1984

Hello from Riverwoods. I was happy to hear from many of our Chicago-area classmates in the past few months. I am in awe of the interesting and unique paths that some of you have chosen. My own path is about to take another jog, as my current project with Ford Gum and Machine will be coming to a close soon. So I guess I'll go from marketing novelty candy and gum, back to marketing my skills to prospective employers. Oh, if you see my kids, don't mention that I'm leaving my current position. I have to wait for the right time to break this news to them gently.

Amy Blechman Soren wrote that after staying home with her two children (8 and 4) she has been back in the working world for two years. She is involved in litigation support and financial analysis for RSM McGladrey. She really enjoys both her work and home life.

I received an e-mail from Bob Mann, who is a senior vice president of LaSalle Bank. He runs the bank's Structured Municipal Finance business, which involves the management of proprietary securitization program and oversight of a $6.5 billion bond portfolio. He lives in Highland Park with his son Matt, who attends Highland Park High School.

Bob is a member of the board of directors of the Children's Brain Research Foundation. The foundation funds research projects devoted to the prevention and treatment of early childhood brain disorders. He also serves on the board of the Equestrian Connection, which provides therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with special needs.

Is Renee Frishman Hochberg the only member of our class still with the same employer since graduation? "I have a new job, still within Hewitt. I am responsible for our firm's relationships with the sourcing advisors, those who work with clients/prospects to choose their outsourcing providers. The job is a combination of sales, marketing and creativity. I am the only one in the firm who does it, so I get to make it up!

"My older son celebrated his bar mitzvah Labor Day 2005 with a whole weekend 'event' at a conference center in Wisconsin. We were fortunate to have been able to host a perfect family reunion weekend and he did us very proud. My younger son (10) has decided that he wants to be a saxophone player and wrestler. We're nervous about his hands and nose as all he cares about is winning. Watching is very hard for me."

This news came from Mark and Maggie Maloney Raynard: "The Raynards are doing well. Daniel (16), Margaret (14), William (12) and Patrick (9) are all swimmers. We have TWO teenagers (and we all know how much fun that is) and two little guys. It keeps us very busy in Glenview, Ill."

Jeff Bowles made some interesting career moves. There's a promising stock tip at the end of this one — for those of you who care about that sort of thing. "After spending about six years in real estate development, I semi-retired and went back to study biochemistry at University of Illinois and do some theoretical research of my own. I guess it was in my blood as I come from a long line of doctors. Anyway, I ended up getting a science paper published in 1998 titled, "The evolution of aging — a new approach to an old problem of biology." One prediction in the paper was that by suppressing a hormone that increases in humans after age 40 (Luteinizing Hormone, LH), Alzheimer's disease could be prevented or stopped."

Mike Hugos is doing another type of research and writing. "The last couple of years have been productive. I've been able to develop a writing career and blend it with my daytime job as a chief information officer at a wholesale distribution company. My first book came out in early 2003 and was titled, Essentials of Supply Chain Management. Last summer it was translated into Chinese. The second edition came out in March.

"In 2004 my publisher gave me a chance to write another book titled, Building The Real-Time Enterprise: An Executive Briefing. This book came out at the end of 2004. At least for the moment, if you do a Google search on 'real-time enterprise,' my name and my book come up on the first page (my 15 minutes of fame). Then last year I co-authored a third book titled, Supply Chain Management in the Retail Industry. I'm also a regular columnist in Computerworld and now CIO magazine.

"It's a good thing I really like to write because if I divided the hours I spend working on these books and columns into the royalties earned so far I would come up with an hourly rate measured in pennies. But I am starting to get requests to do speaking engagements."

Here's the update on Wendy Love: "I've returned to public relations agency GolinHarris International as a senior vice president after a 16-year 'hiatus' during which I worked in two client-side positions and at two other agencies. I'm the global account director on the agency's work for the Florida Department of Citrus. On the personal side, I'm having the time of my life as a single mom, raising a little girl I adopted from an orphanage in Belarus."

Lynette Barnes Hinch dropped me this note: "I am about to celebrate my third anniversary of 'retirement,' which my husband refers to as my 'sabbatical from compensation'! I absolutely love being home with my boys, now 7 and 6 years old. Since they are finally both in school all day, one would think that my house should be organized and my fitness level top notch, but alas, I find myself giving volunteer work top priority. I am primarily involved in the Learning Disabilities Association, classroom support at school, and children's ministry at church. I must admit, I have a passion for these activities that I never felt in the working world!

"I enjoyed a weekend visit from Birgitta Hanan and Autumn King Boos in October. We had the pleasure of attending a bat mitzvah hosted by Wendy Weiss Kritt for her daughter. A great mini-reunion for the four of us! I also see Peggy Bertelsen Hampton frequently, not only for NU football games, but we also share the challenges of being more 'mature' mothers of very young little boys! I reflect so fondly on our last Class of '84 reunion. Anyone up for a one-night gathering in downtown Chicago?"

It was great to hear from everyone. I love getting notes from the people who keep up with the class regularly, and it's always fun to hear from those of you who haven't written regularly — or ever. Keep the news coming. Your classmates enjoy hearing about what you're doing.