Class Notes
Wisconsin Alumni Association Award Recipients
John Morgridge (BBA ’55)
Morgridge received the Distinguished Service Award, which acknowledges individuals who’ve had unparalleled impact on UW–Madison. The former CEO and chair of Cisco Systems, Morgridge was recognized alongside his wife, Tashia (BSE ’55), for service and philanthropic giving to the university. Morgridge was a founding member of the Wisconsin Naming Partnership, a major investment to preserve the Wisconsin School of Business’ name for at least 20 years.
Gary Wendt (BS ’65)
Wendt received the Distinguished Alumni Award, which honors prestigious alums and their professional achievements, contributions to society, and support of the university. The co-founder of Deerpath Capital Management, Wendt has given back to UW–Madison by creating scholarships and programs, and by developing general business courses for non-business majors at WSB.
Ross Freedman (BBA ’97)
Freedman received a Luminary Award for his accomplishments in the areas of leadership, discovery, progress, and service. Freedman is the co-founder of Origin, a technology consulting company operating at the intersection of data analytics, artificial intelligence, and automation. He also serves on the advisory board for the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship’s WAVE program, and is the founder of Badgers in Tech.
Abby Kursel (BBA ’14)
Kursel received a Forward Award for her outstanding exemplification of the Wisconsin Idea. Kursel is a partner at gener8tor, a nationally ranked accelerator that invests in high-growth startups, with a special focus on Wisconsin’s startup and venture capital network. Kursel’s leadership helped create gener8tor’s successful accelerator program, gBETA.
1950-1959
Robert (Bob) Keller (BS ’50)
Keller opened Madison 3-Cushion Billiards Club, which hosts national and international tournaments. Keller played on UW–Madison’s three-cushion billiards team from 1948 to 1949. He also founded Keller Real Estate Group in 1953, which remains open today and specializes in property management.
Charles Stathas (BBA ’53, LLB ’58)
Stathas retired from his role of emeritus general counsel in 1998 and continues to reside in Madison. He has three children and five grandchildren who have all graduated from UW–Madison or are current students. His youngest grandchild was directly admitted to WSB as a freshman last year.
1960-1969
Martin Feldman (BBA ’64)
Feldman recently returned from a cruise in Barcelona and Rome with his wife of 56 years, Janet. Everything went well until the last excursion, when a cliffside elevator broke and they had to climb what seemed like a million stairs to get back to their group!
Duane Neuendorf (BBA ’64)
Neuendorf and his wife, Karen (Vahovius) Neuendorf (BSE ’67), have moved to sunny Arizona after living in Wisconsin for 82 years! They are happy to join many other UW–Madison alumni and bring their 60 years of alumnihood to Sun City.
Pete Barile (MBA ’66)
Barile joined the world’s leading company for hospitality seating after serving in the military. In 2004, Barile started his own company, which has two factories and 75 employees manufacturing barstools, benches, and more. Barile says his Wisconsin MBA education continues to guide him even 58 years later.
Steve Cain (BBA ’68)
Cain recently celebrated his ninth anniversary of managing the Midwest office of Fairfield Capital Group, LLC, a firm which consults with middle-market businesses who are interested in raising capital for equipment leasing purposes.
Joseph Burke (MBA ’69)
Burke and his spouse, Susanna, celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary in November 2024. Burke says the decision to study at UW–Madison was one of the best choices he ever made and he is very grateful for the tremendous education he received.
Edward (Kim) Sniffin (BBA ’69)
Sniffin became a Navy pilot and then a pilot with Delta Air Lines after graduating from WSB. He used many of the skills he learned in Madison throughout his working life, including communications, statistics, accounting, and personnel management. Now retired, Sniffin applies his business knowledge in his volunteer work.
1970-1979
Ira Vernon (BBA ’70)
Vernon is the chief executive officer of Concrete Reinforcing Products, the largest import distributor of concrete reinforcing bar and prestressed concrete strand. His grandfather, Louis Zinn, started the company in 1953.
