EMP-51

Greetings alumni -- As we closed our last note with a round of “Can you guess the BS?,” we shall end the guessing with the answer. That’s right, Steve Sullins is NOT an undercover place kicker in the NFL. Easy, huh? But beware! This issue of Kellogg World brings you a tougher challenge, as the many antics of our class range broad and deep. In fact, there may be multiple answers, including a new twist to be revealed in the next issue.

EMP 51's Steve 'Elvis' Sullins and Bunny Wynne rock the fridge. Note: this picture wasn't taken on Halloween.

First and foremost, congratulations to our beloved faculty and staff of the Kellogg Executive Master’s Program. In the Oct. 20 issue of BusinessWeek, you again topped the charts with a No. 1 ranking. You are the best. Keep up the great work!

Reunion update: This year’s EMP-51 reunion is now planned for Aug. 5 to 8 in San Francisco with a Napa Valley wine excursion. Details are being ironed out as this issue goes to press, but there’s sure to be a great time, lots of catching up and an appearance from one of EMP-51’s favorite professors. Professor David Messick has committed to live up to EMP-51 standards by promising to “act foolish” with us. Davin Lee has already offered up EMP-51 hospitality, as our reunion site is right in his back yard! Be sure to mark your calendar and make sure your email forwarding is set up by visiting alumni.kellogg.northwestern.edu. Contact the Office of Alumni Relations if you need help getting set up!

News roundup: Andrew Krupp had his eye out for EMP-51 news and spotted Eric Rozier in a recent Kellogg publication. He writes: “Check out Mr. Rozier (not just Eric anymore) on page 36 of Kellogg World’s summer 2003 edition. Search “Eric Rozier” at kellogg.northwestern.edu/kwo. One of our own we can be proud of.” Yes, indeed, he was looking sharp and proud we are!

Yours truly is still waiting to hear about the details of Group U’s (or derivatives thereof) exploits in Las Vegas last fall. Scott Brewer, Andy Krupp, Davin Lee, Anthony Marino, Heather Robinson and Steven Romeo are being very tight lipped. I guess the commercials are true--

Helen Chionis repeated her participation this year in the Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure. Helen set a personal goal of raising $750, but ended up raising more than $1,000 for this very worthwhile cause. Thanks for the effort!

Jim Gibbs completed the transition to his new civilian assignment with the Marine Corps in Jacksonville, Fla. He’s living on a golf course with the deluded hope it will somehow help his golf game. We’ll see what happens when or if he dares the reunion in San Francisco! In any case, he’s learning what it takes to keep the Marines on the road, on the sea, in the air and everywhere they need to be, as their civilian program director for global logistics. Rumor has it the PT is killer, eh Jim?

Serge Tarazi and Barbara Oppelz reported (separately, of course) new moves, but left out the juicy details. I know Barbara is now with Morgan Stanley in southern California, while Serge remains with Honeywell, but that’s it. Email to Becky Comstock received the following auto reply, “After more than 20 years, I have wound up my practice at Dorsey & Whitney effective Dec. 31. Going forward, I can be reached at beckycomstock@mchsi.com.” Congrats to you all! Hopefully, we’ll have more scoop via the reunion!

Steve Sullins continues his globe-trotting ways with PwC, but found time to dine with yours truly and Bunny Wynne when mom and dad Sullins came to dear old Ann Arbor last fall. All had a good time, and Bunny and I had the opportunity to provide prank follow-up phone services to mom after a botched Sullins family conference call. You cannot believe what one single transposed digit combo can do. Details after champagne at the reunion in August!

Just as we were going to press for the last issue, we received this missive from Ashley Smith Zimmermann: “Please note that I have decided to make a change and next Monday will join Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld’s Austin office as the newest member of its employment and labor law group.” Meanwhile, if you ever need to catch Marc Zimmermann for a phone conversation, weekends usually find him answering the cell phone at various sports venues with substantial crowd noise in the background. More on him from Gene later.

Speaking of Marc, he was joined by Kevin Counihan, Coleman McDonough and Steve Sullins, all making their way to the 100th meeting of the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes. The event kicked off on a Friday with salsa night at a local German restaurant (don’t ask), followed by T-shirt shopping at 3 a.m. Saturday, a tailgate party at my house, followed by an impromptu tailgate between two buses comparing and contrasting unique styles of partying, both very appropriate given their purpose and intent. On one side, a substantial motor coach outfitted with exterior plasma televisions mounted in the luggage areas under the awning; on the other side, a renovated school bus sponsored by a national chain restaurant with a very specific dress code for their servers. Ah, the paradox of EMP-51 personified and engaged.

Coleman also developed and implemented procurement techniques that put our commemorative mugs to good use in the big house. Again, a long story for the wee hours of reunion nights! In any case, it was a great day to be part of the largest crowd to ever witness a NCAA football game in the history of the planet (112,118). Way to show up, guys!

Many responded with regrets, including Kannan Srikanth, Rob Moll (racing engagement), Heather Robinson, Larry Murphy (who passed on a picture of his football-playing son and informed me of his moral issues with a daughter attending OSU), John Cherf (whose little twins turned 1 that weekend), Helen Chionis (who cited marital and moral concerns being an Illini), Elizabeth Crane (who represented us all at the Cherf birthday party), Ingrid Lehnert (who reports she had to take advantage of those days when her 6-foot-5, 250-pound 14-year-old is at home to do some heavy moving and other manual labor), and David Whan (who was actually in Madison for the Badger/Hawkeye game, but given the two contests, retrospectively stated he wished he made the journey to Ann Arbor.).

