By Aysha Bell
GCU Career Services

As a Grand Canyon University alumni, you have a unique perspective that serves as an asset to you as you navigate and pursue your desired career path. Your values-based education allows you to strategically align your faith with the pursuit of ideal employment opportunities.

The scriptures state, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version). What an amazing biblical reference that speaks to so many aspects of our lives, especially our careers! How many times have we heard this scripture quoted from pulpits and in Christian reading material and then sat back waiting for this scriptural promise to ‘materialize’? Unfortunately, results are not achieved by hope alone. It is vital that we become intentional about our future. Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26)!

So how do we, as educated Christians, align our faith in developing our strategic career plan? There are clear steps to take to ensure we are pursuing a career field that is the best fit and those steps are clearly supported by scripture.

Step One: Have a clear understanding what career is the best fit for you.

A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great (Proverbs 18:16).

When you do what you love, the money will follow. There is actually some truth to this old adage.  Therefore, it is important to spend an ample amount of time examining your interests, strengths, abilities and values to determine which careers correlate best. There are numerous personality and aptitude measurements designed to help you gain a stronger perspective at no charge (click the link at the end of this article for the free GCU Career Compass). Take time to prayerfully consider and thoroughly review the results of every assessment you take. You might learn information about yourself you did not know before.

Step Two: Gain industry expertise through research.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7).

Once you have a clear idea of what career fields are the most ideal fit for you, it is necessary to learn everything you possibly can about that field:

• The day-to-day requirements of the job and qualifications needed to obtain employment.
• Traits individuals in this industry possess and how your knowledge, skills and abilities align with those who have been successful in this field.
• The companies that hire for the type of position you are pursuing.
• Professional associations and interest groups related to your line of work.

Step Three: Developing a strategic marketing plan for YOU.

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Luke 12:7).

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

• Understand the value you can bring to a position. There are specific ways in which value can be measured and demonstrated:
  • Relevant degree, education or training obtained.
  • Applicable skills and qualifications useful for the industry.
  • Related experience gained through employment, internships or volunteerism.
  • Accomplishments such as certificates, awards, increased revenue, decreased profit loss.
• Practice interviewing, specifically being able to communicate “fit” to the companies and hiring personalities you have discovered are common to your field.
• Create a strong resume and cover letter and begin applying to positions. Your resume should communicate a strong message of value that makes it very clear why a company should invite you in for an interview and hire you.
• Many positions are found via networking. Utilize the knowledge of the individuals in your sphere of influence as you seek to uncover hidden opportunities.

There is no timeline for how long it will take to successfully navigate through your strategic career path. The challenge is to remain steadfast in the pursuit of your career goals, which can be accomplished through prayer, partnership with supportive family and friends, and commitment to your career.

Remember, GCU Career Services is here for you. Visit our website at gcu.edu/careerservices to utilize any of our online tools to identify your career path, build your resume, research career options or apply to current job postings!

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By Karen Fernau
GCU News Bureau

Grand Canyon University’s unwavering support of the local community — from feeding the homeless, raising money for childhood cancer treatment to building homes for the needy — is expanding into campus kitchens.

Led by the new student-operated Grand Canyon Beverage Company (GCBC), GCU is turning to a record number of local food companies to feed students, faculty and staff.

Grand Canyon Beverage Company features doughnuts from Fractured Prune Doughnuts, which has eight Arizona locations. (Photo by Darryl Webb)

“We really care about our local community and wanted to do business with other local businesses,” said Brennan Williams, general manager of GCBC, during a jam-packed lunch hour.

“Yes, we want GCU to flourish, but we want the community to flourish with us.”

The coffee, tea, donuts and pastries sold at GCBC are from Phoenix-area companies.

According to backers of GCU’s local initiative, buying local strengthens the Phoenix-area economy and employment. According to the U.S. Small Business Association, 55 percent of all jobs in America are offered by small businesses.

GCU is more committed than ever to buying local whenever possible, said Zach Casavant, marketing and communications director for Sodexo & GCU Dining. GCU’s support of locally owned businesses also gives students more choices and fresher foods.

“We support local businesses and the local economy while providing students with a more personal choice of foods,” Casavant said. “Often there are advantages in freshness and quality when bought from a nearby place. No need for freezing.”

Brennan Williams

Produce grown by local farmers, for example, is sold at the Friday farmers markets on campus.

For Laura Briscoe, owner of Laura’s Gourmet Granola in Tempe, GCU’s support boosts both cereal sales and product credibility.

“GCU has so much recognition now that to say we are on campus is great for us,” she said.

Her granola is available beginning this week at Chaparral Natural C-Store.

“We hope the students who buy the granola become customers for life,” said Briscoe, a former high-tech marketer turned chef who in 2004 began selling the granola she had been making for family and friends.

The following is a sampling of other local companies now providing food and beverages at GCU:

Press Coffee: Steve Kraus and his wife, Tram Mai, an anchor for Channel 12 in Phoenix, opened their first shop in 2010 at Scottsdale Quarter. Today, the couple has expanded to shops in Phoenix, Tempe and at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Press is known for coffee roasted in small batches from Ethiopia, Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil, Sumatra and Guatemala.

Mission Possible Cookies: These cookies are baked from scratch by women in the vocational training program at Phoenix Rescue Mission, a non-profit organization that offers services for the homeless.  Every aspect, from baking, packing to marketing, is done by women who once faced homelessness. Flavors include Changing Lives Chocolate Chip, Cin-no-More and Life By Chocolate.

