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Genuine Gold: Carlos Speranza says working on campus and at SWATT helped him in the working world

Carlos Speranza kneels in the shade with his wife and two kids with a balloon hovering above them
Photo by Carlos Speranza

Carlos Speranza, an alumnus of BYU–Hawaii, said he is the director of Procurement and Logistics at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Costa Rica. According to Speranza, the experience he gained at SWATT and BYUH Facilities Management, helped him get the position.

Speranza said, “Working at the SWATT (Sustainable World Action & Technology Team) has undoubtedly been the best work experience I’ve ever had. I didn’t see it as a job, but rather as hanging out with friends. Our task was to help the school be more efficient and teach the right skills to provide better job opportunities to those students returning home anywhere.”

How did you find the idea to start SWATT?

“I was in Professor Kevin Castle’s proj-ect manager class. Each student was given the challenge to find a project to plan and develop in this class. I identified the need for reducing BYUH’s multi-million dollar electricity bill.

“I met with Brother Les Harper dur-ing one of the meetings and had a strong prompting that I should talk to him as soon as possible. Soon after, we started work-ing together on the recycling program and started SWATT. The SWATT program had great success that we didn’t imagine.

“By the end of 2013, the SWATT pro-gram generated a profit of over $300,000 per year through several different projects [energy conservation, a tub grinder] and implementation of a new on-campus recy-cling center.“The recycling center handled waste from BYUH, the Polynesian Cultural Cen-ter, Kahuku High School and Laie Elementa-ry School. That project positively impacted over 8,000 people in the community. In the first year, the recycling center saved about $36,400, which used to pay a company to recycle BYUH wastes. The Give and Take saved BYUH students over $230,000 in 2013.”

How did this project help you?

“This new project changed my life completely. Even though the class and the assignment was over, I decided to stay around the project and work for free to help [it] succeed.

“Those jobs taught me to work hard, and it is possible to make a difference. It breaks my heart I’m far away now.

“Over time, SWATT had many proj-ects that helped the school save millions of dollars, but in my case, it changed my life, and my current job success is due to my mentors. I know I wasn’t the only student helped by this amazing program.”

What are some challenges in your life?

“It was hard to leave a first-world country and return to a nation with many issues like chaos, crime, unemployment, etc. While in Hawaii, I learned to identify problems and apply a solution to achieve a result.

“However, here [in Costa Rica], I feel overwhelmed by the culture of keeping the status quo instead of fight-ing for a better place. I am learning to take [a] step back, be patient and walk forward slower when trying to change the work culture around me.”

What does family mean to you?

“My family is my biggest blessing. I married Yanancy Speranza, an alumna of BYUH who majored in accounting. She owns a photography business. We have two children, Alana, 4 years old, and Oliver, 1 year old. We have been married for six years, and those have been amazing years, full of learning and forgiveness, but also love and fun.”

What are your future goals?

“Currently I am studying for data analysis and programming through the BYU Pathway program. So, my short-term goal is to finish my studies and sharpen my skills. Later, I want to be-come a professor at BYUH and support scholarship programs. I want to serve a mission with my wife in Hawaii.”

What would you advise current BYUH students?

“If you are a student who wants to learn valuable skills that will change your perspective of how the real-world works, then please work for SWATT.

“Follow the Spirit’s guide and remember that important skills are also learned with practice outside the class-room. It is impossible to know everything, so network and team up with people with high standards, keep a balanced life and enjoy the beauty of the island.”