Scott Schiller '83

1983

Here is the update for the Class of '83. Thanks for all the terrific news, especially on the personal front!

Here's a heart-warmer from our friend and fearless headhunter, Ted Martin:

Ted and Pam (deMars) Martin's son Ford (10) loves the plastic wristbands that raise money for good causes. He wanted to do something in honor of Mike Schield's son, Nick (13) who has been battling leukemia and side effects from multiple bone marrow transplants for more than 10 years. Ted wanted to encourage the entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit and found a supplier in China to make KIDS CAN bracelets and bought 1,000. Nick's treatment center in Milwaukee is funded by the MACC Fund — an organization that supports pediatric cancer research — and it was decided that proceeds from the wristbands would go there.

The ball was rolling and the MACC Fund has kept it going by ordering more of the wristbands, which are available at MACCFund.org or KIDSCANbracelets.org. The boys have been aided in their sales efforts by orders and consulting help from many members of the Kellogg community, including: Minos Athanassiadis, Mike Baskin, Mike Beaumont, Steve Burnett (associate dean of executive education), Jan (MacDonald) Conneely, Carol Ann Clem-Cronon, Jan (Wilch) Feldman, Tod Francis, Claire Goulding, Jeff Johnson, John and Libby (Keehn) Lewis, J. David Lynn '84, Ellen McNeil, Fernando Mirapeix, Greg and Mary (O'Brien) Pearlman (both '85), Jay Riley, John Schlifske, Lisa (Cavanaugh) Wiese, and Chuck Zent.

	The KIDS CAN bracelet team has raised more than $20,000 for philanthropy to date. From left: Mike Schield '83, Nick Schield, Ted Martin '83 and Ford Martin

Ted, send me mine, my money is on the way!

Here's more from the field:

"I'm still at U.S. Cellular Corp. in Chicago (since 1992). Recent change in responsibility to vice president of financial strategy," says Tom Weber.

Salman A. Al-Sudairy writes: "My full-time, four-year engagement as deputy secretary general with the Saudi Supreme Commission for Tourism was concluded. While still engaged as an advisor, I have returned to the private sector and work in my own company. We are involved in a number of projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE (Dubai) and Oman. The company specializes in identifying and promoting new projects as well as in takeover opportunities of financially distressed firms. The focus is on the industrial and service sectors."

Jeff Cohen writes: "Busy summer in Atlanta! At CIBA Vision we have been successfully gaining market share from longtime contact lens leader, Vistakon, with our line of high-oxygen contact lenses (Focus Night & Day and O2OPTIX). I am both heading up NA marketing and taking on global responsibility for FreshLook Color Contacts. On the home front, we had a successful bar mitzvah for our youngest son, Daniel. Our oldest son, Josh, is in his senior year and has begun the college search. We're looking in Chicago, but on the south side and in the western suburbs. Looking to meet up with Shawn Coyne now that he is in Atlanta with Zyman. Seems all roads are leading more and more of us Kellogg alums to 'Hot Lanta.'"

Jay Riley writes: "Beth and I just marked our 25th year of marital bliss. Thomson is 21, at University of Colorado (political science), where he raced his way into the U.S. alpine ski championships for the third consecutive year. He also surfs and bikes, and joined me on a haute route ski trip through the Alps last year. Will is 19, at Brewster Academy (N.H.), a wicked basketball player, a tough soccer player, better at Spanish than I was at marketing or finance, tucks in his shirt and keeps his hair short. Brittany is 15, at Gould Academy (Maine), studies hard, knows almost everything, reads, writes, sings, plays soccer and ski races, keeps her room tidy, and appears to me to be way too good for any guy, so buzz off, OK? Beth is still peddling her pots 'n' pans to gourmet shops in northern New England, as well as tolerating me, skiing and cruising through middle age. I'm still running my old company for Roche, and climbing up and skiing down anything cold, steep, icy, snowy and high-up that I can find, usually in the Alps (just returned from another Chamonix trip). I'm also biking, and seeing Mike Schield and his family whenever possible, with occasional discoveries of Carol Ann Clem and Jeff Johnson. I guided Kevin McDonald through his first high-altitude, winter ski-mountaineering adventure last February. Mike Beaumont will visit with my wife, but not with me. We've just changed towns up here, landing in Durham, N.H., where we bought some acres and headaches and dreams and projects on the beautiful saltwater Great Bay, where we will work ourselves to exhaustion and poverty, all in an effort to relax."

