Grand Valley: GVSU Alumni Relations Spotlight

Elaine Videan, '97

Dr. Elaine Videan, '97, was honored as a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence during Homecoming 2009.

Videan has traveled far since receiving a B.S. in biology from GVSU in 1997, including to Central America and east Africa. After graduation, she entered Miami University of Ohio where she earned both master's (2000) and doctorate (2005) degrees in zoology with a focus on primatology.

Videan has worked with and studied a variety of primate species including howler monkeys, macaques and chimpanzees. She has conducted field work on howler monkeys in Nicaragua and studied chimpanzees in Tanzania. Her true passion, however, is captive primate research.

While pursuing her graduate degrees, she worked and conducted research at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, the Southwest National Primate Research Center, and the Primate Foundation of Arizona. For the past two years, Videan has worked at the Alamogordo Primate Facility on Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. She holds a variety of management and administrative duties at Alamogordo including, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, program development, and coordination of the facility's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. She continues to be active in both behavioral and clinical primate research and has produced over 20 peer-reviewed publications. Videan believes passionately in the human care and use of primates in biomedical research and is working at both the local and national level to ensure the continued availability of primates for biological research aimed at improving human health.

Added November 2009

Bruce Lyon, '95

Bruce Lyon is a professional motivator. He graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor's degree in hospitality and tourism management in 1995. As the director of operations at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, he spends most of his workday making sure almost every department is running smoothly.

"A lot of my day is spent as a cheerleader and a psychologist,""said Lyon.

As a senior at Rockford High School, Lyon thought he had his future planned.

He would attend the University of Michigan and become an architect. His dream changed when he discovered the fast paced, ever evolving atmosphere of the hotel business. After high school Bruce started working at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel to help make ends meet, as a second shift housekeeping supervisor.

While working 40 hours a week, he attended Grand Rapids Community College for a couple of years before making the switch to GVSU as a full-time student in 1993.

"The way the classes were set up they allowed me the flexibility to continue working here and allowed me to cater my internships to one specific location. It really made it easy for me to be able to go to school, maintain my employment and walk right into a management job as soon as I graduated,""said Lyon.

His management experience at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel took him around the country. After only a few months, Lyon was offered a promotion at a hotel in Detroit. He climbed the ladder at resorts in Traverse City, Miami, Destin, Florida, and eventually ended up back at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel for the fourth time, accepting a position as director of operations.

Throughout his 15 years of experience in the hospitality business, Bruce Lyon has been recognized for several achievements, including Manager of the year at two separate hotels. He currently resides on the Grand Valley State University Hospitality Advisory Board, frequently speaks at GVSU Hospitality and Tourism Management summits and is often asked back to Grand Valley to share his knowledge with students in the classroom.

"You have the ones in the front that are really energetic, and you may have the ones like I was in the back that have worked a full shift the night before and are just trying to stay awake and get through the class. I try to speak to both of them,"" he said.

Lyon's expertise and honest advice has recruited a number of GVSU undergraduates to the internship program at the AGPH.

I don't have the best advice for everyone, but I tell students not to look for the glamorous internship. Just try to find something that's going to get you in the door and let your hard work prove it from there," said Lyon.

An accomplished businessman, and connected alumnus, Lyon still has some career aspirations. Inspired by a professor in one of his hospitality classes, he hopes to one day become an adjunct professor at GVSU.

"I still remember Dick King who taught our beverage class. He was more enthused about liquor laws and liability than anyone I've ever met, but I still go back and think about some of those things he said and apply them when we're in difficult situations.""

At the age of 41, Bruce Lyon has had a significant impact on the hotel industry in Grand Rapids, and around the United States. Ultimately, he was led back to his home turf, where he is living in Rockford and raising a son, Nick. Lyon insists he is here to stay.

"West Michigan is special, and this hotel is incredible. There's no other hotel that runs the way that this does,"he said. "I'm proud to live here, and I'm proud to be a Laker.""

