Company News

Congratulations to Jeffrey Diehl!
As the Redding Campus EMT Program Director since July, 2012, Jeff has improved the overall quality of instruction for our EMT students while ensuring IOT Redding’s EMT program compliance with California Title XXII.  Jeff has also provided assistance to other campuses by auditing their EMT programs, conducting new instructor interviews and helping them to implement compliance changes.  Jeff is currently in the process of becoming the Program Director for all IOT EMT programs, which, under his direction, will add consistency throughout our EMT programs.   Additionally, Jeff has been instrumental in creating a menu of Continuing Education Units for medical first responders that once approved by ACCSC, will provide additional revenue opportunities at each of our CERM campuses.
Recently this past February, Jeff was returning to the CERM satellite campus when he heard the screams of a young mother in the parking lot.  She was holding her toddler child in her arms, pounding him on the back.  The child was limp and lifeless and apparently choking.  While approximately 15 other people stood by and watched, Jeff took the child from his mother and performed the Heimlich maneuver, dislodging a piece of hard candy and restoring normal breathing.  Jeff turned over the situation to the 9-1-1 responders and went back to his classroom to finish his day.  Although several people have retold this story, which is on its way to 1000 “Likes” on the Redding IOT Facebook page, Jeff just sees it as doing the right thing when the right thing is needed.
“We appreciate the great work Jeff does for all IOT EMT programs and we are fortunate to have him on our team here in Redding.” stated Jim Herberger, Redding Campus President.   For commitment to our programs and his real-life heroic action, we are proud to name Jeffrey Diehl as the BSEG March 2013 Employee of the Month.  Congratulations on a job well done Jeff!
William Hillard
President/CEO
The BrightStar Employee Recognition Programs highlight the achievements of all employees. The program recognizes valued employees - employees who were on the job day in and day out, adding the extra effort that helps BrightStar Education Group provide the needed services for our students and employees. We also recognize employees as individuals or as groups as they go about their daily responsibilities in an outstanding manner. In addition to the Employee of the Month award, each recipient will receive a $50 gift certificate.  The program’s goal is the recognition of excellence wherever it occurs. Excellence in what we do, Passion for what we do and Profitability is our way of life. Direct your nominations to cdeandrea@brightstared.com

Since early December 2012, Richard has been providing operational leadership of the IOT Clovis Campus – in addition to his other responsibilities to the campus and our company.

Through his leadership, the on-site inspection conducted by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) in mid-January went exceptionally well. There were no findings from the BPPE Enforcement Inspection Analyst. The BPPE Analyst was very impressed with the results of the student satisfaction surveys noting a 98% student satisfaction with instructors and a 99% student satisfaction with the IOT Clovis LRC and Library.

Although these fantastic results were a team effort – and all of the associates at the Clovis Campus are to be commended - Richard provided the guidance and leadership for the team.

Richard also plays a critical role for our schools and company in developing new program applications for BPPE and ACCSC.

In late January, he conducted a very successful three-day DOE In-Service Workshop. Working closely with the Directors of Education of all campuses, Richard provided leadership for such important topics as changes in clock to credit hour conversions, monitoring and managing homework hours and independent study hours, monitoring and managing externships, programs reviews, faculty qualifications, Teacher Effectiveness Training workshops, and establishing articulation agreements.

For going above and beyond the call of duty in his role as National Director of Education for BSEG in the month of January, we are proud to award Richard Melella as the January 2013 Employee of the Month.

One of the most difficult duties of a President is to announce the closing of a campus to faculty, staff, students, and the community. For many, the campus is not only their place of enrollment or employment but their “home”. Their fellow students or employees are their family.

Over the course of a week, Dr. Andersen met with all students and employees of the Stockton campus to inform them of the teach-out of all programs. Visiting every class, he assured students that their entire program will be offered at the Stockton campus and that all services would continue to be available to them until the campus closed.

The results of the late November end-of-mod instructor/classroom COMPASS survey indicated that an overall instructor rating of 98%, the highest ever for the Stockton campus. Many students commented on how professional and timely the campus handled the communication of the closure to all students. Many faculty and staff have similarly commended the President for the timely and “personal” nature of how the campus closure was announced.

It is challenging enough for a President to develop and implement a plan to scale-down and eventually close a campus. It is even more so when you have been the one who actually started the campus up in the first place back in August 2010. As Dr. Andersen has stated on numerous occasions, he regards the Stockton campus has one of his “kids” and the faculty and staff his family.

Dr. Roger Andersen has done an outstanding job leading our school and continues to provide strong, positive, focused leadership during this difficult transition. Dr. Roger C. Andersen is the BSEG Employee of the Month for November 2012.

Mitch Purvis started with IOT—Salem in June of 2011 as an instructor and Student Success Coach. Mitch has since become one of the students’ main go-to instructors as he now also serves as Student Success Leader for the Salem campus.

He has grabbed ahold of the Pacific Institute initiative and serves as lead instructor and coach for those instructors who have been given the serious responsibility of Strategies for Success instructor over the first term students. Mitch always demonstrates a remarkably temperate and calming attitude in arduous situations as he grapples with ARC committee challenges and as he deals with difficult situations where positive student outcomes are in the balance.

Mitch is an avid golfer and gardener, and boasts a graduate degree in education, which makes him even more of a valuable asset to the campus. He is one of those rare individuals who never complains and rather, will always provide serious alternatives to difficult challenges.

