the entrepreneurship issue...entrepreneurship like many of you, i was inspired to start my own...

Your Alumni Magazine | November/December 2011

THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ISSUE

Former New England Patriots CMO: Scoring new clients Conquering public speaking

Mobile office on your smartphone

Atour Eyvazian, MBA ’00Jack in the Box franchise mogul Houston, Texas

Upcoming issues: • Motivation• Career trends• American spirit

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PHOENIX FOCUS is produced monthly by University of Phoenix Alumni Association.Visit us at phoenixfocus.com.

Senior Vice PresidentTom McCarty

Vice PresidentKathleen Fern, MBA ’99

Executive Director Nikki Sandoval, MBA ’03

Editorial Director Jenifer King, MBA ’11

Senior Editor Amanda Flatten

Features Editor Lee Jonsson

Assistant Editor Lindsay DeChacco

Senior Writer Julie Wilson

Communications Manager Bridget Gutierrez

Design P.S. Studios

Photographer Bruce Racine

University of Phoenix Alumni Association 4025 S. Riverpoint Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85040

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or visit us at alumni.phoenix.edu

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entrepreneurship

Like many of you, I was inspired to start my own company based on my capstone project in my MBA program, which my husband and I completed together. I still remember our early days as business partners when we were just getting our footing, balancing our traditional nine-to-five jobs and our new family with our shared dream of making it big on our own.

I know first-hand that running your own business is an around-the-clock venture. My biggest lesson from the experience? Be willing to take advice from others. This issue is filled with pointers for aspiring and longtime entrepreneurs alike, including marketing tips from former New England Patriots CMO Lou Imbriano in “How to score clients” (page 8).

Your fellow alumni also share their journeys to business ownership. One inspiring success story is that of Atour Eyvazian, MBA ’00, who worked his way from janitor to Jack in the Box’s biggest franchise owner. He is truly living the American dream (page 26).

Here’s to pursuing your passion!

Nikki Sandoval, MBA ’03 Executive Director, Alumni Relations University of Phoenix [email protected]

Follow us at twitter.com/uopxalumni

Many University of Phoenix alumni are entrepreneurs at heart. In fact, an impressive 10 percent of us have taken the plunge into business ownership.

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Alumni badgeYou can make a strong first impression by featuring your educational achievements with an official degree badge that you can add to your profile, blog or website. Get your badge today at www.phoenix.edu/alumni/badges/alumni.html.

4 PHOENIX FOCUS | November/December 2011

Badge of honorShow your University of Phoenix education proudly on your social networking profile, blog or website. Official alumni badges are available for all UOPX schools and degree programs.

Download yours today. Phoenix.edu/alumni/badges/alumni.html

Alumni

School of Business

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Letters

Editorial team

Senior Vice President Tom McCarty

Vice President Kathleen Fern MBA ’99

Executive Director Nikki Sandoval MBA ’03

Editorial Director Jenifer King MBA ’11

Senior Editor Amanda Flatten

Features Editor Lee Jonsson

Communications Manager Bridget Gutierrez

Senior Writer Julie Wilson

Accolades I received the printed version of the alumni magazine! LOVE IT!! Makes me proud to see it on my end table. :-)

R. Glenn Moscoso MAED/AET ’10

Technology has not killed the conversation The “problems” attributed to the Internet generation have nothing to do with technology advances. … Studies show the additional stimulation from time online is the primary driver behind a steady increase in IQs. So, it’s simply the cookie-cutter homes, homeowners associations and sprawling urban malls (moving from rural communities to cities) that are causing people to feel lonely yet fearful of intimacy. Social networking technology is instead the best solution and not a core problem or even a symptom (see Robert William Fogel’s The Fourth Great Awakening and the Future of Egalitarianism).

tucsonjim Phoenix Focus online comment to the feature “Has technology killed the conversation?”

New magazine format This is such a fantastic magazine. Not just the content either. The mechanics of the format and layout are great.

Christina Wellman MAED/AEDL ’05 LinkedIn comment

Phoenix Focus October 2011

LETTERSTHE EnTREpREnEURSHIp ISSUE

Assistant Editor Lindsay DeChacco


contents

8How to score clients: Tips from former New England Patriots CMO

Self-made marketing wiz Lou Imbriano earned his three Super Bowl rings from the New England Patriots without ever scoring a touchdown or throwing a pass. But how exactly did a guy with almost no market-ing experience become one of the most successful sports marketers in the NFL? If you ask Imbriano—now CEO of Trinity One marketing—he’ll tell you it’s all in his roots.

12A tale of two entrepreneurs

How two alumni are making good on their dreams of business ownership in today’s topsy-turvy economy.

26On the cover: Living the American Dream Atour Eyvazian, MBA ’00

Iranian refugee Atour Eyvazian’s perseverance and belief that anything is possible helped propel him from janitor to Jack in the Box’s largest franchise owner.

Features

THE EnTREpREnEURSHIp ISSUE

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18Your Career

18 Conquer public speaking

20 A brand new you

22 Your mobile office

40Extra! Extra!

42Annual Alumni Business Listing

30Alumni Profiles

30 Melanie Benson Strick The big idea catalyst

34 Jon Bullinger A spirited venture

38 Sarah Kalicki-Nakamura

39 Cindy Sakai

48The Buzz

48 Local alumni chapters launch 49 Published by alumni 50 Recognition

52Your University

52 University news 54 Campus news 65 Community relations 66 Events

In this issue


From a working-class neighborhood in East Boston, to helping create one of the most celebrated sport franchises in the history of the NFL, self-made marketing wiz Lou Imbriano earned his three Super Bowl rings from the New England Patriots without ever scoring a touchdown or throwing a pass.

By Jenny Jedeikin

How to SCOREclientsMarketing tips from former New England Patriots CMO.


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But how exactly did a guy with almost no marketing experience become one of the most successful sports marketers in the NFL? If you ask Imbriano—now CEO of Trinity One marketing—he’ll tell you it’s all in his roots. He just used the common-sense wisdom and smarts he got from his blue-collar Italian upbringing to give his customers what they wanted.

“When I was a kid growing up in East Boston, my parents and grandparents were unbelievable entertainers,” Imbriano explains. “We are Italian so everything [was centered around] food. And my family really knew how to treat people. They paid attention to people, what people liked and didn’t like, and knew exactly how to take care of people,” says Imbriano. “And to be quite frank, that’s all that marketing really is—building relationships or rapport with your customers or clients, no matter what kind of business you’re in.”

It’s all about relationships When the Kraft family—the owners of the New England Patriots—offered Imbriano a job in marketing in 1996, Imbriano had just two years of marketing experience in sports radio. But the Krafts sensed Imbriano’s energy and enthusiasm. “I was hungry for results and they knew it.” The first thing Imbriano did when he started was—the same thing his Italian family did—get to know the people that mattered: in this case it was the Patriots fans. “From the very beginning, I went down into the parking lot, where people tailgate, just the regular ticket holders, and just chatted with the fans. And I asked them questions: ‘What do you like? What don’t you like?’ That was truly the best way to find out what these folks wanted and how to alter things and create events that they enjoyed.”

From his firsthand knowledge of the fans, Imbriano created his very first sponsorship event for the team, “The Patriots Experience,” an interactive event where fans could come to the stadium during training days and experience a piece of the Patriots’ training session. This idea was something entirely new and exciting, and it became a tremendous success. “Because I understood what the fans wanted, it allowed me to market to them better,” says Imbriano. “I think that’s what made me catch on to marketing so well; it was less about me being this big marketing person, which usually involves all this analysis, and more about building relationships with the fans.”

FEATURE | How to score clients


“We have found at Trinity One that the same principles that apply to sports marketing can be brought to other industries … every company has season ticket holders, they just don’t view them that way.” Lou Imbriano, CEO Trinty One


What corporations get wrong Imbriano thinks most people in corporations don’t spend enough time getting to know their customers. “I think that’s what’s wrong with a lot of these corporations. They spend a lot of time thinking … they can create all these great mechanisms and products for people to enjoy,” says Imbriano, “but half the time they wind up creating things for themselves as opposed to creating things for the masses.”

Keeping his finger on the pulse of the Patriots’ fans, Imbriano went on to develop golf tournaments, charity events, gala dinners and “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences where VIPs got a chance to stand in the giant “Patriot’s helmet” up close with the entire team while they were getting pumped up before the beginning of the game. “If you’ve ever done that, it’s an experience you’re not likely to ever forget,” says Imbriano.

“Over the course of a couple years, the Krafts came to me and said, ‘We love what you’re doing, we want you to take over sales,’” says Imbriano. “So marketing expanded into a larger department, until nine years later, when I was given the title Chief Marketing Officer and we had an entire laundry list of areas we led.” In the span of a few years, Imbriano took the Patriots’ sponsorship revenues from $16 million to more than $90 million.

Not just sports With a legacy of success behind him, five years ago Imbriano decided to leave the Patriots and branch out on his own. Today, as CEO for boutique marketing agency Trinity One, Imbriano’s clients include companies like Gillette, Visa, Fidelity and McDonalds. And although he still focuses mostly on sports franchises, he hasn’t limited his business to sports.

“We have found at Trinity One that the same principles that apply to sports marketing can be brought to other industries,” says Imbriano. “What I always say is, ‘every company has season ticket holders, they just don’t view them that way.’ So for example, if you have a restaurant business, then your ‘season ticket holders’ are your regular patrons. You just have to mine that data and find out what that group likes. If you have a group of customers who like wine, Eureka! Now you know to have a special wine tasting dinner and invite those customers. There are a million things you can create to get your ‘season ticket holders’ to spend more discretionary income.”

Relationships don’t happen overnight “The key to getting to know your customers is investing time,” explains Imbriano. “You really have to engage with them at a level that’s much different than the pleasantries that most of us do from day to day.” To explain that kind of investment, Imbriano likes to return to his roots and talk about the corner grocery store that he frequented as a kid in Boston, owned by an Italian guy named Marty. Although there was another store in the neighborhood with lower prices, his family was always loyal to Marty’s store because Marty spent time getting to know his customers. “Whenever I came into the store, he’d ask me about my grades, or if my mother was sick, he’d give me something extra,” says Imbriano. “Here was a grammar school dropout, and he was probably one of the best customer service gurus anywhere because he understood how to build great relationships.”

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FEATURE | How to score clients

With a nod to Marty, whenever Imbriano meets a potential client for Trinity One, he takes copious notes, jotting down everything he can remember, from the names of people’s kids to their favorite appetizers. “If you pay attention and have the discipline to really go deep, that’s when you’re really going to know somebody and form an unbreakable relationship. And then how can you not be successful?”

Recently Imbriano found time to put some of his wisdom into a book, Winning the Customer: Turn Consumers Into Fans and Get them to Spend More, (McGraw Hill). He wrote the book, he says, because he loves sharing knowledge and giving younger people a leg up. In fact, he teaches a class at Boston College on sports marketing in his spare time. Where does he see himself and Trinity One 20 years from now? “In 20 years ... well if money isn’t an issue,” he says, “I’d love to have a company that was just like an old-fashioned help desk, where people walked up to the desk and I said, ‘How can I help you?’”

Imbriano’s first piece of advice: “Forget the golden rule your parents always told you: ‘Treat others the way you want to be treated.’ That’s wrong,” he says with a grin. “Don’t treat others the way you want to be treated. You’ve got to treat them the way they want to be treated.”

Jenny Jedeikin lives in Northern California and her writing has appeared in San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Rolling Stone and In Style, among other publications.

Lou Imbriano’s 10 commandments for organizing business relationships:

1 Always review the business card of everyone you meet. Reviewing

the business card isn’t about glancing at the information on the business card; it’s about taking stock of the relationship potential.

2 Create a system to capture information about the

relationship. Imbriano recommends using Dragon Dictation, which records your verbal notes and allows you to send emails or file notes in other documents.

3 Follow up with any person you meet. Even when it appears a

person will not contribute to your business development, don’t just end the relationship there. You never know who is going to end up being a good resource.

4 Honor your relationship and gather information. Acquiring

information from people requires that you provide information about yourself as well.

5 Don’t stop here. Don’t kill the relationship by not paying attention

to it. Cultivate the relationship by keeping it going.

6 Send periodic notes to keep communication flowing.

Stay on people’s radar. The mechanism doesn’t matter: email, text, instant message; just keep the conversation flowing.

7 Surprise people by remembering something about them. When you

can recall something about a person that they wouldn’t expect you to remember, it resonates in a powerful way.

8 Invite people to an event that you can go to together. The

purpose is not to send someone to an event; it’s to spend time together to strengthen the bond.

9 See that what you do DELIVERS to the relationship.

Lou recommends that you imbue every business relationship with these 8 characteristics: Dedication, Energy, Loyalty, Investment, Vision, Engagement, Responsibility, Sacrifice.

10 Repeat numbers

6 -9 on a repeated basis. (From “Winning the Customer: Turn Consumers Into Fans and Get them to Spend More,” McGraw Hill 2011)

People power

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FEATURE | A tale of two entrepreneurs

A tale of two entrepreneurs How two alumni are making good on their dreams of business ownership in today’s topsy-turvy economy.

University of Phoenix is known for doing things a little differently, and as it happens, so are its alumni. In fact, 10 percent* of them are forgoing more traditional careers for a shot at making it big on their own terms. They join the ranks of Americans boosting the economy by creating millions of jobs each year through their own businesses. Meet two alumni who are proving that entrepreneurs can flourish in spite of—and sometimes because of—a struggling economy.

By Julie Wilson

The rooKie: risky business? Jennifer Mannino, MBA in Global Management 2004 Co-founder, RISC (Research Information Specialists and Consultants)

Company snapshot: RISC is a global investigative consulting firm specializing in enhanced reputational due diligence and background investigations, asset searches, recovery solutions, dispute resolution and litigation support services.

