the sports issue - university of phoenix · the sports issue whether they are watching the games in...

THE SPORTS ISSUE

Celebrating the Summer Olympics

What your sport says about you

Step up your game with a career coach

Julius Achon, BSB/COM-CC ’11Ugandan runner and two-time Olympian Portland, Oregon

Your Alumni Magazine | June/July 2012

Running forhope

Rosa Sherk | MBA ’08

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

Chief Marketing OfficerArra Yerganian

Vice PresidentKathleen Fern, MBA ’99

Executive Director Nikki Sandoval, MBA ’03

Editorial Director Jenifer King, MBA ’11

Senior Editor Amanda Flatten

Contributing Editor JoBeth Jamison

Features Editor Lee Jonsson

Senior Writer Julie Wilson

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Online Community Manager Amy Wilson

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sports

As a young girl, I loved soccer. If I close my eyes, I can still see myself playing in the big championship game on a professional field, awestruck by the sheer size of it. Soccer opened my eyes to what’s possible when you work hard and collaborate as a team.

Today I’m a proud soccer mom. My son plays in a competitive soccer league, and I watch him and his teammates struggle to learn the same lessons I did about teamwork.

During a recent game, some of the kids didn’t pass the ball at all, but instead tried to earn victory alone. The coach asked these children why they did that—didn’t they trust their own teammates? Then I realized that I do that myself, from time to time, in my career. I was reminded that we all need to have that level of trust in our teammates if we want to win, whether it’s in sports or on the job.

After all these years, I’m still learning lessons from the soccer field.

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

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Are you a good teammate?

Phoenix Focus wins 2012 IABC Phoenix Copper Quill Award of Excellence in the Magazine category.

Career tip of the month “When it gets to that part of the interview with your future boss where they ask, ‘Well, do you have any questions for me?’ say yes, and ask, ‘How do I help you get a gold star on your review next year?’ This bit of advice has helped more people in more interviews than any other bit of advice I’ve shared over the years.”

Marc Cenedella, founder of TheLadders.com

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Ask Nikki

Editorial team

Arra Yerganian Chief Marketing Officer

Kathleen Fern Vice President MBA ’99

Nikki Sandoval Executive Director MBA ’03

Jenifer King Editorial Director MBA ’11

Lee Jonsson Features Editor

Bridget Gutierrez Online Manager

ASK NIKKITHE SPORTS ISSUE

Amanda Flatten Senior Editor

JoBeth Jamison Contributing Editor

Amy Wilson Online Community Manager

Each month, I receive hundreds of emails inquiring about resources available to alumni through University of Phoenix. Here are a few of the more frequently asked questions.

Q: What is the best way to read Phoenix Focus on my iPhone?

A: I’m excited to announce Phoenix Focus now has a free iTunes® app so you can view the latest edition on your iPad® or iPhone®. Some great features in the Phoenix Focus app include:

•TheabilitytodownloadpastissuesofthemagazineandcreateaPhoenix Focus library that you can access online or offline.

•Pushnotificationsalertingyouthatthelatesteditionisavailable.

•LinkstotheAlumniAssociation’sFacebook,TwitterandLinkedInsites.

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To download the free Phoenix Focus app, visit Apple’s iTunes App Store and search for “UOPXAlumni.”TheappwillbeavailableforAndroidusersthisfall.

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A:AsawaytocelebratetheUOPXgraduateseachmonth,Phoenix Focus began offering the graduate listing online starting with the May issue. Currently the graduate list is only offered online. If you would like a print copy, please email your request to [email protected] with “Request grad list” in the subject line.

We recently asked our Facebook followers:

What is your favorite Olympic sport? Here are your top five answers:

1. Track and field2. Swimming3. Diving4. Gymnastics5. Basketball, softball and boxing (three-way tie)

Julie Wilson Senior Writer

New Phoenix Focus app

Use your smartphone to order a print subscription to Phoenix Focus.

6 PHOENIX FOCUS | June/July 2012

contents

9Let the games begin

In celebration of the Summer Olympics in London, this three-part feature explores how a sport becomes Olympic and the significant impact sports have had on people throughout the ages.

10 How a sport becomes Olympic

14 Sports appeal

16 What your sport says about you

Features

28On the cover: Running for hope

Julius Achon, BSB/COM-CC ’11 From running for his life to running for his livelihood and running a children’s charity in his homeland of Uganda, two-time Olympian Julius Achon has come a long way as a survivor, an athlete and a man with a mission.

THE SPORTS ISSUE

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18Your Career

18 Step up your game with a career coach

22 Business lessons from the world of sports

26 Mastering the teleconference

28Alumni Profiles

28 Julius Achon, BSB/COM-CC ’11 Running for hope

32 Tony Colaizzo, BSB/A ’06 Delivering the Olympics to London

36 Gail Marquis, MBA ’06 Forever a champion

40 Wendy Wood, MBA/HCM ’04

41 Tatia Benkonvich, MBA/MKT ’05

42The Buzz

42 Published by alumni 43 Recognition

44Your University

44 University news 45 Campus news 46 Community relations 49 Events

In this issue

CONTENTS


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When our network grows, so does yours.Get connected.

•Expandyoursphereofinfluence.

•Sharecareeradvicewithfellowalumni.

•Findalumnieventsinyourarea.

•Learnbusinessdevelopmenttips.

•Getnewsandinformationthatimpactyou.

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Let the games

In celebration of the upcoming Summer Olympics taking place in London, England, Phoenix Focus devoted this issue to the London Games, and also to the significant impact sports have had on people throughout the ages. Our three-part feature looks at how sports become Olympic, why people are drawn to sports, and what the sport you play reveals about your personality.

beginBelow, far left: Julius Achon represents his country of Uganda in the 1500 meter semi finals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Read Julius’ story on page 28. Photo courtesy International Olympic Committee (2000 Olympics).


MEDAL

THE SPORTS ISSUE

Whether they are watching the Games in stadiums around London or watching on television from their living rooms, people will take part in the dramatic, thrilling, devastating and inspiring moments that are the essence of the Olympics. Here you’ll learn something new about the Summer Olympics, find out how certain sports become Olympic and discover what makes these London Games historic.

How a sport gets into the Olympics In the Olympics, a sport is a sport because it is governed by an International Federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). (There are 28 federations for summer sports.) A discipline is a branch of a sport comprising one or several events. An event is a competition in a sport or discipline that results in a ranking or medals for the athletes.

how a sport becomes

oLympicFrom July 27 through August 12, 2012, people all around the world will be drawn to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

By Manya Chylinski

SPORT DISCIPLINE E VENT

Sport: e.g., The Federation Internationale de Natation (governs swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming)

Discipline: e.g., Diving

SYNCHRONIzED 10M PLATFORM

DIVINGDI V INGAQUATIC S

The word “Olympiad” designates the period of four years between the opening of one edition of the Games and the opening of the following edition.

Event: e.g., Women’s Synchronized 10m Platform Diving

Both the Summer and Winter Games

take place every four years. Since 1992, a period of two years has separated the

Summer and Winter Games.

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FEATURE | How a sport becomes Olympic

London oLympics by the numbers10,500 The number of athletes competing in the 2012 London Games

302 The number of events contested in the 2012 London Games

26 The number of sports represented in the 2012 London Games

1 Only one city, London, has hosted the Summer Olympics three times (1908, 1948, 2012).

Sources: International Olympic Committee and london2012.com

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded in Paris in 1894. It is made up of more than a hundred members and is chaired by a president who is elected for eight years. The IOC is primarily responsible for ensuring that the Olympic Games take place, but also for:

• Promoting sport throughout the world.• Ensuring that sport is played fairly.• Participating in activities to promote peace.• Encouraging cultural exchanges.

The Olympic Charter delineates the primary requirements for including a sport in the Games (Olympic Charter, Rule 45), while leaving wiggle room to give hope to athletes in other sports. The interesting part for athletes and international federations comes from the other factors the IOC considers, the ones that are not listed in the Charter, like universality and appeal, governance and public interest in the sport.


THE SPORTS ISSUE

The sports that are included in each Olympic Games are chosen by the IOC at the same time the host city is selected, seven years prior to those Games. Then the organizing committee for those Games has until three years before the opening ceremonies to decide which disciplines or individual events to include.