Fractured Prune Doughnuts: This boutique donut maker, founded in 1976 in Ocean City, Md., has eight Arizona locations. Its hot donuts are hand dipped and topped to order. Glazes include banana, caramel, cherry, chocolate, key lime, marshmallow, mocha, mint, berries and vanilla. The 13 toppings include chocolate sprinkles, cookie crumbs, bacon, sea salt and vanilla wafers.

Strictly From Scratch: This Phoenix-based wholesale bakery provides fresh-baked goodies daily to hotels, resorts, restaurants, airlines, grocery stores and now GCU.

White Lion Traditional Tea Company: Started in 1998 by Kathryn Petty, founder and president, the Scottsdale-based company specializes in high-quality, whole-leaf, hand-harvested black, green, white, oolong and herbal teas.

Contact Karen Fernau at (602) 639-8344 or karen.fernau@gcu.edu.

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By Marette Hahn
GCU Career Services

Working in a team setting is almost inevitable in today’s corporate culture. Therefore, it is incredibly important to understand group dynamics and how your interactions impact the effectiveness of the group. There are steps you can take to improve your own communication and teamwork!

Do you remember all of those CLC (Collaborative Learning Communities) groups during your degree program at Grand Canyon University? You may have loved it or you may have rolled your eyes and sighed. Either way, those groups were intentional in an effort to prepare you to work with others in a professional setting.

Group work can be incredibly valuable by offering diverse knowledge, opinions, ideas, and creativity. However, it can also pose many challenges via varying communication styles, people who are too pushy, and people who remain silent. Everyone has different styles, so it is extremely important to not only understand your own style, but also how to read, interpret, and adjust to other styles.

There are many ways to grow in this area including your own observations and reflections, but there are also a number of tools out there to help you. For example, the DISC Profile assessment is a common one among corporations and can be used to identify effective vs. ineffective ways of communicating and working with others based on personalities and innate traits. Check with your manager and/or training and development team to see what assessments your organization may already have access to and wouldn’t need to spend extra money to gain. Plus, the extra step of initiative will always look good! You could even include that in your resume as a way to help your team or department improve its efficiency.

Remember, GCU Career Services is here for you! Stop by our office in Saguaro Hall or call 602-639-6606 to connect. Or, you can visit www.gcu.edu/careerservices to utilize any of our online tools to identify your career path, build your resume, research career options or apply to current job postings! 

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By Marette Hahn
GCU Career Services

How many times have you taken advantage of your organization’s professional development opportunities? Or passed over those emails and deleted them in order to move on to more pressing ones? Or maybe said “Someday, when I have time …” Stop! Carve out some time to contribute to your own career development.

You’re busy. You’re overworked. You have no time to think about dinner tonight much less taking an hour or two of your workday for a professional development opportunity. Or maybe you’d even have to participate in training outside of work hours. Who has time for that?

What is important to remember, however, is that this is a marathon – your career is over a long time span, and your overall performance depends on all the little things you do along the way. A marathoner couldn’t run a long-distance race without putting in the work, and the same is true for your career.

When professional development opportunities are offered through your organization, those are great occasions to not only develop yourself, but also network with other people across the organization, build allies in other departments, and learn new skills. These training opportunities set a great foundation (along with your own personal professional development work), to set yourself up and be ready for a promotion when the opportunity arises. After all, luck is just preparation meeting opportunity – you have to be ready! Now is the time to invest in your career!

Remember, GCU Career Services is here for you! Stop by our office in Saguaro Hall or call 602-639-6606 to connect. Or you can visit www.gcu.edu/careerservices to utilize any of our online tools to identify your career path, build your resume, research career options or apply to current job postings! 

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By Marette Hahn
GCU Career Services

If you’ve ever needed proof that effort is the key, look no further than Mary Petree, senior Psychology student and September’s Student Worker of the Month. As a Junior Enrollment Counselor in Tempe, Petree personifies the ideal work ethic everyone can learn from.

“I love studying the brain, I love studying human behavior — it’s really interesting to me. I love the classes, I don’t think there’s really any class I don’t enjoy here,” Petree said.

Mary Petree

As a psychology major with aspirations to move on to an Industrial/Organizational Psychology graduate program, Petree is already applying what she’s learning to her student worker position.

“We talk with possible students and students a lot, so knowing how the brain works and taking a couple of counseling classes, it helps me know how to talk with them and understand where they’re coming from,” she said.

And understand where they’re coming from, she does! Petree is already averaging 10 appointments per month and has even enrolled six students as a result of her efforts – she performs as if she already has five years of experience. According to her nominator, Dan Slover, RDO of the Northeast Region, you would think she’s already a seasoned counselor.

Between her enrollment performance and going above and beyond helping Slover with numerous projects, Petree is recognized for giving it her all. Petree said she was raised to give 110% no matter what she’s doing by her parents who really pushed her to be her best. Additionally, she has watched all of the counselors at Tempe work hard and continue inspiring her to put in the extra effort.

With a strong family base — including her local grandmother, whom she loves to visit — a work ethic instilled in her by her parents, and her ability to flourish at GCU, Petree exemplifies what it means to work hard in school, apply what you’re learning in a student worker position, and (hopefully) have that lead to a prosperous career!

We look forward to watching you shine, Mary!

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Panelists in the Thrive Conference Wednesday included (from left) Holly Betenbough, Rick Betenbough, Dr. Kevin Leman and Dennis O’Reilly.

