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1983

Dear Classmates:

I am happy to report that the search for my Kellogg World replacement on this column is over ... and it is me!

Yes, I have beaten the reality-show blues by maintaining a position that keeps me in the best reality, in touch with my coveted classmates from the distinguished Class of 1983. You'll read more about reality from our own reality czar, Mark Mitten. Mark gets to relive "The Apprentice" each season — Bill Rancic, eat your heart out.

And, speaking of classmates, I will point out later in this column that we were — as you will read from Vicky Jones — the first Kellogg School class to use computers in the classroom. I bring this up because this column is our best ever (in more than 26 years) because of the magic of the Internet and Kellogg email address listservs. Thank you, all.

Great stuff here. Most comprehensive column ever, with some people bringing us fully up-to-date since graduation. Fun to be back in touch with all of you. Long live the Class of '83!

I'll start with me: After 20 years in the cable television business (MTV) and the Internet before it was fashionable (with companies like Prodigy, Sony, Disney and AOL — I should have written the book), I joined two advertising veterans, Martin Puris and John Bernbach, to help marketers understand and utilize the new world of media and communications. We started an integrated media and marketing company called Not Traditional Media. We have a network of 30 best-of-breed companies ranging from Internet, wireless, place-based, events and branded content, which we represent and package directly for clients such as AllState, American Express, Kmart, Procter and Universal Pictures, to name a few. It's a new model, a new industry and a new company. I have been fortunate to run into many Kellogg School grads along the way.

In fact, one of the most recent Kellogg run-ins was with Renee Dunn, now global marketing human resources director at Procter & Gamble, who lit up the room with "Hey, you're the Kellogg column guy." Never heard that one before. Now onward to the Class of '83.

Tom Williamsen writes: "I am married, with seven kids, living in Salt Lake City. President of the Chasebrook Co., a commercial real estate development firm. I hope to stay in shape and die healthy. The plan is to ski, bicycle, hike and climb as much as possible. Oh yeah — and still go to work."

Nancy Chou started off the new year by accepting an exciting position as the SVP of marketing at a secure messaging platform company called Sigaba, headquartered in San Mateo, Calif. She says, "I had a chance to work with a fellow Kellogg alum, Paul Nikcevic '97, who is Sigaba's VP of business development." In addition, Nancy was invited back for the third year to teach a marketing course she developed called "Sales-Focused Marketing in High Tech" at Stanford University's continuing studies program.

Richard Sincere writes that Sincere & Co. LLC was founded in 1997 and has grown to 13 employees with its corporate office in Boston. "Our marketing financial services firm uses participatory management as its foundation," he writes, "thanks to the good learning at Kellogg. My wife Deb and son Alex are enjoying our getaway home in Jackson, N.H., where we spend considerable time skiing, camping and hiking."

Amy Hugins, Kathy Lynn-Cullotta, Claire Goulding and Brenda Kelly were some of those who attended Judy Rappaport Maloney's 50th birthday bash the weekend of Feb. 4-6 in Sedona, Ariz.

Barbara Mitchell's latest adventures in employment took her to Mauritius, Egypt and Bahrain this past year. She's planning a visit to meet her new niece in Panama in 2005 and to see her seven brothers and sisters there. In an effort to keep up with the younger generation, she finished a master's degree in computer systems at night school and is now wondering what to do with all of her spare time.

Joel Tillinghast is still managing the Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund.

Karen Wilson Wiese says that since leaving American Airlines nearly 10 years ago, she has been fully engaged as a mother of three (Kendra, 14, Kevin, 12, and Allen, 7), and a volunteer at schools, Girl Scouts and church. "The work is challenging and varied and the pay is nil," she says, "but I receive many unexpected bonuses and expect a very satisfactory return on investment."

