Jeff Doherty emails, “After 35 years in sales, marketing, and military service, I shifted my focus to education, teaching in private secondary schools in Ecuador and Pakistan. Today, I continue to teach in my hometown of Fairhope, Ala. I also stay active with community activities and the Baldwin County Master Gardeners.”
Roger Regnier was among the alumni who attended a Dec. 16 lunch at the Babson Executive Education Center. The group included, from left, Dick Young ’63, P’92, ’94, Ash Smith ’62, Paul Dernavich ’63, Roger, Charlie Adams ’62, Bob Hunnewell ’65, MBA’67, P’01, Rob Wilkinson ’64, Paul McLaughlin ’63, and Dick’s brother, Steve Young. Roger emails, “For more than 20 years, many of this group have attended the Babson Christmas lunch. This year, there were 17 of us. Some continue working; others are retired. Many of our wives joined us. A spirited, fun time was enjoyed by all.”
Steven Schwartz, a founder of the Springfield, Mass., law firm Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, was named to the 2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list in the field of business and corporate law. His practice focuses on family business planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and estate planning. Steven has appeared on the annual list for more than 10 years.
Ronald Weiner, trustee emeritus and managing partner of the CPA firm Perelson Weiner, accepted a Winner’s Circle Inclusion and Diversity Award for his firm from The Advisory Board, a coalition of accounting firm consultants. The award recognizes Perelson Weiner’s commitment to appreciating and valuing individual differences. In a statement, Ronald remarked, “The firm is a meritocracy, and our corporate culture is based on mutual respect. Our leadership represents the diverse domestic and international clientele we serve.”
Bill Dooley emails from Naples, Fla., “I teach the incarcerated in Florida prisons to prepare them for the GED examination and future success.”
Mark Shaughnessy (MBA’82) was noted in a Nov. 16 article, “MMA Academic Achievement Awards Honor Student Scholars and Faculty,” in Rocky Coast News online. At a November awards banquet, Mark was recognized for his promotion to full professor at Maine Maritime Academy. He teaches accounting, finance, and marketing in the college’s Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics. He is also a CPA and a chartered global management accountant.
Kim Garnett (MBA’82) emails, “Roger Babson once said, ‘The successful man is the one who had the chance and took it.’ Take a chance and join your classmates at our Reunion on September 15 to 17 to reconnect and have some fun. We welcome additional committee members to make our 40th Reunion worthwhile and memorable. See you this fall!”
Jim Judge (MBA’81) and wife Mary were recognized for their generous philanthropy by the Boston Irish Reporter at the newspaper’s Boston Irish Honors luncheon in October. Jim has served as a board member at College Bound Dorchester and leads an annual walk to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. Last spring, Jim, who began his career at what was then known as Boston Edison, became president and CEO of Eversource, a utility company serving more than 3.6 million customers throughout New England.
Joan Hennessey emails, “I have joined Deane in Stamford, Conn., as a kitchen designer. After enjoying a rewarding career with Mastercard and IBM, I was eager to find a great company for my next professional phase. I chose Deane because the firm is known for quality cabinets, superior designs, and excellent customer service. I am a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association and an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers.”
Jon Weber (MBA’81) was recently named head of portfolio company management for BlueMountain Capital Management, a private investment firm with more than $21.5 billion in assets under management. Jon, who also holds a JD degree from Harvard Law School, previously served in similar positions at Anchorage Capital Group, Goldman Sachs Special Situations Group, and Icahn Enterprises. He is a board member of Chai Lifeline, an organization that helps meet the needs of seriously ill children.
Tim DeMello, P’18, is founder and CEO of Gradifi. The Boston-based startup, which helps companies set up student-debt repayment programs for their employees, was bought in December by First Republic Bank. The company will remain in Boston and continue to operate under its own brand but will become a wholly owned subsidiary of First Republic.
George Recck (MBA’84) emails, “Our 35th (yikes!) Reunion is right around the corner. I hope many of you can attend. I have had the privilege of being a full-time faculty member for the Math and Science Division at Babson since 2005. We have had some milestone birthdays in our family recently. Cathy turned 50 in January, Charlie turned 10 last October, and Calli turned 13 in March. I’m posting updated pictures on our Babson College Class of 1982 Facebook page. Let me know if you would like to be a member of the page.”
Michael Angelakis has been reappointed to a one-year term as chairman of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, a position he has held since 2016. Michael, a Babson trustee, is chairman and CEO of Atairos and senior advisor to the executive management committee of Comcast.
Mark Bahlmann emails, “Several partners and I have recently founded a private equity firm, Oxer Capital, focused on providing mezzanine capital to companies at the low end of the middle-market. Our $130 million fund invests $2 million to $8 million in private companies throughout the U.S., focusing on the Great Lakes region. I am looking forward to seeing many classmates at our 30th Reunion in September.”
Dan Egan of Campton, N.H., was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum in April. In the 1980s and 1990s, he and his brother, John, became known for extreme skiing in remote regions around the world. For 15 years, he hosted a syndicated TV series, Dan Egan’s Wild World of Winter, and he has been featured in numerous ski films. Dan is also an author and an award-winning snow-sports journalist.
Tim Ryan, PwC’s new U.S. chairman, was profiled in a February Fortune article, “Tim Ryan’s Awakening.” Tim was hailed by the magazine as “PwC’s quiet revolutionary” for his efforts to address issues of race and diversity at the firm. Prompted by several high-profile shootings that occurred last summer, Tim created what the article called “a series of emotional, companywide conversations about race that continue to this day and have transformed PwC leadership.”
Anne Yount emails, “I started Boston Tutoring Center in 2002. At the beginning, I offered small-group classes to prepare children for the Independent School Entrance Exam. Now we provide academic and test-prep tutoring for students of all ages, as well as consulting services for parents. This year we are going to launch a nonprofit organization to help underserved students get into private schools, and I will publish a book on the do’s and don’ts of private school admission.”
