EMP-64

As of this writing, the chill is just starting to hit the air and given our class's preference for being outside in the sun versus indoors, I am sure that with winter setting in, many more updates will follow (i.e. for the spring edition of Kellogg World).

	Paul Fitzpatrick EMP-64
	Matt McPartlin EMP-64 and his wife Barbara “Babs” Baisley enjoying a vacation on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina

However, I am happy to report that at least a few folks were indoors and managed to send out an update, but we are still awaiting word from others (i.e. 100 percent class update participation).

Paul Fitzpatrick reports that he has completed his first full circuit of entrepreneurship with the sale of his company Ephikacy to Advanced Health Media (AHM). Fitzpatrick founded Ephikacy, a niche marketing firm in the pharmaceutical industry, during his Kellogg experience and built a fast-growing, highly successful company over the past three years. His clients include Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson.

Advanced Health Media is the industry leader in speaker bureau management, supplying automation and compliance management systems to more than 50 pharmaceutical companies and coordinating promotional events for more than 200 brands.

"We are excited to be part of AHM and very enthusiastic about the combined capabilities and resources this acquisition brings to the marketplace," says Fitzpatrick. "Pharmaceutical marketers are looking for the broad, integrated services that the AHM-Ephikacy partnership delivers. I credit my Kellogg experience for not only giving me the confidence to start my own company, but for giving me the tools to build a successful, profitable business and manage the valuation and sale of the firm to a market leader."

Fitzpatrick has taken an executive position integrating Ephikacy services into AHM and leading the business development efforts to bring Ephikacy services to AHM's expansive client base. Congratulations Paul!

Sandeep Gupta reports that he left AT&T in Dallas to take a role with Barclay's Capital in New York. Thus, all search efforts can be called off: He really exists, post graduation.

Joseph Klauzar happily reports that since his last update, where we learned of his marriage to Nicole Lauren Leibovitz, they have had the chance to take a three-week honeymoon in China and Japan. They continue to reside in California. Congratulations again, Joseph!

On another note, speaking of updates, Eddie Kubo states, "Since I was slammed in the last issue by Cristina, I am diligently supplying an update this quarter." (Beware fellow EMP-64 classmates, update or else…..)

"I am still working at Fenwal Blood Technologies since the divestiture from Baxter International in March 2007. The move to an independent company has allowed me the opportunity to take on a number of different roles and responsibilities in the company, from global marketing to leading strategic planning; a category team; a quality SWAT; and most recently, leading international sales and commercial operations for Latin America and Asia Pacific since April 2008.

"In this role, I have also been working on a business development project in China. We successfully closed a framework agreement on Aug. 12 with a local medical device manufacturer to form a joint venture focused on blood collection and transfusion products for the fast-growing Chinese medical market. The joint venture transaction is expected to be completed in early 2010. I was promoted to lead the new joint venture company and will be relocating to Beijing in January.

"From a family standpoint, my wife Chris and son Andrew are doing well and are excited about the move. Chris and I recently celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary (got past the seven-year itch!). Andrew (5) is growing up fast. He is a talker and always gets the last word in (not sure where he picked that up from!). I'm sure he will be speaking fluent Mandarin before Chris and me. I look forward to catching up with the EMP-64 team soon and welcome any visitors to Beijing next year!"

Relative to "living large," Wesley McDermott reports that RETIREMENT is nice. Yes, you read correctly, he choose to leave fellow classmate Matthew Songer's business, Pioneer Surgical Technology (on good terms) this past summer in pursuit of a national shuffle board championship. However, he also states that this is more of a long-term goal and has otherwise been engaged in activities and enjoying doing things with his family that he had long promised. He still resides in the Upper Peninsula (Marquette) of Michigan, where his wife Wendy is happy to be doctoring the locals at the independent Bell hospital. Further, he happily writes that his boys (mostly) like having their father around twice as often!

Matt McPartlin reports that he took on a new role with Pitney Bowes as a global portfolio director, a newly created role within Pitney's software division. He is very excited about the role as it not only offers him the opportunity to run a business line, but also work in a new industry (software) for him. In addition, Matt reports that he, his wife Barbara "Babs" Baisley and their two children, Spencer and Maura, had the opportunity to travel a great deal this summer, including to upstate New York and Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Mark Rusiewski writes that, unlike Wesley, he is not ready for retirement! He left Integra Bank at the end of May and began his new role as president of New City Bank in June. He reports that New City Bank is a six-year-old institution in the south Loop area of downtown Chicago, with $100 million in assets and 11 employees (including him). Congratulations Mark!

John Potter is happy to report that while he knew the world was round, he had no idea how small it really was. On a recent visit to Rochester, N.Y., to visit with his in-laws, he ran into fellow classmate Steve Sunderland at the airport. While Steve had news to share (see below), John is basically doing the same job. However, he writes that he is actively pursuing a hobby as a detective with his first client and fellow classmate Jonathon Laiter. Apparently he (Jonathon) is seeking information relative to the whereabouts of fellow classmates Mr. Michael Palumbo and Mr. Joseph Mase regarding undisbursed winnings from the 2007 and 2008 fantasy football league. While not disclosing the exact nature of what he was hired to do other than locate them, John stated that he recently has watched the entire Sopranos series on DVD and really enjoyed Tony's style of handling affairs.

Finally, Steve Sunderland writes that he has left Sears Holdings Corporation after 22-plus years and is working as the president of Consumer Direct for World Kitchen, LLC, makers of Pyrex, Corelle, Corningware and Chicago Cutlery. Congratulations Steve!