Albert Papazian emails from Silver Spring, Md., “In October, Nancy Bebb, the widow of my roommate, Warren Bebb, and I joined three alumni and their wives for a reunion in Williamsburg, Va. We reminisced and enjoyed a delicious dinner with Norma and Arnold Anderson, Betty and Harris Tucker, and Lois and Albert Morhart at The Trellis Bar & Grill. We made tentative plans to meet next year.”
John McIntyre writes, “Lorna and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in October. We renewed our wedding vows and then celebrated with a luncheon. We have two sons—John Jr., who is married to Julie, and Andrew—and three grandchildren.”
Steven Schwartz, an attorney with the Springfield, Mass.-based law firm of Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, has received the Distinguished Adviser in Philanthropy award. The annual award is presented by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts in partnership with the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County and the Pioneer Valley Estate Planning Council. Steven specializes in family-business planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and estate planning. He is a member of several civic and community organizations.
John Cook emails from Norfolk, Va., “Fifty years ago I graduated with one of the finest classes at Babson. To steal from a famous line, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ We were young, it was the ’60s, and we were in Boston. However, there was a military draft and the Vietnam War was raging. In September, our class will gather for its Reunion. I hope to see you.”
John Bishop emails, “I’ve written The Best Little Book on Hiring to help managers hire above their self-image. This is not your standard book on hiring. In today’s world everything is changing rapidly, and hiring is the front door to your continued success. My consulting firm, Hire to Compete, specializes in making hiring a company’s competitive advantage. Sample topics in the book include: You have a mission statement, but do you also have a hiring statement? Are you hiring for job fit or culture fit? What can we learn from successful managers about selecting top talent?”
Fred Kiang (MBA’75) (center), trustee and Global Advisory Board member, is shown with GAB members Elizabeth Powell, MBA’76, P’01 (left), and trustee emeritus Richard Snyder ’60, H’94, P’93, ’01, in September at the annual Babson Alumni Association Leadership Awards ceremony. Fred, who was one of 10 Babson community members honored at the event, received the Cruickshank Alumni Leadership Award for sustained commitment and contributions to the College. See the Graduate section for the group awards photo.
Jim Wholey, his family, and their Pittsburgh business, Robert Wholey & Co., were featured in a Nov. 18 article, “Strip District Grocer Wholey’s: We’re Not Just a Seafood Market,” in the Tribune-Review. Jim, who was interviewed for the article, started as a salesman at Wholey’s in 1975 and became president in 2001. He emails, “The store opened in 1912, selling eggs, butter, and poultry. Fresh seafood sales started in 1960. We also carry beef, produce, and dry goods.”
Karl Church has been named site supervisor at Flower City Habitat for Humanity in Rochester, N.Y., where he lives. Karl, who previously taught carpentry at a local vocational technical high school, has worked in the construction industry for more than 30 years. He emails, “I’m happy to be part of the Habitat for Humanity team. I work in carpentry, teach these skills to others, and help my community at the same time. This position is a perfect marriage of all the things I believe in.”
Michael Gwynn (MBA’82) has been named vice president for sponsorships of the Pawtucket [R.I.] Red Sox. The PawSox, a minor league baseball team, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Michael joined the organization in 1991 after a career as a sports reporter and anchor for WPRI-TV in Providence and WCVX-TV on Cape Cod.
Charles Nulsen (center) emails from Bethesda, Md., “On Oct. 11, my daughter, Jordan Nulsen (left), and family friend Charlie McIntosh (far right) climbed the Western Breach of Mount Kilimanjaro. We capped a five-day, four-night trek to tag the top of the peak on a snowy day. After checking that off our ‘bucket list,’ we spent another week on safari in Serengeti National Park and at Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.”
Lenore Skomal emails, “Great news! After two years in development, my debut play, Bluff—based on my novel of the same name—has been invited to compete in the 2016 Thespis Theater Festival in New York City. There are three performance dates set in early August at the Hudson Guild Theatre. This marks the world premiere of the stage adaptation of my best-selling novel. Like us on Facebook.”
Morris Weiss, previously a practicing attorney with the Austin, Texas, firm of Taube Summers Harrison Taylor Meinzer Brown, joined the Austin office of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis when the two firms merged early this year. Morris focuses on issues such as bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and business torts.
Joel Foster was profiled in a Feb. 3 article, “Dreams and Illusions: Joel Foster Shares His Experiences of Race in America,” on OakPark.com. Joel, who owns an Edward Jones office in the Chicago suburb of Forest Park, discussed race in America and a few of his personal experiences.
Dan McManus recently joined Orbital ATK, a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, as a senior director and chief investment officer and is responsible for the management of all corporate employee retirement plans. Orbital is headquartered in Dulles, Va.
Aaron Walton was interviewed for a Jan. 13 article, “Marketing Expert Aaron Walton of Walton Isaacson Lets Us Inside His Brilliant Mind,” on RollingOut.com. In the article, Aaron credits former Babson Corporation member and trustee Roger Enrico ’65, H’86, who also is a former chair and CEO of PepsiCo, for assigning him to the Michael Jackson “Bad” tour, which helped launch Aaron’s career. He and business partner Cory Isaacson started their marketing agency in 2006.
Paul Donato, P’13, was featured in a Feb. 4 article, “Wellesley Now a Hotbed of High School Hockey,” on MetroWestDailyNews.com. The boys ice hockey team at Wellesley High School has made the postseason eight of the nine years that Paul has been coach. A former Babson hockey player, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the College’s Athletics Hall of Fame, and he was a four-year letter winner, two-time captain, and a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist.
Leslye Fligor recently joined Benoit Mizner Simon & Co., a real estate firm with offices in Wellesley and Weston, where she works. A Weston resident, Leslye is a board member of the town’s Council on Aging and an editorial board member of WellesleyWeston magazine.
Peter Roberti emails, “I recently was appointed chief accounting officer at the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, parent company of the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut and the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in Pennsylvania. Also, I am excited to be a member of the planning committee for our class Reunion and look forward to getting us back on campus for Sept. 16–18. This will be a terrific weekend, so mark your calendars.”
Adam Goldman, CEO of Babson Partners, a Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee throughout northern New Jersey, emails, “We just opened our flagship store in West Orange. Making this site unique are the first electric vehicle charging station in the area, a bio-digester that uses microorganisms to eliminate sending food waste to the landfill, and a fireplace that uses water vapor to produce realistic flame and smoke with zero harmful emissions. Going green lowers expenses and our environmental footprint.”
Lisa Gonnella McGlinn emails, “My husband, Jack, and I are happy that our oldest son, John McGlinn, will attend Babson in the fall as a member of the Class of ’20. What a great excuse to attend Reunion this fall!”
Alan Shaw (right), vice president for real estate at Sears Holdings, emails, “I was the guest of Arthur Blank ’63, H’98 (left), owner of the Atlanta Falcons and PGA Tour Superstore, and co-founder of The Home Depot, for a football game in November at the Georgia Dome. We saw the Falcons play the Vikings and reminisced about our great experiences at Babson.” Alan, who is responsible for the 240-million-square-foot real estate portfolio of Sears/Kmart, completed a transaction in 2014 with the PGA Tour Superstore in Orlando, Fla.
Stephen Kramer has been named president of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, where he leads the company’s global growth strategy and oversees operations in Europe and India as well as its backup dependent care and educational advisory services. Stephen previously was chief development officer of the child care and early education company, which he joined in 2006.
Vance Loiselle has been appointed CEO of Censio, a Boston-based company that uses Big Data to make driving safer and more affordable and enables insurance companies to distinguish between safe and risky drivers. Before joining Censio, Vance previously was president and CEO of Sumo Logic.
Nicole Rawan Roberts (MBA’98): See photo in the Graduate section.
Justin MacFarlane has been named chief strategy, analytics, and innovation officer at Macy’s. His responsibilities include the retail chain’s strategic development and new business opportunities. Justin previously was senior vice president for corporate strategy at Ann Inc., which he had joined in 2010.
Glenn Gatcliffe has been named managing director and head of consumer, agriculture, chemicals, and manufacturing at Raymond James, the Canadian subsidiary of Raymond James Financial. Glenn, who recently worked for 15 years at a bank-owned investment dealer, is a member of the Toronto firm’s investment banking team.
Alvaro Pena emails, “In November, Juan Rincon, MBA’09, and I attended the inaugural ceremony of International Education Week, hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Colombia Kevin Whitaker at the embassy in Bogota. The initiative promotes networking with alumni from U.S. colleges and universities. Local Babson, Harvard, and MIT alumni club presidents met and planned to co-host an event.”
Chris Swezey has been named director of procurement services at Rhode Island School of Design, a fine arts and design college in Providence. Chris most recently worked at Berklee College of Music.
Timothy Swift has joined Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm, as a director of its debt capital markets origination team. He is responsible for structuring, execution, and distribution strategies, as well as industry coverage of the energy sector. Previously, Tim was a vice president for the debt capital markets team at Cowen and Co.
Adam Conway, managing director at Harbor Retirement Planning in Tampa, Fla., was named to the 2015 Financial Times Top 401 Retirement Advisers list. The list, which ran in the May 28 issue, was compiled using assets under management, industry experience, specialization, industry certifications, and compliance records. Harbor Retirement serves employer-sponsored 401(k) retirement savings plans in the midsize range, $10M to $100M in assets, and in the small and micro plan range, under $10M in assets.
Nanette Medved was featured in a Dec. 13 article, “Former Darna Star Harnesses Superpowers to Build Schools,” on Inquirer.net. Nanette starred in a Philippine movie about Darna, a superhero, in 1991. In 2012, she launched Friends of Hope, which sells Hope in a Bottle purified bottled water. The profits from the sale of 4 million bottles have helped Hope in a Bottle build 28 public school classrooms throughout the Philippines.
Eric Horndahl co-founder and CEO of Renoviso, emails, “Renoviso is a VC-backed startup that transforms how consumers complete home renovation projects, such as window replacement. Homeowners can find real-time customized pricing for projects—including professional measurement and installation and premium quality products—online, all at a great value. Currently, we focus on windows, doors, and flooring. We are in eastern Massachusetts and plan to expand geographically soon. Renoviso is backed by NextView Ventures, RRE Ventures, and a group of angel investors, including Wayfair CEO Niraj Shah.”
Philip Silvestri and his wife, Rebecca Silvestri, were featured in a Jan. 7 article, “Newlyweds with a Baby on the Way … Meet the New Owners,” on PlanoProfile.com. The couple purchased the print magazine, Plano Profile, which has been published monthly since 1982, and its website in July 2015. The publication covers news and events in the Plano, Texas, area.
Sean McKeever (left) and Tim Clifford, MBA ’89 (right), are co-founders of Abacus Finance Group in New York City. Tim emails, “Abacus is a direct lender providing cash-flow senior financing for private equity-sponsored, lower middle-market companies. We recently announced that we have originated over $1 billion in loan commitments across 40 privately held businesses since our launch in 2011. Passing the $1 billion mark was an important milestone.” Sean adds, “It’s satisfying to leverage our entrepreneurial training received at Babson to build our business while partnering with the entrepreneurs of the businesses in which we invest.”