Rick Drake writes that, "with the exception of one year in Cleveland about 10 years ago, I have been in the investment management industry in Chicago since we graduated. I am currently co-manager of the ABN AMRO Growth Fund and director of equity research for ABN AMRO Asset Management in Chicago. Marketing my fund has given me the opportunity to make many appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg TV and Radio, and even a short appearance on 'NBC Nightly News,' as well as being mentioned in a feature article in Barron's in May 2004. Traveling to do marketing or to visit clients allows me to travel all over the country and occasionally to Europe, but it is always great to come home to my family in Wilmette. I've been married to Margaret for 14 years and we have three children, Jack, 11, Caroline, 8, and Patrick, 5."

Michael Scheinberg continues to practice real estate law as a partner with Pircher, Nichols & Meeks in Los Angeles and serves as chairman of the Moriah Society, a group of men and women in the Southern California real estate and building industries supporting the University of Judaism scholarship fund. Michael and Carole Scheinberg have two children, Stephen, 11, and Mila, 9, who attend Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles. The family enjoys skiing, tennis and camping.

Rich Pilnik writes that "since Kellogg, my formula has been to marry Liz, have three kids — Tony, 18, and twins Matthew and Alex, 16 — move around six countries and get the hang of doing business in the international world of pharmaceuticals. Currently managing Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia out of the London European headquarters of Eli Lilly and Co. We still stay in touch with that rather rambunctious multinational crew and look forward to the next reunion."

Ned Jessen tells us that his daughter Margaret is about to graduate from the University of Virginia; his son Parlin is heading off to Dickinson College as a freshman; his daughter Paula is on her way to becoming an eighth-grader at Forest Bluff Montessori School (Ned's wife Lynn was a co-founder of the school in 1982); his four teacup poodles are driving him crazy; and he's enjoying his activities in the private equity investment business (and was a co-founder of Career Education Corp. in 1994). Ned and Lynn just returned from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where they enjoyed the company of fellow Kellogg graduates Cindy and Mark Fuller, and Sam '82 and Becky Howe '82.

Korak Mitra has spent the 26 years since Kellogg (26 years?) in high tech, and currently works as the SVP for Carrier Group for Intellisync Corp., which makes software that enables users to get their office in their mobile phone/PDA. Korak and Jill just celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary, and their daughter Tina is now a junior at Princeton. You can reach Korak at korakmitra@yahoo.com.

Bob Murray lives in Princeton, N.J., and works in nearby Plainsboro for Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, where he runs several high-yield corporate bond funds. "I have been with the firm for nearly 16 years," he says, "and in my spare time I play a lot of mediocre squash and golf. Other than Michael Beaumont, whom I saw at our reunion, I have not kept up with classmates. I have been to a few of the KACNJ events."

Mark Raffles writes: "Since I was mostly in the night program, I haven't felt as compelled to contribute to Kellogg World as day students probably do. However, Scott Schiller's diligent efforts over the years deserve a response. After leaving Kellogg I sold bonds for Salomon Brothers, then UBS. In 1999 I left the dark side and managed mutual fund portfolios at Scudder Kemper until the Deutsche Bank merger, when I joined a small money-management firm. I left there in May 2004 and am seeking an interesting challenge for my life's second act. I remain a stalwart Wildcat football fan and season ticket-holder. You can reach me at raffam@comcast.net."

Charles Zent has some interesting news: "I'm pretty sure Tom Swann and I win by a mile our class' Ball and Chain Award, as we continue to work side by side at First Analysis doing our best not to bury our institutional clients with poor stock recommendations. (We've worked together here 12 years, after more than five years at the Alcar Group.) I also continue to live just a few miles from Kellogg, although I really shook things up two years ago and bought a house about six blocks away. That move put me in Kenilworth, a community that some residents believe is currently 'fighting for its soul' as a result of the growing popularity of tear-downs. So far, I have been able to avoid getting caught up in this political tempest. Life is basically good, albeit for occasional anxiety pangs associated with the prospect of my 15-year-old daughter getting her driver's license and the realization that she will soon be applying to college. Really seems only yesterday that I was graduating from B-school. It sure goes by fast."

