2026 TCOE Award Recipients

Jeffrey Copeland is a distinguished Automotive Service Technology educator whose career represents nearly four decades of technical mastery and a profound commitment to the next generation of technicians. A 1988 graduate of Des Moines Area Community College, Jeff spent his early years in the dealership circuit, honing his skills across brands like Ford, Dodge, Porsche, and Audi. In 1991, he earned his ASE Master Technician certification—a credential he has maintained for 35 years—and became a specialized expert in Jeep diagnostics and repair.

In 1993, Jeff and his wife, Darcey, moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he served as the region’s only certified Jeep Master Technician. It was here that Jeff developed a lifelong passion for the outdoors, spending his time fly fishing and exploring the backcountry of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. In 1995, he returned to Minnesota to join Stillwater Motors, where he worked until 2003 before transitioning into his true calling: education.

For the past 23 years, Jeff has been a cornerstone of the Automotive Service Technology program at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC). As he prepares for an upcoming sabbatical, Jeff’s focus remains on the future of the trade. His current work is dedicated to developing training pathways that bridge the educational gap—connecting Middle School STEM to High School CTE, and ultimately to professional training at the college level. While he is slowly transitioning toward new challenges in the private sector, his heart remains rooted in the classroom. Jeff also serves on the board of the Midwest Teachers of Transportation and Industrial Areas (MTTIA) as the Automotive Liaison.

Jeff often reflects that while most teachers never get rich from the profession, they are afforded the opportunity to live incredibly rich and meaningful lives—surrounded by those they love and those they have helped along the way. A resident of Scandia, Minnesota, Jeff is the proud father of Tory and Brooke and enjoys boating and four wheeling with Darcey and their Golden Retriever, Carson. This induction honors a lifetime of leadership and a legacy of mentorship that has kept Minnesota’s automotive industry moving forward.

Jeff’s strong work ethic and passion for mechanics began at an early age while growing up on a farm. Repairing equipment was simply part of daily life, and many of his first vehicles needed a lot of work to keep them running. While attending high school, Jeff worked at a tree farm, where he operated equipment and performed light repairs and maintenance. That experience solidified his goal of becoming a heavy equipment mechanic.

After graduating from a technical institute in heavy equipment mechanics, Jeff began his professional career with Ditch Witch, where he spent several years learning what it truly means to repair equipment the right way. He later worked at a gravel pit, gaining additional real‑world experience, but soon sought greater challenges. That led him to a major highway heavy contractor, where he spent 18 years as a field service mechanic. This role took him across the country where he learned what it takes to repair heavy equipment on the jobsites as quickly as possible.

After many years in the field, Jeff decided to transition into teaching so he could be home more often and help others pursue successful careers in the industry. He has taught in the Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technician program at Central Lakes College for 15 years. Jeff takes pride in challenging his students to think critically, understand proper diagnostic procedures, and develop the skills needed to test and repair complex equipment. Seeing students graduate and succeed in the industry is one of the most rewarding parts of his career.

Jeff also encourages teamwork and healthy competition among his students, particularly through participation in SkillsUSA. Students consistently describe the experience as enjoyable and worthwhile. Central Lakes College diesel students have earned first place at the state competition four times, including one national first‑place finish and one second‑place finish at the national level.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors. He values time with his three children and is especially passionate about working in his garage and cruising in his 1969 Camaro.

Minneapolis College Aircraft Maintenance Technician (ACMT) Program Instructor, Anna Chadwick, began her Journey in Aviation by earning her associate degree in Aircraft Maintenance from Minneapolis Community and Technical College in 2006.  Her first job as an A&P mechanic was with Elliott Aviation in Moline, IL where she was the first female in the over 60 years, they had been in business. She moved onto larger aircraft at the airlines, then Pratt and Whitney Inspecting Commercial Jet engines after receiving her Inspection Authorization from the FAA. She continued to grow her experience working several positions at Gulfstream Aerospace on the G650 production line, meanwhile growing her knowledge earning a bachelor’s degree in aviation maintenance with a Minor in Aviation Safety from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.  She moved on to become a Corporate Flight technician on a Gulfstream 450 aircraft, the first female aircraft maintenance technician at 3M Aviation and the Director of Maintenance of FlyWise Aviation, a certified FAA 145 she helped build from the ground up. She also continued her education to earn a master’s degree with Distinction in Aviation maintenance from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She is now sharing her 20 years of experience in the industry with her students as an ACMT Program Instructor for Minneapolis College.

In her 20 years in the industry Anna has received 19 scholarships and several awards including the Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award and the NBAA Top 40 under 40 Aviation Professionals. She spent 9 years volunteering as the Director of scholarships for the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM) where she more than quadrupled the amount of scholarships offered to students and professionals in the industry. She has also volunteered her time on the NBAA Maintenance Committee and with Women in Aviation International (WAI). She shares the knowledge she has gained through these volunteer experiences with her students, ensuring they are always made aware of scholarships available for them to apply to and the importance of those scholarships. She also enjoys educating her students on creating resumes tailored to the aviation industry for which they wish to work. She continues to be a member of many aviation organizations and enjoys attending industry events and remaining well connected. She also holds a private pilot license, as she always said, “If I am going to fix airplanes, I should know how to fly airplanes.” It is clear to see, she has a passion for Aviation, and her hope is that students too will develop a passion for the Aviation Industry for which they are just starting to become a part of.  

