Volume 54 | April 22, 2022

Business Affairs Bulletin April 22, 2022

The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In this issue: Celebrating Earth Day - Musa Pam, Associate Vice President, Facilities Management Rebel Recycling Diverts Reusable Items from Local Landfill Employee Profile: Yashin Armstrong UNLV Sustainability Facts UNLV Surplus Center Pop-up Shop and Donation Drive Take Your Child to Work Day Employee Assistance Program wellness webinar: Managing Work anxiety Rebel Reset Mind Body Medicine WorkShop New Hires Promotions April Anniversaries Dates to Remember

Celebrating Earth Day - Musa Pam, Associate Vice President, Facilities Management

Every April, as we celebrate Earth Month, people across the world turn their attention to preserving our planet’s natural resources. In particular, April 22 - also known as Earth Day - is a fantastic way to shine a light on global sustainability efforts, but keeping our planet habitable for years to come requires a focus on sustainability during the entire year - not just one month.  Implementing sustainable initiatives is something I’ve been passionate about throughout my career. When universities are committed to sustainability, it creates a vibrant campus culture, improves the quality of life for employees, students, and the local community, and demonstrates a commitment to a better future. I’m pleased that sustainability is now a part of our Top Tier 2.0 Infrastructure and Shared Governance (ISG) foundational core area. Dr. Lisa Davis from the Office of Graduate Student Support and I formed a UNLV Sustainability Council composed of representatives from various campus areas to create measurable milestones that further our progress toward our sustainability goals. The council is actively developing recommendations on a bold climate action plan that we will present to the Top Tier 2.0 ISG Executive Committee in December. We look forward to sharing details about the plan when it is approved.  UNLV’s commitment to sustainability is not new. We have already laid a solid foundation for building a comprehensive and impactful sustainability program through initiatives and programs like Rebel Recycling, LEED-certified buildings, digital documentation, electric car charging, solar power partnerships, and many more. I am excited to enhance these efforts and help UNLV become a sustainability leader in Southern Nevada.  ~Musa Pam, Associate Vice President, Facilities Management

Rebel Recycling Diverts Reusable Items from Local Landfill

When Rebel Recycling began collecting reusable items from the residence halls during the May “move out season” in 1996, they placed cardboard boxes in residence hall lobbies and collected approximately 100 lbs. of reusable items. The program evolved and in 2019, the team collected approximately 15,000 lbs of reusable items. It got them thinking - what if we had a way to collect reusable items all year long? How much more of an impact could we make? Three years later, they are making this idea a reality. They collaborated with UNLV Dining to use funds specifically allotted to advance sustainability initiatives to procure 12 reusable donation bins. Then, they worked with Housing and Residential Life to secure approval to place the newly procured bins on the first floor of each residence hall. Rebel Recycling installed the bins during spring break - just in time for the 2022 move-out season. The team will empty the containers on a weekly basis, making room for more items.  Rebel Recycling donates reusable items to local charitable organizations. Bedding goes to local animal rescue foundations. Clothing and other items go to Goodwill, Savers, and a local church. They hope the new visually appealing bins will encourage students to reuse their items instead of placing them in a nearby dumpster. Reusing items has a significant environmental impact. It saves natural resources such as forests and water, reduces the energy used to dismantle and manufacture products, lowers the number of reusable items in landfills, and cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.  If you have a reusable item you no longer need, consider dropping it off at Rebel Recycling or The UNLV Surplus Center. Both campus teams will work diligently to give those items a new life and keep them out of landfills.

Employee Profile: Yashin Armstrong

Yahsin “Sinn” Armstong, facility supervisor for Rebel Recycling, has been a positive influence on campus since 2016. Originally from Newark, New Jersey, his first job at UNLV was in the dining commons as a temporary employee. Soon after being hired, his infectious positivity and hard work won over his supervisor and earned him a permanent position. “I never say no to learning a new skill. You’ll never know when you will need it,” he said. No matter how difficult the job is, Sinn finds a way to “bring the sunshine” to every new task.  Throughout Sinn’s life, he has purposefully sought out opportunities that add to his skills and knowledge. “I’ve been a line cook, worked on small engines and trucks, done sewer work, and even owned my own kitchen in a bar,” he explained. His love for learning new skills keeps him exploring new opportunities at UNLV. Working at a university offers many chances to learn as he found out by joining the recycling team just two months ago. “I wasn’t sure about moving into a position where I would need a desk, because I like being active and moving around, but this seemed like a challenge that could be very interesting,” he said. As a supervisor, Sinn is responsible for making sure that the staff understands what needs to be done by working shoulder to shoulder with them as they sort through the contents of recycling bins and get materials bundled for pick up by Republic Services. His duties also include processing the compost waste from campus so that food waste can go to a local pig farm. “It’s eye-opening to see how much waste we produce and what good it can do for others,” he said.  Sinn carries this value of sustainability into his personal life. When he’s not at work, he spends his time repurposing objects to create something new and finishing DIY projects to create a beautiful home for himself and his wife. “I’ve been working outside a lot lately. My goal is to have a working garden that can provide food. I’d love to have a couple of citrus trees, vegetables, and herbs in the yard,” he said. He also finds time to relax by enjoying vintage shows like He-Man, GI-Joe, and Dragon Ball Z. “I like all the original cartoons from when I was a kid. They just make me smile and feel good.” His good-natured attitude is something he makes a goal to share with others. “Leaving the facilities crew to come to the Rebel Recycling was like leaving family but I think I can really help make connections all over campus.” One of the larger projects coming up for Rebel Recycling is the residence hall move-out, an initiative that involves removing items students leave behind and finding organizations that can reuse these items instead of sending them to the landfill. “Working at Rebel Recycling has really increased my knowledge of all the things we can do to save our planet–small changes can make a big difference.” One of the ways that the UNLV community can support the efforts of Rebel Recycling, is by making sure items are disposed of properly for recycling. “Having the right items in the bins really helps us process them. It only takes a moment and makes a big difference."

