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Class Notes

1940-1949

Ruth Nelson
In Memoriam

Ruth Nelson (BBA ’48)

Nelson passed away in October 2024. Nelson established the Ruth L. Nelson Chair in Business at WSB in 2018 to express appreciation for her undergraduate business education. Nelson led a highly accomplished career, holding roles at Montgomery Ward, Time Inc., American Family Publishers, and Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Later in life, she dedicated her time to a variety of volunteer activities, both across the globe and in her own backyard. Nelson will be remembered as a lifelong learner who always followed her own path.

Willard Young (BBA ’49)

Young turned 100 years old in November 2024.

1950-1959

David Grainger
In Memoriam

David W. Grainger (BS ’50)

Grainger passed away in January 2025. Together with his late wife, Juli Plant Grainger (BPH ’48), he offered transformational support of WSB by donating to the construction and expansion of Grainger Hall, and supporting the Wisconsin Naming Partnership. The family also established an endowment to launch the Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management at WSB in the 1990s, the first of its kind in the nation. David W. Grainger will be remembered for his dedication to improving student experiences and generous support of UW–Madison.

Dennis Carlson

Dennis Carlson (BBA ’59)

Carlson has been retired for 22 years. An actuary by profession, he says his training at UW–Madison allowed him to land his ideal job, blending business with math. After a brief stint in the Army, Carlson spent his career in actuarial work across four companies. In retirement, he enjoys volunteering as a tutor in local schools and spending time with his family (five children and 11 grandchildren). His advice: travel widely and see the world.

1960-1969

Martin Feldman

Martin Feldman (BBA ’64)

Feldman says that the four years he spent in Madison were the best years of his life! Later, he sent his two sons to UW–Madison, too! Feldman worked in magazine publishing most of his career and is now retired in Florida. He enjoys lots of travel and wonderful experiences, especially with his three grandchildren. He’s still active in retirement with a community theater group, where he and his wife handle ticket sales and accounting.

Steve Cain (BBA ’68)

Cain will soon be celebrating his 10th 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.

1970-1979

Jeffrey (Jeff) Rouze
In Memoriam

Jeffrey “Jeff” Alan Rouze (BBA ’74, MS ’77)

Rouze was born in 1952 and passed away in 2024. At WSB, he studied real estate under the late James A. Graaskamp (PhD ’65).

Boo Rits & The Missing Years album cover

Bruce Gilbert (BBA ’76)

Gilbert retired a few years ago after serving as general counsel to a large health care company and a couple of startups. He’s now reverted to his teenage years, playing a whole lot of baseball and winning a national championship with his team, the South Jersey Spikes. He also enjoys playing music with his group, Boo Rits & The Missing Years, which released a new album, “Another Fine Mess.”

David Nemschoff (BBA ’76)

Nemschoff retired from the corporate world in 2019 after a more than 40-year career in banking and finance. He now holds a faculty position at Long Island University in its School for Professional Studies, where he lectures on history and foreign affairs. He is also the author of Israel at the Brink: The Yom Kippur War.

1980-1989

David Rosen (BBA ’84)

Rosen is happy to report all is well and share his recent promotion to chief growth officer with Wausau Coated Products.

Karl Hansen

Karl Hansen (BBA ’86)

Hansen started a new leadership role for Olymel in November 2024. His focus will be on fresh pork sales to the food service sector, retail establishments, and meat processors across the American market.

Cathy Mousseau standing with her family

Cathy Mousseau (BBA ’86)

Mousseau began her career in real estate finance and earned an MBA at the University of Chicago. Later, her priorities shifted to raising children with her husband, Jeff, while volunteering in their community. Nonprofit work quickly became her passion, and Mousseau now serves as senior development officer for Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, Illinois. She’s grateful for fulfilling work, loving family and friends, a great community, and many opportunities to learn and grow along the way.

1990-1999

Steve Mintz

Steve Mintz (BA ’91, MBA ’96)

Mintz recently joined Huston Design, a marketing design firm helping brands transform complex information into straightforward, compelling visual designs and messaging for web, digital, and print media. Mintz returned to Madison after three years of self-imposed exile to the Upper Peninsula, where he enjoyed Lake Superior, hiking in the woods, and cross-country skiing.

