Success Story: Park City peak performers
February 3, 2016
It’s hard to top the commutes of Great Lakes Culinary Institute alumni Jared Pontius and Jeromy Stanley.
Executive chefs at on-mountain restaurants in Park City, Utah, both ride chairlifts and slopes to their kitchens each day.
“There isn’t anybody on the mountain, and it’s my time to relax before the busy day,” said Stanley, 29, whose Summit House restaurant is located 9,400 feet and two chairlift rides up the Wasatch Mountains. Over the course of the day, he’ll supervise 13 employees serving hundreds of skiers passing through the 300-seat restaurant.
“Every employee has to ride down at least one run to the restaurant,” said Pontius, 26, whose 400-seat Miners Camp restaurant is perched at 8,500 feet and keeps 12-15 cooks busy. Both restaurants are part of Park City Mountain Resort, the largest ski resort in the U.S., and host to many events in the 2002 Olympics.
Both chefs began their educations elsewhere. Pontius attended culinary school in his home state of Indiana and transferred to NMC and the Culinary Institute when his parents moved to Traverse City for jobs of their own. Stanley studied secondary education at Western Michigan University for two years before deciding he wanted a more hands-on career. At GLCI, he found small classes and personal attention from an outstanding faculty.
“You had their undivided attention every day,” said Stanley, who graduated in 2011. “They taught me to effectively communicate amongst my peers, as a leader and in my everyday life.”
Pontius, a 2010 graduate, said events like the annual Tasters Guild Auction, now called A Taste of Success and coming up Feb. 19, set GLCI apart for him.
The mountains were a big factor in the original westward pull for Stanley, who skied on the Traverse City West High School team before graduating in 2005. Pontius interned at a Park City town restaurant while at GLCI and returned when a mentor chef from the internship moved to the resort.
Working at an on-mountain restaurant also means none of the night shifts notorious in the culinary world.
“That is a huge advantage for me. I’ve done those night kitchens for years and that’s not for me,” Stanley said.
In the future, Pontius might return to Traverse City to open his own restaurant. In the meantime, the mountains – and that commute— will do just fine.
“I definitely fell in love with it when I first came out here. The mountains are a majestic place to live,” Pontius said. “Sometimes that one run at the beginning and end of the day is perk enough.”
The NMC Student Veterans of America group will host a Chili Cook Off on February 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Health and Science Building atrium. A $1 donation will get you three samples and for just $3 you can buy a bowl. Come vote for your favorite chili and help support the Student Veterans group!
NMC International Services and Service Learning presents their Passport Student Lecture Series for February with international student Chetra Cambo who will speak to attendees about Cambodia. 
A student led discussion in a comfortable setting. An informal chance to get together each month, share options and open a window on the world! Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 8:30 p.m. in the West Hall Conference Room.
On Wednesday, Feb. 10 discover your thinking method and learn how to identify the different kinds of thinking styles in this innovative workshop with authors Angie McArthur based on her book, “Collaborative Intelligence- Thinking with People Who Think Differently.” In this free workshop, also featuring Anne Powell, you will discover how to better communicate and improve teamwork in school, work, and in your personal day to day life. This session will reveal different strategies, various breakthrough practices, and unique tools that the authors have developed to unleash your full individual and collaborative potential.
The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College invites visitors to share their love for art by voting with their hearts. As part of a national program called Hearts for Art, visitors can use paper hearts to vote for their favorite work.
The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College will present the Rev. Robert Jones and Matt Watroba on Friday, February 19, 2016 at 8 PM in Milliken Auditorium. Tickets are $25 advance, $28 at the door and $22 for museum members plus ticket fees. Tickets may be purchased on line at 
Come to the Hawk Owl Cafe on Super Bowl Sunday (February 7) from 4-6 p.m. for a special dinner! 
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Hawk Owl Cafe on February 11 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. with a special lunch menu featuring carved prime rib, baked potato and a side of broccoli for just $16.99. 
On February 14, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Parsons-Stulen building, NMC Staff and other volunteers will be on hand to assist students and their families in FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Completion for the 2016-2017 aid year. Don’t lose out on thousands of dollars for college! To get the most your FAFSA needs to be turned in by March 1, 2016.
Come join us and learn about the Social Work Program right here in Traverse City. This program will enhance the depth of practice, refine and shape advance practitioners. Students will be prepared to effectively intervene and acquire advanced skills in leadership. The meeting will take place on February 10 at the NMC University Center, room 13 from 5-7 p.m. 