Republican Eagle: Alumnus Dave Dunlap's sign project brings the green to Southeast

By Katryn Conlin Minnesota State College Southeast
August 31, 2024

For Dave Dunlap, walking through the doors at Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing last spring was a trip down memory lane. 

He hadn't been back in the building since graduating from the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) program at the age of 25. As he wandered the hallways, the spaces looked familiar, but he didn't see anyone he knew from his student days.  

Now, he was on campus on a mission: to help Southeast implement its new branding. As the general manager and part owner of Sievers Creative Sign Studio, Dunlap knew this was a project his company could tackle successfully. 

And as an alum of the college, he was proud to be in a position where he could help the college make a positive change.

Dunlap remembers his time at Southeast as a turning point in his life.

"I always liked taking things apart and putting them back together. I liked working with my hands, and I wanted to get skills in a variety of trades areas," he said. "That's when I realized that HVAC would be a good fit for me."

At the time, he was living in Hastings, and he might have chosen a technical college in the Twin Cities. The decision to go to college in Red Wing was life-changing.

"I was always a wanderer - If I wasn't happy somewhere I was always ready to move. I needed to save on gas money, so I moved to Red Wing!" 

At almost the same time, he met his wife, and Red Wing has been their home ever since. They've found it a supportive community and he counts his HVAC instructor, now a neighbor, as a lifelong friend. 

"We really put our roots down here," he said.

After graduating from Southeast with honors, he worked in a heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical shop in Ellsworth for about two years, then moved to Red Wing Shoe Company, starting in production and advancing into management.

"The technical basics that I learned at Southeast really played a key role in understanding more of the electrical side, how equipment works, and general knowledge of construction, machinery, and equipment," he said.

He was at Red Wing Shoe for almost 14 years. 

"I loved working there, it's a great company. I learned so much about how to make a quality product," he said.

In his role at Sievers Creative, he has found a collaborative environment, working closely with the Sievers family, who have been long-time friends. He said that Sievers Creative Sign Studio has a dedicated growth plan to be the best full service-marketing agency in the region, and he's especially proud of the entire Sign Studio team.  

When Minnesota State College Southeast announced its rebranding in March 2024, Dave knew immediately that his alma mater would need to invest in new signs. Transitioning the college to the new logo and colors would take a focused plan to produce and install high-quality signage on a tight deadline - the beginning of fall semester.

If you drive past the college building at 308 Pioneer Road today, you can't miss seeing his company's work. 

"What a difference! Southeast's new logo is a lot more modern, it's cleaner, crisper. The colors are brighter, much more eye-catching," he said. "You can really tell when you're walking through the school that everything looks elegant, high-end. I love the color scheme - the green really pops."

He added, "When I think of colors and branding, I think it's about building up school spirit. People are proud to represent Minnesota State College Southeast and you're even seeing that in what they're wearing. Everything looks more welcoming - it just looks like a college!"

Katryn Conlin is communications director at Minnesota State College Southeast.