Staff at Iron Range Engineering are focused on building strong ties to our student body. One of our goals is to respond to students as well as give feedback within 24 hrs. We not only state that we are a student centered organization, but also showcase that we are student centered through our actions. Reach out to us anytime, we love what we do and are open to sharing ideas and helping students succeed in an exciting field.

Cody Mann​, EIT; ​Director of Operations

​Why IRE?
I have witnessed and lived the successes of the Iron Range Engineering model for several years in northern Minnesota. Now, we are capable of providing this brilliant opportunity and sharing this successful engineering model with student engineers from across the entire country. The supportive, collaborative, and inclusive culture at Bell is what drives me to contribute all that I can to this new and innovative program. I strongly believe that this is the future of engineering education, and I am excited to be a part of a team that works with this much greater purpose in mind.

Experience

My experience as a student engineer in education started at Itasca Community College which is located in a rural area in northern Minnesota. Upon completion of my first two years at a community college, I decided to transfer to Iron Range Engineering to finish my bachelors degree. This was the best decision I ever made as a student engineer as it opened my eyes to the world of engineering beyond my time as a student.  Upon graduation, I worked as a chemical engineer for a local paper company. I then joined the education side of engineering by joining in the early developing stages as a faculty member. In parallel to working at IRE, I completed my master's degree in chemical engineering through the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Research
At IRE, we realize that this model is not for everyone. However, this program is exactly what so many student engineers from across the country are looking for! The only problem is that so many people have never heard about this opportunity before, so they do not even know it exists. I am constantly working at developing new strategies and finding ways to reach more student engineers. 


Hobbies
I really enjoy spending time outdoors and spending quality time with my family. I am an avid freshwater angler, multispecies hunter, and also enjoy officiating ice hockey. I am passionate about the small rural communities that I live and spend my time in and enjoy my time as a youth leader at my church.

Jodi Nelson​, P.E.; ​Facilitator

I believe that anyone who wishes to pursue an engineering degree is capable of success. My degree is in geological engineering, and I have 10 years of experience in environmental consulting. I am a licensed Professional Engineer in Minnesota, and also a licensed Professional Geologist in Minnesota. I love spending time with family, and my hobbies include photography, reading, and checking out waterfalls.

Andrew Hanegmon​, EIT; ​INTERIM COORDINATOR OF FacilitatorS

Why IRE?
Being part of a community of very intelligent people doing big things drew me to Iron Range Engineering (IRE). IRE has become known for being an innovator in engineering education, and I am highly attracted to being part of new programs that have a mindset of continuous improvement and are effective at it. The team and the students who are part of Iron Range Engineering aren’t just good at working but are also genuinely great people always willing to be there for each other which is why I am a part of this team.  
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Experience
Prior to attending college, I worked in the mining industry rebuilding heavy equipment parts and assemblies. I graduated from Iron Range Engineering in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. After college, I worked in a supervisory role at a remanufacturing plant while starting my own business which I still run today. My facilitating role with the college started in 2017 where I would guide one student project each semester. My full-time role with the college started in January of 2019.

Research
While I do not do any official research at this time, my personal research focus is in the realm of makerspaces. I own and operate a makerspace that allows members to access a variety of equipment and tools they can use to start businesses, enhance current businesses, complete personal projects, spend time with a creator community, or enhance their education. This space acts as a research lab for how spaces like this can create economic development and develop self-directed learners. 

Kaitlyn Mann​; ​Facilitator

Kaitlyn is a biomedical engineer who serves as a facilitator at IRE. She previously worked as the assistant director for Iron Range Engineering where she co-coordinated events including STEM Showcase and the IRE Career Fair, along with facilitating many student design projects. She obtained her bachelor’s degree through the Iron Range Engineering program in 2017. Kaitlyn strives to support and guide students throughout their education so they can be highly successful in their professional careers.

Arynn Lorentz​; ​Facilitator

I became an engineer because I wanted to make a difference, big or small, by helping those around me. IRE gives me the opportunity every day as a facilitator to support students to “become the engineers they want to be,” and that is exceeding my goal as an engineer. I grew up in Virginia, MN, and graduated from Iron Range Engineering as a mechanical engineer in May of 2020. Most of my free time is spent outdoors with my husband and daughter, hunting, snowmobiling, fishing, hiking, or exploring new places. I also enjoy relaxing with my two cats and a good movie.  ​

Neil Schroeder​; ​Facilitator

My name is Neil Schroeder and I am a civil engineer working as a facilitator and learning coach for Iron Range Engineering (IRE). Working for IRE allows me to empower students to succeed by mentoring and communicating my professional experiences as a resource. To get where I am at, I received my Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a focus in civil engineering from MSU - Mankato at Iron Range Engineering.  Prior to working for Bell, I worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation as a project engineer. My side of industry was heavy civil construction, where I mainly managed my inspection staff and contractors for the administration of muliti-million dollar road, bridge, and hydraulics projects in North Eastern Minnesota. 
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I was born and raised in Northern Minnesota, now living on the original homestead where my grandparents started out. My wife and I have two kids, two dogs, and a cat (who all keep us on our toes). I enjoy hunting and fishing with my friends and family. My two biggest passions within the outdoors are bow hunting for whitetail deer and ice fishing for northern pike.  

Andy Lillesve​; ​Facilitator

Andy Lillesve is an EIT who joined Iron Range Engineering as a Project Facilitator in January 2011. In addition to facilitation roles, Andy has ownership over the material science and heat transfer technical competencies as well as the design course. In Summer 2016, along with Ron Ulseth, Andy began IRE preparations for ABET reaccreditation. His engineering education began at Itasca Community College later transferring to Michigan Technological University. There he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2009. From there, he received a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Michigan Technological University with summa cum laude honors.

Luke Nyberg​; ​Facilitator

Why IRE?
I am endlessly curious. I want to know a bit about everything. I believe in having a broad range of skills and knowledge, both practical and philosophical. A teacher I once had, encouraged the principle of being a Renaissance person. To live according to this principle for continuous
improvement, one must seek to associate with people of quality who can improve you while also capable of being improved themselves. Nowhere have I found these principles to be embodied more than at IRE.

Experience
I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Engineering from Minnesota State University Mankato. I have been managing projects and implementing designs for many years. Before engineering, I built everything from log cabins and pole barns to four thousand square feet luxury homes. I have also been employed in social work, hotel management, and installed thermal management systems. I have plumbed and wired homes, worked as a courier, farmed, logged, and placed concrete. I was a miner, equipment salvager, and a geologist's assistant. After my degree, I worked as a staff engineer, lab manager, and soil scientist.

BRITTANY BERTOLAS​; ​ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Brittany Bertolas is the Administrative Assistant for Iron Range Engineering. She graduated high school from Virginia Secondary School and received her Associate of Arts degree from Mesabi Community College.  She continued her education via Walden University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources.  
Outside of IRE, Brittany assists several small businesses with their payroll and bookkeeping and she volunteers as Treasurer for a few non-profit organizations in the community.   She also enjoys tutoring elementary students in math and reading. She has two sons who keep her busy with their schooling and sports.  In her spare time, she likes to sing, laugh, listen to audiobooks, walk in the woods, and spend time with her pets, family and friends.  ​
Email: brittany.bertolas@ire.minnstate.edu
Phone: 218-780-9045