Marc Bell, CEO of Kyboe, demonstrated his Babson alumni pride South Beach-style at his pop-up watch shop during Art Basel in Miami Beach, Fla. Among the offerings for sale was a special Babson edition watch. Marc has long been active in the art world as a major collector of contemporary art. He welcomed more than 80 members of the Babson community in South Florida, including Steven Maler, director of the Sorenson Center for the Arts, for sushi served on surfboards, champagne toasts, and inspiring speeches at the lavish SLS Hotel.
Jonathan Luther came to campus in October to address students about his work as a food entrepreneur and to participate in Babson Food Day. Jonathan is the founder of JJ’s Red Hots, a self-described hot dog joint serving “the best hot dogs and handmade sausages on the planet.” He has two outlets in Charlotte, N.C., with a third expected to open this summer. JJ’s Red Hots was recently featured on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Jonathan is shown here with the show’s host, Guy Fieri (left). Jonathan emails that the experience was “stressful, but fun!”
Vikki (Smith) Gallagher emails, “Rejoined the business world after a long break as a stay-at-home mom. Working at a startup firm, Gold Property Management, in Andover, Mass., as a property manager and CFO and having a blast. Hope to see everyone in September for the 25th Reunion!”
Jeff Neil emails, “I’ve been working in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry for 19 years. I’m currently an associate director at Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, where we focus on medicines for the renal community. Looking forward to seeing everyone at our 25th Reunion later this year!”
Toni Clayton-Hine was named chief marketing officer of Xerox after the January spinoff of Conduent, the former Xerox services business. Prior to joining Xerox in 2013, Toni held leadership positions with CA Technologies and The Channel Company. Toni and her husband, Jeffrey Hine ’92, reside in Westchester County, N.Y., with their two daughters.
Kevin Grimes emails, “Grimes & Co. continues to thrive and has been recognized as one of the top registered investment advisors in the country by Barron’s, Forbes, the Financial Times, and others. We have a big Babson Reunion this year—20 years! I am on the committee to plan the festivities and look forward to seeing everyone there. Mark your calendars for September 15 to 17 and bring your drinking shoes, as it is going to be a great time!”
Joseph Ryan was named managing partner and chief investment officer of The Dowling Group, an investment firm based in Greenwich, Conn. Previously, he was founder and CEO of WJR Financial, a registered investment adviser, and a senior vice president with Mutual of America.
Todd Kelley, founder of Graffiti Removal Experts, emails, “I started my company to fill a need for graffiti removal and cleaning in Philadelphia. That’s me on the right with one of my workers, Will Chatten. Recently I started training and hiring homeless and ex-offender individuals. Additionally, I have implemented a program allowing local and international artists to cover the graffiti with their own artwork. Everybody wins—the city by becoming cleaner and more beautiful, the homeless and ex-offender workers by obtaining employment, and me by expanding my business. I’d love to work with other Babson grads to expand into other cities. Contact me at todd@graffitiremovalexperts.com.”
Leticia Stallworth MBA’13, president of the Babson Black Affinity Network, led Stand Together, a campus gathering of Babson students, faculty, staff, and alumni, this past fall. The group assembled in the face of global, national, and local divisions, with the common goal of becoming the best version of themselves and worthy ambassadors for Babson. Babson Magazine regrets that we mistakenly printed a wrong photo with the original write-up in our winter 2017 issue. This is the correct photo of Leticia speaking to the group.
Eric Pallay has been working on VisibleHand, a startup based in Denver. He emails, “VisibleHand is a disruptive company with a groundbreaking product geared toward helping improve care in the behavioral health space. Our platform, Foresight, compiles previously inaccessible behavioral data for use in analytics, predictive modeling, and decision support.” Eric adds, “Our efforts are making a big difference in the way care is delivered to the elderly and those dealing with mental health issues.”
Alex Burakovsky, Michael Angelov ’05, and Lev Matskevich ’15 had some fun this past December with their NaughtyCoal business. NaughtyCoal, which was featured on WFXT-TV in Boston shortly before Christmas, will send a lump of coal and a cheeky note from Santa to those on your list who deserve it. The partners donate a portion of their proceeds to Toys for Tots, which provides toys and other gifts to needy children.
Anthony Carrino, of HGTV fame, will make an appearance in May at the Home Design and Remodeling Show at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Anthony is co-host of Kitchen Cousins, as well as several other home-remodeling shows. He and his cousin, John Colaneri, will lead seminars and give South Florida homeowners inspiration for their own renovation projects.
Wendy Liebowitz raised more than $13,000 for Glam-A-Thon, a local Broward County, Fla., charity that provides financial aid to breast cancer patients. As part of her effort, she donated 10 inches of her hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, which makes wigs for breast cancer patients. Wendy and husband Derick Jaindl ’00 are pictured at the Winterfest Boat Parade’s Black Tie Ball, where Wendy was honored as Belle of the Ball for her work with the event. Wendy also recently received a national customer engagement award from her employer, Fidelity Investments. She is vice president and branch manager for the firm’s Fort Lauderdale Investor Center.
Abby Fabiaschi’s first novel, I Liked My Life, was published by St. Martin’s Press in January to great acclaim. In a starred review, Library Journal wrote, “Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, this hard-to-put-down, engrossing debut will have readers wondering until the very end. It examines life and death, despair and faith, parenthood and marriage, the choices we make, and, most of all, love—making it a perfect choice for book clubs.” Seventy people gathered at Wellesley Books in February to celebrate the book’s launch. Connect with Abby on Facebook, Amazon, or Goodreads.
Shekhar Kanabar was profiled in a January Forbes.com article, “How This Entrepreneur Runs A 50-Year-Old Family Business in Tanzania.” He serves as CEO of Synarge Group. Based in Tanzania, Synarge was founded in the 1960s by Shekhar’s father as a cloth-trading business. It has since grown to encompass a range of endeavors including lead smelting, battery recycling, and distribution of automotive spare parts.