Meghan Wieten-Scott, '06

Meghan Wieten-Scott, '06 (pictured far left with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) never thought she'd be in the same room, let alone carry on a conversation with royalty. But recently, she found herself standing face to face with the world-famous newlyweds, William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Alaska.

Wieten-Scott graduated from Grand Valley with a degree in Public Administration and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Though she had some experience in the field, Wieten-Scott says her degree in Public Administration gave her an in-depth working knowledge of how non-profit organizations work, from grant writing to manage volunteers. Her love of philanthropy runs deep, instilled in her by her mother and brother, and several close family members who also attended GVSU before her, and she continues to support Grand Valley financially through the annual fund, even though she's thousands of miles away.

It is my hope that by giving back to GVSU, I can help provide this incredible experience for many other students in the future."

Wieten-Scott is the Operation Appreciation Program Manager for the Blue Star Families Network. What started as a volunteer project to keep her busy while her husband was deployed to Iraq, turned into a paid position. As the wife of a military member, Wieten-Scott has found a passion for supporting military families during times of transition.

I have found that most people (civilians) just don't know what they can do to help, and that's why our work at Blue Star Families is so crucial. It helps to bridge the gap and lighten the load for military families while letting them know that people do care," said Wieten-Scott.

Recently, Blue Star Families partnered with the "Joining Forces Campaign", an initiative started by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. The campaign focuses on providing support and career opportunities for veterans and their spouses after serving in the military. In conjunction with the initiative, the Blue Star Families came together with the USO, Service Nation: Mission Serve, the US Chamber of Commerce as well as Sony Pictures Studio on July 7 to put on the Hiring Our Heroes job fair and accompanying service project. William and Catherine participated in the service project as part of their North American royal tour. Wieten-Scott and another colleague were introduced to the couple during their tour through the facility.

I have to say, they were the most genuine, down to earth people I have met. They were completely focused on what we were saying, and looked us in the eye as we spoke with them. They weren't concerned about what they had to do next or where the cameras were."

After meeting the Duke and Duchess, Meghan hopes that someday the Blue Star Families program will travel oversees to help U.K. military families.

Little did I know when I joined Blue Star Families last year that it would lead to such an incredible experience! It was such an honor to represent military spouses and Blue Star Families to such an influential couple. It's pretty surreal to know that someday I can tell my children and grandchildren that I met the King and Queen of England."

Meghan currently lives in Anchorage, Alaska with her husband Andrew.

Added August, 2011

Mat Nguyen, '07

For the third time, Mat Nguyen, MBA '07, has been named one of the Grand Rapids Business Journal's '40 Under 40' business leaders to watch in West Michigan. The honor was announced in the November 1, 2010 edition of the publication, which annually bestows the honor on select individuals under the age of 40 who have risen to leadership roles in the communities they serve and the businesses they champion.

Nguyen is president of Worksighted Inc., a Holland, Michigan-based information technology (IT) firm he co-founded with his friend, Mike Harris. The two started the company in 2000 and have grown it to 16 employees servicing several hundred clients in West Michigan and beyond. Worksighted focuses on providing IT solutions to small companies with few or no IT staff of their own.

"Our business idea came when we both were interns working in IT at a large company in Holland," said Nguyen. "We rapidly saw how frustrated our internal clients were with the treatment they received from the IT department."

Their market research quickly identified a lack of IT providers for small businesses in the Holland region and an opportunity for their personal-touch, relationship-driven style.

"We were young, we were fresh graduates, we felt we could take a risk," said Nguyen. "We also got lucky with some great first customers who raved about us," he said. "After our first 18 months, we took a look around and decided to keep going. We¿ve never looked back."

After his first few years in business, Nguyen began searching for a graduate school to strengthen his management skills. He decided that Grand Valley's Seidman College of Business met his interests.
"Friends who had gone there recommended it," said Nguyen. "They were surprised by the diversity of the businesses their fellow graduate students were in banking, engineering, sales, hospitality, and more. That appealed to me tremendously."

