Y Gen Out Loud

Gen Y giving gifts of memories

Tamara Bell — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:18:58 +0000

In a world where “I want it, I buy it” seems to be the mantra of more than just the rich, buying the ideal gift for any occasion can bring unwanted stress to the generations.

But how can you alleviate that stress while giving your family and friends presents they will treasure, all within your budget?

Sheri Bridges, Associate Professor of Marketing at Wake Forest University, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to discuss how Gen Y can make memory-based gifts through shared activities and experiences that show family and friends how important they are to them. She also provides tips for older generations on gift ideas that Gen Y will appreciate and value for years to come.

MORE ABOUT SHERI BRIDGES, PH.D.

Dr. Sheri Bridges, Associate Professor of Marketing, Wake Forest University

Sheri Bridges is Associate Professor of Marketing at Wake Forest University. Faculty director of the university’s retail marketing center, her expertise includes branding and consumer behavior. Dr. Bridges received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications and her Master’s degree in International Management Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas. She has a Ph.D. in Marketing from Stanford University.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Des Moines to D.C.: the long road to the White House

Jake Michaels — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:12:34 +0000

The presidential primary season, during which potential candidates vie for their party’s nomination to be the next leader of the free world, is upon us once again. Candidates are bickering, politicking and mudslinging their way from state to state. The full spectacle is published, televised and tweeted into American homes, and those living in battleground states suddenly find themselves courted by a collection of presidential hopefuls vying for their support. Many are asking themselves, “How many times are we supposed to vote for the president, anyway?”

The purpose of primary elections is for citizens in each state to choose delegates for each political party’s national convention, during which the presidential nominee will be formally selected. Perhaps the most surprising fact about primary elections is that the process is not described in the U.S. Constitution or U.S. Code, but has developed solely to meet the needs of political parties. The assignment of delegates differs by state in accordance with each party’s bylaws, but the two most commonly used methods are the caucus and the primary election. Although the ultimate goal of both methods is the same in most cases, there are some significant differences between the two.

A caucus is simply a meeting of members or supporters of a political party. Caucuses are run by the political parties themselves and are restricted to supporters of each party. During these events, attendees cast unofficial “straw” ballots for their preferred presidential candidate. These ballots, which may simply be handwritten scraps of paper, are tallied at the end of the event. In addition, delegates are chosen to represent the state’s interests at the national party convention. Prospective delegates are identified as favorable to a specific candidate or uncommitted. After discussion and debate an informal vote is taken to determine which delegates should be chosen. States that generally hold caucuses include Iowa, Nevada, and Minnesota, among others.

Unlike a caucus, a primary election is carried out by state and local governments. Voters select their preferred candidate from an official, secret ballot that contains a list of all eligible candidates, and these ballots are collected and counted by state-supervised election officials. However, some states require voters to select the names of potential delegates to the national convention. As with the general election, voters must be registered in order to vote in the primary. States that hold primary elections include New Hampshire, New York, Montana, and the majority of other states.

During the primary process, voters select delegates who will be the ones actually responsible for choosing their party’s candidate for president. Through the series of caucuses and primaries that are held by states from January to June in an election year, delegates for the parties’ national conventions are selected. When these delegates meet at their respective party’s national convention to officially choose the presidential nominee, a simple majority of delegate support for a candidate is needed in order for that candidate to win the party’s nomination.

There are two types of delegates: pledged and unpledged. The difference between the two is simple. Pledged delegates openly indicate to voters which candidate they support, while unpledged delegates are not required to disclose their preferences. Unpledged delegates are often referred to as “super delegates” for their unusual power to swing the vote in one direction or another.

Both the Democratic and the Republican caucuses and primaries allocate delegates in one of the following ways: winner-take-all, proportional allocation, or via a convention. In a winner-take-all system, the candidate who receives the most votes is awarded all of that state’s delegates. In a proportional system, delegates are awarded to several candidates in proportion to the number of votes each candidate received. For example, imagine a state with 10 delegates and 3 candidates. If 60% of voters supported candidate X, 20% supported candidate Y, and 20% supported candidate Z, candidate X would receive 6 delegates and candidates Y and Z would each receive 2 delegates. The Republican Party gives states the choice of using either the winner-take-all or the proportional method. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, always uses the proportional method to assign delegates.

Conventions are larger meetings held after the statewide caucuses have been completed, during which the appointed delegates officially choose their party’s candidate. Delegates to the state convention are chosen at each local caucus meeting, and often must travel to the state convention site in order to represent their communities.

