EMP-25

Howdy y’all, and welcome to your class notes spotlight. It’s always nice to hear from you, catch up, and share with others all the interesting things going on in your life. We have, however, started to lose touch with a number of our classmates who just simply ignore my requests, or move to new locations, which sends correspondence into the dead letter/email file. If you are reading this, and you know who you are, please be supportive and send a note or email with your current address and info. For example, I’ve had emails from Mary Paskell, Michael M. Nanney, Lee J. Spruit, Michael J. Bauer, and Dan Leffert updating their addresses, their career or just saying “hello” to the class. All are doing well and keeping very busy.

Let’s start off with an informative note from Anita A. Loch, who writes: “It’s been a long time -- thanks for the update. Sure seems like many have had quite a year! As far as updates, I’ve been with Fiskars Brands Inc., in Madison, Wis., now for about three years and recently picked up all legal affairs responsibility for the company with a new title of senior vice president and chief administrative officer. The company has great products and a super brand, which we continue to work on growing globally. On a personal basis, we’ve been in Wisconsin for more than three years now. I’m really enjoying the more ‘country’ environment compared to the ‘big city’ of Chicago. Best wishes for a really great 2004!”

I can always count on Fred J. Bunk to send an email with his latest activity: “After returning to Siemens a year and a half ago to lead process improvement, was promoted in December to vice president of marketing and strategic accounts with responsibility for sales growth at five divisions at Siemens Building Technologies.

“Recently, I’ve been focused on homeland security projects. I seem to be racking up considerable frequent flyer miles to Washington, Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt and Zurich. My three sons are now 9, 18, and 20. Jeannie and I celebrated our 40th anniversary in July. She has given up trying to change me and instead now finds humor in the few faults that she couldn’t fix over the last 45 years. Checked out www.myautoloan.com and thought it was a great site loaded with information and financing options! Go get’ em and Happy New Year.”

Gregg H. Dorner wants to let everyone know that he and his wife Barbara moved to San Clemente, Calif., in January. I hope to get more as he settles into his new digs.

Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity to visit with R. Scott Blankenship during his last trip to Dallas, but hope to catch up with him in June, when he returns for another business trip. Scott shares the following: “As far as the group, nothing much going on. I get up to Atlanta every now and then and try to catch up with Harry M. Johns and his wife Cindy. As a group, we have just not been able to keep up this year. I need to get some energy going with these guys so we can stay on top of what is going on in each other’s lives.

“As for Nature’s Gallery, things are going well. Sales this past year were up almost 220 percent over the same period last year. Of course when you are a young company, the growth is relative. We are almost three years old and staying the course. Our designer is gaining quite a reputation for her silk and dried floral designs. We are doing contract work for Nieman Marcus (Horchow), Ethan Allan and Nordstrom. We also recently entered into a licensee program with Lillian August. Lillian is a well-known interior designer and is recognized for her furniture and fabric design. We now have a signature Lillian August collection that we introduced this past October in Highpoint, N.C.

“We were also nominated for an honor called the Rising Star Award from the Accessory Resource Team (ART). ART is a national organization representing the home furnishings industry. We will find out if we won at the ART awards gala Jan. 17 in Dallas. Even if we don’t win, it was an honor to be nominated by our customers. If you want to accent your home with quality silk florals ... I’ll give you the ‘Kellogg discount!’ Hope all is going well with you and family. Have a wonderful 2004.” UPDATE: Talked with Scott after the home furnishing show in Dallas. Although they did not win this year, he said that it was a great experience and that they received some great exposure and excellent air time. Some companies have been in this category for 20 years with no nominations, much less wins, so he is very pleased with the recognition. Next year just might be the year for Nature’s Gallery!

Another classmate has traveled “Westward Ho” and is currently working for Cardinal AIS out in San Diego. The new role for Brendan Coyle is vice president of research and development operations. Although his family is still in Chicago for the next year, no final plans have been made as to the next stage ─ that being stagecoach or stage of relocation. Best wishes Brendan and stay in touch.