Daniel Dalet (center) emails from the Dominican Republic, “In 2012, my cousin, Abel Gonzalez (left), and I founded SoloCoco to produce 100 percent virgin coconut oil. This versatile product is a metabolism booster, cleansing mouthwash, hair and scalp treatment, makeup remover, and more. Abel is in charge of strategy and business development, and I handle production. My wife, Gabriela Dalet (right), is developing a cosmetics line. Our company is fair-trade certified, and the single mothers we hire receive schooling and health care for themselves and their children. SoloCoco is available on our website and in select stores around the world.”
Siamak Taghaddos and David Hauser ’04, founders of Grasshopper, which offers a virtual phone service for small businesses, were featured in a Nov. 12 article, “Unicorns May Get All the Attention, but Grasshopper Shows the Benefits of Focusing on Customers,” in The Boston Globe. The Needham startup, originally named GotVMail, was acquired in 2015 by Citrix Systems of California. Siamak and David recently started a small Las Vegas-based investment firm to help other entrepreneurs start businesses.
Keith Whittier emails, “My wife, Lauren Whittier, and I recently launched Old Wood Soul, a Denver-based business that blends sustainability with style. We handcraft and custom-make one-of-a-kind tables from reclaimed wood. The tables are beautiful and classic—true modern heirlooms. A new launch is our Old Grandpappy Barn Boards, handmade skateboards crafted from solid wood planks. We’re proud of our ever-evolving inventory, as well as our farmhouse tables to rent for special occasions. Lauren and I are wearing clothing by Taylor Stitch, co-founded by Michael Maher and Barrett Purdum, both ’07.”
Gaurav Aidasani is CEO of Cosmos Group, an angel investment firm launched in 2008 that focuses on digital media, e-commerce, online advertising, and digital publishing startups in the Middle East. Gaurav was interviewed for a Feb. 1 article, “Stick to What You Are Good At,” on GulfTimes.ae.
Carson Thurber has been appointed senior gifts officer at Southwestern Vermont Health Care Foundation. SVHC provides affordable care to Bennington and Windham counties in Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington counties in New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. Previously, Carson was assistant principal at Stratton [Vt.] Mountain School and vendor coordinator for Burton Snowboards.
Pedro Villa has been named CFO of RYU Apparel, an athletic clothing company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. A CPA, he held controller and financial reporting positions in three Vancouver-based mining companies with operations in North America.
Philip “P.B.” Bachman emails, “I recently became a financial adviser at BCS Wealth Management in Johnson City, Tenn. Our independent wealth management firm provides portfolio management and other wealth management services for individuals and families. We also provide group benefits for businesses. If you’re in the area, please drop by.”
Phil Chen and Aston Utan ’06 are co-founders of Common Grounds, a specialty coffee shop and restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia. Phil emails, “Our cafe in the center of the city is doing well, and Aston and I plan to open more by the end of the year. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.”
Jason Reuben, a Los Angeles-area tech entrepreneur and Babson overseer, and Michelle Wolzinger, a University of Southern California senior, organized a Lemonade Day event in Los Angeles, the first in the city. Lemonade Day is a national program that teaches children entrepreneurship and financial basics through running a lemonade stand. Several years ago, Babson led the effort to bring Lemonade Day to Boston.
Nick Collins has been named a member of the mortgage team of Mortgage Network and is based in its new branch office in Boston. He also is serving his third term as state representative for the 4th Suffolk District.
Jesse Tolz (left) started Vida farm in Ghent, N.Y., in 2014. He emails, “Vida tests agricultural assumptions. I’m flying solo in this pursuit, experimenting with the possibilities of a permanent cover crop with minimal till, no conventional or organic pesticides, no irrigation, and a completely direct-seeded farm system. In addition to growing plants for flower arrangements and consumption, I breed plants to save seeds as another revenue stream. More important, breeding is a prime method to produce enhanced and resilient crops. Andrew Lawrence ’08 and I are shown in one of my fields, tasting edible flowers that I sell to restaurants.”
Patrick Clarke founded Cape Clasp in 2013. The company offers hand-tied rope bracelets and fashion accessories inspired by the Cape Cod area, in 2013. He emails, “Cape Clasp had an awesome year in 2015. The company was named a finalist in the Martha Stewart American Made competition; released new products, such as the shark multitool in the picture; and partnered with additional nonprofits. We also purchased retail space in Woods Hole, Mass., for our headquarters and storefront, which opens this summer.”
Ignacio Martinez (left) and Fernando Albornoz (right) founded Fiji Ties in late 2015. Ignacio emails, “Fiji Ties is based in Miami, and we sell 100 percent silk ties made in Italy. What differentiates us from other tie companies is our ability to offer a high-quality product at an affordable price. Because we also believe in the importance of social responsibility, having an impact in our community is a priority. Therefore, we have partnered with Success in Style, an organization that helps men and women in need look professional when attending job interviews.”
Carmela “Pie” Alvarez, municipal mayor of San Vicente in the Philippines, has founded an online fashion marketplace, LCP, which is short for Love, Candypie. Pie emails, “LCP offers curated collections of clothing and accessories—for parties, business, vacations, and more—as well as workout gear and home decor. We also provide local private shopping experiences by appointment to those who enjoy good conversation and Champagne. Shopping with us is fun and stress free, and we offer free express delivery around the world.”
Luke Biggins, a former lacrosse player at Babson, has been named lacrosse coach of the Framingham [Mass.] High School boys team, the Flyers. An iOS and Android chief at Mirror, a placement agency that connects developers with startups, Luke coached and also ran lacrosse clinics and camps after college.
LaShonda Cooks emails, “I was thankful for the opportunity to showcase my paintings and demonstrate my technique at the Conception Dallas Contemporary Art Show in October. Painting live is always a huge adrenaline rush for me. I was thrilled to be one of 50 artists selected for the exhibition, and more than 400 guests attended. No sales that night, but I received great feedback and contact information. I began painting on tile in Babson’s ceramics studio and have turned my passion into a small business. See my work on Facebook and online at Shonda’s Art.”