Although the objective of the primary election process is to give voters some input into the process of selecting a presidential nominee, there are certain restrictions on who can participate in caucuses or primaries. There are two types of primary elections: closed and open. In a closed primary election, only those voters who are officially registered with the party may vote in that party’s primary. Some states carry out open primary elections, in which voters are allowed to participate in either the Democratic or the Republican primary (but not both!) regardless of their party affiliation. Very rarely are voters allowed to vote in both the Republican and Democratic primaries; this is called a blanket primary.

The primary election process is complex and may vary from state to state, and from party to party. For more detailed information, contact your state’s board of elections. For specific questions regarding all 2012 presidential candidates, check out Project Vote Smart’s website.

Gen Y entrepreneurs trusting their vibe

Tamara Bell — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:21:33 +0000

Paige Burton, the February Y Gen Entrepreneur, is founder of a coaching and consulting business called Vibes Matter, which specializes in providing positive vibes, professional support, and guidance to DIY creators, self-care junkies, and free spirits.

Paige joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how young entrepreneurs should trust their authentic vibe when creating and growing their ventures. She also discusses the importance of self-discovery when branding your own business.

MORE ABOUT PAIGE BURTON

Paige Burton, founder, Vibes Matter

Out of a mission to place passion in action, Paige Burton started a coaching and consulting business called Vibes Matter. She specializes in providing positive vibes, professional support, and guidance to DIY creators, self-care junkies, and free spirits.

A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Journalism and Economics Management, Paige received her Masters of Film and Television Production from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Today, the trained journalist, filmmaker, and personal development coach is “Keeping it Weird” in Austin, Texas.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

The Y Gen Entrepreneurs series, which airs the second Wednesday of each month, is sponsored by Constant Contact, a leading provider of email marketing, event marketing, online surveys, and social media marketing to small businesses, associations and nonprofits. Click here for more information.

Gen Y leading the readers revolution

Tamara Bell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:24:05 +0000

According to a recent Pew Research survey, the number of Americans who have a tablet or e-reader jumped from 18% in December to 29% in January. But what does that mean for the future of the publishing industry and books in general?

To explain how technology is helping to create avid readers among the next generation, we have as our guest Laurie McLean, a literary agent with Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents. Laurie joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how Gen Y readers, through new platforms from companies like Apple and Amazon, are leading the discovery of new writers, while young authors are pushing past traditional publishers to have their voices heard. She also shares her predictions for changes to the publishing industry in 2012.

MORE ABOUT LAURIE MCLEAN

Laurie McLean, literary agent, Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents

Laurie McLean is an agent at Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents in San Francisco. She represents adult genre fiction (romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, westerns, mystery, suspense, thrillers, etc.) as well as children’s middle grade and young adult books.

For more than 20 years Laurie ran an eponymous public relations agency in California’s Silicon Valley. She is wise in the ways of marketing and publicity, negotiation, editing and a host of other business-critical areas. She is also a novelist herself, so she can empathize with the author’s journey to and through publication.

She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the State University of New York and a Master’s Degree at Syracuse University’s prestigious Newhouse School of Journalism. Laurie also is Dean of the San Francisco Writers University.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y helping others help themselves

Tamara Bell — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:27:30 +0000

Vanessa Carter is the Director of Campus Microfinance Alliance, a coalition of nearly a dozen student-run microfinance groups that have already lent more than $350,000 to disadvantaged entrepreneurs who need it most.

Now, they are expanding the program even further. The Alliance has launched a new campaign, “Lend for America,” a summer internship that provides hands-on lessons for college students to learn how to start microfinance organizations in their campus communities.

Vanessa joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how Gen Y’s confidence and open-mindedness in solving problems can positively impact job creation in their communities. She also explains the potential of microfinance loans to build those strong businesses needed to revitalize the economy.

MORE ABOUT VANESSA CARTER

Vanessa Carter, Director, Campus Microfinance Alliance

Prior to joining Campus Microfinance Alliance, Vanessa worked with Credit Builders Alliance, where she managed services to help nonprofit loan funds offer credit reporting as a tool to build credit for consumers, as well as helped to build ThinkImpact, a social enterprise that connects students with rural villages in Kenya and South Africa to build social businesses.

Vanessa is a recipient of the Projects for Peace fellowship and spent the summer of 2008 establishing a community center in South Africa to improve access to entrepreneurial opportunities for women.

Vanessa graduated with a B.A. in International Relations and Government from Claremont McKenna College.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Optimism a key to successful Gen Y entrepreneurs

Tamara Bell — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:41:05 +0000

Sammy Shreibati, the January Y Gen Entrepreneur, is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SaveUp, a free rewards program to help people save money and get out of debt.

Sammy joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how working first at a small business can be a good learning experience for Gen Y wanting to start their own companies. He also discusses how optimism and belief in yourself are keys to long-term success.

