News
Your Incredible Neighbors: GVCCC executive loves community interaction
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| MARIO AGUILAR | GREEN VALLEY NEWS Joyce Finkelstein has been executive director of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council for nine years. |
By Kathy Engle
High energy, high performance and a practical, down-to-earth approach have helped Joyce Finkelstein maintain her reputation as a woman who juggles so many balls, it’s a wonder her head doesn’t start spinning.
A maxim on the executive director of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council’s bulletin might explain how she’s stays grounded. “It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not,” it says.
Not surprisingly, given her warm personality and ready sense of humor, Finkelstein’s background is in human resources as an analyst, counselor and coordinator.
She performed these services. plus career and academic counseling for Pima Community College in Tucson for three years after moving to Green Valley from Louisville, Ky. in 1996. The Finkelsteins settled in Green Valley after Joyce’s husband, Mike, accepted a job offer to join the Chamberlain Group, the world’s leading producer of garage door openers, a position that regularly involves trips to China and elsewhere several times a year.
Before moving here, Joyce and Mike lived in many places while he worked for General Electric, including Allentown, Pa.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Greenville, S.C.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Monterrey, Mexico; Trumbell, Conn.; and Louisville, Ky.
Joyce and Mike married in 1971 after he graduated from college. Joyce delayed pursuing higher education in favor of staying home to raise her two children, Adam and Amy, until they were both in school. Now, both are grown.
Educational, career background
“My priority was family and children and I went to five schools before earning an undergraduate degree because we move so much, ” she said.
In 1985, she did earn that degree, a B.A. in psychology from Charter Oak College in Hartford, Conn. and in 1990, a master’s degree in counseling-human resource development from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn.
She has worked as a career counselor for the YWCA of Greater Bridgeport and, afterward, as a career counselor for a faith-based family and vocational service in Louisville.
In 1994, she was named director of career services for Spalding University in Louisville, a job which involved managing a comprehensive career services office, including expanding the college’s internship program and developing internships with government and business organizations.
Responsibilities at GVCCC
Her job duties at the GVCCC are more diverse and wide-ranging than her previous positions, Finkelstein said, including community outreach, monitoring county, state and federal legislation that affects Green Valley residents and reporting her findings to the council. She’s also a regular visitor to legislators in Phoenix, calling upon them about upcoming bills.
She also meets regularly with the leadership of neighboring jurisdictions to discuss matters of regional interest and concern, and provides presentations to community organizations.
On behalf of the council, Finkelstein is also in charge of managing public and media relations, arranging community meetings and town halls, representing the council on community boards, working with them to plan community events and attending regular meetings of key organizations, such as the Green Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Both both new and longtime Green Valley residents who have a question or concern and who come in person or call the council office will likely wind up talking to Joyce.
“I meet a lot of people who aren’t sure who to call or what to do and help them make that connection. If they’re looking for volunteer opportunities I can direct them to the appropriate agencies, based on their skills, background and interests.
“If they have questions about their homeowners’ association, I can refer them to someone who can answer their questions. My job is 24/7 and if somebody sees me outside the office and has an issue, that’s what I’m here for. I will do what I can to help and do my best to get done what they need,” she said.
Likes working with public
The constant interaction with the public is Finkelstein’s favorite aspect of her GVCCC position.
“I think I have the best job in Green Valley because it gives me the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people,” she said.
One of her major responsibilities is managing he Green Valley Community Directory, now in its 37th year, a project which involves the efforts of more than 150 volunteers who compile and deliver the directory each year. Finkelstein is responsible for their training and for maintaining this extensive volunteer network, many of them long-haulers who have worked on the directory, now delivered to 25,000 area homes, for many years.
Finkelstein is also responsible for writing and coordinating all text sections in the directory, including the community information section, frequently called numbers, government pages, destination sites, and more. She also coordinates the annual directory cover contest which calls upon area artists, photographers and others to submit cover selections based on theme selected by the council.
“It’s a massive project and we literally work on the directory all year long,” Finkelstein said. Training sessions for new volunteers are held in September. The directories are distributed in February, usually the third week in that month, by an extensive volunteer crew that has included Sahuarita High School students, the GV Marine Corps League, area homeowner associations and other volunteers who live in outlying communities, such as Sahuarita and Amado.