UNLV Sustainability Facts

821.5 megawatt hours: Amount of electricity generated by UNLV solar panels 17: Number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on the Maryland and Shadow Lane campuses.  812: Tons of material diverted from landfills in 2019 74 percent: Reduction in water use per square foot since 2000 36 percent: Reduction in energy use per square foot since 2000 1.3 million square feet: Amount of turfgrass replaced with water-saving desert landscape 8,000: Items the UNLV Surplus Center processes per year; reducing landfill waste and providing affordable repurposed goods to the community during challenging economic times.

Surplus Center Pop-up Shop and Donation Drive April 30

The UNLV Surplus Center, in partnership with 91.5 KUNV, is hosting an indoor community pop-up shop and donation drive on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1325 E. Flamingo Rd.

Check out Surplus Center special deals Donate used goods and/or non-perishable food items Shop local vendors (Alaska's Bakery, Tea Bath Products, Candles by Sisters Under the Moonlight, Karen's Krystal Brittles, Embellish Fudge & Gifts)

Groove to 91.5 KUNV jams and meet their team while supporting local small businesses and the UNLV Surplus mission. All food donations will benefit the UNLV Food Pantry. Visit the UNLV Surplus Center webpage for more information.

Take Your Child to Work Day April 28

The Women’s Council’s Family Advocacy Committee is pleased to announce that UNLV will celebrate Take Your Child to Work Day on April 28! Events will take place throughout campus from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children of all ages are welcome. Visit the Take Your Child to Work Day web page for a list of events and to download a voluntary waiver. Children must have a completed waiver on file to participate in any Take Your Child to Work Day Event.  At this time our lunch registration has closed due to reaching capacity. If you would still like to join us for the lunch activities, please feel free. You can purchase food in the Student Union or other nearby locations. Contact Take Your Child to Work Day Committee

Employee Assistance Program Wellness Webinar: Managing Work Anxiety

UNLV Benefits will host a virtual seminar on Wednesday, May 11 at 12 p.m. to discuss ways to manage work anxiety. Learn coping strategies specific to workplace situations and how you can apply them to positively impact your life. Register via GoToWebinar.

Rebel Reset: Mind Body Medicine Workshop

Join Dr. Annie Weisman and Kathi Pauli on Friday, April 29 at 12 p.m. for this virtual event. Gain a deeper understanding of what mind body medicine is and the positive impact it can have on your day-to-day life. Visit the Rebel Reset webpage for registration instructions.

New Hires

Taylor Galtney, Facilities Management Teneshia Spencer, Facilities Management Cameron Poole, Facilities Management Sabrina Liaw, Facilities Management Daniel England, Facilities Management Duane Phillips, Risk Management and Safety Ethan Overson, Facilities Management Bernard Ngari, Facilities Management Jason Lowe, Facilities Management Trenise Wilson, Facilities Management Katinka Moss, Facilities Management Roberto Nunez, Facilities Management Derek Gulosh, Facilities Management Ricky Perdue, Facilities Management Francisco Siles Rodriguez, Facilities Management Juanito Bato, Facilities Management

Promotions

Stephen Valine, Administration Technology Services Andie Davis, Facilities Management Vicki Caballero, Facilities Management Sabrina Vera, Facilities Management Elfie Catalan-Lezama, Facilities Management Xinia Carver, Facilities Management Jose Guerra, Facilities Management Orlakdy Douangprachanh, Facilities Management Yobany Vargas, Facilities Management Erik Loera, Delivery Services

April Anniversaries

Gary Freemont, 49 years Kathy Adams, 33 years Bonita Johnson, 25 years Tina Sims, 22 years Rhonda Dale, 20 years Michael Lawrence, 19 years Shana Rivers, 19 years Joseph Fernane, 16 years Craig Topple, 12 years Janine Nakazone, 10 years Jarred Achong, 7 years Daniel Green, 7 years Jaynette Hayes, 7 years Stephen Belasky, 6 years Sam Ealy, 6 years Stephen Valine, 6 years J.R. Myers, 4 years Jose Guerra, 4 years Al'lesha Moore, 4 years Heather Ortiz, 3 years Jason Hargis, 3 years Bridget Hahn, 3 years Kimberly Seifert, 3 years Tosho Genkov, 3 years Gregory Fernandez, 2 years Elijah Robinson, 1 year

Dates to Remember  April 22: Earth Day April 27: Supplier check pickup April 28: Take Your Child to Work Day April 30: Surplus Center Pop-up Shop and Donation Drive