Aug 21, 2023 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
-
- Bilal Sheikh – Assistant Chief Flight Instructor
- Megan Bylsma – Major Gifts Officer
- Ruby Barden – Audio Technology Assistant
- Laura Korch – Ceramics/Fine Arts Instructor
- Corbin Thompson – Residence Hall Manager
- Keith Kasper – Adjunct Flight Instructor
- Abby Sprenkle – Adjunct Communications Instructor
- Zak Peter – Adjunct Culinary Instructor
- Bernadette Stremlow – Student Writing Center
- Brian Grossnickle – Adjunct Ceramics Instructor
- Benjamin Herman – Adjunct Construction Technology
- Heidi Hess – Adjunct Culinary Instructor
Aug 21, 2023 | HR Corner, Intercom
The following NMC employees were recently promoted. Congratulations!
-
- Grant McKay – Health Occupations Instructor
- Katy Knight – Student Life Office Manager
Aug 18, 2023 | Intercom, Student News
The family of Dr. Kari Kahler has made the following arrangements to celebrate her life as a wife, mother and more than four-decade employee of Northwestern Michigan College:
Saturday, Aug. 26
Visitation for family and friends: 1- 2 p.m.
Celebration of life service: 2 p.m.
Both at Hagerty Conference Center, NMC’s Great Lakes Campus, 715 E. Front St.
Read her obituary and leave a tribute here. Donate to a memorial scholarship in her honor here. Read NMC President Nick Nissley’s message to campus here and find out about grief support service here.
Aug 16, 2023 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY— Northwestern Michigan College congratulates the 190 students who made the summer semester Dean’s List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or above out of a possible 4.0 while taking five or more credits.
The full list is available here.
Aug 15, 2023 | Intercom
Good Day NMC Employees,
We here at NMC are here to support you through this difficult time of losing our friend and colleague Kari Kahler and want to offer a reminder about Ulliance Life Advisor EAP services (800-448-8326). These services are free to you to use as needed and completely confidential. You can call 24/7 to set up an appointment with a counselor or coach.
In addition, we are arranging a grief group this week (Friday, Aug. 18 at 1–2 p.m. in TJNIC 106/107) with Ulliance and we hope that you are able to attend. Please add the date/time/location to your calendar. A Masters Level Clinician will conduct a critical incident stress debriefing on site and offer 1:1 support following the group. If you would like to meet with Megan from Ulliance after the group meeting please reply to this email (including myself only) and she will work on scheduling time with you between 2–5 p.m. Let me know the window of time that you are available and I will get back to you with your scheduled time.
Please review as needed the following PDF materials sent to us by Ulliance on grief and let us know if you need extra support.
Please share this information with any other employees that might benefit from this opportunity if they did not receive it.
Sincerely,
Hollie
—
Hollie DeWalt (she/her) PHR, SHRM-CP
Total Rewards Coordinator
Human Resources Department (University Center Campus)
1701 East Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
Phone: (231) 995-1350
Fax: (231) 995-1590
Aug 14, 2023 | Intercom
Traverse City — The Building & Site committee of Northwestern Michigan College’s Board of Trustees will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 17 in the President’s Conference Room of the Tanis Building on NMC’s main campus, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City. The official meeting notice is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Aug 14, 2023 | Intercom
The NMC Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hagerty Center, Room C, on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Aug 14, 2023 | Intercom, Media Mentions
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media recently. We want to share your media involvement too. Please send information about your NMC-related interview or appearance to publicrelations@nmc.edu. If possible, please include a link to the piece and information about where and when it was used.
Please note access to some stories may be limited by paywalls set up by the media outlet. This includes the Traverse City Record-Eagle, which limits free clicks to five per month. You may also read Record-Eagle articles in the print edition at the NMC Library.
Opinion: Critics have spoken, here’s the Planning Commission perspective
Record-Eagle, Aug. 13
(more…)
Aug 14, 2023 | Intercom, Student News
The WNMC radio station is holding a CD sale on August 18-19. Stop by their studio, located in the basement of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 18 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 19 to look through the collection. Prices are low; music standards are high!
