Alumni in the News - January 2012
Career Moves
Dual Grad Chosen to Lead Neustar Labs
Joe Pasqua (B.S., Mathematics, 1981, B.S., Computer Science, 1981) was recently appointed vice president of Neustar Labs, by Neustar Inc. The company provides solutions and directory services that enable trusted communication across networks, applications and enterprises around the world. Pasqua will be responsible for applied research and open innovation that will enhance Neustar's product portfolio and enable new services.
Read more about Pasqua in PRNewswire
Business Grad Promoted to Vice President of Finance
Adam Escobar (B.S., Business Administration, 1998) was promoted to vice president of finance at AAM LLC in Tempe, Ariz. Escobar joined the company in 2005 as controller of master-planned communities and most recently was director of finance. In his new position, he joins the AAM executive team and will be more involved in defining the company's goals and measuring its financial performance.
Read the write up on Escobar in AZ Central
Ag Grad Joins Fertilizer Manufacturer
Bryce Patterson (B.S., Agricultural Systems Management, 2002) recently joined the team at Dr Grow It All, a manufacturer of natural organic liquid fertilizer made from chicken manure. Patterson has more than 15 years of experience in the field of agriculture. Throughout his career, he has focused on combining horticulture with technology.
Read more about Patterson on PR.com
Loan Officer Back at Mortgage House
Mike Belezzuoli (B.S., Agricultural Business, 2001), a loan officer, has returned to The Mortgage House of San Luis Obispo. Belezzuol left The Mortgage House in 2007 for a job with Wells Fargo bank and then worked as a mortgage broker before determining that he prefers the ease of lending in a smaller, local setting.
Read more about Belezzuoli in The Tribune
Business Admin Alum is New Chief Operating Officer of Adjustable Base Manufacturer
Leo Vera (B.S., Business Administration, 1994) was hired by Ergomotion as chief operating officer effective Oct. 31, 2011. Ergomotion is an adjustable base manufacturing company.
Read more about Vera in Furniture World Magazine
Ag Business Grad is New Director of Templeton Surgery Center
Brenda Gray (B.S., Agricultural Business, 1991) was recently announced as Templeton Surgery Center’s new director by French Hospital Medical Center and the physicians of the Templeton Surgery Center. Gray will be responsible for facility operations including management, planning and coordination of outpatient surgeries and patient care. Gray has more than 15 years of professional experience in the health care management.
Read more about Gray in the Paso Robles Press
Just for Fun
Home Ec Grad Releases New Book
Kerrie Kelly (B.S., Home Economics, 1994) has released a new book titled, "My Interior Design Kit." This is Kelly's second book, after, "Home Decor." She currently manages her own firm, Kerrie Kelly Design Lab.
Read more about Kelly in the Sacramento Business Journal
Farmer Sees Sustainability in Future of Dairy Farming
Brian Medeiros (B.S., Dairy Science, 2010, B.S., Agricultural Business, 2010) is pursuing a vision of a dairy that pursues social and environmental sustainability alongside the requirement of making a profit. Medeiros runs a dairy farm with his parents in Hanford, Calif. Since returning to the farm after graduating from college, Medeiros has helped upgrade existing equipment with technology, including feed-management software and Global Positioning Systems on tractors to improve efficiency.
Read more about Medeiros in the Hanford Sentinel
Viticulturist Gives Back to Her Community
Ashley Derr (B.S., Ornamental Horticulture, 1991) celebrated the inaugural year of the charity, Napa Valley Kids Connect. Derr and another mother created the charity to support a classroom in the Napa Valley School district for children with special communication and motor needs. In celebration of this, Derr and her husband, John, gave back to their community by working with Schulz Cellars to craft a wine from their vineyard, Lampyridae Vineyards to support the charity.
Read more about Derr on
eCoronado.com (Coronado Island)
Engineer Celebrates First Anniversary
Rob Bilbro (B.S., Civil Engineering, 1979) founder of San Diego-based construction consulting practice Bilbro Inc., celebrated his company's first anniversary of focusing on two unique industry niches: health care facilities project management and surety claims. Bilbro has a worked in the San Diego construction industry for more than 30 years.
