Albert V. Witham, '51 ,

Alumni, students, executives, staff and others may hear the 1949-51 U-M Law School barbershop quartet, The Legalairs (Bob Rizley '53 JD, baritone; Phil Robertson '51 JD, bass; Jim Kendall '52 JD, tenor; Vern Witham '51, JD, lead.) in a slide show by going to the following:

Google Search: type in: youtube legalairs I; youtube legalairs II; youtube legalairs III; and youtube legalairs IV

When the list of items appears after each search, click on the small square picture of The Legalairs. The quartet, a tribute by The Lettermen, and photos of the Law Club are shown on the slide show. The various songs are played by scrolling and selecting with the computer mouse.

Holly Feen-Calligan, Ph.d.,

was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure at Wayne State University.

Steve Crower, BSCE,

91•86•90. What do these numbers mean? Why do they affect you? Why should you care? Steve Crower, an energy investment banker from Denver, CO, finds a creative way to present the underlying data of the world's petroleum supplies and why we should pay attention to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDIYgG0gSiY

Susan Kearney, BBA,

USA Today best selling author Susan Kearney's newest trilogy will be released by Grand Central Publishing 09.01.09. The Pendragon Legacy is a trilogy which begins with LUCAN, a science fiction romance set in the near future. You can read excerpts at www.susankearney.com. Book covers can also be viewed on my web site.

Mia Katrin (Hartsook), BA,

Mia Katrin, award-winning jewelry designer and owner of JEWEL COUTURE LLC (http://jeweljewel.com) has been invited to attend the top retail jewelers' event in the Southeast by Southern Jewelry News, where her monthly Byline column is featured. Her Collections of 18-22 karat gold necklaces with precious gems, which have been worn by A-List Hollywood celebrities, are featured in top galleries and stores nationally, where Mia Katrin regularly hosts Trunk Shows.

Christopher L. Kwasneski, BBA Accounting / MSHRM,

I received my Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Boston University in May 2009 and in June of 2009, I was appointed to the position of HR Director for Genesee County, MI. I am a 1995 graduate from U of M - Flint with a BBA in accounting.

Lawrence Velvel, '60 BA, Economics,

A new book by essayist Lawrence Velvel, Dean of the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover, has won the 2009 gold medal in the essay/creative category of Independent Publisher, the voice of the independent publishing industry.

The "IPPY" Award was conferred for his non-fiction work "An Enemy of the People: The Unending Battle Against Conventional Wisdom," published by the law school's Doukathsan Press. Last year, Doukathsan Press brought out Velvel’s unsparing fictionalized memoir, the 818-page quartet "Thine Alabaster Cities Gleam." It chronicles post 1960 cultural declines—a moral meltdown that caused America to go from the world's hope to a country often reviled abroad.

Betty A. Rakowski, B.S.N., M.A.,

Mark and I were married in an intimate ceremony at our home last September, followed by a reception at the Michigan League and honeymoon in San Francisco.

Douglas S. Kearney, BBA,

Jason L. Duzan, managing director of Chicago-based private equity firm Glencoe Capital, today announced the appointment of Douglas S. Kearney, Class of 1991, as principal of the firm. Kearney will help manage the firm’s latest fund, the Michigan Opportunities Fund, and will work from Glencoe Capital’s new office in Birmingham, Mich.

Before joining Glencoe Capital, Kearney was a principal at Detroit-based Superior Capital Partners, where he sourced and executed special situation portfolio investments in the lower middle market. Previously, he was a managing director for Conway MacKenzie & Dunleavy.

From 2001 through 2006, Kearney served as chief financial officer of Lason Inc., a global provider of business process outsourcing services. Kearney has also held positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers, DaimlerChrysler and IBM.

A CPA, Kearney holds an MBA from Yale University and a BBA from the University of Michigan.

Susan E. Padley, '84 BA,

Susan E. Padley has been named to the May/June 2009 issue of "Super Lawyers—Corporate Counsel Edition" by a survey of Law & Politics Media, Inc. She was selected through a process which included peer nominations and evaluations as well as independent research. She is considered one of the top business attorneys in Michigan in the area of Land Use/Zoning Law. Only five percent of the attorneys in Michigan were named to this list. Ms. Padley received her B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1984.