Aug 14, 2023 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the Aug. 12 passing of Dr. Kari Kahler, a cherished member of our Northwestern Michigan College community for more than 40 years. Many of you knew she had been fighting cancer for several months. Today, we remember her incredible career and contributions to NMC. Kari’s journey began as a Conference Center Coordinator in 1982 and grew to embody our NMC value of lifelong learning. Over the years, her unwavering dedication and passion for student success left an indelible mark on our institution. Her career at NMC culminated with becoming Associate Dean of Learning Services in 2012. For more than a decade she oversaw Academic & Career Advising, Disability Support Services, Honors, Phi Theta Kappa, Student Success, and Tutoring.
Kari’s commitment to Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) as the advisor of the Alpha Rho Pi chapter was truly remarkable. Since assuming this role on May 12,1997, she became a true PTK ambassador for Northwestern Michigan College. She embodied the spirit of PTK by ensuring its visibility on campus, attending events, and sharing her unyielding passion with students. Under her guidance, the Alpha Rho Pi Chapter thrived and grew, becoming a beacon of excellence.
Her legacy shines brightly through her tireless efforts to nurture student leadership. Kari’s collaborative spirit and boundless enthusiasm led to initiatives that impacted not only PTK students but the entire student body. She spearheaded the establishment of the first-ever “Student Leadership Luncheon,” creating a platform to recognize and celebrate student leaders across campus. Her involvement extended beyond PTK, as she co-founded the College’s inaugural Rotaract group, providing students with opportunities to develop leadership and professional skills through service. Kari’s impact resonated throughout the campus, with her students assuming leadership roles in various student organizations.
One of her most cherished accomplishments was the Blair Mentoring Project, which she co-founded with Emily Witte at Blair Elementary School. Through this project, Kari and her team paired NMC student mentors with Blair fifth graders, nurturing their leadership potential and fostering resilience. She helped these students see themselves as future leaders and college students.
Kari’s dedication went beyond PTK. She played an instrumental role in keeping the Food Pantry operational during the pandemic, served on the BBQ board for many years, led the Developmental Education Committee, and managed the honors program at NMC. Her commitment to student success was palpable, and she supported numerous students who faced challenges, always striving to provide them with the help they needed to thrive.
Her impact extended to the regional level, where she served as Michigan’s regional coordinator for PTK. She provided guidance and insight to the regional officer team, acting as a liaison to PTK headquarters. Her dedication was recognized in April 2015 when she received the distinguished regional coordinator award from headquarters.
Outside of her professional commitments, Kari found solace in camping and cherished her little piece of heaven on earth in Leelanau County. Her family, including her husband Chad and her children Cori and Casey, held a special place in her heart.
Kari’s passion for fostering student leadership, her dedication to Phi Theta Kappa, and her immense contributions to Northwestern Michigan College will forever be remembered. As we mourn her loss, let us also celebrate her legacy and the positive impact she had on countless lives.
Human Resources will be sending out further communications regarding grief support services available on campus later this week. Do not hesitate to reach out for resources. The true impact of her work is with the countless lives she touched. But I also want to shine a light on just how dedicated she was to our College and all that we represent. A true servant leader, we are all better for knowing her and having her be part of our community.
Kari and her family established the Dr. Kari Kahler Scholarship at Northwestern Michigan College and have asked that gifts be directed to this scholarship in her memory. This scholarship will honor her legacy by providing financial assistance to former Blair Elementary students as they pursue their education at NMC. Learn more about the scholarship and donate here.
