Stahly answers calls as 'voice of the University'
Campus Times
November 6, 1998
Telephone switchboard operator Janie Stahly is a new face on the La
Verne campus after previously working part time as an operator at the Claremont
Colleges. Stahly is also currently enrolled in the University's CAPA program,
majoring in organizational management.
A cheerful greeting awaits for all who call the University of La Verne
switchboard. The greeting voice belongs to Janie Stahly, chief telephone
operator. Stahly is the newest member of the Telecommunications Department,
and began working at ULV on Aug. 3.
"She is the voice of the University," said Clark Hitt, supervisor
of switchboard and mail services.
Stahly works 40 hours weekly, which is used to answer the switchboard,
to direct people to the right departments and individuals and to look up
unlisted phone numbers.
"I heard about this job through word of mouth ... everybody is
really nice [at ULV]. People watch out for you," said Stahly.
Stahly is also enrolled in the Campus Accelerated Program for Adults
(CAPA) at the University. She is majoring in organizational management.
Previously, she held three different jobs. She was a substitute switchboard
operator/receptionist at Locheed Martin, an aerospace engineering company;
she operated the switchboard part time at the Claremont Colleges; and she
was a merchandiser at Gibson Cards, a greeting card corporation.
Stahly is a mother of four and lives in Pomona. She has lived in Pomona
for 18 years, but was born and raised in West Covina.
She has two sons, Scott 23, Adam 12, and two daughters, Trisha, 17 and
Melissa, 15. She is also a grandmother. Her oldest son, Scott, is a coach
at Damien High School; her oldest daughter, Trisha, will be attending ULV
next year. Stahly is in the process of helping her daughter with the paper
work and the entire application process.
Aside from her long work hours, Stahly still manages to find time to
be an active participant in her children's lives. She is on numerous committees
to help raise funds for their extra-curricular activities such as the annual
banquet that her daughter's water polo team hosts. She also makes time to
attend to her daughter's water polo games and still finds time to be on
a co-ed baseball team herself on Sundays.
She likes being at La Verne because of the small-town feel and the diversity
of the student population. Her positive attitude helps her get through the
challenges that come with operating the switchboard.
"Finding that unlisted phone number can sometimes be a challenge,"
said Stahly.
Stahly must perform two tasks at once. This involves being on the phone
and operating a computer to look up phone numbers. She must also make sure
that she does not misdirect or mislead people.
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to do it, but you're always
busy," said Stahly.
Shelley Larsen, assistant to Dr. Len Hightower, executive assistant
to the president, works in the same office with Stahly.
"Janie fits right in. She's cheerful and helpful. I'm glad to have
her here," said Larsen.