Year founded: 2009 Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona Number of employees: 5 active contractors www.risc-llc.com

Major clients: Alternative investment houses, commercial banks, publicly traded companies, auto manufacturers and law firms.

Company culture: Professionalism and collaboration. “If our clients are happy, we are happy.”

*Source: 2011 University of Phoenix Alumni Survey, conducted by third party (IDG Research Services). Base: 23,426 employed respondents (Q44: Do you currently operate a business you founded?); margin of error + / - .5% at the 95% confidence level, data is self-reported.

The veTeraN: Staying power Suresh Kumar, Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership 2011 Founder and CEO, NexAge Technologies USA Inc.

Company snapshot: NexAge is a professionally managed IT/software services firm that provides strategic IT consulting services in high growth industry verticals and provides solutions to organizations in the health care and life sciences industry.

Year founded: 1999 Headquarters: Iselin, New Jersey Number of employees: 155 www.nexageusa.com

Major clients: Abbott Laboratories, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Philips Inc.

Company culture: “It is an entrepreneurial culture where risk taking is encouraged, failures are tolerated and successes are rewarded.”

Awards: INC. 500/5000 Ranked Firm (2008 through 2010), U.S. Chamber Blue Ribbon Award (2009), Fast 50 Asian American Firm (2008 through 2010).



PF: You spent 15 years working in the legal and investigative industries early in your career before you decided to go into business for yourself. How did you launch your own company?

JM: My business partner and I met through a common friend. My friend knew that I wanted to do something on my own and knew that my now-partner wanted to expand his model. We hit it off right away.

PF: How has the economic climate affected your new business?

JM: RISC was strategically born during a global economic recession. During this time, we observed an increase in lawsuits and were hired by investors, such as multinational insurance companies and national banks, to find where their money had been diverted.

PF: With a partner, you each were bound to have your own ideas about how to do things. How did you come to an agreement on how to run the company?

JM: You each need to put it down on paper and then come together to see if you are aligned. We hired a business consultant based on people’s advice, and having that third-party coach has been so valuable. Ultimately, we have a shared vision, but how we saw ourselves getting there was so different.

PF: How important has assembling a strong team been to your early success with RISC?

JM: Time is money. I could have sat at my desk for three weeks to come up with a logo or a website, or I could say to myself, “I’m going to outsource this.” I know what I’m good at. My strategy as a business owner is to surround myself with people who are smarter than I am. The day you think you know it all, you are already 10 steps behind.

PF: What has been the most satisfying part of owning your own company?

JM: Knowing that I am accountable for its direction, success and failure. When you are in that mind frame, you are more serious.

PF: What are your future plans for RISC?

JM: RISC is on track for rapid growth through 2014 based on its current business model in offering background investigations on people and businesses concerning new acquisitions. As we approach 2014, we will need to evaluate whether we expand the company through acquisitions of other boutique investigative groups or expand the model with complementary services.

Jennifer Mannino

THE

ROOKIE

“Don’t start your own business if you don’t have money. If you haven’t saved money or are into frivolous spending, you are in for a rough ride.”

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FEATURE | A tale of two entrepreneurs

PF: What made you decide to start your own business?

SK: The initial idea to start my own business was derived from my role as a private banker where my clients included business owners. That gave me good insight into entrepreneurship, and starting a business became a goal of mine. As I was working in the financial services industry, I started thinking about what I could do. Technology, as a growth area in the United States in the late 1990s, became one of the good areas in which to start a new business.

PF: Did you make any missteps early on?

SK: I think like most businesses I made many mistakes, but I learned from them. I put too much focus on the business plan and making it look good. However, I soon discovered that investors invest because they have trust in you, the person, and not the plan. Ultimately, after [approaching] several venture capitalists and angels, I realized I was spinning my wheels. Then I began to focus on people I knew who already had a high level of trust in me. People started to write out checks because of the trust I had built with them over the years. I found that trust was the key ingredient for starting a business.

PF: You started your business in 1999, right before the terrorist attacks of 9/11. How did that impact your fledgling company?

SK: We were just setting up the business in 2000 and 2001 and had a good start. The attacks of 9/11 were something we never could have anticipated. The resulting economic slowdown took our feet out from under us.

PF: How did you rebound from this blow?

SK: I took over as CEO of NexAge and made changes to the management team and to the business model. What it is today is totally different from what we planned for in 1999. The lesson is that you should expect adverse events that are totally beyond your control and be ready to deal with them. Due to my commitment to my investors and employees, I decided to stick with NexAge until things turned around. This was an important decision. I think that the ability to stay alive for the first few years—come what may—is the single biggest factor for success.

PF: Today, your company has 155 employees and counts Fortune 100 companies among its clientele. Did you expect NexAge to be so successful?

SK: Of course I did. When we started, I had certain goals. I was coming from a private banking background where I had done well, and I was expecting

Dr. Suresh Kumar

VETERAN

“Don’t start your own business if you are not willing to ride the ups and downs that are inherent to the business.”

THE


FEATURE | A tale of two entrepreneursTHE EnTREpREnEURSHIp ISSUE

1. Start with a clear vision. “Because every decision you make is critical in the beginning, you need to have a clear mind and you can’t get overwhelmed,” says Mannino.

2. Tap into your network. “Focus on the relationships you have already established and leverage them to try to get your business off the ground,” advises Dr. Kumar.

3. Assemble a strong team. “This is very important because the growth of your business will depend a lot on that. Surround yourself with a team that is able to run with your ideas and implement them well. This will allow you to step away from the business if you decide to pursue other interests,” Dr. Kumar says.

4. Don’t take it personally. “As far as building a business goes, you have to be emotionally detached. You have to make decisions for the benefit of the company, not for family members or someone you feel sorry for. That’s why you have to have a plan. It will dictate certain key decisions for you,” asserts Mannino.

5. Stick with it. “Persistence is the most important characteristic in an entrepreneur. You need the power to stay and keep the business going regardless of bad days, which are sure to come,” sums up Dr. Kumar.

success to be part of the equation. I have my roots in India, and I come from a culture where success is expected. I believe that every entrepreneur should expect success, otherwise he or she may not have the motivation to work hard and take risks.

PF: What does success mean to you?

SK: I define success in broader terms. Success to me is the freedom to do what I want to do and to work with people I like. The freedom to do what I like to do and the flexibility of time are the biggest advantages I have as an entrepreneur.

PF: As you continue to enjoy success with NexAge, what are your future plans?

SK: I started Green Earth LLC, a company that helps organizations leverage technology to promote sustainability in business and the local community. Sustainability is the area of my passion. I have leveraged my experience as an entrepreneur to grow Green Earth. The company is ranked on the 2011 Inc. 500 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. Another goal of mine is to get into academics in the area of entrepreneurship and maybe in a few years transition into a teaching role.

5 TIPS Business owners Jennifer Mannino and Dr. Suresh Kumar share their top tips for launching a successful business.

VETERANTHE

continued

Turnyourideaintoincome

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Upcoming issues: • Motivation• Career trends• American spirit


Conquer public speaking Captivate your audience in 20 minutes or less.

Legend has it that Cuban leader Fidel Castro once held hundreds in rapt attention as he gave a speech that lasted 7 hours and 10 minutes. Before you decide to uncork a stem-winder like that, remember that El Comandante had a singularly captive audience: those people weren’t allowed off the island.

In contrast, historians report that Abraham Lincoln delivered the famed Gettysburg Address in a matter of minutes. Our 16th President clearly understood the first rule of public speaking: keep it short and sweet.

In a world where more is often equated with better, the “short and sweet” rule is often broken and often forgotten. I am a corporate presentation coach and I recently surprised a client who came to me in a panic and said, “Help! I have a major presentation next week and I need to be brilliant!” My reply: “Then be brief.”

If being brilliant means being brief, just how much time are we talking about? Experts agree that about 20 minutes is the optimal length for a talk or presentation. After that, most of the audience starts fidgeting, peeking at their smartphones, compiling their “to do” lists or otherwise zoning out.

Since the most common form of public speaking today is the business presentation, let’s focus on how best to deliver one of those short and sweet versions.

Intro, focus and content Because it’s true you only get one chance to make a first impression, your introduction must be strong. You can ensure it is by quickly

addressing the one question on the mind of every audience member: What’s in this for me?

Think about it. Business people today are busy, tired and hoping they are not wasting their precious time by coming to a talk. Which of these intros would have the better chance of commanding attention?

“Good evening. I’m Joe Blow and I’m going to talk about my company’s newest investment strategy.” This is all about what Mr. Joe Blow wants to do.

This next introduction takes a different approach. “Good evening. I’m Joe Blow and you’re about to learn how to substantially increase your savings.” The second opening is much stronger. The audience is more attentive because the presentation is about them, not the speaker. They know there is something in this for them.

Once you’ve settled on an intro that promises something, you’ve got to deliver. That means the body or main portion of your presentation or speech should always answer these basic questions: “What is/are the main point(s)? How is it relevant? How does a person use that information?” Or in Mr. Joe Blow’s hypothetical case, “What can increase my savings?” and “How is it done?” If it’s

By Manny Ramos


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a speech about your life, the questions you have to answer could be: “What did I do?” and “How did I do it?” Surely there are a million interesting things you could say about your topic. Resist the urge to share them all. Focus on answering two or three questions and make them sparkle.

Pacing, transitions and visuals It’s hard to overestimate the importance of keeping the main body of the presentation moving. If you’re delivering a business presentation, don’t commit “death by PowerPoint.” Don’t introduce each slide with, “On this slide …” or a variation of that dreadful transition. There is nothing more boring. It’s a clear signal to the audience that this presentation is going to be like hearing someone read their grocery list: “Then I bought apples and then I bought milk.”

Remember the old highway safety ad that warned, “Speed kills?” In presentations, “Read kills.” Do not read everything on the slide. Your audience is not made up of 3-year-olds who need someone to read to them. Reading or being too dependent on a PowerPoint deck is a sure path to losing the audience. Remember the PowerPoint was designed to be a visual aid to a presentation, not to be a presentation.

While there are lots of “Don’ts,” to giving a brilliant and brief presentation, there are also lots of “Do’s.” First, do something I call, “headline and highlight.” For example, if the slide title is “Positive Projections for the Next Two Years,” say something like, “Our future looks bright!” Pick a couple of the most important points on the slide and talk about those. You have engaged the audience with a headline. You have highlighted the significant parts of the slide for them.

Second, when moving from slide to slide, do make a smooth transition. Make a reference to the highlight of the existing slide and tie it to the next one. So if your current slide was about expected increased sales next year and the next slide talks about the new product rollout, try something like, “So good things are on the way and here’s the reason why.” Transitions keep the presentation moving smoothly.

Of course, there are always one or two slides with critical information. In those cases it is OK to go through each item. Your audience will be more willing to sit through these lengthier expositions because they know you aren’t spending that much time on every slide.

Finally, do provide visual aids beyond your PowerPoint deck. Take a step or two away from the podium for a dramatic pause every now

Address the question on the mind of every audience member: What’s in this for me? The audience will be more attentive because the presentation is about them, not the speaker. Manny Ramos

YOUR CAREER | Conquer public speaking

nerves: Everyone is nervous. Before taking the stage, take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds and then let it out slowly. It works.

Big crowd: Before speaking, scan the audience; look for someone smiling at you (there’s always at least one person smiling at you and in most cases, dozens). Start speaking to that person. Now you’re not talking to a room full of people, just to a friend.

Mistakes or technical problems: Everyone makes mistakes and they all understand technical problems. It’s not the end of the world. Pause, take a breath, acknowledge and correct the technical problems if you can, then move along.

Avoiding trouble

and then. Use your hands and make gestures. It’s OK to have notes but glance at them, don’t linger. Eye contact is important. Look at the audience, smile or frown at the appropriate times during your talk. They’ll do the same. It’s a good way to engage them.

The big finish When you are ready to wrap it up, remember you are not in a race. Don’t rush to the end. Instead, slow down for the “big finish.” One of the biggest mistakes bad speakers make is to swallow their conclusion. They mumble, “Thanks very much. Any questions?” Instead, give the audience a signal that something significant is coming. You want your conclusion to make an impression, so set it up carefully. Pause before you wrap up. A pause is a sure way to get the audience to focus attention on you. Once all eyes are on you, then it’s time to deliver the conclusion.

Your finish should refer back to your introduction, “So that’s how you can increase your savings.” This device gives your speech or presentation a feeling of completeness, or a sense that you came full circle. Now give them what presentation coaches refer to as a “call to action.” In other words tell them what they should do next, “It’s been a pleasure to be here. I encourage you to go to my website and download a free investor kit about Joe Blow strategies. Thank you.” You can smile now. The speech or presentation was brilliant and brief.

Manny Ramos is a former Emmy Award-winning journalist who now does media training and presentation coaching to corporate executives. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.



Savvy professionals know that personal branding is a key to career success. They adopt the same mentality as product marketers. To develop your personal brand, you need to start thinking of yourself as a product, a product with something valuable to offer your market.

A brand new you

By Keely Grasser

You have unique talents and strengths. You’re confident about what you can provide to employers. You know you bring something remarkable to your work. But how do you advertise that to the world? Building a strong personal brand is a great way of letting others know of your talents and abilities.

A strong personal brand is key to a successful career.

Look within yourself Building a brand begins with soul searching. Some questions to ask yourself are:

• WhoamI? • Howdoothersperceiveme? • Whataremystrengths? • Whataremyweaknesses? • HowdoIcorrectmyweaknesses? • Whatmakesmeunique? • HowdoIstandoutfromothersdoingsimilarthings?

Know what your brand offers Having a strong knowledge of not only who you are, but also how you can benefit others is essential. If you are the product, you must know what that product offers that others want or need.

