Alumni Notes: Fall 2015

1960s

William T. Betz, BS ’69, is the board president for the American Osteopathic Foundation and the senior associate dean for the Osteopathic Medical Education Chair, Department of Family Medicine at the University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has served on the board since 2010. In addition to his leadership role at the university, Betz is a staff physician at the Pikeville Medical Center, Family Medicine Residency Program.

1970s

Deanna (Medsker) Day, BA ’77, is a librarian for North Carolina State University. She and her husband, Kenneth, live in Cary, North Carolina.

William (Mike) DeNoon, BS ’72, is retired after working 40 years in public education. He most recently taught and coached at Blue Valley High School in Kansas. He lives in Olathe.

Greg Goff, BS ’71, was inducted in May into the Dodge City (Kansas) Community College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Phil Harpel, BS ’74, is the senior community banking officer and branch manager for U.S. Bank in Clarksville, Tennessee. Harpel has worked in the financial services industry for more than 30 years.

1980s

Anita (Verhaeghe) Felzke, BA ’80, recently retired from teaching in the Olathe (Kansas) School District. She lives in Spring Hill, Kansas.

Tierney (Polk) Grasser, BS ’81, is the CFO for Olathe (Kansas) Health System Inc. In April, she was named a CFO of the Year in the nonprofit category by the Kansas City Business Journal.

Jeffrey Magee, BS ’86, is the author of Your Trajectory Code: How to Change Your Decisions, Actions, and Directions, to Become Part of the Top 1% High Achievers and The Managerial Leadership Bible: Learning the Strategic, Organizational, and Tactical Skills Everyone Needs Today, 2nd Edition.

Betty Majors, MLA ’87, has served as a volunteer in Jefferson West (Kansas) Elementary School classrooms for the past six years and on the elementary school site council for the past two years. Before retiring, she taught mathematics at the middle school, high school and community college levels.

Marcos Mendoza, BA ’86, is the assistant director of legal and regulatory affairs for the Texas Association of School Boards in Austin. His article “Reinsurance as Governance: Governmental Risk Management Pools as a Case Study in the Governance Role Played by Reinsurance Institutions” was recently published in the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal, Issue 21.1.

Patti Phillips, BA ’88, is the CEO of the National Association of the Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators. In March, she was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Steve Ridpath, BS ’83, recently self-published A Walk Through Life: Poems of Virtue. He has worked as a certified public accountant for 25 years.

Connie Holloway Smith, BS ’85, is a senior product development leader for DST/ Argus.

Andy Walker, BS ’83, is a family practice physician for Republic (Kansas) County and the surrounding area as part of the North Central Kansas Health Care Foundation.

Andrea (Casey) Wall, BA ’81, is a middle school ELA teacher for St. Paul Lutheran School. She recently celebrated 20 years as a Christian educator, cheer coach and mentor.

1990s

Cristin Glaze, BS ’91, is a post closer for CLM Mortgage. She lives in Houston, Texas.

Jennifer (Jeffery) McFall, BS ’90, is a controller for Najafi Companies. She and her husband, Matthew, have a daughter, Madison, and son, Austin. They live in Glendale, Arizona.

Jessica McClellan, MSM ’94, founded Giving Hope and Help in 2013 to support cancer patients and to aid domestic violence and natural disaster victims.

Mo Chung, BS ’98, has been promoted to vice president, sales for Apple Daily and NxTomo, overseeing print and digital sales for Next Media’s flagship publication. Chung was general manager of digital sales at Apple Daily for more than three years heading up the digital sales business. He also was media sales head at PCCW NOW, responsible for cross-platform advertising for corporate sales teams and cross-functional business units.

Lori Curtis-Luther, BA ’95, was sworn in on June 1 as the new city manager of Beloit, Wisconsin. She had been the Peoria County, Illinois, administrator before accepting the position in Beloit. She formerly was administrator for Reedsburg and Waukesha in Wisconsin.

Misty Deaton, BA ’99, is a senior paralegal for H&R Block. She lives in Overland Park, Kansas.

Kit Harris, BS ’96, MASL ’03, coached Baldwin (Kansas) High School’s wrestling team to its first state title in February.

Chris Marshall, BA ’95, is the majority owner of Callahan Creek in Lawrence, Kansas. He has been with Callahan for 10 years and serves as the marketing agency’s president. In his role, he manages client relationships, new business and day-to-day operations of the marketing agency.

Scott Stemmermann, BA ’91, in June was named vice president, digital marketing at NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. In his role, Stemmermann oversees all multiplatform digital and social products associated with NBCU Domestic TV Distribution’s first-run television properties. In addition to managing “Access Hollywood,” “Access Hollywood Live,” “Steve Harvey,” “The Meredith Vieira Show,” and all shows produced from NBCuDTD’s Stamford Media Center, Stemmermann will lead digital and social strategy for prospective shows produced by the division.

Brett Thomas, BA ’93, co-anchors NewsChannel 15’s First at 5, News at 6 and Nightcast Monday through Friday in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He previously worked at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he anchored 24 Hour News 8 Daybreak. Thomas earned several awards while working in Grand Rapids, including an Emmy, recognition from the Associated Press, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, and the Michigan Television and News Photographers Association.

Chad Wilkins, BS ’95, MBA ’00, has joined Midland Care Connection as chief financial officer. He has been involved in financial and executive management for nearly 20 years, including serving as CEO and CFO for the Resource Center for Independent Living and CFO for Prairie Band.

2000s

Randy Adams, MBA ’04, is division vice president for Ace Cash Express.

Emily (Braker) Allshouse, BS ’04, is an associate director, relationship marketing for Kellogg Company. She and her husband, Shaun Allshouse, live in Sycamore, Illinois.

Michael Beaven, MASL ’09, is the new vice principal for Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas. He previously taught in the Shawnee Mission Unified School District and Turner School District and at Christ the King in Kansas City, Kansas.

Andrea Bresee, BA ’02, is the assistant director of the Johnston Public Library in Baxter Springs, Kansas.

Mary Halleran, MBA ’00, is the crisis services director for SOS Inc., in Emporia, Kansas. She was a clinical instructor at Emporia State University for 10 years and coordinated the sociology, anthropology and criminal justice internship program at ESU.

Levi Davis, BA ’04, MBA ’15, is the administrator at the skilled nursing facility at Louisburg (Kansas) Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Megan Dailey Fitzgerald, BS ’04, is a social worker at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. She was named the CMH employee of the month in March.

Brady Garren, MBA ’08, is an employee relations manager at Nebraska Furniture Mart. He also is an instructor at Columbia College and frequently teaches college classes in human resources management, benefits/compensation and employee relations.

Tim Haynes, BA ’09, and his wife, Emily (Speicher) Haynes, BS ’10, live in Independence, Kansas. After graduating from Baker, Tim earned a master’s degree in sustainable communities at Northern Arizona University and is a lab manager at Fab Lab ICC. Emily completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy at University of Kansas School of Medicine and is a physical therapist at Mercy Health For Life.

Jessica Hill, BA ’01, is talent director, North America, for Saatchi and Saatchi X. She lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

John Humiston, BS ’04, serves as a physician assistant with Quincy (Illinois) Medical Group, where he practices orthopedic surgery specializing in joint replacement and sports medicine as well as running his own clinic. He previously worked as a physician assistant at Johnson County (Kansas) Orthopedics. In 2008 he earned a Master in Physician Studies from Wichita State University. He and his wife, Whitney, have a son, Johnny, and live in Quincy.

Bill Lynch, MBA ’07, is the director of Global OEM Sales for Oregon Products, an international brand for Blount International.

Jason Montgomery, BA ’01, is an attorney for Bond, Schoeneck and King. He and his wife, Katie (Harrington) Montgomery, BA ’00, MSM ’04, live in Prairie Village, Kansas.

Robert Osborn, BBA ’00, is general manager, fabrication and engineering at Strategic Marine Co., Ltd. He lives in Vung Tau City, Vietnam.

Emily (Fike) Ostrander, BBA ’03, MBA ’06, is a regional sales manager for SPX. She and her husband, Teague, live in Akron, Ohio.

Jonathan Roper, BA ’09, is a customer service representative for Westar Energy. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Wichita, Kansas.

Brandon Scarborough, BS ’02, of the Power Group Companies, was honored in Ingram’s 40 Under Forty. He works with companies that have 100 to 15,000 employees and has been recognized as Benefits Selling magazine’s 2012 national Benefits Broker of the Year, and by Employee Benefit Advisor magazine as one of its rising stars in employee benefits.

Noah Simpson, MASL ’08, is the head girls basketball coach at Liberty (Missouri) High School.

Michelle (Lockhart) Sundstrom, ’00, is the associate director of client development at Ruffalo Noel Levitz. She and her husband, Craig, announced the birth of their son, Henry Craig, on Jan. 20, 2015.

Shawn Walters, MASL ’09, is the new football coach at Central Heights High School in Richmond, Kansas. He spent 22 years as a defensive coach at Ottawa, West Franklin and Williamsburg high schools in Kansas. He and his family live in Williamsburg, Kansas.

Brent Wolf, MAEd ’07, teaches English and language arts at Derby (Kansas) Public Schools. He also teaches writing courses for Baker’s MBA program.

2010s

Jasmine Briedwell, EdD ’12, is the principal of Lake Contrary Elementary School in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was recently named the St. Joseph School District Principal of the Year and the National Distinguished Principal for Missouri.

Kyle Britton, BS ’12, is a control center operator for Securitas Critical Infrastructure Services and lives in Olathe, Kansas.

Eric Clark, MSSL ’11, is the new administrator for Elryia Christian School in McPherson, Kansas. He previously was the principal at Moundridge Middle School and assistant principal at Moundridge High School in Kansas. He will oversee the school’s kindergarten through 12th-grade operation as well as development and marketing.

Emily Crockett, MBA ’12, was recently promoted to first senior vice president and director of retail banking at CoreFirst Bank & Trust. She will oversee all retail functions, including call center, retail operations, training, branches, sales and consumer loans. She has been with CoreFirst for 20 years.

Brandon DeVader, MBA ’11, graduated from the Academy of Military Science at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, on Dec. 19, 2014. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He works as an intelligence officer with the 161st Intelligence Squadron at the 184th Intelligence Wing and lives in Wichita, Kansas.

Baba Diallo, BS ’13, is the assistant director of basketball operations at DePaul University in Chicago. He previously was a graduate manager at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.

Jordan Dolbin, BS ’13, is a social media content producer for the NFL.

Haley Epperson, BS ’13, and Casey Gleue, BS ’12, were married May 30, 2015, in Kansas City, Missouri. They reside in Kansas City, Kansas.

Kate Hennessy, BSN ’14, is a registered nurse for the emergency department at Belton (Missouri) Regional Medical Center. She lives in Overland Park, Kansas.

Jeff Hermesch, BBA ’14, works at Computer Science Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jamie Inglett, BBA ’12, was recently promoted to assistant vice president and assistant cashier at Heritage Bank in Topeka, Kansas.

LaTasha (Roberts) James, BS ’12, was recognized as a ROCKSTAR volunteer for her role as a Go Red for Women Ambassador for the American Heart Association.

Stephanie Jasnoski, MSM ’14, recently was named the director of nursing for Ambulatory Surgery Center at KU MedWest in Shawnee, Kansas.

Raymond Johnson, BBA ’12, married Matthew Combes on May 24 at Stony Point Hall in Baldwin City, Kansas. He is an information technology analyst at Belger Cartage Service and lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Shelly Long, BA ’14, is senior account manager at DataSource Inc.

Tera Lyons, BS ’14, is a web content and development contractor for AMB Sports & Entertainment in Flowery Branch, Georgia. She previously was a web production assistant for the Atlanta Falcons football team.

Alesha Miller, BS ’13, is marketing and public relations coordinator at Cass Regional Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Madison Morris, BS ’11, is the manager of the service department at Midwest Coating in Topeka, Kansas. He is the third generation of his family to work for the company.

Molly Olson, BSN ’10, is a registered nurse at Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska. She and her husband, Brent, won the 2014 Kansas Bankers Award for water quality as part of a conservation recognition program.

Andrew Patch, BS ’10, MBA ’14, and Shawna Stokes, BA ’10, were married May 2, 2015, in Kansas City, Missouri. Shawna recently graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and began her residency in pediatrics at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Andrew is a business development associate for KForce Inc.

Erin Riggs, BA ’11, is an enrollment and student services program assistant for the University of Kansas. She lives in Overland Park, Kansas.

Seth Schooley, MAEd ’14, teaches math to students in grades six through high school for USD 379 in Wakefield, Kansas.

Clarence Scott, ’12, MSM ’15, is a membership specialist for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.

Christopher Sipe, BSM ’14, is a wind technician for Buckeye Wind Farm in Hays, Kansas.

Adelyn Soellner, MSSL ’10, is the new principal at Wheatland Elementary in Valley Center, Kansas. She previously was an assistant principal at an elementary school in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Connor Stremel, BS ’14, is a graduate assistant at the Williams Education Fund for the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Ian Sutherland, BS ’10, is an engineer for GSI Engineering in Wichita, Kansas.

Jose Torres, MSM ’13, is a supervisory surface maintenance specialist at Kansas Army National Guard.

Taryn (Britain) Willibey, BS ’11, works in the Behavioral Health Resources Social Work Department at Children’s Mercy Hospital. She and her husband, Kyle, live in Shawnee, Kansas.

Paige Wilson, MBA ’08, is the associate director of human resources at Cretcher Heartland in Kansas City, Missouri.