EMP-51

Greetings alumni. Last time around, we had an omission of my submission by the editorial staff. Only part of it made its way to print, so they promised me a make-good below.

David He and Bill Wynne, both EMP-51, catch up in Ann Arbor before football Saturday patrol
Roger Mason EMP-51 in his latest Sunday best
A McDonough family photo: wife Adeola, 15-month-old Aiyana and Big Daddy (Coleman EMP-51) himself
Bill Wynne EMP-51 returns his rental in one piece to the Bergamo HD store in Italy

On the current side, here's what we have! First, a hearty EMP-51 "FAREWELL" to Dean Dipak Jain and wishes for all the best as he continues his journey. Thanks for what you've done for Kellogg and in particular for EMP-51 as it relates to market research. You can't beat watching someone do a regression calculation in one's head.

David He made the journey from China to assist University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman in an initiative to improve the Wolverines' presence in China. I was fortunate to have breakfast with him the morning of the homecoming game right before the football team boarded the bus for the stadium from his hotel. "He" [I crack me up!] told me of many visitors to China. Be sure to reach out to him if you're going — here's his latest e-mail address: dhe@baincapital.com. More from David in the "lost notes" below …

Mason .… Roger Mason is our new 007! This just in from him: "In May, I accepted an appointment in the Obama administration in the intelligence community. The director of national intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair, (Ret.), tapped me to be first associate director of National Intelligence for Systems and Resource Analyses, ADNI. Basically, this position is the principal staff adviser to the DNI (dni.gov) on what capabilities (technologies, people, systems, etc.) the intelligence agencies should build and how best to invest the $47 billion national intelligence budget (FY2008 declassified number). It's a high-intensity, high-tempo job for sure, but I am just thrilled to be serving in this capacity for our government."

[I'm getting the feeling there are things I really shouldn't know. Please let me continue living in ignorant bliss.]

Shi Qing Wang is trotting the globe! Here's a snippet from him: "Greetings from Frankfurt. I am here on a three-week business trip and am working hard on beers to warm up for Oktoberfest. [Slow down .… Steve "Love Boy" Sullins seems safely trapped in the Bay Area of California! No need to prep so hard!]

"It is great to hear that you will be heading this way to San Francisco. It is no less a rare opportunity than NU president's West Coast tour. [Oh, stop!]

"I certainly will love to meet you in person in San Francisco on 10/23. Hopefully I can manage to stay around in the Bay Area during that time." [Davis says he'll have an appropriate venue identified by then, Shi Qing!]

[That's right, kids .… planning pays off!!!]

Heather Robinson calls out from the cornfields: "Hope you're surviving the turmoil in the auto industry [Long gone, thanks!]. I'm still living in Iowa and working for John Deere (no big surprise there). I've been working on a project to expand our construction equipment dealer network into the Russian market. [Dah!] Pretty interesting stuff. Otherwise, it's just the exciting life of a responsible adult. Get up, go to work, go to the gym, go home, get up and do it all over again. [Somehow, I think a trip to Russia would solve your boredom! You should let Roger know in case he needs any photos, etc.] I can only barely acknowledge Rob Sit's latest 'pot shot' at the Blue Boys in Ann Arbor. [Funny video Rob! Beware the latest editing software.]"

Coleman McDonough [Do I really need to put down the last name?] sends in news, with a threat to be in the States in December. [Roger, this could be one of your best sources, you know?] "Finally, YT took a vacation. I had a great time touring Italy with Steely Dan as an honorary crew member in July. I rented a Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra-Glide for 10 days and only got pulled over by the Italian State Police one time. It was near the G-8. I took a photo and they didn't like that, it seemed. After a 45-minute run through Interpol, the FBI and the Secret Service (not to mention a pat-down and search of the saddlebags/trunk of the bike), I was on my way. If only I had known about Roger's new gig at that time .… hmmm."

Editor's note: The following is the omitted portion of EMP-51's update. Apologies for the error.

Gene "Dr. No" McMahon provides this third-person news flash: Gene McMahon, never the brightest bulb on the chandelier, clearly has not kept in touch enough with "Wild Bill" Wynne. Gene recently purchased a Ford Flex (Limited, of course) hoping to boost Bill's bonus, only to belatedly realize that Bill wisely fled the auto doldrums of Motown some years ago, cashing in all his UAW chits. Nevertheless, Gene has faithfully loaded Bill's CD "Crowbar Hotel" onto the jukebox of the new Ford. Gene talks with Mark Zimmermann to keep up to date with EMP-51, and has no luck in getting through to Larry Murphy of the Far West. Gene recently caught up with Kevin Counihan, who is in the Boston area. Much revelry was had ... now Kevin wants a Ford.

Gene is the executive vice president and chief medical officer of Southcoast Health Systems in southern Massachusetts along Buzzards Bay and near Newport, Rhode Island. His wife Victoria continues to focus on their five children, with the oldest beginning to make the college selection journey. [Oh Gene…Gene…Gene…]

Helen Chionis is rarin' to go on a Reunion: "It was good to see all of the updates in the recent Kellogg magazine. I have been in the midst of changing treatment and that always freaks me out a bit with the whole fear of the unknown and general weariness of being a guinea pig. However, it does beat the alternative. Thanks for the ongoing support.

"I'd like to propose a Reunion in the lovely OC (Orange County), Calif. My husband is friends with the CFO of the Balboa Bay Club, which is a beautiful resort and close to spas and shopping, golf, fine food and drink. I would be happy to coordinate everything, but I want to gauge interest levels (especially in light of the economy) before putting in a lot of effort. I remember you went through a great deal of effort several years ago and then the interest level seemed to wane." [The e-mail is out and please be sure to give Helen your input! helen@divineproductsinc.com]

David He is kicking about China these days: "Long time, no talk. It has been over two years since I left GE and joined Bain Capital, a global private equity investment firm headquartered in Boston, as its head of portfolio management in China. I also moved back to Shanghai, after spending over a year in Beijing leading GE's Beijing Olympic sponsorship program. I have also managed to stay in contact with some of our fellow EMP-51 classmates and Kellogg faculties. In March, I attended a Kellogg Centennial Celebration event, during which I got to meet with former Dean Jain and Bernie.

"On the personal side, there is a new Northwestern fellow now in our family. My eldest son Benjamin is attending Northwestern in Evanston. This gives me a good reason to go back and visit our lovely campus whenever I have a chance to take a trip to the U.S. Hope everyone is doing well at this difficult and challenging time. Looking forward to hearing from others. Please drop me a note if any of our fellow classmates have a chance to visit China." [You heard the man, we must act quickly to corrupt Benjamin. If anyone is in Evanston, you must show him the ropes!]

That's it! Thank you for your continued support and communication. Keep those pictures, cards and letters coming. You're what makes it great!