Everything Nac

As part of its goal to provide expert economic research, analysis and consulting services in the East Texas region and beyond, Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business has established the Center for Business and Economic Research.

Housed in SFA’s Department of Economics and Finance, the nonprofit center offers data analysis, market research and economic impact analysis to the community while providing real-world training to SFA students.

“We want to become the go-to resource in the region for expert analysis and commentary on matters of economic policy and economic development,” said Dr. Mikhail Kouliavtsev, chair of the department.

He believes new relationships can be established and existing ones strengthened between the university and local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations through CBER, as evidenced by past projects completed through the department.

These include an analysis of sales tax revenue for the City of Nacogdoches; assessments of the economic impact of various events and entities, such as the Texas Blueberry Festival held annually in Nacogdoches and SFA’s economic contribution to the local economy; and a detailed study of the Texas Purchasing from People with Disabilities Program’s impact for the Texas Workforce Commission.

CBER also works to inform the public and media about the impact of national and state policies on the local economy, the effects of major events on the economy, and the role of new initiatives, such as the Interstate Highway 69 corridor, in local economic efforts.

In addition to increasing SFA’s outreach and visibility to the community, Kouliavtsev said the center will benefit the university in two key ways.

“A center like this attracts high-quality students and faculty to SFA and promotes collaboration with other research centers on campus,” he said. “Plus, SFA offices and departments that normally contract out market research, economic forecasts and other analyses to external consultants can request help from CBER instead.”

CBER is one of several entities launched recently by the College of Business to help bolster local businesses. Others include Business and Community Services; the Greg Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship, or ACE; and the Small Business Resource Hub, which is housed in ACE.

For more information, visit sfasu.edu/cber or contact the center at (936) 468-4301.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Consul General Richard Hyde and senior staff members from the British Consulate in Houston will make Stephen F. Austin State University their first stop on a 2,500-mile road trip celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

As part of their stop, consulate staff and university administrators will host a tree planting at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, along Aikman Drive. The Nacogdoches and campus communities are invited to attend.

In addition to promoting strategic economic, trade, defense and education collaboration between the two countries, tree plantings throughout the five-state tour are meant to implement the Queen’s Green Canopy, a global sustainability initiative to plant trees in honor of the Queen’s legacy and benefit future generations.

“It is a great honor to welcome Her Majesty’s Consul General and to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee by planting a tree together as part of the Green Canopy initiative,” said Dr. Steve Westbrook, SFA interim president. “We love the lyrics of our alma mater, ”Mid Texas pines we have found peaceful shrines,’ so we have long acknowledged the beauty that trees add to our lives every day.”

“With our campus’ setting among the pines, our Lumberjack mascot, the SFA Gardens and, most importantly, the programs that are a part of our Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, SFA is an ideal stop for this historic road trip around the Lone Star State and beyond,” he added.

Along with the tree planting ceremonies, the team also will host town-hall-style “pop-up consulates” in Kilgore, Shreveport, Texarkana, Amarillo, Lubbock and Waco to meet with local businesses, civic and political leaders, and other interested groups along the tour. These meetings will highlight the close economic and cultural links the United Kingdom has with the region.

For more information on the tour, contact Elizabeth Bertram, head of press and public affairs for the British Consulate General in Houston, at elizabeth.bertram@fco.gov.uk.

A dream internship for a Sound Recording Technology student at Stephen F. Austin State University led Andrea Pacas to work this past summer with a producer and band she greatly admired, and the experience put her one step closer to the goal of one day owning her own recording studio.

A senior from Tyler who is on track to graduate from SFA in December 2022, Pacas received mixing assistant credit on what is currently Billboard’s No. 8 album in the Top 200 and No. 3 on the UK rock and metal charts.

The album “Jackpot Juicer” by Dance Gavin Dance is the band’s 10th LP with an impressive 18-song tracklist, according to Pacas. The band consists of founding members Will Swan (guitar) and Matt Mingus (drums). Along the way, they’ve picked up vocalists Tilian Pearson (clean) and Jon Mess (harsh). A featured performer, and possibly the newest member of the band, Andrew Wells (guitar and vocals) contributed to many songs on the album. This album also memorializes Tim Feerick (bass), who passed away in April. The internship took place at Interlace Audio in Portland, Oregon.

“This studio was my first choice for an internship because the owner/producer, Kris Crummett, has worked on my favorite music since I was able to create my own opinion about music,” Pacas said. “When I arrived, vocal tracking was still taking place. It was difficult to remain professional in the presence of people I have looked up to for so long.”

Once all tracking was done, Pacas was tasked with “mix prep,” sample replacement, vocal editing, tuning and automation. While working on the new Dance Gavin Dance album, Pacas worked on music for several other artists at the same time. She would also complete other miscellaneous tasks, like creating and sending backing tracks for bands to use while they toured.

Pacas said she is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with “my favorite band and my favorite producer.”

“Kris was very good at teaching me his processes and explaining why he does them,” she said. “Not only did he teach me things about ProTools and plug-ins, but he gave me hands-on experience with outboard gear.

“I was very surprised with the trust Kris put in me to complete these tasks at a professional level,” she added. “Everything I learned at Interlace Audio will help me in the future and now while completing my senior project.”

SRT internships give students an opportunity to see the music industry “in motion and practice,” according to James Adams, program director. SRT majors are required to take on an internship in the summer after their third year of study.

“It also gives them a chance to put their best foot forward and begin establishing what is usually their first business relationships,” Adams said. “At SFA, we know that we can provide stellar world-class education in our classrooms, but we are aware that SRT majors need the real-world experience, beyond the walls of our institution, to further understand how their growing skills can be applied.”

Additionally, students can see what others are doing in the industry and learn of possible employment paths. Through daily hands-on experience at an active music business, students meet and work with individuals in a variety of positions in the music industry.

“All of our students have transformative experiences like Andrea and return to campus in the fall of their senior year excited and with a refined focus and passion for their studies,” Adams said. “The internships only give students a glimpse into the industry as a whole, but that glimpse is typically inspiring and a bit overwhelming at times. Still, it is a wonderful component of our degree program.”

Among the lessons she learned over the summer: “the importance of communication, keeping track of details and building relationships.”

Along with gaining skills that will advance her toward owning a recording studio, Pacas’ work within the SRT program at SFA has sparked some additional interests, such as video game music and film music composition. She thanked her family, friends, Professor Adams, Professor (James) Taylor, the SFA School of Music and Crummett for “helping me believe in myself and follow my dreams.”

“Their support means the world to me, and I hope I can continue to learn and use my skills to make great art,” she said. “As a first-generation Hispanic American woman, and part of the LGBTQ+ community, I hope to inspire people like me to believe in themselves and their dreams.”