Stephen Briggs, P’88, emails, “My new book, Navigating a Life, depicts my struggle against discouragement and defeat toward success and service to others. My Babson experience in the ’50s under Roger Babson was challenging and vitally important to my career, which included corporate life, financial disaster, and then starting over with two profitable small businesses. One reader commented, ‘Your story is both touching and insightful as well as, indeed, adventure-filled. It’s rare to get such a candid and thoughtful glimpse of the many gifts packed into a single lifetime as it unfolds.’ For more information, visit navigatingalife.com.”
1963
Ted Marks, owner and founder of Atwater Estate Vineyards in Burdett, N.Y., was featured in an article, “Tree of Ted: Atwater’s Ted Marks Mentored a Generation of Winemakers,” in the July/August issue of Edible/Finger Lakes magazine. Ted purchased the shuttered vineyard in 1999 and reopened it a year later. Since then, he has mentored a steady stream of wine-making neophytes.
1970
Phil Dangel and his wife, Becky, purchased the name and rights of the Forest City Owls in September. The collegiate summer baseball team, based in Forest City, N.C., is a member of the Coastal Plain League. The team’s new owners also own and operate The Shrimp Dock, a fresh seafood market and restaurant with three locations in the Knoxville, Tenn., area.
1975
Tom Beaudoin (MBA’83) has been appointed CFO at SimpliVity, an IT infrastructure company in Westborough, Mass. Previously, since 2008, he had been executive vice president and CFO at Nuance Communications, a voice and language technology company.
1976
Ted Les, P’10, has been named CFO at iSystems, a payroll, analytics, HR, and tax management software company in Colchester, Vt. A CPA, he had been CFO at MetraTech from 2011 to 2015.
1978
John Mattone, executive coach and founder of John Mattone Partners, has co-authored Cultural Transformations: Lessons of Leadership and Corporate Reinvention. He emails, “In the foreword to the book, President Kerry Healey writes, ‘What is exciting about Cultural Transformations is that it arrives at a time when we desperately need to learn from successful leaders like the CEOs interviewed here. We learn from their ongoing journey and see the common thread that runs between their success and John Mattone’s unique and powerful approach to leadership development.’”
1981
Tim DeMello, P’18, a serial entrepreneur, recently founded Gradifi, a startup that helps new college graduates pay off student loans. Tim was featured in a Sept. 30 article, “Boston-Based Gradifi Introduces the Student-Loan 401(k): Instead of Putting Away Money for the Future, Grads Will Be Putting It Against the Past,” on BostInno.com. The company’s Student Loan Paydown Plan works with employers so they can help their recently graduated employees eliminate student debt.
Tim Marken, a Babson overseer and adjunct lecturer in entrepreneurship, also works for The Boston Globe. His new position was announced in a Sept. 10 article, “Globe Hires Chief Growth Officer: Tim Marken to Sell Ideas, Not Advertising,” in CommonWealthMagazine.org. Previously, he was president and COO at Breakaway, a brand capital firm.
JoAnn Kocum Nulsen (right) emails, “Last summer, Charlie ’79 (second from right) and I visited our daughter, Jordan (center), who helped lead a women’s canoe trip in James Bay, Ontario. One of 12 on this adventure was Michelle Bailey (second from left), wife of Ben Bailey ’79 (left).” Keewaydin Canoe Camp, in Vermont and Ontario, is a tradition for the Nulsens and Baileys. This is Jordan’s second year as a staff member; the three other Nulsen children now lead Keewaydin summer trips. The Baileys’ two sons also attend the camp.
1983
Bill Fearnley (MBA’94) has been appointed research director at IDC Financial Insights, which helps financial services and IT businesses make more effective technology decisions. Previously, he was an industry analyst at Celent. Bill can be followed on Twitter, @billfearnleyjr.
1984
Tom Hoyt was elected to the board of trustees of Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H, in September. He recently was appointed the inaugural public relations and social media coordinator at Mascoma Savings Bank, which he joined in 2001 as a business development officer. Tom also is a corporation member of David’s House, a home away from home for families with children receiving treatment from Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, both in Lebanon.
1985
George Grossman emails, “I retired from public accounting in 1989 and moved to Colorado in 2007. Since 1993, my wife, Kari, and I have had several businesses. The latest is Happy Lucky’s Teahouse & Treasures in Fort Collins, where we offer more than 180 loose-leaf teas. A second store is in the works for Denver. My wife and I are committed to social entrepreneurship and donate 10 percent of profits to Sustainable Schools International, a nonprofit we founded to support education in Cambodia. We have two adopted children: our son is from Cambodia; our daughter is from India.”
Caryn (Rosenthal) Kopp, founder and Chief Door Opener at Kopp Consulting, emails, “I’ve co-authored a book, Biz Dev Done Right: Demystifying the Sales Process and Achieving the Results You Want. It’s receiving great reviews. One reader writes, ‘The book breaks down all the necessary steps to desired results from your sales team. I learned great tips and techniques that I am excited to implement’”
1986
Michael Angelakis has been appointed a board member of Duke Energy, an electric power holding company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. Currently a senior adviser for the executive management committee of Comcast and deputy chairman of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, he also is a Babson trustee. He had been Comcast’s vice chairman and CFO from 2007 to July 2015.
Jeff Brown, founder, president, and CEO of Brown’s Super Stores, a Philadelphia-based grocery chain, was interviewed in a segment, “Building an Oasis in a Philadelphia Food Desert,” on the PBS NewsHour TV show. Jeff was inducted into Babson’s Alumni Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2012.
1987
Ben Narasin was interviewed for a Sept. 26 article, “Meet Ben Narasin, General Partner at Canvas Venture Fund: Narasin Started His First Company When He Was 12, Before Founding FashionMall.com,” posted on VatorNews.com. In the article, Ben discusses the type of company and entrepreneur he likes to invest in and why. He invests in one to two startups a year and says that his job “is to be their advocate and aid.”