Lena Romanova was instrumental in creating the Boston Winter village at City Hall Plaza during the holiday season. Lena is founder and CEO of Millennial Exhibitions, the firm that designed the Europeanstyle winter festival, which featured wine tastings, shopping, live events, and more. The market, open daily through the month of December, attracted thousands of visitors and was featured in Boston Magazine, The Boston Globe, and elsewhere. “It was exciting to introduce a new holiday tradition to Boston,” emailed Lena, shown with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at the market. “We’re looking forward to an even more successful market next December.”
Daniel Thomsen was profiled in a Dec. 2 article, “TV Writer from Syracuse Explains Hollywood’s Obsession with Reboots, Remakes,” on Syracuse.com. Daniel has worked on TV shows such as Once Upon a Time, Westworld, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Melrose Place, and Time After Time.
Andrew Korge has been named vice president of strategic development at The Lynx Companies in Coral Gables, Fla., a portfolio of companies with expertise in real estate development, construction, technology, and education. Andrew emails, “In my new role, I will be expanding our portfolio of businesses in the Americas while focusing on my passions of sustainable real estate development and teaching 21st century skills like cybersecurity and coding to kids. Before joining Lynx and after law school, I spent several years working for my family’s real estate business and have raised millions of dollars for Democrats, including President Obama.”
Michael Angelov: See 2001.
Yumin Choi has joined Bain Capital Ventures, serving in the role of managing director for the firm’s health-care investments. In his new position, Yumin will focus on investments across health-care analytics, behavioral health, digital health, home and elder care, and population health management. Previously, he worked for health-care specialist HLM Venture Partners.
Kimberly Shappee has joined RBC Wealth Management as first vice president and financial adviser. Previously, Kimberly was senior credit officer and senior vice president at Bank of Montana.
Kit Yan’s solo slam-poetry show, Queer Heartache, was featured in February at the American Repertory Theatre’s I.D. Festival in Cambridge, Mass. The show also was included in the 2015 Chicago Fringe Festival and the 2016 San Francisco Fringe Festival, where it won Best of Fringe. Kit toured college campuses through the spring semester, making a stop at Babson in April.
Lizabeth Czepiel emails, “I’ve recently been accepted as a contributor to Forbes.com, where I’ll be sharing my expertise on coaching and leadership development. For the past three years, I’ve run a coaching and consulting practice dedicated to women’s leadership. My clients are leaders, entrepreneurs, and purpose-driven change makers who want to do something great in this world, live a life beyond current possibilities, and create impact.” Lizabeth is also a learning and development lead at Spotify.
Dan Marques emails, “With our 10th Reunion coming up, I’ve joined the planning committee, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with everyone. Since graduating from Babson, I have stayed involved by coaching student entrepreneurs, speaking on panels, and volunteering on committees. On a personal note, my wife and I just finished building a house in Norwell, Mass., and our daughter, Emma, is turning 2.”
Jason Reuben emails, “Super excited to be part of the planning committee for our 10th Reunion. It’s going to be amazing. Babson has remained a part of my life since graduating. I sit on the College’s Board of Overseers, and I’m also co-president of the Southern California Alumni Club. I’m happily married to my soul mate, Sharon, and proud father to my newborn son, Dylan. This is going to be a year to remember.”
David Sayer spent six months— from May to October 2016—hiking the entire 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. Starting at the Mexican border, he traversed the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges through California, Oregon, and Washington into Canada. David left his job at Advent Software to make the journey. He emails, “I was inspired by the physical and mental challenge of the PCT and wanted to see if I was capable of completing such an expedition.” David is shown here at the southern (left) and northern (right) ends of the hike.”
Polina Raygorodskaya is CEO and co-founder of Wanderu, a booking service and search engine for bus and train travel. The Boston Business Journal reported in January that Wanderu now can be used for European travel. Launched in 2013, Wanderu allows users to create and compare itineraries for ground travel, either through its website or through an app.
Michael Markarian, CEO and founder of Mount Dream, which provides feedback on new business ideas, ran a program at Babson, helping students use Mount Dream to put their concepts into action. Michael (center) visited campus in December for a live finale. The top ideas from the program were pitched to five “sharks,” all recent Babson alumni. Briggs Original, a spiked-seltzer company cofounded by Michael Kurson ’19, won the top prize: $5,000 and a video call with Guy Kawasaki, H’00. Markarian emails, “Our three interns—Shaan Mahtani, Carolina Torrens, and Lauren Mariano, all ’19—deserve much of the credit for our success.”
Mark Bollman emails, “Five years ago, I launched American Field, a growth platform for innovative brands. Our core offering is a travelling pop-up market that sets up in cities across the nation, bringing together American-made brands and the people behind them. What originally started as a platform to sell products from my lifestyle brand, Ball and Buck, alongside other made-in-USA businesses, has evolved into a standalone operation. In 2016, we spanned from Boston to San Francisco, Atlanta to Brooklyn, and partnered with brands including New Balance, Bulleit Bourbon, and Polartec.”
Miwa Nakata (second row, far right), a director of the Alumni Club of Japan, emails, “In January, an undergraduate elective abroad class, sponsored by the Glavin Office of Multicultural and International Education, met with Alumni Club of Japan members in Tokyo. The gathering gave students, alumni, and a former exchange student an opportunity to meet and network. The 10-day course, led by Yasuhiro Yamakawa, associate professor of entrepreneurship (center, with Babson flag), took 15 students to Japan to study culture and business.”
Brett Sobol is co-founder of Nauvoo Games. The firm created Stockpile, a game about insider trading that earned Nauvoo “Best Small Publisher” at the 2015 Dice Tower Gaming Awards. In 2017, Nauvoo plans to launch two more games: CrossTalk, in which players guess secret keywords, and The Reckoners, based on the books by author Brandon Sanderson. Brett emails, “Stockpile combines my lifelong interest in games with my background in finance, taking a complex subject and distilling it into an exciting 45-minute experience that even children can play.” In August, Brett, right, and partner Seth Van Orden attended Gen Con, the largest tabletopgame convention in North America.
Eric Muli was one of several young Kenyans profiled in a January 5 AllAfrica.com article, “These Rising Stars Have Shaken Kenya, and the World Too.” Eric is the CEO and founder of Odyssey Capital, a micro-financing company with a focus on consumer financing.
