Kudos to Zach Whitaker, Rachel Urkowitz, Sam Boase-Miller, Patrick Quinlan, Uriah Petersen, Danielle Quinlan, Lexi Galla, Bill Czyzyk, Bridget Munroe, Lisa vonReichbauer, Heather VanStratt, Kelly Yauk, Joan Sodini, Wayne Moody, Jim Nelson and Shannah Vergote! A massive thank you to everyone who built the float, took down the float, drove the route, played the tunes, and walked the parade to hype up the crowd while giving out swag. Seeing the joy on people’s faces—especially our alumni spotting the float and sharing their connection—was the absolute best. Everyone represented the college with so much pride and energy. Cheers to a job well done and a ton of fun had by all!
Kudos to Heather VanStratt, Krista McCarty, Shirl Martin, Amy Shamroe and Elizabeth Sonnabend! Heather VanStratt, Grant Manager & Community Coordinator, with the support of Krista McCarty, Shirl Martin, Amy Shamroe, and Elizabeth Sonnabend, led the quarterly meeting of The Northern Michigan Attainment Collaborative (NOMIAC) on July 15th at the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. With over 35 members in attendance, organizations like Manthie Construction, North Central Michigan College, Char Em ISD, and Crystal Mountain among many others were represented. The St. Clair Butterfly Foundation (SCBF) gave a powerful and informative presentation about their work which they described as being the “foundation” or layer before students could succeed in the strategic pathways laid out by the NOMIAC.
The St. Clair Butterfly Foundation (SCBF) is a national nonprofit headquartered in Michigan that strengthens schools, justice, behavioral health, and community systems through a neuroscience-informed approach to human behavior.
In addition, Gaia Pampu from Third Sector, presented about the work she is doing with Maggie Bacon and BEST Benzie, and Heather VanStratt, to build out funding opportunities for adult learners. This is a LiLA (Lifelong Learning Account) initiative, much like a MESP 529. BEST Benzie will be piloting an Earn to Learn model this year, which is an 8 to 1 tuition match for Benzie residents ages 25+ with no post secondary education. All members were welcome to bring promotional materials and share about their upcoming events.
The NOMIAC Heathcare Strategic Pathway is set to launch in December, 2026 (after NMC prepares to launch the blended Healthcare Pathway this fall).
Kudos to Elizabeth Sonnabend and Heather VanStratt! Elizabeth Sonnabend has spearheaded and launched a high-demand program for regional employers, Industrial Sewing. The story was picked up by 9 & 10 News on July 15, 2026. The program has been a long time coming due to a lack of regional instructors and the need for equipment. Elizabeth worked with Diane Arnold of Neuco Furniture & Upholstery and has worked with two of her employees to become our Industrial Sewing trainers.
In addition, Elizabeth has worked with several local companies such as Tent Craft, TC Canvas, Warbird, and others to utilize equipment and for their input on curriculum. The press release has already caught the attention of other employers in the region. Registration is open for a cohort of 8-10 students this September – October. A second cohort will run in the new year. Kudos to Elizabeth and Heather VanStratt for stitching together this program over the past year!
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!