1988
Peter Gordon, new head of school at Hilltop Country Day in Sparta, N.J., emails, “From preschool through eighth grade, Hilltop is doing great things. The school community has identified a set of core values—honesty, respect, responsibility, and kindness—that guides everything it does. I continue to foster the tenets and unifying themes of a 21st century school, such as project-based learning, classrooms that extend beyond school walls, and learning communities. I plan to upgrade the school’s technology infrastructure, support additional professional development for faculty and staff, and begin a sports program.”
1991
Richelieu Dennis, CEO of Sundial Brands, which creates and manufactures natural skin and hair products, has announced a strategic partnership with Bain Capital Private Equity to grow Sundial and invest in product innovation, consumer engagement, and its social impact model. Richelieu continues to lead the company, which is majority family-owned and operated. The company was founded in 1992 by Richelieu, his mother, Mary Dennis, and Nyema Tubman.
Kim Drapkin, CPA, has been appointed CFO at Jounce Therapeutics, a biotech firm in Cambridge, Mass. Before joining Jounce, Kim was founder and principal of KCD Financial Consultants, and in that capacity was interim CFO for several early-stage biotech companies, including Jounce. Prior to that, Kim was CFO at Epix Pharmaceuticals.
1992
Anthony Caterino was promoted in July to vice chair and managing partner of Ernst & Young’s financial services office in New York City. He has held a variety of roles at the firm during the past 23 years. Anthony and his family continue to live in Charlotte, N.C., but he has moved his office to New York, where he frequently works.
1993
Lee Kaltman emails, “Richard Spurling, MBA’08, founder and CEO of ACEing Autism, and two board members, Robert Lapides ’84, MBA’86, and I, attended the U.S. Open in August. ACEing Autism teaches tennis to children with autism, and during the tournament for the past two years, the organization has hosted a free clinic. The nonprofit will become a permanent program at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in 2016. ACEing Autism operates at 40 locations nationwide.”
Bob Mullaney has been named COO and president of ShoeBuy, a Boston-based, online marketplace for shoes, bags, clothing, and accessories. Previously, he was president, Americas at Rockport, where he oversaw the company’s wholesale and retail businesses.
1994
Jennifer (Jeffrey) Goddard emails, “I have recently started a wonderful new opportunity as an agent for New York Life out of its Bridgewater, Mass., office. I love to help people secure their financial futures with estate planning and work with small businesses that want to start growing their employee benefits packages. Also, still teaching horse riding at my farm, Levaland. I can be reached at jlgoddard01@ft.newyorklife.com.”
1995
David Cohen (right), executive director of Doc Wayne Youth Services, emails, “In September I accepted the award for Influential Leader and Model for Others Making Communities Healthier Through Sport from Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a foundation focused on health and health care. This award recognized Doc Wayne for its work with youth struggling with mental health issues.” David also is founder of Playing It Forward (playingif.org), a nonprofit that provides sports equipment to disadvantaged children worldwide.
Kevin McCurdy and Howard Field, co-founders of Picaboo, a Web-based image publishing and printing company, were featured in a Sept. 20 article, “Picaboo, I See a New … Yearbook: Silicon Valley Photo Book Outfit Sets Up Shop in Former Rosey Jekes Site,” in the Valley News (West Lebanon, N.H.). Kevin, Picaboo’s CEO, has moved the business into a historic building in Hanover, N.H., while Howard, executive chairman, remains in California. The company’s 12-person engineering staff is in Boise, Idaho.
1996
Oliver Blumgart runs his businesses, Unleashed Doggie Daycare and Oliver Blumgart Designs, in Beverly, Mass. The latter company was featured in an article, “Star Attraction,” in the November/December issue of Design New England magazine. The article recounts how Oliver’s longtime interest with the night sky and the North Star inspired a pattern which is the basis of many of his fabric and wallpaper designs.
1997
Philip Boulton and his friend, Luis Blasini, founded Kannoa, a Miami-based outdoor furniture manufacturer, in 2006. Philip emails, “Kannoa operates under four principles: design, functionality, durability, and harmony. We have experienced a compounded 35 percent annual revenue growth rate. The company has more than 30 sales, finance, logistics, and manufacturing employees in the U.S. (yes, in the U.S.!), and in 2014 we opened a factory in China, where we employ close to 50 people in production, finance, and logistics.”
1998
Kimberly Post, CPA, has been appointed CFO at Boston-based Accreon, a health-care technology and business services firm. Previously, she was CFO at Beacon Partners, a health-care consulting firm in Weymouth.
Juan Salas-Romer was featured in an Oct. 5 article, “Venezuelan-Born Builder Aims for Middle,” on NewHavenIndependent.org. His family’s company, NHR Properties (New Haven Redevelopers), is a real estate development and management firm in New Haven, Conn. The firm owns about 47 buildings in the city.
1999
Eric Horndahl and business partner Brian Waldman have launched Renoviso, their tech-based startup that improves the experience of home renovations. The duo started with window renovation projects, with doors and flooring likely to follow. Renoviso features real-time customized pricing, quality products, and professional installation.
Matt Seney (MBA’05): See Graduate News.
Jamie Siminoff founded Ring, a company that created and markets a doorbell that lets you answer your door with your smartphone. In August, the company raised $28 million in Series B financing. Among the investors was Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. Ring has 120 employees and works with major retailers such as Target and The Home Depot.
2001
Michael Lorber, one of the original real estate sales stars of the TV show Million Dollar Listing New York in 2012, was featured in a Sept. 24 article, “Whatever Happened to #MDLNY’s Michael Lorber: The Broker Is Still Selling Luxury Real Estate,” on BravoTV.com. He and two colleagues launched the SLS Team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate a year ago. A Babson trustee, Michael also is a board member of Love Heals, an AIDS-education nonprofit.
2002
Brian Gagne has been appointed senior vice president, regional investments in the Los Angeles-area office of IDI Gazeley, which develops and invests in logistics warehouses and distribution facilities. Before working at IDI Gazeley, he had been senior vice president, investments at KTR Capital Partners.