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YOUR CAREER | A brand new you

A great salesperson can discuss his product without having to stop and think about why it’s great. You must become a fantastic salesperson of your personal brand. An excellent tactic is to create a 30-second elevator speech. Address the most important things people should know about what you do. Think about what makes you so compelling that people will remember you long after that half-minute spiel.

Don’t sell yourself short—lay out your aptitudes and accomplishments. But be truthful and don’t exaggerate. Focus on the unique features only you can deliver.

Launching your brand into the world Now that you’ve realized your brand, how do you market it? Put it to use everywhere. Incorporate it into everything from your résumé and business card to your appearance. Promote it at work and networking events.

The online world also presents many opportunities. Strong personal branders use Web pages, blogs, LinkedIn and social networking sites. Think of Matt Cutts, the head of Google’s web spam team. He uses his popular personal blog and other online tools to effectively position himself as a human face of the Internet giant.

Another great tactic for putting your brand out in the world is to find ways to share your expertise. Look for opportunities to speak and write about what you do best. Entrepreneur and strong personal brander Tony Hsieh is CEO of Zappos.com, the online shoe and clothing company that revolves around friendly, accessible customer service. Hsieh pioneered the promotion of his own personal brand on Twitter, and he published a book, Delivering Happiness, about his personal and corporate beliefs.

Brand everything, every day Personal branding should be part of every aspect of your professional life. The most successful personal branders ask themselves if their actions help or hurt their brand. Brands should be managed every day, in everything that you do—every document you prepare and every meeting you attend. It ensures your brand is stamped on everything you’ve done in your career.

Everything Oprah does—from her show, to her magazine, to her television network—has her brand’s fingerprint on it. Oprah’s actions aren’t haphazard.

A brand is nothing without a strategy Baseball Hall of Famer and wordsmith Yogi Berra was quoted as saying, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.” This is true for anyone developing a personal brand. You must have a long-term plan. Always be thinking about what you want next. Is it a promotion? A new job? What about further in the future? What is your ultimate career goal? Strong personal branders stay focused on their goals—and they don’t let bumps in the road throw them off track.

Even the strongest brands encounter obstacles Realize that your path toward a strong brand will have challenges. When you encounter them, assess your options, come up with a solution and put it into action.

Some of the most powerful personal brands have overcome major obstacles. Take Steve Jobs. He was once ousted from Apple. He then started up his own successful company, later bought out by Apple. That eventually led him to being appointed CEO by the company that once pushed him out. Jobs is touted as a legend. The power of his personal brand is undeniable. Jobs’ adherence to his brand was unwavering. There’s a lesson to be learned in that.

Make sure your brand serves you well A strong brand requires dedication. It’s important to continuously evaluate your brand to make sure it’s serving you well. Although it is important to maintain the integrity of your personal brand, you may need to adapt to new environments, conditions, market demands or customer expectations. To ensure your brand still meets your objectives and the needs of your customer, it’s a good idea to ask yourself:

• CanIdeliverwhatIampromising?AmIover-hyping? • AmIputtingmystamponeveryactionItake? • HaveItakenarisklately? • Ismybrandappealingtomytargetaudience? • HaveIbeeneffectiveincreatingawarenessofmybrand? • WhatcanIdonext?

Building and maintaining a strong personal brand is worth the effort. It is an effective way for you to find career satisfaction and success.

Keely Grasser is a freelance journalist, writer and researcher. Her work has appeared in a variety of newspapers, magazines and websites, both in the United States and her homeland, Canada.



Add a handful of business-savvy office apps and hardware add-ons, and suddenly your smartphone is capable of getting real work done on the go—so much so, you can leave your notebook computer at home.

Besides creating, editing and presenting office documents, spreadsheets and presentations, your smartphone also can tackle other business-related things you typically did in your home office or at an office services store, such as printing, copying and faxing signed documents, minus the bulky machines, inconvenience and expense.

The following is a selection of handy iPhone and Android apps and hardware add-ons for getting real work done with your smartphone while you are on the go.

Handy Apps Managing “to do’s” (tomorrow.do; free for iPhone and Android; $1.99 for iPhone HD version)

Those who like getting stuff done—or at least keeping track of the stuff they need to get done—will love the super-simple approach of Do It (Tomorrow), which beautifully mimics a real to-do notepad. Know you won’t get to a certain task on your list today? No problem—just tap the arrow to send it off to tomorrow’s page (which is where any other tasks you don’t complete automatically wind up at the stroke of midnight). What’s more, Android users can access their to-do book from any Web browser on the tomorrow.do Web page—a handy feature that iPhone users can also tap into, providing they’re willing to pay $1.99 for the Do It (Tomorrow) HD version of the app. The upshot: The HD app also works on iPads in case you’re toting one of those as well.

Your mobile office Get real work done on your smartphone.

If you’re a smartphone owner, you may already think of your ever-present gadget as your number one business partner. Besides sending and receiving email and text messages (not to mention making and answering phone calls, of course), smartphones equipped with a video-conferencing feature (such as FaceTime on iPhone, or Skype on both iPhone and Android) let you meet virtually face-to-face with clients without spending money on travel by plane, train or automobile.

By Joe Hutsko

phoenixfocus.com 23

YOUR CAREER | Your mobile off ice

Add a handful of business-savvy office apps and hardware add-ons, and suddenly your smartphone is capable of getting real work done on the go—so much so, you can leave your notebook computer at home. Joe Hutsko

Organizing travel (tripit.com; iPhone and Android; free) Tap in to TripIt, and say goodbye to juggling the ins and

outs of travel details and flights, lodging and car reservations. This handy app pulls all of your travel details into a single itinerary that you can sync with tripit.com for easy access from the palm of your hand or the nearest Web browser.

Tracking expenses (expensify.com; Android and iPhone; free)

Get a handle on your expenses with Expensify, which lets you record payouts for everything from coffee with clients, to the mileage you racked up getting to that meeting. An export feature lets you move your captured expenses to QuickBooks, and spending and analysis tools help you monitor and adjust your spending, accordingly. One expense you won’t have to shell out? Expensify itself, which is free for single-user purposes.

Staying current (www.entrepreneur.com/mobile; iPhone and Android; free)

Read every new issue of Entrepreneur for free—and go beyond the printed page with interactive features, including exclusive app-only content, video, slideshows and up-to-the-minute newsfeeds. Archive, bookmark and search for subjects you care about, and share those subjects with others with just a few taps.

Capturing spoken words and notes (Dragon Dictation; iPhone; free)

When you are mobile, let your voice do the typing instead of your fingers. Capturing and converting your spoken words into text is a built-in feature on recent and new Android phones, but not iPhones. For iPhones, there’s Dragon Dictation, which is generally lauded as the best and most accurate voice to text conversion app.

Taking notes (Evernote; Android and iPhone; free) My favorite note taking app, Evernote, lets you capture

voice notes and just about any other kind of note you can think of, including text, hand written, photo, email, PDF and Web page notes. Your notes automatically sync in the “cloud,” which means they’re always up to date no matter how you access them—be it on your smartphone, the Evernote app on your PC or Mac, or by logging in to the Evernote website.

The apps and basic service (which grants you a few thousand notes a month) are free. Upgrade to the premium plan for $5 a month (or $45 a year) for more features like faster uploads and video notes.



Working away from the office ($10 to $17 for QuickOffice and Documents To Go for Android and iPhone; $9.99 each for iWork for iPhone; free for Google Docs for Android and iPhone) The two best-selling, pocket-sized office suites for smartphones are QuickOffice and Documents To Go. Both are available for iPhone and Android phones, and both let you view, create and edit Microsoft Office Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. iPhone users can also consider Apple’s individual iWork apps: Pages, Numbers and Keynote.

Gmail users can view, create and edit documents and spreadsheets on the go for free, thanks to smartphone apps and cloud-based sync services provided by Google. For iPhone users, download the free “Google” app—or just open docs.google.com in Safari to get to your docs that way. Android owners can do the same, or download Google’s free “Docs” app from the Android Marketplace for an even better on-the-go office docs and spreadsheets experience.

Syncing and storing files (DropBox, Box.net and SugarSync; Android and iPhone; free, with option to upgrade for a fee) To keep your office docs (and other files) in sync between your smartphone and computer anywhere in the world, sign up for free or for-a-fee cloud-based file sync and storage services, such as DropBox, Box.net or SugarSync.

Giving presentations ($.99 for Keynote Remote for iPhone) If giving presentations is part of your shtick, 99 cents can buy you the Keynote Remote app to control Keynote presentations running on a Mac computer, iPhone or iPad that is plugged into the projector. Search “remote control” in the Android Marketplace to turn up a slew of free remote control apps for controlling PowerPoint presentations (and other apps) with your Android smartphone.

Handling pDF documents ($1.99 for EZPDF Reader for Android; $2.99 for Sign-and-Send for iPhone) Viewing, filling in, signing and sending PDF documents is a cinch with EZPDF Reader and Sign-and-Send.

Tip: Need to sign and send back a printed document you’ve received? Sign on the dotted line as usual, then take a snapshot of the document and email the photo file to the sender instead of faxing, sending the document in the mail or using a delivery service.

Helpful hardware add-ons Full-size keyboards ($70 for Apple’s Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard; $70 for Logitec’s Tablet Keyboard) Connect your iPhone or Android smartphone to a full-size Bluetooth wireless keyboard, and say goodbye to tapping out email replies or typing long documents with your thumbs. What’s more, Apple’s Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard and Logitec’s Tablet Keyboard each offer special shortcut keys for doing things like cutting, copying and pasting text or other information, saving you from having to lift your fingers from the keyboard to tap the screen to perform those touchy-feely commands.

Credit card reader (www.squareup.com; app free to download; 2.75 percent fee per swipe) If your business involves in-person or on-site services, you can attach the Square credit card reader to your smartphone and download the app to process credit and debit card payments at the time services are rendered, which sure beats invoicing then waiting to get paid.

Battery booster packs ($50 to $80 for battery boosting case by Incipio) Using your smartphone to get serious work done can have a seriously draining effect on how long your gizmo’s battery charge lasts. If your smartphone’s charge is pooping out before the workday is done, consider purchasing a battery boosting case by Incipio, which can double or even triple your iPhone or Android phone’s staying power.

Joe Hutsko’s stories about gadgets, gear and high-tech entertainment have appeared in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Newsweek, Wired, Engadget.com, TechCrunch.com, Salon.com and others. His books include Green Gadgets For Dummies, iPhone For Dummies All-in-One, Macs For Dummies All-in-One and The Deal: A Novel of Silicon Valley.

phoenixfocus.com 25

Alumni Association BenefitsStarting the day you graduate, the University of Phoenix Alumni Association becomes a resource for you. Visit alumni.phoenix.edu to customize your account and confirm your profile.

Built-in career networkingTap into an alumni network that’s more than 700,000 strong by joining the Alumni Association.

Career resourcesDiscover tools and resources to help you market your skills to potential employers.

Discounts and savingsFind discounts on everything from computers and electronics to insurance products, travel and more through University Marketplace.

Homecoming and eventsReconnect with fellow alumni at Homecoming each fall or attend special events throughout the year.

ScholarshipsApply for scholarships to return to school or nominate someone you know for the chance to attend the University.

Get involvedBecome a mentor, join an Alumni Chapter or share your story through Phoenix Focus alumni magazine.

Get started now

Kelly O’Horo | MSC/CC ’10Phoenix Focus March 2011


The day he arrived in the United States in 1984 at age 19, Iranian refugee Atour Eyvazian, MBA ’00, was greeted by Los Angeles’ sprawling freeways and news reports that President Ronald Reagan had been re-elected. It was then that he knew he had arrived in a land of opportunity.

Awed by what typical Americans dismiss as ordinary—transportation infrastructure and peaceful elections—Eyvazian was struck by its stark contrast to his oppressive homeland, and he felt that anything was possible. This sentiment has played out in his life here. Over the past 27 years, hard work and determination have propelled him from janitor to Jack in the Box’s largest franchise operator.


Living the

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Atour Eyvazian, MBA ’00 Jack in the Box’s largest franchise ownerHouston, Texas

ALUMnI pROFILES | Atour Eyvazian


Humble beginnings Born in Iran in 1965, Eyvazian remembers the country of his childhood as beautiful and mountainous—until the Iranian Revolution of 1979 made him a prisoner inside its borders because of his age and gender. His father arranged to have him escape across the mountains, a journey he undertook on foot and without food. He made it across the border into Turkey only to be arrested there by the army. He remained in jail for 40 days—with little to eat and unsure if he would survive—before he bribed a guard with money his mother had sewn into his jeans.

After reuniting with his family in Istanbul, they flew to Los Angeles to stay with Eyvazian’s uncle. Within two weeks, he obtained a Social Security card, and immediately after he began working as a janitor at the neighborhood Jack in the Box. “My uncle had driven by and seen a ‘now hiring’ sign,” he remembers. “I didn’t speak a word of English, but he told them I would do whatever they asked.”

Despite the language barrier, Eyvazian worked hard, cleaning the restaurant inside and out and pitching in wherever else he could. “I noticed people were kind to me,” he says. “People here like to see people like me, new in the country and trying our best.”

On the rise Eyvazian knew that learning the language would be key to getting ahead. He began to teach himself English, reading every scrap of paper he could and writing down vocabulary words in a notebook he carried with him. He also dedicated himself to doing his best at his job, something that didn’t escape the notice of his supervisors. “Within a year and a half, I became a manager,” he says. “Working for Jack in the Box was great. They treated me like family and made me feel comfortable.”

He worked in restaurant operations until he accepted a job in the Jack in the Box corporate office in 1989—the same year he became a U.S. citizen. “This was one of the proudest moments of my life—to have a U.S. citizenship [certificate] with my name on it,” he says. “Our constitution gives us equal rights, and to me that is the greatest thing. I felt I would be able to achieve everything and anything.”

