Education

Former GCU Exec Planning Nonprofit Tech School, Students Will Attend For Free

Original Article via Phoenix Business Journal 

Brent Richardson, who helped build Grand Canyon University to what it is today, has plans to build a nonprofit school in the Valley for coding, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

The “new kind of school” would be built somewhere in the greater Phoenix area, offering accelerated programs for free to students, Richardson said.

“We’re hoping students will be hired by local tech companies and start new companies here,” said Richardson, a Scottsdale resident. “We hope to bring 2,000 jobs to the state.”

Richardson is close to signing a “tech pioneer” for the project, which would offer 12- to 18-month programs in various of tech careers, including gaming, drones and systems engineers.

“We’re hoping we can be part of the solution,” he said.

The school would be funded with company donations, and the plan is to open it in two years, he said. Richardson wants to model the new school after DigiPen Institute of Technology in Seattle, which offers degree programs in several subjects, including video game programming, computer science and computer engineering.

Richardson made the announcement Thursday night at the first DestechAZ networking dinner at the Camby Hotel in Phoenix. The event was designed to gather 200 local people involved in tech companies, tech training and tech legislation to work with each other.

“Anyone that touches tech was invited to help Phoenix continue to build the tech scene,” Richardson said. “We want to hold this dinner every six months to continue the dialogue.”

Guest speakers at the dinner were U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., and Gary Hensley, the COO with Arizona Strategic Enterprise Technology for the state of Arizona.

Richardson is now the CEO and chairman of Exeter Education, which runs three Valley-based companies focused on coding training and education: Coder Camps, Codigo and Blue Anvil Marketing.

He also serves as CEO of the Dream Center Foundation’s recent acquisition of Education Management Corp., which includes 102 locations in the U.S.

Richardson invested and became the majority shareholder in Grand Canyon University in 2003 when the university was a small school with nursing and teaching programs.

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February Legislative Update

Arizona’s 53rd State Legislature is early in their session and over 700 bills have been introduced. Members of our EVP Advocacy & Government Relations Committee are receiving weekly updates from our government public relations firm Triadovcates. A few highlights from the recent update include the following:

Health Care: Another possible storm cloud appeared on the budget horizon with the release of analysis by ASU Professor Lee McPheeters indicating that repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and the loss of the Medicaid coverage that was included, would have a multi-billion impact on the State’s economy.  This puts even more urgency on Gov. Ducey’s efforts to work with the federal delegation to find a suitable replacement.

Economic Development: HB 2492, Jobs, Incentives, Credits and Grants was introduced before the deadline by Representative Weninger.  This bill is responsive to the Competitiveness Initiatives section of the EVP policy priorities.   The bill includes a suite of ideas to protect and promote Arizona’s manufacturing base, including adjustments to the current R&D tax credit, the development of a job creation fund, and other ideas.

Three other bills that are closely being tracked:

  • HB 2152 Arizona Emissions Bank; Credit
  • SB 1212, Angel Investor Tax Credit Expansion
  • HB 2213, GPLET Reform

Education: Battle lines are forming at the Legislature regarding two proposals in both the House and Senate to revise and expand the existing Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program.

Transportation: As a partnership, we formally entered a vote of support for Senate Bill 1025 to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill is an ADOT sponsored bill to provide Absolute Immunity on our State freeways.

Other:  A series of measures were heard and passed in House Government that would change the rules for ballot initiatives, including one proposal (HCR 2002), that would refer to the ballot the question of repealing the “Voter Protection Act” (aka Prop 105).  This act requires a ¾ vote of the Legislature to change any voter approved initiative, and only “in furtherance” of the initiative’s intent.

 

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Harvard Investments and EVIT Create a First-of-its-Kind Educational Partnership

Arizona-based real estate investment and development company Harvard Investments and East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) are launching a 12-month program that provides high school students unprecedented access in understanding the entire process for building a master-plan community.

The program launches August 25 and will be the first of its kind in the nation allowing students to track Cadence’s development as it happens – from groundbreaking to doors opening.

“Our intent is that when a student completes this 12-month study, she or he will have unprecedented knowledge about each step in building a community that will serve 1,700 families as well as businesses, schools, retail and more,” said Craig Krumwiede, president of Harvard Investments. “It puts the young person that much closer to understanding career options within this great industry, first-hand access to watching it get built, linking them to the best professionals in the industry and encouraging next steps in their career path.”

The partnership will impact nearly 200 local high school students in the construction program at EVIT, one of Arizona’s most successful career and technical high schools. The in-depth curriculum includes what a developer considers in identifying viable land, assemblage and purchase, entitlement and working with government entities, financing, buyer research, land planning, architecture and interiors style and execution, home building, branding and marketing and how it all fits together from 30,000 feet.

“We have strong partners in this industry and one of the most successful construction programs in the state,” said EVIT Superintendent Sally Downey. “But the opportunity for students to become part of a project from start to finish and better understand the many partners and pieces that it takes to create something of this magnitude, and which aspects are interesting to them, therefore better guiding career choices, is very exciting for us at EVIT. We are humbled that Harvard Investments and its partners will invest such significant time into our students’ education to create an educational model that has never been done before.”

EVIT students will attend in-class, interactive lecture series with industry leaders such as award-winning land planner and landscape architect Wendell Pickett, architect Bing Hu, Silverfern executive John Fortini and interior designer Kim Anderson. Additionally, hands-on field trips, summer internships and when appropriate, jobs will be offered.

