Serving Community

Anita Henry is embarking on a new phase of her life and when she saw the advertisement for PROTEC thought it might be the thing to jumpstart her new career. Anita brings an amazing set of skills that involves caring for people, animals, plants and about any other earthly creatures you can name. That caring translates into an amazing set of customer service skills that Anita was able to apply in the busiest two weeks the Welcome and Advising Center at Santa Fe Community College experiences; fall registration.

"Anita was amazing!" announces Dr. Cheryl Fields (pictured on the left) and this sentiment was echoed across the staff in the Welcome and Advising Center. "She jumped right in and started assisting students on day one," says Danielle Gonzales, (pictured on the right). Anita (center) said learning ten new tasks a day definitely "jumpstarted" her ideas about the next career path. "Helping students navigate registration, get their schedules for the term and get their new IDs was really rewarding," reports Anita, "I enjoy the active environment and being able to help people. And people here are so gracious. I never experienced working with a Community College. I am impressed by all the wonderful people helping each other."

Anita was able to apply computer skills in helping students navigate web registration and the best part of the job was talking with people and learning from them. Anita is now planning to pursue part-time work in early-childhood education and is open to exploring new career paths. Starting something new can be daunting but Anita is one of those rare people that brims with perseverance. I feel very lucky to have met Anita and learn from her that reinventing ourselves is possible and sometimes it takes a quiet strength of character to find the right doors to open life's new adventures.

Organizing Innovation

Cara Hyatt wasn't exactly sure which internship would be the right fit, but she knew she needed a thriving environment where her skills for office management, data management and customer service would be in demand.

Vista Therapeutics is located in the Santa Fe Business Incubator and is part of the fast-paced nanotechnology industry which has a reported 18% growth rate per annum. Visiting Vista Therapeutics is exciting. The labs, the energy of its co-founder and CEO, Spencer Farr and the promise for expansion gave Cara the environment she needed to thrive. "There is a lot to do here," she remarked.

A testament to her skills Cara was offered a job with Vista Therapeutics only a few days after starting her internship. "Finding skilled people is tantamount to Vista's success," states Dr. Farr. One amazing thing I learned talking with Dr. Farr was that New Mexico, next to Massachusetts, ranks 5th in nanotechnology and microsystems research. With new research grants Vista Therapeutics hopes to take their ideas and science globally, but their ideas are being tested right here in Santa Fe.

Cara's new job is managing the office and dealing with the multiple dynamics involved with Vista Therapeutics daily activities. The job requires attention to detail and Cara excels at managing details. "I enjoy making things work and making sure everyone has what they need." Congrats Cara! And we look forward to hearing about all the amazing work Vista Therapeutics will be doing!

The Vista Therapeutics weekly team meeting at the Santa Fe Business Incubator. CEO Spencer Farr sits in the back on the left and Cara is on the right, second chair in.

Interning with the Movies

Belinda (standing in front of Santa Fe Studios) started interning 8/17. Santa Fe Studios resides outside the city on Highway 14 and is one of the tallest buildings that can be seen from I-25 and as far away as Galisteo. Surrounded by 360 degree vistas the studio is situated on Santa Fe County land and is part of the growing film industry statewide. 

Belinda is assisting the Director of Operations, Marisa Jimenez, in the everyday duties involved in hosting large Hollywood productions here in New Mexico. The Edge and Magnificent 7 are currently residing in the studios and Belinda was able to catch a glimpse of the aging and dyeing work being completed in the costume department. The office is busy with contracts, spreadsheets and ringing telephones and Belinda will also be doing some research and participating in client outreach. "Belinda is great on the phone and extremely professional. That is truly important for the work we do," says Marisa. Belinda will work part time into September and is looking forward to the people she will meet and the experience she will get with Excel. "I am just an Excel beginner so I appreciate having the time to apply my skills on the job," comments Belinda. Best of luck, Belinda and let us know if you see any stars!