Pichon Duplan (MSA’11), and Tucker Matheson released their book, Fast Forward: How to Start Your Career in College, in February. Pichon emails, “Taking the right steps to own your future just became easier. Our book helps college students find the careers they are passionate about. As part of the book, we interviewed 11 leaders who are following their passions and making an impact. The ultimate goal is to inspire a career revolution. Develop tomorrow’s leadership by referring the book to someone who will benefit from the message.”
Mason Wartman is founder of Rosa’s Fresh Pizza, a shop he opened in 2014 in Center City Philadelphia, where he sells $1-a-slice pizza. Rosa’s was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America show in November, when Mason talked about his pay-it-forward pizza program, which enables patrons to purchase an extra slice for someone in need.
Samriddhi Gupta started her bakery, Tutto Dolce, in 2015. She emails, “My culinary passion led me to Le Cordon Bleu in London. My vision took me on a journey to find sinful and healthy desserts. Tutto Dolce, which means ‘everything sweet,’ fulfilled not only my creative dreams but also the dreams of everyone with a sweet tooth in Chennai, India. A perfectionist by nature, I modify and test recipes until each creation is perfect. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram.”
Nick Pineda emails, “I accepted a position in January at the Janssen Human Microbiome Institute at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Cos. of Johnson & Johnson. As chief of staff to the institute’s global head, Dirk Gevers, I support the strategic and operational efforts of our group to understand the role that bacteria living in and on the human body play in wellness and disease. While I still live in Pittsburgh, I commute weekly to Boston.”
Michael Hoban emails, “I have been named head coach of the boys varsity ice hockey team at Needham High School. After two years as an assistant coach with the program, I became head coach in October.” Michael was captain of Babson’s hockey team his senior year and played after graduation with the Fort Wayne Komets of the East Coast Hockey League. He is a commercial real estate agent for office and retail leasing at Haynes Management in Wellesley.
Kush Patel has been named assistant vice president for acquisitions at Unison Realty Partners, a retail real-estate management firm in Boston. Previously, he was a senior analyst for business planning and analysis at TJX and also founder of Kuma Realty, a real estate investment management firm.
Nevin Jethmalani, co-founder of fashion app Notify Nearby, emails, “Our mobile app alerts customers about brand announcements, sales, special offers, and more. Customers are alerted in the store in real time as they walk past a specific item. Retailers love us because they can target shoppers when they are most likely to make a purchase. The app is available in the App Store.”
Daquan Oliver, founder of the nonprofit WeThrive (formerly called Recesspreneurs), emails, “WeThrive is a collective of undergrads who mentor and teach life skills through entrepreneurship to youth from low-income households. Last year we raised $120,000, including $20,000 from the Westly Foundation as winners of its competition for solutions to community problems. The funds will support team building and programming efforts.” Daquan was named to The Boston Globe’s Jan. 6 list, “21 Fresh Faces and Bold Ideas from Boston.”
Sammy Dane emails from New York City, “As a student at Babson, I daydreamed of being behind the camera shooting documentaries, spending long nights in edit rooms piecing together creative visions. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’re not creative enough to have a voice. But since graduating, I’ve been shooting and editing documentaries with Elite Daily, a website that creates content for millennials. It feels surreal to live those daydreams on a daily basis.”
Mike Driscoll emails, “Since graduation, I have been fortunate to continue my hockey career. I have been playing minor league pro hockey in Danbury, Conn., for the Danbury Titans, a member of the Federal Hockey League. Along with hockey, the team is involved in community events at schools, restaurants, and more. Our season started in October, and I was selected as the Pro Hockey News Rookie of the Month for November.”
Radhika Gulati, who has started her specialty chocolate business, Rosarte, in New Delhi, wrote about her experience and inspiration in a Feb. 4 essay, “How I Turned My Love for Chocolates into a Career,” on YouthKiAwaaz.com. Previously, she worked at Snapdeal.
Kamisha Lauture emails, “After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. I arrived with no job but had faith that God would steer me in the right direction. In less than a month, a friend helped me find a job at an ad agency, where I enjoy working with the creative staff who have an eye for what engages an audience. I also have signed with a talent agency, did a voice-over for Google, and most recently was cast in a stage production of Lorraine Hansberry’s classic play, A Raisin in the Sun.”
Ryan Vayo emails, “About two years ago, I started MyPetHarmony.com to find the perfect match for pet adopters based on their lifestyle, preferences, experience, etc. After algorithm development, design, and site build, our website officially went live in January. Our services are free to adopters and shelters, and we also offer a variety of pet parent resources, such as our blog, forums, informational videos, and articles sourced from reputable animal welfare organizations. Currently we are expanding our push to help place adoptable animals and promote responsible pet ownership nationwide.”
Dick Power emails, “I have been elected to the board of directors of the Financial Planning Association, headquartered in Denver. I served on the board of the Massachusetts chapter for several years. Primarily in the U.S. but international in scope, the FPA has almost 25,000 members. I have been a CFP since I retired as a colonel from the Army in 1992. My financial practice, Power Plans, is in Walpole, Mass.”
Joseph Winn, P’15 (far right), chairman of Babson’s Board of Trustees, attended a football game in November with (from left) Edward Chiu, Babson’s senior vice president for advancement; Angela Macuga, fiancee of Arthur Blank; Arthur Blank ’63, H’98; and President Kerry Healey. Owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur hosted the group in the Georgia Dome. Joe emails, “We had a great time watching the Falcons play the Colts and appreciate Arthur’s continued support of Babson.”