Richard Albright,

Richard Albright is being featured in a series of articles in the Atlantic City Press dealing with munitions being pumped up on beaches during sand replenishment operations. Dr. Albright's book, Cleanup of Chemical and Explosive Munitions is now being published by Elsevier, a world wide publishing company specializing in technical books. Dr. Albright has also recently completed an article on underwater ordnance including a study of the massive amounts of ordnance dumped in the Great Lakes, some near fresh water intakes.

John Brinkman, BFA,

John & Wendy have two art-driven children's books out in Spring 2009. The first, released in March, is "Mommy Loves Me" (Penguin/PSS!), a board book featuring illustrations of baby animals with their mothers (Publisher's Weekly called the illustrations "endearing"). The second, available in May, is a picture book called "Periwinkle Smith and the Twirly, Whirly Tutu" (Penguin/PSS!). In it we meet an imaginative young girl who has a very painterly problem.

John Brinkman and his partner, Wendy Walters, make art and illustration together under the name "John & Wendy."

Mark Adam Kaplan, B.A.,

Mark Kaplan's first novel, A THOUSAND BEAUTIES, is now available through Amazon.com. A THOUSAND BEAUTIES is published by BeWrite Books, a small European press. For more information, please visit my website: www.markadamkaplan.com

Lisa Lane, B.A. Political Science,

I have written a new book entitled "Firm Conviction: A Case Against Private Law Practice," published by Strategic Books Publishing/Eloquent Books in New York, New York. it is available on www.eloquentbooks.com/FirmConviction.html or amazon.com.

Mike Lee, B.S.E. Engineering Physics,

I received an email reply from the editor of R&D magazine to an opinion I voiced over what is valid R&D. My solar recharged bass guitar amplifier using recycled cell phones for power caught the chief editor's attention and may be featured in the next issue.

This is R&D magazine the latest breakthroughs are highlighted. Yet the editor took time to consider my simple device and even may feature it. That is rather cool.

Gina Pensiero, '05 ,

Gina Pensiero has a music blog, One Sweet Song (http://www.onesweetsong.blogpot.com), that has been nominated for a 2009 Bloggie Award. Her Brooklyn-based band, Palmyra (http://www.myspace.com) is also on a short tour of the East Coast.

Ann Marie Lipinski, '78 ,

Ann Marie Lipinski was the co-editor-in-chief of the Michigan Daily, 1977-78. She left Michigan a few credits short to start work for the Chicago Tribune. (She completed her degree in 1994). In this spring’s alumni newsletter for past staff members of the Daily, the Michiganensian yearbook, and the Gargoyle humor magazine, journalist Sara Fitzgerald, who was also an editor of the Daily (1972-73), noted, "Winning a Pulitzer Prize (for investigative reporting, in 1988) would probably be considered qualification enough for the Athena Award, but Ann Marie went on to become managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, and then, in 2001, senior vice president and editor of the paper. Nevertheless, she still found time to give back to the university and her profession, serving on the Board for Student Publications from 1992-1998 and on the board of the University of Michigan Knight Wallace Fellows program in journalism, as well as on the boards of the Poynter Institute and the Stanford University Journalism Fellows program." Ms. Lipinski resigned from the Tribune in July 2008 and is now the University of Chicago's Vice President for Civic Engagement. In that position she oversees the university's relationships in a number of areas, including public schools, public safety, economic development and the city's bid for the 2016 Olympics.

Dino Markus and Frank Castiglione,

Are creators of Daily Ball Breakers (www.dailyballbreakers.com), the first ever daily stand-alone video sports comedy website, covering the biggest stories of the day, and the talking heads who analyze them. All things sports, all satire, all funny. It's SportsCenter meets The Daily Show meets Talk Soup online.

Dino Markus has produced for 10 years across media platforms, worked for network comedy shows, comedy websites, and a half dozen ESPN properties, including 3+ years as head writer and a producer for Jim Rome.

Frank Castiglione spent several fast-paced years as SVP Marketing for divisions of Target Corp., and has reinvented other well-known brands in a variety of business sectors using both traditional and emerging media.

James P. Spiewak II, B.B.A.,

started www.financialyoung.com. Wrote the book "Start Saving Now - Perspective From Our Generation." Started iMag magazine.

Karen Gray Ruelle, BGS, MLS,

Karen Gray Ruelle's latest picture book is out: The Tree (Holiday House, 2008), illustrated by Deborah Durland DeSaix, is a historical portrait of an elm tree in the heart of New York City, and the city that grew up around it, during its more than 250 years. Kirkus Reviews called it a "charming piece of history . . . the author paces the narration perfectly, beginning leisurely and becoming more breathless as life in the city quickens, but she never forgets the tree's steady presence." Booklist says, "A handsome work on a subject that will have appeal to many children." For ages 5-9.