MORE ABOUT SAMMY SHREIBATI

Sammy Shreibati, co-founder, SaveUp

Sammy Shreibati is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SaveUp, a free rewards program to help people save money and get out of debt. Previously, Sammy was the Director of Engineering at PrepMe, an education company dedicated to bringing high quality, customized learning to students across the world. He helped PrepMe grow from a bootstrapped startup in his garage to a venture-backed online education company.

While at Stanford University, the San Francisco resident studied Electrical Engineering with an emphasis on computer design.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

The Y Gen Entrepreneurs series, which airs the second Wednesday of each month, is sponsored by Constant Contact, a leading provider of email marketing, event marketing, and online surveys to small businesses, associations and nonprofits. Click here for more information.

Gen Y entrepreneurs averting startup mistakes

Tamara Bell — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:52:12 +0000

Alex Lorton, the December Y Gen Entrepreneur, is co-founder of Cater2.me, a San Francisco-based company that was created with the goal of connecting inspired kitchens with the masses.

Alex joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how Gen Y who want to start a business should use their social networks to test their ideas and get feedback before moving forward. He also explains how a little perspective can go a long way in ensuring a successful venture.

MORE ABOUT ALEX LORTON

Alex Lorton, co-founder, Cater2.me

Alex Lorton is co-founder of Cater2.me, a San Francisco-based company that was created with the goal of connecting inspired kitchens with the masses. Before starting Cater2.me, Alex worked in strategic management consulting for Oliver Wyman in New York City.

A native of Toledo, Ohio, Alex graduated from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a degree in Business with a focus on Accounting and Entrepreneurship.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y bringing new blood to elected offices

Tamara Bell — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:31:31 +0000

As the 2012 election cycle begins, candidates for U.S. Congress, as well as state legislatures across the nation, will be decided in primaries and/or caucuses over the first half of next year. The final winners will be determined in the general election on Nov. 6. Many of those down ballot races will include Gen Y candidates, who will be taking the leap from voters to contenders for the first time.

Trent McKnight, a Gen Y candidate for the Texas House of Representatives, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how the current political climate of sharp partisanship offers an opportunity for Gen Y to bring new blood to elected offices. He also discusses how getting involved in their local communities can help young people understand their connection to the political process.

MORE ABOUT TRENT MCKNIGHT

Trent McKnight, Gen Y candidate for Texas House of Representatives

Trent McKnight is running for the Texas House of Representatives in a district that spans rural areas of west and north Texas. He co-manages McKnight Ranches, a full-time cow-calf operation. He is founder of Rural Young Professionals as well as former director of Rural Texas Banks.

Trent has served as chairman of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers, and as Agricultural Advisor to both the U.S. military in Iraq and the United Nations in Africa.

A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, Trent received his Masters of Science in Comparative Politics from The London School of Economics.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y building businesses while getting degrees

Tamara Bell — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:13:45 +0000

A survey of more than 1,600 Gen Y earlier this year indicated that young people are motivated to start businesses and overwhelmingly think that entrepreneurship education is important. They also pointed out that resources available from colleges, government, and financial institutions are often inadequate to realize their goals. But Arizona State University hopes to address this concern in its community by building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix area.

Virgilia Singh, the Resident Startup Architect at ASU’s Startup Labs, joins Keeping up with Gen Y to talk about how Gen Y don’t have to drop out of college to pursue their entrepreneurial passions. She also discusses how higher education institutions can assist students across all majors obtain their degrees while building their businesses.

MORE ABOUT VIRGILIA SINGH

Virgilia Singh, Resident Startup Architect, ASU’s Startup Labs

Virgilia Singh is the Resident Startup Architect at Arizona State University’s Startup Labs, a university-wide initiative to create, with the help of a grant from the Kauffman Foundation, an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix area.

No stranger to entrepreneurship, Virgilia is co-founder of Exhale Health, which offers a holistic approach to better health, and GenJuice, a site that creates content, events and products to help emerging influencers in every industry lead the next generation.

At 19, Virgilia graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in Political Science. She has a Master’s in Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Investment in Gen Y can help nonprofits grow

Tamara Bell — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:33:36 +0000

The holiday season is a time filled with shopping, parties, and family traditions. But it’s also a time to think of others less fortunate. For both Gen Y and nonprofits, however, connecting to broaden participation in giving seems to be a challenge. How can these two forces come together to make a difference in people’s lives?

Dr. Jen Shang, an assistant professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to discuss ways that nonprofits can use social media and new fundraising technology to encourage young people to give money, time, and talent to worthy causes. She also explains how changing the mindsets of both nonprofits and Gen Y can lead to purposeful careers in the fundraising field.