Amy Truitt Huggins says, "This June my family, including our exchange student from Spain, went to visit Claire Goulding's family in Wilmette, Ill. for a great week of tennis, museums, beach walks and memories. Since then, I've been in regular email contact with Claire, Kathy Lynn Cullotta and Judy Rappaport Maloney. We have tentative plans to regroup with a winter ski trip."

Stan Skarda writes, "I'm still making my monthly long distance commute from the Tampa area to southern California as CFO for a large, privately held auto dealer group."

Bruce Palmabt writes: "The past few years have been characterized by change. I retired from the Army in October 2002, and then I immediately began work for KPMG LLP in their Washington, D.C. government consulting practice — Risk Advisory Services. I did that for two years, commuting from Connecticut. As you might imagine, that began to put a strain on the family. So, I left KPMG and went back to school in Connecticut to brush up on some of my 'Kellogg skills' with the aim of getting into the financial world. This included prep for the Chartered Financial Analyst Level I exam in June. To my amazement, I passed and am now actively looking for a job that will put these new and refreshed skills to work. For fun, I took instruction as a private pilot and got my airman's certificate this month."

Teri Hirschfeld says, "I've been in sunny San Diego since late 2000. After 17 years in corporate America at P&G, I decided to try something entirely different. I am currently VP/GM of Instead, Inc. a small startup developing products in the field of women's health, including HIV prevention. I make it to Chicago a fair amount to visit family, and to tell my West Coast friends that if one could relocate Chicago to San Diego County, it would probably be the best place on earth to live!"

Karen Mathews reports that she and her husband had a baby girl, Katie Elizabeth, in November 2004. "She's our first."

Dick Alston writes, "I am in my second year as CFO of Emdeon Business Services (formerly known as WebMD Business Services). I live in Summit, N.J., but maintain an office in Nashville, Tenn., where the business unit is headquartered. I'm on a trip right now taking my youngest son to college in Los Angeles. Will be back later next week."

Alan Robertson says, "I am busy as usual, but I do not want to count my chickens before they hatch."

Linda E. Marcus writes, "I quit working for The First National Bank of Chicago in 1999, after one too many mergers, in favor of much more rewarding volunteer endeavors. My passion these days is architecture. My docent activities for the Chicago Architecture Foundation include giving many walking tours and a bus tour. But my 'claim to fame' is as the creator of and tour director of the Millennium Park tours. Find them on architecture.org."

Debra Elkins writes, "I've been very busy bringing up my baby Jacob, to whom I gave birth March 10, 2004. I want to express so much gratitude to everyone at the 20th reunion who offered suggestions, hopes and wishes to help me. Definitely not easy trying to manage him and my full-time job — running the rapidly growing pharmaceutical marketing arm of Grey Direct — but definitely worth it. Haven't had much time to dance lately, and I'm still living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan."

Eliot Abolafia says, "I'm retired from my first career and about four years into my second career. Currently, I'm the patent counsel for the naval aviation training systems division located in Orlando, Fla. This office focuses on simulation systems. I started this job two years ago. My family and I are living between the University of Central Florida and the City of Orlando and about 15 minutes north of the airport. So, if anyone happens to be in the area, please look me up."

John Timothy "Tim" Kern (TMP) sent us a mini-novel:

"I've been living in Florida for nearly six years, and have established myself as a writer in the aviation field. As news editor of Aero-News.net for three and a half years, I covered and wrote thousands of short notices and features. After leaving Aero-News in November 2003, I started on my own.

