Rodney G. Van Wyk, President and CEO
Personal and Business Experience
Rod Van Wyk started his career with the Ankeny Police department in September of 1973. In the nine years that Rod was on the department he served in various capacities.
He served as not only a police officer but also held progressively more responsible positions. While with the Ankeny Police Department, Rod served as an acting watch commander, investigator, school liaison officer in 1977, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and Watch Commander and served on both the first and third watch.
In 1982, after serving 9 years, Rod resigned from the Ankeny Police Department to accept his current position with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy as a law enforcement instructor. The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, under the direction of it's late director Jack Callaghan and current director Gene W. Shepard, is recognized nation wide as a quality training organization. Iowa Law Enforcement Academy graduates are not only sought state wide but nationally, because of their outstanding moral, ethical, and academic credentials. The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy is one of the few academies nation wide, whose instructional staff all retain post-graduate degrees up to the doctoral level.
Rod has served as a law enforcement instructor and chief driving instructor for the past 14 years. Rod has trained over 2000 officers in the area of non-emergency, emergency, and pursuit driving.
In 1993, Rod created an instructor development program and currently trains some 16 officers per year as driving instructors for their own communities.
In 1991, Rod was able to secure, through grant, a "skid-car platform" for the state academy. Iowa was the first public organization to secure such an innovative device for teaching skid control. Rod currently holds instructor certification number 23 nation wide.
Rod is also a charter member of ALERT International, an association of law enforcement driving professionals. He is a member of numerous professional driving organizations.
In 1992, Rod, in association with a local commercial driving school and Des Moines Area Community Collage, developed a skid-car training program for high-school driver education students.
Rod has attended numerous driving schools through-out the United States and is recognized nationally as a court certified expert in the field of driving. He has consulted on cases across the nation, both at a state and federal level, and has lectured extensively to professional organizations.
Rod sits on the advisory committee for the Transportation Institute and is on several state advisory committees in the area of vehicle operation.
In 1991, Rod and his wife Pauline founded Van Wyk & Associates, Inc., a training, consulting and management company.
In 1993, Rod accepted the general manager position for Eddyville Raceway Park, a dragway and race facility located at Eddyville, Iowa. The facility had recently been purchased by Mr. Cary Moyer. Rod over-saw a multi-million dollar renovation of the facility, completely set-up the organizational structure and controlled a six-figure budget and over 40 personnel.
In 1994, Rod resigned as general manager when the demands of the facility required full time attention. Rod still acts in the advisory capacity and sits on the Board of Directors.
Rod has always had a keen interest in the areas of drivers training at various levels and currently bought copyrights and some assets of Automotion Driving School with intent of creating a multi-faceted commercial driving school.
Van Wyk & Associates, Inc. has currently changed it's name to "DRIVE TEK" to better reflect it's mission.
EDUCATION
- University of Iowa, BA Psychology and History, 1973
- Central Missouri State University, MS Criminal Justice Administration, 1986
- Online Driver Education Registration Form{printable form}
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