Jason began his automotive career immediately after graduating high school, pursuing his passion for the industry by enrolling in the Automotive Technology program at St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC). He launched his career at Miller Pontiac, Buick, GMC, and Nissan, where he quickly developed a strong drive to master the technical side of the business. To further sharpen his skills, Jason completed the General Motors ASEP program at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC), dedicating two years to intensive, hands-on training.

Jason spent nearly a decade working as an automotive technician at Miller and Thomas Auto Mall, fully immersing himself in the mechanical foundation of the industry. From the outset, his goal was to build a strong technical base and eventually transition into a people-focused role where he could make a broader impact.

That vision became reality when Jason moved into a Service Advisor role at Thomas Auto Mall. There, he discovered his passion for connecting customers and technicians, solving problems, building trust, and supporting smooth daily operations. His leadership and dedication earned recognition, and he was invited by the dealership owner to step into the role of Service Manager—a position he led until the dealership was sold.

Jason next joined Tenvoorde Ford, where he managed the service department for eight years. During this time, he led significant growth initiatives, including overseeing the construction and staffing of a new Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center and launching a new detail center. These projects allowed him to combine operational expertise with his passion for building strong teams from the ground up.

Driven by both personal and professional goals, Jason pursued a lifelong dream of living on Minnesota’s North Shore. This opportunity led him to Sonju Superstore, where he managed service operations across multiple brands, including Ford, CDJR, Chevrolet, and Polaris. The role provided a dynamic and rewarding leadership challenge that further expanded his experience.

Seeking to explore opportunities beyond traditional dealership roles, Jason joined GATR Truck Center as a Corporate Service Manager, supporting service departments across five dealerships. He later transitioned into a Fleet Manager role, overseeing the maintenance, repair, and performance of a lease and rental fleet of approximately 350 trucks.

It was at GATR where Jason discovered his true passion—people. Recognizing his strengths, the organization encouraged him to move into a recruiting role. Since then, Jason has been deeply engaged in building meaningful connections with students, educators, and communities. He regularly attends job fairs, partners with high schools, and collaborates with technical and community colleges near each dealership location.

Jason particularly enjoys speaking directly with students. Through classroom presentations, he shares post‑high‑school pathways and highlights the vast opportunities available within the transportation industry. He has organized training sessions with diesel programs across Minnesota and Iowa, providing students direct access to industry professionals. He also enjoys hosting dealership tours that showcase career growth, work environments, and the inner workings of the business in an engaging and inspiring way.

To strengthen the connection between education and industry, Jason actively encourages service managers to participate in advisory boards and serves on several himself. He has also been proudly involved with Nitro‑X summer camps at SCTCC and Century College, offering students interactive dealership experiences. Seeing students’ work come to life at race events has been especially rewarding, and Jason is honored to serve on the Nitro‑X Steering Committee.

In 2023, Jason took on the role of Transportation Cluster Lead for EPIC, bringing businesses together to inspire the next generation. In this role, he helps expose high school sophomores to careers in automotive, autobody, aviation maintenance, and heavy truck and diesel fields. EPIC reaches approximately 4,500 students from 40 high schools annually, and Jason remains committed to ensuring each experience is hands‑on, engaging, and impactful.

Throughout his career, Jason’s passion has evolved—from mastering machines to empowering people. Today, he is driven by the opportunity to inspire, connect, and help others discover meaningful and rewarding careers in an industry he deeply loves.

Paul Steevens works with the Automotive Engineering Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, within the Minnesota Center for Automotive Research (MnCAR). He has taught courses and labs in the program for many years and enjoys working in an industry driven by constantly evolving technology.

After completing his master’s degree, Paul began his career researching ethanol fuel compatibility, initially focusing on small-engine applications. He joined the MnCAR lab full time more than 20 years ago, continuing and expanding this ethanol research. In 2008, he played a key role when the new MnCAR facility was constructed and commissioned for emissions testing. Since then, his work has grown to include electric vehicle research and a wide range of additional vehicle-focused research projects.

Paul takes pride in helping Minnesota businesses use the MnCAR lab to conduct meaningful vehicle research and enjoys seeing how industry partners tackle real-world challenges year after year.

More recently, Paul has become deeply involved in outreach efforts for the Automotive Engineering Program. He regularly visits high school career days and job fairs, where he enjoys sharing the exciting projects students work on and the diverse, rewarding careers graduates pursue.

Through the Transportation Center of Excellence, Paul learned about the Nitro-X camps and volunteered at two sessions to explore how the program could be brought to southern Minnesota. Now serving as a camp leader, he led his first Nitro-X camp in Mankato last year and is preparing to run his second camp in the summer of 2026. He is passionate about inspiring young people and building excitement for careers in vehicle related fields.