1984

Hello, Class of 1984. This is Alisa, writing to you from snow-covered Riverwoods, dreaming about Evanston in the spring. Won’t it be beautiful? The fresh breezes blowing in from beautiful Lake Michigan, the brilliance of the Kellogg professors and the friendly, wonderful, and just-so-slightly-aged faces of your favorite classmates from business school.

There is still time to register for our upcoming 20th (not a typo!) reunion. We are planning some super fun events. Most of our social events will be exclusively for the Class of 1984, so we’ll have lots of time to reminisce and still have time left to talk about our present and future. If you no longer have your registration form, you can register at alumni.kellogg.northwestern.edu/reunion, or call the Office of Alumni Relations: 847.467.2586.

Some of the committee members wanted to let you know what they have been up to and why they are excited to attend the reunion. Steve Zales writes: “I have been doing nothing but working on the reunion, as have all the other committee members, for the past six months. That’s why it is going to be so fabulous, and why we expect to get 100 percent attendance. Actually, occasionally I squeeze in a little consulting work for some early-stage companies, spend some time with the family, see a few Kellogg friends, and practice for my ‘American Idol’ and ‘The Apprentice’ auditions.”

Speaking of “The Apprentice,” every time I watch I can’t help wondering what Mary Walter would have to say about women wearing 4-inch heels and 6-inch skirts to job interviews.

David Lynn touched base with us for the first time in years. He and his wife Ginny Melvin feel blessed by their kids, Lexie, 11, and Olivia, 9, and are trying to “maximize the fun before the teen years arrive with nose rings, 400-decibel zyraz rock and the occasional ‘I-hate-you-Daddy.’” Professionally, David’s management consulting business continues to do well. Recently, he has been helping the trustees of a large fund complex work through strategic issues facing the mutual fund industry. The best thing he did in 2003 was coach two girls’ soccer teams: “There is nothing like seeing girls get really excited by a team sport and be affirmed in it so fully,” he says. The best thing he plans to do in 2004 is attend the Kellogg reunion: “I am really looking forward to seeing old friends and having some great laughs. My KGSM classmates still stand out as one of the greatest groups of people I have been a part of. They gave me so much. I was lucky to be with them.”

Autumn King Boos writes that after 17 years at General Mills, she is currently staying at home, but plans to return to the working world in a few years. “Right now,” she reports, “my job is official family chauffeur. The pay isn’t good but there are great benefits!”

Steve Palmer sent an update saying he’s been involved with commercial real estate finance in a variety of capacities since he graduated. Most recently, he was at RBS Greenwich Capital for five years in its real estate finance group. “I have enjoyed the casual work environment and the 8-mile commute after a number of years of train commuting into the city,” he says. “I look forward to seeing a lot of old friends at the reunion ─ particularly the overseas ones! I wonder if the human marketing dynamo, Kenny Potrock, will make an appearance!” Well, Steve, I know Kenny hates to miss a good party ─ and this reunion is sure to be a great one!

Rumors are circulating that Dave Hadsell started a new commercial real estate venture in Denver and is very happy. He and his wife Cheryl have three cute little kids, two boys and a girl, who all look like mini Daves.

Karl Mills sent me a great update. He is currently dividing time between family, work, and opera! He lives in Lafayette, Calif., with wife Kristen and two boys, Kristian and Karl-Erik, ages 6 and 4 (Karl wouldn’t list their parents’ ages). He’s been working in the investment business for the past 15 years or so, and currently runs an investment partnership, JMK Investment Partners, based in Oakland, Calif. Karl also serves as president of the San Francisco Opera. He says: “It’s a volunteer position, but a fairly major commitment at the moment. The work is challenging, pay is negative, but soundtrack is to die for ... an event that occurs a lot in opera. Overall, it’s been a fascinating and very rewarding experience.”

Karl is very much looking forward to the reunion. He writes: “It has been so great on the reunion planning conference calls to connect with classmates as if it were only yesterday since we last spoke, and have all the years between disappear. It shows how strong the connections and friendships were and are still. Also, we are all excited about getting some real deep-dish pizza.”

Phillipe Laratte sends the report on his still-growing family: Olivier, 13, Martin, 3, and Pauline, born Dec. 21. He says: “Yes, I am still in ‘baby mode’ at my old age! Now that is done we’re even thinking about getting married.”

Mike Beck is working at Chubb as vice president of quality and operational excellence. He sent Indie Desai Christie this email: “I saw your note in Kellogg World, and decided to write and say hello. I am looking forward to seeing folks from our class at the upcoming reunion. Thanks for your help in keeping the Class Notes and activities going.”

Class of 1984 alum Dan Peterson keeps us updated on his latest international adventure with this posting to Kellogg World: “In August, we moved to Tokyo. I am busy opening a Japan office for ZS Associates. My wife Melanie, our kids Andrew, 9, Charlotte, 7, and Matthew, 5, and our nanny/housekeeper Ginny live in an apartment in the Takanawa neighborhood of Tokyo. We are all enjoying the experience of living in Japan.”

Ben Weiner and wife Mindi welcomed their first child, a daughter named Elizabeth, this summer. Ben writes: “Elizabeth was born Aug. 20, weighing in at 9 pounds, 3 ounces. She is keeping us very busy, but thankfully started sleeping through the night at three months. I am presently the customer satisfaction manager for Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover, based in Mahwah, N.J., and am responsible for our call centers, customer satisfaction programs and other customer support.” Congratulations, Ben and Mindi.

Finally, Indie sent this message: “I can’t believe it’s been two years since I started writing for the class column, and even more unbelievable, it has been 20 years since B-school! On the column front, it’s time for me to retire from my position as class rep. It has been great fun, but I feel it would be great to give someone else a turn ... especially one of the guys! It is a one to two times a year commitment, and is done primarily through email. While I won’t be involved with the column, I am working on the reunion committee. We are really working hard to bring you a weekend where you can both attend Kellogg lectures and have ample time to attend specific 1984 parties where we can all catch up! So, please do come! In the meantime, thanks for sending in your updates for these articles. You made the last two years so much fun, and I hope to see you at the reunion.”

So with Indie retiring her post, we are looking for another class representative. I plan to continue in my position. The time commitment is fairly small. There are three publications each year, and with two representatives taking turns writing them, it ends up being fewer than two columns each per year. It’s lots of fun hearing from classmates (and they are always super nice to me now!). If you have questions or are interested in becoming class representative, let me know.

I can’t wait to see everyone at the reunion. I will be the one furiously grafitti’ing notes on my PDA for the next Class Notes column. Oh, and if you see my husband, forgive his lack of social graces ─ remember he’s a U. of C. graduate.