Accreditation
Contact:
Ed Plaster
Phone: 651.423.8498
E-mail
Matt Brooks
Phone: 651.423.8392
E-mail
Jeff Kleinboehl
Phone: 651.423.8478
E-mail
Faculty Biographies
Matt Brooks
Instructor, Landscape Design
Matt received his Bachelors of
Landscape Architecture degree from the University
of Illinois in 1983 and a Master’s of Landscape
Architecture from the University of Minnesota in
2004. Upon graduation from the University of Illinois
Matt worked in the Chicago area for fifteen years
with various landscape architectural design/ build
firms. Matt’s primary responsibilities included
landscape design, sales and project management
of commercial, institutional and residential projects.
Soon after moving to Minnesota in 1997, Matt accepted
a teaching position with Dakota County Technical
College.
Matt teaches courses in landscape design, computer aided design (CAD), estimating, landscape math and woody plant identification. Matt is also supervisor of student internships. In addition to teaching Matt is president of Brooks Design Group, Inc. a landscape design and construction consulting services company. Matt is a member of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) where he sits on the Environmental Concerns Committee and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Office Phone: 651-423-8392
Email: matthew.brooks@dctc.edu
Jeff Kleinboehl
Instructor, Landscape Construction
Jeff graduated from Dakota County Technical College in 1976, and has completed a number of continuing education credits at the University of Minnesota. His varied work experience prior to beginning as an instructor includes two years in golf course work, three years as a retail garden center manager, and three years with a hardscape construction firm in the Twin Cities. Jeff began teaching at DCTC in 1979. He has served for many years as full-time seasonal senior groundskeeper at DCTC during the summer in addition to his duties as an instructor.
Jeff teaches courses in landscape construction
and installation, as well as the related courses
in landscape irrigation and lighting, and surveying.
He also teaches turf and plant management, plant
pests, and other courses. Jeff is a member of Minnesota
Nursery and Landscape Association, the International
Society of Arboriculture, and the Professional
Landcare Network (PLANET), and the Irrigation Association. He is an MNLA Certified
Professional, and carries the State of Minnesota
Power Limited Technician License (for low-voltage
electrical work) and Pesticide Applicator’s
License.
In 2007 Jeff added to his credentials two new certifications: Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute Level I Certified Concrete Paver Installer, and National Concrete Masonry Association Certified Segmental Retaining Wall Installer.
At the 2008 MNLA Green Expo, the MNLA Irrigation Committee asked Jeff Kleinboehl to be one of the presenters and gave a successful talk about irrigation scheduling at one of the workshops.
Office Phone: 651-423-8478
Email: jeffrey.kleinboehl@dctc.edu
Edward Plaster
Instructor, Plant Production
Ed began his college education
as a Chemistry student at the University of Minnesota
in 1965, but after four years switched his major
to Horticulture and began to work full time while
attending college part time. He completed his Bachelor
of Science degree in Horticulture at the U of M
in 1988. He received a Master’s Degree in
Agricultural Education from the U of M in 2000.
Ed worked as an Experimental Plot Supervisor at
the U of M Horticulture Research Center from 1971-1977,
then began teaching at DCTC. Since 1988 he has
also been a seasonal part-time employee of a large
local garden center/landscaping firm during the
summers. Ed will be semi-retired during the 2007-2008 school year.
Ed teaches all the courses in nursery and greenhouse operations, and plant propagation, as well as herbaceous plant identification, pest management, plant and soil sciences, and others. He also teaches the general education biology course Minnesota Nature Study. Ed is a member of the MNLA, PLANET, American Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS), and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. He is an ASHS Certified Professional Horticulturist and an MNLA Certified Professional, and carries the state of Minnesota Pesticide Applicator’s licensure. Ed serves on the MNLA Certification Committee and the PLANET Accreditation Committee. He also serves on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner’s Advisory Committee on Science and Natural Areas. Ed is the author of the textbook Soil Science and Management, Delmar Publishers, now in its 5th edition.
Office Phone: 651-423-8498
Email: edward.plaster@dctc.edu
1300 145th Street E.(Co.Rd.42), Rosemount, MN 55068-2999
Phone: 651-423-8544 Fax: 651-423-8555