EMP-53 traveled far and wide for the wedding of classmate Kimberly Meyer and Peter Matthews. From left, Barry Nohalty, Mike Sarlitto, Michele Wickwire, Gary Raju, Melissa Macek and Santosh Padki.

EMP-53

Greetings. First of all, I finally went through the new online alumni directory. Did you know you can search by interests, hobbies and areas of expertise? No, this is not a paid advertisement --- I really didn't know how powerful it was. Check it out, and if you haven't filled in your information, spend 10 minutes on it. It will be worth it somewhere down the line.

On to the news: Paul Darley was invited to meet President Bush. His company, W.S. Darley, impressed the nation's leadership, as well as its peers, winning the Wisconsin Small Business of the Year Award for 2004. Bravo for that alone. But when Bush held a town meeting in Wisconsin, Paul and his wife, Heidi, met with him and the First Lady for about 15 minutes before the event. Then Paul and the president were live on C-Span. Check out the video clip of Paul and Bush talking on Paul's Web site at www.darley.com (search for "Bush"). Bravo again for winning the small business award and for being recognized.

Our favorite doc, Deepak Mital, was appointed treasurer for the Aiimsonians of America (AOA). This is the alumni association for his medical school --- the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. AOA is a not-for-profit educational and cultural organization headquartered in Boston. Deepak admits: "It will definitely give me a chance to practice my business skills in accounting and investments. I shall stay away from options and junk bonds."

Kim Brown took on a new role in October, heading up the regional marketing office at the General Services Administration for four months --- quite different from the procurement area she currently heads. She writes: "I look forward to using my Kellogg marketing knowledge in this new role. I'm thinking about advertising during the next Super Bowl, but the government is a little concerned that the five-second delay will take away from our surprise tactics."

Joe Fiore writes, "Nothing really earth-shattering here." He then goes on to tell me that he's writing from São Paolo, Brazil. I'd say that is pretty cool. Joe writes: "I'm now working for our 'group' company (OPW Fluid Transfer Group). Midland Manufacturing is one of five companies that make up OPWFTG. I am director of business development, technology."

Patrick Linnihan sends "News from Behind the Cheese Curtain." He just finished the Wisconsin Ironman. Bravo!

Mike Sarlitto sends what will probably become a standard advertorial in the EMP-53 section: "SummitPoint Management LLC celebrated its first anniversary in July. The company, founded by Michael Sarlitto with general manager Dan Roman and a third partner, is off to a great start performing operations-based due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, turnarounds, performance improvement and workout situations." Like most startups, they've "chewed a lot of dirt" getting to where they are today. Good luck, Mike and Dan. We're all pulling for you to become a huge success.

Byron Uytiepo wrote to promise he'd write (sound familiar to some of you?), so I presume he's well and will be on the top of the list in the next update.

Julie Einstein writes: "Still loving D.C. and my new place in Dupont Circle (all fellow EMPers are welcome anytime). As VP of strategic marketing, my focus has been developing growth strategies in all of Pulte's northeast markets, which keeps me traveling quite a bit up and down the coast. I recently returned from a trip to Peru, which was phenomenal. I highly recommend hiking the Inca trail and climbing Machu Picchu. Just stay away from the Inca cola."

Melissa Macek and Gary Raju EMP-54 added to their family with the addition of two incredibly cute Shih Tzus named Ike and Reagan. (If you sense an odd presidential connection, you may be right. Ask Gary.)

Jeff Hood and his wife, Sagit KR-06, were spotted in Chicago visiting since their move to Indianapolis. Word has it that Jeff moved for an even bigger role at HSBC, managing fulfillment operations in Carmel, Ind. Since the Household/HSBC merger, Chris Jerzewski is also doing even bigger deals and enjoying spending time with his daughters.

On the marriage front, Peter and I wed in his home country of New Zealand on Feb. 28, with six EMPers among the friends and family who made the adventurous journey. I'm grateful that Barry Nohalty is smiling in the photo, since the day before he was the only brave soul of the wedding group to bungee jump more than 200 feet from a bridge over a river. A few months later, Barry embarked on a true world tour with stops at the Tour de France and the Olympic Games in Athens. We wonder if he is ever going back to work?

Back to New Zealand --- Santosh Padki and his then-fiancée, Kalea, could not pass up the beauty and simplicity of the country and married three days after Peter and I on the beach at Kaiteriteri during the "group" honeymoon. It should have been a movie set. Pictures in the next update.

And as I have now accepted the unofficial, unpaid New Zealand representative for tourism role, contact me for travel advice. (Just be sure you have hours to talk.)

Take good care and please do write or call me with news.