Ginger Campbell worked with Quincy Jones on a Blacks in Technology event.

1986

I received a very nice holiday update from the Hollidays this summer (you pick the holiday). The family is now settled in Winnetka, Ill. Shaun Holliday has been at eMac Digital for almost two years now. He has enough free time to own a sailboat, but not enough time to actually go sailing. He only has time for the cleaning and maintenance of the boat. Son Conor is in fifth grade and is a diving expert, planning on an academic/athletic scholarship to Northwestern. Tessa is in third grade and loves to perform (ballet, drama, comedy, violin, art etc.). Being the baby girl, she has dad wrapped around her little finger. This should last for the next 50 years or so. Chris ’87 finished her master’s degree in education and plans on obtaining another three or four advanced degrees before attempting to get a job.

Cindi Bigelow and I have been trading a lot of emails lately. Some of them were actually meant for each other. The family had a nice vacation on Long Island this August. Meghan is entering middle school and is growing up fast. She can almost shop as well as her mother. FYI Bigelow Teas has recently introduced a new line of flavored teas. My wife and I can recommend all of them, especially vanilla caramel.

Willy Kotas relocated to Miami in 2000 after 12 years in Europe and Latin America. He missed really good fast food. He is currently teaching at Florida International University, writing magazine articles on customer relationship management and awaiting the Cleveland Indians’ return to the World Series.
I received a nice note from Ann Hanson, who is currently working on several top-secret projects that cannot be divulged at this time. She promises to spill the beans by the end of the year. Our spy network will keep an eye on her.

David Jaffray is doing well with StoneBridge Group. They are focusing on health care and appreciate the fact that some of us still eat the wrong foods, in the wrong quantities and wash it down with too much alcohol. He doesn’t recommend it, he just appreciates it. Because life is too short not to do what you enjoy, Dave is playing in a band again. It’s a four-piece, rock-oriented band that plays all original music. Dave plays lead guitar and hasn’t sung yet, a first! The band has played in three new band showcase gigs, with audiences ranging from 10 to 150. He had an upcoming gig in front of 1,000 people at the Craft Brewer’s Festival. Dave and the band are having a great time and I hope we receive more updates. Dave reports that the Pomerantzes are doing well and that he had a nice lunch with Tom Erickson in June. No word on who paid.

Nikki Pope spent part of the summer working on a consulting job for Brio Software, Craig Brennan’s company. Apparently Craig belongs to The Bohemian Club, which is either a networking organization or a chance for rich guys to beat drums and sing in the woods. You decide. Other members include George Bush, the elder, and Clint Eastwood. They also produce a yearly musical review similar to Special K. Nicky Bullets and I are available. My invitation to join must have been lost in the mail. Craig, see what happens when you leave the updating to others. Speaking of Nicky Bullets (Gordon Kane), the rumor is that he has switched jobs again. I would love to hear from him and find out the truth. Nikki was also wondering how many of us have changed jobs at least once and how many are still with their first company after Kellogg.

Ginger Campbell was nice enough to include a picture of her and Quincy Jones in her update. So before the rest of you send me pictures of you and your snotty-nosed kids, remember the competition. Ginger and her daughter, Myko, spent a nice vacation in Carmel. Ginger also had a chance to visit Chicago and celebrate her 29th birthday with Marty Foster. They had so many cocktails, that she claims they saw jets buzzing over the North Avenue beach. The Blue Angels were practicing for the Chicago Air and Water Show. Besides working with Sir Quincy at the Blacks in Technology event, she has been in touch with Kelvin Walker, who she claims is taking over the financial empire of Dallas. If you need a great event producer/publicist, please keep Ginger in mind.

Eugene Kamarasy reports from Dresden that his two apartment houses were above the high water mark during the recent flooding and were undamaged. When the residents realized they were safe, they threw a kegger and trashed the place. Oh, well. The Kellogg Club of Frankfort is gaining momentum, but with a lot of youngsters. And no, Eugene, we are not getting older. The kids are getting smarter and want to spend time with the best class Kellogg ever produced. Eugene is considering moving back to the United States after 17 years overseas. Contact him if you have thoughts on career opportunities.
Gerhard Schmid, his wife, Denise, and 3-year-old daughter, Vera, are happy to report the birth of Andrea on June 12.

Martin Suter and family experienced a wet and soggy summer. They did manage to get away for a week holiday to Italy and a family Club Med. The kids did their thing (trampoline, arts and crafts etc.) while the parents could do theirs (sail, bike etc.). Martin did enter a local tennis tournament and lost in the first round. Next year he vows to train a little harder and play a few sets prior to the start of the tournament.

From the land next to the land down under, John Timms invites all of the classmates attending the America’s Cup competition in New Zealand to give him a call. For the past four years John has been working for Alberto Culver. Nicholas (age 9), Jessica (age 7) and Caroline (age unknown) are all doing well and keeping John busy.

Dr. Yvon Araktingi recently relocated from California, where he worked for Spectra-Physics Corp., to LaCrosse, Wis., where he works for McIoone Metal Graphics. Yvon writes with this endorsement of the education he received at Kellogg: “I would highly recommend the Northwestern MBA program for PhD executives. My MBA has been an added plus in my career.”

Robert Gamgort has sweet news to share with his former classmates. Robert, general manager for Masterfoods USA’s chocolate business development team, has been promoted to president of Masterfoods USA. In his new role, Gamgort will be responsible for all of Mars Inc.’s snack food, food and pet care businesses in the United States.

I spent the summer playing less golf, but losing more golf balls. I attended the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Milwaukee. Laurie and I had a nice dinner with Lauren Schreiner and her husband “tall” Jim. We hope to lose golf balls together next season. The consulting business is steady and interesting because I get involved in so many industries. Last summer, I visited John Baumann ’85 in Monroe, Wis. We attended the Cheese Days Festival, which is only held every two years during the third weekend in September. Ridiculous udders they have on display. Have a great holiday season.