Tour of Wind Turbine Teaching Facility at Larimie Community College
IEEE Event co-sponsored by Laramie Community College at Cheyenne, WY
The evening will be a presentation by Mike Schmidt on "Wind Technology 101" and then a tour of the mechanics of the wind turbine that is used for teaching at LCCC led by Steve Hrkach.
We are very lucky to have a chance to tour this unique facility in the Rocky Mountain region.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
- Date: 21 Sep 2023
- Time: 06:00 PM to 08:30 PM
- All times are (UTC-06:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
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- 1400 East College Drive
- Cheyenne, Wyoming
- United States 82007
- Building: Career and Technology Building
- Room Number: CT 114
- Starts 10 September 2023 03:00 PM
- Ends 21 September 2023 04:00 PM
- All times are (UTC-06:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Mike Schmidt
Wind Turbine Mechanics
Biography:
For more than 36 years Michael Schmidt has been involved in
Industrial Systems Service & Repair in one form or another.
Mike currently works as Field Services Manager for First Global
Gear Services, an independent service provider focusing on
gearbox and drive train service in both wind and oil & gas
sectors. In this position Mike is responsible for managing the Field
Service Teams as well as business development.
Prior to FGGS, Mike worked as the Operations Manager for the
Renewables Division at MD&A in Fort Collins.
In positions prior to MD&A, Mike was responsible for developing
and directing three notable and successful community college
technology programs, most recently developing the Wind Energy
Technology program at Laramie County Community College in
Cheyenne. Prior to that at Iowa Lakes Community College in
Estherville, Iowa where Mike helped to develop the first of its kind
Wind Energy and Turbine Technology Program.
With Mike’s background in industrial electrical systems and
maintenance as well as his understanding of the wind industry he
has helped to shape a standard for 2-year wind technology
curriculum and helped many new wind energy technology
programs get their start.
Mike received an AAS Degree in Industrial Electronics and
Electricity in 1987 following a four-year enlistment in the US
Navy.
Mike currently holds a Master’s Electrician License in Iowa and in
Wyoming, where he currently resides.
Steve Hrkach
Wind Turbine
Biography:
Steve Hrkach (her’kosh)
Wind Energy Technology Program Director
Laramie County Community College
Steve grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania. He enlisted
into the United States Airforce in August 1987 as a
maintenance technician for the Minuteman II and III
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system. In his 25-year
career he held many different positions to include:
Instructor, Evaluator, Critical Task Supervisor, Course
Author, IG Team Inspector and Squadron Superintendent.
Steve retired as a Chief Master Sergeant in 2012. He
immediately went back to school to become a wind
turbine technician. Between semesters, Steve was picked
up for an internship with General Electric working on GE
1.6 ESS wind turbine in Milford, UT. He graduated from
Laramie County Community College in May 2014 with an
Associate of Applied Science degree in Wind Technology. After a short stint working as a wind tech for
EDF, Steve took a position with Aeronautica WindPower; a small manufacturing and Operations &
Maintenance company out of Plymouth, MA. During his time with the company, Steve traveled to sites
in seven states and gained experience on eight wind turbine platforms with capacities ranging from
225kW to over 2MW. In Aug 2017, Steve took a position at Laramie County Community College doing
what he loves most, instructing. He now heads the Wind Energy Technology program. He has written
curricula for and taught courses of various levels on electrical, mechanical, fluid power systems and
industrial safety. Currently, he is working with the National Fire Protection Association to develop a
professional certification for wind turbine technicians. In his spare time Steve enjoys camping, fishing,
hunting and shooting sports.
Agenda
4:30 pm Meet at Park & Ride at Harmony and I-25, Northwest Corner of the parking lot if you want to carpool.
6-6:30 pm Food and Networking
6:30-6:45 Brief Business meeting
6:45- 7:30 Mike Schmidt will Speak on "Wind Energy 101"
7:30-8:15 Steve Hrkach will lead the group to a display of the turbine machinery
More Information on Larimie Community College in Cheyanne: https://lccc.wy.edu
LCCC wind Energy Program: http://catalog.lccc.wy.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=3&poid=475&returnto=95