Today Nguyen concentrates on strategy, finance, accounting, and sales. "My success comes from having people I can trust and who will challenge me. I deeply value their diverse backgrounds, thoughts, and opinions because their perspectives make us really good at what we do. They let me focus on the big picture, ask the right questions, and stay flexible for opportunities."

Nguyen was born and raised in Paris, and moved to Holland in 1995. He completed his undergraduate degree from Hope College in 2000 with three majors; business, computer science, and Japanese.

While Nguyen's focus has been on his young business, he is also committed to community service. He is a past board member of the Holland Area Arts Council and Holland Chamber of Commerce, and co-founded Holland Young Professionals. Today, he is on the board for the West Michigan Strategic Alliance, an economic development organization promoting regional collaboration.

As he and his teammates celebrate their business's 10th anniversary, Nguyen says he's optimistic about the future. Adding to his outlook is the brand-new experience of fatherhood: he and his wife Katy had their first child, Rafael, just weeks ago.

And as for his chances of being named to '40 under 40' for the fourth time? "I'm not sure what's going to happen," he said earnestly. "I'm only 31."

Added November 2010

Laurie Angell, '81

Laurie Angell, `81, didn't enter ArtPrize 2010 to make a grandiose artistic statement or to gain fame or fortune for herself and her collaborators. Instead, this Grand Valley alumna's passion for the natural environment quietly brought together a community of others who shared her passion. More than 30 fellow artists joined her in making an original fiber arts creation for the art contest in Grand Rapids, which runs to October 10, 2010. Their creation, they hope, will be one that ultimately "gives back" to the environment that inspired it.

Laurie Angell earned her Bachelor's in Natural Resources Management with a minor in chemistry from GVSU in 1981. After she graduated, Laurie began working for the Allegan County Health Department as a field sanitarian, and later a food sanitarian. As a public health specialist, her work included designing and inspecting on-site sewage disposal systems (septic tanks and drain fields). In another position, she inspected kitchens in restaurants, schools, and other public institutions serving food to the public.

While Laurie knew that her professional work contributed to a healthier, "greener" world, she also sought more personal ways to connect with nature. She became interested in natural fibers and textiles, and soon joined the Woodland Weavers & Spinners Guild of Greater Grand Rapids. This venerable group of about 70 artisans gathers regularly to practice their craft and share fellowship.

As this year's ArtPrize drew near, Laurie felt moved to act. 2010 happens to be the 50th anniversary of the Woodland Weavers as well as her alma mater Grand Valley. "The feeling of fellowship and support in the Woodland Weavers has always been a gift to me," said Laurie. "I wanted to help celebrate the Guild's anniversary, and creating a weaving was a way to link with Grand Valley's anniversary, too."
"I wanted to do more than just create something, however. My goal is that what we create will be sold, and the proceeds will go to benefit the Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley," said Laurie. "They've been doing wonderful work to study and help Lake Michigan ever since I graduated."

Laurie `s idea was to involve as many guild members as possible. At a recent guild retreat on Lake Michigan, a particularly stunning sunset gave her the visual inspiration. She photographed it, and her sister created a colored-pencil sketch of an image that was simple yet captured the elemental power of the scene. Laurie showed the sketch to her fellow artists, and the 'Woven Lakescape' was begun.

Coaxed by Laurie, nearly half of the guild's membership joined to create 'Woven Lakescape.' The colors and fibers in each scarf were chosen by the individual artists using predominantly wool, cotton, or silk. Some of the fiber was hand dyed or hand spun, and the scarves were hand-woven, knit or crocheted. Using a construction that evokes the form of a loom, nearly 50 scarves were assembled to portray the Lake Michigan sunset.

