EMP-56

Hello EMP-56 class!

I hope this edition of Kellogg World finds you well and continuing to build on the great success that started with our graduation nearly three years ago. Did anyone besides me just pause and say, "Really? Has it been nearly three years? Where is everybody?" Well, too much time has passed since we have connected as a class, and there is a lot of EMP-56 news. Let me just be efficient and begin with: Wow! Congratulations, everyone. We are moving and shaking! In order of our study groups, here's the scoop:

	Tony Hirschtritt EMP-56 enjoying Disneyland with wife Michelle, son Jake and new baby Lexi Fe
	Stacy Kacek with Rich Montbriand, Bruce Korman and Charles Fortner (all from EMP-56's EmpahtiK)
	John Meier EMP-56 and his family enjoy autumn and what looks to be Houston's biggest pumpkin!
	Steve Schuette EMP-56 and son Max
	Shumin Wang EMP-56 and family in Nagasaki, Japan

Group A: Faruqe Alam is now the senior vice president of finance for structured products for Bank of America. He and the family have moved to Charlotte, N.C., and are settling into life there nicely. Ping Yu is also seeing more of the United States and Canada, traveling for Motorola as the director of business development in the intelligent transportation system and transit unit. He is busy developing new business markets for their broadband offerings.

Group B: Scott Corley joined Chicago-based Wideload Games as director of Wideload Shorts in October. He is forming the company's new division, focused on introducing small games for non-traditional video gaming channels. Scott also continues to operate Red Mercury in parallel. Jason Ferrara is very busy with both professional and personal adventures. He is working hard to balance his time between CareerBuilder.com as the director of corporate marketing and running after his son Joe (2).

Group C: Todd Chalem is continuing to build Channel Velocity as the chief operating officer there. Jim Ahlborn sends a warm hello to the class and is still driving business results as the vice president of finance at Tuthill in Burr Ridge.

Group D: Cheryl King is busy putting the Kellogg degree into action, launching her own firm, Urbis Properties. Based in Arizona, Urbis (Latin for urban) is a real estate firm that consults with condo developers across the lower states. In addition, look for news about her Panexus Properties, which just launched the first visual virtual concierge service and a network of personal services providers for homeowner associations.

Group E: Rob Stoppek continues to work for Sauer-Danfoss, although the rest of his life has changed. He married his beautiful bride, Laura, in early 2006 and has also taken on responsibility for global supply chain and lean. He lives in Portland, Ore. Kristin Bird is the director of marketing at Unilever Foodsolutions and enjoying life with her husband, Patrick Muller, and toddler Rowan. Tony Hirschtritt and his wife, Michelle, welcomed Lexi Fe to their family, giving brother Jake an adorable little sister to play with.

Group F: Margie Allen has opened a home décor boutique, called Style Central, in the heart of Hyde Park. The store's collection of one-of-a-kind pieces makes it a truly amazing place to create a unique living environment. Stop by the store at 5309 S. Hyde Park Boulevard in Chicago to catch up with Margie and jazz up your personal space. Maureen Hogan is bringing her talent to American Transmission after accepting the Wisconsin company's top human resources role in December. Her new condo is located in Milwaukee's historic Third Ward, close to the Summerfest grounds (sounds like an EMP-56 reunion opportunity for July). Jerry Carter continues to enjoy his wonderful Chicago home and is now the vice president of IDEX Corp.'s tax and international finance divisions in Northbrook.

Group G: Melissa Fabio is a partner in Northshore Cookery, which offers cooking lessons, private cooking parties and catering. In addition, the business has expanded by adding a store, called Flavors, that offers gourmet prepared foods, on-line ordering and curbside service. Melissa has also joined DeVry University as their vice president of central services.

Group H: Vicky Free is working for TBS in Atlanta. She started out focused on TNT, but it didn't take long for the Turner people to see the talent they had on staff. She has now been promoted to vice president of entertainment marketing for TNT and TBS. Mark Whittington is continuing to expand his experience base at Elkay and has added the challenge of vice president of marketing to his résumé. Deb Robbins is enjoying her role as vice president of marketing and business development for KONE, especially the opportunity to work internationally on brand and channel marketing initiatives.

Group I: John Meier is enjoying life in Houston and is ready for life's next challenge — maybe moving into marketing? Shumin Wang and her family are still happy in China, supporting Shanghai's Anji Microelectronics' explosive growth. Steve and Dawn Schuette have been very busy moving to Lemont and growing their family — Maximillian David has just turned 1 and is living up to the Schuette family tradition of nonstop energy. Mark Zimmerman is also on the move, following Dean Jain's graduation advice to "take a risk" and is now in marketing for ConAgra Foods.

Group J: Brian Bancroft continues to enjoy his position as the vice president and general manager of Oil Dri's building products group, as well as serving as chief procurement officer for the corporation. He and Jackie (Mrs. Bancroft) are doing well and trying to keep up with their kids, who are both studying Spanish and violin. Life is changing fast for David Gambino and his wife, Mary. They've visited Ireland with their newly adopted daughter Ciara Xiaoxi (from China), and David has accepted a position as director of product management at Oracle in the San Francisco Bay area.

Group K: Stacy Kacek looked every bit the lovely bride as she and Dan Whitty married in Libertyville. After leaving Motorola last summer, Stacy is on the hunt for her next great adventure!

Group L: Jim Clewlow continues to work at CenterPoint and now serves as the chief investment officer there. He is also still living in Lake Forest, but made the move to a new and beautiful home on Circle Lane. Doug Miller continues his career with Motorola and is now in the mobile devices division. The different business model and opportunity to grow with the company are very motivating.

Group M: Dan Masterson now owns EMD Technologies, a product development and innovation company. Dan says the firm is "in a renewed start-up mode" and is growing quickly with a client base that includes SC Johnson, Fellowes, Rubbermaid and Northrup-Grumman. Last in the scoop — but certainly not least — Christy Wistar is going global. She is moving to Tanzania with her husband for a two-year assignment to run Abbot's African charitable foundation, putting our Kellogg degree to work and really making a humanitarian difference.

EMP-56 classmates, there is no doubt that our investment in Kellogg is paying dividends. Congratulations to everyone who has welcomed new family members (husbands, wives and children). Congratulations to everyone who has jumped into the world of entrepreneurship and to those who have taken on new/expanded responsibilities in their careers. Congratulations to all of you who are truly making a difference in the world. We have been a busy group, and I'm sure there is scoop that I have missed — write me and send photos! I'm ready to start prepping our report for the next edition of Kellogg World and want to hear from you all. Until then, take care, be well, and do great things.