Steve Fisher (BBA ’71)
Fisher is the Liberty Tree manager at the Providence Forum Ministries of Coral Ridge. The organization has preserved the DNA of the last surviving Liberty Tree, which was used as a gathering spot for the Maryland Sons of Liberty in Annapolis, Maryland. Through a bud-grafting procedure, this DNA has been transferred to new tulip poplar trees, which are being planted in significant U.S. locations.
Bill Rauwerdink (BBA ’72)
Rauwerdink was elected to be a voting delegate at the Republican National Convention that was held in Milwaukee in July 2024. He served as one of the 55 voting delegates from Michigan.
Stephen Bye (BBA ’73, MBA ’74)
Bye published his fifth novel, Who Killed Alexander Kellogg?, in July 2024. The story follows the investigation into the death of Alexander Kellogg, who is likely murdered in a powerful home explosion. Among the suspects are his wife, a dangerous drug cartel, a ruthless bookmaker, and a prominent U.S. congressman.
Mark Hoppe (BBA ’76, MBA ’77)
Hoppe retired in December 2023 and now serves on several nonprofit boards, including Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, and WTTW/WFMT, the city’s PBS affiliate.
Donald Miner (MS ’76)
Miner was awarded the Senior Service Award by the Rotary Club of Madison. He is treasurer of several organizations, including Friends of the UW–Madison Odyssey Project, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation (DCMC), and Friends of the UW–Madison Arboretum. In his role at DCMC, he mentors WSB students by teaching them how to run a business.
Mike Seidel (MS ’79)
Seidel retired from Bell Labs, as well as his positions of certified financial planner and adjunct instructor. For the past five years, he’s served as a local high school crossing guard.
1980-1989
Mark Yde (BBA ’80)
Yde retired from Novae LLC in Indiana after leading 14 years of dynamic growth. Previously, Yde spent most of his career with Wisconsin-based Menasha Corporation. After being recruited by Menasha from the Wisconsin School of Business, Yde advanced to become president of Menasha’s Poly-Hi Solidur Worldwide division—and later led the successful sale of it.
Matthew Wallace (BBA ’81)
Wallace recently retired from the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Inc. (GACC) in Chicago, where he served as chief financial officer. GACC is part of a worldwide network that supports bilateral trade and investment with Germany. He continues to serve in an advisory capacity with GACC’s educational foundation and the German chamber network.
John Schaefer (BBA ’82, MBA ’84)
Schaefer has decided to take the big risk of retiring after 40 years of managing risk in his career. Schaefer applied risk management principles in several roles and industries, including insurance, internal auditing, finance, and information technology. His next act? Using standup comedy and improv to bring people together.
John Cato (BBA ’83)
Cato has created the YouTube channel That’s Classic! where he conducts fun interviews with television and movie celebrities from past decades. He has been an actor, voice-over artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. Cato’s background brings a unique insight and passion to the show.
Dorothy Washington (MBA ’83)
Washington has been promoted to assistant professor of economics in the School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Washington is also the author of three children’s books: I’m Glad I’m Not a Zombie; Sonny, the King of Cats; and Douglas the Runaway Christmas Tree.
Phil Greenwood (BBA ’84, MBA ’89, PhD ’02)
Greenwood retired after 25 years as a senior lecturer in strategy and entrepreneurship in the Wisconsin School of Business’ Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship. Additionally, he recently published a book on entrepreneurial management titled Creating a Foundation for the Growing Enterprise.
Todd Laszewski (MS ’85)
Laszewski retired from Northwestern Mutual after a nearly 39-year career as vice president and actuary. During his career, he also attained the Fellow of the Society of Actuaries designation. He recently began a new role as adjunct professor at The American College of Financial Services, where he will teach classes geared toward the Chartered Life Underwriter designation. Laszewski thanks his family of Badgers, including his wife, Ruth Laszewski (BM ’85), and daughters, Sarah Laszewski (BSE ’20) and Krista Laszewski (BA ’23).
