EMP-48

I heard from Steve Swinson. While Steve says he has little to report, I think he is working on more than most. First of all, he has been working on his golf game (let me remind you he was the ringer in the Kellogg Masters tourney) and doing several projects around the house. His son, Mitch, started back to college this week. Katie was suppose to start tenth grade this week, but unfortunately, she is still suffering from daily migraine headaches. She will be treated at the Mayo Clinic this fall and we are all hopeful they will be able to help. He is also looking at buying a manufacturing company in Kansas.

Walt Warner checked in and, his itch to move on from Kodak has been scratched. He left Kodak in February and has been working for Lockheed Martin since then. He is enjoying his new job, back into engineering. He misses Kellogg and seeing everyone. We miss you too, Walt.

Rick McCurdy came to the Ricciuti’s Horse Race/Tyson/Lewis fight extravaganza in New York and was the hit of the party, rubbing elbows with the runner up to Miss South Carolina ’96, the quarterback of South Carolina in ’95, a musician, some Morgan Stanley executives, a bunch of IBMers and folks from the NBA. He was given a private tour of New York and told of his work experiences, which only continue to grow in responsibility. He and Jean and the kids are doing well.

Greg Genrich spent dinner in New York on his honeymoon with his wife, Stephanie. They could not have been happier. Doug Stang was in the wedding party and the affair was one to remember — he and Doug are in Indy getting an Internet business going.

Arun Taploo is in India at present and has been busy keeping up with work. He misses school and wishes to be more in touch — so here’s your forum, Arun. Tiffin’s misses you, as does the rest of the class.

Ken Bastin is still working with cancer patients, running the Gamma Knife for brain tumors and avoiding seconds at the dinner table. He is working toward a Brown Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Ken is now running our medical group as the prez (see what Kellogg gets ya?) with more headaches and challenges than his group has ever faced before. He professes to be actually using some of Zajac’s org behavior stuff and Messick’s procedural justice lecture these days! Ken misses the academic environment of Kellogg, and is hoping to see you soon (fall reunion, Ken?).

Shawn Carsten has found a new job as the global ventures finance manager. He will be relocating to London in December.

Jim Callahan has professed his love for me (“Love ya, miss you, want you.” But then again, that’s what being roommates for two weeks in the sweltering Asian heat will get ya), and misses the class from the plush law offices of Brighton and Runyon in the booming metropolis of Portsmouth, N.H. Telisa Robesron is very busy with a new job. She has been promoted to marketing strategy manager for Lincoln Mercury, Atlanta region. Telisa’s new position will focus on advertising, brand development, promotions, ethnic marketing and consumer and dealer channel incentives to increase vehicle sales in the division’s third largest market. Thanks to Telisa for much other news.

Ray Dempsey and wife had their third child. True to a future Kellogg alum, baby Dempsey is already a global citizen, as she was born in England.

The large contingency of the Atlanta EMP-48 team joined Rich Calhoun and his wife in the celebration of baby India’s christening Aug. 25.
Dana Filip finally married her prince.The wedding was a fairy tale story. Went off without a hitch. She had great fun dancing the night away with her Kellogg buddies.

Tom Cleves has been buried in business issues. His group’s sales need a boost, but he is generating record profits. He dropped his daughter, Sarah, off at Indiana U. for freshman year: “She’s doing well and Jana and I miss her dearly. Amanda and Jess started junior and freshman years, both doing well.” Tom and Jana are have now been married for 20 years. He and his daughter, Sarah, completed a 3,400-mile, eight-day motorcycle trip to Yellowstone Park and Sturgis with the Hedonistic Horsemen MC. He reports the weather was beautiful and mountain roads unbelievable.

Chris Ricciuti invited you all to party. He has been taking care of his father-in-law, who is doing well after surgery. He invites you all to Cape Cod and New York. Chris is now handling all the consulting work at Morgan Stanley.

Wayne D. Lallman and his wife, Angela, send the following update about the birth of the newest member of their family: “On May 9, we became parents to Olivia Hope Lallman. Already the parents of two boys, Joshua, 8, and Luke, 4, we are enjoying lots of pink and all the wonderful things that come with a new baby girl. Olivia has truly been a miracle within our family. Olivia Hope and her mommy had fetal surgery to repair a small opening on the lower portion of her spine (a form of spina bifida) in the 25th week of pregnancy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

“One of the many risks associated with having this surgery is premature birth. We had prayed that Olivia would not be born until reaching at least 36 weeks. Oliva Hope was born May 9 at 37 weeks, two days gestation. One of the major benefits to early repair of the spine is reduced risk of a serious condition that accompanies spina bifida called hydrocephalus. This condition is a buildup of fluid around the brain and increased ventricle size. Virtually all children born with spina bifida require a shunt – usually within 24 hours of birth. As of today, Olivia Hope’s ventricles have remained unchanged since surgery. No shunt has been required! Our continual hope and prayer is that these ventricles will remain stable throughout the first year of her life.

Another common health issue with spina bifida is bladder function. We prayed specifically that Olivia Hope would have normal function of her bladder without the use of antibiotics and catheterization. Before leaving the NICU at Children’s memorial Hospital, we were given the awesome news that Olivia did not need antibiotics or catheterization at this time.

“And, finally, we have been praying that Olivia Hope will one day walk. Our precious baby girl has great leg movement and continues to impress various doctors. While we won’t know for some time what ambulatory challenges she will encounter, she’s off to a great start! Even though Olivia Hope is days old, she has taught us so much about the power of prayer, faith and hope. Best regards to all from the Lallmans.

Keep the news coming and these communications will be far more frequent!