Daquan Oliver was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, which celebrates the achievements of young innovators and changemakers in 20 categories. Listed in the “social entrepreneurs” category, he was recognized for his work with WeThrive, a nonprofit he founded that pairs middle school students from low-income communities with college-student mentors in an afterschool entrepreneurship program. In January, WeThrive took first prize at WeWork (a provider of co-working space) Demo Day, reaping $180,000 to support WeThrive’s efforts.
Tyler Blake was interviewed by Rolling Out in January. The article, “Here’s How Tyler J. Blake Turned A Hobby Into An E-Commerce Overload,” discussed Tyler’s two e-commerce ventures, Kicks Under Cost and Clothes Under Cost, sites that offer consumers sneakers and apparel at discount prices.
Lev Matskevich: See 2001.
Patrick Aloisio emails, “I recently started a luxury watch company called Ascension Brands. Our watches are geared toward young professionals and are designed to be symbols of potential and capability. We completed our initial production run in October, and because of high demand, we launched a Kickstarter campaign in November to help fund an expedited second production run. Feel free to reach out at patrick@ascensionbrands.com with any questions or just for networking.”
Nina Vir is the founder of Daily Dress Me. The site’s algorithm helps users choose appropriate outfits for their local weather. Type in “Boston” or “Beijing,” for example, and Daily Dress Me will suggest style ideas keyed to the local forecast. Nina emails, “Our goal is to inject simplicity and delight into your daily routine of looking good and feeling great.” Nina was recently featured in The Huffington Post, which called her startup “totally ingenious.” This spring she is participating in a program for new ventures run by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center in San Francisco.
Christopher de Leon was among 17 applicants chosen for a 2017 fellowship from the nonprofit Future Founders. The selective fellowship is a yearlong program that supports the development of young entrepreneurs. Christopher is cofounder and CEO of HubCharge. The company’s wireless charging systems are used by restaurants, hotels, bars, offices, and other businesses to engage with customers, track data, and enhance user experience.
Hanson Grant was named one of 12 semifinalists in the 2017 Cupid’s Cup Entrepreneurship Competition, chaired by Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank. Hanson’s startup, Think Board, was chosen from among hundreds of applicants competing for more than $100,000 in prizes. Think Board is a clear dry-erase film that allows users to turn any surface into a white board.
Carl Lind emails, “I have been busy in retirement as director of the Sun City Hilton Head (S.C.) Veterans Association. We do much to support both active-duty troops and veterans, including fundraising for chaplains’ funds at local military bases, Fisher House Charleston, and our local high school Junior ROTC. Last spring I joined with veterans from the Honor Flight in Savannah, Ga., to visit the war memorials in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was most sobering.”
Bill Teuber was named senior operating principal of Bridge Growth Partners, a New York-based private-equity firm. Prior to joining Bridge Growth Partners, Bill was vice chairman of EMC. He also is on the board of directors of CRH, a global building materials group; Popular, a diversified financial services company; and Inovalon, a health-care technology company. In addition, he serves on the board of trustees of the College of the Holy Cross.
Kerry O’Neil got a shout-out at the Grammy Awards when Maren Morris won the award for Best Country Solo Performance. In her thank-you speech, Morris acknowledged, among others, “Kerry O’Neil at Big Yellow Dog.” Kerry and Carla Wallace are co-owners of Big Yellow Dog, an independent music publishing and artist development company based in Nashville, Tenn. “It was quite a weekend,” Kerry emailed, “and so nice to see Maren get this award from her peers. It was well-deserved!”
Jim Judge (’77): See Undergrads.
Jon Weber (’80): See Undergrads.
David Jordan has been elected vice president and general manager of specialty metal products for Ametek, a manufacturer of electromechanical devices and electronic instruments headquartered in Berwyn, Pa. He joined Ametek in 2015 as vice president and business unit manager of the company’s precision tube and strip business unit. Previously, he held leadership and management roles at Lucas-Milhaupt and Engelhard.
Kim Garnett (’77): See Undergrads.
Mark Shaughnessy (’75): See Undergrads.
Eric Bloom was featured in an interactive webinar called “Hidden Secrets of Organizational Efficiency” in December, discussing concepts from his latest book, Productivity Driven Success. Eric, a bestselling author, is president and founder of Manager Mechanics, a firm specializing in IT leadership development and soft-skills training. His new book shares his strategies for improving productivity, promising to help readers become “productivity superstars.”
George Recck (’82): See Undergrads.
Steve Wasserman joined the full-time faculty at Bentley University as a lecturer in the finance department, where he teaches corporate finance and performance measurement. Prior to joining Bentley on a full-time basis, Steve held the position of adjunct instructor while working full time as a CFO. Over the course of his career, he has served as CFO for seven public and privately held companies. In addition to teaching, Steve currently serves as a consulting CFO for venture-backed companies.
Michael O’Neill was appointed to a third term on the Boston School Committee by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in January and then re-elected as the committee’s chairperson. As reported in The Boston Globe, Mayor Walsh said in a statement, “Michael is a proven leader who understands the importance of moving the school district forward and broadening quality educational opportunity for all students across the city.”
Katherine (Baker) Lovell was recently appointed executive director overseeing operations and development for The Mill at Anselma, a national historic landmark in Chester Springs, Pa. Previously, Katherine worked as development director for Bridge of Hope Lancaster and Chester Counties, which provides services to homeless single women and their children. According to the Mill at Anselma website, the facility began operations in 1747 and is the most intact, authentic example of a custom water-powered grain mill in the U.S.
Jay Sterin has been named vice president of sales and marketing for Philadelphia-based Bartash Printing, a manufacturer of magazines, niche publications, and newspapers. Prior to assuming his new role, Jay was a general manager at Broad Street Media, a Philadelphia publisher of local newspapers.
Robert DiBella has been elected president and chief executive officer of The Savings Bank of Wakefield, Mass. Robert has been associated with The Savings Bank since 1987, when he joined the business as accounting manager. He has served in key leadership positions in the bank’s subsidiaries and charitable foundations.