"There weren't really any assignments. We all looked at the sketch and picked different areas to focus on, but that was it," said Laurie. "To me, this was both very personal and very communal. Each scarf was made by an individual, but we knew that others were also working on their parts, which would combine with ours."

The experience has deepened Laurie's understanding of art. "When I look at what we did, I see so much more than what is there. I see the friends who worked on their scarves, I think about the time they spent weaving and what they thought about, and what was happening in their lives then. I try to tell our story so that others can know what the `Woven Lakescape' really means."

Laurie noted that the project eventually drew in non-weavers as well. Generous financial support for the entry fees of the 34 collaborators came from Tom Windeknecht of Stanwood, Michigan in memory of his late wife Margaret, called "a great weaver" by others in the guild.

Unless sold during ArtPrize, the scarves will be available for sale at the annual Textile Arts Market, hosted by the Woodland Weavers & Spinners Guild and held at Calvin College's Prince Conference Center December 10-11, 2010.

Laurie lives in Byron Center and is married to Sam Angell; they have two daughters. She works today as a massage therapist and a "busy mother."

Added October 2010

Joe Buys, '07

Adrenaline surged through his body as Joe Buys, '07 performed his recent single in front of countless screaming fans at Rock the Rapids Music Festival on August 13. The aspiring hip-hop artist, actor, and model felt right at home in Grand Rapids.

One year after graduating from Grand Valley with a degree in advertising and public relations, Buys took a leap of faith and drove 2,280 miles from Michigan to the City of Angels, in pursuit of his dreams.

I fell in love with hip-hop music early on and never looked back. It's a feeling that runs so deep that it's almost unexplainable, almost like I didn't choose hip-hop, but it chose me."

Determined to jump-start his hip-hop career in L.A., Buys landed small gigs on movie sets, and TV shows, and had a reoccurring role as a model on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. However, he says his real passion is in music. He has been paying his dues and performing at clubs in California and Michigan, and returns to his hometown of Ionia to perform a few times a year.

Buys recently filmed his first official music video called Go Hard. The video represents everyday people who are making a big difference in the world. Buys encourages his listeners and his fellow Grand Valley alumni to give life everything they've got.

I want to be the best I can be at anything I do, he said."If someone is going to be better than me in something, it will never be because they outworked me."

His ability to rise above the ridicule of being a small town kid with big dreams is what drives the meaning behind his brand Dream Impossible."

Joe admits his latest performance at Rock the Rapids as the opening act for platinum recording artists T-Pain and Ludacris is his most significant gig to date. When he got the offer to perform, he was speechless.

This isn't the pinnacle for me yet, but I never dreamed I would even be in this position and be able to do these things. I had to overcome a lot of doubt."

His love for performing began at a young age, and his talent for promoting his brand came when he put his advertising and public relations major to work for himself.

With thousands of followers on Facebook, Buys started and grew his fan base at Grand Valley. He worked with friends to design and distribute flyers, sell CD's, and promote his latest shows.

Buys attends acting classes several times a week and on any given day can be found posting something to his music blog. He doesn't consider himself the typical hip-hop artist. When he isn't in the recording studio, or performing, you can find him relaxing at his home in Manhattan Beach, California and occasionally mentoring kids on the basketball court.

Buys said he has been blessed with the ultimate supporting cast, his family and friends.

It just hit me while I was driving in the car. I'm no longer chasing my dream, I may never have been. I'm living my dream. Wow."

Buys long-time friend and business partner Tyler Way, '09 of T.Way Collection documented his Rock the Rapids experience. The documentary will be available on Buys' website on September 13. To see the alumni relations video interview with Joe Buys just before he performed at Rock the Rapids, check out our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/grandvalleyalum

Photo Credit: Michael Cook - Grand Rapids Social Diary

Michael Judd, '99

Michael J. Judd received a Bachelor of Arts in film and video production from Grand Valley State University in 1999. After graduation, he worked as videographer and editor for WZZM-13 News (ABC) in Grand Rapids, MI and freeleanced on various commercials and industrial videos in the West Michigan area.