MORE ABOUT JEN SHANG, PH.D.

Dr. Jen Shang, assistant professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University

Jen Shang is the world’s only philanthropic psychologist and an assistant professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. She co-authored a recent report, Growing Philanthropy in the United States, which drew on existing research and the June Growing Philanthropy Summit, a meeting of 30 influential leaders from the nonprofit industry for discussions in Washington, D.C.

Her professional interests include Philanthropic Psychology, Donor Behavior, Fund Development, and Nonprofit Marketing. Jen received her undergraduate degree at Beijing Normal University, a Master of Science at Carnegie Mellon University, a Master of Arts at University of Pennsylvania, and her doctorate at Indiana University.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y staying fit during the holidays

Tamara Bell — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:56:19 +0000

It’s hard enough for Gen Y to exercise and eat healthy when juggling the demands of school or work, but add holidays to the mix, and training and healthy eating tend to go out the window. What can Gen Y do to avoid weight gain during the holiday season?

Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist, a professor of Behavioral Science at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to offer suggestions on how to squeeze in exercise and healthy eating between holiday parties and shopping. She also explains how taking care of yourself in your 20s with a regular exercise routine and healthy diet can radically reduce your chances for certain cancers when you’re older.

MORE ABOUT KAREN BASEN-ENGQUIST, PH.D.

Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist, Professor of Behavioral Science, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist is a Professor of Behavioral Science in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. As a psychologist, Dr. Basen-Engquist’s primary area of research interest is developing and testing health behavior interventions for cancer survivors to improve their physical function, quality of life, and health outcomes.

Her research includes how exercise and diet affect cancer survivors’ physical and emotional well-being, development of interventions to help cancer survivors adopt more physically active lifestyles, and innovative real-time methods of assessing fatigue and other symptoms in patients with and survivors of cancer. She has a study funded by the National Cancer Institute to investigate the mechanisms of exercise adoption and maintenance in endometrial cancer survivors using a social cognitive theory model that tests the social, physiological, and behavioral predictors of exercise self-efficacy.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our i Tunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

A picture is worth a thousand votes

Chris Copsey — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:38:37 +0000

Have you ever had to show your ID to go to the movies or to buy a drink? What about to open a bank account? An issue that is exploding all around the country begs the question: should the government require citizens to show a photo ID in order to vote?

Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy. The United States is founded on the principle that free and fair elections determine the direction our country takes. Many people — women, minorities, non-land owning folks — have fought aggressively for the right to vote, so is it therefore right, or fair, for states to require its citizens to show their photo IDs to vote, even if the person is properly registered?

Proponents of the measures cite the increasing likelihood of voter fraud as the main impetus behind the laws. If elections are to be free and fair, then they should be just that — even the hint of fraud might lessen the legitimacy of the outcome.

Some opponents balk at that argument and say that instances of voter fraud are not widespread enough to warrant such legislation. Furthermore, many Democrats argue that these Voter ID bills unfairly target specific voting groups that are more likely to vote blue than red, such as minorities, the elderly, and young voters, claiming that these groups are less likely than others to get, or know to get, such IDs.

In spite of the arguments on either side, the truth of the matter is that many states require IDs in order to vote right now — a driver’s license usually suffices, but in some instances a utility bill or even a debit card will qualify as a valid form of ID. The more strict Voter ID laws would do away with that, and require an ID with a photo on it. A driver’s license still qualifies, as do passports, or any other government-issued ID cards. However, those other forms of ID, such as utility bills or debit cards, will no longer be accepted in those states that have enacted these laws.

So what is a voter to do if they don’t have a photo ID? Well, there are a few options. First, if a voter does not have a photo ID with them, then they can cast a provisional ballot, which will then be counted if the voter shows a valid photo ID by a later period, usually a few days. Secondly, the states that require photo IDs are issuing free voting cards that can be used as a valid form of ID for voting.

Voter ID bills have been introduced in many states and, in spite of the furor, been enacted into law in a relatively small number. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, seven states require voters to show a photo ID before they can vote. But if they don’t have a photo ID, they’re still allowed to vote under certain criteria.

Then there are eight states that have enacted legislation requiring only photo IDs to vote. Voters can still cast a ballot without a photo ID, but their vote doesn’t count until they show a photo ID to election officials within days after the election. Of these, Texas and South Carolina require the Department of Justice to approve changes to their voting laws. The department’s decision on the Texas law is due Dec. 5. Its decision on the South Carolina law is due Dec. 27.

