Author: Brian Rammer

January 2023 Class Notes

1990s

Laurie Butz ’91 Majored in Business Administration and minored in Communication Processes. Currently president and CEO of Capital Credit Union. Recently announced the winner of the ATHENA Leadership Award from Fox Cities Chamber.

Susan Neuzil ’96 Majored in Business Administration and minored in Public Administration. Was recently promoted to vice president of human resources at the Bank of Luxemburg.

David Reetz ’96 Majored in Psychology and minored in Human Development. Started a new position at Cornell University as the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services.

Patrick Christie ’99 Majored in Art and minored in Communication and the Arts. Recently announced a Teacher of Distinction with the 2023 Golden Apple Awards.

Jason Krings ’99 Majored in Urban and Regional Studies. Recently announced a Teacher of Distinction with the 2023 Golden Apple Awards.

2000s

Elaine Skenandore-Cornelius ’00 Majored in Interdisciplinary Studies and minored in Business Administration. Was recently selected as the new board of directors’ chair for Bay Bank.

Brian Garrigan ’01 Majored in AAS Elementary Education. Recently announced a Teacher of Distinction with the 2023 Golden Apple Awards.

Juan Corpus ’03 Majored in Public Administration. New job as vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at New North, Inc.

Oksana Kobzar-Schweiner ’04. Majored in Applied Leadership in Teaching and Learning. Recently named a Teacher of Distinction with the 2023 Golden Apple Awards.

Hope Voigt ’04 Majored in Accounting and Business Administration. Currently is the CFO at Tweet Garot Mechanical. Recently named “Contractor of the Year” by Organization Management Services (OMS).

Wayne Pierre ’05 Majored in Music and minored in Secondary Educaiton. Recently named a Teacher of Distinction with the 2023 Golden Apple Awards.

Jake Ditttmann ’07 Majored in Economics and minored in Human Biology. Recently promoted to vice president of commercial lending with Bank of Luxemburg.

Joe Hanrahan ’07 Majored in Business Administration and minored in Accounting. Started a new position at Thornberry Creek at Oneida as General Manager.

Nathan Yineman ’08 Majored in Biology and minored in Environmental Science. Currently HR Manager at Salm Partners. Has two children, Noah and Madeline.

Matthew Dufek ’09 Majored in Mathematics and minored in Business Administration. Currently Actuarial Manager for Society Insurance.

2010s

Kevin Block ’11 Double majored in Accounting and Business Administration. Was recently named partner at MBE CPAs.

Mitch Babe ’13 Majored in Business Administration and minored in Economics. Currently Director – Global Transportation at McCue Corp. Has a 1 year old daughter named Hadley with his wife, Autumn.

Douglas Cox ’13 Majored in Interdisciplinary Studies and minored in Environmental Science. Currently Land Management Director for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

Riley Peterson ’14 Majored in Social Change and Development. Recently promoted to Sergeant with Green Bay Police Department.

Melissa Jagodinsky ’16 Majored in Human Development and minored in Psychology. Started a new job as the member and event manager for Volunteer Fox Cities.

Rylee Schmitt ’17 Majored in AAS Elementary Education. Recently named a Teacher of Distinction with the 2023 Golden Apple Awards.

Hope Smeester ’18 Majored in Elementary Education. Recently named a Teacher of Distinction with the 2023 Golden Apple Awards.

2020s

Adela Kadiasi ’21 Received a Master’s of Science in Management degree in 2021. Started a new position as a software developer/project manager with RC Mowers.

Savory McGee ’21 Majored in Business Administration. Works at R.S. Hughes Co., Inc as a customer support representative.

Jordan Ogren ’21 Majored in Business Administration. Started a new position as a digital communications strategist for O’Connor Connective.

Charlotte Berg ’22 Majored in Communications and minored in History. Currently Disney College Program Participant with Walt Disney World.

UW-Green Bay Alumna Laurie Butz Receives ATHENA Leadership Award

 

Congratulations to Laurie Butz ’91, President and CEO of Capital Credit Union on winning the ATHENA Leadership Award! Sponsored by Bergstrom Automotive, this award is given to a woman who has achieved the highest level of professional excellence. This individual contributes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the Fox Cities community and actively assists others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.

Butz has held senior leadership roles in HR, Organizational Development, Training, Sales Administration, Investments, and Insurance Services for profit and not for profit organizations including Community First Credit Union – Appleton Wisconsin, Alta Resources, United Health Care and Associated Bank. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, a master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and earned a three-year designation as Certified Chief Executive (CCE) through CUES. She is also a certified Six Sigma Green Belt through Juran Institute. Most recently, UW Oshkosh, where she was an adjunct faculty member for over 10 years, selected Butz as the 2022 Beta Gamma Sigma honoree to recognize her achievements in business and exemplify her pursuit of wisdom. In November of 2022 she was also appointed to the Advisory Board of the Business College at UWGB. Her commitment to community has been demonstrated through Board Chair, and or Personnel Chair roles for YMCA of the Fox Cities and United Way Fox Cities, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox Valley, as well as through management oversight of the Fox Cities Marathon.

