Situated in the heart of North Scottsdale’s business hub, the SCC Business Institute offers a wealth of training and education options for local professionals. Never heard of SBI? You’re not alone. After six years, the extension campus of Scottsdale Community College remains one of the Airpark’s best-kept secrets, says Michelle Rose, customer service and program advisor for the institute.

“We want people to know we’re here and we offer online as well as on-campus classes with flexible schedules,” Rose says. “We’re also outrageously affordable at $71 per credit hour.”

SBI specializes in accelerated courses for motivated professionals who want to learn skills quickly. All classes are condensed into formats ranging from two to eight weeks. Students can just take a couple of courses—such as “Managing Stress in Small Business” and “Techniques of Supervision”—or they can earn a one-year certificate by completing a program of classes in targeted areas such as “Fastrack Entrepreneur.”

Those interested in earning an associate degree in applied science can apply their credited SBI classes toward that goal at a main college campus.

Colin Fleming, who recently moved to Kierland from San Diego, admits he was skeptical about finding a quality business education right in his own backyard. Then he sat in on a lecture and was astonished at the small class sizes and intense student/faculty interaction. “At that point, I thought, ‘I have to do this,’” says Fleming. “I signed up for one class in communications, and the instructor—who used to work for Apple—was far and away the best I’ve ever had.”

As a former racecar driver for Red Bull in Europe, Fleming was no stranger to speed. He enrolled in the five-week “Business Fastrack” program, tearing through 33 credits in three semesters while working as marketing director at EventPro Strategies in downtown Scottsdale.

Although Red Bull had recruited Fleming right out of high school, he’d promised himself he would go back and finish his degree when his racing career ended. “I also knew I’d need a way to support myself when I entered the working world,” Fleming says. Though he hadn’t completed the program when he interviewed with EventPro, the company was impressed with his goals and the institute’s business focus, which helped him land the job.

Real-World Education

Because classes start up every few weeks and don’t have to be taken in order, students can jump into the program throughout the year rather than wait for spring or fall semester. For example, second rotation classes in “Business Fastrack” and “Fastrack Entrepreneur” will begin in the middle of September and early October.

“We don’t have midterms and finals,” says Rose. “Everything is related to real-world experience and class participation. It’s a lot of communicating back and forth—there are lectures, but there is a lot of input and conversation going on.”

Fleming, now completing his general education credits online through Rio Salado Community College, recalls his largest class size was 12. “I loved the interaction with students,” he says. “It’s also nice that all my SBI credits apply [toward a degree].”

Instructors are selected for their practical expertise and educational credentials—and all of them are working in the fields they’re teaching, says Rose.

Most of the Fastrack series include some online instruction. “A large chunk of our classes are online,” Rose says. “Students have to be pretty much self-motivated and self-driven as far as the homework and reading go.” When students sign up, the instructor sends them the syllabus via email, and assignments are due the following week. “Other than that—unless they have questions—there is no other communication with other students or the instructor,” Rose says.

Last semester, about 2,100 students enrolled in SBI’s online or on-campus curriculum. Fall numbers are up 10 percent compared to last year.

“I’m seeing a spike in those who are wanting to own and operate their own business,” Rose says. “I think it’s because they know there is money out there, and it’s just a matter of tapping into it.”

SBI’s non-credit pharmacy tech program is attracting a lot of attention from prospects looking to get immediate employment. “We’ve even had some people from Tucson and Northern Arizona come and take that program,” Rose says, explaining the 12-week study sessions prepare students to pass the board exam. “We’ve had a good success rate,” she adds.

On the Horizon

SBI is developing a new Retail Management and Marketing Certificate Program,

slated to debut next year. The program is designed to train students for careers in the retail clothing business—selling, merchandising and buying. Topics include components of management, communications, merchandise presentation, and small-business development.

Due to a drop in computer-class enrollment, the institute elected to suspend the courses this fall and revamp them to better meet student needs. Computer training will return in spring 2011. ?

Pursuing an Evening MBA through the W. P. Carey School of Business is serious business in terms of time, money ... and prestige. This isn’t one of those diplomas you can earn online in between episodes of “Celebrity Apprentice.” The part-time program, ranked this spring as 20th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, attracts top students with an eagle eye on the fast track.