• Olympic sports must be practiced by men and women in a designated number of countries and on a designated number of continents.

• Olympic sports must comply with the anti-doping code.

• Olympic sports must not rely on mechanical propulsion. (Water skiing and motorcycle riding would not be allowed in the Olympics, for example.)

Manya Chylinski is a freelance writer in Boston, specializing in education, business and travel.

The Modern Olympic Games, which began in 1896, are called “modern” to differentiate them from the Games organized for more than 1,000 years by the Ancient Greeks.

WEB EXCLUSIVES Visit phoenixfocus.com to explore additional content related to this article.

1. A sport has to be a demonstration sport in at least one Olympiad.

2. The total number of sports in a summer Olympiad cannot exceed 28.

3. The IOC defines the requirements for each sport.

4. An international sport federation must adhere to the World Anti-Doping Code to be part of the Olympics.

5. The number and nature of events is fixed and cannot be changed.

6. The final vote about including a sport is conducted by secret ballot.

7. The total number of athletes who can participate is 10,500.

1. F; 2. T; 3. F; 4. T; 5. F; 6. T; 7. T

How a sport gets into the summer Olympics:

True or False

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The opening of the XXX Olympiad marks the third time the Olympic Games have been in London, and the first time any city has hosted summer Olympic Games in which both women and men compete in every sport.

“This is a historic moment. Historic for women’s boxing and historic for the Olympics. It’s a big deal,” says Christy Halbert, Chair of the Women’s Task Force, USA Boxing and member of the Women’s Commission, Association Internationale de Boxe (AIBA).

Of the 26 sports and 39 disciplines in the London Games, half of them have an equal number of men and women participating. Boxing is not one of those sports: 36 women will compete in three events and 250 men will participate in 10 events this year.

FEATURE | How a sport becomes Olympic

This is a ratio Halbert and others in the boxing community hope will improve in the coming years.

Getting women’s boxing admitted into the Olympic Games was relatively easy. That’s because the sport of boxing was already part of the Olympics. The process Halbert and others in the AIBA went through was to add new events—women’s events—to an existing sport.

“This is an encouraging step,” says Halbert. “Everyone is included from here on out. We still have a ways to go, but adding events like women’s Olympic boxing gives legitimacy and credibility to the pursuit of sports for all women. I hope that with women’s boxing being added to the Games, it opens more doors for more athletes.”

“This is a historic moment. Historic for women’s boxing and historic for the Olympics. It’s a big deal.” Christy Halbert, Chair of the Women’s Task Force, USA Boxing and member of the Women’s Commission, Association Internationale de Boxe (AIBA)

London makes history


The allure of sports, it seems, is universal and timeless. References to athletics appear in Homer’s The Odyssey, in Greek stelae and in ancient Roman mosaics. But what drives people to move, to challenge themselves physically, to compete?

The athletic imperative David G. McComb, emeritus history professor at Colorado State University and author of Sports in World History, contends that people are driven to move because of their inherent athletic imperative. “Human beings are built for motion,” he explains. “We are animals that are meant to move from the very beginning. That’s what babies are all about—learning to move, coordinating, walking and then running.”

Orange County sports psychologist and former radio show host Casey Cooper, Ph.D., agrees that we are born with a desire to be active. “Children naturally congregate,” she says. “You don’t have to teach them how to play tag. It is their instinct to get together

THE SPORTS ISSUE

in a way that involves physical activity in the most natural form of play.”

Cooper also sees a communal component to athletics. “We are social animals who are drawn together in a variety of contexts, and sports provide another of those opportunities,” she argues. But while young children play games freely, “[adults] organized it and we formalized it,” she adds.

Master David Karstadt, seventh degree black belt and founder of AZ Kicks taekwondo school, believes that ego is another factor in the sports-human connection. “People want to compete by nature and want to compare themselves to others,” he says. “I also think human nature tells us to challenge ourselves.”

How playing pays While the physical benefits of playing sports are clear—maintaining healthy weight, building stronger muscles and

SporTS appEalWhy people are drawn to sports.

From the pre-Columbian juego de pelota in the sweltering jungles of the Yucatan to gymnastics and wrestling amid the scorched earth of ancient Egypt, humans have been playing sports for all of recorded history—and likely, before that.

By Julie Wilson

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FEATURE | Sports appeal

helping prevent disease—there are other benefits that are not quite as obvious. “Physiologists would say it is endorphins,” says McComb. “[Participating in sports] just makes us feel good.”

That may be because sports offer a positive outlet for stress. “It’s another way we blow off steam,” says Cooper. “We have evidence that [endurance-type activities], such as running, promote a sense of well-being in the same way chocolate does.”

“Beyond the health benefits, there are social benefits that have a dramatic effect on our well-being,” Cooper says. These include learning how to interact in an effective way with a group and developing leadership potential.

McComb agrees that sports can help participants build a stronger character. “Athletics can teach life lessons,” he asserts. “You discover … how to lose, how to win, how to treat a competitor you have just beaten or just lost to, how to say congratulations to

someone who did a better job than you did and how to be modest when they congratulate you.”

According to Karstadt, practitioners of martial arts learn self-discipline and focus, in addition to the fitness benefits of the sport, and these qualities transfer to other areas of someone’s life, be they personal or professional. “I think every kid should do martial arts because it teaches you respect and courtesy,” he says.

On the sidelines For some, the closest they’ll get to sports is sitting on the bleachers or lounging in a recliner, but that’s satisfying in its own right. “To watch a superior athlete perform is a thrill because we have an innate understanding of how difficult it might be,” McComb says, simply. “And it’s fun.”

When you see an athlete who is at the top of his or her game, it will look easy even though you know it’s not. “It gives us an idea of what can be done with the limits that we have as human beings,” he adds.

Observing someone with superior strength and discipline can motivate us to do better. “There’s a tendency for athletes to inspire through their play,” says Cooper. “And when it’s a proper, positive display of athleticism and you have people emulating that positive behavior, then [that’s] another [way] sports benefit our society.”

The act of simply watching others participate in sports has social benefits, too. “For most of us, it comes down to a sense of community and belonging,” Cooper insists. “And it’s entertainment now.”

David vs. Goliath While everybody loves a winner, people have been partial to the underdog for as long as we’ve been around. “Americans seem to have that in our spirit,” muses McComb. “We like to watch the elite teams, but it is a thrill to see a football team or basketball team scrap and struggle and somehow go on to win the game.”

Cooper believes that’s because we all feel like underdogs at some point in our lives. “I may not be able to do anything about my own situation, but I can sure get the sense that change is possible when my underdog prevails on the court or on the field,” she explains.

So whether you’re the star or the spectator, sports offer you something of value. “The list of benefits is so tremendously long it almost begs the question, why doesn’t everyone participate in organized sports?” Cooper ponders.


Although there is not a lot of hard science linking definitive personality traits to a specific sport, expert sports psychologists offer several insights into why sports enthusiasts—from hockey players and soccer addicts, to marathon runners and figure skaters—might be choosing the games that they do.

What your sport says about youDiscover why you like the sports you do.

Billie Jean King once said of her stellar accomplishments in the field of tennis, “I had the right personality for it.” In fact, it’s often thought that people who enjoy playing sports gravitate toward a discipline that matches their personality or temperament.

By Jenny Jedeikin

Open vs. closed sports One important concept to understand, when approaching sports from a “personality perspective,” is the distinction between “open” and “closed” sports, explains Robert Weinberg Ph.D., a professor of Sport Psychology at Miami University in Ohio. “Closed sports are sports like gymnastics, diving, figure skating and golf,” Weinberg says. “These are sports that have a stable environment; you are not time-stressed; no one is trying to defend against you.”

Someone who is attracted to playing a closed sport, Weinberg says, may do so because he or she likes being in control. “There are no outside, external circumstances that impinge on you,” says Weinberg, “no opponent trying to fake you out. There’s no one to blame except yourself, and you’ll get the glory or the shame. People who play these sports may like their independence and like everything to fall on their shoulders.”

Open sports, on the other hand, are more random, and include soccer, football, basketball, volleyball and other team sports, where there is more variability. “In open sports the environment changes very quickly,” says Weinberg, “and you have to defend yourself against others. You never know what’s going to happen and who’s going to get the ball.” For this reason, people who play open sports have to be comfortable in a variety of situations and be able to adapt quickly.