Robert Camuto, BA,

After leaving UM 30 years ago. Robert Camuto followed a journalism path that led him to California, New York, Texas and (for the last 8 years) France.

His first book Corkscrewed: Adventures in the New French Wine Country has been a critical hit with Eric Asimov wine critic of the New York Times calling it "my favorite new book."

Corkscrewed is MUCH more than a wine book: It deals with topics like sustainable agriculture, "wine as food," and human values in France's storied vineyards in the 21st Century.

Robert says its been great to have Michigan alums show up at his book events in NY and elsewhere (His next reading is in Paris March 30.) See www.corkscrewed.info.

Christina Ryu, BS,

Christina Ryu is passionate about medicine, especially ophthalmology. Ryu will be participating in Ride for World Health, a coast-to-coast bike ride, beginning in April that seeks to raise awareness about global health issues. After attending a Unite for Sight Global Health Conference, Ryu learned about global health disparities and was inspired to advocate for change. She hopes that the Ride will help others to learn about current global health issues and encourage them to take action. Both Ryu and the other riders are still raising funds for the Ride.

Ryu attended The University of Michigan where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in classical archaeology.

Susan Liss, '73 ,

Susan Liss, of Maryland, 1973 grad of LSA is being honored on Thursday, March 12, 2009, in Washington DC as the recipient of the Judge Learned Hand Award, given by the American Jewish Committee. This award is given annually to an attorney who has demonstrated a commitment to the highest principles of the legal profession and has made an outstanding contribution to the enrichment of the community.

Susan Liss is Director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. She has devoted her life to public service, civil rights, women's rights, and human rights.

Roberta M. Gubbins, '57 BA,

I am now using that journalism degree I received from Michigan in 1957 as editor of the Ingham County Legal News, located in Mason, MI My background as a teacher and a lawyer are a nice mix with the writing.

Chris Campbell, M.A., J.D.,

Chris Campbell has won the 2008 John Schultz Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Inland Seas Education Association. He volunteers as an instructor for the schoolship program of ISEA, teaching marine science to grade school students. He reminds his teacher friends that teaching is so much fun that he takes vacation time from his job to do it for free.

Ann Goodnight Bochnowski, B.A.,

Recently was elected to serve a four year term on the Democratic National Committee from the state of Indiana. A community volunteer, Ann also serves on several boards, including that of the Indiana Nature Conservancy.

Boris Kozolchyk, SJD, The National University of San Marcos (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos), located in Lima Peru, in co-operation with leading Peruvian institutions, is sponsoring Peru’s first International Congress on Contract Law in honor of Dr. Boris Kozolchyk. The honor recognizes his work in international contracts, and especially commercial contracts. The Congress is to be held April 23-25, 2009, in Chiclayo, Peru. Kozolchyk is the founder and president of the Tucson-based National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade (NLCIFT) and is the Evo DeConcini Professor of Law at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. In operation since 1992, NLCIFT develops legal infrastructure to build trade capacity and promote economic development in the Americas. Kozolchyk’s many legal contributions have included providing expert drafting and advice with respect to the work of the Organization of American States Specialized Conferences on Private International Law, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and the International Chamber of Commerce. Earlier, he directed the U.S. Agency for International Development Law Reform Project in Costa Rica. His most recent book is on comparative commercial law (La Contratación Comercial en el Derecho Comparado) and has been adopted by leading law schools in the hemisphere. His publications include the legal classic, Commercial Letters of Credit in the Americas, which received awards from both the Inter-American Bar Association and the Spanish government. The April meeting in Peru will feature presentations by professors from prestigious Latin American and Spanish law schools as well as a presentation by Kozolchyk and a ceremony to pay tribute to him. (The National University of San Marcos, which is convening the gathering, was chartered in 1551 and is one of the oldest universities in the world.)

Katherine T. Donaldson, M.M., Kate Donaldson married Ryan B. Whitacre last year on Leap Day. Although she does not have any children, she and Ryan have an incredibly loveable black lab named Ody. A Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner, Kate became a Partner of her Financial & Investment Advisory Firm (Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth, Inc.) at the beginning of this year. As you can imagine, she is desperately looking for more business! Although no longer a semi-professional violinist, Kate still plays her fiddle at friends' weddings and for fun at home in Chicago.