In 2000, he headed to Hollywood to break into the film industry and landed work as a set production assistant on such films as Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Seabiscuit, and Terminator 3. He is now a second assistant director with the Directors Guild of America, earning credit on feature films such as Gran Torino, Fame, Evan Almighty, and Flags of our Fathers. He was awarded a U.S. Marine Corps Certificate of Appreciation for his work on Flags of Our Fathers for assisting to preserve and promote a pivotal event in the Marine Corps history.

In 2006, Judd produced his first feature film, Carts, which went on to win Best Feature at the Valley Film Festival and was screened at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival and Imperial Beach International Film Festival. Most recently, he worked on the yet to be released film Young Americans, and is currently the Key 2nd Assistant Director on Desperate Housewives.

Judd regularly volunteers his skills to support various educational and service projects. He has filmed several after-school programs working with schools and non-profits supporting low-income students, and has volunteered as 2nd AD on several not-for-profit Public Service Announcements, including for SaveDarfur.org and AIDS awareness. Judd also participated in the first of GVSU's Summer Film Projects.

He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Jessica and their daughter, Eva Colette.

Added September 2010

Nancy Steele, '85 & '94

Dr. Nancy Steele '85 & '94 is making history as the Chief of Nursing Research Services for the Europe Regional Medical Command. She has been charged with the unique task of establishing the first nursing research center outside of the United States. As Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, she is stationed in Landstuhl, Germany and is responsible for daily operations at the Center for Science & Clinical Inquiry for all of Europe, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Steele earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology from Grand Valley State University in 1985, and a Master of Science in Nursing Education in 1994. She also spent several years as a visiting professor and assistant professor within the Kirkhof College of Nursing (KCON) at GVSU. It was during her work and research with KCON that she felt called to serve her country.

After gaining 10 years of experience in the Army, Steele received her Ph.D. in Nursing from University of Michigan in 2002. Upon graduation, she served in Honduras and El Salvador as a Nurse Practitioner before she was stationed in Hawaii. During her last year there she was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, after being selected to take on the role of Human Protections Administrator for Iraq and Deputy Director of the Deployed Combat Casualty Research Team.

In recognition of service to her country, Steele has received more than 20 military awards including, U.S. Military Combat Action Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the United States Meritorious Service Medal. She was also nominated for the Bronze Star in 2008, credited with assisting in medical research efforts in Iraq that helped to improve health care to over 162,000 military and coalition personnel. She currently serves on the Army Nurse Corp Research Advisory Board (NRAB), The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), and the Association of Women's Health Obstetrical and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). Steele has also contributed to several nationally recognized publications including the Journal of Military Medicine.

Steele has been stationed in Germany since 2008. The majority of her nursing research focuses on the care of wounded warriors who serve on the front lines in Europe, and also the affects of fatigue, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other clinical issues on soldiers.

In November 2011, Steele was assigned to serve as the Regional Chief of Military Nurse Research at Womak Military Medical Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Added April 2011

Faith Heikkila, '81 - Distinguished Alumna 2010

Dr. Faith M. Heikkila, '81, is chief information security officer for Greenleaf Companies. She is responsible for overall information security governance and compliance, and oversees the protection of personal and financial information for clients of the Greenleaf Companies, which include Greenleaf Trust, Greenleaf Hospitality Group and Catalyst Development Company.

Heikkila earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University in 1981, and was a decorated student athlete, lettering in basketball, softball and field hockey. She gained over 18 years of paralegal and IT project management experience at Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett, and Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone prior to earning her graduate degrees.

Heikkila earned a Master's of Science in information systems management from Ferris State University in 1998. She completed her Ph.D. in information systems specializing in information assurance from Nova Southeastern University in 2010, and was honored with the Distinguished Ph.D. Dissertation in Information Systems Award.

