‘This career was meant for me’

Shelby Balatgek

2023 Event Management alumna

2023 grad leads events across Green Bay

When Shelby Balatgek enrolled at NWTC, she thought she’d continue studying healthcare like she did while serving in the Army. She soon realized that while she loved helping people, science wasn’t the right fit for her.

Balatgek’s passion for helping people led her to NWTC’s Event Management program (the College currently offers a related program — Promotions and Event Management ).

“I decided to take a class in event management, and I absolutely fell in love with it. It connected my personal passions with a career path that felt right for me, and I truly thrived — bringing me to where I am today,” Balatgek said.

Her time at NWTC was filled with hands-on learning and opportunities that shaped her professionally and personally. Encouraged by her mentor Jerry Lintz, NWTC Entrepreneurship and Hospitality Management instructor, Balatgek stepped outside of her comfort zone — joining DECA, traveling abroad to Scotland, and gaining firsthand insight through site visits with local hospitality businesses.

Three people smiling and holding certificates in front of green foliage.

Shelby Balatgek (middle) and two other NWTC students in Scotland for their study abroad trip.

A pivotal moment in her journey at NWTC came through leading the NWTC Scholarship Scramble golf outing as the student director. With only six weeks to create the fundraising event from the ground up, Balatgek and her classmates navigated sponsorships, logistics, and the fast pace of the events world.

“I think that experience really elevated my passion for event management and made me confident that this career was meant for me,” she said.

Today, Balatgek uses her skills to bring people together and celebrate the Green Bay community through her position as a special events manager at the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce.