February GCC Board of Trustees Meeting

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI - Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - At last night’s meeting of the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees, the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams were introduced as well as the Women’s Volleyball Team with Coaches Dennis Mackey and Stephanie Justinak. This weekend, the basketball teams compete in NJCAA Region XIII tournament action in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Instructor Beth Steiger addressed the Board on the development of the Entrepreneurial Center for Collaboration, Innovation and Development (ECID), which was launched this year. The ECID is intended to be a working partner with numerous organizations and individuals to create a vibrant environment for the growth of innovation, business expertise and entrepreneurial activities in the region. It has already hosted two Lunch Series of learning topics, with three others scheduled for the upcoming months. These sessions for professional and personal development are open to anyone in the community.

A construction proposal from the Iron County Resource Development Association was approved for next year’s Construction Technology/Building Trades Project Home. The home will be built in Hurley, is within the distance requirements specified, and was the lone bid received.

Kelly S. Marczak, of Montreal, WI, was hired as the Director of Institutional Development/Foundation Executive Director. She holds an Associate of Arts degree from Gogebic Community College and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Michigan University. She has served as the Director of Community Relations and Marketing at Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming, and most recently, as the Marketing and Foundation Coordinator at Grand View Health System.

In other action, the Board agreed to enter into a partnership agreement with Sub Terra, a plant-based pharmaceutical manufacturer operating in the former White Pine Copper Mine. This partnership would provide Sub Terra with a reliable testing environment at the GCC science laboratories which is not presently available on Sub Terra’s site, and would give GCC instructors and students an opportunity to participate in commercial biotechnological clinical experiences. The partnership would provide the college with enhanced professional development and instructional experiences.