Business Affairs Bulletin

The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In This Issue.....

• Celebrating Our 2025 Accomplishments
• Faculty Length of Service Recognition Program
• September and October Employee Appreciation Recipients 
• Business Affairs Bites
• Recognizing Business Affairs Winter 2025 Graduates
• Remember to Recognize
• Human Rights Month
• SAD Month
• How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree with Rebel Recycling
• Dates to Remember

Celebrating Our 2025 Accomplishments

As we step into the new year, we’re excited to celebrate the division's accomplishments in 2025. Thank you to everyone for the hard work that made these successes possible.

Visit the Business Affairs Accomplishments Google Site to celebrate our wins.

Faculty Length of Service Recognition Program

Employee Appreciation Recipients

Her leadership on the communications campaign for the new transit center parking garage reflects this consistency through thoughtful questions, professional stakeholder engagement, and development of a clear framework for a highly visible campus project. Liz has also integrated into the broader Business Affairs community, contributing to CARE ambassador initiatives and modeling CARE values in daily interactions. Her work has supported alignment and trust across the division. 

Thank you, Liz, for your work and collaborative energy.

Each month, Frank reviews and schedules 400 to 500 preventive maintenance work orders while maintaining a 93 percent completion rate. His proactive planning and custom scheduling tools have enhanced efficiency and helped ensure systems operate at peak performance throughout the year.

Frank exemplifies the Business Affairs CARE standards through collaboration, accountability, and a strong commitment to excellence. 

Thank you, Frank, for your outstanding service.

Rather than simply reporting the concern, he brought the appropriate departments together, outlined the risks, and collaborated with the Student Union team to implement a practical solution that restored safe pedestrian access while supporting delivery operations.



His proactive work improved visibility, pedestrian flow, and cross-department communication, helping prevent potential accidents in a high-traffic area. Caleb’s actions reflect the Business Affairs CARE standards through collaboration, accountability, and a shared commitment to campus safety.

Thank you, Caleb, for your exceptional work.

Business Affairs Bites

Welcome to Business Affairs Bites, a monthly feature where Business Affairs team members share their favorite dining spots near campus so others can enjoy them too.

If you have a go-to restaurant, coffee shop, or snack spot that everyone should know about, submit it through our survey! It only takes a couple of minutes, and your pick could be featured in an upcoming edition.

This month’s recommendation comes from Sarath Kraus, Director, Systems Change Management.

Cugino's Italian Deli & Pizzeria • $ Budget / Casual (Under $15) • Italian

4550 S Maryland Pkwy, Ste 20, Las Vegas, NV 89119 (It’s across the street!)

Loves: Food, vibe, service

Meh: Deli salads

Hey, Sarath! What makes Cugino’s special?

Cugino's reminds me of an Italian deli you would find on the East Coast. It's a hidden gem conveniently located across the street from the Student Union on Maryland Parkway. When you step inside, it feels like you’ve been transported back to 2010, the heyday of the reality show Jersey Shore. The restaurant has an unpretentious vibe, decorated with plastic breads and cold cuts hanging from the ceiling. The food is exactly what you would expect from an Italian deli: the pizza is good, the sandwiches are decent, and the service is excellent.

What's the #1 menu item that we HAVE to try?

I'm not strong enough to choose just one menu item. My three favorite dishes are the eggplant parmigiana hot sandwich, the Reuben melt, and the garlic knots. The garlic knots come in a portion of four, so be prepared for a carb overload.

Is there anything else we should know before we go?

Maryland Parkway remains under construction. If driving, add a few extra minutes to account for traffic.

Info from the Comm Team

We tried it! The food here was classic Italian and so good, and the diversity of the options on the menu is great. Also, we discovered that UNLV faculty, staff, and students receive a discount on regular menu items with their RebelCards. Give it a try!

Recognizing Business Affairs Winter 2025 Graduates

Congratulations to the following Business Affairs team members who graduated from UNLV in winter 2025:

• Miah Griffith, Facilities Management, Main Warehouse
• Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
• Sarah Sterling, Purchasing and Contracts 
• Master of Public Administration 
• Cameron Gaetos, Rebel Recycling
• Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
• Andrea Reyes, Facilities Management Business Office
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting
• Ryan Tilleth, Cashiering and Student Accounts 
• Master of Science in Hotel Administration
• Kennedy Alila, Risk Management & Safety
• Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering

Remember to Recognize

As 2025 comes to a close, take a moment to recognize your colleagues by submitting nominations for the December Business Affairs Employee Appreciation Awards by Dec. 25 at 5 p.m. Anyone can submit a nomination. The award is $100 for each monthly recipient, and these recipients will be entered into a pool for the $1,000 Employee of the Year award.



To nominate an outstanding colleague, visit the Business Affairs Employee Resources webpage and complete the nomination form.

Human Rights Month

December is Human Rights Month, a time to reflect on the fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every person. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations in 1948, a landmark document that continues to shape global conversations about dignity, equity, and justice. The UDHR's full text is available on the United Nations website.

At UNLV, Human Rights Month is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful campus environment where all members of our community feel valued, supported, and able to thrive.

SAD Month

December is also recognized as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month. SAD is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern and commonly occurs during the fall and winter months when daylight hours are shorter. Increasing awareness helps reduce stigma and encourages understanding of how seasonal changes can affect mental health and well-being. UNLV offers a variety of support resources for faculty and staff, including RebelWELL wellness programs and other campus services designed to promote balance, connection, and mental health support during the winter months and beyond.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree with Rebel Recycling

When the holiday season comes to a close, live Christmas trees can be recycled and repurposed rather than sent to the landfill. Through the Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Program, trees are chipped into nutrient-rich mulch that supports public parks, school gardens, and landscaping projects across the Las Vegas Valley. Since tree recycling began tracking totals in 2001, valley residents have recycled 306,151 trees, creating more than 2,694 tons of mulch. Last winter, 9,762 trees were recycled—helping spare 1,298 cubic yards of landfill volume. Let’s boost that number this year and help meet (or exceed) the valley’s average of 15,300 trees diverted.

From Dec. 26 through Jan. 15, Las Vegas residents can drop off trees for free at more than 30 convenient locations, including the Rebel Recycling Center. Before you drop off your tree, remove all non-organic items (lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands). These materials contaminate mulch and can damage the chippers. Flocked trees cannot be recycled. 

UNLV Drop-Off Location (Rebel Recycling): Flamingo & Swenson (southeast corner), behind the three solar dishes/UNLV solar site

Need help transporting your tree? Move It offers a tree recycling pickup service for $25.

Want the finished mulch? The City of Henderson is offering free mulch pickup at select parks Dec. 28 - Jan. 19 (7 a.m. - 3 p.m.), first come, first served—bring your own containers and shovels. Additional free mulch pickup is also available through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and other community sites listed in the program details.

For more drop sites near you and more information about the program, visit the Springs Preserve Christmas Tree Recycling page.



Questions? Contact Tara Pike at Rebel Recycling.

Dates to Remember

• Dec. 21: Yule begins
• Dec. 24: Christmas Eve
• Dec. 25: Christmas Day - enjoy your day off!
• Dec. 26: Kwanzaa begins
• Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve
• Jan 1: New Year’s Day - enjoy your day off!