Nov 2013 – June 2014 Class Notes

The following are UW-Green Bay Alumni class notes submitted November 2013 through June 2014. Submit your class note via the Alumni update form.
1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s

1970s

Desmond (Desi) McCullagh ’71 modernization processes, passed away in Green Bay in January at age 73. He was believed to be UW-Green Bay’s first scholarship athlete. Born in Dublin and raised in London, he emigrated to America as a teen and served in the Marines before enrolling at UW-Green Bay and joining the first soccer team. He worked in planning and municipal government before a long career in private industry as a sales manager and administrator.

Dave Brinker ’77 science and environmental change, an ecologist with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, earned national publicity with “Project Snowstorm,” tracking the largest flight of snowy owls in at least a half century. Rarely sighted most years outside the Arctic, the magnificent birds were plentiful enough from the Mid-Atlantic to Midwest that Brinker’s team tagged dozens with tiny GPS transmitters to record their little-studied travels.

Paul Linzmeyer ’78 humanism and cultural change, is the 2014 recipient of the Alumni Earth Caretaker Award for career achievement presented by UW-Green Bay’s Environmental Management and Business Institute. Linzmeyer is corporate sustainability manager for ThedaCare, the Fox Valley-based healthcare organization.

Barbara Stoner ’79 humanistic studies, in 2013 published her second novel, Ghosts of the Heart, which spins the tale of a dream vacation to Great Britain and visions of the past. The Seattle resident writes that her first novel, The Year of the Crow (2011), includes a few of her favorite things — “motorcycle trips, Grateful Dead shows and mucking around in the Great North Woods.”

1980s

Deborah (Nelson) Wilson ’80 social work, is a psychiatric rehab services coordinator for Atrium Healthcare Inc. in Chicago.

Gregory J. Davis ’81 science and environmental change, is UW-Green Bay’s new associate provost for academic affairs and director of graduate studies.

Craig Dickman ’82 business administration, founder and CEO of Breakthrough Fuel of Green Bay, delivered the commencement address at his alma mater last December. It was a big year for Dickman, who was elected to the Green Bay Packers board and honored by UWGB.

Thomas Englebert ’82 business administration, is the owner of Renard Country Elegance, Inc. catering in Green Bay. The business received the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award in 2005 and has been a Best of the Bay Finalist every year since 2008.

Steven Kubalak ’82 science and environmental change, is an associate professor in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina. He directs the university’s annual research day showcasing student posters and oral presentations.

Tim McKeough ’83 managerial accounting, was part of an all-alumni coaching team when Notre Dame Academy of Green Bay won its second straight girls Division 2 state championship at the Resch Center in March. McKeough and Erin Templin ’09 business administration and ’12 elementary education, and Matt Rohde ’06 mathematics, were assistants to head coach Sarah (Boyer) Rohde ’03 education and ’13 master’s in applied leadership for teaching and learning.

Michael Nyenhuis ’83 urban studies, assumed new duties in January as president and CEO of AmeriCares, which bills itself as the world’s leading organization for delivering donated medicines and medical supplies to more than 90 countries. AmeriCares is headquartered in Stamford, Conn.

Christopher Reilly ’83 business administration, is the district sales manager for Staples, Inc. in Baltimore.

Pamela Claypool ’84 business administration, has been promoted to senior vice president for human resources for Airgas, Inc. The Radnor, Penn., company is one of the nation’s leading suppliers of industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding equipment and related products.

Brian Dorney ’84 public administration, is a senior sales product executive for SAP at the business software company’s campus in Newtown Square, Penn.

Julie (Londo) Davenport ’86 information and computing science, is the manager of systems engineering for Central Texas College in Copperas Cove, Texas.

Scott Koffarnus ’86 communication and the arts, is creative director and CEO of Cineviz, a Green Bay-based digital media company with a national client base. He returned to campus this spring to address a student leadership group about creativity.

Rhonda (Soffa) Mayer ’87 business administration, is a residential loan officer for AnchorBank in Appleton.

James Begotka ’89 social change and development, is an associate dean for academic affairs at Lakeland College.

John Schwartz ’89 business administration, is employed by the Green Bay Packers as manager of warehouse and concessions for the Packers Pro Shop.

1990s

Michael Meindl ’90 philosophy, is the owner of Paradigm Business Images, an advertising specialties and promotional products company in Collierville, Tenn.

Paul Northway ’90 business administration and political science, joined American National Bank Fox Cities as senior vice president in November.

