A Letter from our Executive Director

Stepping into the Executive Director role this year, my priority has been to bring renewed clarity, visibility, and strategic direction to the Transportation Center of Excellence (TCOE). TCOE sits at the nexus of education, industry, and workforce development, and my work has centered on reconnecting these pieces—building stronger statewide relationships, aligning our initiatives with emerging technologies, and elevating the voice of our faculty and programs. Through a statewide tour of all transportation campuses, industry engagement, and active collaboration with executive leadership, I gained a clear view of both the challenges and opportunities shaping Minnesota’s transportation ecosystem. 

My integration into TCOE has been about building momentum: launching a new professional development series, reigniting sector meetings, supporting  industry partnerships, building new synergies with the National Center for Autonomous Technologies, strengthening the Nitro-X framework, and ensuring our work reflects real workforce needs across Aviation, Automotive, Collision Repair, Diesel, Marine and Powersports, Truck Driving, and potentially a new area, Logistics. The Center is uniquely positioned to support Minnesota’s transportation future, and I am committed to leading TCOE with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and long-term workforce impact. 

• Shawn Haag, Executive Director

Driving impact across Minnesota

This year, the TCOE continued to drive meaningful impact across Minnesota through innovative programs, strong partnerships, and statewide collaboration. Click below to explore our 2025 highlights and see how we’re supporting the future of transportation education.