2003
Lokesh Bharwani was featured in an Aug. 21 article, “They Cash in on Doughnut Dream,” on AsiaOne.com. He and his business partner founded Mad Over Donuts and opened the first outlet near New Delhi in 2008. MOD has more than 50 outlets throughout India and plans to open 100 more during the next two years. The company’s menu offers eggless doughnuts, some traditionally sweet and some savory.
Eduardo Sanchez has been appointed president of Houston-based Sanchez Energy, an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company. Sanchez Energy is focused on the acquisition and development of resources in the Gulf Coast region. Since 2010 he has been president and CEO of Sanchez Resources, a privately held oil and gas exploration company. He is a board member of Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory High School and an executive committee member of the Good Samaritan Foundation.
Kevin Shane emails, “Liberty Bridge, the Hudson River pedestrian span that I conceptualized, is a 5,000-foot-long, 200-foot-high answer to a bad commute from New Jersey to New York City. The bridge keeps budget, maintenance, environmental trends, experience, and health all in mind. The visuals that I created kicked off a media frenzy. The next steps are to keep the conversation moving forward, working toward making this bridge a reality.”
Kat Utecht was interviewed for an Aug. 29 article, “Meet Kat Utecht, Managing Partner at Core Innovation Capital,” on VatorNews.com. The Los Angeles-based firm invests in financial services and technology companies. Before joining Core, Kat was an entrepreneur in residence and investor at Comcast Ventures Catalyst Funds.
2004
Jason Hart is a member of the “40 Under 40 Class of 2015,” featured in the September issue of Building Design + Construction magazine. He is general counsel at Vidaris, a New York City-based consulting firm for the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Jason, who was recognized as a “dispute resolver,” previously was a construction attorney at Peckar & Abramson, where he handled dispute avoidance, commercial litigation, and internal investigations.
Sanaa Hyder, who earned a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Fordham University in 2015, is a psychotherapist in private practice (sanaahyder.com) in New York City. She emails, “I offer individual therapy, couples counseling, workshops, and career coaching. My experience as an entrepreneur and founder of a high-end clothing and handbag manufacturing company has been invaluable when working with motivated and highly sensitive thinkers to help them reach personal goals and manage stress.”
2005
Dave Heath, co-founder of Bombas, a line of athletic and leisure-wear socks, emailed in November, “Since our launch, Bombas is proud to have donated more than 500,000 socks to those in need. As always, for every pair purchased, a pair is donated. This holiday season, we launched a partnership and exclusive collection with Gap, with the goal of donating 1 million pairs of Bombas socks together. Learn more at bombassocks.com.”
2006
Abraham Dugal has joined Allen Insurance and Financial as a financial adviser. The company offers insurance, employee benefits, and financial services to clients in Rockland, Belfast, Southwest Harbor, and Camden, Maine, where he now lives. Previously, he worked for Cambridge Associates, an investment management firm in Boston.
John Goscha, founder of Finally Light Bulb, was featured in an Aug. 12 article, “Boston Startup Grows by Selling Eco-Friendly Light Bulbs that Aren’t Ugly,” in Boston Business Journal. The company’s Acandescent technology uses a copper coil to generate light with its bulbs, which replicate the look, warmth, and omnidirectional light of the traditional incandescent bulb.
Britt Hackmann (MBA’10) and her sister, Gretchen Hackmann ’08, were interviewed for an Oct. 3 article, “Top Fashionfluencers: San Diego’s Most Stylish Strut Their Stuff,” on LocaleMagazine.com. The duo founded Nubry, their fashion and style blog, in 2011. Britt is fashion director, and Gretchen is editor in chief of the blog, which creates editorials, look books, and social media advertising campaigns.
2007
Lee Brown and Lucas Brown are founders of Tune, a mobile-marketing software startup. Tune was featured in an Oct. 31 Associated Press article, “Incentives Used to Draw Women to Tech Careers.” The company is sponsoring a house in Seattle near the University of Washington campus in order to create a supportive live-and-learn community for UW women pursuing studies in computer science and technology.
Steve Liu (MBA’13), co-founder and co-owner of Wow Barbecue, was featured in a July 26 article, “Wow Barbecue Brings Authentic Chinese Flare from Food Truck to Malden,” in The Boston Globe. The company operates a truck in Boston’s Chinatown, another that circulates around the city, and a full-service restaurant in Malden, all offering Chinese barbecue. A second restaurant, in Brookline, is being planned.
2008
Katrina Fludd (MSM’10), Babson’s manager of multicultural programs, was interviewed for an Aug. 29 article, “Boston Business Schools Struggle to Counter Low Black Representation, Inclusion,” in The Boston Globe. Katrina emails, “Babson is working to be an inclusive environment for all students, and representation is step one. Babson is poised to be a leader in modeling what diversity and inclusion need to look like—inside and outside the classroom—and it’s exciting to be part of that work.”
Gretchen Hackmann: See Britt Hackmann ’06 (MBA’10).
Ian So (shown) and Jaemin Lee, both ’08, are co-founders of The Chicken & Rice Guys, a food truck chain in and around Boston. Ian emails, “Exciting things are happening! We are happy to report our quick-service restaurant in Boston’s Financial District is doing well, and construction on our flagship store in Medford has been completed. We also are excited to be a featured vendor inside Boston’s Prudential Center, and we plan to keep expanding to reach more of the Greater Boston area. Check out schedules for our food trucks and stores at cnrguys.com.”
David Yarus, founder of JSwipe, a dating app for Jewish millennials, was interviewed for an Oct. 14 article, “Spark Networks Acquires Smooch Labs, Owner of JSwipe Mobile Application,” on MarketWired.com. Spark Networks, owner of JDate.com, and Smooch Labs previously had been in litigation, and with this transaction both agreed to drop their cases.
2009
Jillian Brooks (center) emails, “I founded ClothingForEquality.com to create a company focused on the greater good. I offer clothing and accessories that are accessible and affordable, and I give back to the community. That’s why $10 from every item sold goes to an LGBTQ nonprofit, and the customer picks what goes where. It’s simple—you look good and your money does good. Use the code ‘Babson’ for free shipping for Babson friends and family.”