Bruce Amsbary emails, “I retired in September as CFO of The Rivers School in Weston, Mass., having started as business manager in 1987, when 13-column ledger sheets and manually produced paychecks were the norm. I currently am president and audit committee chair for the Independent Schools Compensation Corporation, an audit committee member of my alma mater, Belmont Hill School, and previously was president of the Massachusetts Association of Nonprofit Schools and Colleges.”
Ed Spadoni has been named chief financial and operating officer at Sacred Heart School in Kingston, Mass. The coeducational school serves students in preschool through grade 12. He oversees the school’s financial reporting and analysis, as well as operation of its campus and buildings. Previously, he was vice president for financial operations and general manager at Cross Country Healthcare.
Karen Callahan has been promoted to vice president for marketing and public relations at Playa Resorts Management, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Previously, she was a director at the resort hotel company, which she joined in 2009. Karen works in the company’s Fairfax, Va., office.
Michael Gwynn (’78): See Undergrads.
Jeffrey Merrihue (right), and Alex Arata, MBA’06 (not in the picture), founded Mofilm in 2009. Jeffrey emails, “Mofilm is a pioneering advertising crowdsourcing agency. Over the years Mofilm attracted a blue chip roster of advertisers, such as Chevrolet, PlayStation, Unilever, Pepsi, and Airbnb. In 2015, David Jones (left), former CEO of Havas, launched brand-tech agency You & Mr Jones with $350 million in funding. The agency’s first acquisition was a majority stake in Mofilm at a $60 million valuation. I currently am CEO of Mofilm & Mr Jones.”
Robert Pepper has been appointed vice president for marketing, North America at Orion Health, a health management and health-care integration company. Before working at Orion, he held marketing executive roles at Visicu, Philips Healthcare, and SoftMed Systems.
The annual 2015 Babson Alumni Association Leadership Awards were presented during Reunion and Homecoming to 10 members of the community at a brunch in the Babson Executive Conference Center. The award recipients are (from left) Michael Aubin, MBA’88; men’s head basketball coach Stephen Brennan; Sodexo employee Stephen “Woody” Lappen; Candace Armand ’10; Adam Ostaszewski, MBA’11; Jeffrey Baker, P’16, ’18; David Sachs ’88; trustee and Global Advisory Board member Fred Kiang ’70, MBA’75; alumni board member Tiffany Lien ’10; and Vasana Jantarach, MBA’07.
Craig Fernandes (right), emails, “For a school project, my 17-year-old son, Brady Fernandes (left), designed a logo that we have turned into a clothing business, PatriotThreads.org. We offer high-quality shirts and accessories that you can be proud to own. Our products are perfect for fundraising and corporate events because we can customize them and add a logo, too. We donate 10 percent of our profits to charities that support wounded veterans. Babson alumni participation will help us hit our fundraising goal of $10,000. To spread the word about our company, we are accepting online applications for our student Ambassador program.”
Tim Clifford: See photo in the Undergraduate section.
Chris Mellen emails, “I sold Delphi Valuation Advisors, a business valuation firm I founded in 2000, to Valuation Research Corp. I’m now a managing director with VRC, leading its Boston office.”
Gary Haffer, P’10, emails, “I recently released my second book, Proven Strategies to Maximize Results with Google AdWords. Have you wondered if there’s a way to be successful with AdWords? Well, I believe I found a method to make AdWords perform. Because of my math background, I calculated every combination and found a way to model rules that really do make a difference. My book took almost a year of nights and weekends to write; it was a labor of love. Please contact me on Facebook, Gary E. Haffer.”
Mary McGovern has been promoted to executive vice president, marketing and retail banking at Country Bank, a state-chartered, mutual savings bank headquartered in Ware, Mass. Mary had been senior vice president and CFO at the bank.
John Dalton emails, “I didn’t realize a driveway-sealing business could turn into this. After working in marketing at PepsiCo, I joined my father in 2000 to run Dalton Enterprises, a Connecticut-based pavement maintenance and recreational coatings manufacturer. Our paint is on Babson’s tennis courts. We have expanded beyond New England to four plants that serve the U.S. and international markets. Working on new products and new channels is exciting, especially when you see your packaging in the market. Perhaps you’ve seen our driveway sealer at Home Depot.”
Deborah Bitsoli has been appointed president of Morton Hospital in Taunton, Mass. The acute-care hospital serves communities in southeastern Massachusetts. Previously, Deborah was COO of St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester.
Nicole Rawan Roberts (’92) emails, “My husband, Mike Roberts, and I recently purchased the Paxton [Mass.] Sports Centre. It’s now called the Paxton Tennis and Fitness Club, and we’re busy making changes, such as upgrading the filtration system in the salt-water pool, remodeling the club room and lobbies, and adding a lounge for kids 10 through 12. We also will add more fitness classes and personal-training groups. Because Mike has expertise in high-level tennis and also runs a tennis academy in North Andover, we’ll improve the junior and adult tennis programs. Drop by when you’re in the Worcester area.”
Vlad Zachary emails, “I recently published my first book, The Excellence Habit: How Small Changes in Our Mindset Can Make a Big Difference in Our Lives. In the two months since the launch, the book reached No. 1 on Amazon in both the Management & Leadership section and the larger Business & Money category, where it consistently ranks in the top 40 business books.” A digital commerce expert, Vlad previously founded and was CEO of Pingwyn, a location-based mobile networking platform.
Marianne D’Aquila has joined Framingham, Mass.-based IDC (International Data Corp.) as research manager of its customer insights and analysis group. She develops research for IDC’s Worldwide Semiannual Cognitive Systems Spending Guide database. Before joining IDC, Marianne was a senior research analyst at several firms, including Gartner and AMR Research.
