Proudly representing Christie’s Appliance & Mattress Co.
By Andy Kriege, YSN
One of many high points of last month’s 2024 Summit proceedings was the announcement of this year’s AVB BrandSource Scholarship Award winners.
As part of a longstanding effort to support higher education, the group bestows $20,000 in academic achievement awards annually. The goal of these scholarships is to provide financial assistance to the children of BrandSource members, AVB affiliates and their staff to help offset higher education expenses.
Four winners were chosen from dozens of submissions, with each receiving $5,000 toward enrollment this fall. Eligibility now extends beyond those attending four-year colleges to include students enrolled in tech and trade school programs.
Among the 2024 winners was Serenity Guerrero, who is the Advertising and Promotions Coordinator at Christie’s Appliance & Mattress Company in Tucson, Ariz.
Last year Guerrero completed her undergraduate degree in exercise physiology at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff. After graduation she returned to Tucson, where she has been working full time for Christie’s in addition to doing volunteer work at the Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery gym. This fall she will be returning to NAU to continue her education in pursuit of a doctorate in physical therapy.
Guerrero plans on continuing her work for Christie’s remotely until she earns her post-graduate degree in 2026. She then hopes to render aid in less fortunate communities as a traveling physical therapist, while learning about different cultures.
Guerrero’s passion for physical therapy goes back to the age of 10, when her grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “Initially he struggled and was frustrated by physical therapy, but as soon as he began to complete the exercises, I saw his body language change dramatically,” she said. “I could see the raw emotion in his face and life return to his eyes. It was this unimaginable moment that called me to this vocation.”
When Guerrero isn’t studying, working or volunteering, you can find her weightlifting at the gym or on a mountain either hiking or snowboarding.
Guerrero said she is grateful for the award. “I want to thank AVB BrandSource for believing in my dream career and supporting me with this scholarship,” she said. “I want to thank the Betts family, the owners of Christie’s Appliance & Mattress Company, for allowing me to become their first advertising and promotions coordinator. We have achieved so much this past year, and it’s only the beginning. I hope to make you all proud.”
AVB BrandSource congratulates Serenity Guerrero on all she has achieved and wishes her the best in her future endeavors.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.