Soha Ehsani emails, “In 2013, I started a real estate development company, Century City Property. Century City is developing a residential project, Palm Valley, in northern Nairobi. In 2014, we presented the project to the International Property Awards competition. I am excited to share that Palm Valley won Best Residential Development Kenya, Best Residential Development Africa, and the International Property Award for Best Residential Development.”
Michael Markarian, founder of Mount Dream, was featured in an Aug. 15 article, “R.I. Startup Aims to Be First Step in Crowdfunding,” in the Providence Journal. Mount Dream helps inventors and entrepreneurs test the validity of their projects and receive feedback before launching fundraising campaigns.
Chris Queitsch (right) emails, “OfficeRock.com, which I founded in 2012, is a B2B office supplier with a focus on e-commerce. I am shown with one of our merchandisers. We provide companies in the Middle East with items such as paper, furniture, IT products, pantry and cleaning supplies, and printed materials. Last year we become a Xerox-authorized distributor in the United Arab Emirates. And this year we started supplying stationery products to the largest supermarket chains in the UAE. We also were mentioned in a Sept. 7 article, ‘Four MENA [Middle East and North Africa] Startups that Nailed an Investment,’ on Entrepreneur.com.”
2010
Pichon Duplan (MSA’11) and Tucker Matheson have written a book, Fast Forward: How to Transition into Your Future After the Classroom (pressff.com). Pichon emails, “Our book gives college students the insight to find careers they are passionate about. It leverages the stories of several individuals, including Daquan Oliver ’14, following their passions and making an impact to reinforce the book’s foundational content. The ultimate goal is to inspire a career revolution.”
Julie Williams (MBA’14), is managing director of Hope and Comfort, a nonprofit startup focused on restoring health and self-esteem to those in need by providing personal-care products. Julie emails, “I’m shown moving a pallet of soap into the new headquarters of Hope and Comfort in Newton, Mass. The growing organization moved into its first space in September. We are excited with the space, which allows us to increase employee collaboration and more than double volunteer engagement. The central location also helps us more efficiently distribute much-needed products to our partner organizations.”
2011
John Campbell was featured in a Sept. 3 article, “Back to School: Plainfield [N.J.] Community Cheers on Students,” on MyCentralJersey.com. At the start of the academic year, John and fellow local professionals greeted students at the front of Plainfield High School. He and two other men, all college graduates, organized the gathering, called 100 Men, to encourage students to stay in school and realize their potential.
Patrick O’Brien was one of 13 selected by Citizens Bank to attend its Commercial Banker Development Program. The full-time, one-year program combines classroom instruction with credit-analysis writing and two business rotations.
2012
Photo: B Smart Media
Samantha Cooper emails, “As founder and CEO of Trend Tribe, I’m living my life’s purpose of empowering the next generation of fearless female ‘fashionpreneurs.’ At Babson, I began selling jewelry to build my resume in fashion. This experience helped me land an internship at Barneys New York and sparked the idea for Trend Tribe. Today, the company helps its nationwide team of 100-plus campus ambassadors, our Trendsetters, break into fashion. Trendsetters host oncampus trunk shows to gain real experience in marketing, merchandising, and communications. The company donates a percentage of those sales to the Trendsetter’s philanthropy of choice.”
Adrian Masone (right) emails, “Dara Behjat ’15 (left) and I have successfully completed a Kickstarter campaign and are building the next generation of Who’s Hoopin, our mobile app that helps basketball players find pickup games. As passionate athletes, we’re building a network to solve a problem that has annoyed us since childhood. Our mission is to help hoopers spend less time looking and more time playing. We believe Who’s Hoopin will bring life back to pickup basketball. Check out Who’s Hoopin on Facebook and download our app for iPhone or Android.”
2013
Jon Jacques was featured in a July 29 article, “Would You Quit Your Job to Periscope Full Time? This Guy Did,” on Mashable.com. Jon, who had been doing his magic acts on Periscope after work, quit his job in June to devote more time to the app. Initially, his performances raised funds for nonprofits, and if all goes well, he may earn money from the live video broadcasts.
2014
Gregory Gonzalez emails, “I have big plans for my company, Money Never Sleepz. My first product, the Money Mask, is a sleep mask—stuffed with real shredded U.S. currency. The mask is sold in several stores on the East Coast and online at moneyneversleepz.com. I hope to create more masks in the future, perhaps even a custom mask for Babson.” The mask was featured in a Sept. 2 article in The Washington Post, “Would You Pay $10 for a Sleep Mask Full of Shredded U.S. Cash?”
2015
Diana Yuan, co-founder and COO of Indico, was No. 7 in an Oct. 4 list on BostInno.com, “25 Startup Founders Who Are 25 and Under: Here’s a Good Look at Boston’s Youngest Players in the Startup Space.” Indico uses predictive modeling to help users make sense of raw data.
Richard Brunson, author of Irby Brown: Southwest Landscape Paintings, emails, “I wrote the book about my mentor, Irby Brown, who is among the foremost landscape artists of the American West. He is especially well-known for his striking plein-air work and keen eye for light and color. The book features 60 of his finest landscape paintings, each full color and full page. Forty smaller images of portraits, landscapes, field studies, and watercolors illustrate Brown’s art adventures in the West. The book has been receiving high praise and rave reviews.”
1974
Peter Pescatore, who was chosen Democrat of the Year by the Cohasset [Mass.] Democratic Town Committee, was honored at a dinner in October at the South Shore Country Club. He has been a committee member since 2001 and treasurer for six years, and has helped raise funds for college scholarships and political campaigns. Peter is director of operations at Coast Automation.
