Meet the people of Colorado Mesa University
Justin Kawcak
Colorado native Justin Kawcak, a MBA student, is one of those natural leaders. This year he has big plans for his role as Colorado Mesa University Student Body President, but his skills are rooted in what he has learned at the school he now helps lead.
Growing up in Craig, Colo. Kawcak decided to come to Mesa for two reasons. One was because of all the various activities and organizations he could become involved with, and the other was because it was close enough to his home, but far enough away to learn a few things on his own.
"Mesa gives you a chance to meet a lot of talented people and it also offers a lot of opportunity and experiences to help you become prepared for life after college," he said. "It really offers something for everyone, and to be a University that still has teachers in the classroom really makes Mesa standout."
He originally came to the University to earn his Bachelors in Business Administration with concentrations in Management and Marketing. During his time as an undergraduate, he became very involved with Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), the college chapter of Future Business Leaders of America. He served as PBL President for both the campus and state chapters, and helped the organization earn multiple regional and national awards.
After completing his bachelors, Kawcak decided to continue his education as a graduate student in the Masters of Business Administration program.
"Before coming to Mesa I would not have been able to have as many opportunities," he said. "I have become a stronger leader and more confident in the decisions that I make."
This year as Student Body President, he wants to help improve school spirit and collaboration among different clubs and organizations. He also wants to help meet the needs and concerns of students on campus.
"Sometimes I may come across as stern, but really I am a laidback person," he said. "There is a logic to my madness even though at times it may not seem like it."
As of now, there are no plans for Kawcak's life after college. He has started the job search and is hoping the right opportunity will come along.
Until then this born and raised Coloradoan will spend his time golfing, boating, or fishing when he isn't being a leader at the University that taught him how to do so.
Patience Kanda
Many people know the Program Activities Council at Colorado Mesa University for the events and entertainers they bring to campus. Behind the glitz and the glam of each event is the tireless dedication of the CMU students who make it happen. This vivacious organization needs someone with the passion, drive and perseverance to do whatever it takes to produce the best events possible. For the past four years the heart of Patience Kanda, senior mass communication major, has been one of the driving forces behind PAC.
This spunky and enthusiastic senior has a smile and positive attitude that has spread throughout the campus like wildfire. Even in her petite and cheerful stature, Kanda has demonstrated she has the aggressive determination to pull of show-stopping events for the students at Colorado Mesa University.
"PAC (for me) was the perfect way to get involved and stay busy," Kanda said. "I think it's really important to get involved, because it helps you meet many great people and it helps you develop the skills that you need after college."
When Kanda was deciding which college to attend, she wanted to venture away from her home state of Hawaii, but not as far as the east coast. Colorado was the perfect match.
"I love Colorado. I love how sunny it is and I love the people," she said. "I've been to many other states and no other group of people are as proud of where they come from as the people I've met in Colorado."
She also likes Mesa, because of the small campus community and her professors.
"Its not too big and its not too small." she said. " I love the professors because they are very understanding and it's nice to have them as a support group."
Currently, thanks to her outstanding work with PAC, Kanda is now working as Assistant Coordinator for Student Life.
"Working in this new position has been real eye opening to see what happens on an administrative level," she said. "I am definitely more understanding and grateful for all the work that the staff at CMU does."
After she graduates Kanda plans to go into the public relation field. Her dream job: working for Disney. "They have the best PR around. It's the happiest place on Earth," she said with a laugh and a smile.
Until then she will finish out her senior year doing what she does best, helping to run student life at CMU and encouraging her fellow students to get involved.
"College is what you make of it," she said. "If you sit in your room and never go out it won't work. CMU offers great opportunities!"
Tim Hatten, PhD
Some of the students at Colorado Mesa University will not be the only ones traveling abroad this academic year. Instead, Dr. Tim Hatten, professor of business, will be teaching overseas at Niels Brock Copenhagen Business College in Copenhagen, Denmark after receiving his second Fulbright Scholar Award.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Dr. Hatten will be using the grant he received from his Fulbright Award to travel to Denmark and teach students at the college courses on entrepreneurship, counsel students about their student incubator and lead a "Global Camp" where international and Danish students work together on various projects.
Dr. Hatten was selected for this academic honor largely due to the success of his textbook Small Business Management: Entrepreneurship and Beyond. Cengage Publishing recently released its fifth edition, and for the past decade, it has been one of the top best-selling books on the international Small Business market. Dr. Hatten has been teaching at Colorado Mesa University for sixteen years and won his first Fulbright in 2001 to teach entrepreneurship at Reykjavik University in Iceland.