PROTEC interns at Santa Fe County Public Works

Imagine Jacqui Boyd's surprise when in her business office attire (complete with high heels), she arrived at the Santa Fe County Fleet division for her internship. "We were told to dress business casual! Luckily Chris let us go home at lunch to change!" With their usual stick-to-itve-ness Jacqui Boyd, Claudia Roessler, Debbie Seif and Richard Farrell looked at a warehouse strewn with equipment and parts and rose to the occasion. In one week they were able to clean up, organize, categorize, inventory and create spreadsheets to catalog the over 10,000 parts that are used to keep Santa Fe County's fleet of 1100+ vehicles up and running. "We couldn't have done this without them," says supervisor Chris Narvaiz, "It is amazing what they have been able to accomplish as a team."

These interns braved hot, humid, dirty and otherwise unpleasant conditions and got right down to work. "Everyone has been super nice," says Jacqui, who celebrated her 29th birthday on August 14th with the Fleet Division team complete with cupcakes they provided.

PROTEC interns moved literal mountains of material and then provided the data infrastructure with MS Excel to quantify the division's assets. When I arrived to observe them in action there were already seven pallets loaded and packaged to be shipped off to respective areas with equipment and parts neatly organized on shelving. "When we came in here everything was all over the floor. I am not sure how they found anything," comments Debbie Seif. 

Chris Narvaiz and Dean Kitchens are the resident mechanics for Santa Fe County and are doing a lot with a little. Chris and Dean are both impressed and pleased with the help they have received and hope that they will be able to implement more technology for inventory in their shop. It is obvious to these MS Excel trained interns that technology would simplify and better track the inventory that the Santa Fe County fleet uses. 

A big job done by a great group of interns. "I thought I might leave the first day," says Debbie Seif when she was presented with the less than pristine office space. "But just like the classroom work we did at Santa Fe Community College we stuck it out together." And that is what makes the difference.

Pallets in the Warehouse

Debbie Seif doing inventory

Claudia creating the spreadsheets

Chris Narvaiz talking with Richard, Jacqui and Debbie

Connecting Technology and Education Outreach

Virgie Bigbee started working with Sun Path on August 4th. Sun Path a statewide consortium connects New Mexico community colleges through a network of online education. Virgie's background working with the Native American communities in New Mexico was an immediate asset to Sun Path coordinator Carla Slentz (standing beside Virgie in our job site photo) who put Virgie to work using her skills for community outreach and recruitment. (Even Virgie's daughters signed up for classes!) Virgie was able to use her Excel skills to create spreadsheets and appreciated Carla's help in prepping to take the MS Excel exam. Virgie is looking forward to continuing her education in Early Childhood Development and building her technology skills to help serve our community. All in all a great partner internship. 

Finding a Place

Gaby Vasquez is an amazing woman. Raising a family on her own she has gone back to school this year. While pursuing her GED Gaby has been interning with New Mexico Workforce Connection. At New Mexico Workforce Connection Gaby has found a network of support that has been essential to pursuing her goals. "Larry (Campos) asks me everyday, almost every hour if I have finished my GED testing. He keeps on me," she smiles. Gaby enjoys helping the people that come to NM Workforce Connection because she makes a difference in their lives. Gaby is able to greet people in Spanish or English and help them navigate the resources available to them for employment assistance. Her supervisors say that clients ask specifically for Gaby and are disappointed if she isn't available that day. Gaby is following her dream and can't wait to get there! Go Gaby!

Being a Tech at Santa Fe Community College

Anthony AJ Maez began interning August 3rd with the Technology Support Department in the Office of Information Technology. These gentlemen (part of the team is pictured above with AJ who is on the left with Finespirit Routt and Mason Kovacs) in two weeks time implemented eight new computer labs, Refreshed 20 established labs and along the way added some AV equipment, electrical systems, new software and a lot of desks and chairs into the mix. Asked what he thought AJ thought it was "Alright" to be working with this dynamic group. Not sure what internship would top this one for physical activity! Kills that stereotype that computer guys are always sitting down staring at monitors. Best of luck to AJ who is planning to start school soon and study 3-D animation.