Kudos to Marcus Bennett! Thank you Dr. Bennett for bringing in Ken James from MCC to talk about DEI issues at the community college level and adding more strategies for ways we can support our students.

Kudos to Lisa Molmen! Lisa has been so instrumental in getting all of our new employees set up during the August hiring craze. She is quicker than the flash to get files pushed through so our employees have needed access and is always there to help when things don’t work the way we want them to. Thank you, Lisa, for helping us make it work—we couldn’t do it without you!

Kudos to Alison Thornton, Michelle Beckett, Elliot Richards, and Ricky Hagberg! The fabulous Technology Help Desk team is always there to make sure our new hires have everything set up that they need to be successful. They are quick to help and always with patience and a smile. Thank you all!

Kudos to Elizabeth Sonnabend! Elizabeth Sonnabend continues to grow Workforce Training opportunities for our community by creating local partnerships. These partnerships not only ensure high quality learning, but also provide hands-on, real experiential learning as part of the curriculum, which lead to a living wage career pathway. Thanks to Elizabeth, NMC Extended Education & Training’s online Medical Billing Specialist program will be implemented in Thirlby Clinic’s new Medical Billing Apprenticeship Program. The agreement was signed at the Apprenticeship Launch Network’s conference at Great Wolf Lodge and is available for registration through the MITC (Michigan Talent Connect) website: mitalent.org/mitc. Thank you, Elizabeth, for ensuring that NMC Extended Education & Training’s programs lead to careers that are both needed in our area, and provide sustainable living wages.

Kudos to Amy Klei! We have had several changes in the Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners Scholarship programs. We are also implementing the Michigan Achievement Scholarship for 2023 graduating seniors. These programs have required numerous IT programming changes. Amy has done an amazing job in providing professional support and timeliness and crafting these changes to the benefit of the Financial Aid Department and ultimately our students.

Kudos to Lisa Thomas and Amanda Clark! Thank you for organizing Pine Palooza 2023! The students and staff were engaged in what NMC has to offer. It was a great way to start off the academic year.

Kudos to Erika Cotner! GLMA has been advertising for an assistant engineer for the training ship for greater than one year. Over this period of time Erika continuously revised the job description, researched additional avenues for advertising the position and worked with GLMA to find a candidate. Additionally, she was incredibly flexible with facilitating the ability for search team members to complete interviews while they were sailing on the training ship.

Kudos to our Student Success coaches! Once again, the Student Success coaches here at NMC provided a great opportunity for incoming students and returning students to join in various Welcome Week activities. Thank you for making our students feel a sense of community and belonging here at NMC. Go Hawk Owls!


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!