1990s Class notes

1990
Doug Richardson (BBA), '99 (MBA) is co-owner of Parco Manufacturing Inc. in Eau Claire. In fall 2011, Parco was selected to supply its triple pane windows for new sustainable living cabins in Fontana Park in Buchanan County, Iowa. When planning the cabins, the project leaders sought to construct lodging that would utilize off-grid solar energy and, through energy-conserving walls, roofing, windows and appliances, make the most of the solar energy collected and stored on site. Richardson can be reached by email at doug@parcowindows.com.
 
Colleen (Morrow) Timm (BA-E) earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis in May 2012 from UW-Madison. For her dissertation, Colleen conducted a multi-case study of high-achieving rural school districts, examining factors that influence school board actions to support student achievement.
 
1991
Jacqueline Lyons (BA) joined the faculty of California Lutheran University as an assistant professor of English in August 2011. She previously taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Colorado State University. Lyons holds a master’s degree in creative writing from CSU and a doctorate in literature and creative writing from the University of Utah.
 
David Winter (BS) has joined the energy and environment division of Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon Inc. as a senior manager of environmental engineering in the firm's Nashville, Tenn., office. BWSC is an employee-owned engineering, architecture, planning, landscape architecture and surveying firm. Winter has had 18 years of experience with environmental projects, including remediation, compliance, investigations, disaster response and construction. Prior to joining BWSC, Winter was the chief operating officer at EMR Inc. in Lawrence, Kan.  

1994
Brian Benkstein (BSHCA) has been certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as an MSBA board certified labor and employment law specialist. This certification program is administered by the MSBA and approved by the State Board of Legal Certification. The certified specialist designation is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a rigorous approval process, including an examination in a specialty area, peer review and documented experience. This achievement has been earned by fewer than 3 percent of all licensed Minnesota attorneys. Benkstein has practiced in the labor and employment law section of Felhaber Larson Fenlon & Vogt since May 2003. His practice includes employment litigation defense and counseling, exclusive to management-side representation. Prior to joining the firm, Benkstein was a licensed nursing home administrator, working for a Twin Cities-based health care company.

Diane Isham (BA) is now a published author. Her poem, "Wounded Soul," appears on Page 365 of "Sunflowers and Seashells: Journeys," published by Eber and Wein Publishing Co. Diane wrote the poem after trying to rescue a wounded goose that had been residing at Chapman Park in Stanley by driving the goose to the Onalaska Humane Society. Unfortunately, the goose didn't survive, thus the poem, which speaks not just about a goose but all of us who have struggled with life in the face of adversity. While pursuing her degree at UW-Eau Claire, Diane's professors, including the late Bruce Jannusch (professor emeritus of philosophy and religious studies), urged her to publish. Diane thanks them for their encouragement, which she says she took to heart.
 
1995

Doug Throndson	Dave Throndson

Doug Throndson (BBA) and brother Dave Throndson '96 (BS) represent theMilwaukee-based LaMacchia Group, the firm that was selected to design and build the new WESTconsin Credit Union on Clairemont Avenue in Eau Claire. La Macchia Group is a leader specializing in strategic planning, brand development, architectural design and construction of financial institutions. The 12,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility combines the latest in credit union member service technology with a northwoods feel, focusing on sustainable design initiatives. Doug Throndson is the chief financial officer for La Macchia Group, and Dave is the vice president of business development for the firm. Both live in the Milwaukee metropolitan area with their wives and families.
 
1996
Brian Callahan (BA) and Dan McGinley '95 (BA) launched a new company called H2OChills in November 2011. The company, based in Brookfield, offers innovative products for recreational use in a wide variety of water environments. Callahan and McGinley also lead Quovis Inc., an executive search firm based in Milwaukee. Since a majority of Quovis' business has come from manufacturing companies, Callahan and McGinley created H2OChills, in part, to better understand their customer base. More information about the companies is available at H2OChills.com and QuovisInc.com.

Kristine Havlik (BA), senior counsel in the Milwaukee office of Foley & Lardner LLP, received a 2012 Women Putting Their Stamp on Metro Milwaukee Award in the volunteerism category. The awards, given by the Lakeland District of the U.S. Postal Service, recognize individuals of Milwaukee area communities who have helped improve the quality of life for all citizens. Havlik was instrumental in launching Wills for Heroes in Wisconsin, a volunteer program that has
provided free estate planning services to more than 1,000 emergency first responders. She also is an active member and former board president for The Women's Center, an organization dedicated to supporting victims of domestic and sexual abuse. In addition to the U.S. Postal Service Award, Havlik has been recognized with the Milwaukee Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Individual Award for her Wills for Heroes work and the Gordon Sinykin Award of Excellence for her law-related public service and education contributions.
 
BB&T has promoted Bobby Strei (BBA) to vice president. Strei is a West Coast regional sales manager at AFCO Premium Finance Corp. in Los Angeles, a subsidiary of BB&T, one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S. 

Bonita Treinen (BS-E) recently earned her master of public administration degree from Columbia University in New York City. She currently is based in Bhutan, preparing the Royal University of Bhutan to launch its first international master's program. Bonita has previously worked in the field of education in China, Thailand, Spain, Poland, Cambodia and the U.S.  

1997
Sheri (Kukla) Zuniga (BS-E) and husband Joseph welcomed the birth of their third child, Cayden Jeffrey, on Jan. 12, 2012. Proud siblings Sawyer and Kennedy joined in the celebration of Cayden's birth.
 
1998
Laura Finley Opicka (BBA) and Chad Opicka '99 (BS) welcomed their son, Grayson, in March 2012. He joins big brother Hudson. The family lives in De Pere.  

1999
Caroline Akervik (MA) had her first young-adult novel, "A Horse Named Viking," published by Fire and Ice, an imprint of Melange Books, in April 2012. She previously had two romance novels as well as several short stories published under the pen name Isabelle Kane. Caroline, an elementary media specialist in Eau Claire, invites friends to visit fireandiceya.com to learn more about her latest book.

Jennifer (Mackley) Degel (BBA) and Anthony Degel were married Feb. 10, 2012, at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul, Minn. Jennifer works as a sales manager in Bloomington, Minn., and Anthony is the dean of students at Shakopee (Minn.) Middle School. The pair live in Brooklyn Park, Minn., and have two children, Samantha and Jaxson.

Sara Finger-Warmuth (BA) is founder and director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health, a Madison-based policy coalition that works to advance comprehensive women's health in Wisconsin by engaging, educating, empowering and mobilizing individuals and organizations. She serves as WAWH's spokesperson, coordinates its grassroots advocacy activities and is responsible for recruitment and communication. As the Wisconsin regional coordinator for Raising Women's Voices and the National Women's Law Center's State of Women initiative grantee, WAWH has been recognized as Wisconsin's health care reform leader for women. In March 2012, Finger-Warmuth was honored at the White House as a Champion of Change for her work to increase women's access to health care. She has raised awareness of and appreciation for the Affordable Care Act by developing resources, coordinating state partners, driving media coverage and participating in policy development to ensure that Wisconsin implements the ACA in a way that achieves the best possible outcomes for women and their families. Finger-Warmuth received an Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award in May 2012 from the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association.