Cindy Axne continues to work at the State of Iowa with the Department of Management, which is responsible for the state's budget and performance results. She reports: "This is a busy but exciting time at work as I am part of a team taking a hard look at state efficiencies. My husband John, our two sons Gunnar (7) and Rafe (4) and our two dogs are all doing well. My working mom life is very hectic as I know your lives are as well. I wish everyone well."
Beth Ida Stern is executive director of LUNGevity Foundation, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to funding research into the detection, treatment and cure of lung cancer. She reports that the foundation was recently named the fastest growing charity in the U.S. by Charity Navigator. LUNGevity funded 17 new research projects in 2008 at institutions such as the Massachusetts General Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Yale University and UCLA. Thank you Beth!
Jaideep Vivekanand reports: "I moved on from Morningstar to start a sustainable architecture and green design firm called Green Evolution with my wife Anu in India. A lot of learning and finally doing something that is satisfying." Congrats Jaideep!
Speaking of noble causes, Jeff Wojcik started down a new career path in May in the nonprofit world as assistant vice president of operations and shared services for the NorthShore University HealthSystem Foundation.
Amy (Sabo) Cress and her husband Mark Cress '01 are thrilled to announce the birth of their twins Eva and Nathan Cress, who were born on April 29, 2008. The family lives in Washington, D.C.
Michelle (Joyce) Huber writes: Bill '02 and I welcomed our second child, William Patrick (aka Will) Huber, on June 19. Big sister Sarah (3) absolutely loves her little brother, although he is starting to get into her toys so we will see how long this love will last. We are still living in Elmhurst, Ill. Bill is still working for McMaster Carr and assumed new responsibilities last year as vice president of supply side management.
Last year, Jennifer Keady, husband Chris and children Everett (4) and Ellie (2) relocated to Chapel Hill, N.C., and are enjoying being back at their alma mater. Jennifer continues to work for IBM in services pricing but on a reduced work schedule to spend time with her growing family.
Chris Clark has started a new company, CONSOLAN Consulting LLC, with a focus on management and strategy consulting to small manufacturing organizations. Good to see the entrepreneurial spirit remains strong in TMP 2002. Good luck and Godspeed, Chris.
Heather Kelley and husband Bill Kelley are proud to announce the birth of their first child. Mckenzie Lynn Kelley was born Sept. 24 and was 8 pounds, 6 ounces and 21.5 inches.
Arek Jaszcz, wife Alina, daughter Izabela and son Konrad have packed up and moved to Switzerland. Arek took a position with Baxter Healthcare as director of strategic projects for the European Union. Of his new home, Arek reports: "We are exploring Switzerland as much as we can on weekends, as everything here is reachable by train and bus. We went sledding on Mount Riggi where the sledding path is 2.5 miles long!" If travels take you to Switzerland, give Arek a ring.
Adam Wolfe is a managing director at Valens Capital Management. He is living in New York and looks forward to hearing from any and all of his TMP 2002 classmates. Adam can be reached at adambwolfe@comcast.net.
Congratulations are in order for Steve Puffpaff, who was appointed president and COO of Fuchs Lubricants Co. in September. Way to go Steve!
Kevin Ledvina lives with his girlfriend and two dogs in San Francisco while continuing his career at Apple as an iPhone/iPod operations product manager.
Sabrina Karl continues to enjoy her work with Good for Business, an advertising/communications agency located in Madison, Wis., that does work for socially responsible, cause-based organizations and projects. In addition to handling project management for clients, she is also leading Good for Business' new business development efforts. Sabrina and her husband Brian are living in Madison with their daughter Ocean (2).
Demos Tantalidis has made the move to Charlotte, N.C., with wife Sofia and daughter Thalia where he works as a consultant for IBM Global Business Services in the healthcare IT practice.
Aparna S. Huprikar's business Global Gift Wrap was featured in many media outlets last year, including the Chicago Tribune, India Journal and North Shore Magazine. Global Gift Wrap offers gift wrap that feature symbols and themes that are significant to the world's largest ethnic groups.
Jennifer Volpi was married to Wayne Van Aken on July 25 in Napa Valley, Calif. The ceremony was held at Holy Family Mission Church in Rutherford, Calif. A reception followed, featuring a candlelit dinner held in a wine cave at Hans Fahden Winery in Calistoga, Calif. Classmate Harisha Koneru was present at the wedding. Jennifer and Wayne reside in Stamford, Conn.
Entrepreneur Jamie Ringenbach reports: "My little company Inlet & Pipe Protection Inc. signed an exclusive sales and marketing agreement with ADS (Advanced Drainage Systems) to distribute our FLEXSTORM Inlet Filters worldwide. We're going from one sales guy to 300 of theirs, and from 20 current distributors to several thousand ADS distributors. They're a billion-dollar-plus company and the biggest supplier of plastic pipe in the world. They've recently placed a heavy focus on water quality systems. Our inlet filters protect storm drains from harmful sediment and hydrocarbon contaminants during construction projects and in parking lots and maintenance facilities." Great news, Jamie. You are the economic stimulus that politicians can only talk about!
Marc Dietrich joined Allianz Global Investors in June as an equity portfolio specialist and relocated to the New York/New Jersey area with his wife Meg and daughter Lauren. Meg also successfully transferred within JP Morgan's wealth management group. Although they are excited for life on the East Coast, Marc reports, "We dearly miss Chicago and all our friends."
Another member of TMP 2002 making a difference is Michael McLean, who took a position with Vantage Learning as vice president for assessment and school solutions. Keep up the great work, Michael.
Jason Seiden is following up on the success of How to Self-Destruct: Making the Least of What's Left of Your Career with a new book for people who actually want to hold onto their jobs. It's due out this fall.
Tom Aiello took over as the division vice president of public relations for Sears Holdings last fall.
John Saalfield joined McBreen, Neubauer & Associates as director of planning and advisory services. McBreen Neubauer & Associates is a team of wealth management advisers within the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, based in Skokie, Ill.
As for myself, I will share the following gratuitous plug. Tiny McLaughlin spent 10 very fulfilling months as an independent consultant focused on human capital growth strategies for Sterling Partners, a Northbrook, Ill.-based private equity firm. In that time, I designed, developed and implemented a high-potential talent development program focused on improving fund investment by infusing Sterling's 24 portfolio companies with proven young professionals that the companies would be unable to acquire on their own. Tiny's gig with Sterling ended in January and he is seeking his next career adventure.
Keep the updates coming and call me if you are ever in Chicago and want to grab a beer!