Joel Sass ’90 theatre, will direct the new comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis July 19 through Aug. 31. A stage director, designer and adapter, he has also directed recent works for the Jungle Theatre and Park Square Theatre in the Twin Cities and for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Kelly Shepro ’90 human development, is a training, education and quality leader for Aon Hewitt — the risk management, insurance and human resources consulting and management firm — in Lincolnshire, Ill.

Margaret (Brouillard) Brown ’91 English, is a sales, service and marketing representative for Sonoco Products in Hartsville, S.C.

Tony Bennett ’92 humanistic studies, and Gary Grzesk ’96 Spanish, had big years coaching men’s college basketball. Bennett, who led Virginia to a Top 10 ranking, a 30-7 record and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, was runner-up to Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall for AP national coach of the year. Bennett won the award his first year at Washington State. Grzesk won NABC Midwest honors by leading St. Norbert College to a 25-2 record and the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

Mark Hunkel ’94 communication processes, is an assistant language teacher for Interac in Ooka Numazu-shi, Shizuoka, Japan.

Dan McIver ’94 accounting, a longtime administrator for Phoenix Athletics, is the new senior associate athletics director for business and finance at Northern Kentucky University.

Kelly Williams ’94 communication processes, has joined Breakthrough Fuel, Green Bay, as go-to-market vice president. She was previously a general manager for national accounts for Schneider National.

Kelly (Peel) Bock ’95 business administration, is the finance lead for consumer health specialized management accounting services at GSK in Zebulon, N.C.

Keith Yanko ’95 business administration, is the regional vice president of sales for Harbortown Industries, Lake Forest, Ill., an international distributor and manufacturer of picture frames and home décor items.

Lori (Francis) Fredrich ’96 humanistic studies, of Milwaukee, is a freelance recipe developer and blogger at the food blog Burp!, and co-owner with her husband of the food-centric social group MKEfoodies. She is also a freelance food and dining writer for OnMilwaukee.com. She and her husband recently launched a business called From Milwaukee with Love, which curates artisan food gift boxes featuring products made in Milwaukee.

Shane Kohl ’96 communication, has been promoted to regional development director with ThedaCare, headquartered in Appleton, Wis., with responsibilities in impact and planned giving, annual fund, stewardship and campaign operations.

David Reetz ’96 psychology, is the director of counseling services at Aurora University in Aurora, Ill. He was recently elected to the governing board of the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors.

Timothy Spearman ’97 communication, completed his MBA at California State University Dominguez Hills. He holds a law degree from UW-Madison. He currently serves as director of admissions for the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.

Reka Csati ’98 business administration, is the co-owner and head of commerce for JAR-KONTROLL Ltd., an information services firm in Budapest, Hungary.

Todd Hassenfelt ’98 business administration, is the senior account manager for the Chicago office of the multinational corporation Altria.

Dean Luethi ’98 music, is an assistant professor at Washington State University, where he directs the University Singers and the vocal jazz ensemble.

Faye (Nass) Cantrell ’99 public administration, is a senior proposal writer for UMR (a self-funded insurance management company, formerly United Medical Resources) in Merrill, Wis.

Mark Mueller ’99 business administration, is a route sales representative for Bernatello’s Pizza in Appleton.

2000s

Ken Eggen ’00 interdisciplinary studies and ’08 master’s of management, has been promoted to president of Dean Distributing, Green Bay.

Charles Flad ’00 history, is an account manager, Interiors Division, for InPro Corporation, a provider of indoor and outdoor architectural materials, in Davie, Fla.

Angela Olson ’00 English, is the regional counsel of North America labor and employment for Voith Holding, Inc. in Appleton.

Charles Cooper ’01 communication processes, is the system operator for WPPI Energy in Sun Prairie.

Cole Hackert ’01 accounting and business administration, is the director of distribution for VF Corporation’s Majestic athletic wear division, the official supplier of uniforms for Major League Baseball, headquartered in Nazareth, Penn.

Keri (Bauer) Holder ’01 accounting, is a tax accountant for Greenstone Farm Credit Services in Green Bay.

Kelly (Tessen) Gust ’02 business administration, owns and operates Kelly Jean Photography in Greenville.

Colleen Wisinski ’02 biology and Spanish, is a senior research technician in applied animal ecology at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Her current project involves the threatened California burrowing owl.

