On Target for a New Career

Staff Spotlight: Lacey Rebarchek

If you’ve ever called Blackhawk Tech and weren’t sure who you needed to talk to, you’ve probably spoken to Lacey Rebarchek (pictured below), the Welcome Center Assistant at Central Campus. She’s also the first person you see when you walk into Central Campus and takes her role as the face of BTC very seriously.

Many people who come in recognize her from her 24 years as a team leader at the Janesville Target. She enjoys seeing former guests and team members who are at BTC as fellow employees or students. While working at Target, Lacey obtained her degree in marketing at Blackhawk and is thrilled to employ that new degree on campus. She is a living, breathing example of what students can achieve when they invest in themselves.

“I didn’t know a lot about education,” Lacey said about pursuing her current position, “but I did know customer service, and I’m a fast learner. I’m super thankful that Blackhawk had the confidence in me to be able to do this job and I couldn’t be happier.”

Her supervisor couldn’t be happier either. “Lacey’s passion and dedication for serving our students, faculty, staff, and community is unmatched. It is common for me to hear students thanking Lacey for her help or excited to meet her in person because she assisted them over the phone. Lacey truly lives out the Blackhawk mission and we are lucky to have her on our team,” said Katie Lange, Student Enrollment Manager at Blackhawk.

Her work at the Welcome Center over the past year and a half has involved more than just rolling out the welcome mat for students and visitors. Lacey also works with the recruiting and advising teams to outreach to current and potential students.

Seeing this side of what the college offers has made Lacey an advocate for the advising department. “Get connected with your program advisor,” she encouraged. “They are here to help you succeed, but it’s up to you to own your education.”

The pandemic has required that BTC Student Services Division shift how they handle contact with current and prospective students. Safety first has been the rallying cry of the entire college, and outreach had to adjust. Instead of meeting with large groups and traveling to schools, they’ve had to creatively consider ways to be more distanced.

“Students are getting more comfortable with Zoom as a way to meet with recruiters and advisors,” Lacey said, pleased with how this department, so dependent on a connection, has been flexible in finding alternative means.

Last June, Lacey was recognized for her exemplary service to the college during the pandemic. She received one of about a dozen BTC merit awards. These awards are given annually to employees who go above and beyond to live out the mission and values of the College.

While she’s helping Blackhawk students navigate remote and socially distanced learning on campus, Lacey and her husband, Kevin, are also helping their high school and college-aged sons navigate these same challenges at home. 

“I’ve been fortunate enough to continue working here at the College through the pandemic helping to get and keep our students enrolled,” she said. “Due to pandemic concerns and COVID testing, my phone has been ringing a bit more than normal.”

So, the next time you find yourself at the main campus or wandering through the welcome center area, stop in and greet Lacey. “I love it when people come up and introduce themselves because we’ve talked on the phone,” she said. “It’s always nice to put a name with a face, even if it is masked for now.”

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