Humankind “Who’s Working Remotely?”

West Shore Community College’s Humankind series is pleased to announce the event, “Who’s Working Remotely? How Technology and the Pandemic has Changed the Nature of the Workplace” on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The event is accessible at the following link:  bit.ly/humankindfall22

During this event, a panel of individuals who work remotely will discuss their experiences with remote work and how it has changed the nature of work post-Covid. The panel discussion is part of Humankind’s sixth year devoted to exploring the question, “What is the future of work?” The panel will consist of four workers who will each speak about their unique experience working remotely.

Scott Smith is president of Smith & Eddy Insurance where he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company’s multiple locations. He is a graduate of Ludington High School, West Shore Community College, and Davenport University. Scott will sort through the challenges and benefits of the remote work environment, focusing on flexibility and broadband access.

Smith will be joined by Natalie Grochowski, whose remote work experience includes writing, publishing, and teaching online. Her work has appeared in the LA Times and Washington Post, and in 2020, her Michigan memoir “Replica Dodge” placed as a finalist in the Next Gen Indie Book awards. Working remotely has allowed Natalie to reach national audiences from her home in Mason County.  Natalie recently accepted a full-time position as a writer for Icahn School of Medicine in New York City.  Her focus will explore examples of what this new job market looks like for creatives everywhere.

Ben and Rachel DeBeck are the two other panel members. The flexibility provided by working remotely has allowed them to move from a metropolitan region to Ludington as they raise their three children. They will discuss their experience with corporate culture from both a management and staff perspective. Rachel will focus on her background in auto insurance claims, while Ben, who works for a large staffing company, will show how the idea of the “future of work” has been a constant thread in his business life.

“Remote work may be one of the most controversial subjects when discussing the current state and future of work,” said Dr. Matt Sanderson, WSCC professor of philosophy and ethics and chair of the Humankind planning team.  “This panel will discuss what is working, what isn’t, and potential future outcomes.”

Humankind is WSCC’s arts and culture lecture series. The series consists of lectures, presentations, workshops, art exhibitions, film series, and much more.  For more information about Humankind, please visit westshore.edu or contact Dr. Matt Sanderson at mwsanderson@westshore.edu or 231-843-5937.