Staff

Our dedicated team of facilitators specialize in student support. Facilitators provide one-on-one coaching to students, lead recruiting efforts, and serve as instructional staff for courses across the curriculum. They represent a wide range of engineering fields and industries. 

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.
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Andrew Hanegmon​, EIT; ​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. 

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.

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 daughters, hunting, snowmobiling, fishing, hiking, or exploring new places. I also enjoy iced coffee all year round, relaxing with my two cats, and a good book.  ​

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.

Brandy Maki; ​Facilitator

Brandy is an electrical engineer who serves as a facilitator in the Bell Program. She previously worked as a development engineer in the electronics manufacturing industry where she managed multiple-projects and created functional test software for engine controllers, instrument clusters, and various other automotive electronic components.  She also held two process control positions as a student engineer in both a taconite mine and a coal-fired power plant.  Brandy aims to push the limits: to promote, encourage, and improve the education of our future engineers.

Kortani Martin; ​Facilitator

Hi, my name is Kortani! I am a Mechanical Engineer working as a facilitator for Iron Range Engineering (IRE). After I graduated from IRE in 2018 with my Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, I worked as a mining engineer on the Iron Range in Minnesota. Work included coordinating mine plans, directing the drill and blast program, and managing various open-pit projects. I worked on a team that oversaw millions of tons of material movement each year and hundreds of thousands of bulk explosive detonations weekly. It was a blast! After a handful of years in the field, I returned to IRE as a facilitator to help lead students to be the engineers they want to be and explore how their passions can align with their careers. Our community is full of difference-makers. It is the best place to learn by doing, and I am passionate about giving back to the community that shaped my future!

Katie Scherf; ​Facilitator

My name is Katie Scherf, and I am an engineer currently working as a facilitator for the Iron Range Engineering (IRE) Program. Being a facilitator is immensely rewarding for me as it allows me to forge connections with students and witness their growth as they navigate through their engineering education and venture into the industry. Iron Range Engineering holds a special significance in my life as it is situated in the very backyard of where I grew up, continually ascending the helix of continuous growth. Despite initially envisioning a career in teaching, I decided to challenge myself after high school by dedicating a semester to exploring engineering. This decision proved transformative as I fell in love with the field and committed to pursuing it. I earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Growing up on the Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota, this location holds a special place in my heart and I consider it my home. Beyond my professional endeavors, I find joy in diverse activities such as spending quality time with my family out on the lake, immersing myself in books, indulging in podcasts, and expressing my creativity through painting. Adding warmth and companionship to my life is my red lab, Murphy, who stands as my pride and joy.

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Alex krummi; facilitator

Head of facilities and facilitator.

Melissa Weske; Administrative Assistant

Administrative Assistant