Employee Anniversaries
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
IRS mileage rate change
The IRS mileage rate for business use of vehicle changed from 54 cents to 53.5 cents per mile beginning January 1, 2017. Read more about the change here »
T’was the week before Christmas
T’was the week before Christmas and across NMC
You can hear students shout, “No more classes for me!
They are loading their cars and returning their books
Dreaming of presents that will fill up a few empty nooks.
The faculty have graded final papers with speed
For those giving essays an impressive deed.
A night of support in the library found
You really can work in a building with sound.
We all find ourselves here on the shores of the Bay
Eating and drinking the evening away
Our colleagues and friends a team one and all
Worked tirelessly to find student success this past fall. (more…)
Longtime NMC instructor Robert Rudd passes away
Robert F. Rudd of Traverse City, MI passed away on December 17, 2016 at the age of 83.
A graduate of Michigan State University and the University of South Dakota, Bob taught chemistry at NMC for 35 years. He was a constant presence in his volunteer work for the college, including the NMC Barbecue, and many other community organizations, including the Dennos Museum. During his time at NMC, Bob received the Imogene Wise Award and the NMC Fellows Award.
Many knew Bob for his creation of handmade Shaker boxes. Bob also built many of the benches along the North Country Trail and was a longtime trail steward. He was a regular volunteer on Isle Royale, first visiting the island along with a group of three friends when he was 17.
Bob met his wife of 62 years, Grace Ann Wood, in high school trigonometry class. Together they had three children, Cheryl Phelps of Holland, MI, Michele Rudd (Roger Putman) of Traverse City, and Rob Rudd of Philadelphia, PA, and four grandchildren, Christine, Patrick, Tyler, and Elliot.
A memorial service will be held April 1, 2017 at NMC in Traverse City, MI. Memorial contributions can be made to the Dennos Museum, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, or to the charity of your choice.
Bob lived his life in tune with Loren Eiseley’s philosophy that “we love the earth but cannot stay.”
Success Story: Auto repair skills in high demand
December 21, 2016
After a couple years as a ski bum out west, Jackson Pierce felt the tug of home.
The former NMC automotive technology student’s timing was perfect for his skills. Pierce traded ski groomers for cars, and has spent the last two years working at Bill Marsh Automotive, one of several regional repair shops to which Automotive Technology program director Wayne Moody has built an employment pipeline.
“Everyone needs their car fixed,” said Pierce, of Northport, who attended NMC’s automotive program in 2007-08.
But not everyone can fix them. Moody said an aging auto repair workforce combined with increasingly complex, computerized cars has created an opportunity gap that he has worked to fill with NMC students like Pierce.
“The last three years (demand) has gone north by leaps and bounds,” Moody said, who fields calls daily from shops locally, downstate as well as in the U.P. “They are vying for the technicians. I could put two jobs on every student if they want them.”
The Grand Traverse area’s population growth also fuels the local hiring demand. At least six former NMC students work at Bill Marsh’s Garfield Road locations. Fox Grand Traverse employs another eight, including its first female technician since 1992, KT Rafferty. As it has traditionally, the job attracts students who like hands-on work. But it’s more than turning a wrench nowadays.
“It’s not rudimentary. There’s an immense amount of problem-solving,” Pierce said.
That variety attracts students, too. “Anything can happen here,” said Rachel Smith of Elk Rapids, who started NMC’s program in 2013 and has worked at Bill Marsh for about a year and a half. “I like learning new things.”
With cars loaded with dozens of on-board computers, electronics is another important skill set.
“What’s the Ohm’s law? I can’t tell you what it is, but our very best electronics technicians do and it helps them in their job every day,” said Rich King, fixed operations director at Bill Marsh. “They’re learning it in Wayne’s program.”
Pierce added that he appreciated the real-world instruction he got at NMC. “I liked that all the teachers actually owned shops.”
Technicians are financially rewarded for that greater knowledge and as they gain experience. While an entry-level technician might make $12-$14 per hour, Moody said a graduate of the two-year program could be earning between $50,000 and $70,000 after five years. Six-figure salaries are not out of the question for the most experienced technicians.
King said it’s also rewarding at the end of the day. “There’s a huge sense of accomplishment when you fix that car that’s a tough one.”
Registration for spring semester programs, including automotive, is going on now. Find out more about the program here.
Above: From left, former NMC automotive students working at Bill Marsh’s GM store are Mike Bouchey, technician; Tom Garrity, parts; Rachel Smith, Dave Panek, Jackson Pierce and Zach Schaub, technicians.