Monday, April 27, 2026
Drylock Technologies Builds Leaders Through Partnership with CVTC
At Drylock Technologies, investing in employees means investing in the future.
Through a partnership with Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education team, the Eau Claire-area manufacturer has created opportunities for employees at multiple levels to strengthen leadership, communication and workplace skills in ways that support both personal and professional growth.
For Drylock, the value of the partnership has been its ability to meet the company’s needs in real time.
“CVTC gives us a very rapid response to our immediate needs,” said Tobie Matherne, director of human resources at Drylock Technologies. “As our business evolved, they helped us get the right training at the right time.”
That flexibility has allowed Drylock to bring training directly onsite and tailor coursework to fit the company’s goals, culture and stage of growth. Courses for frontline leaders, senior leaders and other team members have focused on communication, coaching, leadership development and navigating difficult conversations.
“The best part about partnering with CVTC is the collaboration, because it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach,” Matherne said.
The impact has been noticeable across the organization. Matherne said employees have taken what they’ve learned in class and carried it into their day-to-day work, creating stronger collaboration and more consistent communication among teams.
For Sam Gottmer, maintenance manager at Drylock, the experience has also been deeply personal.
“I first took the training as part of preparing for a leadership role, and it ended up helping me grow into the kind of leader I wanted to be,” Gottmer said.
He said one of the biggest takeaways from the training was learning to “pause, think and then act” — a lesson that has helped him both at work and at home.
“Working with CVTC has helped me become a better coworker, a better leader for my team and even a better father,” Gottmer said.
As Drylock continues to grow, the company sees employee development as essential to its success. Through its partnership with CVTC, the company is not only building stronger leaders, but also creating a workplace culture focused on communication, growth and long-term success.