By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

Ears were perked and business cards were dealt out like cards as a few hundred entrepreneurs and family business owners gathered Wednesday at Grand Canyon University Arena for the Thrive Family Business Conference.

Hosted by Intentional Living Center president, author and radio personality Dr. Randy Carlson, Wednesday’s daylong presentation featured a half-dozen speakers, more than a dozen video presentations, guest panels and interactive Q-and-A sessions with successful family business entrepreneurs of faith.

The day’s focus revolved around helping the audience navigate the dozens of challenges (large and small) entrepreneurs and small businesses encounter. Both GCU President Brian Mueller and Colangelo College of Business namesake Jerry Colangelo shared their passions for entrepreneurship and how to navigate the realms of uncertainty in building an organization from the very beginning — whether in education, sports or otherwise.

“You learn much more from failure and losses than the wins,” Colangelo said. “Out of adversity comes opportunity.”

Dr. Randy Carlson (left) speaks with Jerry Colangelo, namesake of the Colangelo College of Business.

The day concluded with an entertaining and informative panel of four guests: Rick and Holly Betenbough, a husband-and-wife team who’ve built a successful housing development business in west Texas; Dr. Kevin Leman, a psychologist, author and creator of the Leman Academy of Excellence, tuition-free, K-7 charter schools throughout the Tucson area; and his son-in-law, Dennis O’Reilly, the head of school for the academy.

With five daughters — one of whom is in charge of more than 20 traditional schools around Tucson — dynamics between parents and children and business and family is a daily dynamic with the Leman family tree. And sometimes its success is easier said than done.

“It’s the school of ‘excellence,’ not perfection,” Leman said. “Your business needs to be a fun place where people and (employees) feel part of your mission.”

Many in attendance shared similar missions and goals. The information overload and thought-provoking concepts were too numerous to keep track of in an eight-hour time frame, but plenty in attendance found plenty of information worthy of reflection.

“I’m not a big sports person, but I knew the Colangelo name,” said Wendy Avant, who recently left the corporate world after 20 years to begin her own home business in Tucson. “He was fantastic.”

The 45-minute panel concluded the day’s events with discussions on everything from tithing, successor and estate planning, communication with family between business and personal, work-life priorities and “opportunity” vs. passion.

“Provisions is a terrible reason to do anything,” Rick Betenbough said. “Passion-less work is a disaster.”

For several in attendance, both Colangelo’s and Mueller’s speeches resonated with attendees. This was partially because of the “entrepreneurial spirit” they both emphasized as being part of GCU’s values, and partially because of the illustrious careers and leadership of both Mueller and Colangelo.

“I wanted to be in charge and decide things on my own terms through God,” said James Sizemore, who also left the corporate world after a decade to start his own business in Phoenix. “You learn so much from these speakers. Everyone’s journey is different, but there will always be a lot of similarities among us.”

Mark Heller can be reached at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

There is no substitute for real-world experience, and Grand Canyon University students have several opportunities to hand out (and lengthen) resumés and improve interview skills during the next month.

Following the recent Counseling and Practicum Fair in partnership with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Career Impact Center is collaborating with the College of Science, Engineering and Technology to offer another event for GCU students.

The IT Career Consortium is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, outside Building 57 and will feature companies from the information technology and computer science industries. Students will be able to discuss both job and internship opportunities with the recruiters at the event.

GCU Career Impact Center Executive Director Jacqueline Smith advises students to take advantage of the opportunity to interact with employers.

“Dress professionally, bring resumés, have confidence and be well-spoken,” she said. “You’ll be one step closer toward landing a job.

“That’s what it’s all about: networking, networking and more networking.”

Smith called next week’s career fair a “first step” in creating a pipeline between GCU students/graduates and Valley companies looking to hire for computer, technology, math and science positions.

“There are many positions within the CSET and STEM fields thathaven’t been created yet,” Smith said. “Our students are prepared for these roles because they are creative, passionate, inquisitive, able to think critically and make a great first impression.”

She encouraged other GCU colleges to contact the Career Impact Center to help set up career fairs and promote job/internship opportunities. She also encouraged students to seek out the Career Impact Center for job and internship resources, including many available on-campus positions, where a “safe to fail” environment is fostered vs. the often harsh real world.

“We provide resumé reviews and mock interviews, but (job fairs) are more impactful,” Smith said. “We don’t want to wait until students are ready to graduate before introducing them to employers. We want those relationships and great resources available to anyone who’s motivated, professional and ambitious.”

The Career Impact Center has quite a few events lined up for the remainder of the semester and academic year, including:

• GCU Wants to Hire You is a job fair in collaboration with the GCU Human Resources department for future graduates and recent alumni interested in working for the University. This event will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Career Impact Center office, located inside Saguaro Hall (Building 46).
• More than 150 organizations will be on the Promenade for the annual Career Week Job/Internship Fair from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. March 2.

Individual companies also will be on campus throughout November looking to hire full-time, part-time and internship positions, including:

• Nov. 1-2: Enterprise
• Nov. 7: Edward Jones
• Nov. 8: Hubbard Family Swim School
• Nov. 9: U.S. Bureau of Prisons
• Nov. 14: Dish Network
• Nov. 15-16: USAA
• Nov. 28: Northwestern Mutual
• Nov. 29: CenturyLink
• Nov. 30: Drury Hotels

For more information about events and job fairs, refer to the Career Impact Center website.