1990-1999
Lisa (Helsing) Bastian (BBA ’93, MS ’94)
Bastian started a premium, nut-based granola business in 2022 with her son, Ben, called PremOla Granola. Their quality ingredients ensure a high-protein, low-sugar, and gluten-free product that caters to health-conscious individuals. Their goal is to be the go-to premium granola for taste, quality, and health benefits.
Brett Hamilton (BBA ’94)
Hamilton joined Creative Content Platforms in January 2024, where he is responsible for growing the business’ digital-human and generative-content services. Hamilton is keen to stay in touch with fellow Badgers and is always looking for talented individuals for full-time roles and MBA candidates for internships.
Brian Melka (BBA ’97)
Melka was appointed chief executive officer of Rehlko in May 2024 after 10 years with Kohler Co. Rehlko is a global leader in energy resilience products and operates in more than 200 countries around the world.
Scott Finkelmeyer (BBA ’99)
Finkelmeyer and his wife, Keiya Bell-Finkelmeyer (BS ’96), launched Key Imaging Partners, LLC, in August 2024, an entity that assists health care providers in understanding, negotiating, and selecting the best medical imaging technology at the best value. Finkelmeyer says that being an entrepreneur is a lifelong dream come true. The couple resides in Carmel, Indiana, where the company is based.
2000-2009
Quraish Baldiwala (MBA ’02, MS ’02)
Baldiwala joined Sequel Med Tech as vice president of global supply chain and operations. Baldiwala is leading the commercialization and global expansion of the company’s revolutionary automated insulin delivery (AID) device called the “twiist.” The company’s vision is to be the AID of choice for people with diabetes.
Kristin Branch (MBA ’02)
Branch concluded her leadership of the A.C. Nielsen Center for Marketing Research and the Marketing Leadership Institute at the Wisconsin School of Business. She has transitioned into a fully focused teaching role with the school’s marketing department and will teach an introductory marketing class to all undergraduate Badgers interested in business.
Parker Bauer (MBA ’03)
Bauer was recently recognized for organizing the Department of Defense’s Weapon Systems Software Summit by a deputy assistant secretary of defense. For the past two years, Bauer has planned and led the summits, which teach developers, program managers, and other leaders about critical software topics.
Jack (J.P.) Grignano (BBA ’05)
Grignano was promoted to partner and Midwest market leader at CFGI, where he leads office-wide strategic initiatives and coordinates across departments to ensure that clients receive high-quality service. Grignano’s leadership experience helps drive collaboration within CFGI, which is an international accounting advisory firm.
Anna (Lu-Steffes) O’Malley (BBA ’07)
O’Malley was promoted in early 2024 to vice president of paid media at Full Beaker in Seattle. O’Malley leads the company in strategic planning and business plan development to successfully execute paid media campaigns for key clients in major product portfolios.
Laura Gramann Richter (BBA ’07)
Gramann Richter celebrated the arrival of her second son in Spring 2024, as well as the 10-year anniversary of her business, Pieces into Place, LLC. She says it’s been a busy but rewarding 2024!
2010-2019
Shelby Netz (BBA ’10)
Netz was promoted to tax principal at Baker Tilly effective June 1, 2024. She began her career with Baker Tilly in 2011 and now specializes in tax compliance and consulting for not-for-profit organizations. She also serves as Wisconsin chair for the Baker Tilly SOAR committee, where she focuses on recruitment and retention of diverse team members. Additionally, Netz is treasurer for the Milwaukee Diaper Mission, which provides basic needs to the community.
William Kiefer (MBA ’12)
Kiefer was an impactful contributor to the acquisition of Union Bank by U.S. Bank in 2023. He’s proud to announce that his performance at U.S. Bank earned him the prestigious Legend of Possible recognition in 2024.
