The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In this issue:

• Message from Vice President / CFO Casey Wyman
• Notes of Gratitude
• September Employee Appreciation Recipients
• Business Affairs in the News
• UNLV’s Advanced Engineering Building Wins Prestigious Engineering News-Record Award
• Rebel Climate Action Plan (CAP) featured on KTNV Channel 13
• Cast Your Vote: Bring More Solar Power to UNLV!
• Holiday Decor & Sweater Competition
• Remember to Recognize!
• New Hires / Promotions
• Anniversaries
• Dates to Remember

Message from Vice President / CFO

Casey Wyman

Hello colleagues,

November, which is nationally recognized as Gratitude Month, coincides with my one-year anniversary at UNLV. I think this is something special, as it's given me a chance to reflect on all the changes I’ve experienced over the past year and the things for which I am truly grateful. At the top of this list is having the opportunity to be part of an incredible group of people who make it happen every day.

Our teams do so much work behind-the-scenes to support the university and help students cross the commencement stage. I love going out on campus - either in the golf cart or on a morning jog - to see our teams in action and chat with students. It’s given me an even greater appreciation for all the responsibilities - both small and large - that our teams handle on a daily basis. This attention to detail makes a difference for our students.

Thank you for the CARE you put into your work. You are a big reason why UNLV continues to thrive and why I’m proud to be a Rebel.  

I’d like to wish you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving. I hope you find time to relax, spend moments with those you love, and do things that bring you happiness. 

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and thank you for all you do!

Cheers,

Casey

Notes of Gratitude

The holiday season is upon us, a time of year that ushers in an attitude of gratitude. We are excited to feature notes of appreciation written by Business Affairs team members for their colleagues. We hope these heartfelt acknowledgments bring smiles to the faces of the hardworking individuals who make this division a great place to work throughout the year.

Thank you to everyone who submitted notes! The six winners were randomly selected and won Business Affairs swag items. Congratulations to:

• Cherrie Garrity, Real Estate
• Gina Gamble, Real Estate
• Ronald Tabick, Facilities Management
• Mari Soto-Valdez, Financial Planning, Budget, & Analysis 
• Daniel Davis, Telecommunications
• Jan Lasagna, Parking & Transportation Services

Visit the Business Affairs Gratitude site to read notes of gratitude from your colleagues.

September Employee Appreciation Recipients

Business Affairs in the News

UNLV’s Advanced Engineering Building Wins Prestigious Engineering News-Record Award

UNLV’s Advanced Engineering Building (AEB), won a 2024 Best Projects Award from Engineering News-Record (ENR) Southwest in the Higher Education/Research category. 

The award celebrates the building’s cutting-edge design, placing it among the best engineering projects in Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. 

CORE Construction, PGAL, Smith Group (architects), and UNLV’s Planning & Construction team accepted the honor at a ceremony earlier this month in Phoenix. The recognition was also featured in the October issue of ENR Southwest.

This win puts AEB in the running for the national Best of the Best Awards, set to be announced next spring in New York City. These awards recognize the very best projects across the country.

As we cheer on AEB in its next round of recognition, we encourage you to take some time and explore the full list of regional winners. Go Rebels!

Rebel Climate Action Plan Featured on KTNV Channel 13

UNLV’s Rebel Climate Action Plan (CAP) took the spotlight on KTNV Channel 13, showcasing the university’s efforts in sustainability. The segment featured insights from Musa Pam, associate vice president of Facilities Management and a passionate UNLV student. Watch the video and read the full article to catch up on the CAP.

Cast Your Vote: Bring More Solar Power to UNLV!

Be a part of UNLV’s commitment to sustainability and help shape a cleaner and greener future! 

NV Energy’s Community Based Solar Resource program is seeking your input to decide where the next solar array should be built, and both UNLV’s Maryland and Shadow Lane campuses are in the running. 

These solar sites will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide clean energy to the NV energy grid, benefitting our entire community. 

When all votes are submitted, NV Energy will bring the top locations to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada for final approval. Let’s rally together and make UNLV a leader in renewable energy!

Don’t miss your chance to make a difference — voting is open until Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 11:59 pm. 

Cast your vote today! To learn more about this initiative, visit the NV Energy Community-Based Solar Program website.

Holiday Decor & Sweater Competition

The holiday season is upon us, and it’s time to bring some holiday cheer to Business Affairs. We are excited to announce two festive competitions: Holiday Workspace Decor and Holiday Sweater! This is your chance to showcase your creativity, teamwork, and spirit.

Workplace decor and holiday sweaters will be judged by a team of UNLV representatives from outside Business Affairs. Prizes will be awarded for both competitions. See below for information about how to participate and competition guidelines. 

1. Holiday Office Decor Competition

• Select your team: You can participate individually or team up with colleagues. 
• Register: Sign up using the Holiday Competition Google Form to let us know you’re in.
• Choose a theme: Examples can include classic holiday, winter wonderland, holidays around the world, etc. Remember to show respect for cultures and avoid anything potentially offensive.  
• Decorate: Complete your decorations by Dec. 16. When decorating your space, safety comes first. Remember to follow these fire safety guidelines.
• Judging: Starting at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 17, judges will visit the workspaces of all those who signed up through the Google Form to rate their decor according to the following criteria: 
• Creativity
• Festive spirit
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork
• Overall aesthetic appeal

2. Holiday Sweater Contest

• Register: Sign up using the Holiday Competition Google Form to let us know you’re in!
• Select your sweater: Raid your closet or design your own unique sweater. The more creative, the better! Remember to show respect for cultures and avoid anything potentially offensive.  
• Judging: At 9 a.m. on Dec. 17, gather in CSB room 129 to show off your holiday style. The judges will rate each sweater according to the following criteria:
• Creativity
• Festiveness
• Originality
• Humor

We hope these friendly competitions allow us to collaborate with one another, show our creativity, and have a little festive fun. Please reach out to Alex Nikolich if you have any questions. 

Remember to Recognize!

As 2024 comes to a close, take a moment to recognize your colleagues by submitting nominations for the November Business Affairs Employee Appreciation Awards by Nov. 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.

New Hires

• Cesar Perez, Facilities Management
• Rhoda Washington, Facilities Management
• Zachary Ruiz, Facilities Management
• Gavin Morley, Facilities Management
• Martha Foleni, Facilities Management
• Anthony Aguilar Murillo, Risk Management & Safety
• Hakim Kamal, Facilities Management
• Mia Verduzco, Risk Management & Safety
• Regan Jaced Nacario, Facilities Management
• Russell Griffin, Facilities Management
• Sophia Isabel Patenia, Risk Management & Safety
• Andrea Reyes, Facilities Management
• Deanna Calderon, Financial Services
• Evan Volk, Facilities Management
• Maya Rivera, Facilities Management
• Michelle Zaborowski, Facilities Management

Promotions

• Damon Ford, Facilities Management
• George Ebner, Facilities Management
• Derek Gulosh, Facilities Management
• Andrea Villafana, Facilities Management
• Nicholas Dudgeon, Facilities Management

Anniversaries

Congratulations to the Business Affairs employees celebrating work anniversaries in November! 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

• November 28: Thanksgiving - enjoy your day off!
• November 29: Family day - enjoy your day off!