1. No category

PHOENIX FOCUS
YOUR ALUMNI CONNECTION | APRIL 2011
FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT
The renewable
energy boom
Save green by
going green
How to ace the
phone interview
FEATURED ALUMNA
Quenching
a region
Lorri Lee, BSB/A ’97
Henderson, Nevada
WEB alumni.phoenix.edu
EMAIL [email protected]
Everyone
has a story
to tell.
We want
to hear yours.
You could be in an upcoming
issue of Phoenix Focus.
Balance
How have you achieved balance
between your work and personal life?
Entrepreneurship
Have you started a new business that
has thrived despite the economy?
Security
How does your job contribute to
security at a local or national level?
Communications
In what way is your company
revolutionizing the communications
field?
Share your story.
Email us at [email protected]
Kelly O’Horo, MSC/CC ’10
Gilbert, Arizona
Phoenix Focus March 2011
let ter from the exe cutive dire c tor
PHOENIX FOCUS
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VP, Alumni
& Faculty Relations
Kathleen Fern, MBA ’99
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I
like to think that I am environmentally conscious.
After all, I live out in the country, complete with a
well, septic tank, horses and vegetable garden. But
after reading this issue, there is one area that could
use improvement—my family’s energy usage.
So, my family’s homework assignment this month is to complete
a home energy audit and see how we can reduce our energy
consumption. The number one enemy I am targeting—those
energy vampires, which you can read about in “Save green by
going green” (page 12).
This issue of Phoenix Focus also includes stories about alumni who
are involved in large-scale efforts to protect our environment.
The perfect example is Lorri Lee, BSBM ’97, regional director of
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region (page
32), who is bringing water to the desert Southwest and working to
conserve the unique habitat for generations to come.
Alanna Vitucci
Executive Director, Alumni Relations
As you make your way toward a greener lifestyle, consider
adopting a few green practices with the various electronic
devices and gadgets you use at home and at work. “Greening your
gadgets” (page 18) explains how you can reduce your gadgets’
energy consumption, reuse your older electronics, recycle
gadgets the green way and rethink your new gadget purchases.
or visit us at
alumni.phoenix.edu
© 2011 University
of Phoenix, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Alanna Vitucci, MBA/GM ’01
Executive Director, Alumni Relations
University of Phoenix
[email protected]
Follow me at twitter.com/uopxalumni
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 3
contents / April 2011
FEATURES
6
The renewable energy boom
Innovative forms of renewable energies are at the
forefront of a new, booming clean-tech industry
that is taking the world by storm. The good news is
that a new, highly sophisticated energy future will
create many new jobs covering the full spectrum of
the employment rainbow.
12
Save green by going green
Going green doesn’t have to be complicated.
There are some easy and free ways you can lessen
your impact on the environment while increasing
what’s in your bank account.
32
Quenching a region
Featured alumna: Lorri Lee, BSB/A ’97
As regional director of the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region, Lorri
Lee is bringing water to the desert Southwest
and working to conserve the unique habitat for
generations to come.
6
32
PAGE 4 Phoenix Focus April 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
Your Career
Greening your gadgets
18
Do you need a recruiter?
22
How to ace the phone interview
26
Get your color on
28
Alumni Profiles
David Raetz
Steward of the land
36
John Warner
Powering the future
38
Crystal Evans
Gaining a greener perspective
40
The Buzz
12
Published by alumni
42
Facebook poll
44
University News
Federal government takes over
management of student loans
46
Teach for the Future scholarship
47
Showcase in Excellence Award
47
Our Community
Campus news
48
Community relations
50
Events
52
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 5
The renewable
energy boom
By Jenny Jedeikin
SOLAR ENERGY
Detail of an industrial solar panel.
PAGE 6 Phoenix Focus April 2011
F
rom high-pressured water
power to biofuel made
from stale cookie crumbs
and potato peels, innovative forms
of renewable energies are at the
forefront of a new, booming cleantech industry that is taking the
world by storm—sun, wind and
otherwise. The good news is that
a new, highly sophisticated energy
future will mean new jobs—from
business to high-tech engineering,
to construction, to bookkeeping—
covering the full spectrum of the
employment rainbow.
The new frontier
To explain the evolution that is currently
underway in the clean energy industry,
many people in “the know” like to make
an analogy about what is happening; they
compare the ramp-up in the renewable
energy industry to the technological
transformation that hit personal
computers and cell phones throughout
the last two decades.
“If you have a [smart phone], you’re
holding the confluence of a whole new
industry in the palm of your hand,” says
Joel Makower, chairman and executive
editor of GreenBiz Group. “We’ve
transformed how we do lots of things,
in ways we couldn’t have imagined even
five years ago. Now that same kind of
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 7
The renewable energy boom
WIND ENERGY
“One of the main impediments to renewable energy has been that it’s expensive.
It hasn’t been cost competitive with fossil fuels. Well, that’s changing.”
—Vipin Gupta, a systems engineer and a principal member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories
PAGE 8 Phoenix Focus April 2011
technological confluence is coming
to much bigger and slower moving
industries, like energy, buildings and
vehicles. They’re coming together to
create a whole new wave of technologies
that are going to be dramatically more
efficient while creating whole new things
we can all do.”
Makower, who writes about this topic on
his high-traffic website, greenbiz.com,
says that as the world shifts away from
energy that relies on carbon-emitting
fossil fuels, energy systems are going
to become more complex and varied.
“What’s interesting about the world of
energy right now is that there is not going
to be just one winner,” Makower says.
“We’re going from a mono-culture of
energy sources (coal and gas) to a much
more interesting array. It’s no longer
one size fits all. There’s going to be lots
of sources serving different types of
applications.”
Right now the United States relies on
fossil fuels and natural gas to supply
93 percent of our energy needs. Only
7 percent comes from renewable
energy. With growing concern about the
environmental consequences of fossil
fuels, as well the increasing expense of
relying on foreign petroleum, the last
five years have seen a dramatic shift in
money and resources being poured into
alternative energy sources and research.
Earlier this year, President Obama made
the announcement that by 2035,
80 percent of America’s energy will come
from clean energy sources.
Renewable energy frontrunners
But what will those sources likely be?
Vipin Gupta, a systems engineer and a
principal member of the technical staff
at Sandia National Laboratories, breaks
renewable energy into five areas—hydro:
energy from water; solar: energy from
the sun; biofuel: energy from waste;
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
geothermal: energy from the earth; and
wind: energy from wind. “One of the main
impediments to renewable energy has
been that it’s expensive. It hasn’t been
cost competitive with fossil fuels. Well,
that’s changing,” says Gupta.
At Sandia National Laboratories, Gupta
is working on new photovoltalic solar
systems that will cost four times less to
make and use 10 times less photovoltalic
material than current models, yet produce
the same amount of energy as what is
currently available. “We’re developing
solar technology that can be readily
integrated into things we are already
familiar with, such as windows, or unrolled
like carpet onto a flat roof.”
Additionally, Makower talks about billiondollar projects in Southern California’s
Mojave desert (as well as in China and
India) to build enormous utility-sized
solar plants, called concentrated solar
plants. “These cells don’t turn photons
into electrons the way a portable panel on
your roof would do,” Makower says.
“They basically concentrate the sunlight
and focus it on a tower filled with some
kind of special liquid that is used to boil
water to make steam to run a turbine.”
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 9
The renewable energy boom
Gupta also points to innovative
technologies happening in wind power.
Makani Power is a company that is
designing kite-like devices that fly up
in the sky to harness wind energy. The
higher up you go, the stronger and the
steadier the wind and the more energy
you can grab. “These new, advanced
type of wind energy technologies are
becoming cheaper to deploy and can be
deployed faster,” says Gupta.
But in order for these projects to succeed,
Gupta says, our old-fashioned electric
grid—the physical network that is
currently utilized to send power to homes
and businesses—has to be restructured.
“The electric grid was designed to do oneway flow of electricity from a centralized
power plant to the end use, your electric
dryer or your TV. That’s it,” he says.
Gupta predicts a future power grid where
you have a two-way flow, or multiple flows
of electricity from various sources. For
example, at your home or business you
could be generating electricity on your
roof, which then circulates on the grid
and goes someplace else a few blocks
down where it is used by someone else at
a dry cleaners.
Job opportunities in
renewable energy
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
“Everyone working in this field feels that one day
renewable energy will become mainstream and fossil
fuels will become the alternative.”
—Vipin Gupta, systems engineer, Sandia National Laboratories
PAGE 10 Phoenix Focus April 2011
“The thing that’s really fascinating about
this opportunity,” explains Gupta, “is that
electricity is something that is not readily
imported. We can’t get whole bunches of
electricity from China, India or elsewhere.
We have to generate it and use it in the
United States. Consequently, these are
jobs that will be filled by Americans.
And that’s in contrast with the oil
industry. It’s a huge difference.”
So what kinds of jobs are going to
be created? “The good news is that
there’s [a] need for everybody,” says
Makower. “There’s a need for power
“When we talk about green jobs, the
possibilities are limitless.”
—Joel Makower, chairman and executive
editor of GreenBiz Group
engineers and biochemists and physicists, and there’s also a
need for accountants, lawyers, writers and technicians of every
description. When we talk about green jobs, the possibilities
are limitless.”
Gupta adds to the list a need for heavy lifters: “For building all
these things, for installing solar panels on rooftops, for putting up
wind towers, for drilling geothermal wells, all these require people
in the construction industry. You also need people with business
degrees, with accounting and with legal [degrees] in order to craft
agreements on how power is going to be purchased from these
different types of distributive renewable power plants.”
Hinrich Eylers, the dean of the College of Natural Sciences at
University of Phoenix, couldn’t agree more. “This country is in
search [of] a new basis for our economy,” says Eylers, who grew
up in Germany. “The United States used to be based on retail and
housing, and that’s not happening now; we need something new,
and I think renewable energy has a good chance of being the new
basis for job growth.”
When alternative goes mainstream
The transition to renewable is not going to happen tomorrow. “It’s
going to take a while to get the technologies into place to replace
an economy that is so totally and fully dependent on carbon fuel,”
says Eylers.
How long will it take? “How fast all of this grows and when exactly
it is going to go mainstream is hard to predict,” says Gupta. “One
thing is clear—in contrast with coal, natural gas and petroleum—
if you look at renewables, the price of generating renewable
electricity is continuing to decline year after year. We are going to
see at least one or two of these [types of energies] go mainstream
within our generation.”
