1993

Hi, everyone, and welcome to another happy holiday season! I hope everyone is enjoying the early days of winter and not freezing too badly. I have lots of news about new class babies to share, along with some other business updates.

First, congratulations go out to Nick Malik and his wife Sofia who welcomed a baby daughter Zara on Mothers Day (May 14). Nick writes that, "We couldn't be happier, even though we are quite sleep deprived." On the work front, Nick is one of the few folks who is still at his first job after Kellogg. He is currently working with McKinsey in NY and doing a lot of work in the e-commerce space.

Roman Pongracz and his wife Katharina also have a new baby, "Franz." Franz was born after Roman and Katharina moved back to Vienna where Roman is now the SVP of strategy and corporate developement for an Austrian "old economy" conglomerate VA TECH. He reports that he now has more time for "family, sports and himself."

Jamie Blatt (a fellow big dog!) has also been busy on the child front - in a number of ways. First, he has two children now: Emma (2 years) and Joshua (4 months). He also writes that he worked at Gund (makers of teddy bears) at the time of the 5 year reunion, but is now teaching 10 year olds in New York City, where the kids are "a real challenge, but so much fun." Jamie adds, "You can say that children have become a major theme in my life in the past couple of years." Also, for those that were in the ice hockey club with Jamie, he wanted to make sure you all knew that he¹s still trying to skate and still searching for that elusive first goal!

News from another big dog, Jim Owens, is just as happy. Jim writes that he and wife Barb are "having a tough time these days with napster. No, not the internet company, but the fact that our son Max is so revved up all the time and barely takes any naps. The Lord is giving me a taste of what I put my parents through." Max is 13 months old and is "an incredible joy." Despite the excitement and challenge of life with a 13-month old, Jim is still finding time to be a super-star athlete. He wrote of several triathlons he¹s competed in recently, as well some upcoming cross-country events and a bike ride for the Lance Armstrong Foundation where he and his brother hope to raise $50,000 -- go Jim! Finally, Jim writes that his health continues to be stable and he is backing working (at his family¹s business) "more than he should."

Jim also wrote with a brief update on Paul Craig (yes, another Section 63 big dog!). Paul continues to live in Denver where he is leading his company, Rudy Project, into the new millenium.

Ross Gatlin is making big news of his own down in Texas. Ross left Bain & Company last year to form The Carlyle Group's Dallas based Carlyle Management Group (CMG). The Carlyle Group is a Washington D.C. based private equity company with over $11 billion of value under management. It sounds like the official office opening on Feb. 29, 2000 was quite an event! Ross reports that it was hosted by former President George Bush, his wife Barbara and Secretary of State James A. Baker. In other important news, Ross welcomed a fourth nephew, Jordan Ross whom he claims "is already one of his Uncle's favorites!"

Finally, I am throwing out a challenge to all of you. In the sevenyears that I have been writing this column, I have received updates, pictures and announcements from many of you. However, I believe there is still a majority who have never written in with your news. We want to know what you¹re doing! If you¹ve never provided an update to Kellogg World before -- either to me or to the alumni office -- make it your New Year¹s resolution that you will do it soon. It is my goal to have news of many first-timers in the upcoming issues.

I can¹t wait to hear from you!