Our Team

Steve Arne

Training Director

AETech Electrical Training Center

Steve Arne has worked as an electrician, electrical contractor, and electrical instructor for 45 years. Steve spent 10 years In the electrical field, then the next nineteen years as a teacher and department head in the Electrical Program at Western Dakota Technical Institute. Since Steve retired from Western Dakota Tech in 2003, he has provided industry-direct training specializing in continuing education Electrical Code classes and Electrician Exam Preparation classes for Journeyman and Master’s level exams. In 2012, Steve and Deb’s son Ryan returned to Rapid City SD to help Steve expand his training business at AETech Electrical Training Center to include a 640-hour full-time day-time Apprentice Electrician Training Program.

Steve earned a Technical Education Teaching Degree from Dakota State University and a Master’s Degree in Administrative Studies from the University of South Dakota. Steve served two terms as a Board Member of the SD Electrical Commission and served on the State and Local Chapter Boards of the SD Electrical Council. He was honored as the 2019 person of the year by the SD Electrical Council.

Steve worked with Mike Holt as the Technical Editorial Director and served as the Technical Editorial Director and served as a technical editor and video team participant from 2002 until 2014 and uses Mike’s books in his classes. He is very thankful to have been associated with an industry leader like Mike who provides excellent training products to help students progress in the electrical industry and has a real heart to help others.

Steve grew up on a farm in eastern South Dakota, and has lived in Rapid City, South Dakota since 1970 where he and his wife Deb are both active in their church and community, and love to spend time with their children and grandchildren. Most of all, Steve and Deb both strive to put God first in their lives, in their home and in their relationships.

Ryan Arne

Instructor of the Apprentice Training Course

AETech Electrical Training Center

Ryan Arne, Instructor of the Apprentice Training Course has been in the Electrical Industry since 1990. He began teaching at AETech in 2012.

Ryan received his Electrical Apprentice license at age 14, assisting his father Steve Arne on the weekends with Residential and Commercial projects. Ryan received his Associates degree from Western Dakota Votech fueling his passion for the Electrical CODE.

He pursued his career as an Electrical Forman and Superintendent on Public and State Commercial Electrical jobs in Southern California. As a Foreman Safety is #1 for all of his Apprentices and Journeymen.

As the Industry grew; so did Ryan. Receiving his Electrical Contractors License in California serving Residential customers from those who needed a Service Call up to Custom Homes. Commercial work included Tenant Improvements, Tilt Ups, Industrial Motor Control, and Build Design. Green Technology was integrated into his Designs from Solar Energy to LED retrofit.

From Apprentice to Master Electrician, Ryan brings the element of “Hands On” and a Passion for the Electrical CODE to AETech Electrical Training Center.