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Exploring Opportunities for Students E5

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Exploring Opportunities for Students E5

In this episode of STEM Unplugged, our guests discuss how their companies play a role in the lives of Arizona students. Both Iron Mountain and Junior Achievement of Arizona are supporting the community to stay connected. Each guest is noted for making an effort to reduce the digital divide and providing resources for online learning. The goal of the Arizona tech industry is to create a diverse group of workforce ready individuals.

During the discussion, we celebrate the donation of 100 Chromebooks by Iron Mountain. Our SciTech network of students, parents and teachers who have received the gift of technology are thankful for the support. Everyone is doing their best during this time. The curriculum of JA has been supporting students in Arizona prepare for their futures and in the discussion you can hear about CSO Shalae’s life changing opportunity as the mayor of JA BizTown! Get connected with companies making a difference and let’s discuss how to provide mentoring to all who would like to advance, especially those who consider themselves non-tech individuals!

Iron Mountain Data Centers operate a global colocation platform that enables customers to build tailored, sustainable, carrier and cloud-neutral data solutions.

As a proud part of Iron Mountain Inc., a world leader in the secure management of data and assets trusted by 95% of the Fortune 1000, we are uniquely positioned to protect, connect and activate high-value customer data. 

We lead the data center industry in highly regulated compliance, environmental sustainability, physical security and business continuity.  We collaborate with our 1,000+ customers in order to build and support their long-term digital transformations within our 3.5M SQF global footprint spanning 3 continents. 

Rick Critchly is Vice President and General Manager in the Iron Mountain Data Centers. Rick previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for IO Data Centers, Vice President of Global Sales for Core Link Datacenters and the Chief Operating Officer for Cyber Trails, a national provider of IT services.

Rick is a board member of the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and a previous board member of the Arizona Technology Council. He is also actively involved in the Arizona Business Leadership Association.

Follow Iron Mountain Data Centers on LinkedIn.

For more than 60+ years, Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA) has been preparing millions of Arizona students to succeed in work and life. We’re empowering their futures by giving them the knowledge and skills they need to manage their money, plan for their future, and make smart academic, career and economic choices. Delivered by 8,000+ business and community volunteer mentors, our hands-on, age-appropriate programs focus on three key areas: financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. At the foundation of all our programs is teaching students the ability to think critically.

Serving tens of thousands of students each year and over 2 million since its founding, JA is shaping the college- and career-readiness conversation, and we play an important role in Arizona’s workforce and economic development. Our programs help students connect what they learn in the classroom to the real world, and demonstrate how learning correlates to earning – knowledge critical to empowering today’s students to be successful, contributing members of society in the future.

We serve students with diverse backgrounds and socio-economic status throughout Arizona. While our programs are invaluable to all students regardless of background, the majority of the students we serve come from low-income households.

We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization wholly dependent on the financial and volunteer support of individuals, foundations and businesses. Our in-classroom programs are offered at no cost to teachers or students.

Anne Landers is the Senior Director of Marketing and Development for Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA), a Tempe-based nonprofit that educates tens of thousands of primarily low-income children about financial literacy and career readiness. She has been with JA for five years, is the first marketing director in 20 years – and by far the most sophisticated we’ve ever had – and oversees all digital, PR, marketing and advertising. She is also the first person to build our data management program for donor and volunteer engagement. Anne’s title does not adequately describe her role or importance – Anne is a key member of JA’s leadership team and has been fundamental in leading monumental change for a VERY old-school organization. For perspective, JA had no Wi-Fi five years ago.

Previously, she spent three years at the nonprofit, Life In Abundance, where she was the Interim Director, overseeing the U.S.-based operations and fundraising, which supported programs in Africa and the Caribbean. She began her career at an advertising and PR agency, Decibel Blue, where she was one of the agency’s first two employees, managing clients such as Dunkin’ Donuts. Honored as a 40 Under 40 in 2018, Anne holds a degree in Journalism from ASU.

Follow Junior Achievement of Arizona on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Our Sponsor

SciTech Institute™ was established as the Arizona Technology Council Foundation as the conduit for collaboration among STEM industry, academia, civic, and non-profit organizations in Arizona. Now, rebranded and named the SciTech Institute™ the goal centers around aligning assets and resources to motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related educational and career paths or find a passion while engaged in community events during the SciTech Festival.

The Chief Science Officer program highlights the 6th-12th graders that have been selected as leaders in their schools and communities to receive training to build a world-class community of diverse STEM-literate workers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens. Science For All allows for tax credit donations to provide engaging experiences for students while RAIN (Rural Activation Innovation Network) focuses on resources for the rural areas of Arizona.

As a STEM Learning Ecosystem, SciTech Institute™ focuses on collaboration and connecting individuals with opportunities! STEM Professionals are encouraged to engage with the future workforce by serving as a mentor, leadership coach, panelist, keynote and session trainer during a variety of conferences hosted or sponsored by SciTech Institute™ and The Arizona Technology Council.

Teachers and Administrators are invited to connect with the resources available while activating a large network of STEM champions for student projects, judges at events, volunteers, exhibitors and more. SciTech Festival Event Coordinators are supported during the planning and execution of community STEM events around the state by the SciTech STREET Team Members and the growing network of volunteers. The possibilities are endless! SciTech Institute™ looks forward to connecting with you today. Visit SciTechInstitute.org today for more information.

Follow SciTech Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Your STEM Unplugged Host

After graduating from Bolivar-Richburg High School in rural western New York and joining the United States Army, Kelly Greene learned quickly to adapt to her surroundings to be successful. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and played shortstop on the Tiger softball team while earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.

After graduating from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, she traveled the world with the military. While stationed in Misawa, Japan, Kelly fell in love with learning about cultures around the world. Even as a deployed Soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom for two tours, she found opportunities to connect with the local children to form the Victory Base Council Girl Scouts with her fellow servicemen.

In 2013, she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and traveled the country by air and had the opportunity to utilize the most advanced technologies available to the tactical HUMINT operations in theater. Upon return from combat, she retired with 21 years of service and began teaching 6th grade Math.

After being selected as a Westside Impact Teacher of the Year and having her Fiesta Bowl Charities Wish Granted for a morning news studio, she was asked to begin a new class on campus – 7th grade STEM! Using her enthusiastic nature and combined with her strong classroom management she was able to design curriculum based on the Engineering Design Process to have her 7th graders complete a new project every 2 weeks!

She is excited to serve as the Director of Student Success for the rapidly expanding Chief Science Officers Program. Her goal is to push students just a bit outside of their comfort zone so they can see for themselves the power of their own ideas.

About Your Co-Host

Chief Science Officer (CSO) Shalae Clemens is a member of the International Leadership Council and the current CSO of the Year.

She is a freshman at McClintock High School and a 3rd year CSO.

Shalae has a passion for STEM and is using her leadership skills to prepare the STEM workforce of tomorrow.

Connect with Shalae on Instagram.