EMP-56
Hello
EMP-56! As this Kellogg update is being published I am amazed
that nearly a year has passed since graduation. It seems like
we were just wrapping up our capstone course with Professor
Isenman and attending all the celebrations a few weeks ago!
Has it really been that long since I've seen some of your
smiling faces? I hope that you will all join me in making
a commitment to attend at least one of the many social events
planned for the coming spring and summer seasons. Be sure
to check the event calendar on our class' new Web site.
Well,
with another six months of history behind us, it's no surprise
that EMP-56 has much to report. I'll start with what I consider
to be the most important life happenings — family news.
After all, isn't this why we work?
Tom
Tromiczak married his
radiant bride, Tina, on Oct. 9 in Chicago. They shared a beautiful
ceremony and reception with family and friends, including
Maureen Hogan
and Nora and Sean Conroy. Following their big wedding event, Tom and Tina spent
10 days relaxing in beautiful French Polynesia. EMP-56 is
very happy for you, Tom and Tina, and we look forward to hearing
more news from the Tromiczak family!
Charles
Fortner had a very busy
winter, both personally and professionally. Most important
is the arrival of his beautiful daughter Elizabeth Ann (Ellie)
in January. Charles reports that she has a very sweet disposition
and a big appetite (guess she gets that from Dad!) EMP-56
is very happy for the Fortner family and we hope your new
addition is healthy and happy always. On the business front,
Charles sold his piece of mc.net and is now general manager
of ANET Internet Solutions, a Chicago-based ISP. Our thanks
go to Charles and ANET for hosting our class Web site.
Career
moves continue to be
hot news for EMP-56:
Shumin
Wang made a very big
move in October, leaving her company after eight years and
joining a China-based startup focused on specialty chemicals
consumed in semiconductor manufacturing. Shu is chief technology
officer and is based in Shanghai. While semiconductor fabrication
has been growing quickly in China, the supporting chemicals
supply chain has not, and Shumin is very excited to join the
leadership team of this first-of-its-kind startup in China.
Congratulations, Shumin! It is very exciting to see another
EMP-56'er in a C-level role!
Ken
Seymens has joined Duff
& Phelps LLC, a national investment banking firm. Ken's
efforts are focused on raising capital for a medical technology
company, with the agenda of expanding the firm's strength
in healthcare technologies.
Doug
Miller has also taken on new responsibilities at his company,
Motorola. Moving away from development engineering, Doug is
now leading the marketing and business development team for
the newly formed radio access platform innovation division.
Doug's team is focused on designing and developing the next
generation common platform for Motorola's base station products.
Ping
Yu has joined Motorola
as a senior business manager. Working with many of Motorola's
very talented teams, Ping will be developing total market
solutions for secured, high-speed wireless broadband networks
(mobile and stationary). In addition, Ping will be focused
on intelligent transportation system applications for a variety
of industries, including homeland security, public safety,
traffic and transit fleet management. Motorola is lucky to
have another big brain from our Kellogg class!
Dave
Pidduck has returned
to Canada, accepting the role of vice president of Baxter's
medication delivery business there. He, Bonnie and the kids
have now settled into a home north of Toronto with a few acres
and lots of fresh air.
Jim
Ahlborn was promoted
in December to vice president of finance at Tuthill Corp.
Serving as the lead financial officer, we know that Jim will
continue to apply his leadership, strong ethics and financial
prowess to drive further business success for Tuthill. Congratulations,
Jim!
Pat
O'Connor is putting his
Kellogg MBA to work in an expanded role at Lake Forest Hospital.
As executive director, revenue cycle, Pat is responsible for
managed-care contracting.
Jim
Clewlow is now chief
investment officer at CenterPoint Properties Trust. In this
new role he will be coordinating the acquisition and disposition
of industrial investment properties in the greater Chicago
area, with a goal of transacting up to $1 billion in business.
Another C-level job for EMP-56! Congrats, Jim!
David
Watts has taken on new
responsibilities, assuming the role of director of group consumer
finance for HSBC. He is responsible for opening HSBC's consumer
finance business across the globe, currently focusing heavily
on Asia (China and India), central Europe and South America.
If we give Dave a little more time, he'll be ready to prof
for Global Initiatives in Management.
Matt
DesRosiers has taken
on the role of president for Baytree Management Inc., a division
of Baytree National Bank and Trust Co. Matt's group provides
medical billing and practice management for the medical community
(which is something he knows a bit about). We'll look forward
to seeing this small company grow under Matt's leadership
over the coming years.
Brian
Bancroft left Sara Lee
in February, accepting the position of vice president and
chief procurement officer with a company we all know well,
Oil Dri Corp. Brian will lead the organization's efforts to
achieve operational excellence in its purchasing activities
and achieve optimum value from its assets. A C-level trifecta
for EMP-56! Congratulations, Brian!
I
am now vice president of marketing and business development
for KONE Elevator Escalator, the U.S. division of KONE, headquartered
in Finland. Based in the Quad Cities, I will lead the organization's
market turnaround efforts for sales, marketing, national accounts
and product line-management.
Finally,
on a humorous note, Scott Corley offers us the ultimate job announcement for Kellogg
World: "Late in 2004 Scott Corley was surprised to get
a call from game publisher Electronic Arts, offering him the
newly created position of CEO by proxy. This novel position
includes all of the financial benefits of being CEO of the
company, but none of the effort or potential legal liabilities.
While the actual CEO of the company continues to do his job,
Scott gets the credit, and the cash! Congratulations to you,
Scott!" Think there's any chance one of us can negotiate
this deal? If you figure it out, loyalty to EMP-56 requires
that you share the secret!
Work-life
balance continues to
be a focus for EMP-56 and we've had a few interesting events
worth mentioning:
EMP-56
was well represented in the Chicago Marathon, with Melissa
Fabio, Dave
Sulfridge, Rob Stoppeck and Curtis Smith finishing
the race in great form. Congratulations!
Surprised
by cold weather, EMP-56's spirit was not dampened as we enjoyed
a great Wildcat football outing Nov. 20. It is always wonderful
to see a Wildcats victory (even if you also share alumni status
with Illinois). We had a good crowd of classmates and family
out for the game and tailgating. Our thanks go to Matt DesRosiers
and Melissa Fabio, who did a fantastic job organizing the tailgate,
cooking delicious brats and keeping the fires burning.
Well,
EMP-56, there's our winter update. Keep the good news coming
and I hope to see you all very soon! |