For Gupta and his colleagues, that’s a real blessing.
“Everyone working in this field feels that one day renewable
energy will become mainstream and fossil fuels will become
the alternative.” 
Jenny Jedeikin is a freelance writer and director of communications for
national nonprofit cooltheearth.org.
Renewables around the world
Biofuel in Kristianstad, Sweden
This innovative Swedish city with a
population of 80,000 uses no fossil fuels
or gas, and instead burns wood, waste and
scraps from flooring factories to power
an underground district heating grid and
provide fuel for cars.
Small-scale solar systems
in Kiptusuri, Kenya
In rural Kenya where 85 percent of people
still live without electricity, villagers can now
purchase small-scale solar systems for $80 to
power their cell phones and lighting. As smallscale renewable energy becomes cheaper and
more reliable, these tiny systems are playing a
transformative role in people’s lives.
Wind and hydropower in Lisbon, Portugal
With rising living costs and no national source
of fossil fuel, Portugal was motivated to
restructure its entire energy system to draw
electricity from its abundant wind and hydro
power. Now, in cities such as Lisbon, winddriven turbines pump water uphill at night,
the most blustery period; then the water flows
downhill by day, generating electricity.
Geothermal power in the Philippines
This Southeast Asian country already receives
20 percent of its energy from wells drilled
deep into the earth. The wells tap steam or
hot water that can power turbines. In the
Philippines, geothermal heat is used directly
for fish processing, salt production and drying
coconuts and fruit.
Tidal power in Scotland
Deals are currently being brokered in the
United Kingdom to build the first commercialscale tidal power systems, which will deliver
enough energy to power more than 700,000
homes in Scotland within the next four years.
Tidal energy relies on large underwater
turbines to capture the kinetic motion of the
ebbing and surging of ocean tides in order to
produce electricity.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 11
Save green by
going green
By Julie Wilson
PAGE 12 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Start at home
Is it better for the environment if you
carpool to work or take the bus?
Should you buy those apples labeled
“organic” at the mega mart or
the locally grown ones from the
downtown farmers market?
Does unplugging unused appliances
really save energy?
I
f you’re confused about how you can do
your part to protect the environment,
you’re not alone. A recent EcoPinion survey
by marketing strategist EcoAlign indicated
that while today’s consumers have a greater
understanding of the need for conservation
and clean energy, they don’t know how to
translate this into action. Going back to the
basics can help you avoid confusion. Here are
some simple and economical ways to clear
through the green haze and make a positive
impact on the environment.
Environmentalism starts at home. The first step is conducting
a home energy audit. Your utility company may offer a lowcost audit. If you are conducting your own audit, according
to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), you should start
by hunting for any obvious air leaks around windows, doors,
electrical outlets, fireplace flues and other spaces with access
to outside. Simply fixing these through proper sealing can
yield an energy savings of 5 to 30 percent each year.
It’s also important to assess your home’s insulation. Older
homes especially might not have insulation that meets
today’s standards. Make sure there is a good seal between
existing insulation and any pipes or ductwork.
“Turning off lights and adjusting thermostats are two
examples of simple no-cost ways to cut utility bills while
lowering your carbon footprint,” says Seth Mones, vice
president of Sustainability Policy and Programs at Apollo
Group, University of Phoenix’s parent company.
Another simple way to save energy at home is by increasing
the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment.
Although today’s models automatically run more efficiently,
you can help your older units along with minimal effort.
Consider turning your thermostat up a bit in the summer
and down in the winter to lower your energy usage and your
bills. Also, make sure your units are properly maintained and
change your filters regularly.
The way you illuminate your home also can impact the
environment. According to the DOE, energy used for lighting
accounts for 10 percent of a typical electricity bill. Simply
lowering the wattage of your light bulbs—from 100 to 60 or
70—can add up to energy and cost savings. Also, choosing
compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) instead of traditional
incandescent lighting can save up to 75 percent of the initial
lighting energy used. While CFLs cost more up front, this is
offset by their long life and lower energy requirements.
One more way to trim your electricity consumption is
to unplug any appliances that you are not using. Even
when something is turned off—such as a microwave or a
computer—it still draws electricity. This is known as vampire
energy. Another option is using smart power strips, which are
designed to automatically cut off the electrical current when
an item is not in use.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 13
Save green by going green
“You can improve fuel
efficiency by keeping your
tires properly inflated and
getting regular tune-ups
and oil changes.”
—Melissa Antone,
Apollo Group Sustainability Director
Consider your transportation
While there are many clear-cut ways
to save energy in your own home, it’s
easy to become confused once you step
out your front door. Is it better to use
public transportation or buy a greener
vehicle? Are electric cars more energy
efficient than hybrids? And what about
the carbon footprint associated with
producing these vehicles versus keeping
your trusty traditional car?
While green vehicles—think hybrids and
electric cars—generally are considered
to be best for the environment, don’t
despair if you are stuck with a decade-old
gas guzzler. There are still things you can
do to lower your carbon emissions. “You
can improve fuel efficiency by keeping
your tires properly inflated and getting
regular tune-ups and oil changes,”
says Melissa Antone, Apollo Group
Sustainability Director. The way you drive
your vehicle also can make a difference.
“You can save fuel by accelerating slowly
from a stop and keeping your speed in
PAGE 14 Phoenix Focus April 2011
52
Number of slots
University of
Phoenix parent
company Apollo
Group rose
in Newsweek
magazine’s
Green Rankings
from 2009 to
2010. In 2010,
the company
ranked 131st in
the rankings that
grade the 500
largest companies
in the United
States on their
environmental
performance.
check,” she adds, “and cluster your errands
so you can make fewer trips.”
Beyond maintaining your car properly,
there are other opportunities to increase
its energy efficiency. “Carpooling is
one way,” says Antone. According to
the National Resource Defense Council
(NRDC), you can save 749 pounds of
carbon dioxide emissions per year for
each day you carpool to work with
another driver, and carpooling every day
for 50 weeks in the year can save nearly
two tons over the course of a year.
Public transportation, if available
where you live or commute, is another
sustainable alternative. NRDC estimates
that 1,167 pounds per year of carbon
dioxide emissions are saved for every
weekday you take a peak-occupancy bus
to work. If you do so every day of the
week for 50 weeks in the year, you’ll save
almost three tons. Light rail and subways
can achieve even greater environmental
benefits.
Use water wisely
Whether you live in the sun-soaked
deserts of the Southwest or the
rain-drenched lushness of the Pacific
Northwest, water should be treated as
the precious resource it is. There are a
few simple ways that anyone can reduce
their water usage and save energy in the
process. Taking shorter showers saves
water and the energy used to heat it. You
also can install faucet aerators, which mix
air with water and decrease the amount
of water coming out of a faucet while
maintaining the pressure.
Look to common household appliances,
such as dishwashers and washing
machines, for other areas where you can
save. Today’s models are energy efficient
and use less water to get the job done.
Whether yours are old or new, use your
dishwasher and washing machine only
when they are full. Also, using cold water
when you run your washing machine will
save energy.
“Turning off lights and adjusting
thermostats are two examples of
simple no-cost ways to cut utility bills
while lowering your carbon footprint.”
—Seth Mones, vice president of sustainability policy and
programs at Apollo Group
continued on page 16
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 15
Save green by going green
5
no-cost ways to
go green
Easy, convenient and free. Here’s
how to save more by using less.
1
2
3
4
5
continued from page 15
Unplug. That’s right. Appliances
you’re not operating still draw energy
even if they’re turned off. Unplug
them and save on the energy you
didn’t even know you were using.
Antone suggests exploring the use of drought-tolerant, native
plants in your landscaping. “These plants already are adapted to
your local climate, and they’ll thrive using fewer resources,”
she notes.
Carpool. One less car on the
The three R’s
road means fewer carbon dioxide
emissions. With carpooling, you have
the added benefit of sharing the cost
of gas with someone else and having
company during your commute.
Run your dishwasher and
washing machine only when
they’re full. Fewer loads add up to
No, not reading, writing and arithmetic. In today’s
environmentally conscious culture, this acronym stands for
reduce, reuse and recycle. “This old advice is still a sound guiding
principle,” says Antone. “Reducing items you use, such as
packaging materials, means less ends up in the landfill. The same
goes for reusing things.”
lower water and electricity bills, and
you save even more by using less
detergent.
Recycling is easier than ever these days, too. Many municipalities
offer curbside recycling programs. These typically address paper,
plastic, glass and aluminum. You can visit your city’s website for
information on what specific items can be recycled through its
program.
Adjust your thermostat. Turning
it down in the winter and up in the
summer—even by one or two
degrees—can lower your energy
consumption and your bill.
There are some items that shouldn’t be thrown away in the
garbage or in your recycling bin. Things like paint and batteries
should be disposed of properly. Search for local drop-off locations
to recycle these and other items that aren’t appropriate for the
landfill at a website such as Earth911.com.
Buy reusable items. Buying a
You are what you eat
coffee mug once is cheaper in the
long run than buying disposables
over and over, with the added benefit
of reducing your contributions to
your local landfill.
PAGE 16 Phoenix Focus April 2011
While many of us focus on how we power our homes and our
vehicles, how we fuel ourselves is just as important. One smart
choice for the environment—and our health—is to eat organic
food. The food label “USDA Organic” indicates the item is grown
without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This method of
growing food is kinder to the earth and our bodies.
Looking
for more?
Here are some resources to help you on
the road to a greener lifestyle.
National Resource Defense Council
http://bit.ly/10tonsofco2
U.S. Department of Energy
energysavers.gov
The Sierra Club
sierraclubgreenhome.com
Earth911
earth911.com
Consumer Reports
greenerchoices.org/eco-labels
Today, it is easy to buy foods that are grown and produced locally. These options often
require less transportation to get to your table. This adds up to a savings in energy and
other resources.
When it comes to increasing your green quotient, it’s best to let common sense prevail.
It doesn’t necessarily require a big investment.
There are countless simple ways that you can lead a more environmentally friendly
lifestyle and save money in the process. 
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 17
your career
Greening your gadgets
By Joe Hutsko
PAGE 18 Phoenix Focus April 2011
L
iving a greener lifestyle by
practicing the “three R’s”
of green living—reduce,
reuse, recycle—is something most
of us pursue incrementally. You
start out by implementing a few
green practices such as bringing
your own shopping bags to the
grocer and turning down the
thermostat when you leave your
home. As those positive changes
become part of your routine, you
implement a few more. As you
make your way toward a greener
lifestyle, consider adopting a few
green practices with the various
electronic devices and gadgets in
your life.