Despite what proponents say regarding the ease of either getting or providing a photo ID, what is giving these laws national attention harks back to what some opponents are saying about the intent of the legislation — to make it harder for people identifying with a particular party to make it to the ballot box. Alarming reports have worked their way across the country, including stories of elderly citizens leaving after long stints in DMV lines while trying to get their photo ID.

In this, as in many things, education is king. Opposition to a law doesn’t mean one shouldn’t follow it. Voting is one key way in which we the people can change the course of the country. So at the end of the day, it is always important for voters to double check that 1) they are registered to vote beforehand, and 2) make sure that if a photo ID is required at the ballot box, they have one with them ready to show.

Gen Y entrepreneurs making their mark

Tamara Bell — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:44:03 +0000

Nathaniel Whittemore, the November Y Gen Entrepreneur, is founder and co-founder of several companies. Today, he is a principal with Learn Capital, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focused exclusively on funding entrepreneurs with a vision for better and smarter learning.

Nathaniel joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to explain that while success for young entrepreneurs often depends on the right place, right time, and right connections, it doesn’t always have to be left to chance. He also discusses how writing can help Gen Y gain credentials as well as respect in industries where one day they want to make their mark.

MORE ABOUT NATHANIEL WHITTEMORE

Nathaniel Whittemore, principal, Learn Capital

Since graduating Cum Laude with honors in History from Northwestern University, Nathaniel Whittemore has founded and co-founded several companies, including the Center for Global Engagement, a multi-disciplinary center at his alma mater that designs programs for students interested in global development, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. The CGE currently runs programs in Uganda, India, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and South Africa, and its approach to experiential global education has been held up as a model by institutions such as the Clinton Global Initiative University program.

The San Francisco resident was the founding editor of the Social Entrepreneurship portal on Change.org, which he grew from launch to the most read website about the topic. He serves as an advisor and evangelist for a number of nonprofits and startups, including Assetmap – a platform for accelerating professional serendipity – which he co-founded. Nathaniel also writes regularly about education, business, and social innovation for publications including GOOD, Inc, and Fast Company.

Today, Nathaniel is a principal with Learn Capital, a venture capital firm focused exclusively on funding entrepreneurs with a vision for better and smarter learning.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Occupy Wall Street offers lessons for Gen Y

Tamara Bell — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:13:14 +0000

Over the past year or so, we’ve witnessed riots in countries across the world. And today, ongoing demonstrations in our country are making headlines around the globe. But what’s the main reason behind all this unrest?

Solomon Polachek, a preeminent scholar in labor economics and conflict resolution at Binghamton University, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to explain how economic imbalance figures into the Occupy Wall Street protests and how it compares and contrasts to previous movements in the United States as well as more recently in other countries. He also points out lessons Gen Y can learn from the demonstrations as they face high unemployment and job scarcity in a tight economic market.

MORE ABOUT SOLOMON POLACHEK, PH.D.

Dr. Solomon Polachek, scholar in labor economics and conflict resolution, Binghamton University

Solomon Polachek is a preeminent scholar in labor economics and conflict resolution at Binghamton University.

Dr. Polachek joined Binghamton University in 1983. He holds appointments in the Economics and Political Science Departments, and from 1996 to 2000 he served as Dean of the Arts and Sciences College. In 2005 he received the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

With a doctorate from Columbia University, Dr. Polachek has had post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Chicago, Stanford, and Princeton. He is coauthor of the book, The Economics of Earnings, and has published more than 100 articles and book chapters. He also is editor of Research in Labor Economics, on the editorial boards of a number of academic journals, and a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.

Gen Y getting smart about energy conservation

Tamara Bell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:13:20 +0000

It’s no surprise that Gen Y is known to be the most environmentally aware generation. But while they express interest in being eco-friendly, surveys show they’re not any more likely to be involved in green-related activities than older generations.

Alicia Dixon, manager of Public Relations for CenterPoint Energy, a Houston-based domestic energy delivery company, joins Keeping Up with Gen Y to talk about how new technologies, including Smart Meters and Intelligent Grids, will help consumers conserve more by allowing them to keep track of their energy use. She also points out that Gen Y, who typically don’t have the money to buy hybrid cars or energy-efficient appliances, can make little changes that pay off in big ways towards saving energy at home and at work.

MORE ABOUT ALICIA DIXON

Manager of Public Relations, CenterPoint Energy

Alicia Dixon is manager of Public Relations for CenterPoint Energy, a Houston-based domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipelines, and field services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.

A graduate of Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Alicia joined CenterPoint in 1990 and has been in her current role since 1999. She also is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the International Association of Business Communicators.

You can listen to the show below or you can download it as a podcast from our iTunes page. And you can find us on WomensRadio.