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.
SKY RODIO
Job title: Editor, curriculum design and development
Job location: 27th Avenue
What attracted you to GCU? I am a recent Arizona transplant, but I quickly became impressed with the culture and vision of GCU.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I love to take pictures of anything and everything. I also enjoy the photo editing and the design process that comes after taking the pictures. In addition, I enjoy swimming and wakeboarding and like to go to Lake Powell to wakeboard and go boating with family. I married into a family of avid boaters and wakeboarders, so I was a little intimidated on our first Lake Powell trip. All I wanted was to make sure that I stood up the first time wakeboarding so that I didn’t feel too far behind the family curve. I asked a lot of questions and probably worried about it too much, but that first time I was out in the water I stood up like I wanted. Right after that I promptly fell, but I at least made that first goal and have enjoyed wakeboarding ever since. Another activity that I love to do for fun is play board games with friends and family. Settlers of Catan, Pandemic and Munchkin are a few of our family favorites.
What are you passionate about? My faith and making a positive difference. I love meeting and interacting with other people and getting to know them, for each of us truly has something awesome to contribute to our individual communities and work groups. I strongly believe that life is to be enjoyed, not endured.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? I love the many natural outlets that this state has to offer through hiking and photography. I also love the variety of food choices, especially Backyard Taco in Mesa. I also enjoy going to baseball games.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: My full name is Skyler (after my cousin Tyler), but I have gone by Sky since I was in second grade. My mom has her pilot’s license and my dad was an aeronautical engineer, so she figured that going by Sky was fitting. Also, when I got married, my mom organized and pulled off a flash mob that broke out during our reception. The dance started out with a few professional dancers who used to be her students, and it just kept growing and growing with the large majority of our guests knowing the specific dance (including our whole wedding party). The crazy part about it was that people came from several different states to our wedding in California, so it was such a surprise to see so many people know the same dance and all be in on the big surprise without us knowing a thing about it.
What are you most proud of? I am really proud of my family and the good things that they accomplish and do for others. My brother-in-law is currently serving the people of the Philippines and makes a big difference in the small towns that he serves in. My husband just finished taking Level 2 of the Chartered Financial Analyst exam, which requires at least 300 hours of diligent study to do well. He had an awesome attitude through it all.
—
JON HOPE
Job title: Enrollment counselor
Job location: Tempe
What attracted you to GCU? I knew someone who works here, and I am attracted to the values of the company and the way employees are treated.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I like to travel, go to the gym and listen to music.
What are you passionate about? I have a 6-month-old son, and right now improving our family’s life is my main focus.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? I like to tube down the Salt River, go to Tempe Marketplace, or hit lunch at Postino.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I am terrible at making trades on the stock exchange.
What are you most proud of? I am most proud of the journey my wife and I took to get to this point in life. We were living in a terrible one-bedroom apartment when she found out that she was pregnant. I took on three jobs, finished school, bought a house, got her a car and now we have a perfect baby boy.