1975
Margaret Stapleton was profiled in an Oct. 30 article, “Margaret Stapleton’s Credo: Work Hard, Be Honest and Faithful, and Help Others,” on BostonIrish.com. A longtime volunteer at Boston’s Pine Street Inn and currently assistant clerk of its board, she helped the homeless shelter, formerly for men, build a facility for women. She also was instrumental in creating an 11-room facility for men, Stapleton House, named in her honor. Margaret retired in 2001 as a vice president and senior investment officer at John Hancock.
1978
Sally Eagle, a Great Barrington, Mass.-based photographer, is the inaugural winner in the video category of the Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition. Sally emails, “My video, Ambush in the Pantanal, can be seen at meadeaglephotos.com. For 20 years, Nature’s Best Photography magazine has hosted this contest, displaying winning images at the Smithsonian Museum. My husband and fellow photographer, Dan Mead, and I were in Brazil’s Pantanal region, where we saw a jaguar stalk a caiman, killing it instantly.”
1980
Susan Godreau has been named director of the State University of New York at Potsdam’s financial aid office. She previously was interim director of the department and had been its assistance director since 2010. Before then, Susan was scholarship coordinator at the university and also was program assistant for the women’s and gender studies program.
Van Smick emails, “After one career in high-tech and another running my coaching company, I’m now trying out retirement. Two years ago I moved to Cape Cod, and I decided not to replace my coaching clients, as they have ‘graduated,’ and just enjoy the Cape. I’m biking, kayaking, beaching, volunteering, and loving retirement. Last winter there was so much snow I did more cross-country skiing than I’d done in decades! Contact me at vansmick@gmail.com.”
1981
Mark Allio has been named director of workforce training and corporate education at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Center for Workforce and Community Education. He helps develop training and corporate education programs for public agencies, nonprofits, and private sector organizations. The programs can be delivered on-site, on campus, or online. Previously, he was regional director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network’s Boston Regional Office and Minority Business Center at UMass Boston.
Alan Thomas and Larry Kennedy, both MBA’81, and Ralph LoVuolo released their book, Best Business Practices: Guidelines and Tools for Team Planning and Learning Faster than Your Competitors, in August. Alan emails, “Our book helps small and mid-size business managers implement a learning organization without additional resources. The book is a management tool that enables managers to identify, discuss, and prioritize their company’s key success factors. Managers in any size organization can use it for self-help and to save time via team planning. It is a universally applicable reference guide to help organizations grow.”
1984
Dave Gravel has been re-elected to an at-large council seat in Peabody, Mass., where he has served the city as a councilor since 2008. He had been a member of Peabody’s school committee from 1996 to 2003. Dave is founder and owner of GraVoc Associates, a Web design and development firm.
1987
Sandra Bravo emails, “I have returned to Babson as a lecturer in the Marketing Division. Previously, I taught at Boston College for many years and also was an independent marketing consultant for small and medium-sized businesses in the New England area. I am thrilled to be back and have the opportunity to teach and mentor the undergraduate students.”
Pam Kuong played a close round of golf in the finals of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. The final match, even going into the 18th hole, was played in October, and Pam lost by a stroke. A senior vice president at Bank of America in Boston and member of the Charles River Country Club, Pam was the 2012 Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts Player of the Year.
1989
Deborah DiSanzo has been named general manager of IBM Watson Health, a unit of IBM that plans to bring the company’s Watson computer to doctors, nurses, hospitals, researchers, pharmacies, and eventually consumers. In September, Deborah was appointed to the board of directors of ReWalk Robotics, a developer and manufacturer of robotic exoskeletons. She also is a board member of Project Hope and of Embrace Innovations. Previously, she was CEO of Philips Healthcare, a unit of Royal Philips.
1991
Patricia McQuistion, retired lieutenant general, has been appointed senior director of membership for the Association of the United States Army, a private, nonprofit organization. In this newly created position, she recruits and retains individual, corporate, and life members, and also oversees regional activities and marketing efforts. Patricia retired in April; most recently she was deputy commanding general and chief of staff of the U.S. Army Materiel Command and senior commander of Redstone Arsenal.
1993
Jeannie Diefenderfer has been named to the board of directors of Westell Technologies, a provider of products for networks. She also is an independent director of the board of MRV Communications, a member of the Accenture Network Advisory Council, an adviser to Vasona Networks and to Federated Wireless, and a trustee of Tufts University. Jeannie previously held executive leadership positions at Verizon Communications.
Kei Mashimo (standing, far right), emails, “The sixth annual meeting and social gathering of the Babson Alumni Club of Japan was held in October at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo. The event was a great opportunity to meet Babson friends in Japan and create new connections. Including club chairman Junichi Murata, MBA’60, H’92 (front row, sixth from left), the attendees were six undergraduate alumni, 31 MBA alumni, and the parents of a current student.”
1994
Bill Fearnley (’83): See Undergrads.
1996
Sumedh Mehta has been named chief technology officer at Putnam Investments. Based in Boston, he is responsible for the company’s worldwide systems infrastructure and application development, as well as technology integration. Previously, he was senior vice president, investment management technology at Fidelity Investments.
1998
Chris Chandor has joined the advisory board of the Stephen D. Cutler Center for Investments and Finance at Babson. He emails, “I’m looking forward to working with some really talented people. My wife, Wendy Chandor, MBA’97, and I believe this is a great way to give something back.” Chris is vice president for development at The Davis Companies, a real estate private equity firm in Boston.
Andres Siefken has been appointed to the board of the Stamford [Conn.] Symphony orchestra, founded in 1919. An adviser and principal of The New England Consulting Group, he is a member of its retail, consumer packaged goods, and innovation practice teams.
2001
Mark Cornforth emails, “Stacey, MBA’00, and I live in Milton, Mass., with our three children. After spending the last several years at home with our kids and working as a personal trainer, I now work full time at Catholic Memorial School in West Roxbury as head varsity hockey coach, head tennis coach, and assistant director of admissions. I am happy to be in a dedicated and vibrant community, rich in hockey tradition, and look forward to leading our hockey program back to glory in the Super Eight tournament. Stacey has been head of investor relations at Abrams Capital for the past six years.”