Laurie will receive this award at the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce’s Celebrate Fox Cities Dinner on January 26.

December Class Notes

2000s

Joseph Kucksdorf ’07 Majored in Human Biology. Currently works with Bellin Health as a physical therapist.  Was a finalist for the 2023 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards.

Shannon Baumann ’09 Majored in Psychology, Human Development, and Business Administration. Is the Owner of Sparkle Pics Photo Kiosk.

Kimberly Vickman ’09 Majored in Environmental Science. Currently works as the Sustainability Events & Operations Manager at Best Practices Magazines & Expo.

2010s

Keith Doxtator ’10 Majored in Earth Science and minored in Environmental Science. New job as CFO for the Oneida Nation.

Michael Fehlhaber ’11 Majored in Business Administration and minored in Environmental Science. Works at CESA 8 as the Director of Human Resources.

Cameron Fuller ’13 Majored in Business Administration and minored in Corporate Communication. Currently works at Horizon League as assistant commissioner. Was a finalist for the 2023 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards.

Ashley Jones ’13 Majored in Public Administration and minored in Political Science. Currently works with the Bellin Health Foundation as a grant writer. Was a finalist for the 2023 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards.

Erica Ritchie ‘13 Majored in Communications. New job with The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation as public relations and communications manager.

Jose Villa ’16 Majored in Business Administration and minored in International Business. Was a finalist for the 2023 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards.

2020s

Molly Vandervest ’20 Earned a Master of Science in Applied Leadership for Teaching and Learning. Is currently the Vice President of Bellin Health.

Marianna Grimaldo ’21 Majored in Elementary Education. Currently works in the Howard-Suamico School District as a 3rd grade teacher.

Carl Semrow ’21 Majored in Mechanical Engineering.  Currently works at Kohler Co. as a new product integration metals engineer.

Alexis Hall ’22 Majored in Psychology. Currently is a shelter advocate at the CAP Service Family Crisis Center.

Amanda Leigh ’22 Double majored in Management and Human Resource Management. Started a new position with Green Bay Packaging as a Human Resources Generalist.

Three Minute Thesis Competition at UW-Green Bay

The Graduate Studies Office at UW-Green Bay will be hosting a 3MT® competition on Tuesday, January 31st at 5:30 p.m. in the University Union Phoenix Rooms B & C. The Three Minute Thesis competition is held annually at more than 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide. The competition challenges participants to present their research to a live audience in just 3 minutes in terms understandable to a general audience and allows only one PowerPoint slide. The winner of the UW-Green Bay 3MT® Championship Round will participate in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools regional competition, to be held on March 29-31 in Chicago, IL.

Following the competition, we are hosting a networking event for students, alumni and community members. This event will have food and cash bar and allow students within the graduate school to talk about their research/project.

Both competition and networking events are open to the public and we encourage all individuals to come to campus to see all the great work our graduate students are doing! We would love to see our alumni at the event and see what individuals are doing in the programs offered at UW-Green Bay.

October Class Notes

1970s

Daniel Timm ‘77 Majored in Managerial Systems. Currently works as a faculty associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

2000s

Rebeca Argiro ’04 Majored in Psychology and minored in Human Development. Is the owner of MIA Counseling LLC.

Kimberly Wozniak ’04 Majored in Elementary Education. Currently works at St. Thomas Aquinas Academy as a 5th grade teacher.

Megan Bruckschen ’07 Majored in Business Administration and minored in Communication Processes. Megan currently works as the Director of Marketing for Felician Village.

2010s

Haley Jensson ’18 Double majored in History and Humanistic Studies. She currently works at Museum at The Portage as museum manager.

September Class Notes

1980s

David Erickson ’84 Majored in Public Administration. Currently works at Astellas Pharma as a senior executive sales rep.

William Gardner ’84 Majored in Human Development. Currently works at York Community High School as a counselor.

1990s

Thomas Rueckl ’90 Majored in Business Administration and minored in Communication Processes. Currently is working as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation.

2000s

Ryan Philippon ’01 Majored in Communication Processes and minored in Communication and the Arts. Currently works at American Express as sr. compliance analyst.

Vicki Quinn ’03 Received a Master’s of Science in Applied Leadership for Teaching & Learning. Currently works with the Howard-Suamico School District as a high school English teacher.

