Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) has promoted from within for its first Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, a newly-created executive position. Jason Slade will take the position effective November 29; he is currently director of NMC’s Technical Division. Slade was one of more than 90 applicants in a nationwide search. 

NMC has been reimagining its Lifelong and Professional Learning area after Marguerite Cotto announced she would retire at the end of 2021. The new position was created by realigning executive leadership responsibilities, and does not add an additional administrator. The college says the primary focus areas of the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives will include strategic plan implementation, innovation management, revenue generation, and business partnerships

Slade joined NMC as a faculty member in 2014 after working in the private sector and higher education downstate. He became director of the Technical Division in 2019, which includes NMC’s Automotive, Construction Technology, Engineering Technology, Renewable Energy, Surveying, and Welding Technology departments.

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to strengthen and expand the ways our college serves our students and communities. NMC has a proud history and I know our future holds many more exciting successes,” Slade said.