Laura (Sexton) Peterson was elected an assistant vice president of Charles River Bank by the bank’s board of directors. Laura will serve as information systems manager, responsible for maintaining a secure network environment for the bank, implementing new information technology policies and procedures, and maintaining vendor management.
Bernard Lee, a professional poker player and media personality from Wayland, Mass., emails, “PokerUpdate recently named my radio show, The Bernard Lee Poker Show, to its list of ‘5 Best Poker Podcasts You Need To Listen To Right Now.’ It’s a lot of fun to share the show with my listeners each week. It airs live on RoundersRadio.com and is available as a podcast.” Bernard also was recognized in a Dec. 19 Boston Globe story for his charitable efforts on behalf of needy children.
Gillian Meek was named president of Keds, a division of Wolverine Worldwide of Waltham, Mass. Previously, she served as senior vice president of product and marketing for Wolverine’s Stride Rite Children’s Group. Gillian also supports and mentors women in the organization as co-chair of the Wolverine Worldwide Women’s Resource Group and is an active member of Women in Footwear Industry, a support and professionalgrowth network.
Vlad Zachary gave a talk about his book, The Excellence Habit, at the Mansfield [Mass.] Public Library in February. Vlad’s book has received several honors and was named Best 2016 Motivational Book by Next Generation Indie Book Awards. The “excellence habit,” Vlad contends, is an outgrowth of embracing change. He writes in the book’s introduction, “A life of excellence is a life of paying attention and a life of deliberate, continuous change.”
Manuel Arango emails, “On our Christmas family trip to Argentina, we had a fantastic afternoon with Javier Goldberg, MBA’00, and his family in Buenos Aires. It was great to see him again and to meet his family as well.” Javier is shown on the far right, and Manuel is third from the right.
Jonathan Jewett emails, “I recently published a book, The 40 Best Sales Techniques Ever. It’s a collection of secrets, tips, and tricks that top sales performers use to win at the sales game. I’ve developed these techniques during a 22-year career selling enterprise software to the Fortune 1000. Every technique is actionable and designed to help sales professionals improve their results immediately. Since graduating from Babson, I’ve held various sales leadership roles with startups and early-stage companies.”
Kelly Mendell was featured in a Dec. 2 article, “Mikel Helping Assure U.S. Ocean Dominance,” on pbn.com, the online version of Providence Business News. Kelly is president of Mikel, headquartered in Middletown, R.I., and Fall River, Mass., which recently was granted a multimillion-dollar, five-year contract to develop advanced sonar and sensor technology for the U.S. Navy. The company, which was founded by Kelly’s father, Brian Guimond, creates products and services focused on acoustic tracking and navigation, combat systems, and performance assessment.
Bill Smith was featured in a Nov. 17 FurnitureToday.com article, “Smith Joins CV International as VP, Business Development & Sales.” Bill is based in the Charlotte, N.C., office of CV International, a freight forwarder, customs broker, and provider of international supply chain and logistics services. Previously, he held senior management roles at Globe Express Services.
Michael Budd married Bonnie Anderson on Sept. 25, 2016, at The Landing on Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, R.I. Michael is a technology specialist for Babson Executive and Enterprise Education.
Mara Laird has written her first children’s book. She emails, “God Always Loves You, published by Archway Publishing, is about God’s unconditional love. Through simple rhymes and pictures, this book presents everyday emotions and situations that young children can relate to. I’m living in Wellesley with my husband and children. After graduating from Babson, I worked as a technical writer in the banking and health-care fields before I decided to be a stay-at-home mom. I am enjoying every moment of parenting.”
Nehme Abouzeid was featured in a Nov. 7 article, “Las Vegas NHL Team Hires Wynn Executive as No. 2 in Business Operations,” on ReviewJournal.com. Nehme is senior vice president and chief marketing officer of a new NHL hockey franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, which will begin playing in the 2017-2018 season. Previously, Nehme spent 12 years in the casino industry, most recently as executive director of brand marketing and entertainment marketing for Wynn Las Vegas.
Kevin Krueger, emails, “After selling Patriot’s Day merchandise for eight years with my SupahFans Streetwear brand, which launched in 2004, I’ve just completed my first Boston Marathon. Inspired by my friend Heather, who lost her leg at the 2013 bombing and now helps other amputees purchase high-tech prosthetic limbs, I hope to raise $10,000 for The Heather Abbott Foundation. If you’d like to donate to my effort, email me at kevin@riserealty.com.” Kevin recently moved to Miami and is working as a commercial real estate adviser for Rise Realty. He completed the Miami Marathon—his first—in January and wants to expand Heather’s mission nationally.
Frank O’Neil has been named vice president of sales, managed services, at Highstreet, a provider of consulting, network, and managed services based in Greenwood Village, Colo. Previously, Frank held leadership roles at CSC and Verizon/Terremark, working with clients in the Fortune 1000 market.
Jason Jacobs: See MBA’14.
Rich Stoller was appointed vice president of operations for Lexumo, an open-source software security company based in Cambridge, Mass. Rich previously served as vice president, finance and treasurer, for SavingStar.
Matt Conway was named executive vice president of client operations for Shields Health Solutions, a creator of specialty pharmacies for hospitals and health systems. In his new role, Matt will oversee the company’s business development and marketing initiatives and help shape long-term business strategy.
Aldo Carrascoso told BusinessWorld Online in a Jan. 25 article, “Road to Silicon Valley,” how his perseverance helped him create his business and won him a place in Babson’s MBA program. After his initial bid for admission failed, he said, “I flew to Boston and I told them, ‘You need to take me, because I am what an entrepreneur is.’” Aldo started Veem, a payment service provider, in 2014. It now operates in more than 60 countries.
Mateen Abdul co-founded Grassroots Energy, an energy startup based in Bengaluru, India, that launched in 2015. As noted in a Nov. 12 article, “The Power of Plants,” on NewIndianExpress.com, the company recently received grants to set up and test mini-grids, which generate energy from organic waste, in remote agricultural areas. Mateen previously worked in strategy and business development for another startup, Emergence BioEnergy.