Evaluating how much energy you use
and waste can be an eye-opening
experience that may compel you to pay
closer attention to what the Consumer
Electronics Association’s website,
digitaltips.org, refers to as the fourth R:
rethink. Rethinking applies to how you use
gadgets you own, how you shop
for new, eco-friendly ones and how you
dispose of those you no longer want
or need.
Evaluating your energy usage
and waste
When it comes to your gadgets, the most
important issue to consider isn’t how
much or how little energy they use or
waste, but how much you waste. A gadget,
whether it is the latest and most energyefficient model or is old and inefficient,
uses energy only when you use it—and for
many gadgets, even when you don’t use it.
Most electronic gadgets, new and old
alike, continue to draw power when
they’re turned off but are in standby
mode. So, turning off your television cuts
most, but not all, of the power it draws as
it stands by, ready to display the picture
more quickly when you turn it on.
Gadgets that continue to draw power
even when they are turned off are
sometimes referred to as energy
vampires. Although manufacturers
are working on or have begun offering
eco-friendly products that draw little or
almost no power when they’re off or fully
charged, zapping any energy vampires
you currently own can help lower your
energy consumption and your energy bill.
Reducing your gadgets’ energy
consumption
The first of the green living R’s—reduce—
can be summed up in three words: less
is more. Turning off gadgets when you
aren’t using them, and adjusting any
power setting options they may have so
they run more efficiently when you are
using them, can provide more savings
in both kilowatts and the amount of
money you pay for them. According
to the International Energy Agency,
an estimated 5 to 15 percent of the
world’s domestic electricity is wasted
by electronic devices idling their time in
standby mode.
Two gadgets that help you monitor and
manage your energy consumption are The
Energy Detective, which uses sensors to
tap into your home or apartment circuit
breaker to reveal your total household
consumption, and the Kill A Watt,
which has a single outlet you plug your
electronic devices into to monitor how
much energy that device consumes when
you use it and when it’s turned off.
Plugging your mobile phone charger,
television, personal computer and other
“standby” devices into an inexpensive
power strip makes it easy to pull the plug
on all of them at once when you shut
off the switch. If you don’t want to bend
down or reach behind your gear to hit
the switch, plug the power strip into an
inexpensive power outlet timer that you
can set to automatically switch off the
power strip at bedtime.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 19
your career |
Although the third R
of green gadgets is recycle,
it doesn’t necessarily mean
items you want to dispose
of will be broken down
into parts and ground
up, melted or otherwise
destroyed.
Reusing your gadgets and
electronics
In certain instances, reuse and
recycle (the second and third R’s) are
interchangeable. Passing on to others
gadgets and electronics that are still
useable extends the lives of the useable
products, and postpones their eventual
entry into the waste stream.
Consider spending a little extra for a
more-advanced power strip, like the
Belkin Conserve. It comes with remote
controls that let you instantly power off
devices plugged into up to eight of its
switchable outlets. Two additional outlets
are for always-on devices that you want to
keep on, such as your broadband modem,
your cable or your Digital Video Recorder
that records programs you want to watch
another time. Another option is the Smart
Strip, which automatically senses when
you turn off a device and cuts the power
to the outlet accordingly. Other simple
actions you can take to reduce your
gadgets’ energy consumption include:
• Replace single-use batteries with
rechargeable batteries.
• Unplug your mobile phone, personal
music player and other gadget
chargers when the devices are fully
charged.
• Disable your computer’s screen saver
and turn on its power setting option to
turn off the screen after five minutes
of inactivity.
• Read and review documents on screen
and only print them when hard copy is
absolutely necessary.
• Reduce fuel consumption and
automobile emissions by shopping
and banking online, and by renting or
buying downloadable and streaming
movies and television shows rather
than renting or buying the disc version.
PAGE 20 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Some examples of the interchangeability
of reusing and recycling include refilling
spent inkjet or toner cartridges instead
of buying new ones every time they’re
empty. Adding more memory to your
computer and installing a bigger hard
drive can help it run faster and give you
more storage space rather than buying a
new computer. Donating, selling or giving
away gadgets, computers and other
electronics that you no longer want or
use, that someone else can use, is another
green gadget option.
Recycling gadgets the green way
Although the third R of green gadgets is
recycle, it doesn’t necessarily mean items
you want to dispose of will be broken
down into parts and ground up, melted or
otherwise destroyed.
Why should you try to reuse or repurpose
a gadget instead of sending it off to a
recycler? Here’s where rethinking really
comes into play. Think about recycled
paper. It comes from existing paper that’s
collected, processed and then repurposed
as new paper. By selling a gadget or giving
it away, you’re repurposing it, but you’re
also essentially recycling it. The real win
here is that you’re skipping the processing
part of breaking down the gadget the
way a recycler would when the gadget
has truly reached its end. Reusing or
repurposing a gadget means not having
to purchase a new product to replace
it, which in turn means you’re reducing
the resources and energy required to
manufacture, package, ship and operate
yet another new gadget.
Some other options for incorporating
recycling into your greener gadget
lifestyle include:
• Visit computer manufacturer websites
to find out more about take-back,
trade-in and recycling programs.
• Visit electronics trade-in websites to
see if your still-working but unwanted
gadgets can earn you cash or credit
toward a new purchase.
Some actions you can take to rethink
before you buy new gadgets include:
• V
isitwebsitesthatevaluate,rateand
list greener products by category,
brand or other criteria:
º Digital Tips: digitaltips.org
º Greener Choices: greenerchoices.org
º Energy Star: energystar.gov
º Electronic Product Environmental
Assessment Tool: epeat.net
• List and sell your unwanted gadgets
using your local newspaper,
Craigslist.org or an Internet auction
site like eBay or eBid.
• Stay up to date on how the top
electronics companies rank against
each other by visiting the Greenpeace
Guide to Greener Electronics at
greenpeace.org/electronics.
• Drop off your working but unwanted
mobile phone at any major wireless
carrier’s retail store so that it can be
repurposed or properly recycled.
(Don’t forget the charger and any
accessories that you no longer want.)
• Visit the environmental sections of
company websites that manufacture
the products you’re considering
buying to find out about their greener
products, programs, services and
policies.
• Find a reputable recycler of e-waste
(e-cycler) that can properly dispose of
broken or otherwise hopelessly useless
electronics rather than throwing them
in the trash.
• Read news, features and reviews
of the latest eco-friendly products
by visiting green gadget blogs and
consumer electronics websites
such as:
º EcoGeek:
ecogeek.org
º Good Clean Tech:
goodcleantech.com
º Tree Hugger Science and Tech:
treehugger.com/science_technology
º CNET Energy Efficient Guide:
cnet.com/green
º PC Magazine’s Green Tech:
http://bit.ly/pcmaggreen
º Eco Snobbery Sucks,
Tech and Biz section:
http://bit.ly/ecosnobsucks. 
Rethinking new greener
gadget purchases
Rethinking new gadget purchases means
considering products with expressly
green features and benefits that have
a smaller negative impact on the
environment. For instance, a notebook
computer is a greener choice than a
desktop PC because notebooks require
fewer resources to build, less packaging to
ship and less energy (and cost) to operate.
More and more, the process of buying
greener electronics is getting easier all
the time. According to the Consumer
Electronics Association, the good
news is that more and more consumer
electronics are now being produced that
contain fewer toxic substances, offer
greater energy efficiency and are easier to
upgrade, repair and recycle.
Joe Hutsko is the author of Green Gadgets For
Dummies (http://bit.ly/ggfd). His stories about
consumer technology products and trends have
appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post,
MSNBC.com, TV Guide, Fortune, Wired, Newsweek,
Time, Engadget, TechCrunch.com and others.
Hazardous
materials In
electronics
Many electronic devices
contain heavy metals and
chemicals that cause pollution
and serious health risks to
workers during the production
or disposal of the device.
According to greenpeace.org,
the most hazardous toxins are:
Lead
Mercury
Cadmium
Berylium
Chromium Hexavalent
Organotins
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 21
your career |
Do you need a recruiter?
By Marissa Yaremich
“Recruiters are essentially salespeople so they are going to look at how they
can sell you to clients. Therefore, you also have to have your sales pitch ready.”
—Shelley Zajic, vice president of talent management for Apollo Group
PAGE 22 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Y
ou took the right classes, landed great
internships and accumulated enough skills
to make your résumé shine. So why aren’t
the job offers rolling in? It’s likely you are among the
majority of professionals who neglected to consider
one of the top career strategies to successfully
groom your job prospects: hiring a recruiter.
In fact, hiring a recruiter, also known as a headhunter, is typically a
job seeker’s last and often desperate resort.
Yet initiating a long-term relationship with one or several job
recruiters and treating them like a colleague even when you have
a job is a career tactic that is as integral as schmoozing with top
executives, according to Shelley Zajic, vice president of talent
management for Apollo Group, University of Phoenix’s
parent company.
Zajic says she remains in contact with candidates she placed
almost 20 years ago. “Recruiters are essentially service providers
who specialize in helping professionals find their next career
opportunity.”
Recruiters also make sense for those tackling today’s competitive
job market, she adds. “As a job seeker, it is easier to network
with the top five or 10 recruiters in your area that are already
networked with local companies than to try to figure out
individual contacts for numerous companies,” Zajic says. “It is also
a great way to learn about the different company cultures to see if
they could be a fit for you.”
In turn, you also share your network with the recruiters to help
them fill other jobs.
What is a recruiter?
Whether you’re looking to start a new career or need to crawl
out of an unemployment black hole, Zajic says key to building
an effective relationship with a recruiter is understanding the
recruiter’s role and the kinds of recruiters available.
The role of a job recruiter is to serve as a third party working to
fill job vacancies for one or multiple companies with appropriate
candidates. Most recruiters find these candidates by specializing
in a specific field, such as finance or technology, so that they can
speak the “language.”
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 23
Do you need a recruiter?
“Recruiters are essentially service providers who specialize in helping save
or maintain people’s careers.”
—Shelley Zajic, vice president of talent management for Apollo Group
PAGE 24 Phoenix Focus April 2011
There are two types of recruiters to seek:
• External recruiters who work for
community, regional, national or globaloriented recruiting agencies. Hiring
companies pay external recruiters a fee
if the recruiter fills the position, making
their services free for job seekers.
