Michael Kaurala has worked for Northern Michigan University's United States
Olympic Education Center since Sept. 1998 and was named Operations Manager
in June 1999.

Kaurala manages the operational needs for resident programs, camps and competitions as well, as media, the department website and social media functions for the USOEC.

Kaurala received a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Northern
Michigan University. He received NMU's Excellence-in-Service individual
award in 2008 and the Distinguished Team Award in 2008 and 2010. Kaurala
also worked for the Olympic Games in 2002 as a Sports Information Attendant
at the Olympic Oval.

A native of Houghton, Mich., Kaurala enjoys spending time outdoors hiking
and fishing in his spare time.