Mark Heller can be reached at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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Joey Marranca displays Student Worker of the Month certificate.

By Marette Hahn
Career IMPACT Center

Joey Marranca is a perfect illustration of finding and living one’s purpose from the beginning, and he’s also the Career IMPACT Center’s Student Worker of the Month for October.

An avid student of anatomy since he was 4 (yes, 4), Joey is a senior studying Biology with an Emphasis in Pre-Physician Assistant and is a default call representative in the Office of Financial Aid (OFA). No matter what he does, Joey’s enthusiasm is contagious, and he exemplifies Grand Canyon University’s mission, vision and values.

Yes, Joey really has been studying anatomy textbooks since he was a toddler; he was influenced greatly by the example of his father, a P.A. at the Mayo Clinic here in Arizona. While he says his father’s career did not impact his decision to become a P.A., it did positively reinforce what he already loved. He even had a chance to scrub in and open a chest cavity!

Joey’s goal is to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, and he is well on his way with summers of being an intern and an assistant at the Mayo Clinic, as a member of GCU’s AzHOSA, and doing well in his major.

Not surprisingly, his homework load is heavy, but he still finds a way to balance schoolwork with working in OFA, playing intramural sports such as kickball, flag football and basketball, and even had a stint on the GCU bowling team.

“Joey is a quick learner and eager to do well. He is a natural caring and friendly individual, and he has adopted the principles of patience, tolerance and generosity” says Elise Williams, his supervisor in OFA.

It all started when Joey attended concerts, basketball games and a Discover GCU event as a high schooler. He knew he wanted to attend a Christian university, and GCU definitely fit the bill for him. In his time here at GCU, Joey has adapted and embodied GCU’s principles, and there’s no doubt he’ll be a shining star in the health care industry.

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By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

Your mission: Eat cookies.

Their mission: Change lives.

Mission Cookies raise money for the Phoenix Rescue Mission.

Near the cash registers at convenience stores inside The Grid, Chaparral and Juniper is a display setup of Mission Cookies: individually wrapped cookies made in central Phoenix and shipped weekly for sale at Grand Canyon University (among other places).

These cookies are made by adults learning a new vocation as part of their transition from a life of dire circumstance (homelessness, domestic violence, drug addiction) toward receiving a second (or third) lease through the Phoenix Rescue Mission.

The making, baking, marketing and distribution of Mission Possible cookies is all done by Rescue Mission clients.

Zach Casavant, director of marketing and communications for Sodexo and GCU Dining, said 100 percent of the approximately $700 weekly cookie sales at GCU go back to the Rescue Mission’s career transition and vocational programs for women in need.

“It’s been a great partnership with us,” said Kathy Cocca, the Phoenix Rescue Mission’s executive project manager. “We developed a food service vocational track so they could enter as a manager or assistant manager and move up from there. It helps us train and provide not just livable wage jobs but new long-term career paths.”

It’s not the only one. As part of required clinical rotations within several degree programs, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions students make regular trips to the Rescue Mission (among several other Valley locations) to work with transitioning adults while providing free exams, education and other health care.

Thanks to curriculum changes before the start of this school year, twice-weekly rotations now last 10 weeks. But what used to be a group of 16 students per rotation is now 32 students to accommodate demand within CONHCP, increase exposure for students and further the “community care” emphasis within CONHCP.

“We play a vital role in their business needs, and they’re providing the experience for our nurses and education,” said Heather Ziemianski, CONHCP clinical operations administrator. “Community is the direction that health care is moving, and students can glean this and find there’s more to health care than just being in a hospital.”

Similar partnerships are in the works between CONHCP and Circle the City, while the Phoenix Rescue Mission recently expanded its cookie operation to include weekly delivery services to campus (and beyond) when ordered through GiftCookies.com; for example, parents wish to send cookies or a care package to GCU students. A re-branding and re-packaging marketing effort is also in the works.

The Phoenix Rescue Mission is one of many community partnerships with GCU, and the Mission Cookies are the most delicious.

“It’s been extremely well-received,” Casavant said of cookie sales. “It’s a great and powerful way to help the homeless and others directly change their lives for the better, all by eating cookies.”

Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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By Marette Hahn
GCU Career IMPACT Center

We’ve all had them: coworkers, friends, family members and others who are drastically different than us and sometimes difficult for us to handle.

But what was it our wise mentors always used to say? “It takes all kinds to make the world go ’round.” In many ways, this old adage is true, and by understanding more about yourself and those around you, you really can make it easier to get along in the workplace (and produce results).

Could you imagine how ineffective a team would be if everyone on it thought the exact same way and had the exact same strengths? Nothing would get done! Therefore, it’s time to embrace those with whom you work, even if your personalities are vastly different and sometimes difficult to reconcile.

Invest in an opportunity to get to know yourself better. (Ask a trusted colleague or mentor, take a personality assessment, research personalities, work with a life/career coach, etc.). Then, consider what someone opposite of you might be like and what kinds of strengths they can bring to a team.

For example, you might be a fantastic visionary – a great idea person! But then there’s someone else on your team who has a difficult time seeing the vision and gets hung up on the details. Perhaps this is where the struggle festers. In this type of situation, take the time to step back and consider how this person can contribute to the team in a way you might not be able to – for example, taking the vision and breaking it down into actionable steps (the details).