THE SPORTS ISSUE

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FEATURE | What your sport says about you

Extroversion and introversion According to clinical psychologist Michael Asken, author of Psych Up or Psych Out: The Sport Parent’s Guide to Helping Young Athletes Master Mental Toughness, whether someone is an extrovert or introvert may also be a factor when he or she decides to play team sports or go it alone. “Introversion is associated with sports that require concentration, precision and lower arousal,” says Asken. “So introverts may be attracted to sports like running, diving or archery.” Extraversion is often associated with high energy, team efforts and greater aggression, explains Asken. “So extroverts may prefer team sports.”

Get your aggressions out! Another dynamic to consider is aggressiveness. “Obviously, more aggressive personalities are likely to be attracted to sports like boxing, football and rugby,” says Asken. “Some have tried to differentiate types of aggression like that

directed to a ball—indirect aggression—and that directed to opponents—direct aggression.”

Weinberg agrees. “Some people like contact sports for the ability to release aggressions in an appropriate manner,” says Weinberg. But, he says, the research is complex, and you can’t make large generalizations about everyone who plays football, for example. There are many variables that factor into people’s decisions.

In search of perfection Many of the solo, or closed sports, involve a lot of rigorous repetition. If you’re someone who doesn’t shy away from the idea of practicing 10,000 dives in order to master a new technique, you may be attracted to a sport like diving or gymnastics where there is a quest for perfection. “Basically a diver or a figure skater, they’ve got to do these things over and over and over again, thousands of times,” says Weinberg,

“That may not be a personality type per se, but you’ve got to be someone who is willing to sacrifice hours and hours in search of perfection.”

Seeking sensation There are also personality types that are attracted to sports where danger is involved. “People who would score high on the ‘sensation-seeking scale,’ would be attracted to mountain climbing, hang gliding, skydiving, snowboarding and other extreme sports,” says Weinberg. A thrill-seeker is different from someone who would try cross-country skiing, says Asken. “Temperament is probably at the basis of traits like risk-taking; some of us dislike too much arousal; others of us are ‘adrenaline junkies’ where the greater the intensity, the better.”

Asken says other related factors, also genetically influenced, like pain tolerance, will influence choices in terms of non-contact, contact- or collision-sport participation,” says Asken. “And there are different types of pain tolerance, like taking a hit versus the endurance pain of a marathon.”

Just do it! What is clear is that athletes and people who engage in sports frequently have a personality profile that is more similar than non-athletes. “Both male and female athletes look more like each other in personality profiles than people who are not athletes,” says Asken. “This is even true for physically challenged athletes. Usually things like tension, depression and fatigue are down, and energy is up.” So if you want to beat the blues and give your personality a kick in a positive direction, participate in a sport that calls to you, and jump to it!

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

“Temperament is probably at the basis of traits like risk taking; some of us dislike too much arousal; others of us are ‘adrenaline junkies’ where the greater the intensity, the better.” Michael Asken, author of Psych Up or Psych Out: The Sport Parent’s Guide to Helping Young Athletes Master Mental Toughness

Whether they’re pursuing excellence in their current jobs or looking to make a major career change, people often look for an outsider’s perspective to give them insight and guide them through the process. And according to the International Coach Federation, they’re happy with the results. In its most recent Global Consumer Awareness Study, this professional, personal and business coaching association reported that 83 percent of the general public, ages 25 and up, who have been involved in a coaching relationship were either “somewhat satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their experience.

Why hire a career coach? “All great athletes have coaches,” insists career counselor and life coach Dilip Saraf, who’s also the author of five books on the topic of careers. “They help the players improve their game and stay competitive.” The same concept applies to professionals who are looking to step up their game in their careers.

Jeff Neil, founder of Be Your Best Career Coaching & Consulting Inc. in New York City, says there are many reasons to hire a career coach. “A really good career coach has the expertise to help someone differentiate themselves from the competition,” he explains. And just as a sports coach critiques the players, “a really good career coach will help you identify your deficiencies as a candidate and help you eliminate or reduce them,” he adds.

Hiring a career coach also underscores your commitment to your career goals, according to Lisa Anderson, a professional career and life transition coach in Oregon with more than 20 years of experience in her field. “When you hire a career coach, part of what you are agreeing to do is set aside the time to do the research and soul searching required to figure out where you want to go in your career,” she says.

Choosing a career coach As with finding a good doctor or plumber, a referral from a trusted friend, family member or colleague is one way to find a reputable career coach. Beyond that, Saraf suggests conducting a search on LinkedIn or Google, but he stresses the importance of checking the coaches’ referrals and qualifications before you hire anyone. “You need to do due diligence. Find out how much they charge, what their coaching process is and how they measure their progress,” he cautions. “A bad coach can set you back, not just financially, but can reduce your confidence in the process and make you feel worse.”

Neil suggests selecting a career coach with at least three years of experience and a couple of hundred clients. “Also, I would only work with a career coach who specializes in your market,” he adds. And many offer a complimentary session so you can see if it is a good match before you make a commitment to hire them.


THE SPORTS ISSUE

Step up your gameHow a coach can boost your career.

Good coaches can help you gear up for a marathon, master a free throw or refine your golf swing, but did you know they can help you boost your career, too? It’s all about finding the right coach with the right experience to help you reach your goals, be they professional or recreational.

By Julie Wilson

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YOUR CAREER | Step up your game

What to expect Although each career coach has his or her own approach, the first step is usually evaluating a client’s background and goals. Saraf has his clients fill out an extensive questionnaire so he can learn as much about them as possible at the onset. “I ask some very tough questions,” he admits. “[My clients] do a lot of reflection and come prepared to engage in meaningful dialogue.”

Anderson has a similar method. “I help [my clients] tap into things they haven’t taken the time to stop and consider for a while,” she says. Then, she helps them create a mission statement for themselves that defines “their purpose for being on the planet.” Next, they work together to create a vision and a strategic plan for getting there. “I focus on their career but look at the other areas of their lives,” she says. “They’re all connected.”

Getting the most out of your relationship While the career coach is the expert, it’s important for the client to play an active role in the process. “The coach and client should always know the agenda before they get together so they can both go in well-prepared,” explains Neil. “I also recommend that my clients take notes or record our sessions, and the client and coach should leave with homework so both come back to the next session prepared and ready to move forward.”

Career coach myths, debunked1. It’s too expensive “As far as ROI goes, if you spend $750 for a career coach and find a job one week faster, it pays for the entire experience,” explains Neil.

2. I can figure it out myself “Most people think their work speaks for itself, but if you can’t articulate it and showcase it correctly, then it becomes part of the noise,” asserts Saraf.

3. I had a bad career coach experience in the past “Look for [a coach] with online recommendations and testimonials,” says Neil. “Many coaches require a 10-session commitment,” he adds, but he suggests finding a coach that will go session by session so you can cut your losses early if it’s not a good fit.

Starting with the first session, Saraf advises clients to ask the career coach directly how they will gain value from the relationship. “I have a simple rule,” he says. “The instant you stop seeing value in a session, you don’t need me anymore. And if I see that before you do, I’ll tell you.”

In the end, the spirit of coaching is pretty simple, whether it’s for a struggling athlete or an up-and-coming business professional. “It’s about ‘This is where you are now. Where would you like to be?’” sums up Anderson. “It’s about getting to your personal best.”


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FEATURE | Step up your game

Do you know someone on this list?

Each month, approximately 8,000 dedicated students earn their degrees and become proud University of Phoenix graduates.

Phoenix Focus magazine now celebrates the newest members of the growing alumni community—now more than 710,000 strong—with an online list of recent graduates. Visit bit.ly/gradlist-june.


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Business lessons from the world of sports

If it’s true that art imitates life, then sports does one doozy of an impression of the business world.

By Lee Rasizer

George Karl, coach of the Denver Nuggets and the seventh man in history to roam the sidelines for 1,000 victories in National Basketball Association history, rattles off the similarities between the locker room and the board room like the old pro that he is: teamwork; communication; the power of positive energy; engagement; sharing common goals; putting people in the right position at the right time; motivating; understanding strengths and weaknesses of personnel; and studying competitors both for self-improvement and to gain an edge.

“I think every organization wants a team that works together, functions together and is motivated by togetherness,” Karl says.