The directory with its residential listings, which provide information about residents former home and occupation and its business listings, street guides and indexes, is more than just an unique resource in this retirement community. It also provides two-thirds of the council’s operating income, through a contract with the publisher.
The other third comes from residents of the GVCCC’s 66- member homeowner associations. HOAs pay $5.50 per rooftop to the GVCCC annually for the services it offers as a spokesman for HOAs and the community and for the work its volunteer committees do in monitoring and taking stands on local issues, such as planning and zoning, architectural review, environmental issues, government liaison, health and human services, communications and town hall , public utilities and traffic and arroyos.
Finkelstein attends all committee meetings, making sure the groups have all the resources they need and that directives or requests for further information are met.
The committees meet regularly and frequently recommend positions on community issues, which are passed along to the volunteer Executive Committee and the Board of Representatives for discussion and possible vote.
Though Green Valley is unincorporated, the council’s committee structure approximates those departments typically found in town and city governments, with the board of reps acting as an unofficial city or town council. Though votes are non-binding, the council is regarded by other government entities, such as the Pima County Board of Supervisors, as the voice of the community.
That her bosses and co-workers think highly of Finkelstein is an understatement.
Contacted this week, Russ Symes, Council president, said he had just completed a letter nominating Joyce as one of 12 Women on the Move in Southern Arizona, a contest sponsored by the YWCA. Symes said he nominated Joyce for her achievements in the workplace, her contributions to the YMCA, and “as a woman who has made a commitment to serve her community with heart and soul.”
With a paid staff of three, including Finkelstein, the council maintains an office in the Green Valley Mall, open five days per week.
Community service
Finkelstein’s work doesn’t end with council business, however, since she serves in leadership positions for several community organizations.
She chairs the Pima Community College Community Learning Center in Green Valley Advisory Committee, is vice president of the Rotary Club of Green Valley Foundation, is a Rotary Club of Green Valley director, and secretary of the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation. In addition, she was appointed recently by Gov. Janet Napolitano to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging.
She and her husband are active members of the Beth Shalom Temple Center in Green Valley.
For fun she enjoys music (Mike plays a mean trumpet), walking, working out and volunteering her talents on and offstage with the Valley Players, Green Valley’s community theater group. She and Mike became proud grandparents for the first time this year when their son and daughter-in-law adopted a baby boy from Siberia.
Kengle@gvnews.com| 547-9732
A maxim on the executive director of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council’s bulletin might explain how she’s stays grounded. “It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not,” it says.
Not surprisingly, given her warm personality and ready sense of humor, Finkelstein’s background is in human resources as an analyst, counselor and coordinator.
She performed these services. plus career and academic counseling for Pima Community College in Tucson for three years after moving to Green Valley from Louisville, Ky. in 1996. The Finkelsteins settled in Green Valley after Joyce’s husband, Mike, accepted a job offer to join the Chamberlain Group, the world’s leading producer of garage door openers, a position that regularly involves trips to China and elsewhere several times a year.
Before moving here, Joyce and Mike lived in many places while he worked for General Electric, including Allentown, Pa.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Greenville, S.C.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Monterrey, Mexico; Trumbell, Conn.; and Louisville, Ky.
Joyce and Mike married in 1971 after he graduated from college. Joyce delayed pursuing higher education in favor of staying home to raise her two children, Adam and Amy, until they were both in school. Now, both are grown.
Educational, career background
“My priority was family and children and I went to five schools before earning an undergraduate degree because we move so much, ” she said.
In 1985, she did earn that degree, a B.A. in psychology from Charter Oak College in Hartford, Conn. and in 1990, a master’s degree in counseling-human resource development from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn.
She has worked as a career counselor for the YWCA of Greater Bridgeport and, afterward, as a career counselor for a faith-based family and vocational service in Louisville.
In 1994, she was named director of career services for Spalding University in Louisville, a job which involved managing a comprehensive career services office, including expanding the college’s internship program and developing internships with government and business organizations.
Responsibilities at GVCCC
Her job duties at the GVCCC are more diverse and wide-ranging than her previous positions, Finkelstein said, including community outreach, monitoring county, state and federal legislation that affects Green Valley residents and reporting her findings to the council. She’s also a regular visitor to legislators in Phoenix, calling upon them about upcoming bills.