Even the hungriest of career climbers needs to be realistic. For those who live and work in the Greater Airpark, fighting traffic all the way to ASU’s Tempe campus can tip the scales toward disaster when weighted with job and family demands. For five years now, W. P. Carey’s popular North Scottsdale satellite locales have been a boon for local students. Even so, the school’s new permanent facility on Perimeter Center, dripping with state-of-the-art equipment, has fired up the enthusiasm of attendees. The fact that Airpark faculty members are the very same experts teaching in Tempe classrooms seals the deal.

“I think the biggest thing is convenience—especially if you’re working, “says 26-year-old Stacia Osborne, who completed her undergraduate degree at ASU in 2007 and is now halfway through the 21-month MBA program. “There are the little things, like parking right at the front door rather than having to walk across a campus. But this facility is brand new—we’re the very first class—and it’s completely up to date on the newest, best technology. I love it.”

Osborne lives on Cactus and the 101, not far from the American Express office near Mayo Clinic where she works as internal auditor. Although she’d always planned to get her master’s degree, she hesitated about attending night school while working full time. “When I found out about the North Scottsdale site, that was the deciding factor,” she says.

Core Facts

All core courses are taught at night; students meet two evenings per week, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and are expected to also take elective courses during either weekends, summers or January breaks. The average student age is 30 years old, with 6½ years work experience, according to Beth Walker, associate dean. “Most come back to back for an MBA to increase promotional opportunities within their own companies,” she says, adding that a growing number of students aim to build skills in a new area to pursue a different career path, while others want to enhance their small-business management skills or prepare for the day they launch their own enterprise.

Generally, school admissions requires a couple years’ business experience before considering an application. Many corporations—including Amex and PF Chang’s—will pay a small percentage of their employees’ tuition. However, cost for the two-year education averages $24,000.

Many students are surprised to learn they’ll spend the entire program in lockstep with 40 or so fellow classmates, frequently working together on group projects.

“I liked building those good networking business relationships. You get to know each other really well,” says Sandy Lacy, 28, who graduated from ASU’s main Carey program in 2004. Lacy added the MBA to her resume last May while supervising human resources at PF Chang’s headquarters in North Scottsdale. “A lot of what I learned was from fellow students and hearing their experiences. The instructors were just fabulous—I’d had some good ones in undergrad as well—but this was a whole new level.”

For information on applying for the program next year, contact the Carey admissions team.

Bonnie Lewis thoroughly enjoyed her two-decade career in corporate marketing communications. But interior design was her passion. When friends redecorated their homes, they’d invite her over with swatches and paint samples, and say, “You know, you really ought to do this professionally.”
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Lewis, a Fountain Hills resident, began easing in that direction, launching a part-time vacant home-staging business while taking a few classes at Scottsdale Community College’s acclaimed interior design program. When the new homes market tanked, so did the demand for staging services to help sell the properties. Then her marketing job was downsized following a corporation acquisition. “I  knew I could find another position because of my background and experience—but I thought, you know, this is the opportunity to switch directions,” says Lewis, who graduated from SCC in May with her associate degree and is now in the program’s third year, pursuing professional certification.

Creative Meets Computers
About 45 students graduate from the interior design program with a two-year associate degree each year, says faculty member Marcia Gonzales, who teaches interior materials and kitchen and bath design. The average age of SCC’s interior design students is 27, although Gonzales says that number has crept up in the last year. With the recession, a larger number of women are entering the program as well.