Working together Even with the best teams, individualism can creep in. It’s managing those unique personalities into a unit working toward the same goal that is key to coaching successfully, and by extension, keeping companies running smoothly despite different scales of market share, workforce size and global reach.

“Every team has a leader, and every individual has a personality that has to be managed,” Karl says. “On a basketball team, I don’t manage everybody by the same rules. They’re motivated in different ways. … In general, you have seven or eight lead guys and you have to have an ability to communicate and engage with

them in the NBA, I think, on at least a weekly basis. It’s making them feel part of whatever you’re in.”

The seeds of success When it comes to specific characteristics that define success in sports and the business world, Dr. Allen Fox, author of the The Winner’s Mind: A Competitor’s Guide to Sports and Business Success, puts one trait above all else—drive. The ability to work hard, focus and push oneself to do things that aren’t easy in order to attain success is critical, in his estimation.

Fox had a large reserve of that particular quality in both arenas. He was an NCAA champion tennis player, Wimbledon quarterfinalist and three-time member of the U.S. Davis Cup Team. He also coached Pepperdine University to two tennis championship appearances and 10 straight Division I top-10 rankings. But Fox also spent six years working for two New York Stock Exchange firms before managing a

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YOUR CAREER | Business lessons from the world of sports

private investment company, then owning several small businesses. He has seen both worlds up close at a high level.

“The traits that people have who are good at both sports and business are that they’re quite alert,” says Fox, who has a PhD in psychology. “They’re very goal-oriented, so they know where they’re trying to go, and they really don’t lose track of the object of the game. The people who are less successful somehow get sidetracked.”

Fox uses the example of the worker “slogging along,” doing a job but with his or her mind elsewhere. The successful person, on the other hand, tries to figure out better ways to do things—by trial and error, gathering information,

watching successful people or reading books from experts, and practicing, developing and fine-tuning technique, to name a few means to an end. That kind of self-reliance was critical as a tennis player for Fox, and translated into the business world for him as well.

Finessing the situation Fox admits that his on-court mentality of getting his way “by force” was tough to shake in making that transition from tennis player to coach and leader of employees. “When you get off the athletic field, you learn that it isn’t force anymore,” he says.


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“You have to depend on other people. It’s trickier.” Like a drop shot in tennis, a delicate touch works better in many cases.

“The main thing that business and sports have taught a lot of folks is that there are going to be people on the team you’ll get along with really wonderfully,” says Dale Mingilton, CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Denver/Boulder in Colorado. “And then there are going to be folks on the team that you’re forced to be a team member with regardless, and you learn to get along and make it work.”

Mingilton grew up wrestling at a small Catholic high school in Denver, where it was demonstrated daily that individuals with different skillsets could get the job done by varying means. A teammate in the 98-pound weight class didn’t impose the brute force of a 200-pounder, but, regardless, could emerge victorious.

Playing by the rules was a major theme then—and also in his current position, ensuring businesses abide by their contracts with consumers. When Mingilton was young, the coach would

leave and have “wrestling court” decide punishment. If the accused was guilty, or lied while his misstep was witnessed by others, that party had to wrestle every other team member for 30 seconds. “By the time it got to heavyweight, it was not a pretty sight,” he recalls.

Mingilton was that heavyweight.

In some ways, he still is—as head of an organization that lends oversight to 7,900 companies. At the BBB, members have a similar opportunity to make right or be punished—admittedly in a more civilized manner. That process includes contract reviews, a grading formula, advertising checks, meeting with alleged offenders to try and smooth out issues and appearing before a counsel of business peers.

There may be as many as 15 steps before the modern-day equivalent of getting on the mat with 21 straight wrestlers occurs, where Mingilton again awaits at the finish.

“We still don’t want them to get all the way to me,” he said with a laugh. “That’s no fun.”

Lee Rasizer is a Denver-based writer who is currently freelancing after a lengthy career as a reporter for the Tribune Newspapers in Mesa, Ariz., and the Denver Rocky Mountain News.

Bettina Deynes | BSB/M ′04

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 nowalumni.phoenix.edu.


Best practices for running high-tech meetings like a pro.

What’s the number one secret to pumping up a meeting? As any regular meeting-goer will tell you, it’s food, of course! A little nosh can help make almost any meeting more, um, palatable.

By Manny Ramos

Mastering the teleconference

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But what if plying the participants with sandwiches and sweets is out of the question because your meeting is a teleconference, a videoconference or a webinar?

Like a good meal, any good meeting takes careful preparation. “Not coming prepared for the meeting, that is the biggest mistake,” warns Susan Friedmann, an expert meeting planner. Friedman literally wrote the book on running successful meetings: Meeting and Event Planning for Dummies.

Give them a road map One surefire way to avoid being a “dummy:” Make an agenda and send it out ahead of time. People need to know in advance what the meeting will be about so they can be prepared to contribute. This is true for any type of meeting.

Once you have an agenda, be sure to stick to it. “A good teleconference is one that is focused,” says Gretchen White, a television planning editor who participates in at least one teleconference per week. “It’s good to let the participants know what you want to accomplish in the call.”

Keep it short and sweet In a videoconference don’t try to accomplish as much as you would in a face-to-face meeting. “Make it a little bit shorter than you normally would,” advises Mary Civiello, CEO of Civiello Communications Group. She often conducts media training and presentation coaching around the world through videoconferences. Shorter sessions help deal with shorter attention spans that result from not seeing each other in person.

Eye to eye Whether it’s another part of the world or another part of the building, there is a lack of human contact with videoconferences. “There really isn’t a one-on-one feeling,” Civiello points out.

How do you compensate for the impersonal nature of videoconferences? Be sure to look the participants in the eye as much as possible. The camera should be at eye level so the leader can look right into it and appear to be speaking directly to the participants. It’s also important to make sure the lighting is adjusted so participants can see each other clearly.

To make everyone feel like they are participating, ask them a question says Friedmann. Engaging participants in the discussion and soliciting input helps lessen the feeling that they are simply listeners or just viewers.

Equipment check Having equipment work properly is essential for a Web conference. Slides and interactive materials are a big plus in an Internet meeting but a disaster if they don’t load, so check to make sure everything is working at least a half an hour before the meeting is scheduled to begin. If you have multiple presenters, be sure they are logged in at least 15 minutes in advance to test for technical problems.

“You have to get ready for technical failures,” Civiello warns. She suggests that an organizer summarize more during a video- or teleconference. Reviewing the main points periodically helps people who may have missed some of the videoconference due to technical problems stay caught up.

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YOUR CAREER | Mastering the teleconference

Sound check Try to avoid common problems or distractions by making adjustments ahead of time. In any type of meeting, be sure the participants can hear you clearly. For the best sound quality, use a headset, which ensures you are always speaking directly into a microphone, and also frees your hands.

On a videoconference there will be a slight delay between speakers because of the time it takes for the image to travel across the country or the world. Avoid interruptions by advising everyone to wait a second before jumping into the conversation. On a teleconference you can cut down on distracting noises from participants by reminding them to use the mute button on their phone. “You’ve got people who work from home so the dog’s barking, the kid is crying and the mailman is coming to the door. You name it,” warns Friedmann.

Be a tough time manager Don’t delay the start time for a meeting. Start even if someone is missing. Waiting for participants sets a bad precedent for future meetings, according to Friedmann. “Why punish people who are there on time?”

Meeting basics1. Determine the goals and objectives of the meeting.2. Make sure logistics, refreshments and technical details

are worked out.3. Distribute the agenda and meeting materials

in advance.4. Introduce all participants and encourage input

from everyone.5. Keep the meeting on track and on time.6. Offer breaks for longer meetings.7. Allow time for questions and comments.8. Summarize points and action items.9. Schedule a follow-up meeting, if necessary. 10. Send meeting minutes to attendees and those who

could not attend. Thank attendees for coming.

Videoconference extras1. Make sure all participants have the login and password.2. Distribute a standard contact number in case of

equipment failure.3. Wear solid dark colors on video.4. Wear a headset or position the microphone so everyone

can hear.5. Speak strongly and clearly on videoconferences,

teleconferences and webinars.6. Make sure there is no whispering between participants

on video and teleconferences.7. Display banners at each location for videoconferences

to identify your location.

After the meeting, send a summary to participants. “It makes sure everyone is on the same page. It also helps if someone joined late or had to jump off early,” White says.