“What better way to invest in our community than through the education and partnership of local students who have the affinity and aptitude to positively impact our industry in the future,” said Craig Krumwiede, president of Harvard Investments. “Training high-school students and then retaining our talented youth through exciting career opportunities and valuable mentorship is the right thing to do from a community and economic standpoint and speaks to Harvard Investment’s larger commitment to the region.”

Find out more about Cadence at Gateway and what makes it the premier residential project in Arizona by visiting (http://cadenceaz.com/) Or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

About Harvard Investments

Harvard Investments, Inc. is a real estate investment and development company with real estate holdings throughout the western United States. Harvard combines experience, integrity, and financial stability to create high quality, environmentally sensitive, profitable communities. Harvard’s Canadian parent, the Hill Companies, is a privately held diversified company involved in real estate development, oil and gas production and distribution, broadcasting, surety bonding, and life insurance. The Hill Companies celebrated its 100th year of continuous family ownership and operation in 2003. To learn more visit http://www.harvardinvestments.com/.

 

About East Valley Institute of Technology

The East Valley Institute of Technology offers about 40 CTE programs tuition-free for high school students who reside in 10 East Valley districts – Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Higley, Apache Junction, Fountain Hills, Queen Creek and J.O. Combs. Students spend a half-day at EVIT and a half-day at their high school. School districts provide transportation to EVIT for most students.

EVIT students have a 96 percent high school graduation rate, two out of three go on to college; and 87 percent are in jobs, college or the military within one year of completing their CTE training. In 2015, EVIT was named an A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation, and readers of the East Valley Tribune voted EVIT as Best Public School in Mesa. To learn more visit http://www.evit.com.

 

2016 SRP Forum | PHX East Valley Entreprenership

Entrepreneurs are innovators. They observe opportunity and gaps in the marketplace to create new goods and services. Entrepreneurs play a vital role in economic development as key contributors to technological innovation and new job growth. They help build their communities by providing jobs, conducting business locally, creating and participating in entrepreneurial networks, investing in community projects, and giving to local charities.

Nowhere is this changing model of business more apparent than in the PHX East Valley. The spirit of collaboration and innovation is prevalent and these new business models are proving to be important engines for economic growth in the area. Realizing both the economic and social impact of entrepreneurship, many states and local communities, including those in the PHX East Valley, have implemented aggressive strategies aimed at cultivating and nurturing entrepreneurs.

 

Join us on Tuesday, September 13 for the 2016 SRP Forum on Entrepreneurship.

 11:30 AM Registration / 12:00 Noon Program & Lunch / 1:15 PM Program Close

Hilton Phoenix-Mesa – 1011 W Holmes Ave, Mesa, AZ 85210 (60 @ Alma School)

Sponsored by Salt River Project

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Register Online Today

 

Attendees will hear a keynote address from Clate Mask, CEO & Co-Founder of InfusionSoft. Mask is a national expert and speaker on entrepreneurship, a New York Times bestselling author, and a PHX East Valley native and resident. He has received numerous awards and honors, including being named a Top 100 Small Business Influencer by Small Business Trends, and one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2013 by Goldman Sachs. Attendees will also hear from a panel of local entrepreneurs sharing their stories and talking in-depth about the local, regional, and state resources that helped them achieve success.

Incubators, entrepreneurship, and creative businesses models are becoming part of our daily lives and have a reverberating impact on our economy and growth. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of these models, resources for innovative ideas, and how to best support entrepreneurship in their business circles and communities.

In partnership with SRP, this forum will aim to:

  • Raise awareness and understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit and opportunities in the PHX East Valley;
  • Provide a forum to share experiences of business incubation, entrepreneurship and creative economic development models for job growth and prosperity;
  • Provide a platform for attendees to hear from and interact with nationally-recognized entrepreneurship experts and local entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their communities;

Investing in Arizona’s future as easy as 1-2-3

Education Fair (PEV)Arizona continues to be a one of the fastest-growing states in the country and leads the southwestern U.S. as a premier business location with an exciting and diverse quality of life.

However, it is clear we must do more to invest in public education. Our state’s economic future depends on it.

It is essential that our schools have sustained funding to give our youth the best education possible. We all have a vested interest in improving K-12 education for Arizona’s students and are lucky to have so many parents, community leaders, and citizens committed to supporting our community’s teachers, administrators, and school board members.

Proposition 123 will allow for monies to go directly into classrooms and to supporting teachers with competitive salaries as well as professional development, technology and other essential services to attract and keep quality teachers. With Proposition 123, schools will receive an immediate impact.

One of the biggest issues Arizona’s education systems faces is the alarming rate of quality educators leaving our state due to lack of financial support. We must reverse this trend and improve teacher salaries. If we offer a more competitive and supportive educational environment, our best teachers will stay.

Today’s youth will be providing solutions to some of the most critical issues our communities will face in the future. Investing more in our youth and schools provides the quality education to arm students with skills and innovative programs for our knowledge-based, global economy and future workforce.

Education is a state’s leading economic driver, and corporations select business locations in states that are committed to education. Proposition 123 represents a great first step on immediate and sustained funding to be inserted into the public school system.

The East Valley Partnership Board of Directors applauds the recent efforts by Governor Ducey, Education Leaders, and the Arizona legislature to direct more dollars to support education. Better-funded education is the key to growing Arizona’s economy and giving our children the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.

Passage of Proposition 123 is critical to Arizona’s future. We need to make sure that our students and teachers have the resources they need to succeed now. With the help of our community, Proposition 123 PASSED during the special election on May 17 to provide $3.5 billion into Arizona’s K-12 public schools over the next 10 years without raising taxes. Arizona students are counting on us to invest in their future.

 

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