George Frey reports: "I felt we should have more updates after seeing the column in the last issue, so here is something from me and two other mates. I visited New York with my family in December and met up with Philip McKenzie to catch up after several years on different continents. Phil is vice president of business systems at Digi-Key Corporation, an electronic component distributor based in Thief River Falls, Minn. (the claim to fame is that it is close to Fargo, N.D). I also had dinner with Liz Hamburg. She is busy developing the latest venture of her company start-up called Applywise, a state-of-the art online college admissions counseling program.
"I am in the process of shifting into my new job at Metro Cash & Carry (a worldwide industry leader in self service wholesale) as customer management director for Austria. That brings me back into the world of consumer goods after having spent the last seven years in financial services, most recently at American Express, as country manager for Austria. Some would say not a bad time to switch industries. With my wife, Dalia, and our children Adina and Raoul, we continue to love our life in Vienna. As you can see in the photos, traveling around the world clearly pleases us as well."
Steve Wasik says: "As crazy as life has become with the pressures from the job and the family, it's nice to be able to stay in touch with friends. So in that spirit, here's my update. About one year ago, I was offered the position of CEO of SIGG, the world leader in reusable bottles. However, there was one caveat — move the family to Switzerland! Sounds great, right? Well, after six weeks, my wife became homesick and my kids complained they were bored. So back to New York they went. And now, I am earning frequent flyer miles with a heckuva commute every two weeks. I have included a photo of my boys and me in Luzern as proof that they were there — at least for lunch. I had a chance to see Len Lebov and Jeff Granowitz during the holidays. Len is hoping to become the new head coach of the Jets and Jeff is planning to write Misunderstood — The Unauthorized Biography of Bernie Madoff. Rich Vinchesi was supposed to join us, but he had to cancel, as his charcoal drawing class at the Nutmeg State Retirement Center ran late."
Josh Chernoff updates: "I'm still living in Evanston, not far from campus (but slightly nicer digs than during Kellogg). I am a partner at Bain & Company and am leading the retail practice in North America. It's a tough time to be in retail. It's the canary in the coal mine of our consumer society. But our distressed company practice should be booming throughout 2009. On the family front, wife Julie pretty much runs Evanston. She served on the school board for four tumultuous years, as the president-elect of the Women's Club of Evanston (whose clubhouse has served so many Kellogg events) and serves on numerous other boards in our community. Son Adam (17) is a junior at Evanston Township High School. He's beginning to evaluate college (when he isn't deeply immersed in iTunes). Daughter Leah (15) is a sophomore at ETHS and good friends with Dean Jain's daughter. I did a double take the other week when my wife opened the front door and Dean Jain was standing there (to pick up his daughter)! I return to Kellogg from time to time to recruit top talent to Bain & Company. In short, all is well (or as well as can be expected in this economy)."
Lottie Chestnut is still in Kansas City, but is in a new assignment with Hallmark Cards. After launching the popular Song Cards line two years ago, she's returned to the innovations group in a strategic and consumer insights management position, focusing on commercialization of innovation, ethnographic consumer research and strategic platform development. On the personal side, she traveled to Costa Rica and zip-lined across the Cloud Forest and nearby Arenal Volcano. Lottie invites anyone to reconnect with her whenever they're in KC!
Ralph Hibbs wrote in to say that he and Dave Mager have joined forces as Red Apple Marketing, an online lead generation agency focused on helping B2B companies generate more leads from online sources. Ralph's been running the agency for four years and Dave joined in July. He also reports that (lucky for Ralph), Dave's really good at sales.
On the personal side, Dave keeps himself busy in Berkeley caring for his two sons Luke and Flynn with his wife, Lisa. Ralph resides in San Francisco with his partner Hector, enjoying the amenities of the city.
Amanda Duisman writes, "I don't really have any news but wanted to write and say that I am glad you are trying to get more input from our remarkably silent Class of 1991. I eagerly read Kellogg World when it arrives every month."
"As treasurer at Sybase, we are coping with the credit crisis. I wonder how all of my investment banker friends are doing. John Rhinelander is at RBC as a managing director of ABCP and mortgage-backed securities. Bill Quinn is a managing partner at Goldman. Dave McIlwain is a vice president of marketing at JP Morgan. Kent Hitchcock is a vice president at Morgan Stanley. I could go on, but you get the idea."
Leslie Flagg writes that her team won a United Nations Award. Leslie's company, Olam Nigeria Limited, was selected as one of the 10 winners of the 2008 World Business and Development Awards, which was presented during the UN General Assembly on Sept. 24 in New York City. The true spirit of the awards lies in the pursuit of productive and innovative business-driven solutions to sustainable development, Leslie writes. Pictures from the award ceremony are at Web site iccwbo.org/WBA/id23810/index.html. In 2006, Olam formed a partnership with United States Agency for International Development in Nigeria to promote commercial agriculture development. The Olam-USAID partnership provided over 10,000 farmers with secure markets, high-quality inputs, access to commercial finance and technical assistance to produce high-quality rice. It has increased rice farmers' yields by 175 percent and their net incomes by more than 230 percent, provided a business approach to address food security and developed a new business model which Olam will use for other commodities and in other countries.