Nicki Schuh has acquired Heartfelt, The Charity Card Company. This continues her legacy of “Serial Entrepreneur” status and takes her to the next level of challenges. Heartfelt is an e-commerce business, Web site www.charitycards.com that provides greeting cards and relationship marketing services to B2B and B2C markets, with a portion of the proceeds directly benefiting national, regional and local charities. The company provides these initiatives as part of an overall cause-related marketing program for their customers.

Heartfelt designs and produces their own artist-inspired cards used in holiday and all-occasion greeting cards. You may view their portfolio of cards at www.charitycards.com or contact Nicki at 800.464.7880.

Here is a plug for Brian L. Rucks, who writes: “For a good time call 630.250.7109 for guaranteed longer drives, lower golf scores and more fun.” That and a few “footsies,” gimmes and a secondary scorecard can also improve your game.

James M. North had the following to share: “After enjoying about 2 1/2 years with Aspect Communications (and commuting to San Jose), I decided to take a different direction with my time and energy, so I resigned and more or less retired. I continue to work (toil), I just don’t make any money at it. During the intervening year and a half, both of my kids got married and my wife completed her graduate studies at U of Kansas and resumed teaching. To help me with the lifestyle transition, I have been on numerous bike rides (I currently have a 2003 Harley Davidson Road King.), spent a fair amount of time at our cottage on Table Rock Lake and putter with my ‘38 Chevrolet pickup (looks like it may be a lifelong project).

“My more serious endeavors are focused on assisting with administration and planning at my church, and I am beginning to get involved in working with prerelease prisoners to help them have a successful transition back into society. That’s about it for now. I would love to hear from our classmates. You can contact me at jimandbarney@hotmail.com. (Barney is my dog.) Thanks for keeping the class communications going and best wishes for a terrific 2004.”

It’s been a very busy time for Mary A. Gottenborg, who shared this with us: “We’re doing fine here in Columbus. No big news from us. Guess we’re just a bit boring. We celebrated our parent’s 50th anniversary in Vail, Colo., this summer. Just returned from our first DisneyWorld trip. It may be a while before we do that again! I am still at Abbott Labs. Been there 11 years now, and most recently I’ve been working in the licensing and acquisition area.

“My husband Rob has switched careers this year, and is now in the financial planning industry. He is also pursuing his CFP. He has done a lot of work on developing and running a Web site for his high school alumni. It’s really quite extensive and well done, if you ask me. Our daughter is in first grade this year, and like her father, she is on the swim team. This is her second year on the team. Active, healthy and involved ─ we wish all a great 2004, and suggest that if you have not provided an update in the last year or two (and you know who you are), to get something in to Dale so we can all keep up to date with your activities. Take care all.”

Diana Walker and William R. Knab have moved south and provided the following update: “Bill and I are trying to take a step closer to our desired locale as we prepare for retirement ─ NOT! We both decided to give up the Chicago snow for warm and sunny Naples, Fla., and moved down in June. (Hmm ... not the brightest in timing, eh?) Bill is still working on getting the next generation home dialysis machine on the market. Boy, does he need Tybout now! And he could sure use you to write all the papers ─ you know, just like you did in school. What’s really great is that he talked them into allowing him to work from his ‘remote’ location in sunny Naples and visit the home office in Pittsburg as needed. It was about a year ago that Renal Solutions Inc. got funded, and they had their first product approved last October. As we say, they are ‘official’ now, and even though there is a long way to go, they have a product, there is a market, and they should be able to earn about $1.27 billion this year. Heck, it’s a start!

“Our kids, Katie and Jennifer, are closing in on finishing up architectural school at Ohio colleges. Drew is having fun as a political major at Western, and finished an internship in Washington, D.C., this year. We have two more looking at colleges for 2004, Betsy and Jeff, and would like them to think ‘state schools.’ Hope all is well with everyone and 2004 is healthy, happy and prosperous! Bill and I will write more after our trip down the Amazon River, where we plan to spend several months communing with the natives (like a Northwestern homecoming, yes?). Our best to all, and please be sure to give us a call when you are down in the area ─ say spring break ─ and stay with us for as long as you want. We have plenty of swampland and would welcome the company. Please, someone come and visit us!”