NMC Positions (42 years of service as of 2023)
- Conference Center Coordinator 1982–1986
- Residence Hall Supervisor 1981–1987
- Career Planning and Placement Specialist 1985–1990
- Assistant Director, Housing/Student Activities/Campus Activities 1987–1990
- Director of Housing & Student Life 1991–1996
- Adjunct – Psychology – 1998–2021
- Coordinator – Center and Employment Services – 1997–2006
- Director of Learning Services 2006–2012
- Associate Dean of Learning Services 2012–Present
NMC Leadership/Engagement
- Classification Review Team Member
- Honors Committee – Honors Director
- Food Pantry Team Member
- Barbecue Board – College Liaison
- PDI Advisory Board – Member
- Crucial Accountability Instructor
NMC Recognitions
- Employee of the Term – 1989 Winter Term – Awarded
- Foundation Excellence Award 1995 – Awarded
- Foundation Excellence Award 2005 – Awarded
- Foundation Excellence Award 2012 – Awarded
- Team Excellence Award 2021 – Nominee (Learning Services)
Phi Theta Kappa Roles & Recognition
- PTK – Alpha Rho Pi Chapter Advisor
- Michigan Regional Coordinator
- Student Development Representative – PTK Honors Program Council 2020–2024
- PTK Leadership Studies Curriculum Instructor
- Recognition: PTK Faculty Scholar – 2020
- Recognition: Continued Excellence Award for Advisors 2022
Aug 14, 2023 | Intercom, Student News
Northwestern Michigan College Extended Education & Training announces the release of its fall catalog, featuring over 220 diverse learning options. The catalog is now accessible online at www.nmc.edu/ees and registration is open for all interested learners.
This season, NMC Extended Education & Training presents a dynamic collection of in-person, livestream, and online classes. Led by local experts, these informal and short courses span an array of captivating topics including cooking, art, recreation, global issues, music, fitness, technology and more. Exciting new additions to the curriculum include Honey Tasting, Make Your Own Jewelry, Pickling & Fermenting Masterclass, Comic Book Creation and Supercharge Your Workplace: ChatGPT. Additionally, the popular series Coffee Chats will be returning for its fifth season.
Beyond the enriching short classes, this fall marks the launch of expanded career training certificates and micro-credentials. Accelerated Solutions are fast-track programs that provide needed credentials in a timely fashion to aspiring professionals seeking to launch, advance or transition their careers. Training is available in specialized areas such as innovation, business, manufacturing, healthcare, construction/skilled trades and more. By providing practical and cutting-edge training, NMC Extended Education & Training empowers individuals to achieve their career goals effectively. To explore these career-enhancing opportunities, visit nmc.edu/pd.
For more information or to request a printed catalog, email ees@nmc.edu.
Aug 11, 2023 | Student News
Do you still need to register for the fall semester? If so, NMC’s advising team is here to help!
Drop-in sessions are available starting on Monday, August 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To connect with an advisor, stop by the NMC Advising Center in the Osterlin Building or join virtually via Zoom. If you plan to join virtually, please join the meeting using a computer to ensure the best experience.
You can also connect with our advising team during Walk-In Wednesdays which are being held each week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 116 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center.
If you have any questions, please contact a member of our advising team at (231) 995-1040 or advising@nmc.edu.
Aug 11, 2023 | Intercom
Lisa Baldyga, the JMG Specialist at the Northwest Education Services Career Tech Center and Northwestern Michigan College, received a JMG Living Our Values Award for Collaboration. Congratulations, Lisa!
The full press release can be viewed here.
Aug 9, 2023 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — See cool cars and trucks and support students at NMC’s 17th annual Mike McIntosh Memorial Car and Truck Show Saturday, September 9.
Car enthusiasts will display their classic cars, 4X4s, dragsters, sports cars, modified late models, motorcycles and more from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at NMC’s Automotive Services Building, 2510 Aero Park Drive.
Admission is free for spectators. There is a $15 entry fee per vehicle for contestants. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Trophies are awarded for best of show in each class. Enjoy food, music, prizes and a silent auction. Student projects and vehicles will also be on display. Proceeds benefit NMC’s Automotive Program and scholarships.
The show is named for the late NMC Automotive instructor Mike McIntosh, who retired in 2004 after 34 years of service. McIntosh organized the first car show for the Automotive Program in 2004. Learn more here.
Release date: Aug. 9, 2023
For more information:
Wayne Moody
NMC Automotive Chair
(231) 995-1316
wmoody@nmc.edu
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
Aug 7, 2023 | Intercom, Media Mentions
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media recently. We want to share your media involvement too. Please send information about your NMC-related interview or appearance to publicrelations@nmc.edu. If possible, please include a link to the piece and information about where and when it was used.
Please note access to some stories may be limited by paywalls set up by the media outlet. This includes the Traverse City Record-Eagle, which limits free clicks to five per month. You may also read Record-Eagle articles in the print edition at the NMC Library.