Glenn Robertelli, '98 Asian Studies/Japanese Language & Literature, Glenn Robertelli, founder of Intelligen and makers of ViewGuard™ brand products, was selected as Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in Entrepreneur® magazine’s inaugural 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year contest presented by The UPS Store®. Glenn Robertelli, not only created a business that competes with a corporate giant, but he’s also done so completely on his own with a virtual, 99 percent paperless office. He started Intelligen in October 2006, which makes ViewGuard Anti-Glare Privacy Filters. He has since broadened his product line and estimates 2008 sales at $2.8 million. About ViewGuard™: ViewGuard™ offers a full line of unique and novel electronics accessories including privacy filters, anti-glare and cleaning products for even the rarest computer or television models: www.BuyViewGuard.com.

Paul Roberts, '78 B.A. Political Science & History,

Honors graduate Paul Roberts (B.A. Poli Sci & History Magna Cum Laude, Class of 1978) has recently opened Orange County, California's first "virtual ad agency" featuring the finest in freelance talent available for a fraction of traditional agency pricing.

Utilizing the interactive services available in Web 2.0 (like "web conferencing" and group sites), West Coast Marketing offers clients the ability to build an "ad hoc team" on an "as needed basis" including copywriters, creative directors, media buyers, PR professionals, web designers, video producers and voice-over talent.)

For more information, visit www.westcoastmarketing.org.

James A. Burns, Jr., '77 A.B., '80 J.D.,

For the third year in a row, James A. Burns, Jr (A.B. '77, J.D.'80) has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer, an honor given to the top 5% of the attorneys in the state, in the area of Employment and Labor. Jim is a partner at Reed Smith LLP in Chicago.

Robert Riley, '08 B.A.,

After graduating cum laude from Wayne State University Law School in 2008 and passing the Michigan Bar Exam, I began work as a law clerk to Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly of the Michigan Supreme Court. I recently accepted a second year with the Chief Justice, and will be working with her through 2010.

Timothy Rampe, B.A. (Economics),

was elected as a partner of Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, a law firm based in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Rampe practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities compliance and corporate finance.

Michelle M. Gallardo, '92 J.D.,

Michelle M. Gallardo, a senior corporate lawyer with Ford Motor Company in Detroit, was appointed by the President of the American Bar Association to the following two leadership positions in 2008:

• The Council for the Fund for Justice and Education, the public service arm of the ABA, which funds nearly 200 law-related public service programs each year, with approximately $60,000,000 in yearly revenue; and
• The Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession whose mission is to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of attorneys admitted into the bar by focusing on educational issues related to law school admission, bar passage and K-12 education.

Ms. Gallardo has served in numerous leadership positions within the ABA since 1998 including appointments to the Executive Councils for both the Young Lawyers Division and the Section of Business Law. Ms. Gallardo is Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Automotive Components Holdings, LLC, a business managed by Ford Motor Company, and has held various positions within the Ford Motor Company since 2000. Ms. Gallardo graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1992.

Charlotte Robinson, '95 B.A.,

Charlotte Robinson, BA '95, recently became Managing Editor of Economic Development and Cultural Change, a multidisciplinary journal of development economics, at the University of Chicago Press.

Roberto Cabanelas, B.A.,

Roberto Cabanelas is now with Motorola as Corporate Vice President of Human Resources.

Dr. Jay Granat, M.A. Ph.D.,

Jay Granat, Ph.D. author of two new books, "Get Into The Zone In Just One Minute" and "Zone Tennis" recently ran a seminar for an Olympic Gold Medalist, Olympic coaches and sports therapists from Japan. Dr. Granat, Psychotherapist and Founder of www.StayInTheZone.com showed the participants how he helps athletes to peform their best.

Richard A Vinci, B.S.,

Richard Vinci, senior managing director, announced that First National Investment Banking (FNIB), a full-service investment bank and wholly owned subsidiary of First National of Nebraska, Inc. has been named a finalist in three categories for the 7th Annual Middle-Market M&A Awards Gala by The M&A Advisor, www.maadvisor.com. The categories include "Corporate/Strategic Acquisition of the Year," "Green/Environmental Deal of the Year," and "Industrial Manufacturing/Distribution Deal of the Year." The M&A Advisor's 7th Annual Middle-Market M&A Awards Gala honors the deal-teams and deal-makers that have closed M&A transactions and firms whose activities set the standard for the industry. 220 finalists representing 66 firms were chosen in 35 categories. Like the Academy Awards, winners will be revealed at the gala, which is being held on Monday, December 15th at the historic Hudson Theatre in New York City.