“Many people are coming back to re-career,” she says. “Often it’s because their creative side just isn’t challenged. We’ve had beauticians, lawyers—people who’ve wanted to do something more creative.”
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Design may sound like yards of fun, but students need to be prepared for a demanding schedule. “This isn’t a fluff degree. It’s a lot of work,” Gonzales says. “Interior design has gotten much more technical. We do a lot with computers. There is still that artistic element, but it’s a small part of it, really.”
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The curriculum includes courses on color, sketching, history of furniture and design, and  manual and CAD drafting.
Students must commit to a full class load within a four-semester program to complete the Associate of Applied Science degree in two years. “You also can go part time,” adds Gonzales. “Some programs won’t let you do that—and it’s a nice option if you’re working while attending school.”
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Interior design is not to be confused with interior decorating, says Lewis. “There are a lot of health and safety issues that we learn about that decorators just don’t know about—slip-and-fall risks, lighting issues, the importance of universal design so people can stay in their homes and not have to leave when they get older,” she says. “It’s not just aesthetics.”
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Sustainable design is another aspect of the craft. Students learn about products and materials that improve air quality and lower chemical sensitivities “so the house you live in is more natural and healthy,” Gonzales says.
Lewis appreciates that faculty members aren’t limited to academia but have extensive real-world experience in the field. Since its birth in the early 1970s, SCC’s interior design program has earned a golden reputation in the Valley, and enjoys a warm working relationship with interior studios, architectural studios, manufacturers and distributors. Many companies searching for interns will only consider students who trained at SCC, says Gonzales. The program also features a career coach who works with alumni and faculty to help students find positions and internships upon graduation.

For Lewis, who already had a bachelor’s degree in marketing, the three-year study track is an ideal plan, requiring her to put fewer hours in the field before she can sit for a professional industry exam. Younger students often opt to transfer their credits to Northern Arizona University for a bachelor’s.

Classes for the fall semester have already started, with the next round beginning in January. To find out more about interior design studies, contact program advisor Gera King, ASID, at gera.king@sccmail.maricopa.edu. ?

The Scottsdale Airpark News went on a mission this summer to find North Scottsdale’s Top Airpark Tweeps. Thanks to everyone who voted in our “Five to Follow” Twitter contest, and congratulations to the winners, who graciously share their insights on the social media tool everyone is still talking about.

1. EricEATSOUT

Twitter: @ericeatsout
Website: www.ericeatsout.com
Bio: Obsessed with food, drink, cars, music, my family, cats & living well. Often profane. Usually sleepy.
Following: 377
Followers: 603

Recent tweet: “Where will this foodnik be eating tonight? The Tilted Kilt, of course, for a going away party for friend. Who said I’m a food snob?”

Eric prefers to remain anonymous so he can continue to review restaurants on his popular blog without the servers exclaiming “Aha!” and giving him free dessert. A 30-something husband, father, Airpark business owner and resident, Eric garnered an avalanche of votes in our contest. How did he pull it off? “The foodnik army is fiercely loyal,” he explains. With 5,148 tweets to his credit, Eric has a lot to say about food.

Why did you start tweeting?

To give my blog more of a personality. My voice as a writer comes through in my writing on the blog, but I felt like Twitter was a way to extend that and engage my readers in a way that the one-dimensional aspect of a website simply can’t.

How was your blog born?

About two years ago I found myself commenting on other food-related websites, and I thought why am I giving all my time and effort to somebody else? I built my own site, and found that I like to write, and I think I’m reasonably funny—although my humor isn’t for everybody. I just put my blog out there; and for whatever reason it’s gotten really popular, way beyond what I expected.

Are there topics you won’t tweet?

Twitter is an extension of me, and really no subject is off limits. I generally keep my real job out of it—but any other aspects of my life are fair game.

How has Twitter enriched your life?

I have a huge group of close friends now that started out as just names on Twitter. We socialize together and try new restaurants. So often, your friends are a function of where you live or work or where your kids go to school, but the Twitter community has no boundaries. I’m now friends with different types of people that otherwise I may never have come across.

How can a business develop a Twitter persona?

Imagine if your business was a person: Your voice on Twitter should be the voice of that person and reflect the same values, same tone, and level of humor. Some businesses will require a more conservative approach, and some will call for a looser approach, but the power of Twitter is in the ability to give yourself a voice.

Any tips on how to be more interactive?

Ask open-ended questions. Encourage people to write to you and respond. Ask questions that require something more than a yes or no. Encourage dialogue and ask for opinions.  If you’re on vacation, ask someone what’s great there? Your topics don’t always have to be about businesses; even when they’re not, people realize that behind that business are people, and that’s a good thing.

We’ve got to ask. What are three Airpark restaurants everybody should try?