Kyle Cooper
Senior mass communication major Kyle Cooper is one of those people that can be seen - and heard - all over campus.
Cooper is the current General Manager for the University radio station KMSA 91.3. Originally he came to Mesa for baseball, but when he was cut from the team the first day he wasn't sure what he wanted to do next. Walking by the Moss Performing Arts Center, being a born music lover, he auditioned for the choir director. Once he heard back that he was selected to be apart of the choir he decided that Mesa was the place for him. Proving that when one door of opportunity closes the campus has a way of opening another.
His natural love for music led him to becoming a DJ for the campus radio station, which was a perfect fit for his concentrations in broadcasting and PR/advertising. He slowly worked up the ranks at the station hosting various shows and working behind the scenes until finally he became GM.
Originally from Las Vegas he does admit that coming to Grand Junction was a bit of a culture shock, but looking back on all of his experiences here he is glad he stayed. "The University is far enough away, but close enough to home," he said.
The station isn't the only place that Cooper can be found. He also has an active presence on campus. In addition to being apart of Concert Choir, Cooper is involved with PR Club, Media Board and works for Housing as a Desk Attendant.
"I like the on-campus community, it is easy to know a lot of people," he said. "The school offers a lot of opportunity to get involved and get involved sooner," pointing out the fact that most of the DJs for the radio station are freshmen.
The things that he likes the most about the campus are the small class sizes and his professors. "They are real go-to-individuals," he said.
Once he graduates he is planning on going to grad school and eventually he would like to work for some sort of media entity, maybe even manage or own his own network. Until then this media lover can be found by simply turning the dial to 91.3.
Dave Riley, Accounting '86
Dave Riley came to Mesa State to major in accounting, but his love of the great outdoors, and skiing in particular, have put the 1986 graduate in the driver's seat at several world-class ski resorts including his current post as chief executive officer of Telluride Ski Resort in southwestern Colorado.
"I chose Mesa State because of its superb business department, but mostly due to its location so close to such great skiing and other outdoor activities," Riley said. "I scheduled my classes so I could have Friday and Monday off for skiing. Why wouldn't I since we are so close to some of the best skiing in the country?" Riley added with a chuckle.
While the weekends throughout college were fun, it was back to business Tuesday morning when Riley walked through the doors of Houston Hall.
Riley said he will never forget professors Rogers, Buckley, and Boehler. "Those guys helped bring my major to life and pushed me to excel," he said.
"I remember one time Boehler called my girlfriend and asked her to convince me to study more and do my homework," Riley said with a smile. "The best part of going to Mesa State was the relationship I built with my professors and their care for my success."
After four years of studying and playing hard, with his accounting degree in hand, Riley headed east on I-70, for an interview at a firm in downtown Denver.
Riley recalled, "As I was driving through the Eisenhower Tunnel I started thinking to myself, 'what am I doing?' I don't want to live in Denver. I pulled over at the first ski area I came to, went into their human resources department, and asked for a job anywhere I could use my degree."
The gamble paid off and before long Riley was moving up in the company, advancing to the point where he could not go any higher at the resort.
With his first job under his belt, Riley got a job as the Chief Financial Officer at the ski area in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
"I was 24 and the CFO of a major resort, but I did not want to be limited to working in finance so I moved to Angle Fire Ski Area (near Taos, New Mexico)," Riley explained.
From there Riley jumped into the management side of resort operations. His next job landed him at Mount Hood Meadows, the largest resort at Mount Hood, as vice president and general manager for 12 years.
But the calling of the Colorado Rocky Mountains could not be quieted.
"I had done a lot of things and moved up the ladder of success, but always wanted to get back to Colorado to live and enjoy the mountains I loved," Riley said.
A chance meeting with an executive from Telluride a couple of years ago in Florida, turned into the CEO job offer.
"For nearly two years I have been living the dream of working at the ski area I fell in love with while in college at Mesa State."
These days Riley works year-round managing more than 1,000 employees, planning construction, and leading Telluride through the changing economics of the industry. He still finds time to ditch the suit and tie and strap on his skis for a "few" runs a week.
Across the hall from his second floor office, with its floor-to-ceiling windows facing the base of the mountain, Riley's closet is jammed full with skis, coats, gloves and goggles alongside his business jacket and briefcase.
"It is a wonderful but challenging job and I am happy I was able to make it to this position," Riley commented. "My career has truly taken me full circle from western Colorado as a college kid without a real goal, to the leader of this resort. I could not have done it without my education at Mesa."