A summary is also a good way to let everyone know what comes next. The best meetings have a “next step” for the participants. Tasks are assigned, follow-up meetings are planned or something will be changed as a result of the meeting.

Finally, make sure the meeting ends on time. If everything has been covered adequately and you can end early, do so. That will make you everyone’s favorite meeting planner, with or without the food.

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.


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Julius Achon, BSB/COM-CC ’11Ugandan runner and two-time Olympian Portland, Oregon

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By Leo W. Banks Photos by Bruce Racine

ALUMNI PROFILES | Julius Achon

Running for hope

From running for his life to running for his livelihood and running a children’s charity in his homeland of Uganda, Julius Achon has come a long way as a survivor, an athlete and a man with a mission.

The most imaginative screenwriter could not invent the life of Julius Achon. It has been a crucible of devastating poverty, of war and blood, of cruelty so shocking it offends the conscience. But his story also teaches us about the power of hope, the determination of one man to achieve in the face of evils he could not abide.


Achon is a Ugandan runner, a two-time Olympian, holder of an American collegiate record in the outdoor 800 meters. In conversation, though, he bypasses these achievements to speak of the orphans of his country’s civil war, and the charity he founded to care for them.

“My father taught us that even if you grow up in difficulty, you have to share what you have,” says Achon, the oldest of nine children. “Each time I go home, I see my people dying and I have to remember them.”

The Achon Uganda Children’s Fund got its informal start in 2003. Achon was running near Lira, in northern Uganda, when he discovered 11 orphans living under a bus. The children were desperate, struggling to stay alive after rebels murdered their families. Achon, now 35, made a deal with his father: “House and feed them, and when I return to the

United States, I’ll send money to pay you back.” The makeshift arrangement continued until the charity was formally approved as a nonprofit corporation in 2009.

Achon understood the lives of those orphans. Fifteen years earlier, the so-called Lord’s Resistance Army kidnapped Achon and 14 of his friends. Led by the warlord Joseph Kony, these rebels often stole children and forced them to fight, sometimes killing their own families. Parents dared not intervene during the abductions, which they were often witness to, because, as Julius says, “If you do, they shoot your child in front of you.” Achon’s own father, who watched as Julius was taken away, knew the only hope he had of saving his son was to let him go and pray that he would escape. Kony’s men marched the boys 100 miles to their camp. They escaped three months later during an attack by government forces. But the warplanes mistook the boys for rebels and strafed them with machine guns. “The bullets came down like rain and they killed nine of my friends,” says Achon. “Six of us made it home.”

But he refused to bend. Running became his escape, his gateway to a future. “I didn’t have one dollar to pay for school so I taught myself to run,” says Achon. “I was told, ‘If you run good, you get free education.’”

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Achon Uganda Children’s Fund achonugandachildren.org

Julius Achon sits with children from his native Uganda. Julius founded the Achon Uganda Children’s Fund to improve quality of life for children in the area through access to health care and education. Photo courtesy Jim Fee.

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Fee, now Achon Uganda Children’s Fund’s executive director, says meeting Julius changed his life. “Here’s this guy, who has virtually nothing, taking care of kids in Africa with his brother and parents,” says Fee (Achon’s father remarried after his mother’s death.) “He’s an unbelievable man with a huge heart. I love running, I was retired, and I thought, if there’s ever going to be a second calling for me, this is it.”

Achon has made a life for himself in Portland with wife, Grace, and 1-year-old son, Jayden. His degree still a priority after dropping out of George Mason for an urgent trip to Uganda, he enrolled at the University of Phoenix in May of 2009 and finished his bachelor of science in communication two years later.

He considers getting his degree an honor as great as any he has achieved. “I’m the first person in my community of 20,000 to graduate from a university in the United States.”

Achon makes frequent appearances to raise money, telling audiences that although Kony fled Uganda in 2006, the work is not finished. He’s focused now on building a maternity ward, and because of what happened to his mother, buying an ambulance.

Whenever Achon feels frustrated at the pace of fundraising, he thinks about those bus orphans, two of them now grown. Samuel, 18, is on a track scholarship in Kampala, and one of the girls, Mary, is training to become a nurse. Neither would’ve been possible if Achon had walked away that day. Asked why he didn’t, his answer is beautiful for its simplicity. “I couldn’t because they were so much like me,” Achon says. “I thought, ‘Maybe they have hope, too.’”

Leo W. Banks is a writer in Tucson, Arizona.

ALUMNI PROFILES | Julius Achon

Achon’s success in local races earned him a scholarship at a prestigious high school in Kampala, the capital. The first time he slept in a bed was in the school dorm. In 1994, at 17, he ran in shoes for the first time, winning a gold medal at the World Junior Championships.

Twenty-one American colleges recruited Achon and he chose George Mason University in Virginia, arriving in 1995. “There was food everywhere and no mud,” he remembers. “The United States was like heaven to me.”

Achon twice won the indoor mile at the NCAA Championships. At the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, and in 2000 in Sydney, he led the Ugandan contingent into the stadium as its captain. At the Sydney Games he reached the semi-finals in the 1500 meters.

But the war followed him. Achon was training for the 2004 Olympics when he learned that Kony’s men had murdered his mother, Kristina. She bled to death over four days, for a lack of money to transport her to the nearest hospital, 42 miles away.

The murder devastated Achon—and spurred him to work harder for his people. At the time he was under contract with Nike, making $1,600 a month as assistant coach to marathoner Alberto Salazar. Even with the high living costs in Portland, and supporting his wife’s family, he was able to send $150 a month back to Uganda for his charity.

Achon’s effort to help the orphans got a major boost when he met Jim Fee, a former executive for a medical products company. Fee was so taken by Achon’s story that, in 2008, he began donating $500 a quarter to the charity. In 2010, after visiting Uganda, Fee pledged another $20,000.

With that money, along with donations from Nike, Rotary Clubs International and others, Achon Uganda built a 10-room clinic in Achon’s village and housing for doctors and staff. Today, the charity cares for 37 orphans—11 living with Achon’s brother, the remaining 26 with relatives in surrounding villages. Housing, food, health care and school fees cost $25 per orphan per month.

“I didn’t have one dollar to pay for school so I taught myself to run. I was told, ‘If you run good, you get free education.’” Julius Achon, BSB/COM-CC ’11



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Tony Colaizzo and his operations team at UPS in the UK are hard at work delivering the 2012 Summer Olympic Games to London—and ensuring regular service doesn’t skip a beat.

Anyone who’s ever planned a wedding or any other milestone celebration knows that the devil’s in the details. From flowers and food to the invitation list and the seating arrangements, the to-do list can be overwhelming.

By Julie Wilson Photos by Gareth Dutton

delivering the OlymPics

to London

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Tony Colaizzo, BSB/A ’06 UPS London, England

ALUMNI PROFILES | Tony Colaizzo


THE CAREER TRENDS ISSUE

Now imagine coordinating the logistics for the largest event outside of war, only you’re not worried about securing the right party favors and napkins. You’re concerned with getting 30 million items exactly where they need to be for the big day—including one million pieces of sporting equipment—while the whole world is watching. That’s precisely what UPS Director of Operations Tony Colaizzo and his team are doing in the United Kingdom where they’re helping prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

A well-oiled machine UPS is charged with managing the venue logistics services, warehousing services and distribution network for the games. This includes roughly one million square feet of warehouse space and 120 drivers dedicated to getting the Olympics to London in time for opening ceremonies on July 27. That’s in addition to 1,000 UPS employees who are assigned to work on the project on top of their usual responsibilities.

“There are two pieces to this,” Colaizzo explains. “The first is the actual delivery [of items] inside the Olympic venues, and then there is the impact to the rest of the world.” This means ensuring that regular delivery service won’t suffer despite the influx of athletes and visitors in London and all the related traffic restrictions. “I’m primarily involved in maintaining day-to-day service,” he says.

That’s no easy task, with 8.8 million ticketholders traveling to 34 different venues to watch more than 10,000 athletes perform. “There are a lot of moving parts,” says Colaizzo, referring to the sheer magnitude of the scope of the Olympics and UPS’s role in the games. “It’s the total package—what it takes to get the merchandise where it needs to be, on time and in good condition.”