Easton Dickson emails, “In December 2013, my wife, Elaine, and I launched Reading Owls International to provide books to kids in Jamaica. Last fall we opened our first lending library and donated more than 3,650 culturally relevant books to schools in western Jamaica, impacting more than 3,000 students. The books show children of all backgrounds doing positive things and making good choices. Our initial success has given us great energy and optimism.”
Eric Glassoff works in real estate sales for Coldwell Banker in Brookline, Mass. He emails, “With over 13 years of real estate experience, I specialize in selling and buying condos as well as single-family and multifamily homes. In 2015, I was ranked in the top 1 percent of Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide. Along with Brookline, I serve Boston and the surrounding areas. I educate my clients about the market, work to best represent their interests, and explain all the important steps and necessary paperwork. Contact me at BostonRealEstateExperts.com.”
Ray Salemi emails, “I’m shown with Roxy, a service dog that warns her owner about seizures before they happen. We were at a November fundraising gala in Boston for Mission K9 Rescue, a nonprofit that helps retired military working dogs and all contract working dogs. The organization rescues, reunites, rehomes, and rehabilitates dogs that have served mankind. The gala featured Boston-area mystery writers, who mingled with guests and signed books.” Ray, who writes under the pseudonym Ray Daniel, is working on the fourth thriller in his Tucker mystery series; the third, Child Not Found, will be out in June.
Phillip Silitschanu emails, “After graduating from Stetson University College of Law and passing the Florida bar, I founded CustomWhitePapers.com, my second consulting firm. We provide custom research and white papers to financial service and capital market companies for use as part of their content marketing strategy or market intelligence. I also am still a principal in my first firm, Lightship Strategies Consulting.”
Josh Halpern has been promoted to vice president for on-premise chain and independent retailers at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis. At the company, on-premise means any place a beer could be consumed on the premises, such as stadiums, restaurants, and bars. Previously, Josh was vice president, national retail sales for on-premise and military sales at the company.
Jennifer Jackson is director of clinical engineering and device integration in the enterprise information services department at Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles. She recently received the 2015 Excellence in CE-IT Synergies Award from the American College of Clinical Engineering and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. This award recognizes leadership in promoting cooperation between the clinical engineering and information technology professions.
Laurel Ferretti has become a partner and board member of Social Venture Partners Boston, an organization that helps Boston-area nonprofits thrive. She also has been named a trustee of the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation based in Springfield, Mass. The nonprofit, which was founded by her family, supports and promotes organizations in Hampden County.
Paul Pilotte is technical marketing manager at MathWorks, a Natick, Mass.-based company that develops mathematical computing software. He co-authored a Dec. 3 article, “Save the Whales! Really, Using Big Data,” on EmbeddedComputing.com. MathWorks has sponsored a competition to develop an algorithm that can be used for automated image identification to help marine biologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration monitor and assist North Atlantic right whales.
Nava Cretu emails, “I am manager of analytics for TripAdvisor Flights and chair of the TripAdvisor Analytics Data Guild. I’ve been with the company since 2013. My analytics team and I provide TripAdvisor insight on all elements of its Flights business. TripAdvisor is in its new headquarters in Needham. In February, I had the privilege to participate in a business analytics event at Babson. I’m a mom of two children.”
Mark DiPaola emails, “I’m working now at Caffe Bravo with my dad, John DiPaola, who founded the traditional Italian restaurant in the quaint East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Conn., in 1994. The restaurant focuses on dishes made with fresh, quality ingredients, using simple cooking techniques, all inspired by my father’s hometown in Campania, Italy. After working at AT&T for five years, I returned to New Haven in 2014. Since rejoining the family business, I have initiated several marketing and expansion projects, including participating in New Haven’s Restaurant Week and remodeling the restaurant’s beautiful outdoor dining area.”
Juan Rincon: See Alvaro Pena ’96.
Sarah Fisher works at Johnson & Johnson’s medical devices division as senior director of global markets for external innovation. She has been named one of 100 Global Corporate Venturing Rising Stars by GlobalCorporateVenturing.com. Sarah has worked at Johnson & Johnson for 13 years.
Luke Cooper, founder of Fixt, formerly known as Peach, was interviewed for a two-part article, “A Video Conversation with Luke Cooper, CEO of Fixt,” posted on Dec. 16 and Dec. 21 on CityBizList.com. The Fixt platform streamlines cellphone and tablet replacements and repairs.
Pichon Duplan (’10): See photo in the Undergraduate section.
Karim El-Gamal and Michael Kasseris are two of three founders of Rail Trail Flatbread, a pizza and craft beer restaurant they opened in 2012, and New City Microcreamery, a specialty ice cream shop they opened shortly thereafter. The two restaurants and a speakeasy-styled evening spot, known as “< >” or Less Than Greater Than, located in the back of New City, were featured in an article, “Where to Eat and Drink in Hudson, Mass.,” in the December issue of Boston magazine.
Franco Capurro (right), founder and CEO of Santiago, Chile-based Caaapital, stands with partners Vanesa Kolodziej (center), CFO, and Javier Mozo, chief business development officer. Franco emails, “Caaapital is a private investment platform that connects large infrastructure projects (USD 50 million to 500 million) with institutional investors. The goal is to reduce poverty by rethinking project finance. This means finding smarter ways to finance infrastructure projects, such as water-treatment facilities, solar and wind farms, and roads—all key to improving living conditions. We also have an office in Mexico and are expanding to Brazil and Asia.”
Rebecca McCrensky, founder of Altar Ego, was featured in a Dec. 19 article, “Local Shop Offers Customized Yoga Pants,” in the Andover Townsman. Rebecca has sold her yoga apparel online since 2014, and late last year she opened a store in Andover, Mass., to offer customers an opportunity to try the clothing. About 25 percent of the company’s sales are international, which she credits to the power of social media, especially Instagram.
