TMP 1997

Doug Black was recently promoted to CFO of UGN Inc. UGN is a tier-one producer of acoustic, interior trim and thermal management products, serving the Japanese transplant automotive industry in North America. The company is a joint venture between Rieter Automotive Systems of Switzerland and Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co. of Japan. Doug writes: "After 5 1/2 years in consulting, I decided I wanted to go into a management position in a mid-cap company. After a brief stint of career coaching at the University of Chicago, I lined up a consulting project with UGN last summer. In October 2003, I officially joined UGN as corporate controller."

Steve Allocca married Leigh Susan Marszycki on July 24. Some 70 family members and friends witnessed the nuptials, overlooking the ocean at the Wailea Golf Club and Seawatch restaurant in Maui. Steve writes: "Mai Tais and Lava Flows were ready for our guests immediately following the ceremony, and a bar opened while Mele O'hana (a wonderful Hawaiian guitar duo) played alongside two hula dancers. Dinner featured island specialties such as seared ahi, and the Jimmy Mac Band had everyone dancing and singing throughout the magical night. We honeymooned for three weeks, most of it in Maui, and spent the last few days winding down in Kauai. A highlight was ocean kayaking the 16-mile Napali coast, an all-day activity that covers territory inaccessible by any other means. It exposed us to sights we could never have imagined. We currently live in Marin County, Calif., and we plan to stay in the area. Leigh works for The Hartford as the underwriting manager for commercial middle-market insurance in the Bay Area. I lead customer acquisition marketing for Wells Fargo & Co."

Rose Heathcote recently accepted a new position within IBM. She writes: "I am now the vice president of sales, personal computing division, central region. My team sells personal computers (Thinkcenters and Thinkpads). Chicago is part of my territory again, and I travel there often. One of our very best accounts is none other than the prestigious Kellogg School! Other than that, my husband and three kids are doing awesomely and enjoying life here in Solon, Ohio."

Rebecca (Huang) Peacock is living in Canada after her prolonged sabbatical of traveling and enjoying life. She has this to say: "Last November I left retail banking and returned to the institutional world as director of product management for RBC Benchmark, the investment analytics arm of RBC Global Services. Canada has afforded me a challenging career, along with sanity of life --- a combination to be relished in this day and age. I'm living in the Beaches area in Toronto and would very much welcome any contact from old Kellogg friends."

John O'Loughlin is the GM of the Chicago Tribune's new young-adult-oriented daily tabloid, RedEye. He writes, "I have the great fortune to lead and manage a 'startup' business and culture within a traditional and well-established company such as Tribune."

	Mary Hearn Conley TMP ’97

Mary (Hearn) Conley joined Tech Image, a Midwest-based technology public relations firm, as its business development director. Tech Image is located in Buffalo Grove, Ill., and has an 11-year track record of growing technology leaders and innovators with attention-getting media relations and sales acceleration programs. Prior to joining Tech Image, Mary served as vice president of adviser services (sales) for Envestnet Asset Management, a startup that is now an $11-billion asset management firm.

Ed Keating moved his consulting practice in March to Easton Consultants, a boutique management consulting firm that serves the information industry in the areas of corporate and business unit strategy, new market entry and acquisition evaluations.

Roger Shubert was recently promoted to the position of account director at closerlook, a healthcare marketing firm based in Chicago that provides strategic communications solutions to the pharmaceutical industry. Roger has been with closerlook just over four years. His wife, Elaine Virant, continues in her third year with Siebel Systems as a practice manager. They are enjoying the fall with their children Anita, 3, and Garrison, 1.

John Strelecky recently received some fantastic news: "On Aug. 4, my book, The Why Are You Here Cafe (www.whycafe.com), set the world record for the fastest sales on all seven continents. The news story first appeared on 'CBS Marketwatch' and then on television stations around the country." Since the story broke, John has been busy doing interviews and speaking engagements. He also recently learned that some professors at the University of Wisconsin are using The Why Are You Here Cafe to teach their Sociology 101 classes.

Michael Ostaffe TMP 1997 and his family at the Watlow Electric summer picnic. From left, Michael, wife Karen, Kate, Xander and Mike

Mike Ostaffe has joined Watlow Electric in Richmond, Ill., as global product manager. He also was recently elected to the board of directors of the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) of north and northwest Cook County. The CAC serves hundreds of children each year who are the victims of violence or sexual abuse. Mike writes that he recently had dinner with Chris Belanger TMP 1996, who was in town for training as the new owner of a Midas franchise in Phoenix. Mike and his family were also at the first birthday party of the beautiful Elise Nawrocki, daughter of Jill Brosig and Greg Nawrocki. Jill continues to work for Motorola in Schaumburg, Ill.

Tom Burns, his wife, Patty, and their children Michael, Claire and Christopher welcomed a new baby, Bridget Anne, on March 24.

Stacey Dougher Klemp and her husband, David, are happy to announce the arrival of Alexander Moro Klemp on June 9. Big sister Catherine is thrilled about the new addition to the family.

Bill Liu and his wife have a new daughter. Jacqueline Ling Liu was born on Father's Day (June 20). Jackie's brother, Jeremy, turned 3 on Sept. 6.