Andrew Gurka ’03 political science, is the director of Living-Learning Communities at the University of Richmond.

Eric Pigo ’03 communication processes, is an account manager for Dental City in Green Bay.

Keith Brzozowski ’04 communication and the arts, is a social media specialist for the Landmark Credit Union in New Berlin.

Julie (Reinemann) Wyss ’04 human biology, is a pediatric chiropractor in her own family office, Wyss Family Clinic of Chiropractic in Green Bay.

Rebecca Schuld ’05 environmental science, is an on-air meteorologist with WFRV-TV 5, Green Bay. She interned with the station as an undergraduate and also worked in weather and news for the NBC station in Rhinelander before joining WFRV on a permanent basis.

Tiffany (Durkee) Schulte ’05 communication processes, is an employee engagement manager for Gap Outlet in Baraboo, Wis.

Heather (Wegner) Sponholtz ’05 computer science, is an applications architect with Shopko corporate headquarters in Green Bay.

Justin Rebman ’06 business administration, a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual in Green Bay, has won quality awards from his company and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers.

Koyel Mandal ’06 master’s in environmental science and policy, is a senior research manager at the Institute for Financial Management and Research in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He promotes finance and market-based mechanisms to pursue sustainable development.

Colin Strub ’06 human biology, is a dentist for Towne Lake Dental Group in Pooler, Ga.

Stephen Cheney ’07 nursing, is a registered nurse for Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. He has been accepted to Texas Tech-El Paso Foster School of Medicine for the MD Class of 2018.

Scotty Dickert ’07 communication, is finding acting work in Hollywood in commercials for Dr. Pepper, Subway, Prego and FedEx. He is also lead singer of the pop-rock duo Reasons Be. Their summer 2013 single “Say Goodnight” was the basis for a music video — archived on their YouTube channel — that won a best of 2013 award from the IMEA professional organization. Dickert was a member of the Phoenix tennis team.

Katherine Janusz ’07 environmental policy and planning and public administration, is a quality coordinator for IEWC in New Berlin, Wis.

Jill Leisgang ’07 English, is a high school language arts teacher for De Pere public schools.

Erica Millspaugh ’07 art, is academic librarian for Hickey College, St Louis. She manages budget, acquisitions and the print and electronic collections.

Kristopher Sharpe ’07 business administration, is an insurance case analyst for Lake Country Wealth Management in Delafield, Wis.

Matthew Willis ’07 philosophy, is a chiropractor for Sycamore Chiropractic in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine from National University of Health Sciences, and completed post -doctorate work in internal medicine with DABCI designation.

Xiadi Liu ’08 computer science and mathematics, is an associate quantitative analyst for Bank of America in Wilmington, Del.

Judith A. Saldaña ’08 associate of arts and sciences, is the test examiner (pre-employment at certification) at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College’s Evaluation Center. She coordinates all certification and employment testing, administers a wide variety of tests, and directs the work of staff members who proctor assessments.

Jennifer Schanen ’08 and ’13 social work and master’s in social work, is a program outreach and evaluation specialist for the Wise Women Gathering Place in Green Bay.

Erin Wojcik ’08 human biology, is an emergency medical technician for Paratech Ambulance Service in Milwaukee.

Chong Xiong ’08 history, is a middle school social studies teacher for the St, Paul (Minn.) School District.

Maureen Armstrong ’09 environmental science and German, is an instructor with the All Aboard English Academy near the Taipei American School in Taipei, Taiwan. She teaches Taiwanese, Japanese, and Korean students to read and write in English.

Shannon (Kinderman) Baumann ’09 human development and psychology, is the events and marketing coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Wisconsin in Green Bay.

Trudi (Arnold) Griffin ’09 psychology, is a licensed professional counselor intern for C3 Counseling in Red Oak, Tex. She is also the lead curriculum developer and instructor for PARfessionals — an association of professionals specializing in working with Prevention, Addictions, Recovery.

Anne Mandich ’09 economics, is a research assistant for the University of Georgia. She is a Ph.D. candidate in applied economics and plans on graduating in May 2015.

Joshua Martinez ’09 and ’12 biology and master’s in environmental science and policy, is a wildlife biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources based out of Florence, Wis.

Wade Moder ’09 environmental policy and planning, is the executive director for the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association near Madison.

Holly (Melander) Rutter ’09 communication, is a distributor development manager for IPAP (the Independent Procurement Alliance Program) in Appleton.