Gordon Brockway was featured in a Nov. 14 WickedLocal.com article, “First Parish Concord to Host Heat Pumps Presentation,” about a lecture and discussion in which he participated in Concord, Mass. Gordon, formerly the chair of the Concord Comprehensive Sustainable Energy Committee, is a board member of the Concord Municipal Light Plant and a senior consultant at Stroz Friedberg, a cybersecurity firm.
Jon Feinman: See MBA’14.
Mike Salguero was recently featured in a Jan. 17 New York Times article, “Grass-Fed Beef, Sold One Cow at a Time,” about companies that sell grass-fed beef online. Mike is the founder of ButcherBox, which delivers 100 percent grass-fed beef, organic and pasture-raised chicken, and heritage breed pork to customers’ doors. Mike was quoted as saying, “We believe people should be eating meat that’s much healthier than they are currently getting.”
Matt Chatham was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. A former New England Patriots linebacker who helped the team win three Super Bowl championships, Matt co-founded and writes football analysis for Football By Football, a website that provides commentary by football players and writers.
Kristen Colella emails, “I am a manager at Innosight, where I help companies develop innovation capabilities and launch new growth businesses. On Nov. 11, I was a speaker at ‘Emulating Entrepreneurship in a Corporate Culture,’ a session at the Babson Entrepreneurship Forum. I hope that sharing my experiences has the potential to shape or impact someone’s future path.” The moderator was Kim Walsh, MBA’12, global director of HubSpot for Startups, a program designed to help educate, transform, and grow startup companies.
Kyle Cooke appeared on the Bravo reality show Summer House, which began airing in January. Kyle emails, “Bravo has the most affluent, educated, and engaged audience on TV. Aside from this being a crazy experience with close friends, I hope to create a platform leveraging direct-to-consumer opportunities. I’m launching Fenix, a high-end lifestyle brand focused on weight loss and nutrition. Legacy brands such as Weight Watchers are out of touch with what consumers—especially those in Bravo’s demographic—need and want.” Kyle has been involved in several startups, including Birddogs, a company selling activewear.
Richard Cooney was profiled in a Nov. 28 article, “Medford Native Is Melrose’s Newest Officer,” in the Medford Patch. Richard recently became an officer with the Melrose (Mass.) Police Department. After working in financial services for 15 years and serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Richard attended the Lowell Police Academy.
Carey Fan (left), emails, “My business partner, Amar Amin, MBA’12, and I met in Babson San Francisco’s pioneering 2012 class. We provide connected car services for automobile owners in India. MatchpointGPS launched while we were attending Babson, shortly after the SF Rocket Pitch. I had the GPS tech background, and Amar had the Indian cultural know-how. After six grueling years, we are fully profitable. We have gone through the school of hard knocks and now have more than 100 employees and millions in revenue.”
Mathew Paisner, director of business development for ScrubaDub New England, emails, “Recently, my family celebrated ScrubaDub’s 50th anniversary as a third-generation family business. My grandparents, Marshall and Elaine Paisner, opened the first ScrubaDub Auto Wash in Massachusetts in 1966. Today, my uncle, Robert Paisner, MBA’85, is CEO, and my father, Danny Paisner, is president. We opened our 18th New England location in November 2016 in Chelsea, Mass., and have plans to break ground this spring on a new state-of-the-art facility in Brighton.” Mathew (right) and his father, shown here, appeared in January on CEO Corner on NECN.
Kim Walsh: See Kristen Colella, MBA’11.
David Blutenthal was featured in a Dec. 11 article, “Snapwave Increases Engagement in Music Streaming for Consumers, Artists, and Advertisers,” on menafn.com. David is co-founder and CEO of Snapwave, a community-driven music-streaming app. David’s previous venture was Moodsnap, an image-based music-discovery product.
Jaime Morocco emails, “In late 2015, I launched Jaime Morocco Fitness, an online personal training and nutrition coaching business. With the power of technology, I am able to help people all over the world reach their wellness goals. I write custom workout and nutrition plans for my clients. Clients keep track of qualitative and quantitative data points, we check in every week, and I adjust the plan as necessary. After receiving my Babson MBA, I knew I had to not only start my own business, but also go after my passion. And I’m doing exactly that.”
Ryan Wright was interviewed in January by meteorologist Mike Wankum on WCVB-TV in Boston. Ryan is the founder and CEO of WrightGrid, creating solar-powered charging stations that can be used for cell phones and other devices in places where the electrical grid is unreliable or nonexistent. In the segment, Wankum noted, “This could be one of the biggest breakthroughs for cell phones in rural Africa.” WrightGrid expects to send 1,000 charging stations to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the next 12 months. Ryan told Wankum that he also is working on potential projects in Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda.”
Sam Aquillano was the featured speaker at an Oct. 14 “Arts & Business Conversation” event on campus. He is founder and executive director of Design Museum Foundation, a national network of local design museums operating in Boston, Portland, and San Francisco (see more on Sam below).”
C.J. Meenan was featured in a Nov. 7 article on Progress-Index .com, “Petersburg Sheriff’s Office Sponsors 6th Re-entry Forum.” C.J., an author and educator, spoke at a September event, sponsored by the Petersburg, Va., sheriff’s office, for people re-entering society from the correctional system. He co-founded Open for Business Ventures, which provides entrepreneurship education via online courses and real-time workshops, and is co-author of The Beginner’s Guide to Entrepreneurship: The Reentry Edition.
Mark Wallace, Sam Aquillano, Jon Feinman, MBA’10, and Jason Jacobs, MBA’05, were among those honored in BostInno’s “50 on Fire” awards, which recognize individuals and organizations that are pushing innovation in Boston. Mark is co-founder and manager of Parlor Skis. Sam serves as founder and executive director of Design Museum Foundation. Jon is executive director and founder of InnerCity Weightlifting. Jason is CEO and founder of Runkeeper.