"Currently, I'm writing two regular spots for Kitplanes magazine ('Engine Beat' and 'Designer Spotlight'); I'm also regularly in Private Pilot. In the past year or so, my work has also appeared in Plane & Pilot, AVweb, Aviation Safety and Pilot Getaways magazines. Other appearances have been in The Farmer's Almanac (not related to aviation), the Reno Gazette-Journal (for which I covered the Reno Air Races), and The Transponder in Anchorage. (I lived in Anchorage in the summer of 2004.) I've been quoted extensively in the press, including the Indianapolis Business Journal, where I (sadly enough) accurately forecast the demise of their local airline. I'm preparing press packets, press releases, and some catalog work, as well.

"I've also become in demand as an ad-copy writer and occasional white-paper writer, as my background and contacts in the industry have established me as a guy who gets the word out and doesn't make the rookie mistakes. I've written for Mooney, Liberty Aerospace, EADS Socata, the Czech Aircraft Works, Avemco Insurance, and a few that I'm not at liberty to disclose.

"In the evenings, I teach economics and business courses for Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Meanwhile, in Winter Haven, I've been buying and shining up houses for the rental market. It's small potatoes (three houses in the last year and a half), but if I keep at it, it will pay for retirement!

"On a personal level, I've recovered from my divorce of 1999, and have a splendid relationship with a lovely lady who will remain mysterious until we tie the knot, which we'll do when we're ready (probably this year). I'd like to hear from early-1980s KSM night-schoolers and faculty. My Web site, timkern.com, has contact info."

Tony Leisner EMP-6 writes: "Technically, I am a graduate of EMP and my news should appear there I guess. Following my graduation I was offered a position with Kellogg and then rose to adjunct associate professor of marketing services after creating a new course in marketing intangible services. I did that for almost 10 years and then moved to Florida. Professor Don Haider had encouraged me to do a doctorate in public policy and 20 years later I finally accomplished that. This year I earned my doctorate in public policy from regionally accredited Walden University. In January I delivered a paper — "Two Americas: The unintended consequences of welfare reform" — at the first international conference on applied management and decision sciences at the University of Georgia. I recently completed my term as chairman of the board of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art. I serve on the boards of several nonprofits and I am enjoying this quasi-retirement made possible by my Kellogg education. I see Professor Phil Kotler when he is in Florida each winter and have maintained regular contact with him over topics of mutual interest."

Tony, you're an '83er no matter how many day, nights or months it took to gain the degree. Keep sending your news in!

Steve Milunovich took retirement from Merrill Lynch after 22 years as a sell-side analyst. He plans to start a hedge fund like half the state of Connecticut. (HE said that, I didn't!)

Rich Pilnik writes, "I currently have the president's role for Eli Lilly EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa as well as Russia and CIS). Whilst based in London, it seems I spend most of my time in seat 3-C on some aircraft. The formula has been one career, six countries, one wife and three kids."

Felice Shiroma writes, "I just moved back to Chicago after 18 years in the California Bay Area. We rented in Evanston for three months while house-hunting. Evanston is lots of fun now compared to the dry town when we were in school — more restaurants, bars and great nightlife. Chris, my sweetie, Dudley Dog and I are living in Roscoe Village, near Wrigley Field. We're enjoying the summer, street fairs and outdoor concerts. I'm working with mutual funds and doing fixed income research."

Lee Perlstein Schiller writes, "With one child starting high school and one in elementary, I am working 'part-time' (only 12-14 hours per day) as a Realtor. I absolutely love it and I am only one of two in this area with an MBA. Believe me, I milk it for all it's worth. I love working for a boss who appreciates me. (ME!) Hope everyone is well out there. Call me if you need to buy or sell a house, anywhere!"

Michael J. Borman writes, "I am now responsible for IBM's software sales worldwide. My youngest daughter Bridget is now off to college so we are 'empty-nesters.' We recently bought a home in Palm Beach, Fla., so I think my wife Gina will be there more often than in New York now that the kids are gone."