Claire Brown writes that, "After living in Japan, Australia and Hong Kong for more 10 years, I moved to Greenwich, Conn., six years ago with IBM." She is now a member of the IBM strategy team focused on the healthcare and life sciences industry and says she sees Mark Mitten often and "had the pleasure of having Tod Francis for dinner a couple of months ago."

Therese Rowley says that, "Having gotten married for the first time a year ago to Tom Mathews, we are excited to be going to China in May to pick up our new adopted daughter. My business continues in its rich diversity: teaching and consulting in leadership and change; having an international practice as an intuitive/healer and now executive-producing a documentary on the misdiagnosis of gifted children. My work focus is moving toward research and thought leadership on alternatives to drugging children who learn differently."

Mark Mitten says, "Up until February, I was a partner in the Chicago office of McKinsey & Co., where I was one of the leaders of its North American marketing practice. I developed business strategies with a focus on driving growth for CEOs of leading consumer package goods, retail and media clients. I left McKinsey a year ago to join Mark Burnett Productions as a producer for seasons two and three of NBC TV's hit show 'The Apprentice.' It is important to note that Claire Brown and her family have been integral to my success at 'The Apprentice.' Part of my role has been to oversee the finales for each season. In Season 2, it was the Greenwich Polo Club. Claire, her husband and two sons, Patrick (my godson) and Alexander, attended the polo match to have fun and provide support. They became my 'good luck charms' and came back for the Season 3 finale."

Jim Waszak is the founder and president of Success Enhancement Inc., a business-development firm with the mission of finding customers for clients. Jim says he is "widely known as a master networker" and happily shares contacts with those whom he encounters.

Susan Henken-Thielen reports: "I am still in Minneapolis and am the director of marketing at a medical device company, Compex Technologies, in charge of Slendertone toning products, a product from Ireland that we distribute in the States. They use electro-muscle stimulation, a medical technology, for firming and toning. We have a belt for the abdomen and shorts for the bottom and thighs. They are cleared by the FDA and really work. I am having fun and traveling around the world. Jim and I have been married for 21 years. Dawn, 12, is an active, social seventh-grader who loves art, music, dance and gymnastics, and Evan is 9 years old, in fourth grade, and has never met a sport he didn't like (wish the same could be said for academic subjects!). I get to Northwestern at least once a year as part of the Northwestern University Council of 100. We come back to campus to mentor women students on career choices and job skills development. A fun way to stay involved."

Joan Grant writes that, "Right after graduation, my husband and I moved to San Francisco. I am an attorney in San Francisco at the law firm Shartsis, Friese & Ginsburg, where I am in a group that specializes in investment advisers and hedge funds (an interesting business right now). We have two children, Daniel, 15, and Sydney, 12, and live in San Mateo, a suburb about 15 miles south of San Francisco. Daniel is driving now, so be forewarned if you live in or expect to visit the Bay Area. I was at Kellogg during the 1980-81 school year; from '81-'83 I took classes at Northwestern's Chicago campus, while I finished at Northwestern Law School. I would love to hear from anyone I knew from the Class of 1982 or from EMP."

Lee Gaston recently left First Chicago/Bank One/JPMorgan Chase after 21 years in various financial reporting roles, most recently with the private equity/venture capital division. He says, "Three mergers of equals was enough!" He plans on spending some months enjoying time with his three kids, Eleanor, 14; Nathaniel, 12; and Genevieve, 7; and wife Lisa before venturing back into the market later in '05. He wonders what's become of Mike Boehm, Gretchen Reimel and Bill Warner.

Jay Riley, gleeful as always, says: "All's well and easy here at Camp Riley. The kids are 20, 18 and 14, and the 'rents just keep getting younger and better looking every sunny day. Thomson is at Colorado (ski racing and poli sci, but mostly ski racing), Will is a senior (basketball, mostly basketball) and Brittany, the Renaissance Child, is in eighth grade in a couple different schools, reading, ski racing, playing soccer, writing and reading some more. Beth still peddles the pots and pans, and I'm running what is now a Roche subsidiary here in tax-free New Hampshire and traveling to beautiful Switzerland. I've had some more cool mountain climbing and some good ice climbing, and skied the Haute Route in the Alps with one of the 'boys' last spring."

