EMP-38

Rep: Trish Lambrecht
2028 Wilmette Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
Tel: 847.251.9052
patricialambrecht@yahoo.com

Mark Pestrak checked in. He's doing well and is still with CSC. He earned his PMP certification (welcome to the "club"). On the home front, he and his wife Gina celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary and he has two sons, Andrew (17) and Gareth (14), both in high school. His daughter Karina is in 6th grade. Great to hear from you, Mark.

Group E is on the move.

Erick Christensen reports an exciting change in his career trajectory. He joined Capgemini Financial Services as vice president and head of the Charlotte Compliance Center of Excellence. Erick writes: "In this role I will be responsible for developing a unique compliance technology and process service offering in North America to help financial organizations address the unprecedented regulatory pressure in the wake of the economic downturn and credit crisis. In this role as head of compliance services, I will focus on building a world-class compliance center of excellence with capabilities in regulatory and compliance reporting, transaction monitoring and testing. This center is the first of its kind in the Capgemini organization." Congratulations, Erick. Erick can be reached at 704.350.8508 or erick.christensen@capgemini.com.

Cindy Vanina retired from her executive director position at JPMorgan Capital Corporation to pursue her passion in the culinary industry. After more than 16 years in the tax-oriented investments group at the investment bank, she traded her negotiating and analytic skills used in completing transactions for her KitchenAid mixer and copper risotto pot. Cindy is involved with Now We're Cookin, a cooking school in Evanston, and will be exploring various options in teaching cooking and catering. If you're thinking about having a small event or looking for the services of a personal chef, think Cindy. In the meantime, the management skills she learned at Kellogg will be put to good use as she provides consulting services to entrepreneurs in startup food product businesses.

Jeff Felton reports things are really well on the home front and professionally. He is enjoying the work at Relay Health and sees lots of good things in healthcare. He reports that, "the kids are growing like weeds," and the whole family has settled into Atlanta.

Which EMP-38 classmate sent in this report? "I am sorry I don't have any news to share, but other than the Grammy I won last night (it's going on the mantle with my Academy Award and Nobel Peace Prize -- I keep the Heisman in my office), nothing much new with me."

Steve Calk said: "I am thrilled to report that The Federal Savings Bank has received permission from the OCC to open two branches in the Chicago Area. We posted record earnings again for the fourth quarter and are thrilled to be entering the Chicago market. Both branches opened in March and are ready to lend to all of my friends and classmates!"

Mike Odell sent a note saying that Pep Boys is going private. Good going Manny, Moe and Jack. I found this note in the Jan. 30 issue of Forbes magazine where it reported: "The buyout of the aftermarket chain will keep the management team intact, with CEO Mike Odell and other top executives planning to stay on board."

Betsy Finkelmeier, Cindy Vanina and I continue to get together probably five or six times a year. Unfortunately, our other partner in crime, Susan Amato, headed south to Black Mountain, N.C., this past summer so this was the first holiday in at least 10 years that we didn't meet for dinner. But we live in a virtual world, so we brought Susan to us. We are so high tech!

And our Grammy and Academy Award winning classmate is <drum roll in the background and a feverish opening of the envelope> Ian Heller. In addition to his musical and theatrical pursuits (and his foray into world peace), Ian is vice president of marketing for White Cap Construction Supply. He comments, "I LOVE my job, business is booming and we're scheduled for an IPO in 2014. We're still living in Boulder, Colo., but I travel to Costa Mesa, Calif., most weeks for work."

Finally, I will once again be both walking and riding to raise money for multiple sclerosis. My friend and our classmate, Mike Shelton, continues to do well and benefit from the ongoing research to treat his MS. Some of you have been kind enough to support Mike by donating money. I can point to their site or send checks to me made out to Multiple Sclerosis Society. I'd also welcome any EMP-38 classmate in walking or riding.

An EMP-38 ladies gathering: Betsy Finkelmeier, “Susan Amato”, Cindy Vanina and Trish Lamrecht, all EMP-38