THE EnTREpREnEURSHIpSHIp ISSUE

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He applied this same enthusiasm to his education, which he had pursued in fits and starts until he discovered he could earn his degree at University of Phoenix while working around his full-time work schedule and his growing family. His parents had stressed the importance of education his whole life, and he became the first person in his family to go to college and earn an MBA. “My parents would tell me, ‘If you don’t have education, then you don’t have anything,’” he says. “I really believe that if I didn’t go to University of Phoenix, then I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

An entrepreneur is born Eyvazian continued to rise up the ranks at Jack in the Box corporate, eventually saving enough money to purchase investment properties outside of Los Angeles. “From 1998 to 2003, I focused on school, work and real estate,” he says.

Then in 2003, Jack in the Box announced it would begin franchising its restaurants. “I remember a light bulb going off,” he says. “At the time I had several houses, and I could sell them all and buy a restaurant or two.” Over the next two years, Eyvazian sold his houses and found a business partner, and together they bought 10 Jack in the Box restaurants in Sacramento. “We bought them for their potential, and after six months they became very successful,” he says.

After their early success, Eyvazian and his partner approached Jack in the Box about purchasing more restaurants. In 2007,

he moved his wife and two children to Houston, Texas, to oversee 14 more restaurants. In the years that followed, they continued to add stores, eventually becoming Jack in the Box’s largest franchise operators. “Between my partner and me, we have close to 250 locations,” Eyvazian notes.

Eyvazian knows that he couldn’t succeed without his employees, so he makes it a priority to take care of them. “When Jack in the Box spent money training me, I felt like I was a valuable part of the company,” Eyvazian says. “Now as a business owner, we invest in our people.”

He’s also willing to do whatever it takes for his customers. Eyvazian is not above wiping down tables or taking orders at the register if he finds a restaurant is particularly busy during one of his regular site visits. “It’s very simple,” he says. “If you take care of [your customers], they will come back and spend their money and support your business.”

Although Eyvazian always knew deep down that he would be able to create a life for himself in the United States, he had no idea how successful he would become. “My goal in life then was to have a house and a car and not worry about where my next meal would come from,” he admits. “This is beyond my wildest dreams.”

“This was one of the proudest moments of my life—to have a U.S. citizenship [certificate] with my name on it. Our constitution gives us equal rights, and to me that is the greatest thing. I felt I would be able to achieve everything and anything.” Atour Eyvazian, MBA ’00

ALUMnI pROFILES | Atour Eyvazian

Atour’s accolades:2007: First recipient of the National Restaurant

Association Award—Faces of Diversity

2007: Regional Franchisee of the Year

2007: State of California Franchisee of the Year

2008: Jack in the Box Franchisee of the Year

2010: Brand Ambassador for Jack in the Box (bestowed by CEO)

Currently: Largest franchise operator for Jack in the Box


Entrepreneur Melanie Benson Strick, MAOM ’97, left her Fortune 500 job to pursue her passion for coaching others.

It took a bout with chronic fatigue syndrome to show Melanie Benson Strick that she needed to make a change in her life. During three months of disability leave, she had plenty of time to consider her options. She could continue with the path she was on—and risk further deterioration of her health—or she could pursue her passion. She chose the latter, planting the seeds of a business that would thrive over the next decade along with her restored vitality.

BIG IDEA

The

catalyst


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ALUMnI pROFILES | Melanie Benson Strick

Melanie Benson Strick, MAOM ’97Owner, Success Connections Chatsworth, California


Finding her purpose In 1991, Strick joined Motorola Inc. as a systems integration quality manager for what would become a 10-year stint at the Fortune 500 company. There, she attended a personal development class that changed the course of her future. “It led me to understand that I had a purpose to inspire truth in others,” she says.

She didn’t know what to do with this revelation until her management team went through a workshop by renowned motivational expert Dr. Stephen Covey. “They started coaching us, and I was so intrigued. I realized that this is what I want to do with my life,” she remembers.

A new chapter Strick created a one-year transition plan that allowed her to start her business as

a performance coach while continuing to earn a paycheck at Motorola. “I needed to have four clients to cover my bills,” she explains. “I got those and gave my notice two weeks later.”

She credits her Master of Organizational Management degree with helping her get her business off the ground. “Learning to be a part of a team, and at times lead a team, through the team-based learning approach was invaluable,” she says, “because running your own business means you have to wear all the hats and switch gears between leader and doer at times.”

She hit the ground running until the terrorist attacks of 9/11 brought her to a screeching halt. “I had to start over. It was a journey,” she admits. “I realized

that being a successful coach meant that I had to learn to think like an entrepreneur in terms of marketing and sales. I made the transition from just wanting to coach people to learning what it takes to run a successful six- or seven-figure business.”

Today, Strick’s company, Success Connections, provides private mentoring, live and virtual training courses, self-study video and audio guides and books to help clients lead their organizations to success. “We liberate thought leaders from the daily grind so they can focus on their core purpose: to impact the world in the biggest way possible.”

Strick accomplishes this with a team of virtual contractors who help her support an international roster of clients who range from businesses to nonprofit organizations

“We liberate thought leaders from the daily grind so they can focus on their core purpose: to impact the world in the biggest way possible.” Melanie Benson Strick, MAOM ’97

THE EnTrEprEnEurSHIp ISSuE

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ALuMnI prOFILES | Melanie Benson Strick

and individuals. At first she built her client base through third-party referral partnerships with other businesses, but today her clients find her. “Now my business is so well known that most of my leads come through Google and social media,” she says. She invests time in social media to broaden her reach. “I want [people] to feel and know what I am about,” she says. “If they are attracted to that, they will come to me and know more.”

Changing lives Her clients come to her for inspiration through her key principles. She believes that everyone has to have the courage to live from their genius. “When you live from your genius, it feels like you are playing when you work,” she explains. She also encourages her clients to let go of anything that is holding them back from living from their genius. “We say yes to things for money because we think it will make someone else happy,” she says. “All that does is paralyze us and keep us from the level of success we could have.”

For Strick, it boils down to a simple idea. “Helping inspire people to be leaders allows them to be able to be more successful in every area of their lives,” she asserts.

Though Strick has found a winning formula for Success Connections, she knows that being successful means accepting the fact that things will always change. She acknowledges the fact that there are many coaches out there, and she makes it a priority to stay one step ahead of the competition. “When everyone else does what you do, you have to reinvent yourself,” she says. “You have to embrace change and use it as a catalyst instead of something that will derail you. If you resist change, you will continually feel like you are failing.”

For her part, Strick is a living example of what you can achieve if you follow your dreams, and she finds fulfillment in her life choices. “When things were scary, overwhelming and looking like they would never work out, I had the courage to do what I was passionate about,” she says. “No matter what, that is a great accomplishment.”

Melanie’s best advice for entrepreneurs

1 Build a business on your “big why,” something that you are very

passionate about. This will help you sustain success on the bad days.

2 Start with the end in mind. Know what you want your life

and success to look like before you get going.

3 Surrender the illusion that you can do this alone immediately.

Have a road map that includes marketing, offerings and support, and you’ll get there 10 times faster.


At the age of 25, Jon Bullinger, BSB/M ’08, traded his corporate career to pursue his passion for the art of tequila making.

Early in his career, Jon Bullinger left a promising career at Intel Corporation for some agave plants, plenty of red tape and a dream. Four years later, he is pursuing his passion for the art of tequila making at his company, Unique Liquid, with his very own YEYO Tequila brand.

A spirited venture


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Jon Bullinger, BSB/M ’08Owner, Unique Liquid Portland, Oregon

ALUMnI pROFILES | Jon Bullinger


After an internship at Intel turned into a successful five-year stint at the company, Bullinger decided it was time for something more. “I didn’t feel like I was supposed to work for someone else,” he admits. “I wanted to create something that could live beyond me.”

He had toyed with the idea of having his own spirit for a few years, and he decided the time was right to take the leap into entrepreneurship. “I hired a business partner, built a framework and did my research.” He decided to focus on tequila, the spirit made from the blue agave plant in the Mexican state of Jalisco whose production is regulated by the government, as Champagne is in France or Parmigiano-Reggiano is in Italy. “The tequila category wasn’t oversaturated like the other spirits,” he explains. “I felt like I could improve it and come up with my own.”

Once he decided which spirit to pursue, Bullinger had to tackle the most important detail: finding a distillery in Mexico to make it. After touring the tequila-producing region of Jalisco, he decided on the Distillery Feliciano Vivanco in the city of Arandas, two hours east of Guadalajara. “This distillery has been family owned for 94 years—going on five generations,” says

Bullinger. “These guys aren’t in it for the money. They are what they do, and they have a huge respect for the agave plant.”

The devil’s in the details Making the tequila is one thing, but importing it into the United States to sell it is another. First, Bullinger set to work securing his import license from the U.S. government. Next, it took him eight months to have his tequila label approved by the United States plus six more to do the same in Mexico where guidelines are different. “Then the FDA had to approve it, and I had to get state approvals,” he says. “It was hard, but I had plenty of time. I wasn’t in a rush.”

Bullinger felt well prepared for these challenges, calling on his experience at Intel and his education to help him along the way. “University of Phoenix gave me the skills and confidence to go after those goals


The secret to his success?“Hard work. Honestly, it’s about pushing it as hard as you can and putting in the hours.” Jon Bullinger

phoenixfocus.com 37

and to exceed them with ease,” says the Bachelor of Science in Business with a Concentration in Management graduate. “It taught me to push myself to reach my dreams.”

Breaking in However, when the time came to market his tequila, Bullinger was in for a rude awakening. “I had predicted that breaking into the liquor industry was going to be rough, but it is cut-throat in states that are not regulated,” he says. “In Mexico, all the [competing tequila producers] get together to drink tequila and have fun together,” he says. “It is about the love of making tequila. It’s not like that here.”

Bullinger persevered, though, despite initial setbacks. “At first I got turned down left and right,” he recalls. “Tequila was doing just fine without me.” But fast forward to today, and YEYO has become a successful brand, available in more than 400 locations in Bullinger’s home state of Oregon, as well as in Texas and New Mexico. “In 2010, we became the number three-selling ultra premium tequila in Oregon,” he adds.

According to Bullinger, there are a few things that set YEYO apart from its competitors. First, it’s organic. Bullinger says that it will get its official organic certification from the USDA next year. It’s also produced on a single estate, which means it offers consistency in quality because the agave is from the same region and never outsourced. “It’s cooked in stone for 72 hours,” he notes, compared to other tequila producers who cook their agave in stainless steel for a shorter period of time. And his distillery waits eight years before harvesting agave, despite the fact that the Mexican government will allow harvesting after just five. YEYO is also distilled twice in copper instead of the standard aluminum.

Bullinger maintains that these measures add up to a superior product. “A lot of brands today don’t focus on quality,” he says. “They focus on the name and not the stuff that’s in the bottle.”

Looking ahead Though Bullinger has seen success in his short time as a tequila proprietor, he has big plans to expand into additional markets, including Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; South Beach and Miami, Florida; and Washington State. He is excited about what the future holds, both for YEYO and himself. “I love doing what I’m doing every day,” he says with pride. “It doesn’t feel like work. Life’s too short not to be happy with what you’re doing.”

ALUMnI pROFILES | Jon Bullinger

“I didn’t feel like I was supposed to work for someone else. I wanted to create something that could live beyond me.” Jon Bullinger, BSB/M ’08


In the 10 years since Kalicki-Nakamura and partner Cindy Sakai launched their training consulting firm, they’ve enjoyed steady annual growth, an expanding client base and the satisfaction of helping to create workplaces where employees can thrive.

BIGGEST BOOn Winning our first federal contract was one of the most exciting days at TH!NK.

WInnInG GAMBLEI suppose opening my own business was the biggest risk that I have taken in my career, although at the time it seemed like the natural next step to take in life. The result is that TH!NK has grown, and it is more rewarding than the career path I was on prior to starting the company.

BLESSInG In DISGUISEThe biggest mistake we made when starting TH!NK was to believe we had to do all parts of the business ourselves. We learned that the best way to grow our business is to find people who are exceptional in their area of expertise and form partnerships.

MAnTRA Be yourself. No one can do it better than you.

CLASS OF

98Sarah Kalicki- Nakamura MAOM ’98

Co-owner, training resultant and certified dream coach, TH!NK, LLCMililani, Hawaii


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CLASS OF

98Cindy Sakai MAOM ’98

Co-owner, training resultant and certified dream coach, TH!NK, LLCMililani, Hawaii

ALUMnI pROFILES

SpOTLIGHT MOMEnT Being invited to be a commencement speaker at the 2011 Spring University of Phoenix Hawaii Campus graduation to share the story about how we created a thriving business from our University of Phoenix capstone project 13 years prior.

RISKIEST MOVE Saying “no” to a client opportunity that I knew I was not the right fit for and referring the job to another company. The result was a thankful client with whom trust was built.

BEST BALAnCInG ACT Communicate about everything—twice! When there are so many moving parts, having clarity on schedule and expectations takes different forms of communication.

MOST InSpIRInG ADVICE There is enough work for everyone, so don’t focus on competing. Instead focus on doing your best work.

TOp TRAIT Flexibility

MAnAGEMEnT STYLE Encouraging


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Entrepreneurship must-reads and online resources.

By Paula Boon

4

BOOKS 1. Trump University Entrepreneurship 101: How to Turn Your Idea into a Money Machine By Michael E. Gordon This inspiring, comprehensive guide to starting your own business guides you from the initial stages to expansion. The new edition also has tips on social networking and how to succeed during a recession.

2. The Illusions of Entrepreneurship: The Costly Myths that Entrepreneurs, Investors and Policy Makers Live By Scott A. Shane Debunking popular myths about entrepreneurship, the author draws from extensive research to describe things such as which factors really lead to success in business and which are likely to result in failure.

