EMP-38's Ernest Lucineo and his daughter, Payton, who celebrated her first birthday Sept. 27

EMP-38

Hello classmates

Hearing from the folks of EMP-38 is always a pleasure. Any help you can offer to update me on email addresses or information pertaining to our classmates will be included in my will (will not).

First let me pay my dues to a wonderful addition to one of our EMP classmates' families. Welcome Payton Bree Lucineo (she's the small one in the picture without the Kellogg t-shirt). Ernest sent me this picture for the last magazine, (he's the tall one with the Kellogg t-shirt) but I mistakenly didn't include it. Payton celebrated her first birthday on Sep. 27. When Ernest forwarded this picture to me, he shared some of his own experience with Hurricane Katrina. Ernest was raised in New Orleans. "I was born and raised in New Orleans. My mother and uncle were missing for most of the week after the hurricane due to a lack of communications in the city. My mother and uncle were eventually rescued from their home near the French Quarter by a Navy crew, airlifted via helicopter to New Orleans International Airport and then flown to a shelter in San Antonio, Texas. They are currently staying with family in the San Antonio area. The remainder of my family evacuated before the storm hit, however most have suffered the total loss of their homes due to flood waters. I would ask that all of you keep the citizens of New Orleans in your thoughts and prayers. I would also suggest that everyone connect with the Red Cross or other relief organizations. The rebuilding of New Orleans will take years and the efforts of a lot of people." By the time this magazine is published, the Gulf Coast may well be out of the news but the people impacted will certainly still be in need. If it's possible, please head Ernest's request to consider contributing to worthwhile aid organizations.

Good news from Kathy Madison. She has recently been promoted to the managing director of branch operations for Household Finance; a well-deserved career move for a modest woman of few words. 

Dick Sturm reports that since May 2004 he has been serving as medical director, occupational health, for Aurora Health Care in Oshkosh, Wis. One of the responsibilities here is serving as medical consultant for Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac, Wis. Mercury has 5000 employees. Aurora Health Care is Wisconsin's second largest employer. Dick was also kind enough to suggest I chase down Tim Timmons and I'm glad I did.

Kevin Garton joined a small consumer products company that makes games and puzzles — appropriately named ThinkFun Inc.

Tim Timmons works for Alcatel New Zealand as their integration director. Alcatel has a unique partnership with Telecom New Zealand (TNZ) where they have virtual exclusivity in supplying their network equipment in return for providing them the best value in the market. "We also have an outsourcing agreement with TNZ where they outsource their engineering and network operations to us to run, a first in the world. Lastly, we are building a next generation communications network for them that is IP-based and all their customers will be migrated off the old PSTN network (PSTN is the kind you have in the U.S. today). Again, they will be the first in the world to do this. This looked like a great opportunity to learn and do new things that aren't being done anywhere else in the world." Tim's wife, Phyl, stayed in the states with their old dog and her relatively new career. One of the two travels to see the other every three months. You can't get much more long distance than that!

Marcia Dall reports some change for both she and Kevin Schneider. "Both Kevin Schneider and myself work for Genworth Financial (formerly part of GE ... you may have read about the IPO that GE executed last year to spin off the protection, retirement and mortgage insurance businesses). Kevin is the Mortgage Insurance U.S. Business leader and a Genworth company officer and I am the CFO for the mortgage insurance segment and was recently named a Genworth company officer." They are both located in Raleigh, N.C.

Clyde Rundle reports that business is good with Labor Finders. He's looking for space for two more locations in early 2006!

Mick Phillippi was vacationing in Greece this summer and found a hotel carrying his family name. Perhaps there's a reality television show in his future.

I'm not sure whether to call this section "No News is No News" or EMP-38 "sightings." Neal Campbell showed up at a PIG gathering in June. We thought Neal had purchased an island without cellular infrastructure in the South Pacific. Instead, he's probably building the cellular infrastructure! Ian Heller was visiting a client in California and began talking with a young intern at the client's office. After a few moments of conversation and a common connection to Lake Bluff, they find they have one more thing in common. Adam Schimel is Dave Schimel's son. Larry Brand reports that Ozzie Khan is back in the Chicago area but commuting to the Philly area for work. What's up, Ozzie?

Someone pointed out that I fail to include any information about myself. I continue to provide consulting and project management services both directly to companies and through other consultancies. For the past five years, much of my work has been in software application and business process analyses in the advertising sales areas of some large cable television companies. It's been an absolute pleasure and having completed a run of successful projects, I'm actively seeking additional projects that will allow me to focus on putting my organizational, interpersonal, and management skills to work. On the fun side, I recently completed my first 100 mile bicycle ride. It was a project with a different kind of milestone!

Thanks again for contributions. Trish