• Corporate recruiters who are paid
employees of a particular company and
fill that company’s job openings—also
free for job seekers.
Zajic says she is a “fan” of using recruiters
who are free to job seekers. “In today’s
market, there is no need for the job seeker
to pay a recruiter to find them a job,”
she adds.
Choosing a recruiter
Identifying a recruiter to help you embark
on a job search is as simple as plugging
in the keywords “finance recruiter” in
LinkedIn’s people search field, Zajic
says. You can then review the recruiters’
specialties and whether they work for an
agency, corporation or independently.
Recruiters also fill positions based on their
geographical concentrations (globally,
nationally, regionally, statewide or locally),
so it is important for job seekers to
connect with recruiters tapped into the
correct geographical job market.
“You have to be strategic about what
you’re looking for in a recruiter,” says Zajic.
Pitching a recruiter and how
recruiters pitch you
Recruiters also must differentiate you
from the onslaught of résumés clogging
hiring managers’ email inboxes. Therefore,
Zajic says it is integral to find a recruiter
that matches your personality so that you
can build an authentic relationship.
“Recruiters are essentially salespeople so
they are going to look at how they can sell
you to clients,” says Zajic. “Therefore, you
also have to have your sales pitch ready.
Why should a company hire you?”
The “number one mistake” is to call a
recruiter and sell your worth, Zajic adds.
Instead email your résumé and then
call to confidently pitch your strengths
based on facts and accomplishments, not
emotions.
Zajic offers this positive example of a
conversation from a job seeker with
a recruiter:
“I am currently a tax manager at a $3
billion organization. I have managed
teams up to 5 individuals. I focus on the
areas of … I report to director of tax and
work with higher levels of management. I
am moving back to Waukesha, Wisconsin,
and I am interested in networking to
get back into the community. I am just
checking in with you, first of all, to see
what kind of recruiting you do, as well as
whether you think there is an opportunity
for us to partner together. If you think so,
I am happy to answer any questions you
might have and share my résumé with
you. If you don’t think so who can you
recommend in the area?”
already been in the sales environment.
The job seeker needs to polish up
those experiences and share how that
experience lends itself to a professional
sales job.”
What won’t work is if you give an
uninformative pitch. “We get thousands
of messages like ‘Hi, I sent you my
résumé and I wanted to know if you
received it,’” Zajic says. “The job seeker
that gives the recruiter the most
valuable information is the person a
recruiter is going to call back first.” 
Marissa Yaremich is an award-winning freelance
journalist with more than 13 years of experience
serving in various positions as a reporter,
researcher or photojournalist at several media
outlets, including CBS’s Inside Edition, The Boston
Globe and the New Haven Register. She holds
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism
from Boston University.
Zajic says if you’re looking for a sales job,
but your only job experience is working
retail to put yourself through school,
you can still pursue a professional sales
position. “It’s how you spin it,” she adds.
“A person who has worked in retail has
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 25
your career |
How to ace the
phone interview
By Ronnie Ann Himmel
P
hone interviews are commonly used to screen
the most likely applicants before scheduling
in-person interviews. While some companies
call in every candidate who has the qualifications,
more and more employers use the phone screen to
save time and effort on both sides. Sometimes people
without exact qualifications get screened to see if
something about them sparks further interest. Phone
interviews also can take the place of an in-person
interview, especially if distance is involved. In some
cases, phone interviews are a conference call to allow
all the stakeholders to get a sense of who you are.
There are times you will be contacted ahead of time to arrange
the actual phone interview, but other times the phone might
just ring. If you need a moment to gather your thoughts, it’s OK
to ask if they can call back in 10 minutes. However, if you are
looking for a job and have prepared yourself for the possibility
of an impromptu phone interview, go for it right then and there
because you don’t want the opportunity to disappear.
What interviewers are looking for
Having interviewed many people for various jobs and having
been interviewed myself it is useful to keep in mind what an
interviewer (over the phone or in-person) is looking for in a job
candidate. Here are a few desired qualities or characteristics
employers are looking for:
• Someone who can do the job. If asked, give clear, strong
examples of skills that fit the job description.
• Someone they want to work with on a daily basis. Personality
matters. You don’t have to be dazzling—just someone they
feel meshes well with their team.
• Someone they can turn to in a crisis. Help them see you are
someone others can rely on and who doesn’t get caught
up in drama.
PAGE 26 Phoenix Focus April 2011
• Someone who finds solutions. Share
experiences in which you helped solve a
problem or figured out a better way.
• Someone who listens and responds
coherently. The phone interview
is your chance to show one of your
most valuable job skills: effective
communication.
• Someone who comes across as
positive, pleasant and proactive.
Employers want candidates who will
add positive energy to their teams.
Before the interview
If you are looking for a job, be prepared
for a phone interview at any time. A few
simple things can make that welcome
call less stressful. Find a quiet place
where you can do the phone interview
away from the distractions of stereos,
televisions, other noisy devices, children
and pets. Then, keep a few items such as
your résumé, any potential company or
contact information, a notepad, pen or
pencil and a calculator near the phone so
you have your important materials readily
accessible.
Also prepare for the phone interview
by researching the companies you’re
interested in, being able to recite the skills
and accomplishments on your résumé
and preparing stories that show obstacles
you’ve overcome or weaknesses you’ve
turned into strengths.
Since you may not always be available
to take the call, make sure the recording
on your voicemail message is clear and
professional. If you are making the call,
it is important to know how to turn off
call-waiting and use a landline to avoid the
possibility of a dropped call.
When answering questions, speak slowly, loudly and
clearly enough that you are easy to understand. Make
sure your responses are professional and not
too personal.
During the interview
Although any interview can be stressful,
with a phone interview you have the
benefit of being in your own environment
with your materials close at hand.
Assuming you know what time the phone
interview will be, consider dressing as you
would for an in-person interview. Being
dressed in a way that says, “I am ready
to do this job,” will come across over the
phone.
Good energy also makes a big difference
in how you are perceived over the phone.
Some experts suggest standing or
walking around to keep the energy up.
Do what is most comfortable, but at the
very least, sit up straight and give your
full attention and energy to the person on
the other end of the line. It is important
to realize that your position and posture
are closely tied to your engagement and
enthusiasm on the call. Also, smile when
you speak. Smiling changes the tone of
your voice. Phone interviewers can sense
your positive attitude.
One of the most important things to
remember during the phone interview
is to be present and fully engaged in the
conversation. If your mind wanders to the
next question or last answer, they’ll feel
the loss of energy and connection. Listen
carefully, answer thoughtfully and be
yourself. Remember, you have something
great to offer them. During a tough job
search, we sometimes forget who we are.
When answering questions, speak slowly,
loudly and clearly enough that you are
easy to understand. Make sure your
responses are professional and not too
personal. Avoid excessively long, negative
or inappropriate stories. Find the balance
between talking too little and talking
too much. Answer what is asked but
where appropriate, give the interviewer
a chance to see your personality. Don’t
feel you must share every interview story.
They just need to see you are someone
they want to know more about. When
appropriate, ask questions that show your
genuine interest.
If you have thoughtfully answered a
question, don’t worry about a quiet
period. Let the interviewer look for his
or her next question. Don’t over-commit
yourself during the in-between times. You
don’t have to fill in the dead air. Avoid um
and uh. Just pause to think. Practice, if
necessary.
Below are a few additional tips you should
remember for your phone interview:
• Do not call the interviewer by his or her
first name unless invited to do so.
• Do not interrupt the interviewer.
• Do not eat, drink, chew gum or smoke
during an interview.
After the interview
Write down the questions, answers and
responses you can remember. If you do
this while the interview is fresh in your
mind, you will have better information to
refer back to.
Make sure you send a short thank-you
note for the interview. Common courtesy
is still essential.
You have no way of knowing exactly
what your interviewer is thinking or
screening for. All you can ever do is
your best. By being fully engaged,
using positive, results-oriented stories
where appropriate, connecting with the
interviewer and letting your real self
shine through, you give yourself the
absolute best chance of getting that next
interview and landing a job that’s right
for you.
Ronnie Ann Himmel is an organizational
consultant, workplace coach and writer living in the
New York City area. She blogs about job searches,
interviews and career advice at Work Coach Café
(http://workcoachcafe.com).
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 27
your career |
Get your color on
By Brenda Kinsel
The most important
color you should not
only be aware of but
also incorporate into
your wardrobe is your
eye color.
PAGE 28 Phoenix Focus April 2011
H
ave you ever
considered how
certain colors
make you feel? Are there
certain colors you just feel
better wearing? Do you
know why? Have you ever
considered that the colors
you wear could affect what
someone thinks about you?
Would you believe me if I
told you that using color
effectively in your wardrobe
could change your life and
the way others perceive
you at work? I’m going to let
you decide. Let’s start with
some basics.
Some people intuitively know which
colors work for them. When they wear
those colors, the difference is dramatic;
they look brighter, younger, more vital
and healthy. If you don’t have a good
sense of what colors work for you, there
are people who can help. A professional
color consultant looks at your skin, hair
and eye color and determines what colors
are the most flattering on you. These
are colors that look exceptional and
sensational on you but might look flat
or dull on someone else.
Your essential color
The most important color you should not
only be aware of but also incorporate into
your wardrobe is your eye color. This is
the color that makes you irresistible and
memorable—the person others just want
to be around.
Here’s the thing: We want people paying
attention to us and more specifically, we
want people looking at our eyes. They are
our communication center. If something
about your outfit is basically drawing
everyone’s attention to your face, that’s a
good thing. Your communication center is
where you can be most influential.
You can look great tomorrow if you simply
look at your eye color, and then look into
your closet and see if you already own
clothes or accessories in that color. And if
you do, then wear it—a lot. I’ve lost track
of the number of clients I’ve had over
the years who completely neglected the
power of repeating their eye color in
their clothes.
Consider what Paul Newman looked like
when he wore a blue shirt that matched
his blue eyes. He was mesmerizing. A
woman client of mine has a hard-todescribe yellow-green eye color. When I
found that same color in a gemstone in a
pendant, even though it was more money
than she was used to paying for jewelry,
I was confident she’d never regret the
purchase. “Really?” she asked. I said: “Yes.
It’s already a color that exists on you. No
one will be able to take their eyes off of
you when you wear this necklace. It’ll be
your signature necklace.” And it is.