David Broomhead recently launched Trade Hounds, described as a LinkedIn for tradesmen and blue-collar workers. Construction companies and workers can create free profiles (including a “video resume”) that promote their skills and services to prospective employers. The site also includes related articles and content. In a Dec. 22 article titled “Meet Trade Hounds,” Broomhead told BostInno that he hoped to “restore pride in blue-collar work.”
Jessi Rosinski designed and taught a finance course for musicians at the New England Conservatory. The course, an elective for grad students, is offered through the entrepreneurial musicianship department at NEC.
Francine Gervazio, co-founder of Cargo42, was a winner in Babson’s first Miami Rocket Pitch competition in November. She emails, “Cargo42 matches companies that need to ship products with carriers that have empty space in their trucks. I came up with the concept while working in logistics and seeing lots of trucks traveling empty. As part of Babson’s Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab, I gained the confidence and valuable resources to pursue the business. Murilo Amaral and Alfredo Keri, both MBA’16, joined me as co-founders. Winning the Rocket Pitch was the result of hard work and the knowledge and support we have gotten from Babson.”
Carlos Granados emails, “I have written and illustrated a book, Tales of A(d)venture, for the inner child in every entrepreneur. It includes seven stories written in verse, each one based on an entrepreneurial principle and represented by an animal, including Pivot the Penguin. I deeply believe the world needs more people who can think like children. I will donate half the profits from the sale of the book to the African Leadership Academy in South Africa. The other half will help me carry out my current project, which involves helping refugee children in Europe.” The book can be purchased from Amazon or through iBooks.
Patrick Gross (right), emails, “My family has a background in motion control engineering (hydraulics, pneumatics, and automation), and thanks to the Babson alumni network, we are now in robotics. I made contact with Ann Whittaker, MBA’88, co-founder of Rethink Robotics. Through this connection I was able to establish a partnership with our company, RG Group, to distribute their robots across the mid-Atlantic region. This was a huge strategic step for our company, and in less than two months, we’ve sold three robots—a great illustration of how powerful our network can be.” Patrick is shown with RG Group team member Elliot Price.
Sarah Merion told BostInno, in a Jan. 19 article titled “EthosWell Helps People Capitalize on Employers’ Holistic Healthcare Benefits,” that the idea for her startup came to her when she was a Babson student seeking a reputable acupuncturist. Searching online proved ineffective, so Sarah was inspired to create EthosWell, a network of licensed holistic health-care providers.
Kevin Shane ’03 always has had a talent for using entrepreneurship to bring people together. It started with baseball cards. The business-minded 12-year-old from suburban New Jersey became the …
The third Babson Connect: Worldwide event, the College’s premier entrepreneurship summit held in Bangkok this March, brought together the global Babson community to celebrate Entrepreneurship of All Kinds. More than 350 alumni, parents, and friends attended the sold-out event, which included panels and sessions presented by renowned Babson faculty, local entrepreneurs, and business leaders from countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and beyond. President Kerry Healey announced that Babson Connect: Worldwide 2018 will be held in Spain.—Lindsay Magoon, associate director, advancement communications
Photo: Gecko Media of Dubai
On Friday night, attendees enjoyed dinner and dancing on a river boat cruise on the Chao Phraya River. Upon boarding the boat, attendees received jasmine leis.
Photo: Gecko Media of Dubai
Roommates during their undergraduate years at Babson, Yodjin Uahwatanasakul ’60, H’94, P’99, and Richard Snyder ’60, H’94, P’93, ’01, reconnected in Bangkok. They enjoyed the variety of panels, sessions, and networking opportunities throughout the summit.
Photo: Gecko Media of Dubai
At the Babson Connect: Worldwide Awards Gala, Harry Susilo, P’96, chairman of the Sekar Group, was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs. Earlier that day, Harry and his daughter, Finna Huang ’96, participated in a “Conversation on Family Business,” which was led by Randel Carlock, Berghmans Lhoist Chaired Professor of Entrepreneurial Leadership at Insead international graduate business school.
Photo: Gecko Media of Dubai
Members of the Babson community enjoyed the best of the region’s cuisine during a buffet lunch at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.
Photo: Gecko Media of Dubai
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation and executive director and CEO of HCL Corp., participated in a “Conversation on Global Women-Led Entrepreneurship,” which was moderated by President Kerry Healey. Later that evening, Roshni was presented with the 2017 Lewis Institute Community Changemaker Award.
Francesca Rainieri ’98 married Juan Caro on Nov. 26, 2016, at Playa Grande at Puntacana Resort and Club in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Francesca is vice president of finance and administration for Grupo Punto Cana. Juan is an architect and builder. Humberto Sangiovanni ’90, Andrea Koplowitz ’98, Fernando Rainieri ’98, Raquel Ginebra ’99, Eduardo Najri ’99, MBA’05, and Isabel de la Rocha ’06 were among the Babson alumni joining the festivities.
Rebecca Eltzroth ’08 and Sam Lockard were married on May 28, 2016, at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. Dinner and dancing at the Sulgrave Club followed. Among the friends at the festivities were (to the left of the bride and groom) Alex Brooks ’11, Sarah Switlik ’11, bridesmaid Caroline Gaulin ’08, and Erica (Salisbury) Quirk ’08, MS’08. To the right are Mark Bollman ’10, bridesmaid Lillian Cullen ’08, Alyssa Sullivan ’11, and Sara Chizek ’10.
Kristie Hambrecht married Jeff Avallon ’06 on Thompson Island in Boston Harbor on September 17, 2016. In attendance, from left, were Carson Thurber ’06, Mike Crain ’06, Matt Walsh ’07, Morgen Newman ’06, Pat Maguire ’06, Thomas Salter ’06, the bride and groom, Keith Whittier ’04, Chris Jacobs ’10, Cara Forsberg Glaser ’06, MS’06, Scott Carey ’06, Harris Glaser ’06, Reid Halloran ’06, Marci McCormack ’06, MBA’11, Sean Speer ’06, Emily Tata ’04, Sam Saxton ’06, Karl Hambrecht ’77, and Joel Holland ’08.