Faye LaCasse has been named director of product marketing at Ebsco Information Services, which provides online research tools for libraries. She oversees marketing for several product lines, including e-books, subscriptions, and digital magazines. Previously, Faye was director of marketing, U.S. learning services at Pearson North America, where she had worked for 10 years.
Lulwa AlSoudairy is a co-founder of online marketplace Artistia.com, a hub for artists and designers in Saudi Arabia. By increasing exposure, the marketplace seeks to increase demand locally and internationally for its crafts. Artistia, which was founded in 2015, also is on Facebook.
Emily Lagasse and her dog food business, FedWell, were featured in a Nov. 17 article, “Boston Startup FedWell Is Making Pet Food So Pure, You’d Probably Eat It,” on BostInno. Emily first started making food for her dog, Fenway, when she realized that traditional dog food was making him sick. When the dog’s digestive problems disappeared in a few weeks, Emily entered the market to sell her line of less-processed foods.
Andres Valencia (left), emails, “Last year, Diego Pacheco, MBA’16 (right), and I founded Cociel. We are shown with our intern, Karina Del Moral ’18. Cociel helps local Latin American food producers, who source sustainably, enter U.S. and international markets through virtual reality and technology. Why? Because the large ‘Latin’ brands aren’t a true reflection of our food and culture. Also because the local gourmet food producers behind the best flavors in Latin America, hardworking people who have an impact in their communities, have limited access to foreign markets and technological advances.”
Yuanyuan Yin is CEO and co-founder of SuperHealos, a Newton, Mass.-based startup that creates products to help children understand and cope with hospitalization and medical care. The products include storybooks that use cartoon characters to explain medical situations and processes, and coordinating toys, such as capes and stuffed animals for playacting. The SuperHealos app allows children to further explore the medical world.
Work, not wanderlust, has taken Jay Nichols ’82, P’11, to new places, opening his eyes to different cultures and perceptions. Last year alone he traveled to 23 states and 17 countries, seeing the …
More than 300 Babson alumni, parents, and friends attended Babson Connect: Worldwide 2016, an exceptional opportunity for the global Babson community to gather and celebrate Entrepreneurship of All Kinds®. Taking place this past March in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the second annual event offered 11 panels and sessions presented by renowned Babson faculty, local entrepreneurs, and business leaders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. President Kerry Healey announced that Babson Connect: Worldwide 2017 will be held in Thailand.—Lindsay Magoon, associate director, advancement communications
Photo: Gecko Media
While attending the event in Dubai, one of the world’s most cosmopolitan destinations, attendees enjoyed the Arabian Night Welcome Reception and Dinner at the Al Sahara Camp in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Pictured here are Carlos Herrera ’92 and his wife, Elvira de la Guardia.
Photo: Gecko Media
Attendees gathered on the stairway leading to the event ballroom for a group photo. During the three-day event, they enjoyed sessions and panels such as “Stories of Transgenerational Family Businesses,” “Entrepreneurship in the MENA Region,” and “Young Entrepreneurs, Leveraging the Babson Network for Global Enterprise.”
Photo: Gecko Media
On Friday, the Babson community gathered on the lawn at the Four Seasons Hotel for a networking luncheon that highlighted six topics for discussion, including women entrepreneurs, youth unemployment, and globalization and urbanization and the convergence economy.
Photo: Gecko Media
At Saturday night’s awards gala, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (fourth from right), chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs. Shainoor Khoja (third from left), founder and CEO of Better Business Enterprise, was awarded the Lewis Institute Community Changemaker Award. They are pictured here with President Kerry Healey (third from right) and the Babson Connect: Worldwide 2016 host and advisory committees.
Pamela Panagian and Matthew Schuler, both ’06, MSA’06, were married on Feb. 28, 2015, in Boston. Among the guests at the wedding were Nick Colasante, Jacque Decocq, MSA’06, Ashley Gall, Kait Knowles, Kim Kuusela, Meaghan Lally-McGurl, MSA’06, Terry Trail, Francesca Russo, Abby Walker, Kira Watkins, and Jon Watkins, all ’06; and Kate Adamson, Courtney Hancock, Maureen McHugh, Chelsea Moylan, Meredith Nash, Robyn Patnode, Nikki Penikas, Nate Taylor, and Morgan Woods, all ’07.
Kate Troiano ’07 and Kenneth Neilson, MBA’11, were married on March 20, 2015, at Caneel Bay in St. John, Virgin Islands. Kate emails, “More than 100 friends and family and nine alumni traveled to the island for the occasion, including bridesmaids Despina Tolides and Meaghan Chandler, both ’07. KJ and I live on St. Thomas, where we are launching our business, Crate Crops, which will grow hydroponic produce and supply it to the island.”
Annie Chrys ’08 emails, “David Kolber, an alumnus of the University of Southern California, and I were married on Nov. 7 at a big fat Greek wedding celebration in Beverly Hills, Calif. Babsonites made the trip from all over the country to help us celebrate!”
Justin Kinner, MBA’11, emails, “I was married to a wonderful woman, Jessica Sosna, on Sept. 19. We met the summer after graduation. The event was held at a winery in Atco, N.J., and we live in Audubon. After graduation, I started an event rental business, Teton Tent Rental, which has flourished. I’m getting the itch again, and I’m looking to sell it and purchase another business. The entrepreneurship bug never stops.”
Gianna Padavano ’12 and Adam Wilkocki ’12, MSA’14, were married on Nov. 7 in Thompson, Conn. Among the guests at the wedding were 25 alumni, including maid of honor and sister of the bride Alexa Karsos ’09, MSA’09, and groomsmen Alexander Karsos ’09, Juan Restrepo ’12, and Gregory Lafrance ’12, MSA’12.
