We're pleased to introduce four new individuals who have recently joined the NACAS National Office team!

	David Arvizu joins NACAS as the director of corporate relations. Prior to NACAS, he served as president/CEO of The Sage Executive Group, LLC, and before that he concentrated his efforts in sales, marketing, business development, mergers and acquisitions, turnaround management, human resources, and operations with Pepsi U.S.A and First Data Financial Services (Western Union) on a national and international level. During his time at Pepsi USA, Arvizu directed numerous special projects including the product launch of Mountain Dew. He successfully helped launched the PepsiCo Venue Procurement Division partnering with Frito Lay, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut. Arvizu served as senior vice president at First Data (Western Union Financial Services) and had sales, marketing, and operating responsibility for the western U.S., Mexico, and the Pacific Rim. Arvizu holds: a B.A. from the University of Iowa, an MBA in marketing from the University of Wisconsin, an M.A. in personnel management from Xavier Business School, and attended the Executive Business School at Columbia University. In addition, he is a national advisor for the Veterans (VA) Administration Hospital System, a member of the President’s Council on Ethics in Business, and an adjunct professor/graduate program – marketing and human resources for the University of Iowa.
	Anita Chapman-Hobrath, CMP, joins NACAS as the Conference Coordinator. With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chapman-Hobrath brings an understanding of not only the sales and service end of the hotel business, but also food and beverage and operations knowledge of the industry. Her career began as she worked in, and ultimately managed, value-enhanced properties. She then advanced her career working with Hilton, Hyatt, and Colonial Williamsburg Hotels and Resorts. During her experience in the hotel industry, Chapman-Hobrath worked in all areas of the business. In 1999, she obtained the prestigious Certified Meeting Professionals designation and has since re-certified. She served as the 2007-2008 president of the Meeting Professionals International, Virginia Chapter (two-time Chapter of the Year Award Winner) and is very active in the meetings community. Chapman-Hobrath has been recognized as the MPI, Virginia Chapter Supplier of the Year and Planner of the Year. She has also been a senior director with HelmsBriscoe since 1997.
	Keli Hughes joins NACAS as the administrative assistant. She graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a concentration in marketing. During college Hughes worked in customer service, and after graduation she worked in the Louisa County Public School System. Hughes is excited to be working for NACAS and is looking forward to gaining experience and knowledge through the endless opportunities that NACAS offers.
	Emily Welty joins NACAS as the membership & NACAS Education Foundation coordinator. She is a University of Virginia graduate with a B.S. Ed in kinesiology. In the fall of 2012, Emily began her career as the NACAS Education Foundation Assistant. In this position she provided support, through the NACAS National Office, to the Education Foundation in planning and implementing the silent auction and raffle at two NACAS Annual Conferences. Welty is excited to continue her relationship with NACAS and feels blessed to have the opportunity to learn from a community with a wide breadth of knowledge and experiences.

 

Webinar: Jan. 14, 2014 - 3 p.m. EST - Interested in increasing bicycle commuting to your campus? Have bicycle infrastructure projects in mind, but not sure where to find the funding? In this event we will discuss strategies in funding bicycle infrastructure by partnering with nonprofits, local and state governments, and the business community. You will also hear about innovative projects at Southern Polytechnic State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology that are making their campuses dramatically more bike-friendly.

 

Webinar: Jan. 15, 2014 - 2 p.m. EST - This session will provide an overview of the ID/banking program that has been operating at Penn State for more than 10 years. We’ll examine the different aspects of the program, considering what makes for a successful partnership that serves the best interests of both students and the institution.

 

Jan. 26 - 29, 2014: Join us for the NACAS Institute for Managers (IFM) at the Dallas County Community College District. The institute is designed for managers new to generalist auxiliary service positions and for operational managers seeking a broader perspective on auxiliary services in higher education. IFM is an intensive learning experience incorporating small group seminars, operational knowledge opportunities, case study work, and group presentations.

 

March 23 - 26, 2014: Searching for a hands-on, interactive, small-group experience to take your auxiliary management skills to the next level? The NACAS Advanced Institute for Managers (AIM), hosted by the University of Notre Dame, is designed to guide participants through a logical flow of decision-making processes and issues common to auxiliary management. Experience a memorable "roadmap" to customize and use in your own campus support responsibilities.

 

July 23 - 25, 2014: The NACAS Senior Executive Institute (SEI), hosted at the Chick-fil-a headquarters, is designed for highly experienced auxiliary leaders who seek to optimize their performance and the performance of their team. SEI is an intensive learning experience incorporating small group seminars and group presentations. Executives will also be networking with colleagues experiencing similar challenges and opportunities in the auxiliary services field.

 

Drexel University and American Campus Communities celebrated the next major residential and retail milestone in University City with a ceremonial groundbreaking on Nov. 1 for the $170 million, 24-story development on Lancaster Avenue and 34th Street. The development is the largest project in both Drexel and American Campus history and features student housing, retail space, and a dining center.

 

Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services is proud to announce the launch of a new corporate website named www.ChartwellsMagazine.com. Based on the company’s award-winning public facing newsletter by the same name, Chartwells developed the website to provide useful information quickly and easily to the public, students, parents, and current and potential college and university business partners, as well as the media.

 

Harry C. Moores Student Union, including One Main Cafe, enhances student life experience; lunch sales are up 50 percent, late-night business is up approximately 20 percent compared to last year, and the addition of the barista bar has increased campus coffee sales by 10 percent.

 

The Hobart Center for Foodservice Sustainability (HCFS), a nonprofit, industry-wide forum supporting the foodservice industry’s drive for sustainable equipment and design, is currently accepting applications for its annual $5,000 sustainability grant. The 2013 HCFS grant recipient was Duluth Grill in Duluth, Minn. The grant, now in its seventh year, is awarded to the individual or organization judged to have the best-executed foodservice or grocery sustainability project of the year. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 28, 2014, and the recipient will be announced in mid-April.

 

Margie E. Lawrence is the kind of person movies are made of. She’s kind, compassionate, caring, hardworking, and successful. She’s proud to be an American and loves sports. She’s turned a job into a successful career, married the love of her life, and raised three boys. "Margie embodies the essences of a true model employee, said Tim Gift, associate director of facilities management and Lawrence’s direct supervisor. "She cares deeply about the students, her employees, and the university." Lawrence came to Virginia Tech more than 33 years ago, in 1980 and has worked her way up the professional ladder from a janitorial supervisor to the assistant director for housekeeping and furnishings for the residence hall system. She’s stayed, she says, in part because the students and staff here are wonderful. And, she has no immediate plans to retire, she says.

 

Are you interested in sitting for the CASP exam at the NACAS South conference in Clearwater, Fla., on April 12 - 16? Then make sure you submit your CASP application by the Jan. 15 deadline! CASP is a four-year certification for aspiring auxiliary services professionals. It is a 150-question, multiple-choice exam that proves individuals can be directors of auxiliary services and that they have the skills necessary to succeed in auxiliary services.