She also meets regularly with the leadership of neighboring jurisdictions to discuss matters of regional interest and concern, and provides presentations to community organizations.
On behalf of the council, Finkelstein is also in charge of managing public and media relations, arranging community meetings and town halls, representing the council on community boards, working with them to plan community events and attending regular meetings of key organizations, such as the Green Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Both both new and longtime Green Valley residents who have a question or concern and who come in person or call the council office will likely wind up talking to Joyce.
“I meet a lot of people who aren’t sure who to call or what to do and help them make that connection. If they’re looking for volunteer opportunities I can direct them to the appropriate agencies, based on their skills, background and interests.
“If they have questions about their homeowners’ association, I can refer them to someone who can answer their questions. My job is 24/7 and if somebody sees me outside the office and has an issue, that’s what I’m here for. I will do what I can to help and do my best to get done what they need,” she said.
Likes working with public
The constant interaction with the public is Finkelstein’s favorite aspect of her GVCCC position.
“I think I have the best job in Green Valley because it gives me the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people,” she said.
One of her major responsibilities is managing he Green Valley Community Directory, now in its 37th year, a project which involves the efforts of more than 150 volunteers who compile and deliver the directory each year. Finkelstein is responsible for their training and for maintaining this extensive volunteer network, many of them long-haulers who have worked on the directory, now delivered to 25,000 area homes, for many years.
Finkelstein is also responsible for writing and coordinating all text sections in the directory, including the community information section, frequently called numbers, government pages, destination sites, and more. She also coordinates the annual directory cover contest which calls upon area artists, photographers and others to submit cover selections based on theme selected by the council.
“It’s a massive project and we literally work on the directory all year long,” Finkelstein said. Training sessions for new volunteers are held in September. The directories are distributed in February, usually the third week in that month, by an extensive volunteer crew that has included Sahuarita High School students, the GV Marine Corps League, area homeowner associations and other volunteers who live in outlying communities, such as Sahuarita and Amado.
The directory with its residential listings, which provide information about residents former home and occupation and its business listings, street guides and indexes, is more than just an unique resource in this retirement community. It also provides two-thirds of the council’s operating income, through a contract with the publisher.
The other third comes from residents of the GVCCC’s 66- member homeowner associations. HOAs pay $5.50 per rooftop to the GVCCC annually for the services it offers as a spokesman for HOAs and the community and for the work its volunteer committees do in monitoring and taking stands on local issues, such as planning and zoning, architectural review, environmental issues, government liaison, health and human services, communications and town hall , public utilities and traffic and arroyos.
Finkelstein attends all committee meetings, making sure the groups have all the resources they need and that directives or requests for further information are met.
The committees meet regularly and frequently recommend positions on community issues, which are passed along to the volunteer Executive Committee and the Board of Representatives for discussion and possible vote.
Though Green Valley is unincorporated, the council’s committee structure approximates those departments typically found in town and city governments, with the board of reps acting as an unofficial city or town council. Though votes are non-binding, the council is regarded by other government entities, such as the Pima County Board of Supervisors, as the voice of the community.
That her bosses and co-workers think highly of Finkelstein is an understatement.
Contacted this week, Russ Symes, Council president, said he had just completed a letter nominating Joyce as one of 12 Women on the Move in Southern Arizona, a contest sponsored by the YWCA. Symes said he nominated Joyce for her achievements in the workplace, her contributions to the YMCA, and “as a woman who has made a commitment to serve her community with heart and soul.”
With a paid staff of three, including Finkelstein, the council maintains an office in the Green Valley Mall, open five days per week.
Community service
Finkelstein’s work doesn’t end with council business, however, since she serves in leadership positions for several community organizations.
She chairs the Pima Community College Community Learning Center in Green Valley Advisory Committee, is vice president of the Rotary Club of Green Valley Foundation, is a Rotary Club of Green Valley director, and secretary of the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation. In addition, she was appointed recently by Gov. Janet Napolitano to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging.
She and her husband are active members of the Beth Shalom Temple Center in Green Valley.
For fun she enjoys music (Mike plays a mean trumpet), walking, working out and volunteering her talents on and offstage with the Valley Players, Green Valley’s community theater group. She and Mike became proud grandparents for the first time this year when their son and daughter-in-law adopted a baby boy from Siberia.
Kengle@gvnews.com| 547-9732
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