Jun 1, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Shelly VanderMeulen, Jeff Morse, Hollianne McHugh, Carolyn Andrews and Augusta Kummer! A huge shout-out and congratulations to the exceptional team who represented NMC at the MEATA (Michigan Educators Apprenticeship & Training Association) Spring Conference. Not only did the NMC team members attend to collaborate on the future of work-based learning, but they also took center stage as presenters, sharing NMC’s innovative strategies and leadership in workforce development with peers from across the state. By actively participating in these crucial conversations, this team continues to sharpen NMC’s competitive edge in technical education, career pathways and registered apprenticeships! Thank you all for your hard work, your inspiring presentations and for brilliantly demonstrating how NMC is helping to “Chart the Course” for Michigan’s future workforce!
Kudos to Shirl Martin! Extended Education & Training offers a medical assistant program. Becoming a medical assistant is one of the first steps on the “stepping stone” pathway being created through the Sixty by 30 grant, and Anchor and Edge, NMC’s new Strategic Plan (Strategy 2; Objective 4). Because of her noncredit training through EE&T, this week, one of our medical assistant students was offered a new job at Munson Medical Center. Her starting wage is $19.45/per hour, 40 hours per week, with a $10,000 sign-on bonus if she agreed to a two year contract. She did! This is life-changing! She plans to continue on for her nursing degree here at NMC. This is all in thanks to our Sixty by 30 grant initiative and our Student Navigator, Shirl Martin.
Kudos to Marina Call! May 28 marked Marina Call’s last day as a Student Success Coach here at NMC and I want to recognize the incredible contributions she has made while in this position. Marina has served in this role for 5 years and in that time has supported over 400 individual students through nearly 900 coaching appointments! Not to mention the many resource tables at orientation, Welcome Week events, student workshops and classroom visits she has executed. Marina has helped lead and shape the Success Coaching team in many ways and has served as a mentor to other coaches. The impact she has had on the individual students she has supported, our team and on our overall student success and retention goals is immense and we are so grateful to her. While we will miss Marina being a part of the coaching team, we are excited for her to continue in her role with International Services and Service Learning and know that she will bring her coaching skills to all of the students she supports! Thank you, Marina for your dedication, excellence and valuable service as a Student Success Coach and for your continued work on our campus!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
Jun 1, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These colleagues have moved on to a new chapter in their lives. We wish them the very best as they navigate a new adventure, and we thank them for their time and dedication to NMC!
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- Sharon Angel – Custodian
- Pat Coy – Custodian
- Devin Hill – Adjunct Construction Technology Instructor
- Mathius Kithinji, supplemental employee – Technology Support Assistant
- Kathleen Moore – Business Instructor
- Susan Odgers – Adjunct Psychology Instructor
- Leanne Baumeler – Coordinator of Disability Support
- Luke Bobrowski, student employee – Engineering Tech Lab Assistant
- Rachel Bolger, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Kaitlyn Bolger, student employee – Writing Center Reader
- Nora Cosnowski, supplemental employee – Tutor
- Ahmin Embil, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Liam Filson, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Madison Findlay, student employee – Resident Assistant
- Stuart Ford – Materials Specialist
- Avery Frink, supplemental employee – Aviation Maintenance Technician
- Shelbie Gray, student employee – Enrollment Services Office Assistant
- Gracie Gross, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Melody Jesiek, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- McKenzie Johnson, student employee – Audio Technology Lab Assistant
- Keith Kasper – Adjunct Certified Flight Instructor
- Namith Kennedy, supplemental employee – Technical Division Lab Assistant
- Gabriel Lantz, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Aubrey Lantz, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Sam Laughhunn, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Jayrwin LeBlanc, supplemental employee – Technical Division Lab Assistant
- Dexter Lilie, student employee – Fitness Center Staff
- Joseph Lyons, student employee – Writing Center Reader
- Vivian Maddox, student employee – Writing Center Teaching Assistant
- Luke McClellan, student employee -– Tutor
- Shauna McLean, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Julie Merchant, supplemental employee – Test Proctor
- Ayriel Norteña, supplemental employee – Neurodiversity Peer Mentor
- Audrey Nylander, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Caleb Ordoyne, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Andrew Osborn, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Phillip Parker – Adjunct Audio Technology Instructor
- Maria Perez Lopez, student employee – Student Life Office Assistant
- Nate Porras, student employee – Student Life Office Assistant
- Nicholas Punla Smith, student employee – Writing Center Reader
- Alexander Rodgers, student employee – Resident Assistant
- Amanda Sanchez, student employee – Tutor
- Katarina Schoenow, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Elliot Sorg, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Mya Stanley, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Kennedy Stoudt, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Maren Tepastte, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Melissa Thomas, supplemental employee – Tutor
- Trinity Trowbridge, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Cathleen Warner – Adjunct English Instructor
- Olivia Watrous, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Ayla Weldon, student employee – Fitness Center Staff
- Rosalyn Zalewski, student employee – Tutor
Jun 1, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Micah Richards recently started working at the college as a Welding Assistant. Welcome to the NMC community!
