University of Colorado

A Message from the President

March 2013

Back to email

Spotlight on Alumni:
UCCS alumna adds youth, vitality to historic building

Getting there from here

Not long after she moved to Colorado from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Shelby Pywell Yarbrough fell in love . . . with Colorado Springs. Now, her dedication to the community and the education she received at UCCS have helped ensure that she'll get to stay there. At the young age of 28, Yarbrough is general manager of the prestigious Mining Exchange, a new Wyndham Grand Hotel in Colorado Springs.

"I have always been passionate about the service industry and food and beverage in particular," she said. "I love that my day is different every single day and allows me to learn something new. I also get to work closely with the public."

Yarbrough earned her bachelor's degree in 2006 in business administration, majoring in marketing and minoring in organizational administration. But, she said, the lessons she learned covered much more. "With the business program at UCCS we were required to learn everything from marketing, accounting, management and more," she said. "On a daily basis, my job touches on every single one of these things."

Yarbrough has changed her immigration status since getting married, but in the meantime UCCS was there to assist as she made her way through college. "They made the transition very easy, which is not always the case with international students because there are a lot of government legalities," she said.

She credits Charles Beck, associate professor, College of Business, with helping her to learn the ropes. "He was extremely tough and had very high expectations," she said. "This was good for me and pushed me to create documents that I can still learn from and reference back to."

Jose (Bob) Vasquez, business lecturer, helped Yarbrough's career quest. "He taught me an incredible amount about being a leader and taking ownership of that," she said. "His wisdom and class were something I always looked forward to. I still carry around a book that he recommended and reference it from time to time when I am getting overwhelmed, 'The Tiny Warrior: A Path to Personal Discovery & Achievement' by D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas."
Yarbrough is honored to be a part of the rebirth of The Mining Exchange, which was used for office space before it was converted into a hotel. The five-story building was built in 1902 by civic benefactor Winfield Scott Stratton, who made his fortune in the Cripple Creek gold boom of the 1890s, she said. It housed the Colorado Springs Mining Exchange and promoted regional mining companies and their stock.

"It is regarded as the most substantial and intact building associated with Stratton that remains," Yarbrough said. "When Perry (Sanders), our owner took it over, it turned out to be a 5-year, $30 million-plus renovation to turn it into a hotel."

Yarbrough started at the hotel even before it was a hotel. She began her career there at Il Postino in August 2010 and continued when the restaurant housed in The Mining Exchange became Spring Orleans.

"For me it was getting to know so many locals, which has allowed me to make connections and ultimately receive this job," she said. "It is very gratifying to make people happy."

Read more about Yarbrough in the CSBJ>>>

Back to email


Make a difference. Give today!

CLICK HERE TO GIVE TO CU


Office of the President, University of Colorado
1800 Grant Street, Suite 800, Denver, CO 80203
General Phone: (303) 860-5600 | Fax: (303) 860-5610
officeofthepresident@cu.edu
www.cu.edu