Linn-Benton Community College

Bryan Schiedler, LBCC Transportation Technology faculty chair, talks about new diesel training building. Driving their futures: LBCC's diesel students get ready for new facility by Jennifer Moody, Albany Democrat-Herald  Photo: David Patton, Albany Democrat-Herald LEBANON — According to the calendar, Monday was the first day of class for students at Linn-Benton Community College. But to diesel program students, it actually felt closer to Christmas Eve. On Wednesday, the students will get to move into the newly completed building for the Heavy Equipment Diesel program at the Advanced Transportation Technology Center, part of the LBCC Lebanon branch. In the meantime, they spent part of Monday touring the grounds and at least getting a look at the new 37,000-square-foot building from the outside. "They're excited. They can't wait to get in there," said Bryan Schiedler, department chairman of Transportation Technology. "It's almost like it'...

Linn-Benton Community College announced Pastega award winners at the college’s Inservice Day Sept. 16. Bryan Schiedler of Philomath received the Pastega Faculty Excellence Award. Schiedler, automotive technology instructor and department chair, began work at LBCC in 1996. He was nominated for his efforts in creating the LBCC Advanced Transportation Technology Center, which has been recognized both locally and nationally with a focus on the latest automotive technology and alternative fuels training. M’Liss Runyon, of Corvallis, received the Pastega Classified Excellence Award. A graphic designer in the LBCC College Advancement Office, Runyon has been employed at the college since 2006. She was nominated for her positive and creative support of college marketing efforts. LBCC’s Pastega awards, established in 2000 by the late Mario Pastega, honor one faculty member and one classified staff for their outstanding contributions to the LBCC community. Each winner received a $1,000 honorar...

Brian Trice Brian Trice has joined Linn-Benton Community College’s Advanced Transportation Technology Center as manager of its Alternate Fuel Transportation section. The 45-year-old Trice, of Gresham, has been actively involved in the transportation industry for a number of years, helping to transform the industry towards energy independence through his work in alternative fuel energies including compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, propane, hybrid, hydraulic hybrid and electric. “I’m excited about being at the ATTC,” said Trice. “I’ve had a really good working relationship with these guys over the past few years, and have a lot of passion for working with alternative fuels and working at a grass-roots level to educate the market place.” Trice plans to help grow the alternative fuels side of the ATTC program, offering trade workshops, conferences and expos targeted toward industry.  “Brian Trice is one of the nation’s leaders in organizing alternative fuel conferences,” ...

Bryan Schiedler, right, and Gary Price with LBCC Award. Linn Benton Community College received the Large Business of the Year award from the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce during its Lebanon Distinguished Service Awards banquet held March 11. LBCC has a dual presence in Lebanon with its East Linn County Center and the Advanced Transportation Technology Center. Gary Price, regional director of Linn County Centers, and Bryan Schiedler, automotive technician faculty member and department chair, accepted the award on behalf of the college. “It was an honor to accept an award that so many of us, past and present, have contributed to,” wrote Schiedler. Nearly 350 people attended the awards banquet held at the Samaritan Center in Lebanon. The awards recognize exceptional individuals, businesses and organizations that contribute their time and energy to Lebanon, and include: man and woman of the year; junior first citizen; senior first citizen; outstanding community group; large business...

Linn-Benton Community College and Snap-on Incorporated have expanded a long-standing partnership that will deepen Snap-on Tools’ support of automotive technology students and expand regional transportation training opportunities at LBCC’s Advanced Transportation Technology Center . Snap-on , a leading manufacturer and supplier of professional grade tools and diagnostic equipment, will provide its equipment and training support to the college and LBCC students through this expanded partnership agreement. In addition, LBCC will serve as a regional train-the-trainer center, providing training for schools and employers throughout the country to certify trainers in the areas of auto transportation, aviation, energy and manufacturing. LBCC also will become a Snap-on Certification Center for wheel service, mechanical and electronic torque, electric measurement multi-meter, diesel scan tool, and tool control and asset management. “This partnership makes it possible for the college to equip its...

Linn-Benton Community College’s Foundation donated $150,000 to the college’s Advanced Transportation Technology Center for purchase of a dynamometer to use in its new automotive training center. The dynamometer diagnostic tool used in automotive service will be the only one of its kind between Vancouver, BC and San Francisco. The new tool will allow LBCC students to perform some of the most advanced testing and diagnostics in the country, and to work with regional manufacturers to develop or improve a variety of components used by hybrid and electric vehicles.  “The new dynomometer functions like most other all-wheel drive dyno's except that this one is specifically designed to enable quick development cycles for performing initial hybrid and electric vehicle calibrations, traction system monitoring, regenerative braking and limited traction conditions using road load and federal drive cycles, electric power system analysis, HEV/PHEV/EV controller development, efficiency testing, f...

