TMP 1997

A note for TMP 1997 class members: If you haven't heard from me lately, please update your e-mail forwarding address on the Kellogg alumni Web site.

[Ed. note: The first eight items below were intended for publication in the winter 2005 edition of  Kellogg World. We regret any inconvenience caused by this delay.]

Edward Rafacz, team leader future technology for the Delta Airlines Master Executive Council Safety Committee, has created and launched a set of interactive real-time screensavers. Delta pilots are currently using this program to get the latest weather information and the latest safety bulletins. You can download the program at safepic.com/weather/realtime/ALPA.html.

In August 2005, Ken Kring moved into a position in Chicago as strategic planner with DRAFT, an advertising agency that handles direct, promotional, digital, and retail marketing, as well as brand advertising. "It's wonderful. I started Aug. 1, and in a short amount of time I've been able to build for a client a business strategy map, a brand path strategy, and a marketing flow diagnostic tool."  Ken can be reached at kkring@draftnet.com.

Kathryn de Maigret has opened her own business and is broker/owner of Express Capital Lending. The company is a residential lender that offers jumbo/super jumbo loan amounts (up to $2.4 million) and specializes in "creative financing." Based in Napa Valley, Calif., the company focuses on the California market but is licensed in 20 states. Kathryn can be reached at kathryn@expresscap.com.

In March 2005, Ed Keating left Avantt Consulting to become vice president of the Software & Information Industry Association's content division, a group for which he had previously been a board member. Ed is responsible for guiding the direction of the SIIA's content division working groups, an assembly of content providers and industry leaders that assess and develop best practices for electronic content business models and assess the business impact of standards.

Art Tsubaki is back in Illinois, working for Greenlee Textron in Rockford as director of product management and development. "My role is similar to my last job — but, of course with more responsibility and an opportunity to further use my Kellogg Education!"

Elaine Virant has recently joined SAP as a client engagement manager in its financial services practice in Chicago. Elaine spent the previous three years with Siebel Systems as a business development manager working with its CRM product suite and incentive compensation management system. She and her husband Roger Shubert (also TMP 1997) live in Chicago with their two kids Anita (3) and Garrison (1).

John Strelecky just returned from three months of travel in Peru and Brazil. Much of his time was spent exercising nothing but his Spanish and Portuguese language skills (which needed a lot of practice). He did find a few days when he wasn't on slow boats journeying through the Amazon Basin, or swimming with piranhas, to promote his book The Why Café. After taking the book from concept to sales in 36 countries through his own publishing company, John was picked up by a New York literary agent, and now the book is being published in 13 languages by publishers around the world. A new hardcover edition of the book will be released in May in the United States.  As always, you can reach John at jstrelecky@yahoo.com.

After eight years at Salomon Brothers/Citigroup Global Markets, Denise Kenny has accepted a position as principal with Bank of America securities in institutional fixed income sales in Chicago. Her clients consist of Midwest insurance companies, money managers, banks and hedge funds. She remains in the Chicago area (Wilmette, Ill.) with her husband Marty and two boys, Brendan (8) and Sean (5). Denise is trying to increase Bank of America's presence on campus, particularly through Kellogg recruiting. She looks forward to reconnecting with fellow TMP 97's!

Jay Woffington announced that his relationship marketing agency, Bridge Worldwide in Cincinnati, was recently acquired by WPP and the Wunderman Group of Companies. "Joining WPP, the second-largest agency network in the world, is a huge move for our agency. We'll continue to operate independently but will have access to the larger network. It really sets us up for global reach." Bridge is one of the top 40 interactive agencies in the Unites States and has blue-chip clients such as P&G, Abbott, J&J and ConAgra Foods.

Ari Backman and his wife Marie have set up a Belgian French chocolate/coffee store called Leonidas Café Chocolaterie in Wilmette, Ill., only five minutes away from the NU Evanston Campus. After the first year of operation, they have established it as a high quality chocolate store with a Web store at leonidasstore.com and import/wholesale activities. Ari is responsible for the wholesale activities in the Midwest and the Web store, while Marie runs the retail location. The retail clientele include many professors from NU and also Kellogg family members from the North Shore. Ari developed the Web store from scratch with his own technical off-shore team, and is currently learning key issues in consumer Web marketing.

Scott Worthem has been promoted to senior vice president/general manager of Experian Addressable Media Solutions. His business focuses on improving advertising relevance in traditional and emerging media through the use of analysis and database marketing. "We are joined by several companies with a similar vision. Accordingly, I've had an opportunity to work with other great Kellogg alumni including Tracey (Whiteley) Scheppach '99, Claudio Marcus '87 and Tony Coulson '87."

Rose Heathcote and her husband George had baby No. 4, Madison, on July 13. She joined Cassandra (10), George (6) and Hannah (3). "I am still working for IBM after 18 years as the customer executive for industrial and distribution accounts in Cleveland and Pittsburgh. My husband is a chiropractor at Active Chiropractic in Chagrin Falls."

Michael Ostaffe has moved north to Minneapolis/St.Paul to join Honeywell's Environmental Combustion and Controls group as director of product marketing for the North America Homes business. The new job is keeping him very busy. "The products in Homes include thermostats, humidifiers, air cleaners, ventilation and zoning products — basically all of the controls and accessories for your HVAC system." Mike has already made it to two events of the Twin Cities alumni club. His triplets are about to turn 5 and he has no idea where the time has gone.

John Coyle spent his February in Torino, where he joined the NBC Olympics crew in the broadcast booth. "I supported Ted Robinson, the main announcer, as researcher and statistician for the short track speedskating Olympic races. I didn't have a speaking part, but if you watched closely, you probably saw me sitting next to him whenever they panned back. I was overseas for three weeks and was joined by my wife Shannon and our 5-year-old daughter Katelina."

Janet Buzil is working for Trustmark Insurance Co. and was recently promoted from assistant vice president to second vice president of marketing and product management. "I have a daughter Hannah, who turned 7 in March, and a son Michael, who is 4."

John Reid and his wife had a baby boy, Peyton Thomas Reid, on April 29.  Peyton joined his 4-year-old twin sisters, Sydney and Courtney. "We had to move to make room for the new baby, but we remain in St. Louis. I'm still working as a principal for DiamondCluster International."

Rachel Corn Kluge was recently named a partner at William Blair & Co., where she continues to do M&A and raise public equity for consumer product and retail companies. It was a busy year as she and husband Scott Kluge welcomed their second child, Madeline, in June 2005.

After taking 3 years off from "officially" working to focus on family, Stacey Devine returned to the work force last fall. "I am now a portfolio advisor in the investment strategy group within the private wealth management division at Goldman Sachs. I am based in Chicago and work with investment professionals and their clients throughout the Midwest." Stacey and her husband Mike TMP 1998 also made the move from the city to the west suburbs. "After our second boy, we needed space!"

Finally, my wife Rebecca (Blake) Budd TMP 2002 and I welcomed our first child, John Henry Budd IV ("Jackie") on Dec. 12.  Aside from somewhat whimsical sleep patterns, he has been an absolute joy. You can follow Jackie's growth at budd.tv.