Heikkila spent five years as an instructor and chair of computer information systems and administrative services at Davenport University, and was most recently Great Lakes regional security services manager for Atlanta-based Pivot Group.

Heikkila is widely recognized as a leading expert in information security policies and procedures, computer security breaches, e-discovery, regulatory compliance laws, data privacy, and has a vast wealth of knowledge of best information security practices. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). She also holds graduate certification in Information Assurance: System Administration in Information Security.

In recognition of her authority in this burgeoning field, Heikkila's expertise is globally sought through publications, invited lectures and presentations, and in organizing regional conferences. She has held elected positions in professional organizations and serves on numerous boards and committees. In January, she was elected president of the FBI's Michigan InfraGard Member Alliance executive board, for which she plans training and meetings regarding the protection of critical infrastructure and key resources for the State of Michigan. She recently orchestrated and served as co-chair of the successful Securing the Next Decade: Great Lakes 2010 InfraGard Conference bringing in speakers from the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and the FBI.

Heikkila continues to make West Michigan her home.

Added December 2010

Ann Teliczan, '83

Ann Teliczan, '83 is an environmentally inspired artist. After graduating from William James College at Grand Valley, she kept her talent a secret from most of the world at first.

"For years, I kept my work to myself. It was a personal expression that I simply needed to do,""said Teliczan.

Her work is influenced by her exposure to nature as a child. Teliczan was born in Los Angeles, raised in a farming community in Washington state, and lived most of her younger years in "Chicagoland" where she was inspired by a vibrant art community. While she was a student at Grand Valley, Ann got a taste of her creative expression. She was a disc jockey and ran her own radio show at WSRX (now WGVU) called "Annie's Rock Hour." She was also very involved in the arts program, testing her skills as a photographer.

Upon graduation in 1983, the Michigan unemployment rate hovered around *13 percent, which left Ann torn between the decision to leave the state or make Grand Rapids her permanent home.

"When I graduated the economy was horrible, in fact there was a saying 'Would the last one to leave Michigan close the door'? I wanted to stay," said Teliczan.

Teliczan began her career as an advertising coordinator at Gemini Publications, a parent company of Grand Rapids Magazine and the Grand Rapids Business Journal. At the age of 29, she took a promotion and became the national advertising and public relations director at Brooks Shoe, a former division of Wolverine World Wide. She also worked for a nationally recognized design firm, and collaborated with hundreds of businesses.

As her children grew older, she longed for the sense of creative expression she embraced while she was a student at Grand Valley, and found it with the pottery program at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids.

"In 2003, I decided to go public," she said.

Hours spent in the dark room, and experimentation with scanners, composite art and printmaking led to Teliczan's unique art works that now hang in hospitals, and other businesses around the country. Her prints are developed using an innovative process that blends traditional painting using minerals with cameraless, filmless digital captures that are printed on canvas and paper.

Recently, Fort Belvoir, one of the military hospitals in Washington DC, purchased 375 pieces of her work to be displayed in patient rooms. To date, it is her biggest sale, and it marks a milestone in her art career - next to the time Oprah Winfrey featured one of her photos in her "Breathing Space" online gallery.

In early 2011, Ann formed her own ad agency, AT Media Studio where she now develops ad campaigns and shoots photography for clients in the West Michigan area.

When she looks back at her experiences, she is reminded of the impact her Grand Valley education has made on her career path.

"I was able to get a job even though the Michigan economy was at a low point. My experience at Grand Valley gave me courage, confidence and the tools I needed to succeed."

Ann currently resides in Ada with her family.

*Information retrieved from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget website

Updated January 2012

Michelle R. Troseth, '83 & '97

Michelle R. Troseth, '83 & '97 is the executive vice president and chief professional practice officer for Elsevier Clinical Decision Support & Elsevier Clinical Practice Model Resource Center in Grand Rapids. She is responsible for continuing to improve the professional practices of health care providers, and transforming the culture of healthcare settings around the world.

