Meet Our Instructors

Kylie Dykema

Kylie Dykema
616.802.3623

Industry experience/background
• Freelance Artist since 2005
• 16 years of Graphic Communications training/professional work experience
• 4+ years at ICON Sign company in Grand Rapids
Office Manager, Project Manager, Marketing Specialist, and Graphic Artist
• 1 year at Amway Global in Paper Printing Dept. as a process trainer.

Industry Credentials
ASPA Certified - American Screen Printing Association

My favorite thing about being a teacher
Providing students with an alternative career path that follows their creativity and allows their passion to grow through their successes

My favorite thing about KCTC
The amount of resources and support the tech center has access to is outstanding. They truly take pride in providing students with anything and everything they need to be successful!

Colleges Attended
Ferris State University – Associates in Digital Imaging and Printing
Ferris State University – Bachelor's in Technical Education

Family
My Husband: Bryan
Children: Trenten and Kennedy

Hobbies
Designing
Printing
Fishing
Traveling
Lacrosse
Reading

Favorite Vacation
Dominican Republic
First family vacation at our cabin in Iron Mountain

Favorite sports team
MSU
Tigers!

Interesting fact
I’m terrified of cotton balls.

Allen Kaatz

616.802.3619

Student Organizations
Michigan Industrial & Technology Education Society
SkillsUSA

Industry experience/background
Grandville Printing Company
• Installation crew of a prototype printing press
• Press room
• Pre-press
- Platemaker
- Film Assembler

My favorite thing about being a teacher
Enjoy watching the majority of the students achieve a level of success where they feel comfortable and confident in what they are doing and are willing and able to demonstrate their knowledge/ability to help others who need assistance.

My favorite thing about the Kent Career Technical Center
The Kent Career Technical Center is a special place where students from a variety of backgrounds and social economical environments come together. The education process in our classes is not what most students are accustomed to. The learning is more hands-on, practical education, and not a fundamental textbook education.

College Attended
Ferris State University – Masters Degree in Technical Education Career (Instructor Concentration)
Ferris State University – Bachelor Degree in Technical Education
Ferris State University – Associate Applied Science Degree in Printing Technologies/Graphic Communications

Family
Married to wife: Amanda

Pets
Cat- Gus
Dog- Stevie

Hobbies
Auto racing
Sailing
Traveling
Watching movies
Sports: Football, Hockey, Basketball

Favorite vacations
Rome, Italy (friends wedding)
Cancun, Mexico
Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Favorite sports teams
University of Michigan (football)
Detroit Lions (football)
Detroit Redwings (hockey)

Brooke Uzarski

Brooke Uzarski

Special professional interest

Graphic Design and Communications

Industry experience/background

Uzarski Creative – 2 years
Design for marketing materials, advertisements, logo, and branding.
Paper Magic Design – 6 years
Managed product innovations and development of four different lines: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas, and Everyday Products.
Design Design Inc. – 5 years
Created, licensed, managed, and directed art releases three times a year for siz different lines. Won the 2011 National Stationery Show Best in Show – Desktop for “Dress The Desk”

Your favorite thing about being a teacher

I love helping students learn about design and how to apply it to a career.

Your favorite thing about KCTC

KCTC brings students together from various backgrounds and helps them learn about the different careers available. It is a great stepping stone to college.

Colleges Attended
Ferris State University – Bachelor in Visual Design and Web Media
Ferris State University – Associates in Visual Communication

Family
My Husband Gerrid
Children: Claire, Evelyn, Deidra, Felix

Hobbies