Understanding color messages
Now that we have you wearing a color
that’s getting people to focus on you,
let’s go further. Colors that you wear
convey important information about
you. It is important to know the effect
certain colors have on you and other
people’s perception of you. Universal color
messages can boost your image and your
impact even more. Did you know that
each color has its own meaning? When
you know what you want to express about
yourself in your workplace, you can use
color in your clothing to convey just the
right things.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 29
Get your color on
Here are some universal color messages for business
DARK BLUE
honest, possesses
integrity,
trustworthy,
hardworking,
organized,
communication
BLACK
authoritative,
powerful,
assertive,
sophisticated
TAN/CREAM/
CAMEL
elegant,
approachable,
trustworthy
BROWN
stable, secure,
persevering
CHARCOAL GRAY
authoritative,
refined,
strong in
character
WHITE
fresh, hopeful,
reliable,
expressive
RED
dramatic,
self-assured,
high energy,
courageous
ORANGE
social, fun loving,
enthusiastic,
thoughtful
YELLOW
creative,
outgoing,
bright, cheerful,
optimistic
VIOLET
sensitive, unusual,
exotic
PINK
quiet, refined,
artistic
TEAL
inventive,
soothing,
balancing
Using colors effectively
1. Take a minute and think about
what people know about you
within five minutes of meeting
you. Write those words down.
2. Think about what people don’t
know about you but you wish
they did. Write those words
down.
3. Now, look at the list of colors
(above) and see if there’s a color
that could help you get from
what people know about you to
what you want others to know
about you.
Layering color messages
Think about how to use color
effectively in different scenarios.
If you’re a naturally gregarious
PAGE 30 Phoenix Focus April 2011
person, there’s no need to use color
to bring out any more of those
qualities. You might want to tone
down your obvious gregarious
nature and bring out the fact that
you’re a deep thinker and a great
problem solver while working
with a team on a project. Use
communication colors—shades
of blue—to keep others focused
on what you can contribute. Or
use the colors tan or cream to
encourage people to trust you
and listen to you. If you’re wearing
bouncy colors like red or bright
yellow, we’re expecting you to
entertain us with your wit, not
impress us with your thoughts.
In the same situation, you could
limit the number of colors
you wear and avoid wearing
busy prints. Bring focus to the
project by wearing clothes in a
monochromatic way. Convey a
sense of loyalty and steadfastness
in head-to-toe shades of brown
(from chocolate to tan). If you
want to demonstrate a sense of
authority, wear black head-to-toe,
preferably using more than one
texture to make it interesting.
In what situations would bright
colors work to your advantage?
Bright colors work when you are
doing a presentation at the front
of the room and you want to
capture everyone’s full attention.
That’s when you want to convey
messages of enthusiasm, energy
It is important to
know the effect certain
colors have on you and
other people’s
perception of you.
and confidence. So choose a tie with
orange or yellow. Or wear a blouse or a
dress in those colors.
When you look at that list, I bet three
colors have popped out at you. Perhaps
you’d like those qualities to be an integral
part of your personal branding. If you
want to focus on one or two traits, limit
the number of colors you wear together.
If you want to give a more energetic, lively
impression, wear three colors in an outfit.
When you personalize your choice of
colors, you become more memorable.
Just wearing a shade that mimics your
hair or eye color will go a long way toward
establishing your credibility. And dressing
in colors that match the message you
want to convey will make you feel more
confident.
Choosing to wear a color that supports
the person you want to be can remind you
that you’re putting your best foot forward.
You get dressed every day, why not use
color to your advantage? If you do, you will
find that color can change your life. Enjoy
color, and wear it with meaning. 
Brenda Kinsel is a 25-year veteran of the image
industry, a national radio and television speaker and
author of five popular books on fashion and style. Visit
her online at brendakinsel.com.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 31
featured alumna | Lorri Lee
“It’s my job to ensure that we
are sorting through the maze
of complex resource issues and
operating in a manner that our
stakeholders can support.”
—Lorri Lee, BSB/A ‘97
Quenching
a region
Most of us don’t think much about where
our water comes from. We just open the tap,
and there it is ready to sustain us—and our
lawns, dishes and laundry. But that’s not the
case for Lorri Lee, Bachelor of Science in
Business Administration (BSB/A) ’97. In her
role as regional director of the U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation’s (USBR) Lower Colorado
Region, she works to ensure that citizens in
three Western states get their fair share of
water from the Lower Colorado River.
PAGE 32 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Lorri Lee, BSB/A ’97
Director of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region,
bringing water to the desert Southwest and working to conserve
the unique habitat for generations to come.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 33
New home development overlooking the shores of
Lake Mead, approximately 11 million acre feet of water,
impounded by the Hoover Dam.
From entry level to executive
Bringing water to the Southwest
Lee started her new career in the human
resources department and rose through
the ranks, gradually taking on more
responsibilities. “When I started, I didn’t
know what the USBR was all about, but
I quickly learned that its mission is just
phenomenal,” she says.
Lee is relishing her current role, which she began in 2007. As
director of a region that spans more than 200,000 square miles,
she deals with a broad range of hot-button issues and a multitude
of interested parties. “I am responsible for 840 employees
in the region, the budget and our other resources,” she says.
Today, Lee holds a high-profile position at
the USBR, but when she began her career
there 28 years ago, she was just another
high school student working at the local
A&W Restaurant. “A wonderful typing
teacher saw potential in me and asked me
if I was interested in applying for a job she
knew about at the USBR,” Lee remembers.
“The idea of working in an office was very
appealing to me.”
PAGE 34 Phoenix Focus April 2011
That mission, which impressed her as much in her teens as it
does today, is to manage, develop and protect water and related
resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner
in the interest of the American public. Simply put, Lee’s office is
responsible for the last 688 miles of the Colorado River, known
as the Lower Colorado Region. When three states in the region—
Arizona, California and Nevada—experienced disputes over rights
to the water, the U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court placed
the Secretary of Interior in the role of water master for the lower
Colorado River. “My office oversees and administers contracts for
water on his behalf,” explains Lee. “We also maintain Hoover, Davis
and Parker dams.”
“My office oversees and administers contracts for
Colorado River water. We also maintain Hoover,
Davis and Parker dams.”
—Lorri Lee, BSB/A ’97
“It is my job to ensure we are sorting
through the maze of complex resource
issues and operating in a manner that
our stakeholders can support.” Those
stakeholders include the governments
and citizens of three states and an array
of non-government organizations in the
United States and Mexico.
Although Lee found success at the
USBR with only a high school diploma,
she eventually realized that she wanted
to earn a college degree to give her a
higher level of confidence when she
worked with engineers and other highly
educated colleagues. “Once I completed
my degree, I didn’t have to worry about
someone second-guessing me,” says Lee.
“My degree has opened doors for me
that I wouldn’t have been allowed to walk
through otherwise.”
A message of conservation
For Lee and the USBR, water management
goes beyond doling out the appropriate
allotments to the right parties. It also is
about protecting the endangered species
and native habitats that are an intrinsic
part of the Colorado River. “We have a 50year program to address the needs of the
native fish, birds and mammals along the
Colorado,” says Lee. “To that end, we are
working with our partners to create over
8,100 acres of new habitat for wildlife.”
Lee also is committed to fostering a sense
of stewardship and responsibility in youth.
“We all have a responsibility for our water
and our environment, and we are doing
a lot with our youth to make sure they
understand the importance of this,” she
says. “I think we are doing it better than
we ever have, but we are not there yet.
”Lee’s organization promotes math and
sciences in the schools to prepare young
people for future employment. “I want to
help them understand the important jobs
that are out there in public service where
they can make a real difference,” she says.
Although Lee’s real reward is the
fulfillment she gets from her role at
USBR, she also has received accolades
from her peers for her outstanding
contributions. She has been honored
with the Superior Service Award and the
Meritorious Service Award—two of the
Department of the Interior’s (DOI) highest
honors for career employees. “DOI is an
amazing organization,” she asserts. “They
provide the resources that allow me to do
important work and also say thank you for
a job well done. I am very fortunate.” 
Facts about the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation
10
million acres
Number of acres of farmland
irrigated by Reclamation water
17%
hydropower
Percent of nation’s hydropower
produced by Bureau of
Reclamation facilities
7.1
million acres
Number of acres of Reclamation
land and easements
For more information,
visit www.usbr.gov/facts.html.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 35
alumni profiles | David Raetz
Steward of
the land
David Raetz, BSB/A ’06
Deputy Director, Irvine Ranch Conservancy
E
ven as a boy, David
Raetz, Bachelor of
Science in Business
Administration (BSB/A) ’06,
had a special connection to the
beautiful wilderness around
his home in Orange County,
California, where he would
happily collect snakes and other
small creatures to care for.
Today, he is working to protect
this beloved and endangered
ecosystem through his work at
the Irvine Ranch Conservancy,
a nonprofit organization that
tends to 50,000 acres of jointly
owned, permanently protected
wildlands and parks on the
historic Irvine Ranch.
Protecting a rare ecosystem
The lands protected by the Conservancy
are unique because they are one of just
five areas around the world in what is
known as the Mediterranean climate
zone. Coveted because of their livability,
these areas are disappearing at a rate
of 3 percent each year to development
and agriculture, according to the
Conservancy. “Mediterranean climate
zones rival tropical rainforests for their
biodiversity,” says Raetz. “From an
ecological perspective, these areas are
really important.”
The Conservancy was established in
2005 in an effort to protect and preserve
the Mediterranean climate zone in
Southern California, which includes nearly
40,000 acres of open space that has
been designated a Natural Landmark by
both the State of California and the U.S.
Department of the Interior.
PAGE 36 Phoenix Focus April 2011
“We have three restoration projects that are 100 acres apiece. We are taking
areas that have been 100 percent degraded and trying to bounce them
back to 80 percent restored.”
—David Raetz, BSB/A ’06
The Conservancy is home to hundreds of
species of native animals and plants that
are highly adapted to the Mediterranean
climate zone. The diverse terrain there
includes grasslands, mountains, oak
woodlands and stretches of beach.
A new direction
Raetz joined the Conservancy four years
ago after working for the Orange County
Department of Education where he
managed the environmental education
program. In his role as deputy director at
the Conservancy, Raetz is enjoying the
next phase of his environmental career
unencumbered by government process.
“At the Conservancy, we have taken the
best of the business world and the best
of the government world and put them
together in a nonprofit,” he explains. “We
are results-oriented, and we are working
at lightning speed to get things done.”
Currently, the Conservancy is in the midst
of large-scale landscape restoration.
