I&S Employee Newsletter - February 2018

Infrastructure and Safety staff members will facilitate a trio of sessions at the upcoming Diversity and Inclusion Summit on Feb. 13. I&S Learning and Development Coordinator Genna McGahee is collaborating with Organizational and Employee Development Manager Erika Sandoval from Housing and Dining Services on a session titled "Descubre tu Camino Dentro de un Diferente Ambiente Cultural"--or "Finding Your Way in a Different/Unfamiliar Cultural Environment." The seminar is open to all and will be conducted completely in Spanish, providing a good opportunity for anyone who's learning Spanish to practice. Planner Wayne Northcutt is co-chair of the Chancellor's Accessibility Committee, which will host a session titled "Building Community with CAC." Finally, Outdoor Services' LaShawnda Wilkins and Kelsey Draper from I&S Human Resources, co-chairs of the Chancellor's Committee on Race and Ethnicity, will host "Come Together ... Right Now! with the Chancellor's Committee on Race and Ethnicity." A full list of seminar sessions, times and locations, can be found on the Diversity and Inclusion Summit website. 

CU Boulder this morning announced its participation the University Climate Change Coalition, a newly formed coalition of 13 leading North American research universities that have united to help communities achieve their climate goals and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. The initiative creates a new high-profile platform through which CU Boulder's sustainability expertise can impact society. Infrastructure and Safety's Heidi VanGenderen, chief sustainability officer for CU Boulder, will lead the university's involvement. CU Boulder Today has the full UC3 announcement.

A panel including Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Safety David Kang and other I&S leaders on Jan. 24 gave participants of the Infrastructure and Safety Mentor Program (ISMP) an inside look at their respective divisions, and spoke to the group about the benefits of mentorship. Kang touted mentoring programs like ISMP as an important part of taking care of our employees and furthering their career development. The ISMP is designed to provide I&S staff with an opportunity for both professional and personal development through a variety of self-directed activities as mentor team participants. The 2018-19 edition of the ISMP will begin in September, with the application process starting in August. Questions about the program can be directed to Andy Mead at andrew.mead@colorado.edu.

How long have you been working at CU?
I began working for CU on March 1, 2010 at the Colorado Springs campus. My first promotion in October 2010 brought me to Boulder.

What is your favorite thing to do outside work?
When I leave work, my favorite thing to do is go home and relax by enjoying the company of my wife and playing with my dogs. On hot summer days with long daylight, I enjoy cooking meat over charcoal while relaxing in the front yard. Weekends are mostly for spiritual activities with the occasional camping or fishing trip.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you?
What might be surprising about me is that I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and that is the reason why I love people and treat everyone in the way I want to be treated. But what is even more surprising is that, due to my imperfections, sometimes when pushed I tend to push back. Those who know me would be really surprised if they were to witness such reaction from me.

What has been the most important innovation you have witnessed in your lifetime?
The most important innovation I have witnessed in my life I would say is the invention of the personal cellular phone, because it adds simplicity and convenience to everyday life. I still remember the days when, if your car broke down in the middle of nowhere, you had to walk to the nearest home or business to call for help. Now you can call for help from your car.

What three traits define you?
I would have to say that, thanks to my spiritual health, I maintain a high level of integrity by conducting myself honestly in all things. I am also very dependable with my responsibilities as best I can be, and I accept accountability for all my actions whether I succeed or fail.

How long have you been working for CU?
I’ve been with CU for five and a half years.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
My favorite thing to do outside of work is spend time with my kids and family doing outdoor activities, hiking in particular.  I also love cars…sports cars, classic cars. But I’m not a mechanic.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I went to junior high and high school in Boulder.

What has been the most important innovation you have witnessed in your lifetime? 
I’d have to say the internet is one of the most significant innovations in my lifetime, thus far.

What three traits define you?
I’m very loyal, I love serving our community, and family is first.

Sometimes the key to scoring sweet deals simply entails knowing where to look. Did you know that CU Boulder employees are eligible to participate in the State of Colorado’s employee discount program? BenefitHub offers hundreds of discounts, including discounts on eligible wireless plans, ski lift tickets, and tickets to attractions like the National Western Stock Show, Denver Zoo, Colorado Ballet and Denver Nuggets. Simply visit the State of Colorado's BenefitHub portal, create an account with your CU Boulder email address, and start shopping!

Campus Human Resources is hosting multiple sessions in the coming weeks that are open to all Infrastructure and Safety staff, including: 

• Feb. 8, New Employee Welcome Experience
• Feb. 13, Managers Academy: Employee Management and Compliance Essentials
• March 8, New Employee Welcome Experience

Please work with your supervisors to attend these or future trainings. Online registration is available at www.colorado.edu/hr/employee-learning. You can also contact Kelsey Draper in Human Resources with questions at 303-735-6176 or kelsey.p.draper@colorado.edu.