Antelope Intros is a recurring GCU Today feature that introduces some of our new employees to the people around them in a way that is fun and informative. Employees are eligible to be featured in the month following their orientation.
IRASEMA GUZMAN
Job title: Doctoral University Counselor
Job location: Tempe
What attracted you to GCU? The dominant force GCU is becoming in Phoenix and across the country.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I enjoy going to sporting events. My most favorite is baseball and basketball games of our local AZ teams.
What are you passionate about? I’m very passionate about helping others in different capacities, that may be the social worker in me, but I love to do it.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? I enjoy going to concerts, Chase Field and Talking Stick Resort Arena. I like to head up north for the cooler weather and down to Tucson and Nogales for the food.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I worked as a 911 dispatcher for almost 5 years and once upon a time I wanted to be an emergency room physician.
What are you most proud of? I am very proud of the really well round person I have become professionally. I have been a bank teller, dispatcher, optician assistant, social work, I've worked in sports entertainment and now I’m in higher education. I can’t wait to see what the future holds once I am done with my Master’s degree from GCU.
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ED KOENEMAN
Job title: Instructor, Electrical Engineering Technology
Job location: Main Campus
What attracted you to GCU? All of the engineering programs here are just getting off the ground so it's like working at a startup company -- which I love.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I love woodworking and leatherworking. Since my workshop is in my garage, I have to wait until nicer weather to really dig into some fun projects.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about youth development programs and I have been very active in the Boy Scouts of America and various other youth programs within Rotary International.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? Phoenix Comicon! I look forward to this all year. I started going to Phoenix Comicon five years ago. I love the fact that they have something for everyone. I can take my kids and they can attend panels and visit guests associated with their interests, and my wife and I can meet guests and attend panels that are geared for us older folks. (Not that I’m that old…)
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: My fifth great-grandfather spent the winter at Valley Forge with Gen. Washington.
What are you most proud of? The company that my father and I founded was able to help thousands of stroke survivors improve their quality of life through the products that we developed.
