Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Annual Entrepreneurial Event at Gogebic Community College

IRONWOOD - The Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Development at Gogebic Community College will host Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Demong.

He is executive director for USA Nordic Sports.

Demong will be in Ironwood on Wednesday, May 3, to provide multiple programs to the Gogebic Range.

He grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and began ski jumping in the Lake Placid Ski Club. A cross country skier as soon as he could walk, he added the longer skis when he was 8 and fell in love with the sport of Nordic Combined.

At 17, he relocated to Steamboat Springs, Colo., to join a team of inspired young athletes. They broke down barriers and Demong became America's first Olympic gold medalist in Nordic skiing after a World Cup career spanning five Olympic Games.

Having played a major role in developing USA Nordic Sports to support the National Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined teams, Demong took on the role of executive director in the spring of 2016 because of his love for the sport and desire to see the organization find athletic and financial sustainability.

He will address students, area businesses and the community during his visit. GCC and area high school students will be listen to, "Becoming A Champion," highlighting the importance of teamwork, strategic planning, continuous improvement, innovation and hard work to achieve success from 11:30 a.m. to

12:30 p.m. at GCC.

At 3:30 p.m., business sponsors and registered guests are invited to attend a training presentation on the topic of "Leadership in Asset Based Community Development." The session will on teamwork, business collaboration and what it takes to leverage our strengths to prosper as a community will begin with a 60-minute keynote presentation, followed by a question and answer session.

A social hour will follow with light appetizers and beer samplings at Cold Iron Brewery in Ironwood. Anyone interested in attending the session should contact Beth Steiger for registration details at [email protected]

Additionally, the area business community will interact with students at the college's Spring Idea Bounce business plan competition  During the annual event, students have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges to win cash prizes. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2, at 3 p.m. in the Lindquist Center. It is open to the public.

People interested in attending or participating in any of the programs should contact Steiger at 906-307-1247.

 
 
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