London calling When he’s not helping with UPS’s logistical support for the Summer 2012 Olympic Games in London, Colaizzo is working in

“International development is a big piece of the job, as well as strategy, market position and maintaining the brand.” Tony Colaizzo, BSB/A ’06

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UpS goES olyMpIc UPS has dedicated its staff and resources to make sure the London Games go off with out a hitch. Check out the following stats.

Delivering 30 million items to the Olympics

1 million square feet of warehouse space

1,000 employees

120 drivers

phoenixfocus.com 35

his usual capacity as director of operations for UPS for the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Nordics. He assumed this position in 2010, trading his role as vice president of operations in UPS’s sunny Pacific region for London’s notorious fog and learning to drive on the opposite side of the road.

“I still get in on the wrong side of the vehicle on occasion,” he says, laughing.

In the United Kingdom, Colaizzo leads UPS’s operations, which include the day-to-day activities in the region. “International development is a big piece of the job, as well as strategy, market position and maintaining the brand,” he explains. “We like to engage our people significantly, and that includes working with nonmanagement people and the unionized workforce.”

A serendipitous start Colaizzo has enjoyed great success at UPS during his nearly four-decades-long career there, one that started by chance

when he was just 18. “I was driving down the street and saw [the UPS] vehicles,” he remembers. He pulled into the building and went inside to see if the company was hiring. “There wasn’t enough staffing that evening,” he says. “It was pure luck.” They hired him on the spot, and he started that very day, sorting packages on the night shift.

And for the past 35-plus years, Colaizzo has steadily worked his way up the ranks. “One of the very big positives about UPS is the strong belief of promoting from within,” he praises. “It is a tribute to the organization.”

In 2004, Colaizzo decided to complete the college degree he forwent in the late 1970s when a new career at UPS beckoned. He enrolled at University of Phoenix to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, which he earned in 2006.

Later, he went on to earn his MBA from Emory University and is currently working on his second master’s degree at the University of Oxford’s Said Business School in England.

Despite the demands of his career and school, he still finds time to hop back on a UPS truck every now and then, “Because if you really want to know what’s going on, you talk to the people who are doing it,” he says. “But the uniform fits a little differently now,” he adds, jokingly.

ALUMNI PROFILES | Tony Colaizzo

Olympic champion Gail Marquis made her mark on the basketball court during the 1976 Summer Olympics. Today, she’s motivating other women to find their own success.

In May 1976, just before her finals at Queens College in New York, Gail Marquis had to make a difficult decision: stay and complete her exams, or head to Missouri to try out for the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team.

“I preferred to go and try out,” she says, simply.

Forever a championBy Julie Wilson Photos by Jenny Gorman

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Gail Marquis, MBA ’06Olympic silver medalist, baskeballJersey City, New Jersey

ALUMNI PROFILES | Gail Marquis

Making the cut Trying out for the Olympics was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Marquis to be part of history. It was only in 1976 that women’s basketball became a medal sport at the Olympics. If she was selected, she would be breaking new ground for female athletes across the country and around the world. “I made the regional cut,” Marquis explains, “and two weeks later, I had to go to the national trials to [qualify for] the U.S. Olympic team.”

Though Marquis had the confidence befitting her experience as a two-time All-American team member, there was no guarantee that she’d make the team. “I wasn’t a shoe-in,” she says. “It wasn’t automatic.”

In fact, she had enough doubt about her performance that she was preparing for the trip back home when the results were posted that night. “I was in the room packing my bags,” she admits. She didn’t realize she had made the team until some of her fellow players came and told her. She took her time absorbing the news. “I snuck off at around midnight to call my mother and father in New York,” she says. “’I told them, ‘I am not coming home. I am staying.’”

She and the rest of the team began training intensely for the games, which would begin later that summer. “It was fantastic to be selected,” she says. “And then the hard work came.”

Let the games begin The U.S. women’s team traveled to Canada to play in a series of qualifying tournaments before finally heading to the Olympic Village in Montreal in July. She will forever remember the opening ceremonies, marching in formation with her fellow Olympians as they entered the stadium. “It was a huge entrance, 10 stories high and dark like a half moon,” she says. “As we entered, it was like the power went on in the bright Olympic stadium. In French and English, they announced the [United States], and it sent such a chill through us all.”


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Marquis and her 11 teammates went on to become champions. “We beat Czechoslovakia to come home with the first [silver] medal ever won by women in women’s basketball,” she says, proudly.

Life after the Olympics After Marquis emerged victorious in the Olympics, she played basketball professionally in Europe before coming back to the United States to play briefly in a women’s league. Then the time came when she had to find something else to do. She completed her deferred bachelor’s degree and found her footing in financial services.

In 2004, while she was working as a vice president for JP Morgan Chase and traveling frequently on business, Marquis decided to return to school to pursue her MBA. “University of Phoenix fit my schedule,” she explains. “I did my papers in Aruba or Mexico—all I needed was a laptop and an Internet connection.” She graduated in 2006 and found that the skills she learned in her degree program were a real asset to her career. “Even to this day, when I do my projects, everything falls into place,” she says.

Giving back Today, though she continues to earn her living as a financial services professional, Marquis is using the skills she learned on the court to help other women find their own success. Among her other community commitments, she volunteers for two nonprofit organizations: Dress for Success Worldwide, which provides interview suits, confidence boosts and career development to low-income women in more than 75 cities worldwide, and PowerPlay NYC, which works to educate and empower girls through sports, teaching life skills and building self-confidence and self-esteem for life. “Dress for Success is for more mature women, and PowerPlay deals with young women,” she says. “What I enjoy is that they empower women and young girls to stand on their own.”

Through these organizations, Marquis encourages these women to set goals for themselves, urges them to pursue a healthy lifestyle and teaches them the basics

of finance so they can secure their own futures. She also teaches them the “three D’s” that have guided her in her own life: desire, dedication and discipline. “I know all of that came from being an athlete,” she acknowledges. “That’s what helped me to be ready for the Olympics.” This spirit has also earned her kudos over the years.MostrecentlyshewashonoredwiththeTitleIXTrailblazerAward from the Arthur Ashe Institute of Urban Health in New York.

Whether she’s advising clients, inspiring other women, or branching out into acting or sports commentating in her free time, Marquis strives to be a role model. “I always consider myself an ambassador for basketball, for America and for women,” she says. “I’m always looking to put my best foot forward.”

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“As we entered, it was like the power went on in the bright Olympic stadium. In French and English, they announced the [United States], and it sent such a chill through us all.” Gail Marquis, MBA ’06

ALUMNI PROFILES | Gail Marquis

HALL of FAMERGail Marquis’s history-making basketball career is commemorated in a whopping seven halls of fame:

1. Queens College Athletic Hall of Fame (1990 Inductee, No. 25 Retired)

2. Women’s Institute of Sport Hall of Fame (PA) (1996 Inductee)

3. New York City Basketball Hall of Fame (Queens College 1972–73, 2004 Team Induction)

4. Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (MA) (2001 Candidate for Induction)

5. Bob Douglas Hall of Fame, the John Hunter Camp Memorial Fund, Inc. (NY) (2005 Inductee)

6. Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame (NJ) (2007 Inductee)

7. New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, (2009 Inductee, 2nd Female Player)



CLASS OF

’04Wendy Wood MBA/HCM ’04 Medical director, Sin City Blackjacks; Founder, Connections Consulting Group Las Vegas, Nevada

As medical director for Las Vegas’ newest professional indoor football team, Wood oversees the team’s medical matters and medical advisory board. On the side, she puts her 20 years of experience to work consulting.

WINNING ATTITUDE The greatest lesson I learned from sports is good citizenship. Win or lose, as a team always do your best and walk off the field or court as a winner.

BETTER TOGETHER In sports, medicine, education and life overall, teamwork is critical for success. Teamwork encourages positive communication and relationships in any setting, and working together for a positive outcome makes you an example for others.

TICK TOCK My biggest challenge is time. I have so many things I would love to do with physicians, players and competitors to positively impact the children in our community. Sometimes I don’t have time to fit it all into my schedule as quickly as I would like.

FAVORITE SPECTATOR SPORT Football

GAME ON I love to play sand volleyball.

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CLASS OF

’05Tatia Benkonvich MBA/MKT ’05 Senior Manager of Business Development, Chicago Fire Soccer Club Chicago, Illinois

After an early career in marketing and advertising, Benkonvich has found her niche in professional sports. Today, she relishes the thrill of game day when thousands of fans come together to watch her Major League Soccer team win.

