FACETIME FEBRUARY 2013 1970S AND EARLIER

Yavapai-Apache Nation elder Vincent Randall, ’63 BS (photo above), of the Verde Valley, was featured in a discussion “Water: Yavapai-Apache Source of Life”, where he highlighted the importance and sacred nature of water. Vincent understands the political importance too, having spent the last 40 years involved in water issues and tribal politics. He currently serves as the Nation’s Apache Cultural Preservation director and is involved in water negotiations.

Governor Jan Brewer recently announced the five year appointment of Edward “Pat” Madden, ’68 BS & ’78 MS (photo at left), to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Pat’s extensive work with the Arizona Department of Gaming as a special investigator, and more than 30 years spent with the Flagstaff Police Department gives him the skills to take care of the health of wildlife in Arizona. “Pat has hunted and fished all over our beautiful state for more than fifty years,” said Governor Brewer. “I know his love of the Arizona outdoors and expertise in wildlife issues will be a tremendous asset to the Commission and to the long-term health of wildlife in Arizona.”

Jim McCarthy, ’71 BS, pioneered numerous advances in the self-service electronic banking industry. He was the manager of the first ATM installations in Arizona with United Bank, which was the first bank to implement an online interface between the ATM and a Burroughs banking system. Eventually Jim became the executive vice president in charge of operations for STAR System, where he worked with the U.S. Secret Service to make mandatory receipts to show the last four digits of the credit card number used. He was also granted the National Automated Clearing House Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 for his work with an electronic benefits council. He is currently a senior business leader at MasterCard.

The following is a message we received from Bruce Gordon, ’72 BSBA, via LinkedIn:

It was a while back, but I remember my days at NAU very fondly. I still keep in touch with several friends I met along the way even though my career in healthcare took me in different directions. Following NAU, I obtained my master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Colorado. The program was part of the medical school in those days and my time there opened the door for me to pursue a career with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Healthcare in the VA was always underfunded, and you sure don’t get rich being a government employee, but I will always treasure my career in the VA and the noble mission it served to take care of America's heroes. Lots of memories and accomplishments, but the one I am most proud of was my receipt of the American Hospital Association's Award of Excellence as the Federal Executive of the Year. Leading an enormous team of wonderful people, we created and operated two very large medical shelters in Waco and Marlin Texas for people that lost their homes in hurricanes Rita and Katrina. We had universal healthcare, got the kids back into school, re-established social benefits and found housing for hundreds of individuals. Teams of volunteer clinicians and administrative specialists from all over the VA came to our shelters for one or two month assignments and made a difference. Retiring from the VA in 2008, I am now proud to be part of the executive leadership team for Scott and White Healthcare, serving a 30,000 sq. mile area of central Texas with one of the largest fully integrated health care systems in the country. It's an incredible organization to be part of and offers me a chance to keep making contributions to my community. I don't get a chance to visit NAU often, but know that it has grown from the single campus I attended to something we are all impressed with. So to all my fellow Lumberjacks, be proud and tell your story!

Chief Judge Karen (Lemons) Jennemann, ’77 BS, of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Middle District of Florida signed an administrative order to create a district-wide steering committee to study unified court procedures. Karen was appointed to the U.S Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida in Nov. 1993 and served as the chief judge from 2003-2011.