Laura Nighbor ’05 Majored in English and minored in Humanistic Studies and Spanish & Latin American Studies. Currently works at Trek Travel as trip design operations.

Angela Wix ’05 Majored in Art and English and minored in Communication and the Arts. Currently works as the acquisition’s editor with Sounds True.

Stephanie Knoppa ’06 Double majored in History and Human Development. Currently works at Lawrence University as the director of residential education & housing.

Justin Roskopf ’08 Double majored in Environmental Policy & Planning and Political Science. Currently works at the Search Institute as a senior research strategist.

2010s

Cathy Bachhuber ’12 Majored in Interdisciplinary Studies and minored in Business Administration. Currently works for FEMA in the role of Region 8 Tribal Liaison.

Christopher Begley ’12 Majored in Communications and minored in Spanish & Latin American Studies. Currently works at U.S. Cellular as a Retail Wireless Consultant.

Andre Walls ’12 Majored in Interdisciplinary Studies. Currently works at Gundaker Commercial Group as a senior associate.

Kristen Sample ’13 Majored in Democracy and Justice Studies and minored in Political Science. Currently works for the Department of the Public Defender as an assistant trial attorney.

Kimberly Gehrig ‘14 Majored in Nursing. Currently works as a nurse practitioner at Aurora Health Care.

Matthew Honzik ’16 Majored in Business Administration. Currently works as a special education teachers’ aide for the Manitowoc Public School District.

Bailey Koepsel ’16 Majored in Public Administration and minored in Political Science. Currently works with Door County Economic Development Corporation as the director of accounting and operations

Nicholas Sadler ’16 Majored in Business Administration. Currently works at Transamerica as a senior financial analyst.

Dante Pizzuti ’16 Majored in History and minored in Humanistic Studies. Currently works at Northwestern Mutual as chief operations officer.

Sara Wagener ’16 Majored in Spanish & Latin American Studies and minored in Business Administration and International Business. Currently works for Bellin Health as an RN in cardiac surgery.

UW-Green Bay Alumna Wendy Wimmer’s Debut Collection Receives National Attention

UW-Green Bay alumna Wendy Wimmer (English, 1997) has received national attention for her newly published debut short story collection ENTRY LEVEL: STORIES. The collection received a starred Kirkus Review and a favorable feature in Publisher’s Weekly, as well as being lauded by literary news site The Millions as one of the most anticipated releases of the second half of 2022.

Wendy Wimmer Schuchart

Kirkus writes of the collection, “Wimmer is a strong writer and fills the pages with elegant, evocative phrasing (“We said words of respect in our native languages, which between the eight of us totaled fourteen gods and six words meaning ‘grace’ ”). Her tone is often wry (“Evelyn thought of her bed like a trapdoor spider, capturing the interest and monetary resources of her romantic partners”), and even the book’s most sardonic narrators balance their misanthropy with a touch of curiosity. The stories vary in length and format but retain a clear aesthetic sense throughout, making it easy to imagine that the characters from “Flarby” and “Intersomnolence” might someday cross paths. The work educates without being didactic; readers learn about Wisconsin bingo regulations and Waardenburg syndrome in “INGOB” and the properties of sphagnum moss in “The Bog King,” with the bits of trivia blending seamlessly into the tales.”

The Washington Post featured Wimmer’s collection in it’s feature “10 Award-Winning Short Story Collections Worth Reading” on October 17, 2022. It said, “If punchy first sentences are to your taste, Wendy Wimmer’s “Entry Level” (Autumn House Fiction Prize) is the book for you. “When Mary Ellen’s left breast grew back on its own during our Saturday dinner break, we had confirmation that something weird was happening.” Many intros seem designed to startle; several stories enter fantastical terrain. In the delightful “Texts from Beyond,” a company purportedly helps people send messages to deceased relatives. Equally affecting are stories more rooted in the real, where Wimmer gets closer to character and emotion, such as “Billet-Doux,” told via unsent letters addressed to celebrities, random people, inanimate objects, a recurring guy on the BART and the protagonist herself.”

The collection was also featured in the October 24 issue of People Magazine as a Best New Books selection, next to Colleen Hoover’s IT STARTS WITH US. Of Wimmer’s book, the reviewers stated “This gleefully subversive debut presents 15 weird, wild and wonderful stories of everyday folk surviving in a world gone haywire… ENTRY LEVEL, like its title story, is strange magic indeed.”

After launching the book at Green Bay’s own The Lion’s Mouth Bookstore on October 6th, Wimmer embarked on a West Coast book tour, including stops in Denver, Salt Lake City, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Las Vegas, with future events in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, New York, Seattle and Kenosha.

BY KRISTIN BOUCHARD · NOVEMBER 1, 2022