Jun 1, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Join NMC Wellness and Yen Yoga for an invigorating outdoor yoga class beneath the pines. This course is free to NMC employees and will be led by Leslie Simionescu from Yen Yoga. Embrace the fresh air, connect with nature and rejuvenate your mind and body. All skill levels are welcome. Start your journey to relaxation and wellness with us today. One lucky attendee will win a brand new yoga bag!
Wednesday, June 24, 11 a.m.
Outside of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center
In the event of rain we will relocate to the gym in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building
Register
Questions? Email bhanbury@nmc.edu
May 22, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Do you want to get some extra steps in to meet your goals while connecting with colleagues? Brittany from Human Resources is hosting 2 employee walks around the Civic Center loop (this is approximately a 1 mile walk). These group walks are completely optional but can be a fun way to chat and catch up with colleagues so we hope you’ll join us for one or both times!
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- Tuesday May 26, 12:15 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 27, 5:15 p.m.
We will meet in front of the Dennos and plan to leave promptly at the scheduled time so grab your water and we will see you there!
May 22, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Lindsey Dickenson! Lindsay Dickinson does a great job of summarizing Campus Safety and Security during school orientations. I appreciate the detail she provides and saying, “See Something Say Something” as it reflects our security posture.
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
May 22, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
- Jamie Kidwell-Brix – Adjunct Beverage Management Instructor Beer
- Justin Roy – Custodian
- Mindy Lopus – Adjunct Beverage Management Instructor (Wine)
- Eric Snoek, supplemental employee – Test Proctor
- Rachael Kornoely, student employee – Aviation Line Crew
May 18, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
- Claire Wood, supplemental employee – Student Life Counseling Intern
- Forrester Neff, student employee – Aviation Line Crew
- Andrea Domres, supplemental employee – Residence Life
- Maryn Hulett – T/S State of Michigan Culinary Intern
May 11, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
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May 11, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Heather VanStratt! NOMIAC in September of 2024—This quarterly meeting took place at Baker College in Cadillac. Attendees included representation from HBA, NWMiW!, GVSU, MMTC, Baker College, and more. Heather VanStratt, Grant Manager & Community Coordinator through the Sixty by 30 grant initiative, leads the NOMIAC; the common agenda planning, and the identification of six regional strategic pathways that align with the Hot Jobs Report, MCCA data, and other regional data and industry input.
Kudos to Dan Hoesit, Max McColl, Jeremy Maloney, Cam Palmer and Tom Caswell! Dan, Max, Jeremy and Cam were performing spring clean up around Scholars Hall during Finals Week and as a part of that work they were using leaf blowers, and happened to be working right underneath the windows of my public speaking class as they were delivering final speeches. Concerned that the noise was distracting my students during their last speeches I walked downstairs and asked them if they could work somewhere else until 3 p.m. when our class ended. They were all really, really gracious and agreed to work in a different area to minimize the disturbance, allowing our class to finish up. The students appreciated their flexibility!
Kudos to Cathy Warner, Brandon Everest, Kristy McDonald, Becca Richardson and Charles Macphee! Kudos to Cathy Warner (ENG 111), Brandon Everest (SOC 201), Kristy McDonald (BUS 231), Becca Richardson (MTH 120), and Charles Macphee (EGY 105) for opening their final class presentations to NMC and the community for the 5th Annual NMC Learning Symposium. Their student presentations were outstanding!
Kudos to Caroline Schaefer-Hills, Kyle Morrison and Sarah Montgomery-Richards! Kudos to those who participated in the 5th Annual NMC Learning Symposium Reflective Table Talk session! Caroline Schaefer-Hills had her Studio Visual Communicarions students share their final projects. Kyle Morrison shared the accomplishments of this year’s E-Sports team. Sarah Montgomery-Richards had three students share their reflections from the GVSU Interfaith Learning Lab. It was a pleasure to hear the students’ reflections and pride in their work!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
May 11, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
- Julie Merchant, supplemental employee – Test Proctor
- Remy Carlson, supplemental employee – Hagerty Center Banquet Server
- Jack Hlavach, student employee – Aviation Line Crew
May 4, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Thank you to everyone who participated in our first ever Wellness tournament! Congratulations to our 2026 Employee Cornhole Champion Nathan Richey! And a huge shout-out to our runner-up Ashleigh Fender for an amazing competition!