Bessie Kokalis, MBA’03, and Luigi Pescio were married on Aug. 30 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Centerville, Mass., followed by a reception at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Harwich. Among the guests were the bride’s cousins, Bessie Viar ’94 and Demetrios Tsapralis ’97. The newlyweds work for Philip Morris International in Switzerland.
Donald Benedict ’49 of Seattle died on Dec. 9.
Robert Leonard ’49 of Savannah, Ga., and Las Vegas, died on Dec. 5. He served in the Navy during World War II. A textile marketing executive, he worked for Milliken.
Harris Parsons ’50 of Fishers Island, N.Y., died on Jan. 14. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II and later was an independent hardware sales representative.
James Brewster ’51 of East Falmouth, Mass., died on Jan. 25. From 1951 to 1953, he served in the Army Security Agency. He worked in sales and management for Xerox for more than 30 years.
Carl Weschcke ’51 of Woodbury, Minn., died on Nov. 7. An author, he was president and later chairman of publishing company Llewellyn Worldwide. Survivors include his son, Gabriel Weschcke, and daughter-in-law, Michele DeSantis Weschcke, both ’96.
Howard Neff ’52 of Worcester, Mass., died on Dec. 17. He served in the Navy during World War II. He worked for the Massachusetts unemployment department.
George Bell ’53 of Kingston, Pa., died on Nov. 30. He served in the Navy from 1953 to 1955. A Realtor and appraiser for 55 years, he founded Bell Real Estate.
Arthur Heard ’53 of Portsmouth and Center Sandwich, N.H., died on Dec. 14. He was an Air Force veteran.
Richard Cotter ’55 of Canterbury, Conn., died on Dec. 24. He served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard and worked for Raytheon and InCoTerm.
Alfred Ventola, MBA’55, of Richmond, Va., died on Dec. 1.
David Clark ’56 of Polk City, Fla., died on Nov. 10. He was an Air Force veteran and worked in sales for General Electric.
Edward McCabe ’56 of Hillsborough, N.H., died on Dec. 7. A Korean War veteran, he operated E.J. McCabe, a moving and storage company, for more than 40 years.
James Britt ’58 of Maynard and North Falmouth, Mass., died on Dec. 25. He enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard and then served in the Air Force. He was a real estate manager and investor.
James Manninen ’58 of Walpole, Mass., died on Dec. 12. He was executive vice president at Janney Montgomery Scott.
Donald Hatch ’60 of West Springfield, Mass., died on Nov. 17. He served in the Navy and was a Massachusetts bus and railroad inspector.
Milton Bristol ’61 of Twisp, Wash., died on Dec. 18. An Army veteran, he worked for Worsley Oil in Marlborough, Conn.
Francis Czajkowski ’64 of Sarasota, Fla., died on Dec. 9. He worked at Adelphia Communications.
Jacob Levy ’64 of Concord, Mass., died on Dec. 25.
Robert Watson, MBA’65, of Marstons Mills, Mass., died on Dec. 31. He worked in mortgage banking.
Gerard Trepanier, MBA’66, of Halifax, Mass., died on Jan. 1. A CPA and a CFP, he had an accounting business.
William Stolfors, MBA’67, of Leominster, Mass., died on Nov. 24. He was a veteran of the Korean War.
Robert Patkin ’68, MBA’71, of Londonderry, N.H., died on Sept. 24. Survivors include his son, Michael Patkin ’97.
Peter Davis ’71 of Cazenovia, N.Y., died on Nov. 29. An army veteran, he worked for Cazenovia Lumber and Oil.
Richard Wellner ’71 of Weymouth, Mass., died on Nov. 18. He owned Captain Video in Newton.
Richard Abramson, MBA’72, of Hewlett, N.Y., died on Jan. 17. A CFA, he was senior vice president and senior managing director at AllianceBernstein.
Thomas D’Ambrosio ’73 of Princeton, N.J., died on Jan. 21. He was import director at Dr. Leonard’s Healthcare.
Paul Paulousky, MBA’76, of Franklin, Mass., died on Dec. 12. He served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and was a bookkeeper for the Wrentham Developmental Center.
Richard Hale ’79 of New London, Conn., died on Dec. 2. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War and owned Pequot Colony Wine & Spirits.
Jonathan Lovell ’80 of Sykesville, Md., died on Nov. 17. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He retired in 2003 as budget director of Smith College.
John Leahy ’83 of East Greenwich, R.I., died on Dec. 16. As a self-employed manufacturer’s representative, he marketed Novolex products.
David Smith, MBA’84, of Dedham, Mass., died on Aug. 8. He was a retail real estate developer and consultant. Survivors include his sister, Barbara Smith ’85.
Dana Booth ’87 of Carlisle, Mass., died on Oct. 24. He worked at Citizens Bank in Concord.
Peter Black, H’02, who died on Dec. 18, taught at Babson. He was a member of the Babson Corporation from 1977 to 1992 and again from 1995 to 2001, a trustee from 1992 to 1995, and an overseer from 2001 to 2010. He received the college’s highest honor, The Babson Medal, in 1996. An Army Air Forces veteran, he lived in Westwood, Mass.
Frank Widmer ’43 of Englewood, Fla., died on Dec. 19. He served in the Army during World War II. He owned and operated Ford Lincoln-Mercury dealerships.
Norman Dorian ’48 of Wellesley died on Dec. 12. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. A vice president of Irwin Publishing in Chicago, he also was a member of the Babson Corporation from 1971 to 1986 and a Babson trustee from 1971 to 1977.
Robert Gamble ’48 of Tucson, Ariz., died on Jan. 10. He served in the Army during World War II.
James Montgomery ’48 of Enid, Okla., died on Jan. 21. He served in the Army during World War II and the Korean War. He retired as president of Montgomery Oil.