3. The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: The Tell-it-like-it-is Guide to Cleaning up in Business, Even if You Are at the End of Your Roll By Mike Michalowicz This hilarious, fast-moving book by the founder of three multi-million-dollar companies is packed with tips to help you launch, manage and expand your business.

4. The Accidental Entrepreneur: The 50 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Starting a Business By Susan Urquhart-Brown Useful to experienced entrepreneurs and newcomers alike, this book offers hard-earned wisdom on topics such as “10 Simple Ways to Get Referrals” and “How to Avoid the Seven Biggest Pitfalls in Business.”

5. How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. By David Bornstein This book, now published in 20 countries, has been described as the Bible for social entrepreneurship. It offers inspiring stories about people around the world whose innovative solutions change lives.

6. One Simple Idea: Turn Your Dreams into a Licensing Goldmine While Letting Others do the Work By Stephen Key A highly successful entrepreneur, Key has taught thousands of students how to license a creative idea to a company and make a good income without having to worry about things like R&D, production and marketing.

7. A Deliberate Pause: Entrepreneurship and its Moment in Human Progress By Larry Robertson This book argues that the key to success is to pause and look for patterns others miss. The author demonstrates how the deliberate pause can improve your business and even change your life.

8. The Tao of Entrepreneurship: 52 Lessons in Applying Spiritual Principles to Business Ownership By Marcia Bench This book by a veteran coach, consultant, speaker and writer helps entrepreneurs incorporate their life purpose into their businesses. In other words, it’s about working with your heart and not just with your head.


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MAGAZInES 1. Entrepreneur Offers inspiration and information to business owners on subjects such as management, marketing, trends, technology and strategy.

2. Fast Company With a focus on innovation, design and sustainability, this magazine features articles about creative pioneers whose work is shaping the world.

3. Inc. Provides analysis of the business world for owners and CEOs of small-to-midsize businesses. Examples of successes and failures in real-life organizations help business leaders keep ahead of the curve.

4. Success Magazine Subtitled “What Achievers Read,” this magazine aims to guide and inspire business people to lead lives that are truly successful. It contains articles on subjects such as self improvement, motivation, personal development and leadership.

5. Fortune Famous for its annual Fortune 500 feature, this magazine is a classic for anyone interested in business and economic news from around the world.

MAGAZInE ARTICLES 6. The Economist, March 12, 2009 “The United States of Entrepreneurs” An exploration of the reasons behind America’s strong entrepreneurial spirit, and a description of some of the threats to entrepreneurialism that exist.

7. Inc., July 6, 2010 “Revitalizing the American Dream” by Adam Bluestein and Amy Barrett Drawing on the expertise of entrepreneurs, economists, politicians, academics and policy makers, the authors present a plan for ensuring more American startups, and therefore more products, services and jobs.

OnLInE RESOURCES 8. Blogtrepreneur: www.blogtrepreneur.com Highly successful brothers Matthew and Adam Toren provide reviews, interviews and advice for achieving excellence in business.

9. erica.Biz: www.erica.biz Erica Douglass, who sold her online business for more than $1 million at age 26, shares tips for launching a business and ensuring its success.

10. Small Business Trends: www.smallbiztrends.com This award-winning online publication combs through information about the small business market from a variety of websites and information feeds to find the most useful and interesting resources for readers.

11. YouTube: Entrepreneurs Can Change the World (2:20) www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6MhAwQ64c0 A dose of inspiration for entrepreneurs of all stripes.

Paula Boon is a freelance researcher, writer and editor whose work has appeared in publications in the United States and Canada.

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Annual Alumni business listing

Welcome to the Alumni Business Listing. Beginning in January, the business listing will be a permanent feature on the Phoenix Focus Web page at www.PhoenixFocus.com.

Help support your fellow alumni and their businesses.

ConsultingEclipse Engineering, LLCWilliam J. Von Hagel Jr., DM ’097484 Candlewood Road, Ste. KHanover, MD 21076Phone: 410-424-0880www.EclipseEngineers.com Eclipse Engineering is a government consulting firm that focuses on software engineering, IT services and geospatial intelligence solutions.

e-Lead, Independent ConsultantEdgar Garcia O’Neill, DM ’10San Juan, Puerto Rico Phone: 787-240-4582www.e-leadpr.com Edgar Garcia O’Neill assists companies in linking strategic formation to technical operation.

LWD Consulting, Inc.Leslie W. Duhe, MBA ’09Atlanta, GA Phone: 770-968-5382www.lwdconsulting.com LWD Consulting develops diversity and inclusion programs through targeted consulting and education, securing growth opportunities for smaller businesses, and leveraging relationships between corporations and diverse suppliers.

Miguel Tejera y Asociados, Inc.Miguel Tejera, MBA/GM ’08P.O. Box 194086San Juan, PR 00919-4086Phone: 787-761-2982www.migueltejera.com Miguel Tejera y Asociados offers business, marketing, operations and human resources consulting and workshops to medium, large and minority businesses.

MSA ConsultingMayte Sotomayor, MBA/GM ’03J 12 Los Frailes Norte Calle 1 Guaynabo, PR 00966Phone: 787-380-5607 MSA Consulting provides re-engineering, process improvement, process implementation, restructuring and project management consulting.

Nuance ConsultingDiane Adoma, MBA/EB ’047951 Belhaven WayEl Dorado Hills, CA 95762Phone: 916-869-9500www.consultwithnuance.com Nuance Consulting provides avant garde small business solutions, recommending strategies such as cultural integration, diversity, safety, compliance, human resources, marketing, sales and customer service training.


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Something Different CompaniesJ.R. Atkins, MBA ’0610081 Camelot Dr.Frisco, TX 75035Phone: 214-707-1705www.SomethingDifferentCompanies.com Something Different Companies provides complementing solutions in the areas of social media, marketing and technology that serve the needs of small to medium businesses.

Creative ServicesArtfireJohn A. Jacobs, MBA/GM ’031580 N. Kolb Rd., Ste. 110Tucson, AZ 85715Phone: 877-688-2323www.Artfire.com ArtFire is an online marketplace that unites sellers of handmade and vintage goods, digital arts and craft supplies with customers.

Gina’s Art Designs, LLCRegina D. Bartee, MBA ’102524 W. Catawba Dr.Harvey, LA 70058Phone: 504-310-5950www.ginasartdesigns.us Gina’s Art Designs focuses on “turning concepts to visual creations” through 2D and 3D graphic design: business cards, calendars, logos, shirt designs and more.

Talented BooksTony Samuel, BSB/MKT ’07265 Morning View Way Leland, NC 28451Phone: 973-985-8500talentedbooks.com Talented Books publishes works to inspire both kids and adults. Will You Play With Me: The Adventures of Princess Nadia is currently available at Amazon.com and at BarnesandNoble.com.

e-Business

ContrataloPR.comKaren Rodriguez Firpi, BSB/M ’08www.contratalopr.com ContrataloPR.com is a cost-effective means by which businesses can establish a web presence showcasing their business licenses and certifications to consumers.

The Internet SqueezeJoe Manausa, MBA ’031140 Capital Circle SoutheastTallahassee, FL 32301theinternetsqueeze.com The Internet Squeeze helps traditional brick and mortar business leaders understand how and why to move their operations to the Internet.

Education & TrainingCALA AcademyJohn Mierzwa, BSB/M ’093231 N. Decatur Blvd., Ste. 225A Las Vegas, NV 89130Phone: 702-257-6100www.CalaAcademy.com CALA Academy serves businesses and individuals by helping them quickly learn Spanish, English or other languages they need to be more successful in their workplace and personal life.

CanDoGo, Inc.Larry McClymonds, MBA ’8810940 S. Parker Rd., #714 Parker, CO 80134Phone: 303-297-2252www.candogo.com CanDoGo provides exclusive expert sales, personal development, motivation and leadership advice from more than 150 world-renowned authors, speakers and trainers.

Positive Influences for Youth PresentationsCarla D. Saunders, MAEd ’021244 N. Farmview Dr., Ste. 1Dover, DE 19904Phone: 302-373-5974 Positive Influences for Youth Presentations offers workshops, training and seminars to education, corporate and childcare professionals in and around the state of Delaware.

Salisbury Tutoring Academy, Ltd.Beatrice Hair, MAED/CI ’04818 Corporate CircleSalisbury, NC 28147Phone: 704-633-8207www.staltd.com The Salisbury Tutoring Academy employs teachers to provide one-on-one tutoring for children and adults. Salisbury also assists entrepreneurs in the start up of new tutoring companies.

STEPs ~ Serving The Exeptional PopulationsJudy C. Newton-Belkis, MAEd/SPE ’06Tempe, AZ Phone: 602-628-2827www.stepsess.com STEPs provides special education and English Language Learner compliance, consultation and services for district, charter and private schools.

Success ConnectionsMelanie Benson Strick, MAOM ’979909 Topanga Blvd., #222Chatsworth, CA 91311Phone: 818-530-4884www.successconnections.com Success Connections provides visionary entrepreneurs leadership development, team building, product positioning and high performance habits.

TH!NK, LLCSarah Kalicki-Nakamura, MAOM ’98; Cindy Sakai, MAOM ’98Phone: 808-626-6669www.think-training.com TH!NK provides training and coaching in leadership, supervision, team building, relationship strengthening, communication, time management, attitudes and helping individuals take action on their dreams.

ElectronicsElectron-Age Technologies, LLCHenry McKelvey, MIS ’117023 Onyx CourtCapitol Heights, MD 20743Phone: 301-653-7992www.ea-techno.com Electron-Age Technologies provides electronics maintenance and repair services.

Entertainment & EventsJazze Wonderz Entertainment & Production Co., LLCKyna Hubbard, BSB/A ’09 P.O. Box 531672San Diego, CA 92153Phone: 619-948-2634www.jazzewonderz.co Jazze Wonderz Entertainment & Production Co. provides top entertainment and production services for profit and nonprofit fundraisers, weddings and other special occasions.

Sweet Events and Planning, LLCFelicia Evans Long, MBA ’085910 Connecticut Ave.Chevy Chase, MD 20825-5542Phone: 973-493-3579www.SweetEventsandPlanning.com Sweet Events Planning is a full-service event company founded by Felicia Evans Long, one of D.C. Metro’s top wedding planners.

Fashion and BeautyLady Mirage Agency, Inc.Kyla Latrice, MBA ’07P.O. Box 575Horn Lake, MS 38637www.LadyMirageAgency.com Lady Mirage Agency seeks to rebuild, restore and empower women globally, using the vehicles of fashion and beauty: editorial, advertorial, film, television, fragrance, production and commercial contracting work.

ALUMnI BUSInESS LISTInG


Financial Services & MortgageAHB Accounting and Bookkeeping Services, LLCMarcy Jadotte, CFE, BSB/ACC ’07400 N.W. 65th Ave.Margate, FL 33063Phone: 954-839-5534www.ahbaccounting.com AHB Accounting and Bookkeeping Services specializes in QuickBooks and Creative Solution software to offer small businesses accounting services such as bank reconciliation, financial statements and sales tax preparation.

Burd FinancialPhil Burd, MBA ’07414 Main St.Lyndora, PA 16045Phone: 724-991-4671 Burd Financial is a personal financial consulting firm that teaches people how to reduce debt and increase their cash flow.

KC Mortgage, LLCKay A. Cleland, AAB ’10200 South Wilcox St., #224Castle Rock, CO 80104Phone: 720-810-4917www.kcmortgagecolorado.com KC Mortgage, licensed, bonded and insured in Colorado and Indiana, offers competitive mortgage rates and closing costs. Purchase and refinance programs include FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional, FannieMae Homepath, Jumbo and reverse mortgages.

The Brico Group, Inc.Brian N. Stovall, BSB/ACC ’083695 Cascade Rd. #F-138Atlanta, GA 30331Phone: 404-946-8291www.thebricogroup.com The Brico Group provides technology-driven tax, accounting and business advisory services to individuals and small businesses.

Food & SpecialtyArtisan ScentsJonathan Nowling, MBA ’06www.Artisanscents.com Artisan Scents is a source for handmade bath and body products that are made in California and created from the finest ingredients found in nature.

Becky’s Blissful Bakery, LLCRebecca Scarberry, BSB/M ’08214 Oakton Ave.Pewaukkee, WI 53072Phone: 262-327-4111www.beckysblissfulbakery.com Becky’s Blissful Bakery produces small-batch caramels using all-natural, 100 percent organic ingredients.

Sable’s FoodsAlicia Sable-Hunt, MBA/MKT ’06P.O. Box 1155West Palm Beach, FL 33402Phone: 571-572-2534www.sablesfoods.com Sable’s Foods manufactures and sells a range of wholesome bars designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of cancer patients.

Simple Treats Cupcakery, LLCKimberly Greenwell, MBA ’10Phone: 209-894-0065; 888-805-2555 www.simpletreats.net Simple Treats is a gourmet cupcakery specializing in cupcake catering events. Simple Treats offers the customized phenomenon called the KupKake.

Unique Liquid, LLCJon Bullinger, BSB/M ’0817032 S.W. Rockridge CourtBeaverton, OR 97006Phone: 503-680-3398www.uniqueliquid.com Unique Liquid specializes in developing and importing premium, modern spirits to quench the thirst of those in search of refreshing alternatives. In 2010, the company introduced YÉYO Tequila, an ultra-premium silver tequila with a unique modern style and smooth exceptional taste.

Green Business3D Consulting & Data Services, LLCCharles Dotson, MBA/HCM ’10819 Fuller Glen CircleChattanooga, TN 37421Phone: 423-505-4509www.3ddataservices.com 3D Consulting & Data Services helps businesses convert to paperless document management systems.

Earthwise EngineeringShawn P. Mullins, BSB/A ’9718834 N. 16th PlacePhoenix, AZ 85024Phone: 623-321-1071www.earthwise-engineering.com Earthwise Engineering helps builders, homeowners and commercial property owners better utilize their energy dollars and conserve natural resources without sacrificing comfort, convenience and occupant safety.

