon. Please help us spread the word and search for a new talented Executive Director. Please contact any of us if you have questions.

Thank you,

MSES Board Members:
Jason Staebell (President)
Kristine Elwood (Vice President)
John Crawford (Secretary/Treasurer)
Mark Dierling (First Past President)
Chris Kufner (Incoming Board Member)

Fall Networking Event - October 24

10/25/2019

A big thanks to our event sponsors Contech and Henning Professional Services along with over 55 attendees who joined together at Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit on Thursday, October 24 for our Oktoberfest - themed Fall Networking event!

MSES Makes a Difference -Investing in Students and Building Tomorrow's Leaders

8/28/2019

After a busy summer full of interning and gaining practical work experience, the 2019-2020 MSES Scholarship Program winners are busy preparing for the upcoming school year. For many, that also means getting their finances in order to pay for another year of school. While the Annual MSES Scholarship Program winners are announced in the Spring, funds are not disbursed until closer to the start of the awarded school year.

Jaakob Pesola, a current student at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and 2019-2020 Scholarship Award Winner of the Ulland, Weinel, McGray Scholarship (designated for materials/asphalt paving/civil engineering), recently reached out to MSES to express gratitude upon receipt of his scholarship award this past month:

Dear MSES Scholarship Committee and MSES Members,

I am very excited and grateful to be a recipient of the Ulland, McGray, Weinel Materials Scholarship for the upcoming 2019-2020 academic year at the University of Minnesota. This generous award will go a long way in helping me finance my way through the Civil Engineering program at the University of Minnesota. I offer my most sincere gratitude not only from me, but also from my family as we are making sacrifices together to secure a promising future with my career in the engineering field.

Jaakob with his wife Clea and 2-year old son, Soren

While growing up in the small town of Clearwater MN, my love of nature and the outdoors began along the banks of the Mississippi. I now live in Minneapolis with my wife Clea and 2-year-old son Soren. I am an avid outdoorsman and musician. Any chance I get is spent in nature, either with my family camping, canoeing, and hiking, fishing from my kayak, or heading North to hunt in the Fall. This connection with nature is what drew me to Civil Engineering.

I plan to use my degree, combined with my 7 years of experience working in the highway-heavy construction industry to find innovative and sustainable solutions to our aging infrastructure and expanding society. I will find a position where I engage in ongoing learning, networking, and interdisciplinary collaboration to use new strategies and technology along with existing methods to form my own brand of leadership.

Much of engineering is problem-solving and getting great minds together with different skill sets and new vantage points to yield the greatest results. MSES' mission of bringing industry leaders together aligns directly with my career goals and will be a great asset as I find my place within the industry. I look forward to the networking opportunities MSES has to offer and the people I will meet from within the organization. Again, I offer my sincere heartfelt gratitude and hope to meet in person soon.

Sincerely,

Jaakob R. Pesola

MSES is honored to support students like Jaakob as we continue our work investing in the Minnesota transportation infrastructure industry by attracting and building tomorrow's leaders. Good luck to all of our scholarship winners as you head back to school this Fall: We know you will make us proud!

MSES/WTS Summer Networking Event: 8/8/19

8/9/2019

We packed the house!
A big thanks to over 80 attendees, Able Seedhouse and Brewery, WTS, and our event sponsors (Contech, Forterra, Kimley-Horn, SRF)
for a successful summer networking event!

MSES/Henning Professional Services 21st Annual Spring Golf Outing - 6/3/2019

6/5/2019

Thanks to all for the biggest and most successful
Spring Golf Outing yet!

A special thanks to our 2019 sponsors:

Title Sponsor: Henning Professional Services

Platinum Sponsors: Alliant, True North Steel, Braun Intertec, Martinez Geospatial, Stantec, WSB, Stonebrooke

Gold Sponsors: Bituminous Roadways, HIWAY Federal Credit Union, AET, KLJ, Kimley-Horn, HTPO, TKDA, HDR, Forterra, HNTB, Anderson

Silver Sponsors: SEH, Bolton & Menk, Rani, CPAM, Wheeler, ADS, Ess Brothers and Sons

2019-2020 MSES Scholarship Award Winners

5/1/2019

Established in 1895, MSES is a non-profit, professional organization dedicated to investing in Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure professionals. The MSES Scholarship Program is one of many ways MSES continues to attract and build tomorrow’s transportation infrastructure industry leaders. Since 1953, MSES has awarded over 1.3 million dollars to deserving college students who demonstrate strong academic performance, financial need, and an interest in pursuing a career within the Minnesota transportation infrastructure industry.

MSES is honored to congratulate each of the following 21 scholarship recipients, reflecting a total of $40,000 awarded for the 2019-2020 academic year:

Minnesota State University – Mankato
Matthew Bitter (Bemidji, MN)
Mary Kloos (Mankato, MN)
Solan Wakgari (Mankato, MN)

North Dakota State University
Arianna Christian (Sartell, MN)
Gunnar Cowing (New Ulm, MN)
Macy Merkel (Bismarck, ND)
Kyle Muncy (Little Falls, MN)
Rachel Vogl (Becker, MN)

University of St. Thomas
Grace Kubista (Jordan, MN)
Maren Mosley (Omaha, NE)

Saint Cloud State University
Jake Meyer (Saint Cloud, MN)

University of Minnesota – Duluth
Mark Foldesi (Duluth, MN)
Matthew Henderson (Winthrop, MN)
Kendall Hill (Duluth, MN)

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Carly Daugherty (Naperville, IL)
Derek Huston (Duluth, MN)
Carl Lind* (Princeton, MN)
Keane Nowlan (Delano, MN)
Jaakob Pesola* (Minneapolis, MN)
Kyle Rachel* (Shakopee, MN)
Celina Tragressor (Carmel, IN)

*recipient of the Ulland, McGray, Weinel Awards for Materials/Asphalt Paving/Civil Engineering

MSES/Mead & Hunt Spring Networking Event - 4/25/19

4/29/2019

A HUGE thank you to the record number of attendees and corporate sponsors (Title-Mead & Hunt; Partner-ADS, MAPA, Forterra, Bio Clean)
who made the Spring Networking event at Joe Senser's a HUGE success!