“We have three restoration projects
that are 100 acres apiece,” he says. The
Conservancy—backed by hundreds of
active volunteers—is working to remove
non-native plants from the Irvine Ranch
area and install native seeds and plants,
many of which are from its own native
plant farm. “We are taking areas that
have been 100 percent degraded and
trying to bounce them back to 80 percent
restored,” he says. “We are trying to
change the trajectory of a habitat, and
each site will take six to 10 years before
we reach our success criteria.”
Raetz oversees strategic planning, project
management, budget and staffing,
among other things. When he is able to
get out of his office and into the field,
Areas with Mediterranean climate
In good company: Mediterranean climate zones around the world
The Mediterranean climate zone, which supports a unique ecosystem, exists in only five small
areas of the world: around the Mediterranean Sea, in central coastal Chile, the Cape region of
South Africa, southwestern and southern Australia, and coastal California—including the wild
lands and parks of Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
he is most enchanted by the annual
spectacle of wildflowers each spring. “Our
wildflower displays are just phenomenal,”
he says. “You’ll see one mountain that is
orange, and then another that is purple.”
Looking forward
Although Raetz has an innate love
for the environment, over the years
he found that he needed additional
skills to reach his career goals. After
stints studying biology and archeology
at other schools, Raetz enrolled at
University of Phoenix to pursue a
business degree. “I was at the point in my
career where I had topped out without a
degree,” he admits. “At the Conservancy,
I was promoted from senior manager to
deputy director, and it is due in part to
my University of Phoenix education. I
could immediately apply what I learned
to the running of an organization, and it
has helped me tremendously.”
Most of Raetz’s work is done in
collaboration with partner agencies
and volunteers, a skill he learned
during his degree program. “When the
Conservancy was started, we began
working with many other groups,” says
Raetz. “Because University of Phoenix
promotes group work, it was natural for
me to work this way.”
As for the future, Raetz is hoping to
stay at the Conservancy for the long
haul so he can make a difference in
its upcoming, large-scale restoration
projects. He also is committed to creating
a culture of stewardship in the Orange
County area. “The next step is to work
on environmental education initiatives,”
he asserts. “There are 3.5 million people
in Orange County, and we have the
opportunity to connect people to this
unique habitat in a meaningful way, which
is the most rewarding part for me.” 
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 37
alumni profiles | Dr. John Warner
Powering the
future
John Warner, DM ’03
Director of product management,
Boston-Power
H
ailing from a fourthgeneration General
Motors family, it was
almost inevitable that the auto
industry would be in John
Warner’s blood (Doctor of
Organizational Management
(DM) ’03). His great-grandfather
worked for GM in the early
1900s in Michigan, followed by
his grandfather and father—and
eventually Dr. Warner himself.
Although the car industry factors
heavily into his past, today Dr.
Warner is helping to power
clean-running automobiles of
the future—and much more—
through his work at battery
producer Boston-Power.
A new opportunity
In 2009, Dr. Warner left GM, after a
dozen years, to join a young company.
“I found the opportunity to come to
Boston-Power, and I jumped at it,” says
Dr. Warner. “It’s exciting to be involved
in an emerging company.”
Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud
established Boston-Power in 2005 with
the mission of bringing dependable
energy to a wide range of everyday
applications. “This includes lithiumion battery systems for electric
vehicles, utility applications and
laptop computers,” says Dr. Warner.
Boasting more than 138 patents in
the United States and internationally,
Boston-Power is focused on bringing
to market battery systems that are
long-lasting, quick to charge, safe and
environmentally sustainable.
PAGE 38 Phoenix Focus April 2011
In his role as director of product
management at Boston-Power, Dr.
Warner is responsible for bringing to
market large format battery systems.
“My job is to define and drive the
development of battery blocks and
modules and then build them into larger
packs for end applications,” he explains.
Saab story
One common application for BostonPower’s battery cells is in electric vehicles,
which Dr. Warner believes will be widely
available on the mass market by 2015.
The team at Boston-Power is working
on multiple electric vehicle projects,
including one with automaker Saab. “The
idea is to have a fully electric vehicle fleet
based on the Saab 9-3 sedan,” he says.
“We have a demonstration vehicle fleet
up and running, with another planned for
later this year.”
Boston-Power is developing the entire
battery for Saab, which consists of
separate battery cells. The battery cells
are about the size of two 18650 lithiumion batteries put together, and they
are used as building blocks to fit each
unique application. “We are working with
our customers, like Saab, to see what
space they have for the batteries in their
vehicles and what their requirements
are,” he elaborates. “I am responsible
for defining and integrating their
requirements into our products.”
Dr. Warner is busy working on the
next stage of development for battery
systems that can be used to fit more
electric vehicles off the shelf. “Because
each vehicle’s battery enclosure is
unique,” he says, “we want to make
our batteries as modular as possible
to reduce customization and reengineering.”
Harnessing renewable energy
Another common application for
Boston-Power’s battery cells is storing
alternative forms of energy, such as wind
and solar. On their own, wind turbines
“Our battery solutions help in multiple industries,
including transportation and utility energy storage.
These are two of the biggest carbon dioxide generators
in this country—and the world. Our products offer the
opportunity to help reduce these emissions.”
—John Warner, DM ’03
and solar cells don’t have the ability
to store the power they are generating,
so it goes directly to the energy grid.
Simply adding batteries enables
the energy to be stored and used
when needed.
“Peak solar energy generation occurs
at around noon, while peak demand
occurs at around 6 p.m. The battery
allows our customers to store solar
energy and use it when the demand is
highest,” says Dr. Warner. The same can
be said for energy generated from wind
turbines, which peaks at night in some
areas and during the day in other areas.
Batteries make it possible to offset the
difference in optimal generation time
and top usage time.
Cross-industry impact
Because batteries have so many
applications, the benefits of using
them also are widespread. “Our battery
solutions help in multiple industries,
including transportation and utility
energy storage,” says Dr. Warner.
“These are two of the biggest carbon
dioxide generators in this country—
and the world. Our products offer
the opportunity to help reduce these
emissions, which are generally believed
to be the source of global warming.”
While Dr. Warner’s passion for
sustainability is integral to his success
at Boston-Power, so are the skills he
learned during his doctoral program at
University of Phoenix. “The University
has such a solid leadership program,
which helps me as I do my part to
continue to grow Boston-Power into an
industry leader,” he asserts.
In the end, though, Dr. Warner’s purpose
is to help preserve the environment for
the generations that will follow. Simply
put, “My intention is to leave the world a
better place.” 
What’s old is new again
Did you know that the first electric cars were invented
nearly 180 years ago? Initially hailed as a horseless
carriage, a crude version of an electric vehicle was
invented between 1832 and 1839 by Scottish inventor
Robert Anderson. In 1835, American Thomas Davenport is
said to have built the first practical electric vehicle. Over
the many decades to come, the electric vehicle would
take many forms, though it has yet to become a viable
option for the majority of drivers on the road.
According to Dr. John Warner, director of product
management at Boston-Power, that will all change in the
coming decade. “Today, the technology is getting to the
place where electric vehicles are becoming feasible for
consumers,” he asserts.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 39
alumni profiles | Crystal Evans
Gaining a
greener
perspective
Crystal Evans, MM ’05
Demand creation manager,
ABB Group
F
or much of her life, Crystal Evans, Master of Management (MM) ’05, didn’t consider herself to be
particularly environmentally minded. But that all changed when she began climbing the corporate
ladder at The ABB Group, a global leader in sustainable power and automation technologies. There, she
not only gained increased responsibility through a series of promotions, but also an awareness of her impact
on the environment and the know-how to minimize it.
Today, Evans is demand creation manager in ABB’s Discrete
Automation and Motion Division. She specializes in low-voltage
drives that control the speed of motors so they don’t run any
faster than necessary, thus saving energy. “Our drives are in
everything from conveyer belts to wind turbines and food
and beverage production facilities to water treatment plants,”
explains Evans. “Simply put, we strive for overall
energy efficiency.”
In her role as demand creation manager, Evans works to attract
new customers and introduce them to ABB’s energy-saving
PAGE 40 Phoenix Focus April 2011
drive technologies. “My job is to create the demand so that
our channel partners can help their customers improve their
productivity and increase their output while creating energy
efficiency wherever possible,” says Evans.
Up the ladder
Evans wasn’t always a manager. She began her career at
ABB 11 years ago as a marketing specialist in one of the
company’s training departments. At the time, she didn’t have
a college degree. Despite that fact, she was asked to assume
responsibility for ABB’s global online training platform.
“Four months into the job, my new boss
informed me that I needed to finish my
college degree,” she remembers. “Since
I was the global champion for our online
training platform, I decided to get my
degree online.”
Evans intertwined her education and
her profession by recruiting a co-worker
to pursue her degree at University of
Phoenix at the same time. She also
incorporated her on-the-job projects
into her homework assignments. “I
figured I might as well do real work and
use it to benefit the company,” she says.
“I did that throughout my bachelor’s and
master’s degree programs.”
A growing awareness
Along the way, Evans was introduced to
the idea of sustainability. “Our impact on
the environment is integral to all aspects
of ABB’s business,” she affirms. “We’re
not just environmentally conscious
inside the business, but we also strive
to help our customers understand ways
they can have more of a positive impact
on the environment.”
ABB’s sustainability efforts also can be
seen in its internal education program.
“We have a woman here whose full-time
job is to help us understand what it
means to be green and how to behave in
a green manner,” Evans says. “And we tell
our friends what we have learned, and
they tell their friends, and pretty soon
thousands of people know about it.”
Evans also has shared this knowledge
with her family, and they have
incorporated green practices inside
their home. “At ABB, there is a program
that teaches employees how to properly
dispose of things, and now we have
separate recycling containers at home
and no longer throw batteries and other
items away,” she says. “This has opened
my eyes about how we treat disposables
as a family.”
students to get involved in sustainability
efforts at work. “I tell them to go to their
human resources department to see if
there is a green program at the company.
If not, I encourage them to volunteer to
start a committee,” she says. “There are
so many simple things they can do, such
as provide reusable coffee cups at work
instead of paper or Styrofoam ones. The
possibilities are mind boggling.” 
Evans, who teaches business classes at
University of Phoenix, also advises her
“We’re not just
environmentally conscious
inside the business, but
we also strive to help our
customers understand
ways they can have more
of a positive impact on
the environment.”
—Crystal Evans, MM ’05
How to go green at work
Crystal Evans shares her top tips for implementing sustainable practices at work.