Evergreen TechnologiesBill Soest, MBA ’06320 Mill CourtAngels Camp, CA 95222Phone: 209-743-6748www.evergreen-technologies.com Evergreen Technologies is a green building inspection company.

Green Forward MovementsMina Williams, BSM ’11P.O. Box 2932Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729-2932Phone: 909-235-6011savemypowerbill.com Green Forward Movements (GFM) specializes in lighting efficiency applications programs and incentives; GFM also offers training, support and certification for rebate and incentive programs.

Health & WellnessArbonne International Independant ConsultantDiane M. Alexander, BSHS ’03P.O. Box 10705Canoga Park, CA 91309Phone: 818-571-8217www.dalex.myarbonne.com Arbonne is a Swiss company that offers pure, safe and beneficial botanically based products that are 100 percent vegan and free of harmful chemicals and preservatives.

Edwards-Hunt Group, LLCAlicia Sable-Hunt, MBA/MKT ’06P.O. Box 1155West Palm Beach, FL 33402Phone: 203-768-9733www.edwardshunt.com Edwards-Hunt Group is a life science consulting firm assisting disease-specific nonprofit organizations achieve their scientific agendas.

Heavenly CynsationsCynthia Wilson, MBA/HCM ’06Mobile MassageDallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, TX Phone: 619-823-0740www.HeavenlyCynsations.com Heavenly Cynsations is a mobile massage service, offering unique therapeutic experiences carefully designed to meet individual massage therapy needs.


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Herself MomsRod Hurst, BSB/A ’101925 U St.Sacramento, CA 95848Phone: 916-455-6789www.herselfmoms.com Herself Moms is dedicated to supporting and educating women through pregnancy, offering prenatal and postpartum exercise, lactation consultation, breast pump rentals and nursing apparel.

Medical Simulation Design, Inc.Jane C. Kleinman, RN, MAOM ’921891 North Gaffey St., Ste. ASan Pedro, CA 90731Phone: 310-982-0453www.medsimdesign.com Medical Simulation Design offers fully integrated, customized services designed to help health care professionals close the performance gap.

Melaleuca, Inc.Angelita Paton Bacchus, BSBA ’11 3910 S. Yellowstone HighwayIdaho Falls, ID 83402Phone: 347-405-6463 Melaleuca has been helping the environment for more than 25 years by promoting organic and eco-friendly products. Members receive residual income when they refer others to shop with Melaleuca.

Simple Serenity SpaRegina Collins, BSIT/NTC ’065005 Windplay Dr., #2El Dorado Hills, CA 95762Phone: 916-933-0077www.SimpleSerenitySpa.com Simple Serenity Spa is a spa and wellness center that offers massage therapy, facials, waxing, body wraps and nutrition coaching, along with the proprietary Cellz + Skin Care line of skin care products.

Studio 46 FitnessLisa Plattenberger, MBA ’9619851 Highway 46 W. #201Spring Branch, TX 78070Phone: 830-438-4640www.studio46fitness.com Studio 46 Fitness offers group fitness classes including, but not limited to, yoga, kickboxing, Zumba Fitness and weight training. It offers personal training sessions and massage therapy.

Until The Whole World Hears, LLCCaptain Steven J. Lucks, USN (ret.), MAOM ’945086 E. 65th SouthIdaho Falls, ID 83406Phone: 888-308-9097untilthewholeworldhears.reliv.com Until The Whole World Hears is comprised of independent Reliv distributors, marketing products from Reliv International. It provides an opportunity for people of all backgrounds who want to lead healthy, self-directed and meaningful lives through the use of exceptionally effective nutritional products, a simple and profitable business opportunity and the chance to change lives and provide hope to people around the world.

Marketing & Communications

Aeutus MarketingAlex B. Anaya, BSB/M ’10Phoenix, AZ Phone: 480-382-6292www.aeutusmarketing.com Aeutus Marketing is a comprehensive marketing company that specializes in SEO, Web design, strategic planning, design and implementations with an emphasis on Internet and new media. Services are available in English and Spanish. Find Aeutus on Facebook and Twitter.

Jewelson Productions, LLCEdward Foxworth III, MBA ’04Detroit, MI Phone: 313-420-7532www.edwardfoxworth.com Jewelson Productions produces The Urban Passport Network, an out-of-home digital advertising resource for entrepreneurs and corporations, alike, who are interested in marketing to emerging ethnic consumers.

Maggiore Consulting & MarketingJennifer Maggiore, BSB/MKT ’059237 E. Via De Ventura, #115Scottsdale, AZ 85258Phone: 480-374-5343www.mcmaz.com Maggiore Consulting & Marketing (MCM) develops and executes highly effective strategies by integrating traditional and digital channels including print, TV, PPC, SEO, social media, wordpress website development and video production.

Reframe MarketingKaren Milde, MBA/MKT ’06305-515 West Pender St.Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 5H5Phone: 778-837-4163www.reframemarketing.com Reframe Marketing is a full-service marketing and design agency that focuses on branding, creative events, creative promotions, design and strategic marketing.

SmartNet StrategiesMelissa Washington, BSB/M ’00Lincoln, CA Phone: 916-253-7357www.smartnetstrategies.com SmartNet Strategies is a veteran- and women-owned small business that provides training to individuals and organizations on how to utilize LinkedIn to build an online professional social media presence.

Sparkattention.comGasper Almeida, MBA/GM ’001682 N. 80 WestOrem, UT 84057Phone: 801-369-8821www.sparkattention.com Sparkattention.com provides businesses with branded promotional items such as pens, lanyards, stress balls and tote bags.

Tribute Media, Inc.Corey A. Smith, MBA ’07136 E. Idaho, #200Meridian, ID 83642Phone: 208-489-0123www.tributemedia.com Tribute Media is a Web consulting company that works with clients to ensure their online presence is aligned with their overall business and branding strategy.

nonprofit

Making It To The Finish LineGladys Pearson, MAOM ’002140 HolbrookHamtramck, MI 48212Phone: 313-877-8327www.mittfl.org Making It To The Finish Line is an organization that embraces women of all ages, with an emphasis on teen moms. It offers a range of services from an elegance bootcamp to an employment program and clothes closet.

ALUMnI BUSInESS LISTInG


professional ServicesAlternative HR, LLCKellie Shumaker, MBA ’08P.O. Box 33Wrightsville, PA 17368Phone: 717-855-5589www.Alternative-HR.com Alternative HR offers small businesses an affordable alternative to hiring a full-time certified HR professional.

Brigette’s Technology Consulting and Research FirmBrenda Nelson-Porter, DM ’04105 Wilson CircleNewman, GA 30263Phone: 770-251-6765www.brigettes.com Brigette’s Technology Consulting Firm, currently known as Brigette’s Technology Consulting and Research Firm, primarily assists scholars with the preparation and completion of their dissertations or independent research using current editorial practices and data analysis software.

Construct Empowerment, LLCEmma S. Grant, MSN ’04P.O. Box 90708Columbia, SC 29290Phone: 803-727-8663emmasgrant.com Construct Empowerment strives to empower, motivate and enhance the lives of women with tips and pearls of wisdom from the book Divorced, Now What? and the motivational speaking of founder Emma S. Grant.

Exchange Pro, LLCDavid Newby, MBA/GM ’092812 Pelham Ave.Baltimore, MD 21213Phone: 410-575-4356www.exchange-pro.com Exchange Pro is an international brokerage company specializing in wholesale and retail trade of personal property.

RISC, LLCJennifer Mannino, MBA/GM ’043877 N. 7th St., Ste. 100Phoenix, AZ 85014Phone: 602-277-7472www.risc-llc.com RISC is a global investigative consulting firm specializing in enhanced reputational due diligence and background investigations, asset searches and recovery solutions, dispute resolution and litigation support services.

S. Glenn Franchise Consulting ServicesSherena Glenn, MBA ’06Glendale, AZ Phone: 623-748-8675sglennfranchiseconsultingservices.com S. Glenn Franchise Consulting Services presents franchise opportunity investments to clients and makes referrals to more than 300 franchisors.

WasteONE Management, Inc.Omar George, MAOM ’04Orlando, FL Phone: 586-226-4300www.wasteonemanagement.com WasteONE Management is a full-service waste control firm.

Real EstateObadiah RealtyCrystal Morris-Newsom, MBA ’09833 E. Southern Ave.Phoenix, AZ 85042Phone: 602-748-3002 Obadiah Realty specializes in residential and commercial real estate, assisting clients in metropolitan Phoenix and surrounding areas with the purchase and/or sale of land and homes.

Texas Real Estate SpecialistsElanza Pitre-Wilson, MBA/EB ’0310497 Town & Country Way, Ste. 120Houston, TX 77024Phone: 713-398-6027soldbyelanza.yourkwagent.com Texas Real Estate Specialists facilitates seamless transactions for buyers and sellers in the state of Texas.

RetailFifth Round ClothingRichard de Ocio, MBA ’07; Jeremy Irwin, BSCJA ’04www.fifthroundclothing.com Fifth Round Clothing provides apparel and gear for mixed martial arts athletes and fans.

Security Services

Evicam International, Inc.Larry McClymonds, MBA ’884100 E. Mississippi Ave., Ste. 1900Denver, CO 80246Phone: 303-885-3142www.Evicam.com Evicam supplies secure, wireless, vehicle-mounted video surveillance systems.

Lucas Security ServicesAllen E. Lucas, Jr., AACJ ’09326 Peabody St.Washington, D.C. 20011 Lucus Security Services trains security officers/special police officers in the disciplines required by law to obtain and maintain their security licenses. Courses include firearms, Red Cross, CPR and baton, among others.

Storage

Colorado Vault & Safe Deposit Box CompanyFrank Robinson, MAOM ’038226 S. Holly St.Centennial, CO 80122Phone: 720-897-7134www.cvsafebox.com Colorado Vault & Safe Deposit Box Company is Colorado’s only private safe deposit box company, offering private vaulted storage for individuals who choose not to use a bank. Other services include 24-hour access, notary and inventory advice.

Technology Services

TeamSupport.comEric Harrington, BSB/IS ’02100 Highland Park Village, Ste. 200Dallas, TX 75205Phone: 800-596-2820 x 806TeamSupport.com TeamSupport.com is a web-based customer support and help desk software application.

If you have a business you would like to share with your peers, visit www.phoenixfocus.com and click on “Alumni Business Listing” to add your business starting in January.

TeamSupport.com


phoenixfocus.com 47

Get Noticed.Promote your company in the online Alumni Business Directory.

Coming January 2012 at PhoenixFocus.com


The BUZZWe want to celebrate you in our alumni announcements. Share your story and be part of “The Buzz.” Email us at [email protected].


Local alumni chapters launch

The University of Phoenix Alumni Association exists to serve graduates of the University, so when alumni began asking for local chapters, the Alumni Association happily obliged. Today, the University is celebrating the launch of its inaugural chapters in Detroit, Phoenix, San Diego and Boise with additional cities planned in the coming year.

Bringing together alumni where they live “Our alumni chapters are informal, alumni-driven groups that connect our graduates in a given geographic location regardless of where they completed their coursework,” explains Irene Blundell, director of alumni chapters in University of Phoenix’s Alumni Relations department. “Our alumni want to connect in their local communities, and we’re helping them accomplish this by providing them with the tools they need to come together as a group.”

Alumni chapters offer many benefits to University graduates, including opportunities to network, develop mentoring relationships, enhance their careers and collectively give back to their communities.

“Our alumni are the best,” says Blundell. “They are fantastic individuals who have gone above and beyond, and we want to honor their success by providing them with this opportunity to connect with other like-minded people.”

A chapter is born Alumni chapters are created by alumni for alumni. When an alumnus contacts the Alumni Association to express interest in creating a local chapter, the Alumni Association schedules a chapter interest meeting to gauge the demand. If there’s sufficient interest in the area, alumni are then elected by their peers into the four leadership roles necessary to start a local chapter.

“The chapters each determine their own mission and vision,” adds Blundell. “Then the Alumni Association provides the chapter with marketing, communication and event strategy support to help them do what they think is best for their local alumni chapter.”

Get involved! If you live in the Detroit, Phoenix, San Diego or Boise areas, search for your local chapter on Facebook to get involved. If you’re interested in starting a local chapter in your city, contact Irene Blundell at [email protected].

Jamie Kohlbecker, BSIT ’05, MBA ‘07 Chapter leader, Boise Chapter “The Boise Chapter will continue to become a strong symbol of success and compassion while helping fellow alumni with employment opportunities ... our vision is to help the Idaho chapter become a successful, positive, innovative network.”

Edward Foxworth III, MBA ’04 Chapter leader, Detroit Chapter “We intend to stay connected with Metro Detroit-area alumni through a variety of educational, informational and career-oriented activities. Networking is extremely important to us, and we are focused on assisting alumni who are experiencing the pride of being a Phoenix!”

Dr. Bradford Wright, DM/OL ’08 Chapter leader, Phoenix Chapter “I believe that we are virtually unlimited in what we can achieve with such a significant group of individuals. Through cooperation of the alumni, we can have a tremendous impact on our community, our state and even our nation.”

Dr. Tony Lopez, MBA ’93 Chapter leader, San Diego Chapter “Our vision is to have an alumni chapter that not only contributes to the University’s image and notoriety in San Diego but will also contribute to the community at large in the coming years.”