After four years with Intel press relations, representing such areas as the Xeon and Itanium processors and channel sales, Timothy R. Schulte has moved to a new position at Intel. In his new responsibilities as manager of the Intel inside program, he will head up and run the Intel co-op ad program with computer makers. His principal account will be Gateway Computer. Tim also had this to share: “We had the opportunity to travel to Germany for several weeks last summer with my wife Laura and our two girls, Isabel, almost 6, and Christina, just 3. I Worked at Intel’s office in Munich while in Germany, and hope someday to be able to get a transfer there!”

Thomas M. Prescott reports: “Things are great at home and work. We love life in Northern California. The turnaround has gone very well at Align. We invented and market ‘Invisalign,’ a system of clear plastic aligners that correct valocclusion (crooked teeth). I recently had an opportunity to meet with Professor Anne Coughlan and Professor Julie Hennessy at Kellogg, along with Professor Hennessy’s marketing class, to discuss the challenges described in their ‘Invisalign’ marketing case study. It was fun to be back at Kellogg, however, I don’t miss the long hours of homework. If anyone is ever in the San Francisco area, please be sure to give me a call.”

A note from Tom G. Huitink stated that Tom and his wife Cindy celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 2003 and also became empty nesters. They now have three kids in college at the same time! Wow!

It was great to hear from Vince A. Inendino, who wrote, “My contact information is the same, except that my work email address has now changed to vince.inendino@us.schneider-electric.com. My mother died Dec. 5. It’s been a very difficult few weeks for me and our family. You go on for a long time thinking things are going to stay a certain way forever, and then you wake up one day and they have all changed. It makes you realize how precious life is, how fortunate you are, and how very little time you really have, so you try to live for today and keep things in perspective.

“Classmates Greggory A. Orlando, Mike J. Bauer and I still keep in touch and see each other frequently. Greg’s golf game still %@& (Mike says he is going to take up the game this spring.) I am sure that we will golf more than a few rounds together and have a great time doing it. Things are the same on the career front, but a number of really close friends have left Schneider Electric North America in the past year. You feel like a part of you is missing when this happens, but then you realize that you have to accept it and move ahead.

“Terry and the kids are great. Vinnie is a junior in high school and is just beginning to think seriously about college. Jonathan is 12 and is growing like a weed. It’s really amazing how quickly Vinnie and Jonathan are growing up. I hope that all is well with you and your family. Take care, keep in touch and prosper.”

Sally A. Faber reports that after several years of numerous restructurings at Rockford Memorial Hospital, her position of vice president of strategic initiatives was eliminated. Having her real estate license in her hip pocket, and seeing the writing on the wall, she has embarked on a new and challenging opportunity. With the housing market still strong, it seemed like a good time to make the switch and plow ahead into real estate. She is affiliated with Dickerson & Nieman in Rockford, Ill. Good luck Sally and sell up a storm!

From Peter Krol: “Another year has gone by and bam-bam, ‘Girly Dog’ and I are hanging in there. Still faced numerous work issues this year, as management has confirmed that we will be closing the operation in December and moving about 44 jobs to Canada. I’m still doing great. My candor level has risen as I have tried to mentor a boss or two with suggestions on how to improve. In addition, I’m now a grandfather! My son, who is in the Special Forces, had a son Nov. 15, and my daughter also gave birth in December.”

Last August, Rachel M. Macha was appointed executive vice president, Precision Response Corp. Her responsibilities include overseeing sales and marketing for three companies, Precision Response Corp. (PRC), Access Direct (the company she helped build and sold to PRC), and Hancock Information Group. The firm currently has 25 locations and 15,000 employees in three countries. PRC is a division of InterActive Corp. Rachel is keeping her office in Wilmington, Del., and commuting to Florida. The Macha kids are terrific ─ the triplets are now 6 and the twins are 4, all in school full time.

Please allow me to again request that you provide me with your updated emails and addresses. As I try to maintain our class link, I find that I’m getting more returned mail and undeliverable email notices. I need your help to make this communication opportunity work. Hope you have enjoyed catching up on our class and knowing that so many are doing challenging and exciting things. Life’s a mystery isn’t it? Take care and stay in touch.