Gateway, McHales Jointly Showcase Downtown Covington Expansion

Gateway Community & Technical College and McHales Events and Catering are opening the doors to their new facilities at Odd Fellows Hall with a public reception from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 at The Grand/Historic Odd Fellows Hall.

The event marks the kick-off of Gateway's new Instructional Design and Learning (IDL) Technology associate degree program, the first of its kind in the nation. Guests will be able to visit the buildings fourth floor for an introduction to IDL as well as the colleges Visual Communications program, the Center for eLearning, and a tour of the innovative learning environment. These related disciplines intersect in preparing students for high-wage, high-demand jobs in information management fields.

We are delighted to give the public an opportunity to see the creative space where we are teaching students leading-edge techniques for instructional design, curriculum development and corporate training, said Dr. Patricia Goodman, Gateway vice president for knowledge management and strategic initiatives. Goodman led the development of the new program, which is funded by a Department of Labor grant, with industry partner TiER1 Performance Solutions.

At the same time, McHales Events and Catering will showcase The Pinnacle Ballroom, its newest location on the top floor of the Odd Fellows Hall, which also features another McHales facility, The Grand Ballroom.

McHales Events and Catering has been a leader in the hospitality industry for more than 50 years, said Chuck McHale, company president. Now, we've risen to new heights with The Pinnacle Ballroom. This beautiful facility is like no other entertainment/meeting space in the area. The ballroom features 26-foot high knotty pine ceilings with skylights, a 25-foot round dance floor, a circular bar and an urban chic decor.

Three floors of the building will be open to the public during the reception, which features different food stations on each floor. Free parking is available in the municipal garage at Fifth and Scott. For more information, call (859) 442-7776.