1950-1979

Paul Gordon, MBA '67, retired as a partner of KPMG after 35 years. During his career, he was a partner in various offices, including Chicago, New York and New Jersey. He recently accepted a position as a professor in the accounting department at Lehigh University.

Gary Zenz, Ph.D. '68, retired as professor emeritus from the Florida State University College of Business in June.

Howard J. Johnson, BBA '69, was honored this fall by the Department of Accounting & Information Systems at the School of Business as its Distinguished Accounting Alumnus for 2003. After a brief stay in public accounting, Johnson went on to a long and distinguished career in the corporate sector. Before assuming his current role as vice-president of internal auditing for the Lowe's Companies, he served as JC Penney Company's senior vice-president of auditing. He holds both the CPA and CIA certifications and was honored last year with the Victor Z. Brink Award for outstanding professional contributions by the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Dianne Orbison, MS '77, a member of Advantus Capital Management, was promoted to senior vice president of its affiliate, Minnesota Life Insurance, Co., by the Minnesota Life board of directors. Orbison, who has been interim head of Advantus Capital Management since July 2002, was also appointed president of Advantus on a permanent basis. She continues as chief investment officer. Orbison joined Advantus in 1990.

1980-1989

David Rosen, BBA '84, was appointed managing director for FLEXcon Europe, which is a privately held mid-market manufacturer of graphic material components and adhesive systems. He lives in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Larzette Golden Hale, Mph '43, Ph.D., '85, has received an honorary Ph.D. from Utah State University and its College of Business. Before
retiring from Utah State University, she served as Georgia White Distinguished Professor of Accounting. She taught and chaired the business administration departments at three institutions before joining Utah State's faculty. Her credentials also include serving as national president of both Beta Alpha Psi and the American Women's Society of CPA's. In 1993, the Department of Accounting & Information Systems at the UW-Madison School of Business named her its Distinguished Accounting Alumna for her significant contributions to education.

Terry Leavitt, BBA '88, is the director of planning and distribution for the children's division at Stage Stores, Inc., based in Houston, Texas.

Mark Wiebe, BBA '88, is the vice president and CFO for the State Bank of Cross Plains in Cross Plains, Wis.

1990-1994

Brian J. Conom, BBA '90, was named top regional sales manager at Regent Medical for the second straight year. Regent Medical is a manufacturer of powder-free and latex-free surgeon's gloves and hand antiseptics.

Brian Durst, BBA '90, is the senior consultant for IBM. He and his wife, Kay, are excited to announce the arrival of their son, Ethan Samuel, born on July 12.

Shaun Malak, BBA '90, was recently promoted to vice president of M&I Bank in Wausau, Wis.

Nick Kaufmann, BBA '92, graduated from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business with an MBA in finance and strategic management. He currently works for IDC in Boston, Mass.

Sean O'Connell, MS '92, a member of Advantus Capital Management, was promoted to second vice president of its affiliate, Minnesota Life Insurance Co., by the Minnesota Life board of directors at its June meeting. O'Connell joined Advantus in 1993.

Dana R. Hermanson, Ph.D. '93, who is a professor of accounting, at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, was named to Georgia Trend magazine's 2003 list “40 Under 40” outstanding representatives from business, government, academia and the arts.

Hermanson was honored for his work as a “prolific writer and researcher” who heads up Kennesaw State's Corporate Governance Center, an eight-year-old organization that offers educational programs and research for America's corporate leaders.

Kay Lynn Teske, BBA '93, married Mark Hartmann on June 7. The couple resides in Boulder, Colo.

Bronwyn E. Barrera, BBA '94, recently received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is the marketing manager for the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Andrew J. Stoltmann, BBA '94, is an attorney with Maddox Hargett & Caruso in Chicago, Ill., concentrating in securities law. Stoltmann recently won a $4.4 million award on behalf of two individual investors. The NASD arbitration award was the second largest ever in Kentucky, and one of the top 20 largest investor awards in U.S. history.

1995-2003

Ross Berman, BBA '96, is the general partner-trader for Bam Capital LLC. He lives in New York, NY.

Brandon Buza, MS '97, was promoted to director-field production for Northwestern Mutual. He is responsible for generating both commercial real estate loans and direct real estate investments. Buza lives in Huntington Beach, CA.

Joseph Ruhland, BBA '97, who is entering his second year as a Ph.D. student in the University of Georgia's risk management and insurance program, was awarded a $10,000 Spencer Educational Foundation pre-dissertation scholarship. He returned to academic life after five years serving as an independent employee benefits consultant and working for Hewitt Associates and Aon Consulting. He married Kristen Sibbald in August.

Brett Twente, BBA '97, recently started the second year of his internal medicine residency after graduating from the UW Medical School in May 2002.

Seanne Hanke, BBA '98, has accepted a volunteer assignment with the Peace Corps in the former Soviet Republic of Moldova. After four and a half years as a financial analyst for General Mills, Hanke's next two years will be focused on creating cooperatives and a business infrastructure with local dairy farmers. Her travel journal and updates can be read at www.geocities.com/seanne_hanke.

Carleen Berget Courtney, MBA '99, has accepted a position as executive director for HealthNet of Janesville, Inc., a free clinic in Janesville, Wis. She and her husband are expecting their first child in January 2004.
Tess B. Mallery, BBA '00, is the media supervisor for Starcom in Chicago, Ill.

Adam Peer, BBA '00, was appointed acting chief of staff to Wisconsin State Senator Tom Reynolds. Peer resides in Madison.
Joshua Blumenfeld, BBA '01, hired the fourth employee for his Internet marketing company, CoverClicks, based in the Bronx, N.Y. Blumenfeld started the company immediately after graduating from UW-Madison. CoverClicks also recently launched its first sweepstakes Web site, WinHundred.com.

Mark Kons, BBA '01, recently graduated from GE's Financial Management Program, a two-year entry-level leadership-training program for finance employees. He has accepted a position with the finance systems group at GE Medical Systems in Milwaukee, Wis.

Paloma (Wright) Shillings, BBA '02, married Joseph Shillings, BBA '02, in St. Paul, Minn. The couple met when they were freshmen, and both earned business degrees. Currently, they work for the Target Corporation in Minneapolis.

Natascha Wathne, MBA '02, is currently attending the UW-Madison School of Medicine.