Arnold Patrick (Pat) Parker, Pharm.D.,

Arnold Patrick (Pat) Parker, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, 1963, has released his first book, "Ben's Tale." It is a historical novel with a different take on the life of the traitor, Benedict Arnold. Published by Xlibris, Ben's Tale is available now. For more information go to benstale.com.

Priscilla Ruth MacDougall, J.D.,

On June 9, 2008 Priscilla Ruth MacDougall,'70 was honored with 30 other feminist attorneys who, between l963 and l975 worked to change the antiquated laws against women. Ms. MacDougall was noted for her work in naming rights, including the right of women to name themselves, and their children on an equal basis as men. See www.lawyers.vetfems.org

Jeff Knurek, B.F.A. Industrial Design, Cert. Art Ed. k-12,

Jeff Knurek became only the second artist to create cartoons for the Jumble puzzle as seen in newspapers throughout the world. Jeff took over in March for Henri Arnold who had been drawing the cartoon for 47 years. Puzzle players might notice the occasional Michigan "M" thrown in the art as well as a winged helmet or two. The Jumble puzzle is in over 600 newspapers. This is in addition to his Word RoundUp puzzle in USA Today and the Boggle BrainBusters puzzle in other papers, surely makes Jeff one of the most syndicated puzzle creators in the world. Also to note, that last year (07) Jeff donated a kidney to a family member with Polycystic Kidney Disease at the University of Michigan Transplant Center. Both are doing great.

Ellen Sapper, B.A.,

Ellen Sapper became a high school guidance counselor in 2007 after 30 years teaching English and psychology. She enjoys working with students one to one, helping them determine their high school curricula, lending an ear for personal issues, guiding for career and college planning. She also has a small private practice where based on Berglarian analysis. Ellen has been involved in a 4 year spiritual training guidance program with a Jungian psychologist.

Jabbar Al-Obaidi, Ph.D.,

Jabbar Al-Obaidi is Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Communication Studies at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. His new book "Media Censorship in the Middle East" was published by The Edwin Mellen Press.

anmarie currier, B.A., J.D.,

Anmarie Currier, now Anmarie Mabbutt, lives in San Francisco with her husband and their two children. She has been working as a tennis instructor in Golden Gate Park since 1995. She has just released her first children's book, "Tim takes a Tumble." Published by Xlibris, available October 2008. It is the first in a series of books designed to encourage kids to get out and play and enjoy their local parks.

For all books purchased directly from the author, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the USTA Serves Foundation and The San Francisco Parks Trust. For more info, go to anmariemabbutt.com.

Robert W. Powell, '80 J.D.,

Robert (Bob) W. Powell has rejoined the firm Dickinson Wright PLLC as a member of its Appellate practice in the firm's Detroit office. Mr. Powell, who previously was with Dickinson Wright for 17 years, spent the last nine years as an in-house attorney at Ford Motor Company. While at Ford, Mr. Powell was responsible for most of Ford’s product and general litigation appeals, managed product and non-product class actions and consulted on legal issues at trial. Mr. Powell has briefed and argued scores of appeals throughout the country for Ford and other clients, and written numerous amicus briefs on behalf of business and defense organizations.

Mr. Powell received his B.S. in Economics from the University of Delaware in 1977 and his J.D. from the University of Michigan in 1980. Mr. Powell clerked for the Honorable Wendell Miles in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan before joining Dickinson Wright in 1982. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1970-1974.

Glenn S. Robertelli, BA,

Glenn Robertelli, of Intelligen, makers of ViewGuard Brand products, has been named a finalist in Entrepreneur magazine’s 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year awards presented by The UPS Store. Glenn Robertelli launched to the top five in his category for passionately fueling America’s economy and positively impacting his industry, community, employees, and customers.

Sally DeBolt Ketchum, B. A.,

Sally DeBolt Ketchum's middle reader, BREAD GARDEN (September 2008), is a multi-cultural novel built on Bloom's Taxonomy (higher level thinking skills). Its protagonist is called Dogleash since his friends cannot pronounce Dalgliesh, his noble Scottish name. BREAD GARDEN's themes are self-esteem, justice, and stewardship of the environment.