Faith and fusion: Annie Kritcher makes clean energy breakthrough
Record-Eagle, Aug. 6
(more…)
Aug 7, 2023 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thanks to all of the NMC staff members who are coordinating this year’s Welcome Week and planning a full roster of fun activities for our students to enjoy.
This year’s Welcome Week will be held August 24-31. We are seeking volunteers to help with a number of events. Please fill out the volunteer sign-up form if you would like to join and help our students kick off the new academic year.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Aug 7, 2023 | Intercom, Student News
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
(more…)
Jul 31, 2023 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thanks to all those in the NMC community who visited Café Lobdell’s this summer and supported our students as they learned experientially and gained experience that will help them succeed in their careers.
Want to be the first to find out about future events and news occurring at the Great Lakes Culinary Institute? Sign up to receive our culinary newsletter.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Jul 31, 2023 | Intercom, Media Mentions
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media recently. We want to share your media involvement too. Please send information about your NMC-related interview or appearance to publicrelations@nmc.edu. If possible, please include a link to the piece and information about where and when it was used.
Please note access to some stories may be limited by paywalls set up by the media outlet. This includes the Traverse City Record-Eagle, which limits free clicks to five per month. You may also read Record-Eagle articles in the print edition at the NMC Library.
Caring for people with dementia
Tribune-Democrat, July 31
(more…)
Jul 28, 2023 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Lisa Boike! Lisa was instrumental in working with the Business Office to once again reformat banking files for our reconciliation processes. She worked tirelessly and so patiently with us and navigated complicated information in order to revamp the files so they would work correctly with our upload process. We can’t thank you enough, Lisa for all your hard work and patience to help us get the accurate information necessary to complete our reconciliations! Thank you!
Kudos to Todd Haines! Todd responded to a temperature alarm alert for one of Great Lakes Culinary Institute walk-in coolers received by NMC security on late Saturday evening, June 24. It was above a safe temperature as the compressor had failed. Todd moved all of our perishable food items from that cooler into a working cooler. On Monday I learned that Hagerty Center’s walk-in cooler compressor also failed which sent another alarm alert to security once again. Todd responded and again moved all their perishable food items from the GL Campus 1st floor to GLCI in the 2nd floor. What a workout!!!! Thanks, Todd, for saving GLCI/NMC a lot of money in food and work; the students would have had to do to remake all the items that could have been lost due to temperature abuse.
Kudos to Kristi Hallett! Kristi supports Extended Education, it’s 200+ instructors, it’s 500+ classes requiring NMC classrooms and it’s 5,500 seats sold to our community of learners by scheduling all of EES’s in-person classes. Kristi just completed scheduling all of the fall 2023 EES classes that take place on an NMC campus. She helps us find the right space for each class, and the EES team greatly appreciates her communication and support of our programming.
Kudos to Tait Ricks! Thank you to Tait, our new Americorps Success Coach, for helping us expand the Professional Clothing Closet in the Osterlin Building after the donation drive at the Pride Carnival. This involved a lot of work and Tait volunteered to help and ran with the project. We appreciate your efforts to ensure the closet is ready with more options for the fall semester!
Kudos to Sarah Montgomery-Richards, Amber Marsh and Becca Richardson! Sarah, Amber & Becca finished the first College Edge session this past week and it was a huge success! Every student that started the 5-week program made it through the entire session to earn a $1,000 NMC Scholarship for fall! The trio was dedicated to helping every student be college-ready and learn the skills necessary to be successful this fall. They introduced them to resources and provided wrap around services to ensure the student felt a warm welcome and sense of belonging! These women are amazing leaders and great mentors for these students! They start a new session with over double the students on July 10. Thank you for all of your hard work and commitment to helping our students succeed!
Kudos to Tom Auch! Tom has dedicated over 20 years to the Student Success Center and also teaches as an adjunct when needed. His flexibility to work evening and weekend hours provides our students, as well as new and prospective students taking placement, more convenient and sometimes necessary testing times. Tom brings a positive, upbeat attitude every day he is here and goes above and beyond for any student needing extra help. His commitment to NMC and our students is hard to match. We are so grateful he is on our team!