Each person is unique and has great skills, insights and abilities to bring to a team environment. It sometimes might be difficult to communicate with certain people on your team, but that’s where getting to know yourself better and then considering how other people might function can really help you come together for a common cause and aid in your own personal development. As our Career IMPACT Center executive director, Jacqueline Smith, likes to say: “No one’s as smart as all of us!”

Remember, the GCU Career IMPACT Center is here for you!  Stop by our office in Saguaro Hall or call (602) 639-6606 to connect.  Or you can visit www.gcu.edu/careerservices to utilize any of our online tools to identify your career path, build your resume, research career options or apply to current job postings! 

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By Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

Whether answering phones, serving meals, updating records, promoting Grand Canyon University to prospective freshmen or doing hundreds of other tasks, student workers are an essential part of GCU.

A recent ARC student worker poster entry

Student Worker Appreciation Week, which honors the more than 2,400 students who perform essential functions for more than 50 campus departments, begins Wednesday. The theme is “Our Student Workers Make an IMPACT,’’ and IMPACT stands for inspire, motivate, prepare, apply, connect and transform.

“They transform us by working alongside us and transform themselves by being student workers,” said Alexa Wennet, employee outreach supervisor.

This year also marks the start of a new show of appreciation, Wennet said — a $2,500 scholarship that will be awarded during the men’s basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 17, against San Diego Christian College.

“At GCU, we have always emphasized that being a student comes first, so it is an amazing opportunity to reward one of our student workers for their dedication not just to their job, but to their academics as well,” said Katalina Inzunza Herrera, student employment assistant.

“Popcorn and Pop” events are scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday and Thursday at 27th Avenue and 9 a.m.-noon Friday and Tuesday, Jan. 17 at the Student Union Promenade on the main campus. Thunder will pay a visit, and student workers will have a chance to sign a giant banner.

“It’s great to see how this event has grown and become a weeklong event celebrating the impact our student workers have made here,” Wennet said.

This year’s poster announcing the event.

Appreciation Week continues on the Quad from 5:30-6:30 Tuesday, Jan. 17. Havocs will provide face painting for students in preparation the basketball game.

“We will be hanging with the Havocs,” Wennet said. “There will be time to celebrate everything we have done.”

Student workers also will compete in a poster contest, and the top entries will be featured on the court at halftime of the game.  The audience will choose the winner, and the winning department will be awarded a pizza party, Wennet said.

“The poster contest has always been a huge success,” said Bianca Shaw, student employment administrator. “I love seeing all the enthusiasm and pride the student workers and their managers have.”

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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Story and photos by Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

Austin Walker admitted to a little envy toward his audience: students he once was.

A couple of years ago, Walker was a Grand Canyon University student. He would have been one of the nearly 300 students who listened to members of the Arizona Diamondbacks sales staff speak Thursday morning about career opportunities, networking and getting a foot in the door.

Austin Walker, a 2015 GCU graduate who now works for the Arizona Diamondbacks as coordinator of group events and hospitality, speaks to a class of Colangelo College of Business students Thursday morning.

While the Sports Business program within the Colangelo College of Business quickly rose to prominence, Walker used volunteer work and internships during college to help land a full-time job as the D-backs’ group events and hospitality coordinator after graduating in 2015.

Two years later, Walker is a speaker instead of listener.

“It’s fun to speak to people who have a blank slate and help them invest in their career paths,” he said.

He and his co-workers shared their backgrounds, career advice and business insights with more than 300 CCOB students. During the two sessions, Walker was joined by fellow Diamondbacks teammates:

• Ryan Holmstedt: senior director for ticket sales
• Anthony Synegal: director of group events and hospitality
• Luis Calderon: senior manager of ticket operations
• Mike Dellosa: director of season ticket and inside sales

“The other side of this is that word is getting out to companies about us,” said Dr. Brian Smith, CCOB assistant dean and director of the Colangelo School of Sports Business. “Hard workers, dependable, spirited.”

Anthony Synegal explains what he does as director of group events and hospitality for the D-backs.

Afterward, the five guests were swarmed by students interested in networking, asking questions, sharing business cards and possible aspirations.

“They need to know everyone’s path will be different from everyone else, but these events are essential for students getting their names and faces out there. It’s why LinkedIn is such an important tool,” Dellosa said. “But it’s a huge help on our side in terms of internships and hiring for many of the same reasons.”

Like all other CCOB initiatives, the three major emphases of education, experience and relationships was at the core of Thursday’s presentations. It’s what Smith called the “intersection of their highest and most employable selves.”

Important initiatives because, as Dellosa noted, Walker is one of several current or former GCU students hired in recent years by the Diamondbacks – and other Valley sports franchises — for internships and jobs.

That includes Walker, who worked himself into the crossroads of employability and opportunity in 2015 and wants to do his part in helping each class thereafter.

“Being two years out (of school) and able to relate to them is priceless,” Walker said. “Whether it’s the Sports Business Club, volunteering, guest speakers, these can set (students) up for more success than me,” Walker said. “In some ways I’m jealous but happy to pay it forward.”

Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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By Marette Hahn
Career IMPACT Center

The Student Worker of the Month, Danielle Keller, is the epitome of what it means to have that role at Grand Canyon University.

Danielle Keller

As a freshman, Danielle attended the Career IMPACT Center’s Student Worker Job Fair and got connected with the library and Nita Mailander, director of library services. Danielle was so impressive in her interview that she was offered a position as a library assistant on the spot.