Betty Anne Gruschow Stone, '54 B.S.,

Betty Anne Gruschow Stone, BS in Design '54, is completing her second year as president of Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc. KMB is a state wide organization, created in 1961 by Governor John B. Swainson, which coordinates many community, government and garden groups in efforts to stop litter, to improve and sustain environmental quality and to beautify Michigan. KMB annually recognizes nominated programs from all over the state with its Award Program. Betty has been cochairman of the Award Committee for over ten years and would welcome anyone interested in KMB or its awards to visit www.KeepMichiganBeautiful.org.

Betty's husband, Jerald D. Stone, BA Arch '54, is a former president of KMB and is presently president of the Keep Michigan Beautiful Foundation.

Both are retired; Betty from Parish Publications and Jerry from the City of Lathrup Village, MI where he was City Administrator for 35 years. They have three adult children (one a Michigan grad, two went to the other school), and four grandchildren. Betty and Jerry are active in many civic and social groups and have enjoyed extensive travel through the years.

John Howard Wilson`,

John Howard Wilson, (PBK, University of Michigan, 1983), planned, organized and directed the second Evelyn Waugh Conference, "Waugh in His World," from 21 to 24 May 2008 at the Harry Ransom Center, the University of Texas at Austin. Waugh scholars and enthusiasts from Australia, Japan, France, Canada, England, and the USA were in attendance. Academic papers were presented, followed by lively discussions and a tour of Waugh's library. The conference concluded with a festive dinner with Alexander Waugh, noted author and grandson of Evelyn Waugh, as the keynote speaker.

John Howard Wilson is associate professor of English at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and the editor of Evelyn Waugh Newsletter and Studies. He is also the author of Evelyn Waugh, A Literary Biography, 1903-1924 and Evelyn Waugh: A Literary Biography, 1924-1966, and he has published essays in Biography and Midwest Quarterly. John was educated at the University of Michigan, where he received a BA in history, an MA in English, and a PhD in English Language and Literature. He has taught at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Dakota Wesleyan University, and Koka Women's College in Kyoto, Japan.

Amanda Parks, B.S.,

I returned to my hometown of Pittsburgh to start Equita [www.shopequita.com], a socially and environmentally conscious business, with my husband and my sister.

Equita specializes in design-conscious green, Fair Trade and sweatshop-free essentials for the body and home. We hand-select each item to make sure it adheres to our criteria of good design, functionality, and social and environmental responsibility.

We recently launched our blog, www.shopequita.com/blog-nitty_gritty, so stop by and join in the dialogue.

Brian E. Koncius, J.D.,

Brian E. Koncius has joined The Law Offices of Kathleen L. Bogas, PLLC as an associate attorney. The Law Offices of Kathleen L. Bogas specializes in all areas of employment law. Brian can provide you with guidance and representation in pre-suit negotiations, contract reviews and negotiations, separation and severance package reviews and negotiations, EEOC charges and mediation, and State and Federal Court litigation. Brian handles a wide variety of employment related claims including discrimination and harassment based on sex/gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, and disability, and retaliation claims.

H. David Kaplan, B.A.,

On July 13, I drove from my home in Federal Way, WA to Redmond, WA to visit with Mark Reader and his wife, Fran Sheldon Reader (UM'54). They have moved to Washington State from Phoenix, AZ to be near their son, Seth, and his family. They will periodically be visiting their other son, Tris and his wife, in their Three Points, AZ home.

Joe Gold, BFA, Theatre Performance,

Class of '94 Theatre major, Joe Gold wrote, produced, and starred in a new independent film called Never Say Macbeth. After playing many film festivals, and receiving rave reviews, it is now available on DVD. In Never Say Macbeth, a science teacher says the word "Macbeth" in a theater and unleashes mayhem upon a troupe of actors. This comedy is a cross between Waiting for Guffman and Beetlejuice. For more information, go to www.neversaymacbeth.com

Dr. Rose Melikan, BA,

Rose Melikan will be signing copies of her soon to be released first novel "The Blackstone Key" at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Allen Park, MI on Sat. Aug. 9th 2008 at 2 pm.

This book will be released in the US Aug 5th, 2008. It has been out in Europe and is getting 4 1/2 and 5 star ratings on Amazon UK. It is quite a good read. Historical thriller set in England 1794.

Come and meet Dr. Rose Melikan. See you there.

Kathleen Engler, BA,

A Nobel Prize. A Medal of Honor in the War on Terror. A cure for neurological disorders reintroduced after having been sandbagged, the source of the Holocaust understood and preventive measures made... all this sourced through an English major with no math skills and minimal science... I guess the adage genius is really 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration is true - today's transformational genius is not math based - it´s the hero.