Irene Blundell Director of alumni chapters

phoenixfocus.com 49

Published by alumni

The Refractive Thinker Volume II: Research Methodology Second Edition

By Cheryl A. Lentz

Cheryl A. Lentz, Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership (DM) ’07, helps reinvent the way doctoral research is offered to the larger community through the The Refractive Thinker Anthology of Higher Learning Series. Realizing that few may be willing to wade through the complexity of a 400- to 600-page dissertation, the anthology model presents multiple ideas within one scholarly, peer-reviewed publication. The latest volume, The Refractive Thinker Volume II: Research Methodology Second Edition, is targeted specifically to doctoral students and recent doctoral graduates. Twelve doctoral scholars, including Lentz, contribute a chapter outlining unique applications of research methodologies.

Dr. Cheryl Lentz is a university professor and an award-winning author known for her writings on The Golden Palace Theory of Management and refractive thinking. She is a 10-time internationally published author who helps doctoral scholars publish their writings within the trademarked anthology series.

The Refractive Thinker Volume II: Research Methodology Second Edition is available as a paperback and as an e-book or e-chapters at amazon.com and www.refractivethinker.com.

That Tender Light

By Donald James Then

Donald James Then, Master of Arts in Organizational Management (MAOM) ’99, touches the heart, captures the imagination and explores the redemptive qualities of love and faith in his fictional novel That Tender Light. The story follows the nation’s top investigative reporter, Lockwood McGuire, in his search to find missing novelist Jack Taylor, a Medal of Honor recipient who disappeared in 1986 without leaving a clue as to his whereabouts.

McGuire’s search leads to a farm in Indiana where Missy Lee, a 98-year-old woman lives with secrets that could unlock the mystery, among them Taylor’s final, unpublished novel. That Tender Light blends the push and tug of human interaction with mystery, romance, adventure and redemption.

Donald James Then is the former owner and publisher of an award-winning Sunday newspaper, a 30-year marketing executive and a graduate of St. Bonaventure University’s Journalism School, where he received the 1974 Mark Hellinger Award as the top journalism grad. Then currently lives in Northern Kentucky.

That Tender Light is available at amazon.com, djamesthen.com and at bookstores across the United States.

THE BUZZ


The BUZZcontinued from page 49

California Campbell Jim Bennette, Bachelor of Science in Business with a Concentration in Administration (BSB/A) ’03, was named chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors by VisiStat, a leading Web analytics and customer intelligence platform. A Silicon Valley veteran, Bennette has more than 23 years of executive leadership and entrepreneurial experience in a variety of high-tech industries. He has held executive-level positions in business development, sales, marketing and operations, with a long and successful history of developing early stage companies.

Davis Dennis Bitter, Master of Business Administration (MBA) ’03, was named Zequanox Commercial Manager by Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI). Bitter joins MBI with extensive experience in water and waste water markets. He will oversee North American sales of Zequanox, an effective new natural product for the control of invasive zebra and quagga mussels in freshwater lakes and streams. Prior to joining MBI, Bitter was North American sales manager at Severn Trent Water Purifications and Western regional director at Calgon Carbon. Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI) discovers, develops and markets effective and environmentally responsible natural products for weed and pest control, plant disease and water resource management.

Illinois Oakwood Mary Brady, Master of Arts in Education/Administration (MAEd/ADM) ’09, was named assistant principal of Oakwood Grade School and district special education coordinator. Previously, Brady taught in Vermilion County as a high school teacher in the regional safe schools program at the Vermilion Association of Special Education. Over the past two years, she has served as principal of White Hall Elementary School in White Hall, while simulataneously acting as special education supervisor for North Greene Unit District No. 3, also located in White Hall.

New Jersey Livingston Bronawyn O’Leary, Master of Arts in Education/Administration (MAEd/ADM) ’08, was named assistant principal of Livingston High School. O’Leary earned a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science from Rowan University before pursuing her master’s degree with University of Phoenix.

New York Rochester Dorothy A. Coleman, Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Accounting (BSB/ACC) ’98, was hired to be the executive vice president and chief financial officer for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and its parent corporation, The Lifetime Healthcare Companies. Previously,

Coleman served in the same capacity for BlueCross BlueShield of Rhode Island, where she was responsible for all aspects of the company’s financial operations. A 27-year veteran of the health care industry, Coleman spent eight years with UnitedHealthcare, most recently as chief operating officer and interim president for the organization’s $5 billion public sector national line of business. She also served in executive leadership roles, including CEO for the group’s Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Indiana health plans. Before leading several initiatives at UnitedHealthcare, Coleman was CFO/COO of Cigna Healthcare Medical Group Practice of Arizona and CFO/associate administrator at FHP Inc. Hospital.

Recognition


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Connect withfellow alumni

Puerto Rico Homecoming 2010

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University NewsTHE EnTREpREnEURSHIp ISSUE

University awards more than 50 full-tuition scholarships to new students across the country In September, University of Phoenix welcomed more than 50 new scholarship students. Across the country the University has awarded full-tuition scholarships to prospective students who have demonstrated a commitment and a desire to learn. From veterans to volunteers, deserving individuals have been given the opportunity to earn an undergraduate or master’s degree. “By reaching out to our target communities, we determine their needs,” shares Tammie Yong, director of scholarships. “Scholarships are then awarded through partnerships with nonprofits and other organizations to alleviate financial obstacles to education.”

Among the University’s partner organizations is The Wounded Warrior Project. It was founded five years ago to honor and empower the wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The University awarded seven scholarships to severely injured veterans, their dedicated spouses or caretakers in August. “We are so grateful to University of Phoenix for recognizing that part of empowering this generation of wounded veterans is providing them educational opportunities,” says Steve Nardizzi, executive director of the Wounded Warrior Project. “This incredible opportunity will no doubt change lives.”

To learn more about the University of Phoenix’s scholarship opportunities visit the Center for Scholarship Excellence (CSE) at: phoenix.edu/tuition_and_financial_options/scholarships.html.

UOPX donates $10,000 to Alexandria’s Jefferson-Houston School University of Phoenix continued its commitment to supporting education in Northern Virginia by donating $10,000 along with school supplies to Jefferson-Houston School in Alexandria. A special check presentation ceremony was held at the Jefferson-Houston School with leaders from University of Phoenix and school administration officials.

“At University of Phoenix, we fundamentally believe that nothing should stand in the way of a child’s right to receive a quality education and are proud to do our part to support this mission locally here in Alexandria,” says Northern Virginia Campus Director Erik Greenberg.

This latest donation represents a continued partnership between University of Phoenix Northern Virginia Campus and the Jefferson-Houston School.

Pictured above: Leaders from UOPX present check to administration officials at the Jefferson-Houston School.

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New study uncovers skills and education necessary for success in 21st century workforce While unemployment hovers at 9 percent with 14 million Americans out of work, the U.S. Department of Labor reported there are currently 3 million available jobs. Life in the 21st Century Workforce: A National Perspective, a study conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and University of Phoenix, explores this disconnect, citing 53 percent of employers say their companies face a significant challenge in recruiting non-managerial employees with the skills, training and education their company needs.

The study paints a picture of the employment landscape and key dynamics both workers and employers need to consider as they seek to promote excellence in the workplace, underscoring the importance of education—including continuing education and advanced degrees—that emphasizes interpersonal skills, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving. The study found that 46 percent of the workforce say their company has a tuition assistance program.

The study also cites that in today’s workplace, the labor force considers past work experience (50 percent) to be the most important factor when companies are making hiring decisions, outdistancing people management and communication skills (27 percent). However, when it comes to being promoted, employers are far more likely to consider people management and communication skills (46 percent) as more important than past work experience (38 percent).

These and other results summarized in Life in the 21st Century Workforce: A National Perspective can help inform employers, employees and jobseekers looking to stand out in the increasingly competitive job market.

YOUR UnIVERSITY | University News

UOPX School of Business alumni launch small business network Graduates of the University’s School of Business recently founded The Small Business Network (SBN), an online networking site designed to make advertising more affordable to small businesses, startups, churches and nonprofit organizations. The ultimate goal behind SBN is to help these organizations increase sales along with their impact on their communities. Based on a philosophy to prioritize the welfare of consumers above profits, the entrepreneurs behind SBN have chosen to commit 30 percent of the site’s revenue to the community to encourage economic growth. Explore SBN online at smallbusinessnet.org.


Campus NewsTHE EnTREpREnEURSHIp ISSUE

Homecoming 2011Seventy-six events, more than 10,000 attendees and countless memories, Homecoming 2011 gave alumni the opportunity to connect with fellow graduates. Events ranged from exclusive networking receptions to professional sporting games to picnics in the park. Thank you to everyone who attended. We can’t wait to see you again next year.

1. Augusta Alumni celebrated homecoming in Augusta with a pregame mixer and a baseball game at Lake Olmstead Stadium cheering on on the Green Jackets.

2. Austin Alumni kicked off the Austin homecoming festivites with a game of networking bingo during a reception held at the local Dave & Buster’s.

3. Baton Rouge Baton Rouge alumni gathered at the beautiful Manship Theatre and enjoyed a sophisticated evening of mixing and mingling. The highlight of the evening was the inspirational speeches made by proud alumni including District 5 Council Woman Ronnie Edwards, CEO of Dow Federal Credit Union Jefferey Hendrickson and DavidPaul Learning Center Founder Lloyd Benson.

4. Boston Homecoming in Boston was an intimate, upscale affair. Alumni enjoyed conversation during a networking reception held at the Boston Museum Science Center. Before exploring the exhibits at the museum, alumni heard from brother and siser co-guest alumni speakers, Dr. Michael Keohane and Dr. Ellen J. Keohane.

5. Charlotte Alumni and guests gathered at the deliciously chic Crave Dessert Bar in Charlotte for an evening filled with dancing, laughter and mingling with former classmates and new friends.

6. Chicago The Chicago Blackhawks served as homecoming hosts in Chicago. Alumni enjoyed an exciting evening of hockey and thoughtful conversation at a pregame mixer. This event had it all: an official “alumni welcome” by Blackhawks President and CEO John F. McDonough, a photo opportunity with team mascot Tommy Hawk and even a visit by the Blackhawk Ice Girls.

7. Columbus, OH Alumni were greeted by a welcoming committee from the Columbus Zoo courtesy of Jack Hanna himself. Lynx cats, a penguin and an armadillo did their best to make certain that this was a memorable event for all. The good times kept rolling with alumni and guests mingling and dancing the night away.

8. Idaho (Boise) More than 300 alumni and guests celebrated with a family friendly homecoming at Wahooz. It was an exciting evening that began with a private

reception that lead to go-karts, water rides and plenty of arcade fun.

9. Houston Aloha … Houston area alumni celebrated homecoming Hawaiian style with an exclusive pregame luau on the rooftop of Minute Maid Field. The good times kept coming as nearly 300 alumni and guests continued the festivites with an exciting game of baseball courtesy of the hometown Houston Astros.

10. Las Vegas Alumni celebrated homecoming in Las Vegas with a pregame barbeque and a baseball game at Cashman Field cheering on on the Las Vegas 51s.

11. Kansas City Kansas City alumni enjoyed a wonderful fall afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. A pregame barbeque got the party started and the hometown team treated all to an exciting game of football.

12. Milwaukee Alumni and peacocks alike braved the rainy weather and enjoyed a family style homecoming courtesy of Milwaukee Zoo. Homecoming attendees enjoyed an indoor barbeque, face painting and opportunities to connect with fellow alumni.

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YOUR UnIVERSITY | Campus News

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13. Nashville Alumni celebrated homecoming in Nashville with an exclusive casino-style networking reception at aVenue.

14. New Jersey Jersey alumni enjoyed homecoming 2011 with a Manhattan Island Dinner Cruise. As the sun set across the horizon, alumni kicked off the night with plenty of dancing and networking fun.

15. New Orleans Homecoming took a historical spin in New Orleans where alumni gathered at the World War II Museum for an exclusive networking reception.

16. Philadelphia/Delaware Philadelphia and Delaware area alumni enjoyed a homecoming that featured former Philadelphia Eagles great, Vince Papale. Vince’s personal story of fierce determination and preservance was brought to the big screen by actor Mark Walhberg in the the movie Invincible.

17. Phoenix More than 900 alumni and guests made homecoming with the Arizona Diamondbacks a truly memorable event. The event included a series of fun pregame activities including an inspirational message of community service from Diamondbacks’ General Manager Kevin Towers, a networking alumni activity, face painting and a visit by team mascot Baxter. A few alumni were even selected to participate in gametime activities on the field.

18. San Antonio Alumni enjoyed an evening mixing, mingling and networking in San Antonio. The traditional crowning of the 2011 Homecoming king and queen was a highlight of the evening. Although the reigning 2010 royalty were not present, the 2009 royal couple were in attendance and happily crowned the new winners.

19. Southern California More than 500 alumni and guests gathered for a festive pregame mixer at the Angels Stadium of Anaheim before cheering on the hometown team as they battled the New York Yankees. Phoenix pride ran high throughout the celebration and fueled an afternoon full of music, good company, great conversation and beautiful California fall weather.

20. Southern California - Lancaster Homecoming was a wonderful evening for Lancaster alumni and their families (120 total) to enjoy a chance to mingle and celebrate their achievements. The festivities at Clear Channel Field kicked off with an activity-packed pregame mixer that included batting practice on the field followed by a JetHawks game.

21. Southern Colorado Southern Colorado alumni weathered a few storms and celebrated together at a fun pregame mixer at Security Service Field. The skies cleared in time for all to enjoy the game cheering on the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

22. St. Louis More than 200 alumni and guests celebrated homecoming in St. Louis with a pregame barbeque and a baseball game at Busch Stadium cheering on the Cardinals.

23. Western Washington Seattle offered up a rare balmy day (80 degrees and sunny) in honor of homecoming. More than 100 alumni and guests relished the weather and the chance to mingle with fellow alumni during a pregame mixer and Mariners baseball game at Safeco Field.

Join the fun and relive memories

Relive moments by checking out photo albums from Homecoming 2011 on the Alumni Association Facebook page at facebook.com/uopxalumni and click on “photos.” Browse albums by campus to see if you recognize classmates from events in your area.

