The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

• All-Staff Meeting Recap 
• American Heart Month
• Business Affairs in the News
• January 2025 Rebel Accessibility Hero
• January 2025 Classified Employee of the Month
• Strengthening Teams Through Real Colors: UNLV's Workshop Series
• Spotlight on Service
• New Hires / Promotions
• Anniversaries
• Dates to Remember

All-Staff Meeting Recap

Hello colleagues, 

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Business Affairs all-staff meeting on Feb. 3. It was great to participate in activities together and hear from our campus colleagues.

I began the meeting by acknowledging some of the accomplishments our teams achieved in 2024 and remembering the fun we had throughout the year including our first March Madness bracket contest, Take Your Child to Work Day events, and office decorating and holiday sweater contests. I look forward to seeing even more participation in these team building opportunities in 2025. 

I recapped the President’s State of the University address and underscored the important role Business Affairs teams will play as we expand our student population and campus infrastructure to meet the needs of future generations. Of course, funding is also important to campus growth. On the same day as our meeting, the Nevada Legislature kicked off its 83rd session. Myself along with representatives from the university will be traveling to Carson City to advocate for campus priorities. At the top of the list will be $38 million for security and safety enhancements. University leadership will share relevant updates as the session progresses. 

Next, Director of Athletics Erick Harper joined us to talk about the student athlete experience and how the work of our Business Affairs teams contributes to their success. He even brought some basketball tickets as a token of his appreciation. 

Then, we took a quick break and played CARE BINGO, an interactive game that encouraged us to get out of our seats and learn fun facts about our colleagues.  

After the break, our Campus Ombuds David Schwartz led us through a workshop on communication and collaboration, key elements of our CARE standards. The workshop gave us the opportunity to discuss prompts at our tables and gave us some tips about how to enhance communication among our teams. 

Then I shared an overview of our 2024 Business Affairs Customer Service Survey results:

• 373 responses, a slight decrease from 2023 (500) 
• The average customer service rating for the division decreased slightly from 3.5 in 2023 to 3.32 in 2024 (on a scale of 1 through 4). 
• Respondents provided more than 950 comments.
• We’ll share positive comments in upcoming editions of the Business Affairs Bulletin. Departments are analyzing the constructive comments to understand where we can improve. Speak with your supervisor if you have any questions about your department’s specific results. 

Last but certainly not least, we acknowledged all of our monthly recipients of the Business Affairs Employee Appreciation Awards and announced our 2024 employees of the year. Congratulations to: 

• Cory Martin, Building Automation System Specialist 2, Facilities Management
• Jennifer Cozzolino, Account Technician 1, Cashiering & Student Accounts

We closed out the meeting by heading outside for a division photo. Watch for our new image in an upcoming edition of the Business Affairs Bulletin!

On Feb. 5, we hosted a meeting for our Facilities team members who work the night shift. Human Resources’ Wellness Manager Sonja Rogers joined us to talk about the Corporate Challenge Games and an upcoming RebelWELL wellness day (April 29) that will feature a keynote speaker and breakout sessions on physical, emotional, occupational, and financial wellness. Sustainability Coordinator / Recycling Manager Tara Pike gave us an overview of the Rebel CAP and tested our solid waste knowledge with an interactive sorting game. Team members played BINGO and we gave away swag items and basketball tickets. Thank you to the night shift for working hard to maintain our campuses!

A special thank you to:

The planning committee:

• Chantel McDonald, Director of Strategic Projects and Training Development
• Nohealani Benicarlo, Executive Assistant 
• Alexandra Nikolich, Chief of Staff
• Heather Ortiz, Director of Communication
• Rasheda Abdullah Hairston, Communication Specialist
• Liz Davis, Communication Specialist

Lead CARE Ambassadors:

• Chelsea Meggerson
• Michael Bailey
• Jan Lasagna

Have a great rest of the semester!



American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on cardiovascular wellness.

Established in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, this initiative raises awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. 

While some people inherit certain risk factors, many are preventable. Healthy heart habits, such as eating a balanced diet, staying active, managing stress, and getting regular check-ups, can help protect your heart. Lifestyle changes, like avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and prioritizing quality sleep also support heart health. Small changes like taking the stairs or adding more vegetables to your meals, are great ways to maximize a healthy lifestyle. 

As we observe American Heart Month, it's an excellent opportunity to prioritize your well-being. Take control of your health journey. Stay proactive by scheduling a heart health screening or participating in a wellness challenge. Additionally, consider supporting impactful organizations such as the American Heart Association, The Heart Foundation, or Mended Hearts, whose work is vital to advancing heart health initiatives and supporting those affected by cardiovascular conditions.

Taking these steps not only enhances your health but also contributes to the broader effort of raising awareness and funding for heart health research.

Visit our latest RebelWELL newsletter for tips and resources on maintaining a healthy heart.

Business Affairs in the News

Spotlight on Service

Colin Tewey, Erik Loera, and the entire Moving Services team assisted students from the Shadow Lane Campus as they gathered and distributed nine pallets of non-perishable food, water, and hygiene products to those in need in Los Angeles. Please see below for a note of gratitude for their work and dedication to community service:

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude. This initiative was not just about collecting supplies; it was about standing in solidarity with a community in crisis, about proving that when people come together with purpose, the impact can be immeasurable. It was about showing what UNLV is truly capable of when students, staff, and administration unite in a mission of service.

Because of you, people who lost everything now have food, hygiene essentials, and clothing. Because of you, our impact was not just a donation; but a lifeline.” - UNLV Nursing Student

New Hires

• Bo Raymond, Delivery Services 
• Russell Valmoja, Facilities Management 
• Christian Murcia, Facilities Management

Promotions

• Connie Gamble, Real Estate 
• Gustavo Gomez, Delivery Services 
• Jeff LaGesse, Parking & Transportation Services 
• Justin Wheeler, Risk Management & Safety 
• Pedro Cruz, Administrative Services, Work Order Control Unit
• Bruce Maru-Willets, Facilities Management 
• Tyler Kawada, Risk Management & Safety

Anniversaries

Congratulations to the Business Affairs employees celebrating work anniversaries in February! Years of service have been determined using the UNLV hire date - first employment date without any breaks in service here at UNLV regardless of job type or full-time status.

If you notice an error in your listing, contact Heather Ortiz.

Dates to Remember

• February - Black History and American Heart Month 
• February 14 - Valentine’s Day
• February 17 - Presidents Day