Mary Buhr ’10 public administration, is a materials planning and inventory assistant for Federal Manufacturing in Milwaukee.

John Teller ’10 master’s of management, made this year’s national “Native American 40 Under 40” list as recognized by The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. Teller is IT director for the Menominee School System, a private IT consultant and owner of Bear Tracks Media music production company.

Justin Young ’10 business administration, is a finance and communication associate for Keith Ellison for Congress in St. Paul, Minn.

Kirk Behling ’11 accounting, is an international tax compliance analyst for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in Bentonville, Ark.

Saul Lemerond ’11 English, read from his short story collection, Kayfabe & Other Stories on campus this spring. He teaches creative writing at Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Ellen Meyer ’11 human biology, is currently a student at the Midwestern University Glendale School of Dentistry in Arizona.

Anthony Rappel ’11 communication, is a Microsoft navigator for Heartland Business Systems in Little Chute.

Kathryn Wellbank ’11 elementary education, is an ESL seventh grade teacher for Delavan Darien School District in Lake Geneva.

Matthew Wierzbach ’11 history, is program director for the Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan.

Jonathan Eckelberg ’12 communication, is a digital content specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism in Madison. He races stock cars at the La Crosse Speedway in West Salem and has competed in NASCAR-sanctioned late-model races.

Amber (Wegner) Grossenbach ’12 business administration, is a media analyst for Shopko corporate headquarters in Green Bay.

Nathan Grossenbach ’12 accounting, is the accounting manager for Shoreline Credit Union in Manitowoc. He earned his CPA in June 2013.

Lindsey Marshall ’12 accounting, is an associate accountant for CBIZ Mayer Hoffman McCann in Minneapolis.

Ashley Richmond ’12 communication, joined the Quad Cities (Iowa) CBS TV-4 team in January as a multimedia journalist.

Lydia Bauer ’13 business administration, averaged double figures this spring after signing with GDESSA, a pro team in Barreiro, Portugal, near the capital city of Lisbon.

Melyssa (Keil) Behnke ’13 arts management, is a box office associate at the Capital Civic Center in Manitowoc.

Patricia (Dorn) Farrell ’13 interdisciplinary studies, is an infrastructure coordination specialist for American Family Insurance in De Forest, Wis.

Micheala Griffin ’13 business administration, is the director of first impressions and marketing coordinator for Jackson Financial Advisors in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Koen Long ’13 accounting, is a staff accountant for Wipfli, LLP in Green Bay.

Allan Matenaer ’13 communication, is the assistant development director for Adoption Choice, Inc. in Green Bay.

Amanda Omahen ’13 human development, is the account coordinator for Grandesign in San Diego. She played international softball for a U.S. amateur team touring Austria and the Czech Republic.

Andrea Reisenauer ’13 Spanish and English, was the student class speaker and recipient of the Outstanding Student Award at December commencement. She is an online instructor with the language-instruction company Lingoda GmbH.

Adrian Ritchie ’13 business administration, was named the England Basketball League’s Division 1 Women Player of the Year. The Nottingham Wildcats forward led her team to a 20-10 record and the league semifinals.

Jennifer Ulrich ’13 psychology, appeared with personal coach Jane Birr ’85 and ’90 at an After Thoughts program on campus in April. Ulrich is continuing to make progress in her battle against the effects of cerebral palsy and spina bifida. (She left her wheelchair to stand and walk a few steps to receive her diploma at May 2013 commencement.) For a video and more, http://news.uwgb.edu/multimedia/photos/04/03/birr-after-thoughts-gallery/

Lorie VanDonsel ’13 nursing, won unofficial honors as the student with the longest commute to December commencement. The Montana resident made a special trip to receive her online degree in person. She is a nurse in the intensive care unit of Holy Family Healthcare, Miles City, Mont.

Katie Van Straten ’13 business administration and design arts, is a graphic designer for Shopko Corporate in Green Bay.

Ryan Wood ’13 business administration, is a sports marketing consultant for Good Karma Broadcasting, ESPN in Milwaukee.

Michael Duenkel ’14 communication, is a full-time teller at Community First Credit Union in Appleton.

Amanda Murkley ’14 accounting and business administration, is a legislative auditor for the Legislative Audit Bureau in Madison.

Brittany Smits ’14 psychology, is an administrative assistant at Performa in De Pere.

Jill (Straks) Wenzel ’14 nursing, is the director of outpatient services for Agnesian Healthcare in Waupun.