Kellogg classmates report that they saw Jeff Sorenson on "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." He's a brigadier general and was speaking about armoring vehicles for Iraq.

After graduation Rodrigo Etchenique spent 10 years with J&J in Brazil in marketing for the baby products division. "After that wonderful experience," he says, "I joined the Whirlpool (home appliance) affiliate in Brazil, were I spent another 10 years running different businesses, including its international operations in Latin America. Then, in 2000, after going through an advanced executive program at Stanford University, I decided to open my own businesses. When I came back to Brazil, I quit Whirlpool and started three different companies, partnering with a couple of friends and one of my brothers. Those companies are an advertising agency called Synapsys (www.synapsys.com.br), where I am investing most of my time as president; a company that provides satellite tracking products and services for logistics and security purposes; and a distributor and retailer of home appliances and electronics." Rodrigo is quite a busy guy.

Jose Pages developed with a partner the first subscription-based DVD rental service of Argentina, named Cinencasa. Jose writes of the venture: "The service model had to be adapted to local conditions, the main being that couriers are either expensive, not reliable or have insufficient coverage. Marketing actions have targeted opinion leaders, press and clients of service firms such as credit cards, mobile phones and ISPs in order to attain early market dominance. This is my first entrepreneurial venture and I am having lots of fun and excitement.

"My daughter Gabriela is studying law and working part time for the firm. My son Gonzalo is in high school and a heavy user of Cinencasa. Betty is fine and continues working for the Central Bank."

Carolyn Spitz relates a dream come true: "Three years ago I retired from the corporate world and am now pursuing a master's degree in music education at Holy Names University in Oakland. I am planning a (second) career in choral/vocal music and education. My son Matt is a freshman at Stanford and daughter Liesl is a sophomore in high school. My husband Stephen and I have lived in San Francisco since 1983 and enjoy it."

Jeff Cohen writes from Atlanta: "We made the move 'down South' two years ago when I joined CIBA Vision, a Novartis company, as vice president of marketing for contact lenses and lens care products in the North America region. I've spent the last nine years applying CPG marketing to nontraditional industries (autos, appliances, contact lenses). Bev and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary in September. Our oldest son Joshua is 17 and is starting the college search (even thinking about Northwestern), and Danny is 13 and will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in August." Jeff is active in the Atlanta chapter of the Kellogg Alumni Club and enjoys meeting many Kellogg alums there.

Brenda Kelly reports that she vacationed in Yosemite for the first time. She writes: "Al and I absolutely loved it and can't wait to return. Looking forward to seeing a few Kellogg friends in Sedona in February. We visited Judy Maloney and then skied in Taos afterward with Kathy Lynn, Amy, Sari and Claire." Send me the vacation report, everyone. "I'm working at a software company focused on combating counterfeit pharmaceuticals based in Cambridge," she adds. "I'd love Kellogg classmates to contact me when they come to the Boston area, even if it's last minute. It's great fun to catch up."

Leslie Sutphen is on her eighth year running her own strategy consulting firm in the listed derivatives industry. She lives with husband Byron Lanning and daughter Lydia, 4, in Oak Park, Ill.

Tim Kern says he is covering aviation for a number of publications: "Though it sounds like a situation rife with opportunities for conflicts of interest," he says, "I manage to keep the two areas of my work — publicity and reporting — separate. Since starting on my own a year ago (at age 52 — I should know better), I've been published in AVweb.com, the Transponder (in Anchorage), Pilot Getaways, Kitplanes, AV Safety and Plane & Pilot. I've just finished a feature for Custom Planes/Private Pilot, and I've signed up for two series of features. When I covered the Reno Air Races (for both Kitplanes and AVweb), I also served as a reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal. The other half of my business comes from writing press releases, scripts and white papers for many in the industry, as well as for former and present consulting clients. I also teach economics, as I have for a dozen years (high school through postgraduate). It's the only subject that explains everything, while proving nothing. That's fun for me. No family, no kids; parents are long departed and tenderly missed. I wouldn't mind hearing from former Kellogg School (night) classmates."

