The Office of Possibilities (OOPs) seeks to inspire and build systemic innovation capabilities (to innovate reliably and repeatedly over time) at Northwestern Michigan College and within the region by acting as an ideation “sounding board” and connector to encourage the generation of new ideas and new partnerships.

Powered and funded by support from NMC and the NMC Foundation, OOPs works within the college and the community to support ideas, create a community of sharing, and be an idea incubator, all toward the vision of driving innovation.

We encourage you to come visit us and we welcome any and all ideas!

Contact the OOPs co-directors, Will Kitchen and Steve Rice at [email protected]. Tell us a little about yourself and your idea or requests for assistance on an idea, company, or project.

We will contact you to set up an initial meeting. Our regular meetings are:

Tuesdays from 9–11 a.m. at Commonplace, 2nd floor, 425 Boardman Avenue, TC

Thursdays from 8–11 a.m. at the Timothy J Nelson Innovation Center at NMC (#9 on the Front Street Campus map)

When you meet with us, introduce your idea any way you want to — talking, handouts, pitch deck, bring a prototype, etc.

Based on that conversation and your needs, we will likely make suggestions and offer ideas for connections(ors). We might suggest that:

• You refine, define or further develop your idea

• Your project does not meet current criteria for OOPs funding but we can suggest further development and/or potential funding

• Your project meets criteria for competing for OOPs funding. You may be asked to pitch to a panel of OOPs representative and NMC Foundation Board members