Please vote for both Store Directors

Gilberto Garcia

I’m eager to join the CACS board of directors because of my deep passion for this industry and my commitment to its ongoing success. Despite the challenges we've encountered in recent years, I firmly believe that difficult times can be a breeding ground for innovation and growth. It’s crucial that we realign our mission to harmonize with the needs of our academic institutions, particularly in the pursuit of making educational materials more affordable. By prioritizing our students' well-being and educational needs, I’m confident that all other aspects will naturally fall into place. Furthermore, I’m excited about the prospect of fostering stronger connections with our esteemed colleagues in California. I believe that face-to-face interactions can facilitate meaningful dialogues that are essential for addressing the critical issues we face within our state and industry. I’m committed to actively engaging with our California counterparts to create more opportunities for these invaluable in-person discussions. Biography: Gilbert is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in the campus store industry. Gilbert's journey in the campus store industry began at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he served as an operations manager for almost two years and a three-year tenure as a Buyer for general merchandise and technology and four years as a student employee. With a career spanning over a decade, he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to excellence and leadership in the industry. Currently serving as the Campus Store Manager at Southwestern Community College District in Chula Vista, California, Gilbert has held this position for over two years, where he has been instrumental in driving positive change and enhancing the store's performance. Gilbert spearheaded a transformative initiative that introduced convenient pick-up parcel lockers at four strategic locations across Southern San Diego, including Chula Vista, San Ysidro, National City, and Otay Mesa. This innovation not only streamlined access to essential materials but also extended its benefits to students in these vibrant communities and even beyond the border, providing faster and more efficient service. In addition to his role at Southwestern Community College District, Gilbert has been an active member of the National Association of College Stores (NACS). He holds the position of Trustee-at-Large, contributing his insights and expertise to the professional trade association of the $10 billion campus store industry. NACS represents nearly 4,000 campuses in the U.S. and Canada and approximately 1,000 companies that supply goods and services to campus stores. With his impressive career achievements and dedication to the campus store industry, Gilbert stands as a prominent figure in the field, committed to supporting student success, enhancing the campus experience, and advancing the academic missions of higher education institutions.

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Gilberto Garcia

VOTE FOR STORE DIRECTORs BELOW:

Joe Stringer

Joe Stringer

I have been the E‐Commerce Manager at the Grand Canyon University Lope Shops since 2018. When I started, I was a department of one fulfilling about 10 orders a day, listing new products, providing customer service, and managing our e‐commerce platform. Today, I have two full‐time employees and 5 students. My team provides customer service for, and fulfills, about 50 orders a day. We also manage our Adobe Creative Cloud licensing, student care package, and the Lope Shops social media programs as well as our Brand Ambassador team.

I got my start working in e‐commerce in 1999 and have been involved the industry, in some capacity, ever since. I have also worked in IT as a Network Administrator and in small business IT consulting. I excel in finding ways to automate repetitive tasks and make processes more efficient. This provides a better customer experience andallows us to accomplish more with less resources.

 I have fallen in love with the university culture. I find great fulfillment in working with students and enjoy teaching them all I can about technology, communication, and teamwork as they prepare for their own futures.

Work Experience

Grand Canyon University Lope Shops                                                            January 2018 ‐ Present

E‐commerce Manager

United States Air Force Reserves – Luke AFB, Arizona                                  Oct 2012 – July 2017

Combat Arms Instructor

Dejonet Incorporated– Phoenix, Arizona                                                      May 2007 – January 2018

President/CEO

Abacus 24‐7 LLC– Phoenix, Arizona                                                               March 2004 ‐ May 2007

IT Manager

Pearson Education – Phoenix, Arizona                                                          October 2003 ‐ March 2004

Customer Service

Innovative Technology Solutions/AZ Data ‐ Phoenix, Arizona                      August 2000 – October2003

Systems Engineer

ShopNow.com ‐ Phoenix, Arizona                                                                   March 1999 – June 2000

Network Administrator

United States Air Force – Luke AFB, Arizona                                                   March 1995 – March 1999

Security Police Officer / Desk Sergeant

Education

High Tech Institute – Phoenix, Arizona

AOS, Computer Networking and Information Technology

Maryvale High School – Phoenix, Arizona

Diploma

Graduation Date: May 2000 Graduation Date: June 1994