ALL FOR ONE Teamwork is important on and off the field, or as we say in soccer, the “pitch,” because we all have a common goal for the Chicago Fire: to win championships.

UNIQUE CHALLENGE Even though soccer is the biggest sport in the world, because we are in such a competitive marketplace, we have to work extra hard to make the city aware of how passionate our fans and partners are.

BUSINESS IS LIKE SPORTS BECAUSE … … there is only one objective. Ultimately, it is only the final number—whether it’s wins or revenue—that counts.

GAME ON I love to play soccer with my 4-year-old son. I still have a leg up on him, and I’m pretty competitive.

ALUMNI PROFILES


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

Published by alumni

The Beach Years By Rebecca Becker

Rebecca Becker, Doctor of Education (EdD) ’06, sets the scene for summer reading with her book about four friends who learn more about each other than they bargained for during an annual beach getaway to St. Augustine. Felicia, Debra, Kimmy and Cassie are strong, professional women who place a high value on their friendship—the common ground that sustains them through their differences. Becker has taught English and writing at both the high school and college levels, and has been published in numerous forums in the past 20 years. This is the first in a series of books featuring Felicia, Debra, Kimmy and Cassie. The Beach Years is available through amazon.com.

Off The Grid By Dan Kolbet

Dan Kolbet, Master of Business Administration (MBA) ’10, imagines a world where electricity is transmitted wirelessly, but only one monopolistic company has mastered the service in this tale of corporate espionage. The subject isn’t too far-fetched for the Washington-based author, who serves as a corporate communications manager and spokesperson for one of the largest electric and natural gas utilities on the West Coast. Kolbet is a former newspaper editor and reporter who has won several awards in journalism and public relations. Off the Grid is available through amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Will You Play With Me? The Adventures of Princess Nadia By Tony Samuel

Tony Samuel, Bachelor of Science in Business with a Concentration in Marketing (BSB/MKT) ’07, entertains and enchants youth with this fun-filled adventure that takes his character, Princess Nadia, on a journey through the jungle in search of a friend. Samuel was inspired to write this story for his daughter who suffers from the rare chromosome disorder 22q13, also known as Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. Fifty percent of the book’s sales will be donated to the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation. Will You Play With Me? The Adventures of Princess Nadia is available through talentedbooks.com.

Life in Death By Harlow Coban

Harlow Coban, also known as Marsha Jefferson, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) ’94, takes readers on a mysterious ride with social worker Kari Marchant who attempts to uncover the truth behind the brutal murder of a child she placed in foster care. Marchant experiences pitfalls as she falls under suspicion, falls in love with a homicide detective involved with the case, and becomes a target of murder herself. The book pulls from real-life situations in the author’s own family history. Coban is based in North Carolina. Life in Death is available through amazon.com.

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THE BUZZ

Recognition

ArizonaPhoenix While LeRoy Yager, Doctorate of Management (DM) ’09, is not planning on becoming the next Steve Jobs, he does have a handy new software product on the market. The first of May marked the official beta launch of ResearchRep (researchrep.com), the Internet version of a tool he created while working on his doctoral dissertation that manages research information. He’s also founder of a company called Malachi Ventures, which generously donates $5 of every customer’s purchase to the subscriber’s general scholarship fund.

CaliforniaSacramentoJonathan Burgess, Bachelor of Science in Business with a Concentration in Management (BSB/M) ’99, recently landed the title of battalion chief with the Sacramento Fire Department, but he still has another professional goal on his bucket list: to build a better burger. “I am in the process of structuring and opening what I believe will be the best burger business since In-N-Out, Burgess Brother’s Burgers,” he says. A natural-born entrepreneur, Burgess is also the CEO and owner of a successful, independent real estate company, Code 3 Realty, which has four office locations in northern California.

FloridaTampa A leisurely retirement after 20 years of service with the United States Army just wasn’t in the cards for Wayne N. Taylor,

Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security (MS/AJS) ’09. With military experience as a counterintelligence officer and human intelligence officer combinedwithhisUOPXdegree,hehadthe perfect background to land the job of managing partner with EKS Security Services, LLC, a subordinate company of EKS Group, LLC, a defense contracting company based in Tampa, Florida.

Indiana Lebanon After graduating from University of Phoenix with her Associate of Arts in Business (AAB) in 2011, Loralyn Hutchens moved on to her next goal and began studying for the Certified Legal Manager (CLM) examination, sponsored by the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). In November 2011, Hutchens became the fourth CLM in the state of Indiana. Previously, she had attained the Certified Professional Legal Secretary (CPLS) certification and the Registered Paralegal (RP) certification. Hutchens is now the CLM and administrator for Parr Richey Obremskey Frandsen & Patterson LLP in Lebanon.

Iowa Des Moines André Allen, Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Technology Management (MBA/TM) ’04, is giving inner city kids a “sporting” chance. The CEO of the nonprofit Dynamic Sports YOU (DSY) is developing a youth-oriented athletic facility, which is set to break ground in Des Moines this fall. The facility

will offer programs that create a vision through leadership and sports psychology education; provide dynamic sports leagues, fitness classes, weight training, one-on-one coaching and mentoring through accomplished coaches and athletes who understand how to navigate the road to success. DSY will also feature medical facilities, cutting-edge technology and education centers, and executive office space. For more information, visit dynamicsportsYOU.org.

New York Oswego Beth Hilton, Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing (MBA/MKT) ’05, recently was one of the Women of Distinction honored during the 100th Anniversary Gala sponsored by Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways.

Hilton was among the lineup of 100 women, men and organizations in central New York “who inspire girls to achieve and lead,” according to NYPENN Pathways. Hilton called the recognition an honor, saying, “It is important to me that I strive to always be a good role model simply by following many of the principles that I learned as a young woman growing up and are reinforced through the Girl Scouts.”

An Oswego native, Hilton served as the chamber’s executive director since May 2009.


University News

Seven emerging trends that will change the way you work From outsourcing to crowdsourcing and from smartphones to smart machines, seven bold trends are about to reshape how you do your job, according to a new study conducted by the Institute for the Future (IFTF) for Apollo Research Institute. Titled “Future of Work,” the report investigates key shifts likely to reshape work in the next 10 years. The report includes an executive summary and seven papers, with each paper forecasting one of the following emerging trends:

1. The VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. More than ever before, organizations and individuals will be forced to accept uncertainty and need to rapidly reconfigure resources in response to unpredictable events.

2. “Superstructing.” Connective technologies are enabling individuals and groups to create things that previously only large-scale organizations or formal institutions could create.

3. Flat-world labor. Outsourcing is combining with crowdsourcing platforms to create virtual collaboration across borders, making the ability to orchestrate ad hoc value networks a highly valued skill.

4. Smart machines. Over the next decade, people will increasingly be delegating tasks that are repetitive, dangerous, data-intensive or too large or too small for humans to perform effectively to machines.

5. Data-intensive work. The boundaries between the digital and physical worlds are blurring, creating “blended realities” where the value of big data will be discovered and where we will spend more of our time and attention.

6. Information-driven sociality. New social networking tools are facilitating deeper on-the-job coordination of professional teams and will require that individuals and organizations become adept at navigating the new norms and practices of these evolving techno-social modes of interactions.

7. Deep diversity. The concept of diversity will expand to new dimensions, requiring new levels of tolerance and nuance on the part of leadership and management.

To see the report, visit http://bit.ly/apollo-futurework.

Meet the UOPX College of Humanities’ new dean Robert W. Ridel brings an illustrious background as a professor, academic chair, management consultant and career coach to his newroleasdeanoftheUOPXCollegeofHumanities.

On the academic front, he’s been in the higher education trenches for three decades as professor and academic chair. He recently servedasaleadfacultyattheUOPXOregonCampusandhadthehonor of being a research fellow with the National Institutes for Health.

Operating in both educational and corporate spheres, he’s president of Coach Professionals, a subsidiary of RWR Consulting, Inc., which helps clients advance in their careers and works with companies to become more productive and profitable. Equally dedicated to student success, he considers graduation ceremonies as a special moment of triumph. “When our students walk across the stage this year, complete with huge smiles and hopes, I know we as faculty contributed to their future success,” he says. “It will be a great feeling.”