LBCC students learn fine art of automotive work. Consumer’s Power, NW Natural and Pacific Power have donated more than $60,000 to Linn-Benton Community College’s new Advanced Transportation Technology Center, which is located in Lebanon, Oregon. Slated to be ready for students fall term, the donation will be used to support construction of and to purchase equipment for the new training facility. “Consumers Power, Inc. is pleased to be able to help LBCC bring this visionary effort to our local community,” said Roman Gillen, Consumers Power CEO.  “We are interested in looking for ways that alternative fuels can help not only our business, but also help our rural communities and agricultural members become even more competitive at home and abroad.” LBCC’s new center will train student and incumbent workers to service alternative fuel vehicles, working with industry to provide skilled employees and create jobs in the alternative fuels and transportation sector. “With Oregonians spe...

Propane industry joins forces with LBCC to provide program education. The Pacific Propane Gas Association donated $170,000 to Linn-Benton Community College’s new Advanced Transportation Technology Center for purchase of equipment to train student and incumbent workers to service propane-operated vehicles. LBCC’s new alternative fuels training center in Lebanon, Oregon will work with industry to meet the needs of local and regional businesses. “I am really excited about our partnership with Pacific Propane Gas Association,” said LBCC automotive instructor Bryan Schiedler. “I’ve spoken with many local industry leaders who have asked about various alternate fuels to reduce their cost of fuels.” PPGA’s donation will give existing automotive and heavy equipment students the opportunity to train on some of the latest, most advanced propane systems on late model vehicles, as well as give the college the ability to use these vehicles for demonstration ...

LBCC automotive students Nicholas Waymack, Misty Davis, automotive instructor Bryan Schiedler, Randy Camp (in CoEnergy truck), and automotive student Jamie Gayler. Future site of ATTC in Lebanon. Fueling the Future – Driving Innovation When it comes to fueling our cars, how much we spend at the pump can drive us to seek better, cheaper ways to get to our destinations. Those cheaper, cleaner alternatives aren’t on the horizon –they are already here. Hybrid electric/gas motors, full-on electric motors, biofuels, propane, compressed natural gas, and hydrogen fuel cells are being developed and improved upon as viable alternatives to gasoline. The new fuels bring new technology, and the need for people to service the fuel systems. LBCC is positioning itself to provide highly skilled technicians to work on the automobiles and heavy equipment of our future with a new Advanced Transportation Technology Center. The Advanced Transportation Technology Center (ATTC) will serv...

1991 Chevy Kodiak Propane Fueled Truck Automotive instructor Bryan Schiedler, left, and CoEnergy manager Randy Camp. CoEnergy Propane of Corvallis recently donated a propane fuel truck to Linn-Benton Community College’s Advanced Transportation program. The truck, a 1991 Chevy Kodiak, will be used as a training vehicle for students in the program to learn about alternative fuel systems. “It is our pleasure to work with LBCC on their new venture,” said Randy Camp, general manager of CoEnergy Propane. “Donating a propane-powered truck to help promote the training of LBCC students in the use of propane as a motor fuel can only benefit our community and the State of Oregon. As an Oregon owned and operated company, we want to do what we can to revitalize the local economy and bring Oregon back to where it belongs. We hope that this will help promote the use of propane and all alternative fuels in our area, and not only save other Oregon companies transportation dol...

LBCC and Snap-On, Inc. have partnered to bring the first Snap-on Certification Training Center to Oregon. The college is one of 27 nationally recognized Snap-on Certified Training Centers across the country. Did you know that the average new car today has more computer power than the Space Shuttle? According to Greg Rintala, Snap-on National Sales Manager, today’s cars are run almost entirely by microprocessors. “The average new car has dozens of microprocessors that run everything from the door locks to the engine systems,” said Rintala. Knowing how to diagnose problems in these often-complex systems is a critical part of automotive repair today. LBCC’s Snap-on certification program aims to teach the skills necessary to understand the capabilities of the diagnostic tools used in the field. As the largest mechanical tool vendor and manufacturer in the world, Snap-on holds approximately 65 percent of the aftermarket automotive diagnostic tool market. Through the Snap-on certification p...