Sally Augustin writes, "After I graduated from Kellogg, I worked primarily on retailing and retail design projects. This led to a greater interest in psychology and I earned a PhD in the field. Now I am the president of Experience Expert (experienceexpert.com), a consulting practice that applies psychology to inform the design of places and objects."

Spencer Lampert writes, "Things are great. Yes, I am still at Tudor Investment Corp. (18 years and counting) as a managing director trading a macro portfolio. Personally, I live in Greenwich with my wife Shari and daughter Taylor (9)."

Dana E. Barnard writes: "Still in Houston after 20 years. Still working for my family company. We specialize in creating high-performance surfaces and materials used in a variety of industries. Recently made CEO after being CFO for a number of years. We are currently doing well after a very difficult period in the late 1990s when we shut down our French facility. I split my time between our New York (Long Island), and Houston factories. Leslie and I are raising four wonderful kids (Kaelie, 18, Gordon, 16, Maclean, 13 and Cecelia, 12) who have kept us busy and broke. The eldest headed to college in Baltimore. I'm just back from a week hiking and riding my motorcycle, with friends, in and around Big Bend National Park in far southwest Texas. I have recently developed a great interest in chi kung, and hope to be certified to teach within the next 12 to 18 months."

Robin Ryder Kencel went from consumer goods marketing to strategic planning consulting and on to her current interests. Robin is an author in the field of parenting with her second book, Unfolding the Tent: Advocating for Your One-Of-A-Kind Child, due in August. She is also the principal of Ellsworth Ford Associates, a company specializing in restoration of historic homes and development of luxury vacation properties. She lives in Greenwich, Conn. with her husband, Ken, and children.

Steve Rasche says "hi" from St. Louis, where he is now the CFO of TLCVision Corporation. (Lasik surgery anyone?) He and his wife, Tammy, are busy raising two sons and a daughter, and between baseball games, dance recitals, church and school activities, they don't worry about any pesky free time! He hooked up with Frank McAuley late last year in Toronto and had a great evening with Ruth Anne, the family and their show dogs.

Dan Bumgardner is a managing director in the financial sponsors group at Wachovia Securities, and resides with his wife (Patti) and two kids (Kelsey, 8 and Brendan, 6) in Darien, Conn. He would love to catch up with old classmates, except for Art Greco, whom he sees enough of!

Lucia Oddo is still at ACNielsen (a VNU company), in a global role working on identifying and instilling best practices in client servicing across the regions. She and her husband, Tom, have a new adventure facing them this year, as they've just sent their second (and last) kid to college.

And, finally from Tony Scott:

"Almost immediately after our reunion I launched a new search firm along with some former partners — ChampionScott Partners (championscott.com). We call ourselves a "global boutique," and now have operations in Silicon Valley, Boston, London and Beijing. We will likely open offices this year in Zurich and Shanghai — so I'm traveling a good bit. Our firm works exclusively with technology companies, mostly at the CEO level. Ninety percent of our clients are VC-backed, and we always take an equity stake in our clients, so we're praying for continued improvement in the M&A and IPO markets in the tech industry.

"I've also been helping a China-based VC fund focused on early-stage tech companies starting their first U.S. fund. I spent five weeks in Beijing in the summer of 2004 conducting a couple of searches there and intensively studying Chinese. I actually improved my Chinese significantly, but now of course I've promptly forgotten much of it!

"I've seen several of our classmates since the reunion. Nancy Chou went wakeboarding with my partner Jean and I, and a few of our friends earlier in the summer of 2004. Nancy's quite good at wakeboarding, much to my chagrin. I tried to get up a couple of times, but it was essentially 'body dragging' in my case. I've seen Tom Suniville at Kellogg events at Jordan winery and the San Francisco Asian Art museum, and had a great dinner with Nancy, Tom, Stephen Liu and Paula Meier when Kellogg was trying to get the alumni activities more organized. I've also seen Tod Francis a few times at Kellogg events and lurking around the usual VC hangouts on Sand Hill Road."

Well, another meaty column. Keep the news coming and I'll keep writing.

Scott Schiller