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YOUR UNIVERSITY | University News | Campus News

Campus News

Madison Campus raises hope, awareness and scholarship dollars In March, the Madison Campus sponsored the 2012 ATHENA Awards. Hosted by The Business Forum, a women’s networking organization that raises money for scholarships for women college students, the event presented awards for outstanding achievement, service and assistance to women in reaching their full personal and leadership potential. The event drew a crowd of nearly 300 people and included a silent auction.

In April, the campus recognized local student Lowell Watson and Suzanne Radtke with the Madison Campus Cares 2012 scholarships for their stories of perseverance, as well as their desire to attain careers that positively impact people living in their community. The campus announced a scholarship workshop later in the month that would help students learn to write effective essay question responses as well as how to find scholarship opportunities.

Additionally, the campus staff and faculty recently donated materials for the Schools of Hope “Learning Kits.” The bags, made up of donated items, are filled with educational materials for students to keep at home, including bilingual books and activities. Schools of Hope is a unique collaboration of the United Way of Dane County, Centro Hispano and the Madison Metropolitan School District, whose mission is to work with school staff to increase the academic performance of students of color and those from low-income families. In addition to donating Learning Kit items, staff members are also becoming Schools of Hope tutors to help support the initiative.

Above: Nadia Kaminski poses next to the campus donations table for the Schools of Hope Project.

Southern California Campus launches ground BS/EVS program The Southern California Campus Ontario Learning Center recently had 50-plus attendees at the Opportunity is Growing: Panel Discussion & Info Night for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree launch. The event featured a talk by Dr. Hinrich Eylers, associate provost of College of Arts & Sciences and dean for the College of Natural Science, and gave potential and current students an opportunity to learn more about the BS/EVS program curriculum and emerging opportunities within the environmental science field. Attendees also had the opportunity to network with advisors, faculty, alumni, online BS/EVS students and industry experts.

Shear goodness Indianapolis Campus employee Eric Borchardt recently shaved his head as a participant of a local St. Baldrick’s event. The fundraiser, backed by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and held every St. Patrick’s Day, was one of many that took place in communities around the world in an effort to “conquer kid’s cancer.” This was Borchardt’s second year of gathering pledges and losing his locks to fund children’s cancer research. The Indianapolis event was one of three in the area. Borchart, who grew his hair out for six months prior to the event, was joined by approximately 125 fellow shavees who helped raise $117,260 for the cause. For more information, visit stbaldricks.org.

Above: Eric Borchardt before and after shaving his head for St. Baldrick’s.


Community RelationsYOUR UNIVERSITY | Community Relations

Minneapolis/St. Paul Campus aids injured high school hockey player After Jack Jablonski, a local high school hockey player, suffered injuries duringahockeygamethatlefthimparalyzed,theUOPXMinneapolis/St.Paul Campus sprang into action to help. The campus hosted an inspirational fundraising event in April that included video tributes; cards from staff, students and faculty wishing him a speedy recovery; and a special guest appearance by Shjon Podein, a 15-year National Hockey League (NHL) veteran and Stanley Cup winner with the Colorado Avalanche. Podein shared stories ofhislifeintheNHLandsignedUOPXhockeysticksforstudentsandstaff.Inaddition,twoUOPXfacultymembersdeliveredinspirationalmessagesduringtwo workshops focused on the power of positivity.

Event participants, wearing Jablonski’s lucky number 13 pin, donated money through the Jack Jablonski Fund website to help the courageous athlete. Campus Director Bob Zalabak said, “We were happy to be able to support Jack and the community with an event like this. Jack’s message of ‘belief’ aligns perfectly with the mission of the University of Phoenix, and I think that hit home with students and staff alike. We hope that Jack continues to make progress in his recovery, and we will be supporting him every step of the way.”

For more information about the Jack Jablonski Fund, visit jabby13.com.

Shjon Podein, a 15-year veteran of the National Hockey League and Stanley Cup winner with the Colorado Avalanche, signs University of Phoenix hockey sticks as part of a fundraiser for an injured local high school student.

THE SPORTS ISSUE

Read All About It: UOPX teams up with Houston rockets to boost literacy The University of Phoenix recently teamed up with the Houston Rockets as part of a reading competition across Houston school districts that made cracking a book a slam dunk. Titled Read.Play.Win!™, the literacy program rewarded individual students and schools for reading the most number of minutes during a six-week competition.

Following a tip-off rally at the Toyota Center, home for the Houston Rockets, students in participating schools districts made a fast break for the books. Six weeks later, the event culminated with a Jam Fest for all participating schools that included Clutch (the Rockets Mascot), Rockets Power Dancers, students, staff and the Rockets Launch Crew team.

At the end of the program’s fourth quarter, the scores were: Forty-three schools from the Houston area participated, with students reading more than 1.6 million total minutes. The first place school receivedaUOPX/Rocketsreadingcornerintheschool library, tickets to a Rockets game and a Rockets school rally with Clutch. The second place school received a laptop, tickets to a Rockets game and school rally by Clutch, and the third place school received a Scholastic gift card and Rockets tickets. Each grade level had individual winners who were rewarded with age-appropriate Kindle and LeapFrog reading devices and gift cards.

JA in a Day in Minnesota SixteenUOPXMinneapolis/St.PaulCampusstaffmembers recently paired up to teach Excell Academy’s kindergartners through sixth graders lessons in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and workplace readiness as part of Junior Achievement’s JA in a Day. Junior Achievement’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed within the global economy.

phoenixfocus.com 47

Have you seen Phoenix Patriot?A quarterly magazine, Phoenix Patriot highlights the selfless contributions our military community makes on a daily basis.

phoenixpatriotmagazine.com

©2012 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved.


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EventsYOUR UNIVERSITY | Events

June

2ColumbusProfessional Development Seminar9:15–11:30 a.m. Columbus Campus 8415 Pulsar Drive, Suite 100 Columbus, OH 43240 For more information, contact [email protected]

DetroitCareer Workshop: Your Brand4400 Town Center Dr. Southfield, MI 48075 For more information, contact [email protected]

6PittsburghCareer Innovation 20129 a.m. to 3 p.m. David L. Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 19107 careerinnovation-pittsburgh. eventbrite.com

San AntonioSan Antonio Alumni Chapter Inaugural Meeting 6–8 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected]

7Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Career Fair 10–11:30 a.m. Oklahoma City Campus 6501 N Broadway Extension Oklahoma City, OK 73116 For more information, contact [email protected]

TulsaCareer Fair10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tulsa Campus 14002 East 21st Street, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74134 For more information, contact [email protected]

DallasDallas Alumni Chapter Inaugural Event For more information, contact [email protected]

8HeidelbergAugusta European Alumni Reception6–8 p.m. ART Hotel Grabengasse 7 D 69117 Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany europeanalumni.eventbrite.com

9UtahCriminal Justice Symposium and Career Fair 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.Utah Campus 5373 S. Green St., Room 103 Salt Lake City, UT 84123 uopxutah.eventbrite.com

15UtahUtah Alumni Game Night with the Salt Lake Bees7–10 p.m. Spring Mobile Ballpark 77 West 1300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84115 uopxutah.eventbrite.com

21AtlantaBecome a Leader Open House6–8 p.m. Atlanta Campus 8200 Roberts Dr. Sandy Springs, GA 30350 uopatlanta.eventbrite.com


EventsTHE SPORTS ISSUE

29PhoenixPhoenix Career Innovation 20129 a.m.–3 p.m. Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel 340 N. Third St. Phoenix, AZ 85004 careerinnovation-phoenix.eventbrite.com

June

July

14TulsaCareer Workshop: Resume EssentialsTulsa Campus 14002 East 21st Street, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74134 resumeessentialstulsa.eventbrite.com

18Boston Boston Alumni Chapter Inaugural Event 6:30–8 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected]

25ChicagoChicago Alumni Chapter Inaugural Event 6:30–8 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected]

28TulsaCareer Workshop: Informational Networking 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tulsa Campus 14002 East 21st Street, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74134 infointerviewtulsa.eventbrite.com

commencement ceremoniesFind a list of upcoming commencement ceremonies online at phoenixfocus.com in the events section of this issue.

phoenixfocus.com 51

FEATURE | Career trends of 2012

One person can

make a huge di�erence

in someone’s career.

Be the one. Be a mentor.

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

Alumni Association

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