Northeast Iowa Community College honors employer partners at “Partners in Excellence” event

Monday, June 9, 2025

A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. representatives accept award at event (pictured above)

DUBUQUE, Iowa—Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) celebrated six local employer partners at the inaugural “Partners in Excellence” event in Dubuque on June 5. NICC honored the employers for their commitment to scholarship creation and contributions, internships, leadership on program advisory boards and participation in career events to assist students.

Partnerships between the College and employers bring industry insight directly into the classroom, keeping programs current and aligned with workforce demands. Students benefit from internships, mentorships and job placements, while communities benefit from a skilled, job-ready workforce.

Employers honored and their award categories include:

Work-Based Learning Champion
Medical Associates

Alumni Employer of Distinction
MercyOne

Building Brighter Futures Award
Fidelity Bank & Trust

Entrepreneurial Alum of the Year
Randy Decker, Decker Precision Machining

Innovative Collaboration Award
Hormel Foods

Outstanding Community Partner Award
A.Y. McDonald

Greater Dubuque Development Corporation (GDDC) was the premier sponsor for the event. The College celebrated its partnership with GDDC for having produced solid outcomes and successes for students, their families, the College and the economic development of local communities.

“Northeast Iowa Community College is excited about the growing depth and diversity of our partnerships. As industries evolve, so do our collaborations—bringing in new technologies, offering more flexible training and expanding career pathways. The future holds incredible potential to innovate and scale our impact and program outcomes,” said Dave Dahms, NICC interim president.

Cheryl Syke, chief human resources officer at Medical Associates, praises the effectiveness and value of her organization’s partnership with NICC.

“Medical Associates has a long history of partnering with Northeast Iowa Community College. We have found that it's the best way to ensure a pipeline of talent for the future workforce. Our collaboration, where the College knows that what they're teaching is valuable to employers, is very important to our community,” Syke said.