This was an incredible end to the Spring semester, and we can’t wait for the next wellness event!
May 4, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
- Kendall Spratt – Library Services Specialist
- Nathan Fewins – Custodian
- Katie Radtke, supplemental employee – Test Proctor
- Bobby Blome, supplemental employee – UAS Flight Staff
- Mason Nichols, supplemental employee – GLMA Vessels Assistant Engineer
- Jeff Polek, supplemental employee – GLMA Vessels Chief Engineer
- Evan Wallace, supplemental employee – GLMA Vessels Assistant Engineer
Apr 27, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Macy BeGole – Adjunct Certified Flight Instructor
- Jonathan King, supplemental employee – Law Enforcement (Firearms)
Apr 27, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), hourly non-exempt employees may need to consider what hours should be included when recording hours worked, and what are not considered working hours. Below is a nice summary to help folks distinguish between the two.
Hourly workers and their supervisors should evaluate the time that they spend working to determine if hours are being reported properly. All time worked must be reported and paid, and workers may not “volunteer” their time if the activities fall within the scope of their assigned/regular job duties.
If a worker is engaged in genuine volunteer activities outside the scope of their job duties, that time would not be paid. An example may be volunteering with the Mobile Food Pantry.
More information is available in the Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division’s Fact Sheet #22.
NMC also has a policy regarding non-exempt (hourly) employees’ work hours.
Working Hours under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
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Category
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Working hours (paid) include:
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Non-working hours (unpaid) include:
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Breaks and Meals
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- Short breaks (5–20 mins)
- Working through lunch; “on-call” lunches (e.g., eating while answering phones)
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- Bona fide meal periods (30+ mins) where the employee is completely relieved of all duties
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Travel
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- Travel between job sites/campuses
- Travel that is a principle activity in an employee’s job
- Travel that occurs during your normal workday
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- Normal commute from home to work
- Any travel as a passenger outside of regular work hours
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Waiting Time
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- “Engaged to wait” Time: Waiting for a machine to be fixed, waiting for a customer, or waiting for instructions at the worksite
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- Time “waiting to be engaged”: Completely relieved of duty with enough time to use the time for your own purposes
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Training & Meetings
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- Required meetings
- Training during work hours
- Training directly related to your current job
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- Voluntary attendance
- Outside normal hours
- Not job-related
- No productive work performed
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Prep & Cleanup
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- Setting up equipment
- Safety checks
- Putting on/taking off specialized safety gear
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- Changing clothes at home
- Normal hygiene
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On-Call
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- Restricted on-call (must stay on-premises or so close you can’t use time for yourself)
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- Unrestricted on-call (just leaving a phone number and being free to go about your day)
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Incidental Work
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- Correcting mistakes (“rework”)
- Checking work emails/texts after hours
- Staying late to “catch up”
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- Volunteering for a charity event (truly voluntary and outside work hours)
- Social office parties
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Note: The information in this table was organized with generative AI assistance (Gemini).
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Human Resources at hr@nmc.edu.
Apr 27, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Josh Wagner! Josh organized and ran a Jazz Invitational to invite local high school jazz bands to come play and engage with the NMC Jazz Bands. I have spent my life working in events, and this was one of the most well organized events I have been a part of. His communication and passion made this all possible. We all talk about experiential learning but Josh put in so much extra time, effort and I’m sure money into make this happen. He is a shining example of what education can be and a great person to work with. He is championing NMC and the arts to future generations and investing in the future of both.
Kudos to Krista McCarty! Krista McCarty has led a digital advertising campaign for leadership training through Extended Education & Training. She is generating leads and filling classes! Thank you, Krista!
Kudos to Fred Cook & Gary Schettek! Fred and Gary really helped out the Hawk Owl Cafe by cleaning up a large fryer oil spill. Not only did they respond quickly but they went above and beyond to make sure it was cleaned up properly. Thank you both for helping us in our time of need!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
Apr 17, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These colleagues have moved on to a new chapter in their lives. We wish them the very best as they navigate a new adventure, and we thank them for their time and dedication to NMC!
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- Magnus Mannor, supplemental employee – Food Service, Back of House
- Jenifer Taylor – Facilities Project Manager
- Jonah Villanueva, supplemental employee – Banquet Server, Hagerty Center
- Zelda Wagner, student employee – Writing Center Teaching Assistant
Apr 17, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Levi Cumming, supplemental employee – UAS Flight Staff
- Maggi Prigge, supplemental employee – Banquet Hall Server, Hagerty Center
- Marc Maskart – Adjunct Certified Flight Instructor
- Ava Plamondon – Adjunct Certified Flight Instructor