Paula Linder Meier says she is "still out in California doing some high-tech consulting and volunteering at the kids' schools and for their sports teams. Proud to see Kellogg is No. 1."

Vick Mennon has been in life sciences marketing since graduation, most recently at the scientific instruments maker Thermo Electron. He's currently enjoying an employment sabbatical (i.e., he was laid off) and hopes to be back at work soon. He's lived the last 16 years in Cupertino, Calif., with his wife Denise and two boys, ages 9 and 12.

Elliott Sturman is living with his wife Ann and sons Joshua, 11, and Daniel, 9, in Westlake Village, just north of Los Angeles. He completed the design and installation of a comprehensive daily employee performance measurement and incentive system for Blue Cross of California earlier this year. He is currently looking for an individual or corporate partner who can help him upgrade the system's software so it can support the performance of virtually any service sector employee. He says you should contact him at 818.879.9591 or at esturman@sbcglobal.net if you know someone who might be interested in helping with this "important and exciting endeavor."

"Life continues to treat my family well," says John Butler. "Ann and I celebrated our 20th anniversary this year, and we continue to enjoy lake living up in Cheeseland (that's Wisconsin) with our faithful but whiny dog Buster. I have joined forces with another Kellogg grad to create a manufacturing company focused on a small-lot, high-mix, quick-turnaround business — the stuff that won't be going to China. This is a brave new world for me, but it is already invigorating and rewarding."

Steven Milunovich reports that he's been at Merrill Lynch seven years: "It's now 21 years as a Wall Street analyst. Never did make it back to the Midwest as originally planned. Living in Connecticut with my wife, who went to Harvard (the Northwestern of the East) and our three children. Met up with classmates Art Greco and Dan Bumgardner for a terrific barbecue in fall."

Vicky Jones says she is entering year four of her marketing consulting practice and hasn't lost her house yet. She says "My clients are mostly small businesses that need help with positioning, and my work ranges from market research to product development to marketing planning to copy writing to rudimentary design. I lead marketing seminars several times a year for the University of Wisconsin's Small Business Development Center. The nonprofit part of my life includes my ongoing involvement in theater, music and church; I just completed a 10-week course in improvisation with my boyfriend, am gearing up to organize another Madison folk music festival and, as a lay minister for First Unitarian Society, officiated nine weddings this year. It's amazing to recall that in 1983 my brand group at Quaker was the first to have computers at their desks. Mine used 8-inch floppy disks and was considered to be the standard on which all computers would be based: Xerox. Those of my classmates who remember me as an oddball can be reassured by the knowledge that I work on a Mac. Find me at vickyjones.com."

Ron Farmer is CEO of Revenue Technologies, a venture capital-backed software company based in Atlanta, where he's lived since 1993 after being captive in New York and New Jersey for 10 years after Kellogg. He's been married to Julie for 14 years, and his kids are Sam, 12, and Laura, 10. When he's not working he's at one of his kids' sporting events. He jokes that, "Most people who know me now wonder how in the world I got into a school as good as Kellogg." We remind him that was a quarter-century ago!

"It was a big year for me," says Bill Schrader. My wife Desiree and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and our son AJ graduated from high school and is now off to University of California-Santa Barbara. It's lonely around the house. The company I started, The Austin Group, has been around now for five years. I'm in the real estate development business, primarily in residential subdivisions." He also develops retail shopping centers on occasion and is proud of his "unique" mission statement: "If it's more than an hour from my house, I'm not interested."

Arly Guenther has been married for the past 25 years, has three children and lives in Lake Forest, Ill. He's been CEO of Arlington Computer Products, a solution provider in the technology industry, for the last 20 years.

What a group! What a class! Keep the news coming.

Scott

©2002 Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University