Now a junior biology pre-medicine major, Danielle has spent the last few years assisting students from undergraduate studies through doctoral programs with APA formatting, research and utilizing the library’s resources. She credits this position with helping her build her patience, people skills and ability to alleviate frustrations and also to make students comfortable, which will be immensely helpful in the health care field.

In addition to her experience in the library, Danielle also has an internship with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society helping with events, connecting with businesses and sponsors, and doing other office duties.

These experiences along with her excellent academic record will hopefully propel her into an amazing physician assistant program and ultimately make her a fantastic health care professional.

“Danielle makes it her mission to not only know the information, but to understand the information. By doing this she instills trust and respect with the students she is helping. They know they are being helped by someone knowledgeable,” Mailander said.

Sounds like a great mindset for a health care professional! Best of luck to you, Danielle!

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By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

All you have to do is ask.

It’s how Lance Barrow began his nearly 40-year career in television. When he was 18, he randomly walked up to some ABC employees before a golf tournament and asked if he could help in any way.

Lance Barrow urged CCOB students to be aggressive in seeking career opportunities. (Photo by Mark Heller)

It paid off. Barrow has been with CBS since the late 1970s and has been coordinating producer for CBS Sports’ NFL and PGA Tour golf coverage since 1997. He was in Scottsdale over the weekend overseeing the network’s coverage of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

But he first paid a visit to Grand Canyon University’s “Introduction to Sports Business” class in the Colangelo College of Business on Friday afternoon for 90 minutes of humorous stories, advice, a Q-and-A and more.

True to his message, he spent the final 30 minutes of class answering students’ questions about making their own inroads into sports business ventures, from TV to working for leagues, teams or apparel companies, and then stayed after as nearly a dozen students introduced themselves.

“All you have to do is walk up to someone and ask,” he said. “Ask the question. Ask questions, and a lot of times you’re going to hear ‘no,’ then keep going if you want that opportunity.”

Barrow worked a variety of random jobs for TV networks beginning in his college days at Abilene Christian University in Texas in the mid-1970s. That first golf tournament “duty” led to a couple more, and by the time he graduated he’d shuttled his way around the country helping TV coverage of weekly NFL games, Super Bowls and golf tournaments before being back in class on Monday afternoons.

“The first thing you have to do is start somewhere,” he said. “It’s like driving a car. You start the car before you shift gears and put your foot on the pedals.”

Keenly aware his rise through CBS was atypical in many ways, Barrow used self-deprecating humor and several examples of current/former colleagues who took arduous and windier career paths. But his journey still featured many of the commonalities found in most professions,  especially those in sports and business:

• Ask questions.
• Keep knocking.
• Be willing and prepared to do anything.
• Show up and say “yes.”

Those messages are commonplace wherever Barrow goes for his 25-30 speaking engagements per year. Although Friday was his first foray onto GCU’s campus, both the walk to class and figurative structures put into place by GCU and CCOB left Barrow convinced the burning ears who listened to him already are ahead of the game in future employment success.

All they need to do is ask for a chance and walk through when a door opens.

“Almost any university has structures in place, but here you have one of the most powerful people involved in sports anywhere (Jerry Colangelo) and a popular former NBA player (men’s basketball coach Dan Majerle),” Barrow said afterward. “Those are two great places to start.”

Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

A dozen Colangelo College of Business students and recent graduates of Grand Canyon University got the chance of a lifetime last weekend: They assisted with course management, event operations and media relations at the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. 

Junior JP Saar and 2014 Sports Management graduate Grant Zapara both shadowed PGA Tour radio broadcasters for an up-close-and-personal view into the world of sports broadcasting and event operations.

Saar went inside the ropes and drove the cart so Fred Albers could provide play-by-play for eight hours during each of the four tournament days for Sirius/XM radio.

“It was unbelievable, a perfect opportunity,” he said.

Zapara was with former LPGA Tour winner-turned-broadcaster Jane Crafter.

“It was an incredible experience,” he said. “One of the best weekends of my life.”

Beyond the many photos and videos each took for their own personal collections, plus being shoulder-to-shoulder next to the best golfers in the world, there was much to observe and learn through on-the-course training.

Saar was told growing up he had a broadcaster’s voice to complement his many opinions. He also helps out with intramural sports and GCU.TV. He picked up a few nuances on decorum and what to say and not to say as he learned where to position yourself as a broadcaster.

“It was about what I expected, but you can always learn something from the broadcasts and the ways they do things,” he said.

As with their 10 other peers, the weekend also allowed students to work with the same professionals all four days, an important component whenever possible toward future opportunities.

“(Crafter) was extremely nice, and I learned a lot about what happens behind the scenes of golf tournaments,” Zapara said. “Most of the broadcasters said in order to really get your foot into the sports world you have to be able to pick up the phone and call someone that you may know.”

Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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The Promenade was jammed Thursday as 200 companies turned out for the annual job fair.

By Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau

All it took was one look up the Promenade at Grand Canyon University on Thursday to see how much of an impact the Career IMPACT Center is having.

Tables for approximately 200 businesses lined the walkway for the job fair that highlights the annual Career Week at GCU. It was GCU’s biggest job fair ever — the line stretched all the way from the front of campus to the Student Union for two hours as students got a chance to meet industry professionals and set up job interviews.

There were tables set up for the length of the Promenade for the job fair.

IMPACT stands for Inspire, Motivate, Prepare, Apply, Connect and Transform, and the Center’s executive director, Jacqueline Smith, said there’s a simple reason why the confluence of those ideals drove up the number of visiting companies from 150 the year before: “As companies get to know us, they want to be on campus to meet our students.”