2002
Hans Christinger has been named to the advisory board of Innovus Pharmaceuticals, which markets over-the-counter medicine and consumer care products to improve health. Hans is vice president for business development and alliance management at Ophthotech, a biopharmaceutical company that develops products for age-related macular degeneration.
John Hayes has been appointed vice chancellor for advancement at UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester, Mass. He oversees alumni and parent relations at the medical school and raises private philanthropic support for programs and initiatives at both institutions. He started at UMMS/UMass Memorial as director of individual giving in 2007 and was named associate vice chancellor for development in 2012.
2004
Kelly Barner emails, “My second book, Procurement at a Crossroads: Career-Impacting Insights into a Rapidly Changing Industry, examines 10 major questions regarding procurement’s role. The procurement profession has arrived at a pivotal moment in its evolution. Despite high stakes and uncertainty, hope is not lost. In fact, if practitioners are prepared to capitalize on procurement’s current fluidity, they will have an opportunity to take these evolutionary shifts and use them to reshape their role for the better.” Kelly is owner and editor of procurement and supply-chain blog Buyers Meeting Point.
2005
Adam Cahill founded Anagram, a programmatic marketing agency and consultancy, in April. He emails, “We’ve gotten off to a great start, working with brands and publishers such as The Boston Globe, IdeaPaint, Hearts on Fire, Runkeeper, and Lawn Doctor to help them make the transition to the automated buying and selling of ad space.” Previously, Adam was executive vice president, chief digital officer at Hill Holliday.
Douglyss Giuliana was interviewed for an Oct. 1 article on Business-Opportunities.biz, “SailTime Leads a Competitive Pack for Boston Franchisee.” Douglyss has owned the SailTime Boston franchise, a membership alternative to boat ownership, for 12 years. SailTime members can enjoy sailing without the cost of maintaining a boat.
J.B. Schneider (from left) and Antonio Turco-Rivas, both MBA’05, founded P’kolino, a children’s furniture and accessories company, while they were at Babson. Antonio emails, “J.B. and I are shown with a few of P’kolino’s newest line of nursery furniture, decor, toys, and storage options, available on pkolino.com and at Target, Toys R Us, and other stores. We recently developed an outdoor patio furniture line, named Ocean Pacific, which also has been doing well.”
Matt Seney (’99) is the father of Abby Seney, 6 (held by her dad), who was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome in 2012. The family was featured in an Aug. 31 article, “Sudbury [Mass.] Couple Creates 5K to Benefit Rett Syndrome Research,” in The MetroWest Daily News. Matt emails, “The second annual 5K event was held on campus during Reunion & Homecoming weekend. Funds were raised for Rett Syndrome research and Babson’s Annual Fund. For more information, visit rettsyndrome.org or the Abby’s Army Facebook page.”
2007
Ryan Hutchins was among the Boston-area professionals on Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list, which was published on Sept. 9. The key factors in selecting the honorees were professional accomplishments and civic engagement. Ryan started at Gilbane Building as a project engineer in 1997 and was promoted to a senior vice president and regional manager in 2010. His civic positions include board chair of Children’s Trust and of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, and board member of Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Manish Kapoor has been named president and COO at Cheetah Software Systems in Westlake Village, Calif. An industry expert in logistics, previously he was director of worldwide transportation at Amazon, where he led initiatives in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. He is on the advisory board for the Center for Intelligent Supply Networks at the University of Texas at Dallas and teaches logistics as a guest faculty member for its executive MBA program.
Matt Nagler, co-founder and managing partner of Bank W Holdings, emails, “Bank W Holdings was named one of New Hampshire’s best companies to work for in the September issue of Business NH Magazine. Bank W includes some of the region’s most successful staffing and recruiting companies. Since its founding in 2005, the company has steadily increased its revenue, placement, and staff size. Our success is due in part to our philosophy that doing well and doing good are not different. Bank W supports many organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Red Cross, N.H. Film Festival, and N.H. Children’s Museum.”
2009
Mark DiPaola, who last year rejoined his family’s restaurant business, was featured in an Oct. 27 article, “Caffe Bravo in New Haven [Conn.] Serves Farro Alongside Grilled Salmon, Shrimp, and Scallops,” on NHRegister.com. Caffe Bravo, located in the city’s East Rock neighborhood, was started in 1994 by Mark’s parents, who grew up in Amorosi, Italy. Mark had worked at the restaurant throughout high school and during summers while he was in college.
2010
Katrina Fludd (’08): See Undergrads.
Britt Hackmann (’06): See Undergrads.
Matt Nuernberger and his cousin, Spencer McMinn, founders and operators of Grand Ten Distilling in Boston, were featured in an Aug. 17 article, “Meet Boston’s Craft Distilling Pioneers,” on Boston.com. Their facility distills spirits—such as vodka, rum, gin, and whiskey—and liqueurs.
2011
Pichon Duplan (’10): See Undergrads.
Shiva Kashalkar, founder and CEO of Green Pinata Toy Share, emails, “A mom of a young daughter, I was inspired by her curiosity for new toys and my passion for toxin-free living. Founded in early 2015, Green Pinata is an online toy rental subscription service featuring toxin-free, educational toys for children under 5. Our service has grown tremendously and has received overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. We operate in the Eastern states from Maine to Florida, and our plan for 2016 is to expand inland and also begin operations on the West Coast, starting with San Francisco.”
Mike Norwood, founder of Wears Woody, a casual clothing retailer, celebrated the store’s grand opening in Wellesley in October. The business first operated from a truck and a rickshaw on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. In addition to clothing and accessories—including T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, and belts—Wears Woody sells items such as beach chairs and bags. A portion of each sale supports research for Type 1 diabetes.
2012
Cat Portner emails, “One hundred years later the Portner Family will be brewing again in Alexandria, Va. We are thrilled to announce that Portner Brewhouse, co-founded by my sister, Margaret, and me, will be the anchor tenant at a new apartment complex in town. Portner Brewhouse is slated to open in June, and all are welcome to join us for the grand opening. For updates and event invitations, visit portnerbrewhouse.com.”
2013
Jagriti Choudhary and her sisters were featured in a Sept. 10 article on Her.YourStory.com, “Three Sisters, Radhika, Jagriti, and Deepika, Driven by a Common Passion, Start SkinYoga.” The business has developed a line of organic and natural products, manufactured in their facilities in Ahmedabad and West Bengal, India. Primarily an online venture, SkinYoga also retails in select boutiques.
Steve Liu (’07): See Undergrads.
Dan Wilson emails, “I founded AfterDark Technologies to energize team sports by enabling play anywhere, anytime. With our innovative, lighted uniforms and equipment, playing time is no longer limited to daylight or lighted fields. Tackling flag football first, our technology allows players to interact in the dark with fiber-optic jerseys and flags, LED cones to define field and end zones, and LED footballs. Our interactive technology provides a visual rush countdown on the quarterback’s jersey. The equipment is being tested with teams and leagues across the U.S. and Europe.”
Ryan Wright emails, “My company, WrightGrid, designs and manufactures point-of-use power products that enhance mobile connectivity. Our first product, the Model Z, is a solarpowered station that provides free tablet and phone charging while offering space for advertising opportunities. We’ve deployed stations across the U.S. and are completing our first municipal pilot with Somerville, Mass. Next is a pilot program in Nigeria, which moves us into emerging markets where cellphone usage is high and access to power is limited. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, 600 million people are without dependable power and often rely on diesel generators to charge phones. Our stations provide a sustainable solution.”
2014
Andrew Baker and Amanda Calkins were married on May 30 in Mattapoisett, Mass. Amanda is a clinical psychologist on the staff of the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Andrew is a senior associate, financial and market analysis, at Investor Group Services, both in Boston.
2015
Shyam Devnani has founded India in a Box, an Indian food startup. He emails, “India in a Box began as a class project but soon became a business. We bring a taste of India to every home in the U.S. by delivering authentic, preservative-free meals—including a range of curries, rice, and nan (bread) from different regions of India—to your door. People find it hard to believe that something this flavorful can be prepared so easily; simply add water to the contents of the pack and heat for five minutes. Visit indiainabox.us and enter BABO15 to get 15 percent off.”
Photo: Brian Tietz Tom Cunnington, MBA’63, and his wife, Laurie
Business partners and serial entrepreneurs Tom Cunnington, MBA’63, and his wife, Laurie, consider themselves fortunate for the successes they have had. But long before the two met, married, and …
Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs and Regional Rocket Pitch
Established in 1978, the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs is the world’s first entrepreneurship hall of fame. Since its inception, the academy has honored 98 entrepreneurs who have created great economic and social value, with nominations coming from both inside and outside the Babson community. This past fall, Babson inducted Dorothy Cann Hamilton, founder and CEO of the International Culinary Center, and Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe’s, founder of Daily Table, and CEO of Conscious Capitalism. For more information, event photos, and a list of former inductees, visit www.babson.edu/ADE.
This fall, Babson also held its first regional Rocket Pitch event in Los Angeles, during which alumni entrepreneurs were invited to pitch their business ideas to an audience of students, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers. Following the format of the original Rocket Pitch, each entrepreneur received three minutes and three PowerPoint slides to deliver the differentiating elements of his or her business idea. Be sure to join one of the next regional Rocket Pitch events in cities across the U.S. Learn more at www.babson.edu/rocketpitch. —Lindsay Magoon, associate director, advancement communications
Photo: Joseph Nadel ’19
Dorothy Cann Hamilton spoke to the attendees of the 2015 Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs (ADE) dinner, saying, “My passion is food. I didn’t think about being an entrepreneur. I just did what I loved.”
Photo: Joseph Nadel ’19
ADE-recipient Doug Rauch (second from left) stands with (from left) President Kerry Healey; Andrew “Zach” Zacharakis, John H. Muller Jr. Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies; and Candida Brush, P’14, vice provost of global entrepreneurial leadership.
Photo: Jason Shaw
From left, Jason Reuben ’07, overseer; Lynn Santopietro ’96, director of Babson’s San Francisco campus; Will Lamb, Murata Dean of the F.W. Olin Graduate School; and friend of Babson Behrooz Broukhim enjoyed the exciting presentations and networking reception for the Los Angeles Rocket Pitch event at the SLS Beverly Hills hotel.
Photo: Jason Shaw
Rocket Pitch presenters cannot answer questions during their pitches, so an open networking reception followed the event, allowing audience members to connect with entrepreneurs.
Yajaira Yuret was married to Kipp Visi ’07 on Aug. 28 at Waveny House in New Canaan, Conn. He emails, “I met my wife in fall 2005 while studying abroad with a Babson program in Granada, Spain. Joining us at the wedding were (from left) Luis Restrepo, Julie Reeves, Eric Flaum, Meg Batley, Tony Rulli, Lauren Kelleher, Ben Webb, Brad Natale, Noah Blum, and Daniel Cullen (not pictured), all ’07.”
Brooke Leone ’08, MSA’08, and Matthew Gosselin ’07 were married on June 27 in York, Maine. Among the wedding guests were 19 alumni, including bridesmaids Rachael Bishop ’07, Geni Benenson ’08, and Julia Suchanek ’09; best man John Padlo ’07; groomsmen Luis Santiago-Gonzalez, Greg Stahl, and Mike Stenman, all ’07; and usher Brian Dixon ’07.
Erin Wheeler and Benjamin Cox ’10 (center, white shirt) were married on July 28 near San Ignacio, Belize. Ben emails, “A few weeks after our not-so-secret elopement, Erin (who unfortunately is not in the picture) and I celebrated with friends and family in Brooklyn, N.Y. All the beautiful alums in this photo also attended. Erin and I met in Kigali, Rwanda, and now live and work in New York City.”