1. Tap into existing programs. If your company already has
environmental programs in place, get involved.
2. Start a committee. If your place of business doesn’t already
offer a program, start one yourself. Identify like-minded
colleagues and tap into available resources—locally and
on the Internet.
3. Make it fun. Start a contest around recycling or decreasing
paper consumption, and give away an environmentally
friendly prize if the company meets the challenge.
4. Join the University of Phoenix Alumni Association. “The
Alumni Association can be astronomically beneficial,” says
Evans. “You can find people doing things for the environment
that you never thought of.”
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 41
Published by alumni
Lessons from Lorena: Living with Autism
By Kimberly J. Stults
We want to celebrate you in
our alumni announcements.
Share your story and be part
of “The Buzz.” Email us at
[email protected].
When most people imagine a newborn baby girl, they think of
bows, ballet lessons and future boyfriend issues. Kimberly J.
Stults, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) ’03, was no different
until her daughter, Lorena, was born. Stults knew something was
wrong when Lorena didn’t smile, roll over or grab at objects as
most babies do. After countless doctor visits, Lorena’s diagnosis
as autistic was confirmed.
Lessons from Lorena: Living with Autism chronicles the painful
years Stults and her family faced before Lorena was finally
pronounced autistic at age 5 and offers advice from the mother
of an autistic child. Written in down-to-earth style, Lessons from
Lorena: Living with Autism is a tool for parents of autistic children,
but it is applicable to anyone facing struggles.
For more information, visit http://bit.ly/tatepub-autism.
Moral Discourse and Moral Facts
By Cornell Horn
In his first published book titled Moral Discourse and Moral Facts,
Cornell Horn, Doctor of Management (DM) ’10, invites students
majoring in philosophy to look at the nature of moral facts and
of moral discourse. The book provides a survey of perspectives
within the moral realism debate. The work concludes with a
moral relativism that maintains moral facts are determined in
communicative agreement and not by properties experienced
independent of collective agreement.
“After reading my work, I hope readers will understand that
although moral disagreement is real, it is the group’s cognitive
abilities, in the hands of a (presumed) majority that determines
morality,” Dr. Horn says. “In collective agreement, certain
ethical principles and facts get formed, and certain actions get
scrutinized relative to them. Therefore, it is not necessary to
believe moral knowledge is grounded by or even relevant to
objective human independent properties in order to affirm that
we have moral knowledge about facts.”
This book can be purchased at amazon.com.
PAGE 42 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Betray Me Not
By Linda Stallworth
Coolposing: Secrets of Black Male
Leadership in America
When MaryAnn Mantel, a young college
girl, falls in love with a wealthy older man,
her family and friends criticize their age
difference. However, MaryAnn’s need for
love and affection blind her to the true
nature of her newfound love, which leads
to a tragic ending.
In Coolposing: Secrets of Black Male
Leadership in America, author George
Cross, Doctor of Management (DM) ’04,
explores “coolposing,” a psychologicallybased coping leadership strategy based
on African traditions.
Linda Stallworth, Bachelor of Science
in Business Management (BSB/M) ’10, is
the author of Betray Me Not, a three-part
fictional mini series dealing with real-life
situations for women in the dating realm.
“Pay close attention to initial signs in
a relationship before falling in love,”
Stallworth says. “If you take the time out
to become friends first, you will discover
whether you want it to be a lasting,
meaningful relationship or continue with
a platonic friendship. The tell-tale signs
are always there from the beginning of a
courtship.”
Parts I and II of the series can be
purchased at http://betraymenot.com.
The third installment will be published
in 2013.
By Dr. George Cross
Inspired by his studies at University of
Phoenix School of Advanced Studies,
Dr. Cross’ book offers a step-by-step
blueprint to help educators, social
workers, psychologists, law enforcement
agents, parents and others begin to better
understand and mediate the confusing
and disruptive behaviors of “cool” black
males, both mature and adolescent. “I
discuss ways black males attempt to level
the unequal playing field of opportunity
in America and explore the concept of
the negative images in the media that
surround black males,” Dr. Cross says.
“During my doctoral program I became
acutely aware that the black male was
rarely referenced within the leadership
literature review as anything other than
from a problem perspective,” explains
Dr. Cross. The need to fill this significant
literature gap strongly influenced
Dr. Cross’ decision to use black male
leadership as the focus of the book.
The book can be purchased at
http://coolposing.com.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 43
Alumni Facebook poll
How environmentally friendly are you?
A little (I recycle when
it is convenient)
Very (I recycle, reuse
and I’m interested
in learning
ways I can
save energy)
Eco friendly (I recycle,
use reusable bags
for groceries, etc.)
13%
A little
13%
Eco friendly
34%
Very
13%
Extremely
27%
Some
Some (I recycle
almost everything)
Extremely (I recycle, reuse,
have solar panels on my house
and more)
* Results of those who responded
Facebook comments:
Interesting ways alumni are helping the environment
“Recycling aluminum, plastic and working on ways to turn our office
into a go-green establishment.”
“I carry two bags when walking my dog, one for him and another to pick up litter
in our neighborhood, which teaches my 5-year-old boy a sense of community and
taking resposibility even in small ways.”
“I am a current student and will eventually pursue a bachelor’s degree in green and
sustainable business enterprise. I have just opened my own store and it is on the way to
becoming sustainable—all fair trade, organic, green, upcycled and recycled.”
PAGE 44 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Connect with fellow alumni
facebook.com/uopxalumni
twitter.com/uopxalumni
linkd.in/uopxalumni
© 2011 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved.
university news
Federal government takes over
management of student loans
And if there are ways the system can
work better, we think we have a role
to play in making it happen. But to do
that properly, we want to hear from
University of Phoenix graduates.
Recently, the federal government
changed the way it handles all federal
student loans, and these changes have
affected many University of Phoenix
alumni. Phoenix Focus sat down with Mark
Brenner, chief communications officer
and senior vice president of External
Affairs for Apollo Group, parent company
of University of Phoenix, to learn more
and to find out how alumni can get
involved to ensure that their interests are
represented in Washington.
PF: Education has been in the news a lot
lately. What are some other changes on
the horizon for higher education?
PF: Can you explain the recent changes
to the way the government now handles
student loans?
MB: These changes are part of the Health
Care and Education Reconciliation Act
that the U.S. Congress passed in 2010.
In short, banks and other financial
institutions previously made and
collected most student loans. When the
bill was passed last March, the federal
government took over the management
of all federal student loans and now all
students get their money directly from
the U.S. Department of Education.
PF: Who is impacted by this change?
MB: All graduates who are in the process
of repaying a federal student loan are
affected. The existing loans themselves
are not altered, but the process has
changed. For some of our alumni, it has
caused confusion. For others, it meant
their loans went delinquent due to
no fault of their own, but because the
PAGE 46 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Mark Brenner, chief communications officer
and senior vice president of External Affairs
for Apollo Group.
government did not properly tell our
graduates about the change.
PF: What is Apollo Group doing to ensure
University of Phoenix alumni aren’t
adversely affected by these changes?
MB: We knew this would be difficult
for the government to manage, and
we have worked proactively to help
the government give students and
graduates a clear understanding of
the changes. We continue to offer the
Obama Administration our assistance.
Like our alumni, we want to help prevent
delinquent loans. We want to make
sure the system is easy to navigate for
graduates paying back student loans.
MB: As the debate in Washington
focuses on spending, the federal
budget deficit, jobs and the economy,
policymakers understand the important
part higher education plays in our
country’s future. Earning a college
degree and ensuring job training is
closely aligned with the evolving needs
of the global economy is how best to
grow the American workforce and, as
we’ve heard President Obama say, “win
the future.” Education policies are being
debated in both the state and federal
legislatures, and I urge all students and
alumni to pay close attention to these
discussions.
PF: How can alumni get involved
to ensure their interests are being
represented by their elected officials?
MB: We’re organizing a growing network
of alumni by actively seeking graduates
who are willing to tell politicians their
stories. University of Phoenix alumni are
voters and the very people lawmakers
are suppose to listen to. They’re
employees, mothers, fathers, nurses
and soldiers, and they all have powerful
stories to share. I’ve found that leaders
in Washington are astounded by what
University of Phoenix alumni have
accomplished with their lives. But frankly,
too often they form their impressions of
us from less than ideal sources.
That’s why we have a tremendous
opportunity to help educate our leaders
in Washington. There are a lot of us at
University of Phoenix—almost 500,000
current students and more than 622,000
alumni. And there are more than
45,000 combined University of Phoenix
employees and faculty. Those are big
numbers, and as we more actively tell our
story, lawmakers are realizing we are an
important voice in their home districts.
They want to know about the issues
that are most important to University
of Phoenix graduates. I think the voices
of our alumni, students and faculty will
change the debate in Washington and will
impact who is elected to represent us.
Get involved
To share your story with federal
and state elected officials,
email Mark Brenner’s team at
[email protected]. Type “What I
want politicians to know about my
education” in the subject line.
Teach for the Future scholarship
Angelique Batsel, Emily Omondi and Crystal Davidson
received full-tuition scholarships to pursue master’s
degree programs in education at the University of Phoenix
through the Teach for the Future program. Batsel resides in
Anaheim, California, and plans to pursue a master’s in early
childhood education. She currently holds a bachelor’s in
psychology from UCLA and a Juris Doctor from Chapman
University School of Law. Omandi, who lives in Fullerton,
California, plans to obtain a master’s in teacher leadership.
She has a bachelor’s in liberal studies from Westmount College and has six years of
classroom experience. Davidson lives in Boise, Idaho, and previously earned a Bachelor of
Science degree in Biology from Boise State University. She will pursue a master’s degree
in Secondary Teacher Education. Three additional Teach for the Future scholarships will
be awarded in August. Applications for these scholarships open in May. Learn more at
phoenix.edu/scholarships.
Showcase in Excellence Award
For the second consecutive year, University of
Phoenix was honored with the Arizona Quality
Alliance (AQA) Showcase in Excellence Award. The
Arizona Performance Excellence Program recognizes
manufacturing, health care, nonprofit, government
and education organizations using the Baldrige Criteria
for Performance Excellence, the nation’s highest
recognition for organizational excellence.
This year, the University was recognized for its Online
Faculty Certification Process, a multi-month program
that prepares new instructors to be classroomready and thoroughly familiar with the University’s
curriculum.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 47
campus news
Volunteers at the North Florida Campus made bears for patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital for Valentine’s Day.
