1997 — Full-Time

Candace Parks Chow ’97 and Sarah Sarchet Butter ’98 with their families at Villa Vigna Maggio in Chianti, Italy
Antonio Puron ’97 and his family in Ixtapa, Mexico
Charlotte Vere ’97

Michael Payne and his family moved to London after a great year on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound. They enjoyed the rural existence following six years in the Netherlands and took full advantage by planting a garden and raising chickens. They were fortunate and kept their careers going by working from a cottage next to the house. They are now working hard to adjust to their new urban reality. The new outdoors is cycling across the Heath to the kids’ school every morning, which isn’t a bad gig either. Otherwise, Michael is looking forward to seeing more classmates as they pass through town and is still enjoying his work in the wind industry.

A tradition for the past 10 years, Marco Azzaretti, Corrado Giaquinto, Patrick Imholz, Alessandro Duina and Orazio Costadura ’96 joined gracious host Felice "Rikkio" Ahlers in his barn-like winter residence at Val d’ Isere in the French Alps for what has become an annual event of fun, skiing, fondue eating, wine drinking and all-around camaraderie among great friends. The group looks forward to getting together — same place, same time — for another 10 years and beyond!

In November, Charlotte Vere was selected the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for the seat of Brighton Pavilion. With the U.K. general election in May 2010, she is campaigning hard to win her seat. To find out more, visit her Web site at charlottevere.com. If you are ever in Brighton, she would love to hear from you!

Two of our classmates, Kenji Hashimoto and Julian Posada, were named among the "Top 100 under 50" by Diversity MBA magazine. Kenji is the managing director of airline profitability and financial analysis at American Airlines and Julian is the founder/president of Café Media LLC, a media company that targets Hispanics. You can read more about Julian and Kenji at diversitymbamagazine.com.

Antonio Puron writes from sunny and warm Mexico City (no "snowmaggedons" here!), where he lives with his lovely wife Adriana and his two lovely kids, Toñito (6) and Alonso (4). On the professional front, he celebrated his 10th anniversary with Egon Zehnder International last year. Wow, time flies! He has been a partner at this leading executive search firm since 2004 and things are going quite well. On the personal front, he continues to be actively involved with the Kellogg crowd, with frequent "outings," lots of beer and tons of good laughs. But he is also trying to stay in shape with triathlons, marathons, golf (wait, is that really a sport?), etc. If anyone has signed on for the London marathon on April 25, please let Antonio know and you can celebrate together!

Matt Lowell reports from southern California that he has changed positions. His company was acquired in 2009 by Abbott Laboratories (of Chicago fame) and renamed Abbott Medical Optics, a medical device company serving the ophthalmic market. Matt is director of business development, which means he is on the hunt for alliance, investment, licensing and acquisition opportunities to grow this new segment of Abbott’s business. After more than seven years in So Cal, Matt, his wife Rebecca and three children are officially addicted to the weather. His favorite days are when it’s sunny and 70 degrees outside and there is a clear view of snow-capped mountains from his office. A small cadre of Kellogg grads here lunch regularly, so contact Matt if you want to join their informal group.

Nikki Tarlton Cole has been focused on her three kids and building her independent financial services firm. In 2009, she renamed her company Nicole Cole Financial Services Group. She specializes in comprehensive financial planning in two areas: college and retirement planning for families who want to send their children to college and still have money for retirement; and benefit planning for business owners and their firms. She, husband Ron and children Joshua (8), Journey (6) and Max (4), are navigating all the snow that the D.C. area has gotten this winter. She’s on LinkedIn and Facebook and looks to hear from fellow Kelloggians at Nicole@nicolecole.com.

Alumni attended a Casino Night party at Gil and Sue (Buydens) Penchina’s home to celebrate Gil’s 40th birthday. Attendees included Joe Urban, Chris Maxcy, Sue (Gouws) Korn, Judy (Hayes) Fudemberg, Millie (Gong) Fu, Brian Korn, Bill Kaufmann ’96, Mike Hilberman, Burt Lampl, Brad Williamson and Winston Fu.

Candance Parks Chow and her husband Dan Chow travelled with Sarah Sarchet Butter ’98 and her husband John Butter to Tuscany, Italy, last June. The Chow (Sydney and Chloe) and Butter girls (Elizabeth and Caroline) had a wonderful time exploring the country together with their parents, enjoying all that Italy has to offer.