CLASSMATES' UPDATES
- Julian Emerson '93 recently received a first-place award in the Milwaukee Press Club 2008 Excellence in Journalism Contest. The series of stories, which detailed former Eau Claire school district Superintendent Bill Klaus’ secretive attempt to obtain his early retirement stipend before he retired and his subsequent cover-up efforts, was recognized in the “Best Investigative Story or Series” category. The contest is open to all Wisconsin newspapers. Emerson is a a reporter for the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram and a graduate of the UW-Eau Claire journalism program.
- Julie Furst-Bowe '85 is provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at UW-Stout. She authored the Dec. 26, 2008, WisOpinion.com column "Legislators should draw the line between higher education-prosperous economy."
- Karin Gjengdahl '06 is the marketing director at Horsager Leadership Studio in Roseville, Minn.
- Brent Hafele '02 earned a master of arts degree in philanthropy and development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Hafele is the executive director of the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic. He lives in Eau Claire with wife Jennifer, '01.
- Emily Halbur '06 has held four positions since graduating in May 2006. These include: Corps Member AmeriCorps based in Charleston, S.C.; Intern for Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn.; Volunteer and Community Relations Manager for ICAN [Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods] in Chandler, Ariz; and Volunteer Manager Special Olympics Minnesota based in Minneapolis.
- Liz Hayes '05 is a news reporter for WSAW Newschannel 7 TV in Wausau, Wis. She has also had the opportunity to produce and fill-in as an anchor. Hayes reports that she loves every minute of the job.
- Jessica Hoel '08 presented the "Reflections" at the December 2008 UW-Eau Claire commencement ceremony. Her speech was titled "The College Marathon."
- Tommy Hudock '05 is a publicist for iUniverse, a leading self-publishing company based in Bloomington, Ind. He is also working to complete his master of entertainment business degree from FullSail University in Winter Park, Fla. Hudock owns his own DJ entertainment company.
- Jess (Schmidt) Jene '03 and husband Paul were married Sept. 20, 2008, in Wauwatosa. Jess, a former captain of the Blugold women's ice hockey team, now enjoys attending the alumni games. She is an account supervisor at one of the top public relations firms on the West Coast, The Rogers Group. The couple live in Los Angeles, Calif.
- David Joles '87 received the President's Award which recognizes outstanding professional and personal achievements and service to UW-Eau Claire at the August 2008 commencement ceremony. Joles who is currently a photographer at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, has won numerous awards for his work, including being named Wisconsin News Photographer of the Year in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004 and Minnesota Photographer of the Year in 2006.
- Stacey Kannenberg '85 is an author, publisher, speaker, motivator, consultant, blogger, spokesperson and mom. As the "Get Ready to Learn Mom", Stacey is a nationally renowned education expert and award winning author with an expertise in children’s education and “Mom-entrepreneurship”. She is the Founder and CEO of two publishing companies: Cedar Valley Publishing and Stacey Kannenberg Unlimited, an Imprint of Cedar Valley Publishing. She is the co-author of the award-winning and state approved, Let's Get Ready series with Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade! In fall, Stacey will be releasing the highly anticipated Spanish/English Bilingual Edition of Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! iA prepararse para kindergarten! Stacey is the publisher of two books by Syndicated Columnist and National Radio Host/Personality, Jodie Lynn. Jodie’s titles are Syndication Secrets and Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) Having, Doing, and Surviving It All! Stacey is also the publisher of the soon to be released books by Barb Rockaway: Mommy, Where are You? and Daddy, Where are You? Stacey is a Principal and Consultant for Mom Central Consulting and Mother’s-Talk, where she specializes in viral, grassroots and word-of-mouth marketing to brands, businesses, authors and publishers. She is mom to Heidi, 9 and Megan, 7, wife to Michael and resides with her family in Fredonia, Wis.
- Karline Koehler '05 works as a writer for Urban Threads, a new company that creates machine embroidery designs for young, modern crafters. She recently moved to northeast Minneapolis after nearly three years as managing editor of Volume One magazine in Eau Claire.
- Warren Kraft '74 has been named director of Human Resources/assistant city attorney for the City of West Bend. He remains affiliated, in an of-counsel capacity, with the Murphy-Desmond law firm of Madison where he continues to practice municipal law on behalf of government clients.
- Pat Kreitlow '86, was elected president pro tempore of the Wisconsin State Senate last November. Kreitlow, who was a news anchor at TV-13 in Eau Claire for nearly 20 years, was first elected to the Senate in 2006.
- Matt Murphy '06 is a key account manager for ConAgra Foods in Dallas, Texas.
- Kaye (Finne) Nemec '04 recently placed second in The ABC's Children's Picture Book Competition with her entry, I Am Twin 1, and I Am Twin 2.
- Gary Puta '85 joined the Arizona Republic Newspaper in Phoenix, Ariz. as a single copy sales manager. The Arizona Republic is the 10th largest U.S. daily newspaper by circulation with an average (daily) circulation of 500,000 papers. He lives in Phoenix, Ariz.
- Leah Rado '07 was recently named sports editor of the Daily Republic, based in Mitchell, S. D.
- Sarah Rykal '03 directed and co-wrote the film "Illegal Use of Joe Zopp," which was featured at the 2009 Wisconsin Film Festival in Madison.
- MacKenzie (Parfitt) Seidel '05 works for the marketing agency Visions Design Studio. She is an account executive working with Twin Cities based companies such as Ecolab and Mosaic.
- Jennifer (Chovanec) Schmidt '99 is a freelance writer and part-time marketing specialist at St. Joseph's Hospital, Chippewa Falls. She and husband John welcomed baby Kaycee Leigh on Sept. 18, 2008. They also have a 2-year-old son, Tyler.
- Julie Slowiak '03 received a master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology in 2006 and a doctorate in behavior analysis in June 2008 from Western Michigan University. She now is an assistant professor in the psychology department at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
- Bridget Smeaton '06 working for Kohl's Dept Stores at the corporate headquarters. Bridget is a project coordinator in marketing, and also coordinates the photo studio.
- Kevin Theese '98 - received his master of arts - strategic communications degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn.
- Maribeth Witzel-Behl '95 is the Madison, Wis. city clerk, recently explained her role in making her city's election process run smoothly in the "What I Do" feature of the Wisconsin State Journal business section.
- Dang Yang '08 is currently employed as the multicultural recruitment and retention coordinator for the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin–Stout.