Join the fun

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Other homecoming events around the nation (not pictured)

Alaska Reception at the Brian E. Davis Gallery

Atlanta Pregame mixer and Braves Game at Turner Field

Bay Area Reception at the San Jose Tech Museum

Birmingham Networking reception at The Redmont Hotel

Cedar Rapids Family friendly celebration at Bloomsbury Farm

Central Florida Reception at the House of Blues and show courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

Central Valley Reception at the Bakersfield Museum of Art with guest speaker Sandra Davis, campus college chair, College of Nursing

Chattanooga Pregame mixer and a Chattanooga Lookouts game at AT&T Baseball Field

Cheyenne/Fort Collins Pregame mixer and Colorado Eagles hockey game at the Budweiser Events Center

Cincinnati Networking reception at the Mulhauser Barn

Cleveland Reception at the The House of Blues with special guest, former NFL player Steve Sanders

Colorado Colorado Rockies baseball game at Coors Field

Columbia, SC High-energy affair held in the Ndoki Lounge of the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens

Columbus, GA Reception at the Double Tree hotel

Connecticut Reception at the Hilton Stamford Hotel with engaging keynote speaker Lee Woodruff

Dallas Pregame mixer and Texas Rangers baseball game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington

Des Moines Family style reception at All Play

Detroit Reception at Club Amnesia inside The Motor City Casino

Eastern Washington Networking reception at Coeur D’Alene Resort

Grand Rapids Reception at the beautiful Frederick Meijer Gardens

Harrisburg Networking reception at the Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey Hotel

Hawaii Reception at The Modern Honolulu Hotel with special guest speaker Dr. Jeremy Moreland, executive dean, School of Advanced Studies

Indianapolis Exclusive networking reception at Dave and Buster’s

Jackson Mixer and Mississippi Braves baseball game at Trustmark Park

Little Rock Pregame mixer and a Travelers baseball game at Dickey Stephens Park

Louisville Picnic at Cherokee Park

Madison Reception at the The Brass Ring with guest speaker Michael Johnson, CEO of the Madison Boys and Girls Club

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Maryland Networking reception among the sea life at the Baltimore National Aquarium

Memphis Reception at Chez Philippe inside the Peabody Hotel

N. Nevada Pregame mixer and Aces game at the Reno Aces Ballpark

New Mexico Breakfast at the Albequerque International Balloon Fiesta

North Florida Casino themed mixer at Latitude 30

Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. Reception at The Carlyle Club with guest speaker Barry McCaffrey, USA General (ret.)

Northwest Indiana Reception on a Mystic Blue Dinner Cruise near Chicago’s Navy Pier

Oklahoma City Celebration at Red Pin Restaurant and Bowling Lounge

Omaha Networking event at Sempecks Bowling

Oregon Networking reception at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum with guest speaker Stephen Belding, president and CEO, Rose Courier Express

Pittsburgh Reception at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel

Puerto Rico Reception at beachside hotel La Concha with comedienne Sunshine and a live salsa band

Raleigh Reception at the Brier Creek Country Club

Richmond/Virginia Beach Networking reception at The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia

Sacramento Reception at the Crocker Art Museum featuring guest speaker celebrity chef Patrick Mulvaney

San Diego Tailgate barbeque and San Diego Padres baseball game at Petco Park

Savannah Networking reception at the Hyatt Regency

Shreveport Reception at the Sci-Port Discovery Center

South Florida Season opener hockey game at Bank Atlantic Center cheering on the Florida Panthers

Southern Arizona Reception at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort with guest speaker Suzanne McFarlin, owner of Changing Tides Coaching and Consulting

Springfield Mixer and Cardinals baseball game at Hammons Park

Tulsa Reception among the sea life at Tulsa Aquarium

Twin Cities Mixer and Minnesota Vikings football game at Mall of America Field

Utah Family friendly event at Lagoon Amusement Park

West Florida Networking breakfast and fun at Busch Gardens

Wichita Family style celebration at Alley Bowling

Show your spirit! We asked for your most spirited photos during homecoming. Here are our editorial team’s top three picks. To see more photos like this, please visit http://www.facebook.com/uopxalumni#!/uopxalumni?sk=photos.

Pictured from top to bottom: Alumni from Columbus, Ohio, Phoenix and Southern California nabbed top honors in the 2011 homecoming spirit photo contest.



Community Service Award WinnersIn addition to celebrating homecoming, many distinguished alumni received a Community Service Award. The award recognizes University of Phoenix graduates for their efforts to better the communities in which they live and work. Congratulations to the following 2011 recipients.

Imran Aswani, MBA ’10, Atlanta

Deanna “Michelle” Parrish, BSB/M ’07, Ronnie Edwards, BSM ’07, and Jeff Hendrickson, MBA ’11 Baton Rouge

Nikki Butler, MBA ’04, Augusta Andrea Williams-Mosley, MAED/CI ’10, Austin

Dovie Majors, MBA ’08, Cincinatti

Allen Hulse (center), MBA ’10, Alaska

Donna DeBaca (right), BSHS/M ’09, Colorado

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Lisa Griffith, (center) BSB/M ’08, Idaho

Angela Standish, BSB/ACC ’09, Dallas

Daniel Nightengale, MIS ’08, Louisville

Krystal Marcum, MBA/MKT ’08, Kansas City

Matthew Hawks, AAB ’10, MemphisKeosha Love, MBA ’10, Little Rock

Victoria Frye (right), MBA ’04, Columbus, OHRegina Waller (right), MBA ’09, Columbus, GA

Nicholle White, BSHS/M ’11, Des Moines


Adam Messer, MBA ’10, Savannah Andrew Branning, MIS ’09, Shreveport

Steven Gold, MC ’04, Southern ColoradoRichard Rocha, BSCJA ’10, Southern California Tiffany Feldman, MBA ’11, Springfield

Jean Storck, BSB/M ’07, PhiladelphiaHarry Phillips, BSM ’08, Oklahoma City


Kallie Molitor, MBA ’09, Milwaukee

Amelia de Jesus, MBA/GM ’03, Puerto Rico

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Sherri Sarratore, MBA/GM ’09, Twin Cities

Diane Hemphill, BSB/MKT ’11, St. Louis Craig Shreve, MIS ’10, Tulsa

Clanita Jiggetts, MBA ’11, Wichita

Linda Mayberry-Chavez, BSB/M ’05, Bay Area

Judy Mannings, DM ’08, Birmingham

Cheryl-Ann Matthews, BS/P ’10, Boston

Tim Berchenbriter, BSB/PM ’11, Cedar Rapids

Courtney Jackson, BSB/M ’08, Central Florida

Corina Taylor, MM/HRM ’07, Central Valley

Alisa Grasso, MBA ’09, Charlotte

Judy Bearden, BSN ’11, Chattanooga

Phil Daily, MBA ’08, Cheyenne

Calvin Young, BSB/M ’06, Chicago

Nicole Holmes, AACOM ’10, Cleveland

Ros Squirewell, MHA ’05, Columbia, SC

Other Community Service Award Winners (not pictured)

Robyn Taylor, MBA ’07, Columbus

Jeannine Capria, MSN/IH ’08, Connecticut

Leon Dixon, MBA ’09, Detroit

Debra Osborne, MS/AGS ’09, Eastern Washington

Antonette Noakes, MM/PA ’08, Grand Rapids

Eric Snyder, BSM ’10, Harrisburg

Wayne Kanemasu, MSCIS ’00, Hawaii

Charlotte Comeaux, AAPSY ’11, Houston

Phyllis Graham, BSM ’10, Indianapolis

Courtney Robinson, MAED/AET ’11, Jackson

Victoria Peskett, MBA ’09, Las Vegas

Patrick Fau, MHA ’10, Madison

Candace Hurt, BSHS/M ’11, Maryland

Fae Hamby, MBA ’10, New Orleans

Amanda Sloas, MM ’10, Northwest Indiana

Catrina Jordan, AAPSY ’10, Nashville

Rachel Njinimbam, BSHS/M ’09, New Jersey

Bryan Batz, MBA ’09, New Mexico

Dianne Tribble, BSB/M ’08, Northern Florida

David Lorenz, BSBA ’09, Northern Florida

Laura Leibman, MBA ’11, Omaha

Noland Hoshino, MBA ’06, Oregon

Janice Escochea, BSB/M ’10, Phoenix

Larry French, Sr., MBA/TM ’05, Pittsburgh

James Ward, AAB ’09, Raleigh

LaToya Skinner, MS/AJS ’10, Richmond/Virginia Beach

Anita Johnson, BSHS/M ’07, Sacramento

Kelley Crandle, BSB/MKT ’10, San Antonio

Elisa Kingsbury, BSIT ’03, San Diego

Janet Rooks, BSB/M ’03, South Florida

Joan Shadwick, BSCJA ’05, Southern Arizona

James “Scott” Svoboda, MSC/MFCT ’11,

Southern California-Lancaster

Jennifer Amos, MBA ’11, Utah

Cherie Nichols, MSCIS ’05, Washington, D.C.

Jose Cruz, MBA ’06, West Florida

Susan Pietz, MBA/TM ’04, Western Washington

Joquetta Ezell, MBA ’10, Western Washington


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Community Relations

Radiothon for Phoenix Children’s Hospital For the 11th year, KTAR radio helped create miracles for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The annual fundraiser brought in $1,007,205 from families, businesses and individuals across the state. This is the second year University of Phoenix has helped with the event. Twenty-eight volunteers answered phones for two days at the station. They took turns working in shifts to make the radiothon a success.

“The opportunity to volunteer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital was one I couldn’t pass up because of the incredible work that PCH does for kids from around the world. Being there for two hours and working on the radiothon was a terrific and humbling experience,” shares Craig Dicker, director, K-12 Environmental Education. “Hearing the stories of the families and the kids who, through no fault of their own, spend countless days in the hospital made me want to spend more time there to help make a difference in their lives (as well as truly appreciate how fortunate I am). PCH is an amazing place and everyone should take the chance to volunteer there if they can,” he adds. University of Phoenix also donated $2,500 to the hospital.

Pictured: Twenty-eight UOPX volunteers took radiothon pledge calls over the course of two days.

University partners with Arizona Diamondbacks to award three scholarships University of Phoenix awarded three full-tuition scholarships as part of the Home Runs for Scholarships program in partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks. During a September game, each time a D-backs player hit a home run in the “University of Phoenix Scholarship Zone,” the University donated in-kind scholarship funds to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. Scholarship applications were accepted from July 15 to Aug. 15.

“An educated world is a better world,” said Dr. Bill Pepicello, president of University of Phoenix. “University of Phoenix is proud to partner with the D-backs to grant three individuals the opportunity to further their education.”

Apollo Group employees volunteer In 2010, the University of Phoenix Foundation presented a three-year grant to Everybody Wins! USA to expand its proven literacy and mentoring programs in the Phoenix market. Today, Phoenix employees from all departments volunteer during their lunch hour to read to their partner child.

The Power Lunch program brings groups of adult volunteers into low-income elementary schools each week for one-on-one read aloud sessions with students. In August, Apollo Group donated $20,000 to the Chicago and Connecticut affiliates to expand the Power Lunch program.

“The Fairfield County Campus is thrilled to participate in the Power Lunch program. For our employees, giving up an hour each week to read to a child is not a sacrifice—it’s a privilege,” says Nancy Pluzdrak, Fairfield County Campus director. “We’re proud to join Everybody Wins! in its efforts to bring the love of reading to our low-income schools and to support our community.”

YOUR UnIVERSITY | Community Relations


Events

November

2Knoxville Campus Knoxville Campus Grand Opening Event 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Knoxville Campus 10133 Sherrill Blvd., Ste. 120 Knoxville, TN http://uopknoxville.eventbrite.com

4San Diego Campus San Diego Alumni Chapter Meeting 6 p.m to 8 p.m. University of Phoenix, Stonecrest Campus 9665 Granite Ridge - Rooms 313 and 314 San Diego, California

7North Florida Campus Career Workshop 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. North Florida Campus 4500 Salisbury Rd., Ste. 200 Jacksonville, FL http://uopnorthflorida.eventbrite.com

8North Florida Campus Career Workshop 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. North Florida Campus 4500 Salisbury Rd. N., Ste. 200 Jacksonville, FL http://uopnorthflorida.eventbrite.com

9North Florida Campus Career Workshop 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. North Florida Campus 4500 Salisbury Rd. N., Ste. 200 Jacksonville, FL http://uopnorthflorida.eventbrite.com

10Houston Campus Welcome Alumni Networking Mixer 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. McAllen Campus 4201 South Shary Road Mission, TX

11Detroit Campus Aging in Michigan: Challenges and Opportunities 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Southfield Learning Center University of Phoenix 4400 Towne Center Dr. Southfield, MI

North Florida Campus Career Fair 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. North Florida Campus 4500 Salisbury Rd. N., Ste. 200 Jacksonville, FL http://uopnorthflorida.eventbrite.com

12Philadelphia Campus Professional Development Series 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. University of Phoenix Financial District Learning Center United Plaza Building 30 South 17 Street, Second Floor Philadelphia, PA

17Austin Campus Academic Research Symposium 2011 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. University of Phoenix - Austin Campus 10801-2 N. Mo-Pac Expwy., Ste. 300 Austin, TX

19Southern California Campus Southern California Entrepreneurship Workshop Series 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Diamond Bar Learning Center 1370 S. Valley Vista Dr. Diamond Bar, CA http://entrepreneurdiamondbar.eventbrite.com eventbrite.com

YOUR UnIVERSITY | EventsTHE EnTREpREnEURSHIp ISSUE

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Alumni Mentor Program alumni.phoenix.edu | 800-795-2586

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print subscriptions coming January 2012 Complete and return the interest card (inserted in the front of the magazine).

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