Anthony Marino missed the EMP-51 activities, but came to Ann Arbor for the game and stayed in touch via cell phone. He’s come under the influence of Buckeyes as of late with his son, A.J., now attending “that school down south,” and was apparently abducted by aliens shortly after the humiliation levied upon them by the mighty Wolverines. I would say I’ll see you in Columbus next year, but I vowed never to attend another game there as long as I live.

By contrast, Guillermo Herrera showed his usual class and aplomb by enrolling his daughter at the university in Ann Arbor. While we did not see Guillermo on the aforementioned late season weekend, he was able to make it for the Notre Dame game earlier in the fall, the results of which were reported in a previous issue.

Wall Street report: I have been checking selected company metrics and confirmed what the Street had been whispering about the strong performance of Guillermo Herrera and his team at Abbott. Total sales grew 11.3 percent in 2003, while the No. 1 EMP-51 candidate to become the new pope and senior vice president of international operations’ sales grew 14.5 percent in the same period. Guillermo, on behalf of shareholders everywhere, you are appreciated!

More news roundup: Continuing on the football trail, our very own Wildcats came to Motown for the bowl season, playing in the Motor City Bowl at the new Ford Field in downtown Detroit. This event had Chris Keil resurfacing for free tickets on the 50, and while I couldn’t make it, Bernie Birt made the trek at the last minute to witness a close game, which unfortunately had the wrong outcome. Glad you both could make it ─ sorry I couldn’t be there! Go cats!

Jeff Hederick has been busy schmoozing in Motown from time to time (he allegedly has this crazy idea for a car built out of paper) and found room on his schedule to arrange din-din at my house in November. Other than the picture, that’s about all I can remember.

Speaking of dinner at my house, George Kostopoulos made the journey from the German wine region he calls home to join us a couple of times. (Officially, he is tied with Coleman for number of visits to us; the winner will receive the “golden key” award at the reunion in August!) George later wrote, “So I’m walking through the Paris Casino in Vegas last week and who do I bump into? Rob Moll. He was there for his bachelor party. First, we bump into each other on a street in Athens, Greece. Then, he stays at the same hotel I do in Vegas. I accused him of stalking me.”

In the interest of balanced reporting, I confirmed Rob Moll is indeed stalking George. Rob also indicated he has, in fact, tied the knot. (That’s right, he didn’t just hold the bachelor party for grins and giggles.) Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Moll! I need more detail and pictures ASAP!

The Fountainhead European bureau I recently set up reports Chris Jurasek is keeping busy in the old country. I’m still working with this new reporter; due to translation issues I am unable to provide more details.

Dr. Eugene “Mahatma” McMahon came forward with a plethora of information since our last issue. One would expect this. In addition to seeking my expertise as a walking tourist reference guide, Gene’s contribution includes this: “I heard Marc Zimmermann is retiring young. Apparently, Marc has hit pay dirt with his ‘Zimm’s Crack Cream Product.’”

Coleman McDonough has secured quasiofficial status as the unofficial ambassador of mainland United States to Puerto Rico. On his Christmas goodwill trip, he was invited to be the master of ceremonies at the San Juan Marriott tree-lighting ceremony covered by every major media outlet on the island. After flipping the switch, he proceeded to get stuck in not one, but two, tropical storms (one of which was actually weather-related). In other journeys, after deciding all that sorbet-oakley stuff was not for him, Coleman found himself driving a truck (allegedly shooting a pilot for a remake of “Smokey and the Bandit”) and then found himself “sleepless in Seattle.” I’m sure we’ll all be way behind on the Coleman news by the time we get to the reunion.

Rumors of Professor Messick’s retirement had me hot on the investigative reporting trail. After checking with the “60 Minutes” team, I finally caught up with him to find out more. He wrote: “Retirement means that this will be my last year to teach in the full-time MBA program, but I will stay with the EMP folks longer, until I start to stink. I would have guessed the BS was the story about Steve Sullins, but who knows? He is only slightly less insane than the norm for 51 (present company included).” A true blow to the full-time MBAs, and a close call for the future of the EMP program. Professor Messick, your prize for guessing the BS will be presented to you at the reunion.

Larry Murphy sent a note inquiring: “Just want to know why you are slamming my Spartans in the recent news update? You do not have to be obsessed with the boys from East Lansing like the rest of AA.” Larry, it’s kind of like climbing Mt. Everest; it’s because you and all the Spartans are “there.” Turnabout is fair play, though, and it looks like basketball season will give you some points of vindication. Keep it coming!

Steve Schutt reports the mercy killing of EMVEST51. This humane act will have those of us who ventured thanking our lucky stars on two fronts. One, some nominal amount of money will be returned to us; two, the capital loss tax benefits always help. Thanks for keeping up on the administration of this interesting experiment, Steve. I have to believe this should be a case in some kind of Kellogg class!?

Finally, Paul Wiers and I were recently corresponding regarding the continuation of the Harley/Ford Motor relationship. Paul reports it has finally brought him from the dark side: “After driving Chevrolets for 30 years, I bought my first Ford pick-up. I bought an F-150 (black on black on black, of course). It surpasses my previous truck experience by such a margin I can’t stand myself. Great truck, price was great, value is outstanding.” Paul, of course, has been driving since he was 8 years old. I know -- shameless. Sorry, Hamilton.

Keep those cards and letters coming. Yours Truly

P.S. This installment of EMP-51 Class Notes marks the second round of “Can You Guess the BS?” To enter you must reply back to me with some news about you and your guess as to which of the aforementioned stories is not true. There will be numerous prizes awarded for correct answers. Multiple guesses are allowed.