Read more about Bilbro in PRWeb
Dairy Family Keeps on Learning
Lonny (Dairy Science, 1995) and Michelle Schilter (B.S., Agricultural Business, 1995, B.S., Crop Science, 1997) have spent the last 16 years "learning every day." The Schilters have built up their all-Holstein, organic dairy of about 500 cows, with a milking herd of 220. The couple is part of the Northwest Dairy Association. The fourth-largest milk marketing cooperative in the U.S., it markets its products under the Darigold brand.
Read more about the Schilters in the Capital Press
Grad Blends People with Technology
George Westlund (B.S., Architectural Engineering, 1976, M.S., Computer Science, 1985) has spent most of his life in Atascadero, Calif. and has developed a wide-ranging of skill set. Westlund tries to blend people with technology. He was part of a band as the sound and light man and photographer, has photographed places all over the world, and has worked as a systems analyst at Cal Poly for 34 years.
Read more about Westlund in the Atascadero News
Architect and Brother Partner to Launch Firm
Domininc Leong (BAR, Architecture, 2001) and his brother, Chris, have always wanted to be architects and vowed to start a firm together. The Leongs worked for different architecture firms for a time and decided in 2009 to quit their jobs and start their own firm, Leong Leong. The brothers are out to show that they can be formally inventive while devising new ways to make a project real.
Read more about Leong in Architecture Record
Honors & Awards
Grad One of Paso's 2011 Roblans of the Year
The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce announced Wade Taylor (B.S., Agricultural Business, 1975) as one of its selections for 2011 Roblan of the Year. Taylor has lived in Paso Robles for 46 years. He shows his dedication to the community through his involvement with a wide range of local organizations.
Read more about Taylor in the Paso Robles Press
Engineering Grad is Teacher of the Month
Tom Wheeler (B.S., Manufacturing Engineering, 1973) has been teaching math at William Monroe High School since the 2003-04 school year. Wheeler was born in Missouri, grew up in Tennessee and spent 20 years in the Air Force before settling down with his wife to substitute teach.
Read more about Wheeler in the Greene County Record
Grad Earns Mention in Stanford Who’s Who
Sally Donaldson (B.S., Physical Education, 1991) recently was added to the exclusive ranks of premier professionals in Stanford Who's Who as a result of her exceptional entrepreneurial efforts. Donaldson is owner of Nana Bandana’s Leatherworks, which offers a variety of high quality leather cuffs, belts and accessories that are all handmade in the U.S.
Read more about Donaldson in the International Business Times
Passings
Cathryn Ann Flynn Smith
Cathryn Ann Flynn Smith (Applied Art and Design, 1978) died Nov. 1.
Read more about Smith in The Tribune
John Dennis Ahearn
John Dennis Ahearn (B.S., Agricultural Engineering Technology, 1994) died Nov. 24.
Read more about Ahearn in The Tribune
Robert Leroy Haudenschild
Robert Leroy Haudenschild (B.S., Aerospace Engineering, 1950) died Nov. 28.
Read more about Haudenschild in the Visalia Times-Delta
Michael Tyner
Michael Tyner (B.S., Ecology & Systematic Biology, 2004) died Nov. 30.
Read more about Tyner on KSBY
Shawn Marsh Lisonbee
Shawn Lisonbee (B.S., Home Economics, 1978) died Dec. 7.
Read more about Lisonbee in The Tribune
Matthew Ogden McFarland
Matthew McFarland (M.S., Electrical Engineering, 2010) died Dec. 9.
Read more about McFarland in the Ridgecrest Daily Independent
Jack Ira Hughes
Jack Ira Hughes (Physical Education, 1976) died Dec. 15.
Read more about Hughes in The Tribune
Richard L. Higuera
Richard L. "Dick" Higuera (B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1958) died Dec. 16.
Read more about Higuera in The Tribune
Doug Maddox
Doug Maddox (B.S., Dairy Science, 1975) died Dec. 19.
Read more about Maddox in Dairy Herd Network
Read more about Maddox in Capital Press
Charlene Marie Cobb Price
Charlene Marie Cobb Price (B.S., Physical Education, 1961) died Dec. 21.
Read more about Price in the Utah Valley Daily Herald
Harold Hockett
Harold Hockett (B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1951) Dec. 25.
Read more about Hockett in the Ridgecrest Daily Independent
John Rudolph Strahm
John Rudolph Strahm (B.S., Ornamental Horticulture, 1951) died Dec. 26.
Read more about Strahm in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat