Share this story!

’60

DONALD WEGRZYN, M.S.Ed. ’67, was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in November 2023.

DR. JAMES A. WOLTER, Ed.D. ’80, released his memoir “Finding Miss Fong” in November 2023.

’68

PATRICK O’CONNOR, M.S. ’98, welcomed the birth of his great-grandson, Fabian Camilo Martinez, in May 2023.

’69

PAUL LUBENCOV’S book, “Tap Dancing on the Razor’s Edge,” was included in the collection of the Illinois State Library in October 2023.

’70

DR. JOHN A. AKINYEMI’S book, “Coming 2 America,” was published in July 2023.

’71

MICHAEL BLACK’S book, “Devil’s Lair,” was published in September 2023.

’72

FRED GELMAN’S book, “Grandma’s Miracles,” was published in November 2023.

’73

G. DOUGLAS STEPHENS was certified as a life member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum in September 2023.

’74

HON. LOUIS APOSTOL, M.B.A., J.D. ’78, was elevated to the rank of Archon in the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle for the Ecumenical Patriarchate in October 2023.

MARY “KATH” CONVER was elected president of the Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation Board of Directors in June 2023 at the AOΠ International Convention.

’76

DR. JAMES J. VARNEY was appointed to the Aurora Historical Society board of trustees in July 2023.

’78

JOHN DERGENTIS was named vice president and general manager at Esmark Steel Group in October 2023.

GLORIA GOSS-HARRIS retired as sign interpreter for the South Holland Master Chorale, after nearly 20 years of service, in May 2023.

RANDALL OLLIS retired from WISH-TV after nearly 40 years of employment in August 2023.

HON. BONNIE M. WHEATON, J.D., was selected as chief judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit of the Illinois Courts in September 2023.

’81

JERRY HUELAT, J.D., was named Defense Lawyer of the Year by the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana in November 2023.

NANCY BESONEN’S book “Off the Hook” was published in October 2023.

’82

CHERYL JOHNSON, M.B.A. ’84, joined the board of directors of Flowserve Corporation in September 2023.

JEFFREY MENGLER, M.S. ’85, was appointed to the Natural Resource Commission for the City of St. Charles, Illinois, in September 2023.

DAVID SCHREIBER was appointed to the board of directors of Agendia, Inc. in June 2023.

’83

ANDREW TINBERG was named president and chief executive officer of CNB Bank & Trust in July 2023.

TOM ANNINO’S book “Shadow Over the Heartland” was published in September 2023.

’85

RANDY CRABTREE was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today in December 2023.

LAURENCE HINZ was named chief financial officer of Bounteous in September 2023.

LAURA HUGHES was named chief marketing and deposit officer for First Mid Bank and Trust in May 2023.

BRIAN SIMPSON released his new album, “Soul Collection,” in June 2023.

’86

BRETT BROWN was named executive vice president and chief financial officer for Tejon Ranch Co. in May 2023.

KATHY SEEGEBRECHT was appointed to the board of directors of Riverbend Industries in July 2023.

DEBRA SHEPACK was named director of real estate for the Port of Tacoma in July 2023.

’87

RANDALL KOBAT was appointed as president of Repair OnDemand in June 2023.

BOYD LAWRENCE, M.P.A. ’04, was named planning manager of Purcellville, Virginia, in June 2023.

DAINTRY MCFADDEN opened franchise Wetzel’s Pretzels inside Macy’s at Oakbrook Center, Oakbrook, Illinois, in December 2023.

PEGGY NORTON-ROSKO was named Chief Nurse Executive for the University of Maryland Medical System in May 2024.

’88

BRENT BRODESKI, M.B.A. ’91, was named a 2024 Chicago Titan by the Titan CEO in November 2023.

DANTE LEON, M.B.A., was named vice president of instruction at Walla Walla Community College, Washington, in August 2023.

JORDAN LOTSOFF was named vice president of fundamental underwriters for the AF Group in May 2023.

MARK OKLAND was named strategic account manager for Mule-Hide Products in August 2023.

’89

DANIEL KLEFSTAD retired from a career of more than 25 years in public radio in April 2023.

JEFFREY MIDKIFF, M.M., performed his concerto, “From the Blue Ridge,” with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in August 2023.

JIM PISANI was named chief executive officer at Life Fitness in July 2023.

BRUCE TUFTIE was named chief strategy officer of Hoverfly Technologies, Inc. in February 2024.

’90

BRAD (CAMIS) CAGE released his record “You Better Run” in November 2023.

JAMES CHRISTENSEN was appointed to the board of directors of Boundless Bio in October 2023.

KIM MCMASTER was named Quad City Engineering & Science Council’s STEM Teacher of the Year in April 2023.

CHRISTOPHER WOOLEYHAND, M.S.Ed. ’90, was hired as the Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals in July 2023.

’91

PAMELA HIGDON, M.B.A. ’95, was appointed chief financial officer of Venterra Realty in August 2023.

DAVID VIOLA was elected as chair of the World Plumbing Council (WPC) in October 2023.

’92

CASSANDRA BUSSE started a new opportunity as Supply Chain Director with nVenia, a Duravant Company, in August 2023.

SUSAN CATER, M.B.A., was elected to the board of directors of Stanley Black & Decker in October 2023.

DR. CARL BRIDGES, Ed.D., was named provost at Danville Area Community College, Illinois, in August 2023.

ERIK JACOBS, J.D., was appointed judge in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of the Illinois Courts in August 2023.

JOSEPH MAI was named chair of Clemson University’s Department of Languages in June 2023.

VINNI UZZARDO was appointed to CAWA’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council in May 2023.

’93

HON. JEFFREY J. ALTMAN was appointed as an associate judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit of the Illinois Courts in September 2023.

ROBERT “BOB” BECKWITH was named director of finance and business services for Bettendorf Community School District, Iowa, in March 2023.

HON. JAMES HEUERMAN, J.D., was appointed as a circuit judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit of the Illinois Courts in January 2024.

CHRISTOPHER WAUGH, M.S.Ed. ’96, was promoted to vice president of student engagement at St. Ambrose University in August 2023.

’94

MATT LAU was named senior vice president of client accounting and financial services for MedHQ in December 2023.

JESSICA LOMBARD, M.S.Ed. ’99, was named superintendent of Huntley School District 158, Illinois, in February 2024.

KELLY ROGAN was named chief operating officer of Ellucian in January 2024.

THOMAS M. TUKESBREY’S book “Of Embers’ Ashes” was published in August 2023.

MARY WIRTH received the Eastern Analytical Symposium Award for Outstanding Achievements in Separation Science in November 2023.

’95

BRIAN MAASS was appointed to the board of directors of Horizon Bank in May 2023.

ROBERT NOWAK was appointed as national practice leader for tax services at Weaver in July 2023.

HOPE STOVALL-HENDERSON was named director of career pathways and workforce development for Homewood-Flossmoor High School, District 233, Illinois in June 2023.

KIMBERLY VAN SICKLE, M.S.Ed., published her book “Assassins are Us” in September 2023.

’97

KIRAN ACHEN was named chief information and digital officer of Delta Dental of South Carolina in July 2023.

THOMAS COLLINS was elected as trustee for the Grundy/Kendall County Regional School Board in May 2023.

LEEANN JOHNSON received Illinois Valley Community College’s 2023 Stephen Charry Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence in April 2023.

AMANDA KUNZER was appointed to the Naperville Illinois Education Foundation in July 2023.

CHRISTOPHER SHIPLEY was named senior vice president and co-chief investment officer of Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., in January 2024.

’98

MATTHEW DAVIS, M.A., was named police chief of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in October 2023.

LUIS DELAROSA was named senior vice president, corporate controller at Clune in May 2023.

STEPHANIE GAGE was named principal of Betsy Ross School in Prospect Heights, Illinois, in April 2023.

’99

MICHAEL JANDES was named director of IT systems at HeartcoR Solutions in March 2023.

JAMES MUNCH, M.B.A. ’02, was named chief financial officer of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee in December 2023.

KEVIN RUSSELL was named the 2024 Superintendent of Distinction in the DuPage Region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) in February 2024.

KISHORI TANK, J.D., was appointed as an associate judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Illinois, in November 2023.

’00

JESSE BARNES was named police chief for the Village of Skokie, Illinois, in December 2023.

JESSE TOPRAK was named industry director for AutoMobility Advisors in June 2023.

’01

KYLE ASCHE opened Hidden Gem Guitars in Flossmoor, Illinois, in April 2023.

KURT JOHANSEN, M.S.Ed. ’03, was named superintendent of West Chicago High School District 94, Illinois, in January 2024.

CHARLES KYLE was named superintendent of Burr Ridge School District 180, Illinois, in June 2023.

ABBEY ZINK was named as provost and vice president for academic affairs at St. Cloud State University in April 2023.

’02

ROSS ALEXANDER, Ph.D., was named President of Texas A&M University-Texarkana in July 2023.

’03

MATTHEW HOLDREN was named head of RBTV for Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208, Illinois, in July 2023.

TODD KRYSIAK was named executive editor of the River Valley Media Group in March 2023.

DAWN BALDWIN was promoted to On-Site Team Lead/Child and Adolescent Therapist at the Kenneth Young Center.

’04

LISA CUSTARDO was named vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer of Transylvania University in May 2023.

MICHELLE BARKLEY, M.S. ’09, was named vice president for academic and student affairs for John Wood Community College, Illinois, in December 2023.

MATTHEW FRIEDLEIN was named science and operations officer at the National Weather Service Quad Cities office in April 2023.

MERA JOHNSON was hired as assistant village manager and human resources director for the Village of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, in July 2023.

KATIE JONES was sworn in as Glenview, Illinois, village trustee in May 2023.

KELLY PERSON was named principal of Hope D. Wall School in Aurora, Illinois, in May 2023.

DAN TEEFEY, J.D., was named president of the Tracy Family Foundation in February 2024.

’05

MELISSA BLAKE’S book “Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability” was published in March 2024.

SHOLONDO CAMPBELL was named dean of students at Lynn University in May 2023.

BRIAN COON, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the Cardiovascular Biology Research Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in July 2023.

STEVEN PYTER was named director of bands for Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, in May 2023.

KATY SCHAAN was named executive administrator of the National Auto Body Council in April 2023.

AMY L. SHERWOOD was named chief membership officer for the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology in July 2023.

HON. SHENONDA TISDALE, J.D., was appointed as an associate judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Illinois, in November 2023.

TIFFANY WILLIAMS was named special services coordinator for Downers Grove Grade School District 58, Illinois, in July 2023.

CHRISTOPHER WOOD was appointed as the 2023 Dome House Al and Mickey Quinlan Artist-in- Residence for the Miller Art Museum in July 2023.

’06

JUSTIN K. DICKERT was named president of Assemblies United in September 2023.

RYAN GOYAL was named partner at Novogradac in March 2023.

NANCY ENGELMANN was named chief human resources officer at the Teachers Credit Union in April 2023.

BALJINDER SINGH was named chief financial officer of RealTruck, Inc. in September 2023.

’07

RAMONA DECRISTOFARO, M.S.Ed. ’08, was named assistant superintendent of student services for Lake Zurich Community Consolidated School District 62, Illinois, effective July 1, 2024.

BLAKE KLINKNER, M.A. ’07, an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of North Dakota School of Law, was honored in May 2023 with the 2022/2023 Professor of the Year Award by the graduating class at Washburn University School of Law.

MATT MCGHGHY was named girls basketball head coach at Keokuk High School, Iowa, in April 2023.

DARIN ROARK was named president and CEO of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in June 2023.

DENVER SCHMITT, M.P.A. ’09, was named public works director for the City of Moline, Illinois, in January 2024.

CHRIS TOMASELLI was named partner at Bennett Thrasher in March 2023.

BRANDON WRIGHT, M.P.A., was named town manager of Trophy Club, Texas, in October 2023.

’08

BRANDON BERNABEI was named sergeant at Libertyville Illinois Police Department in April 2023.

JESSICA MCINTYRE was named superintendent of Buffalo Grove School District 102, Illinois, in March 2023.

CHRISTOPHER THUOT, M.A., Ph.D. ’12, was named vice president of academic affairs for Springfield Technical Community College in August 2023.

MICHAEL TRESNAK was named superintendent of DeLand-Weldon Community Unit School District 57, Illinois, in March 2023.

MATTHEW ZEDIKER, M.S.Ed., Ed.S. ’22, was named superintendent of Yorkville Community School District 115, Illinois, in February 2024.

’09

SHERRY JURSA, M.B.A., was named Chicago Business Journal Women of Influence honoree in November 2023.

HON. COLLEEN LAWLESS was appointed as a federal judge for the Central District of Illinois in March 2023.

BENJAMIN MEINERT was named principal of Woodland Elementary School, Joliet, Illinois, in June 2023.

’10

LAURA EDWARDS was named career and technical education curriculum coordinator for the West Aurora School District, Illinois, in April 2023.

JOHN GIBSON retired as chief school business official for Homewood School District 153, Illinois, in June 2023.

JESSICA HERRMANN, M.S.Ed., Ed.D. ’18, was the Impact Award recipient from the Illinois School Counselor Association (ISCA) in December 2023.

CARRIE MURPHY was named director of sales at the Hiltons of Chicago Sales and Marketing Complex in June 2023.

CHRISTOPHER NAVRATIL, M.A.S. ’11, was named CFO of Equity Bancshares Inc. in August 2023.

PHIL REED was named co-anchor for the KHBSKHOG weekday morning newscast in Arkansas in April 2023.

CHARLES THOMPSON, M.B.A., was named CEO of the WCLA Credit Union in February 2024.

TIMOTHY P. WYLLER was named principal of Mill Creek Elementary School, Geneva, Illinois, in June 2023.

’11

KRISTOPHER KLOEPPING, M.S. ’16, received the Outstanding Young Professional Award in Athletics by the North Carolina Recreation and Park Association in October 2023.

BRIGITTE MORIN, M.S., received the Diversity Award from Michigan Technological University in November 2023.

ALEXANDER PORTER was named Emerging Leader of the Year by the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Chicago/Midwest Chapter in November 2023.

’12

RYAN BERRY, M.S.Ed., was named assistant superintendent for business services for River Trails School District 26, Illinois, in January 2024.

EMMA DONATILLE, M.S.Ed., was named director of development for Waubonsee Community College, Illinois, in January 2024.

ROBERT “ROB” KOSIC was appointed as Douglas County, Illinois, state’s attorney in May 2023.

JOSEPH PAWLAK, M.S.Ed. ’14, was named offensive line coach for the University of Montana’s football team in February 2024.

MICHAEL REGNIER was appointed as Livingston County, Illinois, state’s attorney in July 2023.

ALLISON (BENTHUSEN) REMMES received the State of Illinois 2023 Law Officer of the Year award from the veteran organization Forty and Eight (40 & 8) in July 2023.

BRANDON TOLLIVER was appointed as alderman on the Aurora City Council, Illinois, in September 2023.

’14

TIM KEELEY was named associate superintendent for business services at Township High School District 214, Illinois, in May 2023.

ALYSSA SMITH was named athletic director for Parkview Christian Academy, Yorkville, Illinois, in May 2023.

’15

TREVOR BOSACK, M.P.A., was named assistant village administrator for Lake in the Hills, Illinois, in September 2023.

’17

MATT CLARK was named principal of Thompson Middle School, St. Charles, Illinois, in May 2023.

JACOB HICKS was named product manager at Caleffi in March 2023.

JAMAAL HINES, M.S.Ed., was recognized as one of the 2024 top young professionals under the age of 30 by the National Recreation and Park Association in January 2024.

KATHRYN NAGEL published her book with Kurt Wehrmeister, “Cumie, the Brave Little Cloud,” in July 2023.

BRITTANY ROGALLA, J.D. ’20, was named associate attorney at McSwain Nagle Giese & Rapp, P.C. in February 2024.

’18

KATHRYN “KATIE” GOLBACH, M.P.A., was named human resources director of the Village of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, in February 2024.

’19

JEAN BUECHE, M.P.A., was named assistant village administrator for the Village of Oswego, Illinois, in November 2023.

DONALD CUMMINGS, M.P.A, was named police chief for the Village of Carol Stream, Illinois, in November 2023.

ALIJAH JEFFERY was named the first women’s wrestling coach at Fort Hays State in March 2023.

MATTHEW KARSTENS, J.D., M.B.A. ’20, was named associate attorney at McSwain Nagle Giese & Rapp P.C. in September 2023.

JORGE NIETO was named associate vice president for assessment and student success at the College of DuPage in March 2023.

TATIANNA SALISBURY’S book, “words my heart needed to hear,” was published in June 2023.

’21

KIERRA FRAZIER was promoted to breaking news reporter at Politico in March 2023.

CLAUDIA OLECH achieved the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist designation by the American Meteorological Society in January 2024.

’22

DR. KENDRA R. ANDREWS joined the clinical team at Northern Light Mercy Ear, Nose and Throat Care in July 2023.

CRISTINA BRAVO received the ICTFL Award for New Teachers of Foreign Languages from the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in November 2023.

DAWN BROWN, Ed.D., was hired as the assistant chair of curricular affairs and an assistant professor in the Northwestern University Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences (NUPTHMS) within the Feinberg School of Medicine in June 2023.

’23

KIMBERLY NIXON, M.S.Ed., was named director of financial services for the Alton School District, Illinois, in October 2023.