Tech is Opportunity—
Moraine Park alumnus and Fond du Lac native, Chris Dudzinski, returned to the College where his own journey began—this time as a business instructor. He first attended Moraine Park in the late 1990s, earning a degree in engine technology. Though his path from the shop floor to the classroom wasn’t a straight one, each step along the way helped shape the instructor he is today.
After graduating, Dudzinski began working for a local business that offered tuition reimbursement and internal leadership training. That opportunity led him back to Moraine Park, where he completed supervisor and management training through the College’s workforce development program. From there, he continued his education at Marian University and earned a degree in business.
His teaching journey began with instructing dealerships on engine repair through a contracted course between Moraine Park and Mercury Marine on the Beaver Dam Campus.
“It’s funny how few people end up exactly where they thought they would when they first went to college,” Dudzinski said. “That’s definitely been true for me.”
Dudzinski’s transition into business was sparked when a supervisor recognized his leadership potential and encouraged him to pursue management. One opportunity led to another—corporate roles, leadership experience and eventually owning a small business with his wife. Those experiences are now central to how he teaches.
“One of the biggest things I try to tell students is not to always say no,” Dudzinski said. “Opportunities come along that you may not understand at the time, but when you look back years later, you realize how important they were.”
As a business instructor, Dudzinski is passionate about changing the perceptions of what a technical college business program can offer.
“Sometimes people don’t think of a technical college as a place to earn a business degree,” he said. “But what we do really well here is hands-on learning, even in business.”
In Moraine Park’s Business Management program, students don’t just learn theory. They practice real-world skills like creating job postings, conducting SWOT analyses, developing codes of ethics, leading brainstorming sessions and building team-based strategies.
“Our goal is to give students the skills needed to manage someone else’s business or department,” Dudzinski said. “Those are things employers expect you to know how to do, and we can teach them directly.”
Keeping business curriculum current requires strong connections to industry. Many instructors come directly from the business world, bringing firsthand experience into the classroom. The program is also supported by an advisory committee made up of business leaders from across the district. Representing a range of industries, the committee meets regularly with faculty to ensure coursework reflects real workforce needs.
“They tell us what they’re seeing in the field and what skills they want graduates to have,” Dudzinski said. “That feedback is incredibly valuable.”
Graduates of Moraine Park’s Business programs pursue a wide range of career paths. Some use their degree as a stepping stone toward a bachelor’s degree, taking advantage of the College’s robust transfer agreements with universities across Wisconsin. Others are already in the workforce and looking to advance through promotions, raises or new responsibilities.
“Business is a great choice if you’re still figuring things out,” Dudzinski said. “The skills are broad, and they open doors in a lot of different directions.”
He encourages students to get involved on campus, build relationships and develop soft skills—abilities employers consistently say are just as important as technical knowledge.
As an alumnus, business professional and instructor, Dudzinski brings a perspective shaped by real experience and a belief that with the right support and hands-on learning, students can build careers they may not have imagined when they first walked through Moraine Park’s doors.
Take the first step toward a career in business management by visiting morainepark.edu/business-management.