Our school, students and community is fortunate to have Mitch Purvis serving as one of BSEG’s student-centered employees.

Chef Thomas Mendoza has been one of our most popular culinary instructors since he began working for IOT Clovis over seven years ago. He combines an advanced knowledge of baking and pastry techniques with a warm personality and a positive teaching style that encourages students to thrive. Sometimes he has to help students overcome significant challenges in order to succeed.

Edward Martinez enrolled in the IOT Clovis Baking & Pastry Specialist program in 2005. Edward came from a difficult background, including gang affiliation and bad choices that were leading him in the direction of prison. His education at IOT really was a last chance for him to turn around his life, and Chef Thomas was a key player in helping Edward succeed. Recently, the Sacramento Bee ran an inspiring article about Edward’s transformation, from gang member to one of the most highly regarded pastry chefs in the Sacramento region. Edward cited Chef Thomas as a significant influence in his journey.

At IOT, we often labor day in and day out, working hard to help our students overcome the obstacles to their success, even when those obstacles include their own histories or bad habits. We are so focused on the daily challenges, we don’t often get chances to reflect on the impact we have had on student lives over time. Chef Thomas Mendoza is our BSEG Employee of the Month because his efforts and determination helped Edward Martinez to transform his life, the life of his family, and countless future lives as well.

Chef Thomas Mendoza embodies the IOT spirit, training students to be excellent in all that they do and to develop professional habits that will carry them towards a brighter future. Congratulations, Chef Thomas, for earning the title of BSEG Employee of the Month, and for helping Edward Martinez to realize his potential and leave behind a destructive history in favor a better future for himself and his family!

Please join us in congratulating the Salem Campus’ receptionist, Veah Tapat, as she is the recipient of the April EOM award! Veah has been at the Salem campus for just shy of a year and is a great asset to the campus. She is the Director of First Impressions – greeting EVERY single person that comes through the front door with a smile while handling all calls and interruptions with the utmost professionalism. Veah wears numerous hats and is responsible for a plethora of different things including, but not limited to:

• Managing the front desk and all traffic – internal, external, phone or in-person.
• Managing and assigning all incoming inquiries to the college.
• Accepting all student payments.
• Ordering and maintaining the bi-monthly uniform order for all new and current students.
• Managing the employee and student ID badge process.
• Managing the details for each new student orientation.
• Managing the supply orders and distribution of supplies for the college.
• Administering all Wonderlic assessments, processing all background checks and managing all POG’s for the admissions team.

With numerous tasks to complete in any given day and with numerous interruptions along the way, Veah should be commended for the way that she handles herself and the way that she represents IOT Salem. She is a shining example of what we want to be known for. Without her, most things that happen daily at the Salem campus would not happen in the wonderful and efficient manner that they do. Congratulations, Veah!

Please join me in welcoming Audrey Romero to BrightStar Education & Institute of Technology as our new Human Resources Director. We are excited to add this position to our company and that Audrey Romero will provide her expertise in developing this new role. In addition to overseeing Human Resources, Audrey will oversee payroll and benefits with Alicia Fresquez.

Lastly, please join me in congratulating Alicia Fresquez as she is assuming a lead role with the payroll & benefits function.

Below is a brief bio on Audrey.

A native of Colorado, Audrey worked in a number of management roles in Human Resources and Financial Management for both small businesses and large corporations.

Audrey’s background includes extensive experience in all areas of human resource development. Most recent experience includes Human Resource development for Rotonics Manufacturing, Inc. a multi-state plastics manufacturing company where eleven factories were acquired and consolidated into one corporation. Her areas of responsibility included benefit administration, compensation, learning and development, employee relations, policy and compliance, payroll, records, recruitment and staffing and leadership development.

Prior to Rotonics, Audrey worked for Aspen Pet Products, Inc., a start-up pet product and national distributor company as a senior accountant then transitioned to the Human Resource Manager. Audrey spent several years with the Aspen Pet Products, developing all policies and procedures, benefits, compensation, employee relations, payroll, training, recruitment and retention, training and safety.

Audrey acquired her Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Business Administration from Adams State College in Southern Colorado. In her spare time you can find Audrey on the golf course, enjoying the Rocky Mountains and spending time with her Chocolate Lab puppy.

It is with great pleasure that we introduce Gena Garibay from the Modesto Financial Aid team as March’s Employee of the Month. Gena has been with Institute of Technology for 6 years. In that time, she has moved her way up to the position of Lead Financial Aid Officer.

With her excellent attention to detail and organizational skills, she has been able to exceed all of her annual goals to date. For example, she has processed 100% of all her starts this year within 30 days. Also, she’s on her ninth week in a row for processing all terminated students in a timely manner.

Gena has a “can do” attitude. She approaches each new task with a focus on “how can we make this easier and more efficient for us as a team?”  Her attention to detail promptly recognizes missing items that can halt the funding process. Gena’s genuine compassion and patience for the IOT students and staff makes her the person that everyone approaches with questions, and she will always go the extra mile to assist. Gena has a wonderful rapport with her students, and her ability to connect as well as her talent at explaining the Financial Aid concepts, are truly superior. She’s extremely reliable and provides great customer service.

Gena is an amazing individual and she is one of the reasons our graduates say that Institute of Technology staff members care.  Thank you for all your hard work, Gena; you truly are an asset to IOT and BrightStar!