The employers came from as far away as Tucson. Smith said that David Schneider of the Tucson Police Department called it “the best job fair out of all the college job fairs we’ve been to.”

Jennifer Garcia, talent acquisition manager for Enterprise Holdings, the parent company of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, brought with her three 2016 GCU alumni who have gone to work for the company — Matthew Craft, Michele McDonald and Noah Schwab — and a current student, Spencer Elliott, who is a management intern.

“GCU is really friendly and easy to work with,” Garcia said. “I really enjoyed it.”

Employers have made it clear that they very much want to meet GCU students.

There are two other reasons why the job fair was so well-attended: It’s free, and the Career IMPACT Center is seeing the fruits of its “Companies on Campus” program, which brings employers into the Student Union every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Having them right in front of the students facilitates connections, even if students didn’t know about the event. “Students say, ‘Oh my gosh,’ we have all these opportunities,” Smith said.

And the impact didn’t stop with the job fair. There also were private interview rooms provided to the companies and their prospects, both during the fair and afterward. Those rooms will be available into next week.

A Vanguard representative even met with members of GCU’s Economics and Finance Club on Wednesday.

GCU is a big employer, too, of course, and Career Week will conclude Wednesday with “GCU Wants to Hire You.” From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Career IMPACT Center in Saguaro Hall, hiring managers and Human Resources staffers will be available to meet with students. No RSVP is required.

Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.

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The Canyon 49 Grill concession stand is a new feature at Milwaukee Brewers spring training games this year. GCU students are cooking BBQ burgers and homemade potato chips.

Story and photos by Laurie Merrill
GCU News Bureau

“Lemonade, lemonade, just like grandma made!”

“Italian Ice, get your sweet treat here!’’

The cries of hawkers peddling refreshments are as familiar at baseball games as the thwack of bat on ball. But this year at spring training, there’s a new barker’s call during Milwaukee Brewers games at Maryvale Baseball Park: “Burgers, get your burgers, heeere!”

It’s an enthusiastic invitation issued by Grand Canyon University students and staff to sink your teeth into a barbecued burger and homemade potato chips at the new Canyon 49 Grill concession stand.

Sure, you have to walk past other savory offerings to get to the last booth on the left-field side and purchase a secret sauce-smothered burger covered with fried onions on a fresh pretzel roll.

But the walk is good for you, the payoff worth it, and, besides, now you don’t have to disappoint GCU students, such as sophomore Justin Castro, tasked with directing the hungry toward a purple-and-white version of hamburger heaven. 

Castro’s post by the entrance is ideal for him. “I love baseball,” he said.

Canyon 49 Grill BBQ Burgers, complete with secret sauce, are newly available at Brewers games.

New GCU-Brewers partnership

The stadium spinoff of the Canyon 49 Grill, located in the Grand Canyon University Hotel at 27th Avenue and Camelback Road, is the result of a new partnership between the Brewers and GCU’s Colangelo College of Business.

The other byproduct is that dozens of GCU students ─ many of them sports-loving Havocs and/or Hospitality Management majors ─ work behind the counters of nearly every concession stand at the park.

“It’s a great way to show the high energy and unadulterated fun that GCU represents,” said prep cook Henry Hurd, who was flipping burgers and managing a team of student workers.

Eighty-seven GCU students were hired for the part-time concession jobs during the first year of the partnership, said Mike Charles, Canyon 49 Grill food services supervisor. About 36 were working during a recent home game, and the big smiles of the students seemed to be everywhere.

“They’re doing great,” Charles said. “It’s nice when you walk into a concession stand and walk into a nice face.”

BBQ burger love

The burgers were a smash hit with baseball-loving Phoenix visitors such as Sue and Dennis Edwards, Milwaukee fans from Rhinelander, Wis.

“They are wonderful,” Sue said.

Ballpark supervisor Crystal Turco said she had been fasting from meat but couldn’t resist a burger. 

“I think I’m hooked,” she said. “I’m in love with this burger right now.”

The flavor explosion stems from the sauce, the secret recipe of GCU Executive Chef Kevin Walton‘s grandmother, and the freshly fried potato chips. 

Stadium managers are thrilled with their newest employees, said Brett Cortright, manager of the Canyon 49 Grill and GCU Hotel.

“When an elderly person places a large order, they will come from behind the counter and walk the order back to their seats for them,” Cortright said. “That really hit home for me.” 

For their part, the Lopes manning the booths pinch themselves about getting paid to watch spring training games.

“I’m a Diamondbacks fan, but I like the Brewers just fine,” said Daniel Liguori, who is earning a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on Strategic Human Resources Management.

Emily Hays, who is working toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling with an emphasis on Addiction, Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse, said that while the Brewers are an interesting diversion, her true passion lies with basketball ─ particularly the GCU men’s basketball team.

“The Havocs are so much fun,” she said. “Everyone paints themselves purple, and there’s music and we all dance. The team is fantastic this year. They did amazing.”

But it’s all baseball all the time for Allison Swales, who is earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education. Though admittedly a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, she is enthusiastic about the Brewers, too. 

“I come from a baseball family. My brother is a pitcher in high school,” she said. “I love the atmosphere. I personally love making connections with customers and talking to them. This is just a really great opportunity.” 

The Brewers play at Maryvale six times in the next nine days, including Friday and Saturday.

Contact Laurie Merrill at (602) 639-6511 or laurie.merrill@gcu.edu.