Rita Chen

Rita Chen (MBA ’97)

Chen has embarked on a new adventure as an entrepreneur after over 25 years in marketing across several companies and organizations, including Hallmark, 3M, DreamWorks, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, City Winery, and Choose Chicago. In 2023, she founded Rita Chen Consulting, where she helps organizations drive growth through strategic marketing, with a focus on thoughtful partnerships, branding, and audience engagement.

Tushar Mutreja

Tushar Mutreja (MBA ’97)

Mutreja is the global chief executive officer and co-founder of SaaSWorx.ai, a fast-growing Salesforce, NetSuite, and Snowflake consulting firm. He brings over 11 years of experience from Salesforce, where he led strategic alliances and exceeded growth targets. At SaaSWorx.ai, Mutreja is driving global expansion and innovation to help clients unlock the power of AI and data.

Dave Pausch (BA ’97, MA ’03)

Pausch has begun pursuing his MFA in theater directing/acting at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Vijay Gandhi

Vijay Gandhi (BBA ’98)

Gandhi has been a regional director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Korn Ferry Digital since 2001. The business unit is leading innovative approaches using digital platforms for the total rewards program and work and career architecture. In May 2018, he was included in Forbes’ “Top 50 Indian Executives in the Arab World” list. Gandhi is based in the firm’s Dubai office.

Reena Vokoun

Reena Vokoun (BBA ’98)

Vokoun published the second book in her women’s wellness series, The Wellness-Evolved Woman, which earned a Mom’s Choice Gold Award and became an Amazon Best Seller in six categories. The book explores using wellness as a foundation and embracing authenticity while evolving personally and professionally. Vokoun is also the founder and chief executive officer of Passion Fit.

2000-2009

Tom Zuern (BBA ’00, MAcc ’01)

Zuern is president of Zuern Building Products & Design Center, which acquired three businesses in 2024. With 260 team members across 10 Wisconsin locations, the company supplies lumber and building materials to contractors, builders, homeowners, and countless Badger alumni!

Adam Key (BBA ’01)

Key leads content and advertising marketing campaigns for Amazon Fire TV. He created the Stream it Forward brand sponsorship program, which aligns brand advertisers with streaming content. In this program, Amazon donates to a brand’s preferred charity for every hour streamed. The program has contributed $3 million in total donations across more than 20 unique charities.

Michelle Goetsch

Michelle Goetsch (BBA ’03, MAcc ’04)

Goetsch was recognized as one of Milwaukee Business Journal‘s “2024 C-Suite Stars.” Goetsch is the chief financial officer of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast.

Dani Luckett

Dani Luckett (MA ’04)

Luckett joined The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as senior associate development director for the Wisconsin chapter in February 2025. She’s excited to champion TNC’s critical mission to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends and unite people in tackling today’s biggest conservation challenges. She also serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Madison Chapter.

Yousuf Hussain

Yousuf Hussain (BBA ’07)

Hussain is pleased to have accepted a role as the next divisional chief financial officer of Marcus Hotels and Resorts, a division of Marcus Corporation based in downtown Milwaukee. After 18 years working in San Francisco and Chicago, he is excited to get back to Wisconsin, and is always happy to meet up with fellow Badgers in the Milwaukee area. He lives in Lake Forest, Illinois, with his wife and two children.

Katie Jarek jumping into a body of water

Katie Jarek (BBA ’07)

Jarek crossed the English Channel with her swim team in July 2024! Swimming in frigid waters and surrounded by jellyfish, Jarek and her team completed the journey in about 19 hours. She says she’s so proud of the experience and the group.

2010-2019

Nathan Plumb

Nathan Plumb (MBA ’10)

Plumb was promoted to co-portfolio manager and president of the Plumb Mutual Funds.

Emily Bremer (BS ’11, MBA ’19)

Bremer is currently the senior director of marketing for the Milwaukee Brewers. She’s been in this role since 2024!

Brian Copsey

Brian Copsey (BBA ’11, MAcc ’12)

Copsey recently joined Oxford Financial Group as chief financial officer. The firm is one of the largest independent registered investment advisors in the country, with oversight of more than $30 billion in assets under advisement.

