U.S. Dept. of Labor Acting Secretary visited Cincy State
The Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, Keith Sonderling, visited Cincinnati State on May 1, 2026, to learn more about the College’s important role in providing excellent technical education for the regional workforce.
WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) and WVXU radio covered Sonderling’s visit to the College.
(Photo above, from left: Randy Kappesser, ’81 (Cincinnati State Alumni Board President), Roneld Smith (Automotive Service Management ‘26), Diamond Woodson (Civil Engineering Technology – Construction Mgmt, ’26), Keith Sonderling (Acting Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Labor), President Monica Posey, John Silverman (Cincinnati State Trustee), Brendon Cull (CEO, Cincinnati Regional Chamber), Raj Minhas, M.D. (Cincinnati State Trustee))
During the visit, Acting Sec. Sonderling participated in a roundtable discussion that included Brendon Cull, CEO of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, and Robert Reichert, CEO of the Kenwood Dealer Group, the company that established a 10-year sponsorship to provide ongoing support and naming of the Automotive Service Technology (AST) program.
President Monica Posey, Trustee John Silverman, and Alumni Association President Randy Kappesser, ’81, also provided information during the roundtable discussion about the College’s economic impact in the region, and the College’s leadership in co-op and experiential education.
Roundtable participants included students Roneld Smith (’26, AST) and Diamond Woodson (’26, Civil Engineering Technology) who described their co-op experiences. Woodson also is participating in the College’s student support programs that are now managed by the U.S. Department of Labor. These programs at Cincinnati State include TRIO Student Support Services, Perkins grants, and the Title III grant that funds CState Complete.
Other Federal support for Cincinnati State students and programs includes the CCAMPIS grant that funds the Parenting Resource Center, and Pell grants, including Workforce Pell grants that support students seeking credentials such as the Child Development Associate certification offered by the College’s Early Childhood Education program.
During his visit, Sonderling toured Advanced Manufacturing labs in the Main Building B-Wing that recently received $3 million in Federal funds to help with renovations. The Acting Sec. gained some “hands-on” practice led by Mechanical Engineering Technology faculty members Zane Decker and Matt Spetz.
Sonderling also visited the Health Simulation Lab (SIM Lab) that is used by students in many of the College’s Health and Public Safety programs, where he spoke with HPS Dean Bonnie Smith and SIM Lab Director Rachael Meier.
Cincinnati State Chief of Institutional Advancement Elliott Ruther, who organized the event and led the tour, commended the College personnel who provided a meaningful experience for Acting Sec. Sonderling that was pulled together with only a few days’ notice.
“Everyone stepped up to help facilitate the visit, including our Facilities team, Campus Police, IT Services, and the Midwest Culinary Institute, as well as faculty staff, and administrators,” Ruther said.
“We greatly appreciate how often representatives of the Automotive and Mechanical Engineering programs, as well as HPS SIM Lab personnel and other campus teams, have come together to host visits for dignitaries and potential champions for Cincinnati State.”