North Florida Campus delivers Build-A-Bear gifts
This year Valentine’s Day included a special delivery for the patients at Wolfson Children’s
Hospital thanks to a partnership between University of Phoenix North Florida Campus and
the Build-A-Bear located in The Avenues Mall in Jacksonville, Florida. Approximately two
dozen University employees created bears at a Build-A-Bear workshop for the patients.
Keeping Sacramento
beautiful
In spite of pouring rain and
high winds, 118 brave staff
members from Sacramento
Valley Campus volunteered
to plant trees and beautify
the Northern Sacramento
Parkway. In partnership
with the City of Sacramento
and the Sacramento Tree
Foundation, volunteers
planted 43 trees, weeded,
mulched and pruned roses
along a five-mile stretch of
the parkway.
PAGE 48 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Members from Sacramento Valley Campus plant trees and beautify the
Northern Sacramento Parkway.
Volunteers from the Raleigh Campus made 45
valentines to donate to the children at WakeMed
Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Raleigh Campus gives back on
Valentine’s Day
The Raleigh Campus shared the
Valentine’s Day spirit with children
and families in Raleigh, Durham and
Fayetteville, North Carolina. At the
Boys & Girls Club of Wake County,
campus employees assisted students
with homework and then helped make
valentines for parents and family
members. At the Boys & Girls Club
of Cumberland County, the boys and
girls participated in a Valentine’s Day
party, making valentines for family
and friends. At The Ronald McDonald
House of Durham, volunteers baked
valentines cookies and made goodie bags
to welcome guests to the house. Also,
employees made 45 valentines to donate
to the children in the pediatric unit of
WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh. In total,
16 employees volunteered 29 hours
on Feb. 14.
Shane LaCroste from the Minneapolis Campus
volunteers at a local classroom during a Junior
Achievement day event.
February Teacher of the Month: Robert Pambello
(center), principal of the Heritage College Ready High
School in Los Angeles.
March Teacher of the Month: Yvette Evans (center),
fourth grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary
School in Corona.
Teacher of the Month Appreciation
University of Phoenix and the LA Kings launched the “Teacher of the Month Appreciation”
program to recognize Southern California K-12 teachers in the counties of Orange, Los
Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino. Recipients are awarded tickets to one of the LA
Kings’ regular season home games in addition to being recognized in front of thousands
of fans at the game. Robert Pambello, principal of the Heritage College Ready High School
in Los Angeles, was named February 2011 Teacher of the Month. Yvette Evans, a fourth
grade teacher at Corona’s Eisenhower Elementary School, was named March 2011 Teacher
of the Month.
Indianapolis Campus hosts
mobile blood drive
Volunteers give blood during a Valentine’s Day blood
drive at the Indianapolis Campus.
The Indianapolis Campus hosted a mobile
blood drive with the Indiana Blood Center
on Valentine’s Day. The event was open to
staff, students, faculty and other businesses
in the Indianapolis Campus building. Indiana
Blood Center supplies more than 550 units
of blood to more than 60 Indiana hospitals
every day.
Minneapolis Campus supports
local elementary
For the past three months, employees
from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Campus
have volunteered with Everybody
Wins Minnesota! during their lunch
hour to make a difference in a child’s
life by reading books out loud at their
elementary classroom. Everybody
Wins! is a national children’s literacy and
mentoring nonprofit proven to build
the skills and love of reading among
low-income elementary students. The
Campus also has a strong volunteer
relationship with Junior Achievement—a
partnership between the business
community, educators and volunteers, all
working together to inspire young people
to dream big and reach their potential.
More than 20 employees volunteered
during a recent Junior Achievement
day event. Volunteers taught classroom
curriculum on work readiness,
entrepreneurship and financial literacy to
children in grades K-6.
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 49
community relations
Volunteer fair
University of Phoenix hosted its third
Volunteer Fair in February at its corporate
headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.
Eighteen local nonprofit organizations
attended to showcase their organization,
promote their volunteer needs and inspire
University employees to get involved. An
estimated 300 employees attended the
event to learn about local volunteering
opportunities.
The third annual Volunteer Fair in Phoenix included 18
local nonprofit organizations.
University of Phoenix opened a new shop in Junior
Achievement Arizona’s BizTown educational facility.
University of Phoenix opens a shop
in BizTown
In February, University of Phoenix opened
a new shop in Junior Achievement
Arizona’s BizTown educational facility.
The University of Phoenix shop provides
students the opportunity to enroll as a
college student and earn a certificate of
completion. Students apply for positions
to work within this simulated campus
environment as a CEO/Campus director,
CFO and many other roles. University of
Phoenix’s long-standing partnership with
Junior Achievement began in 1994. To
learn more about Junior Achievement,
visit www.ja.org.
PAGE 50 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Employees volunteered at the Special Olympics in Chandler, Arizona. Pictured from top left: Jason Hand, Sergio
Rodriguez, Quintin Crook, Amanda Loyd and Sam Tilford. Middle: Marie Hall, Christy Mercado, Cliff Yang, Chantel
Hansen and Andrew Olson. Bottom: Brian Eastwood and Kenny Sylvester.
Raising money for Special Olympics
In February, advisors from the Continuing Education Division bundled up, braved the cold
and volunteered to raise money for Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ), Chandler Division.
Volunteers spent the day running concession stands at the Waste Management Open. All
tips and $2,000 per concession stand went directly to SOAZ.
Near or far,
you’ll find a Phoenix
wherever you are.
Europe Reception
May 6, 2011
All University of Phoenix alumni are invited to a special reception in
Heidelberg, Germany on May 6, 2011. Connect with fellow alumni for
an evening of fun and networking from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at ART Hotel,
Grabengasse 7, D 691117, Heidelberg.
Reserve your spot today.
+49 (0)6221-7050670
+1 (800) 333-5305
uopxalumnigermany.eventbrite.com.
events
April
1
14
19
Phoenix at the Finn Mixer
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
BlackFinn American Saloon
210 East Trade Street
Charlotte, NC
http://phoenixatthefinn.eventbrite.com
Interview Workshop
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Northwest Learning Center
2550 W. Union Hills Drive
Phoenix, AZ
Internet Workshop
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Northwest Learning Center
2550 W. Union Hills Drive
Phoenix, AZ
Charlotte Campus
6
Phoenix Hohokam Campus
Resume Workshop
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Northwest Learning Center
2550 W. Union Hills Drive
Phoenix, AZ
7
Sacramento Valley Campus
Career Fair
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fairfield Learning Center
5253 Business Center Drive, Suite B
Fairfield, CA
8
Sacramento Valley Campus
College of Social Sciences
2011 Site Fair
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Gateway Oaks Learning Center
2860 Gateway Oaks Drive
Sacramento, CA
http://uopxsitefair.eventbrite.com
9
Phoenix Hohokam Campus
Road to the Gulf Volunteer Project
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Orangedale Junior High School
5048 East Oak Street
Phoenix, AZ
PAGE 52 Phoenix Focus April 2011
Phoenix Hohokam Campus
Central Valley Campus
Alumni Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Petroleum Club of Bakersfield
5060 California Avenue #12
Bakersfield, CA
http://cvalalumnimixer.eventbrite.com
16
Washington DC Campus
Road to the Gulf
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Strive DC
715 I Street Northeast
Washington, D.C.
Philadelphia Campus
Resume Writing Workshop
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Center City Learning Center
30 South 17th Street, Second Floor
Philadelphia, PA
18
Cleveland Campus
Conversations of Life Lessons
Guest Speaker Regina Brett
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Beachwood Learning Center
3201 Enterprise Pkwy., Suite 250
Beachwood, OH
http://clevalumni.eventbrite.com
Phoenix Hohokam Campus
Chicago Campus
Road to the Gulf
12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sayre Elementary School
1850 N. Newland Avenue
Chicago, IL
21
Pasadena Learning Center
Monthly Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dave & Buster’s
400 S. Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA
South Coast Learning Center
Monthly Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dave & Buster’s
71 Fortune Drive
Irvine, CA
Ontario Learning Center
Monthly Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dave & Buster’s
4821 Mills Circle
Ontario, CA
Lancaster Learning Center
Monthly Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bex’s Grill
706 West Lancaster Blvd.
Lancaster, CA
28
9
Empower, Lead, Succeed: An Evening
with Women in Business
6:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Binn’s Wildflower Pavilion
at the Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ
$35 for members; $55 for non-members
Register: [email protected]
Europe Alumni Reception
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
ART Hotel
Grabengasse 7
D 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
http://uopxalumnigermany.eventbrite.com
eventbrite.com
National Association of
Women MBAs
30
Southern California Campus
ALAC Fight for Air Climb
7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Aon Center
707 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
http://bit.ly/climbforcleanair
May
1
New Mexico Campus
American Cancer Walk
7:30 a.m.
Cottonwood Mall
10000 Coors Blvd. Bypass NW
Albuquerque, NM
http://bit.ly/goEqiZ
6
Charlotte Campus
Phoenix at the Finn Mixer
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
BlackFinn American Saloon
210 East Trade Street
Charlotte, NC
http://phoenixatthefinn.eventbrite.com
Military Overseas,
European Campus
12
Sacramento Campus
Week of the Teacher Alumni Dinner
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Zinfandel Grille
2384 Fair Oaks Boulevard
Sacramento, CA
http://educationalumnidinner.eventbrite.com
eventbrite.com
19
Pasadena Learning Center
Monthly Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dave & Buster’s
400 S. Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA
South Coast Learning Center
Monthly Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dave & Buster’s
71 Fortune Drive
Irvine, CA
19
Lancaster Learning Center
Monthly Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bex’s Grill
706 West Lancaster Blvd.
Lancaster, CA
21
Phoenix Hohokam Campus
Career Workshop
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hohokam Campus
4635 East Elwood Street
Phoenix, AZ
Ontario
Criminal Justice & Security
Alumni Reception
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
New York Grill
950 Ontario Mills Drive
Ontario, CA
http://cjsalumni.eventbrite.com
21
Philadelphia Campus
Networking for Success
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Center City Learning Center
30 South 17th Street, Second Floor
Philadelphia, PA
Ontario Learning Center
Monthly Mixer
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dave & Buster’s
4821 Mills Circle
Ontario, CA
alumni.phoenix.edu PAGE 53
Alumni Association
One person can make
a huge difference
in your career.
Find the one. Get a mentor.
Alumni Mentor Program
alumni.phoenix.edu | 800-795-2586