Vivek M Deshpande

Vivek M. Deshpande (MBA ’11)

Deshpande received the Rex Karmaveer Global Fellowship and Karmaveer Chakra Award in November 2024. The Karmaveer Chakra Award is a global civilian honor that recognizes unwavering commitment to transforming cancer care, ensuring that no patient is left behind due to geographic or economic barriers.

Kelly Peiffer

Kelly Peiffer (MBA ’11)

Peiffer has accepted the role of director of business development at Meetings & Incentives Worldwide, Inc., where she will help expand the company’s presence in large-scale events like conferences and trade shows. Peiffer says she’s excited to join a women-owned organization with such a well-established reputation.

Bryan Brunken

Bryan Brunken (BS ’12, MBA ’20)

Brunken is excited to announce that he’s earned his professional designation as a certified financial planner! Brunken is a private wealth service advisor with Heckmann Financial in Middleton, Wisconsin. He works with clients across the U.S. in wealth management, specializing in financial independence planning for business owners, high earners, and those with significant assets.

Joey Baer with his family

Joey Baer (BBA ’13)

Baer and Lindsay Baer (BA ’13) reside in the Madison area with their two children. Lindsay is a paralegal for the state of Wisconsin and Joey has had a financial planning practice with Edward Jones since 2014. They take their children to many UW–Madison events, hoping they’ll be next-generation Badgers!

Sean Park (BBA ’13, MAcc ’14)

Park joined Rokt as head of tax in December 2024. Rokt is a global leader in marketing technology that helps e-commerce brands maximize customer engagement and unlock new revenue opportunities. With over 10 years of experience in technology, finance, and fintech, Park is excited to take on this next chapter, where he will continue his journey of strategic leadership and innovation in the tax space. He is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Sarah Sosa Acevedo

Sarah Sosa-Acevedo (MBA ’16)

Sosa-Acevedo has been named the new executive director of Wenham Museum by its board of trustees. Wenham Museum celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. Sosa-Acevedo now oversees all operations for the hands-on, family-friendly history museum that stewards a diverse collection of approximately 60,000 objects and is known for its educational and community programming.

Bryan Skwirut with his family

Bryan Skwirut (MBA ’19)

Skwirut and his wife welcomed their first child in December 2023. In April 2024, they traveled to Japan to introduce her to her 100-year-old great-grandmother. After a rewarding journey at TruStage, where he led major merger and acquisition deals, he is transitioning to a new role as director of enterprise transformation with New Era Technology. He’s looking forward to new adventures personally and professionally.

2020-2024

Patrick Sweeney sitting at a table with other people

Patrick Sweeney (BBA ’20)

Sweeney is honored to receive the Thomas A. Costello Memorial Alumni Award from Badgers in Finance, named in memory of the late Tommy Costello (BBA ’19). This award includes a cash stipend to facilitate a campus visit, encouraging recipients to engage with current students to support their career exploration. Sweeney used his award for a group visit, rallying 12 fellow alumni to join him in hosting five events over two and a half days. He notes that Costello valued networking, making it especially meaningful to build connections in his honor.

Amelia Kittson

Amelia Kittson (MBA ’21)

Kittson has been promoted to president at KIE Supply Corporation. As a third-generation owner and operator, she is thrilled to continue her family’s 70-year legacy as a wholesale distributor in the Pacific Northwest. Kittson has spent the past 15 years in various positions at KIE Supply and is grateful to the Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management and the Wisconsin MBA program for helping her build the skills that she uses daily in her career.

Jared Siebenaler with his family and dog

Jared Siebenaler (MBA ’21)

Siebenaler is now running his company, Stoic Canine, LLC, full time and serving Dane County as a dog trainer. This switch has allowed for increased flexibility to take care of his growing family and serve his community as a volunteer firefighter for Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

Kim Ulaky with her husband

Kim Ulaky (MBA ’21)

Ulaky recently joined Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, leading a team of process engineers to launch the company’s new site in Verona, Wisconsin. She also married her partner, Drew, on a beautiful fall day in October 2024 in Lake George, New York.

Jake Piekarski on Shark Tank ABC

Jake Piekarski (BBA ’24)

“🌨️ Big Milestone for Snow Scholars! 🌨️ We’re thrilled to share that Snow Scholars, founded in October 2022, landed a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank ABC! 🚀 Catch our episode on Hulu or YouTube if you missed the broadcast!”