Profiles - About Alumni for May 2008

Featured Alum: Brad Newman, attended 1970-71, ' 73

Bradley J. Newman has been selected as the President’s Outstanding Alumni for 2008 for outstanding contributions to his profession and a commitment to community service.

Brad Newman got his first taste of college as a full time student at Yavapai College from 1970 to 1971, and returned in 1973 to complete undergraduate requirements before entering the University of Arizona in 1974 to pursue his dream of serving people with disabilities. He graduated in 1976 with a degree in Education, majoring in Rehabilitation.

Brad returned to Prescott in 1976 to engage in his dream and became Director of Yavapai Rehabilitation Center, which later became Yavapai Exceptional Industries. Under his direction, several Governors, plus regional and statewide organizations have cited YEI. Brad has created a distinguished list of partnerships with local businesses, such as Strum Ruger, and Better Built Aluminum Products, plus with the community, to instill his “kids” with a sense of responsibility, and that they make an important contribution to the community. YEI has also established their own lime of propriety products, like wooden patio furniture, which is all about creating employment for people with disabilities. It has been a win, win situation.

Brad Newman (far r.), with Alumni Coordinator Barbara Claybaugh,
receiving his award as the President’s Outstanding Alumni for 2008.

Brad volunteers his time to many organizations in the community. He is a Big Brother, plus supports Big Brothers/Big Sisters with his personal services. He speaks to a wide array of service clubs, and charitable functions. Recently, he spoke to the VA Medical Center on “Humor in the Workplace.”

He has also made numerous appearances as host of KYCA PM Show. One of Brad’s secret passions is to be an entertainer. He has participated in the Acker Music Night, plus many appearances in Prescott Fine Arts productions. If you have a need for support of a worthy cause, many people say “Call Brad Newman.” Brad helped in the formation of Prescott Charities. It has been the benefactor behind so many local charitable organizations such as YEI, Prescott Child Development Center, and the Church on the Street Men’s Shelter. The value of their property is well over $6,000,000 with no dept or overhead.

Brad’s career has emphasized the important part that an institution, like Yavapai College, can play in your life and business career. YC was the incubator for Brad’s dream of serving people with disabilities. YC is a continual source for learning, and in fact, he is currently enrolled in a Business Management class.

Yavapai College has provided additional opportunities for YEI through their leadership in the formation of SLIM. “THE SPECIALTY/LIGHT MANUFACTURES ASSOCIATION” of the Yavapai Region works with YC in aligning training requirements specific to local manufactures needs. YEI, as an institutional member of SLIM, has been able to learn the techniques of “Lean Manufacturing,” which emphasizes using less of everything; less human effort, less manufacturing space, less waste, and less investment in tools.

(back to top)

Mollie Gugler - 1973-off & on

Like many graduates of Yavapai College programs, Mollie now brings her skills to the college as an employee. Here is the story she shares with us:

I work in the Yavapai College Library. I provide assistance at the Reference Desk, do library instruction, and manage several collections -- Government Documents, Maps, and Archives. I've worked at the College for 20 years and have taken classes off and on since 1973 so I have many memories.

I remember hanging out with my friend in the glassblowing area where she was taking a class. It was amazing to feel the heat from the glass furnace and watch the students blow and shape the glass. I also remember taking a solar energy class. The College seemed to me to be a lively, happening place. Of course, the memories that stick out the most in my mind are of the changes that have taken place in the Library. We had an electric Cushman delivery vehicle that we used to haul heavy objects. One morning I took it down to the book drop to pick up what was there and the battery went dead on me. I couldn't push it and so I had to leave it in the middle of the road and call Campus Police.

When I first started, the Library still had its catalog on microfiche. The patron's records had been put into a computer system, CLSI but everything else was done manually. We very quickly moved from that into using computers for as much as we could. The Director at that time, Charlotte Brennan, was very forward thinking and always seemed to know where we should be technologically before we even knew of the need. We started with 4 Apple computers for student usage. Our first electronic database in 1988 came with monthly updates on CDs. We eventually ended up with drawers full of those CDs. It was great when the Internet came along. The College tried to stay ahead of the game and it was very exciting to learn so many new ways to do our work and serve our patrons.

The last 20 years has been a real learning curve with constant changes in the library field. The library used to be on the bottom level of Building 3. In Dec. 1989, the back wall of the building was knocked out and the building was extended out into a small parking lot. It was great to have more space in the library but I missed the back parking lot--I used to take a nap there in my car on my lunch break. Opening the Library at 7 a.m. every day could be tiring at times. Anyway, everything in the library needed to be moved when the expansion took place--what a job that was. We finished in time to open up for the start of Spring Semester 1990.

Another huge change was in Dec. 2004 when we moved into Building 19, which was new at the time. It was the first building to be completed in a plan to renovate all the older buildings on campus. The library staff had been involved in many aspects of the planning for the building and we were excited to be moving. The new facility was going to give us the opportunity to do things we had wanted to do for a long time -- have student study rooms with computers, have a classroom where we could teach students and faculty how to use our resources, a quiet study area, etc.

Building 19 wasn't completely finished when we moved into it. It was very cold outside and we had no heat and few creature comforts (i.e., no desks, chairs or working restrooms). The snow was piled up outside the first few weeks we were in the building and we worked busily in our coats and gloves to get things ready for opening day--the first day of Spring Semester 2005. Everyone else on campus seemed to be equally as excited to see the new library. Our usage statistics skyrocketed that first semester.

(back to top)

Jorja Nackard, Volleyball Team, 1996-1998

Jorja writes: “After Yavapai, I returned to Flagstaff and attended Northern Arizona University. While studying at NAU, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Mexico and Spain. I completed my education in 2002 with a BA in Spanish and a BS in Health Promotion. I have been coordinating the Maternal and Child Health programs at North Country HealthCare the past five years. I also coach high school and club volleyball.

I have so many wonderful memories about Yavapai. It seems like yesterday we were there going to school. At the time, I had no idea how much that experience would impact my life. Yavapai is where I learned to be independent, adventurous, and responsible. I made some of my best friends there and still keep in touch with many of them. I have a lot of memories related to driving around Prescott.

My experience at Yavapai would be insignificant if it were’t for my volleyball teammates. I learned something special from every one of them. Also, our coaches Dalton Overstreet and Fay Matsumoto taught us so much about volleyball, but more importantly they taught us about life. I am nobody’s wife or mother. I own a house and live in Flagstaff. Life is great! Hope everyone is doing well.”

(back to top)