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By Mark Heller
GCU News Bureau

Three years ago, Cyone Batiste was a student at Louisiana State University listening to speakers drone on with career advice.

She was interested in marketing but “didn’t know a touchdown from a layup” when it came to sports. However, LSU needed student volunteers at athletic events, and she signed up to help get her foot in a door, any door.

Cyone Batiste tells Colangelo School of Sports Business students about the importance of volunteering for whatever role they can get in the sports world.

The LSU volunteer roles led to two unpaid internships, and the 25-year-old parlayed her work ethic into one of the few jobs available with the local NCAA Final Four organizing committee. Thursday afternoon, she used that anecdote to stress the importance of volunteering and internships (paid or unpaid) to Colangelo School of Sports Business students at Grand Canyon University.

“People saw initiative, showing up and working hard,” she said afterward. “Everyone wants jobs but doesn’t always want to put the work in, and at LSU it meant a lot of days and games other than football.”

This is Batiste’s second year as marketing and community manager for the Final Four’s local organizing committee. She spent last year living and working in Houston for the 2016 Final Four.

The 25-year-old shared a litany of events happening in the days before and between the April 1 semifinals and April 3 championship games. It means there are numerous ways students can get involved with a wide range of events at GCU Arena (slam dunk and 3-point shooting contests), University of Phoenix Stadium and downtown Phoenix.

Each is a chance to make an impact and leave an impression.

“If you want to work in sports, there’s no reason not to go and play a part,” said Dr. Brian Smith, director of the Colangelo School of Sports Business.

There’s no shortage of opportunities or events, such as the restoration of Harmon Park, the March Madness Music Festival (headlined by Aerosmith on April 2) and helping with crowd control or customer service for visitors. More than 3,000 volunteers are needed to help run the Final Four, and college students can receive a few extra perks in the process.

“You can really make this as much as you want to make it, whether it’s the bare minimum or reaching for the stars,” Batiste said.

The 2017 Final Four will be the first to come this far west since Seattle hosted in 1995, and with so many basketball and non-basketball opportunities coming, Batiste reminded the classes that someone will be watching.

It’s why she’s doing what she does.

“They called me, they sought me out because of recommendations and initiative,” she said. “To get one (job) you have to do others.”

Contact Mark Heller at (602) 639-7516 or mark.heller@gcu.edu

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By Marette Hahn
Career IMPACT Center

For a shining example of a servant leader, look no further than Donald Finch Jr., a quality assurance (QA) specialist in Technical Support who is the Student Worker of the Month for March.

From mentoring new hires to creating new documents and processes to creating fun videos in his free time to help the team relax, Donald “has become one of our success stories. He is humble, hard-working and has a caring spirit,” said his hiring manager, Cat Lena.

Donald Finch Jr.

A junior Justice Studies major, Donald is aiming to become a prosecution lawyer, perhaps even as a District Attorney someday. He enjoys his major because his professors truly make the learning practical by providing hands-on learning and lightening the mood with funny jokes.

Donald definitely understands the value in being a student worker, too. He said his experiences as a golf instructor and math tutor for an elementary school and a library intern at his high school, combined with his time in Technical Support, have helped him hone skills relevant to becoming a lawyer.

“Being in QA has definitely helped me improve my critical thinking in terms of what to look for in the QA call and how it can be applied, which I’ll need to do as a lawyer,” he said.

His various roles also have helped him develop strong communication, organization and presentation skills, which he definitely will need in his career.

The truly humble person that he is, Donald would like to thank his hiring managers — Lena, Carlos Navar and Jovan Lee — for being so nice and for making QA so enjoyable. Best of luck to you, Donald!

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By Marette Hahn
Career IMPACT Center

With a dazzling, ear-to-ear smile and a work ethic second to none, first-semester senior Rich Martinez, a facilities housing team member assistant, is April’s Student Worker of the Month.

Rich Martinez

The Business Management major continually brings his positive attitude and energy to his role in ensuring the cleanliness and safety of GCU’s housing facilities. Balancing class, intramural sports, working out and homework, Rich approaches his student worker position with passion and energy and focuses on building relationships with full-time staff and his fellow student workers. Sports-minded as he is, Rich approaches everything as a team.

Johnny “Ralph” Niebel, the facilities manager, nominated Rich because he “takes the time to go above and beyond to assist with tasks. … Every day at facilities is different, and Rich is always up for new challenges. He is always ready to help with anything and to take on new tasks.”

Rich is from a small town in Nevada and wanted to go somewhere new so he could really be himself. He explained that he has changed and grown a lot since coming to GCU and attributes this to the people he has gotten to know in his time here. “Johnny always preaches one thing – God first, family second and I’m third,” he said, noting that Johnny also reminds him that he is a student first, so his academics are a top priority.

When he’s not admiring planes (he hopes to someday work for Boeing Military Aircrafting or Northrop Grumman), working, or doing homework, Rich is playing intramural beach volleyball and intramural soccer. A three-sport athlete in high school, Rich thoroughly enjoys the competition – all with one of the biggest smiles you’ve ever seen.

Rich appreciates the opportunity given to him through his connections. He thanks his aunt, Miriam Acero, HRSC representative, and Johnny and his team for giving him the opportunity to work and grow in his role.

As Johnny said, “Rich is an extraordinary individual and servant leader. … It is truly an honor to have a young man like Rich in our department.” And we would like to add that it is an honor to have you here at GCU, Rich! Thank you for your hard work and service!

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