EMP-11

Russell Luedtke
507.235.9297
ludkey@bevcomm.net

Jan Leestma is still active in her forensics consulting practice and doing well. The company that she co-founded back in 1994, now known at Naurex Inc., has completed Phase II human clinical trials of a novel antidepressant, with excellent results. A further round of venture and pharmaceutical industry investments is well along toward a $25 million goal for further human clinical trials and testing a new compound. Anyone interested can find more information at www.naurex.com.

Gary Cortellessa joined Stewart Title about a year ago. The real estate market seems to be rebounding, which is good for his business. Good buys are available, and interest rates are the lowest he has ever seen. This past summer he bought a beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Del., and plans to spend a lot of weekends and holidays close to the ocean. His son is a senior at SUNY-Buffalo, and his daughter is a sophomore at UCO-Boulder. He hopes all is well and sends his best to his EMP-11 classmates.

Ron Nicholas just bought a new furnace and water heater. Shortly after installing them, the furnace caught fire. "By the time I got down the stairs," he says, "the smoke had turned to flames. Word to the wise: get furnaces checked."

John Covell is planning to retire from his position as vice president, corporate audit at General Growth Properties in early 2013. He has been with the company for six years. In retirement, John plans to consult on risk management and spend more time traveling, as well as focusing on his interest in music. He organizes an annual music festival in England and is sponsoring a series of recordings of neglected English music. John's son graduated in May 2011 from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and now works for Round Hill Capital, a private equity firm in London.

Life in the Wisconsin Northwoods is good for Rob Milburn. He and his wife Marlys continue to enjoy their retirement on the shores of Squaw Lake. Rob is the president of the Lake Association, which takes up a lot of his time, and he has taken up golf again. He also volunteers with the Town of Lac du Flambeau's Town Lakes Committee, working to control the spread of aquatic invasive species. Their son Mike recently made vice president at Salesforce.com, closing deals with the world's biggest companies.

Russ Luedtke still works some, and is planning more road trips in the '50 Olds. In October 2012, he took a 2,500-mile road trip through eight states in eight days to see relatives in Alabama and attend an Olds car show in Cartersville, Ga. Next year, the Olds National meet is in Springfield, Ill., on Route 66. He and his wife Joan plan to attend, and will take Route 66 north after the show.