Juliette Bouissou and Alan Klipper, both ’14, were married on June 11, 2016, in East Norwich, N.Y. Among the Babson alumni in attendance were Kelsey Bronski ’14, Alexandra Cortes ’14, and Sarah Freedman ’15.
Lauren Palmer ’11 and Spencer Hines ’11, MBA’17, were married on May 28, 2016, at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, S.C. Among the guests at the wedding were 10 alumni, including, from left, Rick Gilbody ’12; maid of honor and sister of the bride Nicole Palmer ’14; Leo Ng, a 2010 exchange student; Jill Fontaine ’09; Lauren; Katie Szewczyk ’11; Spencer; Dave Arustamian ’11; Zach Silver ’11; Andros Tabares, MBA’12; Haik Gazarian ’11; and Sonny Tabares ’11.
Chelsea Berg and Andrew O’Brien ’11 were married on July 9, 2016, at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Alton, N.H. A reception followed at the Wolfeboro Inn. Chelsea works in hotel relations and services at the Boston Convention Marketing Center. Andrew works at Putnam Investments as an equity analyst. The couple met in 2010 while studying abroad in London. Wedding guests included Jordan Bray ’11, Jake Williams ’13, and Elizabeth Lepie ’11.
Edward White, MBA’73, of Derry, N.H., died Jan. 3. He was employed by Raytheon as a controller for more than 30 years and later worked as a self-employed general contractor.
Cynthia (Clancy) Grigsby ’74 of Natick, Mass., died Dec. 7. She worked for many years in administration at Bell Atlantic.
Bruce Anderson ’75 of Falmouth, Mass., died Nov. 22. He worked in real estate and home construction across eastern Massachusetts for more than 40 years.
Gilbert Wolpe, MBA’79, of Framingham, Mass., died Nov. 17. A Navy veteran, he worked for more than 30 years in banking and retired from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in 1990.
John Roth ’83 of Tustin, Calif., died Jan 14. He served as CEO of Water Techniques, a water-treatment company he founded. Survivors include his brother, Mark Roth ’84.
Debra (Shiflett) Olshaw, MBA’84, of Davidsonville, Md., died Feb. 7. She worked in business for several years and recently served as office administrator at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Catherine (O’Connell) McDonough, MBA’87, of Glen Rock, N.J., died Dec. 29. She began her career in public accounting before becoming a financial analyst and tax accountant.
Adam Berk ’97 of Bedford, N.H., died on Dec. 31. He was employed by Empirix, in Billerica, Mass., as vice president of IT and manufacturing. Survivors include his wife, Tania (Ackermann) Berk ’97.
Clarence DeOrsey ’40 of Sun City Center, Fla., died Jan. 8. For 30 years, he ran The Record Shop, which later became DeOrsey’s, in Lewiston, Maine.
Robert Banbury ’42 of Northridge, Calif., died Dec. 11, 2015. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II and worked at Bank of America for nearly 40 years.
Philip Beal ’49 of The Villages, Fla., died Feb. 2. He served in the Army military police during World War II. For more than 20 years, he was superintendent of public works for the town of Hanover, Mass.
Kennison Gale ’49 of Needham died Jan. 17. He served in the Navy during World War II and had a long sales management career with the Marine Office of America. Survivors include daughter Katharine Gale Buress ’81.
Donald Partridge ’50 of Ballston Spa, N.Y., died Jan. 20. After serving in the Air Force, he spent 30 years as a traveling salesman with Bardeen’s School Supplies.
Dino Casali ’51 of Litchfield, Conn., died Jan. 13. An Air Force veteran, he worked for Fahnestock & Co. (later known as Oppenheimer) for 58 years, retiring in 2016. Survivors include grandson Mark Casali ’09, MS’09.
Peter Schryver ’51 of Williamstown, Mass., died Jan. 4. He worked for many years in the family business, Taconic Lumber, and was also a real estate agent with Schryver Real Estate.
Walter Turner ’51 of Hartland, Wis., died Jan. 25. He served in the Army during World War II and worked as senior vice president of First Wisconsin National Bank.
Robert Irwin, MBA’53, of Sarasota, Fla., died Jan. 9. He served in the National Guard and worked in banking and investment funds, serving as chairman, president, and treasurer of ASA Limited until his retirement in 2008.
David Goldberg ’57 of Harvard, Mass., died Dec. 13. He served in the Army and worked as a manufacturer’s representative, store manager, office manager, and dispatcher.
James Hutchison ’58 of Duncannon, Pa., died Dec. 1. An Army veteran, he was retired from Bradford Coal.
Donald Bolger ’59 of Pittsford, N.Y., died Dec. 23. He served in the Navy, and his career with Mobil Chemical spanned 35 years.
Herbert Kaplan, MBA’59, of Providence, R.I, died Jan. 2. He was formerly chairman, CEO, and president of Warren Equities and president of the Warren Alpert Foundation, which supports medical research.
Franklin Bronander ’60 of Montclair, N.J., died Jan 9. A Navy veteran, he was a Realtor and general manager of the Wedgewood Cafeteria.
Lewis Wayne, MBA’60, of Highland Beach, Fla., died Dec. 7.
Harold Benjamin ’61 of Southborough and North Falmouth, Mass., died Nov. 27. He was a principal of Mendall Benjamin and president of Bancroft International Stamping and Benick Brands.
Merritt Fineout ’64 of Holmes Beach, Fla., died Feb. 6. He founded an import business, MeraVic, and retired in 1994.
David Bower ’65 of Hopewell Township, N.J., died Nov. 22. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War and worked for TIAA-CREF for 38 years, retiring in 2008.
Clark Taylor ’65 of Sudbury, Mass., died Jan. 4. A CPA, he founded the accounting firm B. Clark Taylor. Survivors include his brother, Marshall Taylor, MBA’72.
William Mather, MBA’71, of Wellesley died Jan. 5. He had a 35-year tenure at Gillette, where he worked in risk management.