Kudos to Lisa Cooper, Jason Slade, Nicole Fewins, Katie Sommer-Ford, Alyssa Irani, Rorie Kawula and the EES Team! Thank you to NMC employees who helped greet our youngest Hawk Owls on campus for College for Kids programming the first three weeks of summer! Thank you for your time and warm welcome to our students and their families.
Kudos to Dave Weaver! Thank you to Dave Weaver for supplying keyboards from our NMC e-waste, helping us recycle and learn! The College for Kids students greatly enjoyed the experience of taking them apart and learning how real keyboards 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!
Jul 28, 2023 | HR Corner, Intercom
Lauren Marcheny was recently promoted to Hawk Owl Café Supervisor. Congratulations, Lauren!
Jul 28, 2023 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
-
- Alex Walsh, Supplemental – Veteran Success Coach
- Jeffrey Daniels, Supplemental – Maritime Academy
- Ann Hosler, Supplemental – Writing and Reading Center
- Liam Thelander – Adjunct Certified Flight Instructor
- Evan Zahrt – Adjunct Certified Flight Instructor
Jul 28, 2023 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Susie Janis, NMC alumnus, supporter and longtime Traverse City area community leader, received the 2023 Outstanding Alumnus award from the Michigan Community College Association Thursday.
High-resolution image of Susie Janis
A Traverse City native, Janis attended NMC from 1965–1967. Since then, as the Grand Traverse region has evolved and grown, she has become a key player in many different facets of the community affecting quality of life. Development of the arts and culture, education, child development, and health care have all been central issues Janis has nurtured and supported over the decades as a consummate volunteer, mentor and philanthropist.
A tireless advocate for the opportunities provided by community colleges and a spokesperson for the benefit that the community college experience had on her own life, most recently Janis served as co-chair of NMC’s Be What’s Possible comprehensive campaign, one of the largest campaigns undertaken by an independent community college. It raised $40.3 million over a goal of $35 million during the five-year campaign (2016–2021).
“NMC is so fortunate to have someone like Susie behind us. Her high-powered combination of enthusiasm and dedication to the mission of community colleges is virtually unmatched,” said NMC President Nick Nissley.
Janis also served as a leader on several other major fundraising projects for the college, including the capital campaign in the 1980s to build the Dennos Museum Center, a cultural centerpiece and landmark for the college. She is a past member and former president of the NMC Foundation board.
At NMC, she earned both the Outstanding Alumnus award, in 2010, and the NMC Fellow award, the college’s highest honor, in 1992. The NMC Foundation has instituted an award in her honor, the Susanne M. Janis Award, to be given for volunteer service and leadership. She was also honored by the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce with a Distinguished Service award.
Statewide, Janis served as a governor’s appointee to the Michigan Community Economic Excellence Board from 1988–1991. She served as a commissioner on Michigan’s Bureau of History from 1993–1999 and on the Michigan Humanities Council from 2005–2009.
The MCCA Outstanding Alumnus Award was first presented in 1985. The award is presented to a Michigan community college alumnus based upon achievement in their professional career, service to humanity, honors received and a strong commitment to the purpose and philosophy of the community college mission.
Release date: July 28, 2023
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu(231) 392-1800 (call or text)
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
Jul 24, 2023 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thanks to the staff members who help make Quick Start possible. These drop-in sessions help prospective students (and their families) learn more about NMC, begin to navigate the enrollment process and get their questions answered.
The next sessions will be held on Wednesday, July 26 from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday, August 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more at nmc.edu/quickstart.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Jul 24, 2023 | Intercom, Media Mentions
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media recently. We want to share your media involvement too. Please send information about your NMC-related interview or appearance to publicrelations@nmc.edu. If possible, please include a link to the piece and information about where and when it was used.
Please note access to some stories may be limited by paywalls set up by the media outlet. This includes the Traverse City Record-Eagle, which limits free clicks to five per month. You may also read Record-Eagle articles in the print edition at the NMC Library.
Michigan Itinerary: A Friendly Guide To Exploring The Great Lakes State
Family Destinations Guide, July 23
(more…)