Sara Luke ’10 was married to Michael Hazan ’10, MSA’10, on July 10 in Huntington, N.Y. Among the guests were Luke Bailey, MSA’10, Trevor Bathel, Eric Ferreiro, Evan Freed, Katerina Iliades, Alessandro DiGiovanna, Bradley Kessel, Stephen Lank, William McDonald, Rebecca Plaine, Eric Peters, Andrew Richard, Duncan Rosen, MSA’10, and Nicole Wilson, all ’10. The couple lives in New York City.
Meaghan Rohde ’12, MSA’12, and James Schmidt ’12 were married on July 11 in Harbor Springs, Mich., where the bride’s family has a summer home. Among the guests were several alumni, including bridesmaids Olivia Blatchford, Julia Frenette, and Gianna Padavano, and groomsmen Paul Grip and Jeff MacCune, all ’12. Meaghan is a senior financial analyst at Kate Spade & Co., and James is an underwriter at Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers. The couple lives in Connecticut.
Alessandra Perna ’11 and Mario Carullo were married on Aug. 29 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Joining the guests were (back, from left) Genevieve Corbett ’11; Kate Greco ’13; Samantha Cooper ’12; Audane Leger, Caren Mendel, Anastasia Hardin, Darovena Myrtaj, Benjamin Weinstein, MSA’11, Catherine Mills, MBA’14, and Cassandra Lovett, all ’11; Brittany Lo ’14; (front, kneeling) overseer Bradley Hoffman ’82; Joe Nixon ’12; and Jacob Enyeart ’11.
Jessica Plunkett and Conor Lynch, both ’13, MSA’13, were married on Aug. 22 in Salem, Mass. At the event were 25 alumni, including wedding party members Paige Ballard, Ali Coughlin, Justin LeBlanc, Meg Osinski, Olivia Sherry, and Jack Wendler, all ’13; and Dean Oliver ’14. The couple met during the Freshman Orientation boat cruise in Boston Harbor. Jess works in PwC’s forensic consulting practice, and Conor is the controller at Downeast Cider.
Irene McCarthy of Southborough, Mass., died on Sept. 14. She managed the Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference from 1982 to 2002.
Donald Lawrence ’39 of Fort Myers, Fla., died on Sept. 22. He retired in 1970 as president of the Portland [Maine] Stove Foundry, a company founded by his grandfather. Survivors include his son, Franklin Lawrence ’66.
Frank Waterman ’43 of Chatham, Mass., and Stuart, Fla., died on Oct. 7. He was the last member of his family to be president of its Boston-area funeral business, J.S. Waterman.
Robert Seitz ’46 of Buffalo, N.Y., died on Sept. 15. He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. He worked at Auto Wheel Coaster, a family-owned company, until the late 1960s.
Donald Stamegna ’49 of Melrose, Mass., died on Oct. 13. He served in the Navy during World War II and subsequently in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1952. He was owner, bookkeeper, and purchasing agent of Hyde Bird Feeder for more than 50 years.
William Hirsh ’51, later known as William Barker, of Reno, Nev., and Palm Springs, Calif., died on Oct. 11. He was predeceased by his father, William Hirsh ’27.
John Maker ’51 of St. Petersburg, Fla., died on Oct. 14. He served in the Army during the Korean War. In 1962 he accepted a position at Honeywell, where he worked for 30 years.
Edward Mitchell ’52 of Mashpee, Mass., and Naples, Fla., died on Oct. 10. Before retiring in 1985, he owned and operated Milly Mitchell’s, his family’s restaurant in Mendon, Mass.
Lewis Tyler ’52 of Bend, Ore., died on Sept. 13. He retired as a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard Reserve after 20 years of service. He was a CPA in El Centro, Calif., and later Rancho Bernardo.
Harrison Clark ’53 of Brooksville, Maine, died on June 4. He worked in tech support as manager of programming at Dennison National in Holyoke, Mass., and retired in 1988.
Barry Beckwith ’54 of Longmeadow, Mass., died on Aug. 22. An Army veteran, he retired as president at Carter Paper in 2001.
Frederic Coffman ’54 of Savannah, Ga., died on Oct. 2. He retired in 1987 as vice president for planning at Kimberly-Clark.
Roger Hyde ’56 of Anchorage, Alaska, died on Sept. 9. He worked in real estate sales.
Anthony Lester ’58 of Madison, Conn., died on Sept. 1. He served in the Army in Germany and later worked in sales and management.
Elliott Ginsburg ’62 of Worcester, Mass., died on Oct. 7. For more than 50 years he owned and operated Arrow Wholesale, a company founded by his father in 1933.
Edwin Cox, MBA’65, of Lincoln, Neb., died on Sept. 15. An attorney, he had a private legal practice.
Peter Goetz ’65 of Mohrsville, Pa., died on Aug. 16. He served in the Pennsylvania National Guard and was a corporate pilot and airline flight safety instructor.
Karl Tomaka, MBA’70, of Nolanville, Texas, died on Sept. 8. He served in the Army for 27 years and retired as a colonel in 1984. He then was a consultant for Tri-State Motor Transit.
William Bigwood, MBA’75, of Stratham, N.H., died on Sept. 1. A Navy veteran, he ran his company, Bigwood and Associates.
James Kilchenman ’75 of New Philadelphia, Ohio, died on Oct. 18. He had been a salesman at Fenton Brothers’ Electric for 32 years.
N.S. Ramachandran, MBA’77, of Lawrenceville, N.J., died on Nov. 1. He worked for Digital Equipment.
Jeffrey Covill, MBA’78, of Phoenix died on Sept. 6. He was cofounder and director of Lighthouse Commercial Finance and owner of Pickering Street Associates.
James Clark ’79 of Vienna, Va., died on Oct. 3. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard Clark ’80.
Brian Sullivan, MBA’81, of Newburyport, Mass., died on Oct. 15. He taught history at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Andrew Payson, MBA’02, of Hopkinton, Mass., died on Sept. 23. He worked at Mercer in Norwood.
David Niles ’10 of Natick, Mass., died on July 14. He was a data analyst at Vistaprint.
