EMP-26

Steve Flieder is in Boston, working for Kronos (labor management software company), as VP of marketing.” Katie (who was born half-way through year one of EMP-26) turned 10 in December. Drew just turned six and plays golf with me on weekends. He actually plays very well...and hits the damn ball 70-80 yards with no slice. Not bad for a six-year-old. Everyone is fine. Life is good.”

Mohini Chopra is still at Wrigley working as the international controller. The job is intense and requires travel but is fun most of the time. “Let us get together for lunch if you ever are in the city. Look forward to catching up!”

Gary Medd and family are with Deere & Co. and have been transferred back to the Midwest after five great years in North Carolina.”In 2000 we set up the enterprise Financial SharedServices organization. And, effective Nov. 1, I was appointed director for internal audit.Never a dull moment.”

Mary Hayes made a job change in April of this year. “After 22 years with Appleton Papers Inc. I went to work with two of my old EMP buddies at John Deere. I don’t think the thought ever crossed my mind that I’d be working with them when we graduated eight years ago. The power of EMP.OOT2 got together this last summer in the Quad Cities area. Judy Hooyman and her husband came down from Wisconsin and joined Gary Medd, Gina Hinrichs and myself for a great weekend catching up. We missed the rest of our gang, Steve Flieder and Pam Ramsey (Mullen) but we toasted them — several times.”

Steve Flieder adds “Pam Ramsey is a beautiful, vivacious, and intelligent human being. Did I mention that she’s beautiful? And if not for her, my life would be incomplete. In fact, I never realized how wonderful life could be until I met Pam! Her friendship and inspiration has made my life worth living...I never cease to be amazed at her intellectual prowess, as well as her demure sense of fashion. In fact, I believe she should be nominated for sainthood, if not for knighthood (if that’s what they do to make people a knight or a saint).”

Pam Mullen is switching careers. “I am completing a masters in education so that I can teach, and spend more time with our daughter, Jessica, who is 18-months-old. OOT II does diligently attempt to have yearly reunions but sometimes due to geographical, as well as business challenges we are not so successful. However, if all goes well and John, Jessica, and I move into our new house next year, we’re contemplating getting together on the right coast. At least we get an HP for effort.”

Brad Mucek made a big change. ”I am now a resident of Albuquerque, N.M.! It is a really different world out here in the desert Southwest from what I am used to in the Midwest. I decided that my life was in need of major change. Change is what I wanted, and I am really enjoying exactly that. Although having been given the opportunity to see wonderful parts of the world, I never set foot in New Mexico. until I decided to come and live here. Basically, I sent my daughter off to college and drove with a trailer to N.M. I have a really beautiful house in the foothills of the Sandia mountain range. About 200 yards out from the east side of the house are the mountains, and from the west, the house overlooks the valley, which is Albuquerque. The view is absolutely breathtaking. Every night when I look at the lights of the city, I have the same feeling of awe. The view is therapeutic.

“Well, I need to go now, but I look forward to talking to you again and sharing some funny stories of desert weirdness. If (for any reason) you or any other EMP-26er make it out this way, please stop by and see us. I would love to have any or all of you as our guests.”

Amit and David Holckner report from Australia. “Jed is 13-months-old and very active. Our lives have certainly changed. Amit and I are both suffering from sleep deprivation, otherwise all is well. Best regards.”

Sharon West now works at Tellabs in Naperville, Ill. “I left Ameritech/SBC about 18 months ago. I work in the global sales operations department as director of process and technology, and I’m really enjoying it. I get to travel internationally quite a bit and have been to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Brazil and Argentina this year. I’m recently went to Bangkok for a week for our Asia-Pacific team sales kickoff, so I have been busy, but learning a lot and enjoying working for a global company. Hope to see you guys this year. Please let me know if you are planning any get together, and I will definitely try to attend.”