Javino’s [14795 N Northsight Blvd.], Athena [the new Greek restaurant at Scottsdale 101], and Ristorante Giuseppe [on corner of Scottsdale & Thunderbird].

2. Tanya Gagnon

Twitter: @MissDetails
Name: Miss Details Design
Website: www.missdetails.com
Bio: graphic designer, brand storyteller, business owner, greyhound lover, wannabe foodie.
Following: 1,838
Followers: 1,622

Recent tweet: “10 Awesomely Chauvinistic Vintage Beer Ads http://bit.ly/ceWaTY”

Gagnon is the creative force behind her own graphic design business in the Airpark. (You also might recognize her from the cover of our March issue.) Not only did she get an impressive number of votes in our contest, 20 of her clients opted to also sign in and leave glowing comments about her work. No wonder she’s hiring staff and expanding. Gagnon has tweeted 1,108 times.

How often do you tweet?

I try to do it four to 10 times throughout the day.

Do you have a Twitter goal?

When I joined, I pretty much just read what other people would post—I was a lurker. I was nervous to say anything, to show who I was. And then I realized that’s what social media is about. My tweets might reflect what I’m researching at the time. Right now I’m working with Ling & Louie’s—one of my restaurant clients—on creating promotional items for their in-house beer. A lot of my tweets right now are about beer.

Which kind of tweets get the most response?

If I post a link to a good or quirky article and include a little personal note like, “I can’t believe they’re at it again,” people will comment back to me.

Has Twitter landed you any jobs yet?

It hasn’t gotten me business directly, other than a lot of people know who I am because of Twitter and social media in general. When I walk through the door of a prospective client, I’m not a stranger, which is wonderful. The reason I got into Twitter was to show who I am and that I’m an authentic person behind my business.

3. Alex Berger

Twitter: @alexberger
Blog: http://virtualwayfarer.com
Bio: CEO of FusionVirtual & Owner of the Travel Resource Network. Interests: Travel, Virtual Worlds, Hosteling, Web Tech, Humanism, Millennials and Salsa Dancing.
Following: 1,094
Followers: 1,586

Recent Tweet: “Talked about this during my presentation today. Great Colbert Report segment on online privacy/presence/content: http://bit.ly/aNmeMY”

A resident of North Scottsdale, where he also works as an analyst with Fox & Fin Financial Group, Berger is a passionate traveler as well as social media enthusiast with 11,265 tweets to his credit.

Why did you join Twitter?

I’m a social media early adopter, so I registered ... and I didn’t get it. I abandoned my account and let it sit there for six months. Then I tried it again, interfaced with Facebook and started using that as a way to network. I like that it gave me access to a global community of experts.

How are you using it now?

More for general social networking. I use it to share things I’m passionate about and maintain dialogue with a large cross-section of people I wouldn’t otherwise have access to. And it’s a great way to distribute links to my blog.

What do you think about Twitter’s role for businesses?

I think it’s a great customer service and public relations tool. In the line of business I’m in, it’s not terribly useful because we deal directly with business owners. But for someone who is consumer oriented or building brand recognition, it allows instant communication with your clients. 

What makes a good tweet?

It’s far more complicated than people think. It’s like going fishing: You can have the best tweet in the world and throw it out at the wrong time of day, and you’re not going to catch anything. It depends on whether you connect with the general energy and sentiment of where people are.

4. @DesertSmoke

Tony Morales is the colorful tweeter behind Desert Smoke BBQ, based in the Scottsdale airpark. Check out the company’s tangy sauces and bold spices at www.Desertsmokebbq.com, or Oakville Grocery or Whole Foods. Morales shares his Twitter story in our next issue.

Following: 740
Followers: 808

5. @lylah

Lylah Ledner and her husband run the Simple Farm, near 90 Street & Cactus Road. Ledner is a social media goddess with 2,000-plus followers, a blog, and dynamic Facebook page. Look for more on Ledner in a future issue.

The Scottsdale Airpark News went on a mission this summer to find North Scottsdale’s Top Airpark Tweeps. Thanks to everyone who voted in our “Five to Follow” Twitter contest, and congratulations to the winners, who graciously share their insights on the social media tool everyone is still talking about.