Charles Pellicane (BBA ’12)
Pellicane is celebrating the attendance of over 1,000 visitors to Red Room Art Gallery in Laguna Beach, California. This one-of-a-kind, award-winning gallery is a total sensory experience that explores synesthesia through the color red.
Yuliya Slesareva Godoy (BBA ’12)
Slesareva Godoy recently joined Microsoft as a senior product manager architect focusing on independent software vendor partnerships in the security space after a decade in professional services. She also completed her Master of Science in cybersecurity from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award in May 2023.
Lauren (Pedracine) Benedetto (BBA ’13, MBA ’18)
Benedetto and her husband, Jerry Benedetto, opened Jerry’s Tavern in May 2024 in Portland, Oregon. After moving to Oregon in 2019 for her job at Nike, Benedetto and her husband missed the neighborhood corner bars of Wisconsin and Illinois. Jerry’s Tavern has been newly dubbed the official Wisconsin alumni bar of Portland and the couple looks forward to hosting Badger game watch parties for years to come!
Kelsey Straub (BBA ’13, MAcc ’14)
Straub received a 2024 Women to Watch – Emerging Leaders Award from the Illinois CPA Society. This award recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the accounting profession, their organizations, and the development of women as leaders. Straub is an audit senior manager at Deloitte in Chicago.
Emily Gibson (MBA ’14)
Gibson was recently promoted to a vice president of marketing position at Vail Resorts, the world’s largest ski resort management company. In this role, Gibson leads the teams responsible for driving strategy and delivering revenue objectives for four strategic enterprise lines of business including rentals and retail. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Golden, Colorado.
Jennifer Hoege (MBA ’14)
Hoege earned the Associate Certified Coach credential from the International Coaching Federation and previously achieved the Certified Professional Co-Active Coach credential from the Co-Active Training Institute. As an executive and team coach, Hoege helps C-suite employees at large companies navigate times of major transformation.
Becca McHenry (BBA ’15)
McHenry leads engineering at Contrast, a small Chicago startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to alleviate administrative burdens on health care workers and provide high-quality patient care. Contrast was selected as a finalist in the VA Health System’s AI Tech Sprint, alongside multibillion-dollar giants like Nuance, Abridge, and DeepScribe.
Amy Walsh (BBA ’16)
Walsh and her husband welcomed another boy to their family, Mac Schmidt, in May 2024. Their family is so excited about the new addition, and Walsh is enjoying raising the next generation of Badgers.
Paul Kondrat (MBA ’18)
Kondrat passed away on June 18, 2024. After serving seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he pursued an MBA in supply chain management from WSB. He spent five years at Amazon and was always on the lookout for new experiences. His curiosity and adventurous nature introduced him to mountain climbing, fly fishing, rock climbing, and more. Kondrat lived life fearlessly and left a positive impact on many people as a teacher, coach, mentor, and friend.
Kristen Mezzapelle (MBA ’19)
“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Program Manager at Google!”
Paul Boyer (BBA ’19)
Boyer celebrated his five-year work anniversary with UW–Madison in June 2024. Most of this time was spent in his current role as an application and Windows system administrator at WSB. In October 2024, Boyer also married his best friend and partner, Haley Tollison (BA ’20), in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, after meeting five years ago on the UW campus. Boyer and Tollison had a blast jumping around with fellow Badgers at their wedding!
2020-2024
Abby Feuer (BBA ’23)
Feuer started a part-time position with the Minnesota Timberwolves as a game night assistant after graduating from WSB. Shortly after, she transitioned to a full-time sales role in the business development sector where she sells basketball season memberships and packages.
Payton Vorreyer (BBA ’23)
Vorreyer helps clients navigate the complex Chicagoland real estate market as a broker with RE/MAX Premier. She leverages her marketing expertise to ensure personalized service and professional care.