1998

Dear '98ers,

What a few months it has been! Such a whirlwind, I have no idea where the time has gone. Personally I have been completely manic — but in a very good way. Within six months of the New Year, I got married, moved house and changed jobs. So lots of life changes, but being a Kelloggian, I have been taught the art of multi-tasking. I have also been taught the art of impatience. I like all my changes as once! But more about that laterŠ

Thank you so much for your notes this edition. I absolutely LOVE getting updates from first-timers. It demonstrates that after all these years, staying in touch with your classmates still matters. Of course I also love hearing from the regular contributors too! It is you guys who make this job so easy.

This is a bittersweet edition of notes as there is lots of lovely, happy news and some rather sad news as well.

First, on a very sad note, I informed you a few weeks ago via email that our friend and classmate Beck Barendrick passed away in early September. Unfortunately I do not have any details that I can forward to you about the situation, but I can let you know that our hearts and thoughts are very much with her family. Beck was memorialized in a service in her hometown of Portland, Ore. in September. She was an incredibly special individual — universally liked by her classmates and truly gifted, both on the soccer field and in the classroom (as a member of my own Section 65). I remember Professor Besanko having a true admiration for Beck and we were all incredibly impressed by her wit, humor and intellect. The responses that have come flooding back to me after the news are a testament to her friendship and warmth. As I mentioned in my note, we would very much like to memorialize Beck at the Kellogg School and let her family know how much she meant to her friends and community of peers.

We will be setting up a Beck Barendrick Memorial Fund, spearheaded by David Ransburg along with my help. If you would like to be involved, please email David drans@stanfordalumni.org or myself. In addition, Paul Yiu has very kindly set up a weblog for Beck, so that classmates may leave messages for her family about their experiences and friendships with her. The blog address is: http://wemissbeck.blogspot.com. To make a posting, click on the "Say Something" link. It will ask you for a username and a password. Type in "kellogg98" for both username and password. This will take you to a screen where you can enter some text. Then, click "Publish Post" to post it to the page.

We are all very saddened by the news about Beck. However, I have also been incredibly encouraged and touched by the number of very happy updates '98ers sent in for this edition of notes. The support of the Kellogg network means that we comfort each other during the sad times, but we also get to celebrate each other's successes. I am thrilled that there has been so much good news of late among our classmates. This makes the column worth its space!

Adriane Brigden McDermott (my fabulous Kellogg roommate) has just returned to the United States after seven years in Sydney. She writes: "Dave and I just moved back to the U.S. at the end of April with our girls Maddie (4) and Darcie (2) for a while. We have been able to see so many great friends whom we haven't seen for a while: Marc Chaput, Sean Callahan and Sophie, Catharine and Ned Rollhaus, Jen Olsen, Heather and John Banczak, Will Adams, Scott Gardner, Brandon and Lisa Sweeney, Jane Martz, Downey and Jeff Blount, Erica and Rob Chesney and so, so many more familiar faces! The Bay Area is beautiful and we are living in Mill Valley. Right before she left the company, Jenny Olsen opened the door for me to slip into a great position in Banana Republic's international marketing, where we have just launched four stores in Japan. It's been great to see my family and even some high school and college friends. Of course we have the family vacation to Disney World booked for December. My Maddie thinks America and Disney are one and the same. She even thought our house would look like a castle with fireworks going off above us every night and that Cinderella was going to meet us at the airport. In case you want to get in touch, here's my email: mcdermottsemail@yahoo.com."

Jimmy Sartain writes, "I've never been great about sending updates, but I'm so bursting with pride that I have to brag about my new son. My wife, Mary Ann, and I welcomed Grayson James Sartain into our family on July 15. He is our first!"

Chris Tomseth sent in this note: "As far as my update, there's some stirring, but no actual development. I was in San Diego for a conference in August, and got together with fellow '98ers Read Flake (also attending the conference) and Walt Ling (local resident). I'm still living here in Atlanta, but my wife and I have decided it's growing tiresome. I'm starting to look overseas for some excitement. China, India, and Dubai all seem interesting. As Plan B, there is always my wife's hometown in Chicago. Our daughter, Angelina, is now 3. A future sibling is not out of the question."

Avi Steinlauf just welcomed a new son. He writes: "I'm still living in Los Angeles. My wife, Shuli, and I just had our third child — a beautiful baby boy. The bris (naming ceremony) was on Sept. 7 and the baby's name is Noam Ziv. His older siblings — Eliana (4) and Gavriel (2) — are taking to him nicely and neither has requested that he be returned yet. I'm still working, along with my father, at Edmunds.com, which is our family business. Here at Edmunds we continue to maintain our close Kellogg connections with Professor Mohan Sawhney, who is on our board of directors, as well as with Professors John Ward and Lloyd Shefsky of the Kellogg Center for Family Enterprises. Edmunds continues to grow and we're enjoying a very robust marketplace. For those of you who make it to the Santa Monica area, feel free to drop me a line."

Speaking of growing families, Grillo Grimaldi writes: "Maria and I have decided to move to the suburbs so we can have a garden in which to lock up the kids. Our twins are now nine months so things are starting to crash all over the apartment. Plus Santiago, our wild cowboy/gaucho of three years, is constantly running around with his toy horse! We are planning to finish building our new house next February, which will fit all five kids comfortably. I was lucky to travel with Egon Zehnder to San Francisco where I visited Heather and John Banczak, had a great time and great sushi. I also went to Toronto and met Paz and Matias Galarce with their young triplets (talk about difficulties raising kids). When they start dressing the third kid to get out of the house, the first one is already barefooted!"

Tom Tominac sent in this update: "After several years at McKinsey's Chicago office I left "The Firm," moved to New Jersey, got divorced (very amicable — Denise and I are still good friends — she lives in Hoboken and is director of HR for Pfizer in NYC for anyone who wants to get in touch with her), and took a job leading the new product/new business division of Crayola (a subsidiary of Hallmark). I functioned as a well-funded entrepreneur who played with kids and toys all day — like Tom Hanks in Big. I loved the job, but found single life in rural New Jersey challenging — the cows were beginning to look far too attractive. About a year ago, I moved to Boston to take a job as director of marketing for Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Co.). It is an amazing place to work. The guy who founded the company, Jim Koch, is one of the most intelligent, most interesting and most engaging people I have ever met. If you see any radio, print or documentary-style TV ads, it would be great to get your feedback on them. The TV ads have no scantily clad women or slapstick humor — rare in the beer industry and perhaps a crazy idea — but they have so far been well received. Love to hear from people in the Boston area (or elsewhere). Beer is on me if we meet. I can be reached at Tom.Tominac@bostonbeer.com."

Julie Herr Smith '99 and Scott Smith write in from NYC. "We recently had a son, Ryman Herr Smith, on Dec. 22, 2004. I (Julie) left the M&A group at White & Case and have started my own consulting firm, Esquire Prep, LLC. I prepare law students (JDs and LLMs) for interviews with the big firms. Running my own shop is fabulous. I get to keep in touch with the legal community, while finally doing something entrepreneurial. Scott continues to run Biscuits & Bath, a group of doggy gyms here in New York."

Marcus McElroy is doing great in the heartland. "Yes, I am still in Minneapolis and at Target Corporation, but now I'm wearing a new hat. In July I was promoted to manager, global sourcing for Target Sourcing Services/AMC. I just couldn't get that supply chain and logistics out of my blood — thanks to Professor Chopra. I am responsible for the selection of strategic business partners to source Hardlines product from around the world and get it to the store shelves in time for Target guests. I have quite a bit of travel in my future to Asia, Latin America and Europe, and will try to connect with classmates when I'm there. I also celebrated one year in my new loft in the Minneapolis warehouse district by throwing a housewarming party. Thanks to the arm-twisting — I mean help — of Ivan Brown and Emily Rompala '03, I finally painted the place. It looks really nice. Quite a few classmates shared in the celebration: Steve Farsht, Stephanie Gordon-Farsht '97, Laura Hollister '00, Tim Livingston '02, Stephanie Gladney, '02, Tom Pflieger '03, Cathy Storms, Elaine Rodriguez '03 and Christina Hennington, '03. Christy Uchida visited me several weeks prior for an earlier celebration. We have an ever-growing alumni club up here in the Twin Cities. Give us a shout if you are ever up here for a visit."

Len Ross recently welcomed a baby daughter. "Roz and I are proud to announce our daughter Rebecca Eve, born June 11. She's a relaxed, easy-going baby, and already best pals with big brother Joshua. Roz is working from home for Easyclosets.com, and I'm having a great time on PepsiCo's global procurement team managing two of our plastic bottle supplier relationships."

Dan Glennon sent this update. "Marguerite and I, along with Mary Virginia (5) and Joey (3), welcomed the arrival of Genevieve (Gigi) LaRue Glennon on Feb. 11. She is healthy, happy and busy defending herself from her wild (but loving) older brother. I have also recently given up the nomadic life of a consultant after six-plus years at DiamondCluster International. I'm now with BellSouth's DSL organization where I own customer retention and overall satisfaction. If you're ever in Atlanta please say hello — I'll be there now."

Vijay Sankar writes: "My wife Sukanya gave birth to a baby boy on Feb. 28 this year, and we named him Manas. It's been a busy time for me with increased responsibility at the family-controlled Sanmar Group and my son pulling me in two different directions! Along with a few others, I have also been trying to kick-start the Kellogg Alumni Club of India. The end result is that time always seems short! India is certainly the flavor of the month, along with China, and I do expect that more classmates will visit here. As always, I am happy to meet up with anyone who visits these parts and to help out in any way I can — as I did with Ilya Alshine who visited Chennai along with a friend from Moscow in March."

Kathy Preble Bayert writes: "My husband Alan, son Henry and I welcomed a new addition to the family. Our daughter, Gretchen MacKeen Bayert, was born on June 14. She's healthy, happy and we're thrilled, though a bit tired. I was able to connect with Sarah Smith Gisser recently. She is still living in Minneapolis with her husband Barry and their two daughters, Isabel (4) and Emily (2). She is doing some work with the University of Minneapolis Business School, advising students on the consulting projects they are doing for local businesses. Sarah and I talked about the challenges (and joys) of staying home and raising a family. We joked about the org behavior skills required to manage a toddler's tantrums and the spreadsheets we use to coordinate their social lives. We talked about the fact that we miss the intellectual rigor of the workplace and the companionship of bright colleagues. I decided to be the brave one and actually mention in our alumni magazine that I've decided to jump off the fast track (OK, maybe I was never on it) and use my high-powered degree to manage my family instead of consulting projects. That said, since I know many classmates are at this same stage in life, I'd be very interested in connecting with other stay-at-home moms and dads, perhaps to create some sort of virtual playgroup. I don't really know what this will look like, but if anyone is interested, drop me an email at kpreble1998@kellogg.northwestern.edu."

Cynthia Graves Opie recently made a major move. "After 14 years in Chicago, five years at Prophet (a marketing and brand strategy consultancy), and two kids (Bryce, 3, and Brayden, 1), we've packed up our belongings and moved back to our roots. Garrick and I decided we wanted to raise our kids in the comfort and beauty of small-town America. So we moved back to Traverse City, Mich. in mid-August. I have 'hung my own shingle' as an independent marketing consultant (if anyone is looking for a contractor please feel free to contact me), and my husband is starting a custom motorcycle business (garrickopiecustoms.com). We're enjoying the entrepreneurial lifeŠand we get to hear the birds chirp and watch the waves wash up on the shore."

Jeff Blount writes, "I have had a great, though very domestic, summer. I left work at the end of June, enjoyed a carefree month with Downey, and now am bonding with my new daughter, Savannah, over 3 a.m. feedings. Bills may start piling up, but for now the baby and Indian summer are keeping me perfectly busy."

Tim and Jai Jai Greenfield (formerly Jai Jai Ramsey) have entered the world of entrepreneurship. Jai Jai has opened a wine store, Harlem Vintage, after six successful years at Morgan Stanley. She has been featured in numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Zagats and Time Out New York, as well as a few local television spots. After four years at McKinsey & Company, Tim started a search fund with his partner, Courtney Dupree, a Wharton alum. Tim achieved his dream of owning a company with the acquisition of JDC Lighting. The company is a leading distributor of lighting fixtures and related products, based in midtown Manhattan. JDC works on major construction projects such as 7 World Trade, the Bloomberg Building and Trump Towers."

David Ransburg recently welcomed a baby girl. "On Sept. 10, my wife, Jennifer (nee Scheff '00), and I welcomed our second child into the world. Our son, Harper Alexander Ransburg, weighed in at 8 pounds 9 ounces and is completely healthy. We are all delighted and recovering nicely."

And as for lil' ole' me (that's Melanie, the narrator), I am still in London, thanks very much for those of you who have inquired. For those of you who have not kept close tabs on my life (shame on you!), the sneaky name change is due to my marriage in January to a lovely English boy named Andrew. Shortly after the wedding (covered in the spring edition of Class Notes), I also changed jobs. In June, I joined Discovery Networks Europe as vice president of new media, looking after their mobile, broadband and video-on-demand initiatives across Europe. So far, I absolutely love it and am extremely excited to be going back to my new-technology roots. I also love working for an American company and am looking forward to many trips to Washington, D.C. (our headquarters). The same week I started at Discovery, Andrew and I sold our house and moved to a rented house in South Kensington while we look for another place to buy. But if any of you have been following the U.K. housing market, then you know it is the most expensive in the world, so we may be looking for a while! So lots going on over here right now. As always, if you pass through London, give me a shout. We can go have tea with my mates Charles and Camilla (or Chuck and Millie as I like to call them).

That's all for now, kids. Enjoy the autumn and keep sending me your news!!

Lots of love, Melanie Brownrout Honnor