Troseth earned a bachelor of science in nursing in 1983, and a master of science in nursing in 1997 from Grand Valley State University. She started her career as a critical care nurse and later joined forces with her former professor and mentor, Bonnie Wesorick, founder of the CPM Resource Center. The CPM Resource Center works with healthcare organizations to provide clinicians with resources to focus on coordinating care and improving patient care using the latest clinical information and health information technology.

Troseth's job has taken her around the world, and the CPM Framework" and Models has been implemented in more than 300 hospitals across the United States and Canada with a mission to co-create the best places to give and receive care.

A member of the American Nurses Association, Troseth has presented to healthcare professionals nationally and internationally, and has contributed to several health care publications. She co-authored "Business coalitions: Shaping health reform through technology and science" in 2011. Troseth has led many federal comments on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act impacting health care and on Health Care Reform.

Among her many accomplishments and awards, Troseth was inducted into the National Academies of Practice as a distinguished practitioner in nursing. She and her husband are campaign chairs for the Wesorick Center for Healthcare Transformation within the GVSU Kirkhof College of Nursing. She has shown support of the University financially and with her time and resources, and continues to support the evolving teaching practices in nursing and interprofessional education. She frequently speaks internationally, and shares the collaborative work of Grand Valley, the Kirkhof College of Nursing, and CPM Resource Center.

Troseth has three sons and currently resides in Hudsonville with her husband, Kevin.

Added November 2011

Christianne Sainz, '06

Not long ago, if you asked Christianne Sainz, '06 what she wanted to be when she grew up, her answer would undoubtedly include performing with the world famous group Cirque du Soleil. Five years after graduating from GVSU, her dream is within reach.

Sainz graduated with a degree in theatre and met her current boss Alison Williams during a guest artist workshop at GVSU. Since then, her career has taken off, and she has been traveling the world with her friends. Recently she helped to produce a modern-day circus called "Stand Up 8." The part theatre, part gymnastics show features 8 performers with backgrounds in street performance and comedy. No animals, just pure talent.

A Plainfield, Michigan native and a 2006 graduate, Sainz is a five-time national trampoline champion, and most recently returned to Grand Valley to perform in front of hundreds of students with "Stand Up 8" as a part of the 50th Anniversary event on March 24.

Her journey has not always been fun and games. After suffering several serious injuries throughout college, Sainz was unsure if she would ever be able to get on the trampoline again. It was her determination that kept her training, and eventually soaring to new heights.

She currently calls Los Angeles, California "home," and when she's not traveling, she is teaching gymnastics to pre-school aged children. Check out the Stand Up 8 website for the latest tour schedule.

To see Sainz's performance on the trampoline and more of her interview go to our YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/grandvalleyalum

Matt Cooley, '08

Matt Cooley's phone rang on graduation day in December of 2008. It was his future calling from more than 3,000 miles away. A principal offered Cooley, `08 and his wife Victoria (Hope College grad, '06) teaching jobs in the Netherlands at the United World College Maastricht. After a long paperwork process, they left their hometown of Grand Rapids and headed across the ocean, again.

The scenery was not entirely new for Cooley who had spent the better half of 2007 in the Netherlands teaching K-12 students as part of GVSU's study abroad program. As an English major, with an emphasis in Language Arts and an Elementary Education minor, teaching has always been Matt's passion.

"I want to help shape their [students¿] character, molding them into thoughtful, communicative and open-minded individuals. I want to empower them with tools they need to succeed in a world where positive role models are hard to find," said Cooley.

A role model himself, Cooley has been teaching 37 fourth grade students from all over the globe every day with the help of his current teaching assistant and GVSU study abroad student, Tina. The last two years of teaching math, science, language, the arts, and geography to several children who do not understand English, has taught him a few lessons as well.

"It was always exciting to think that one day I would teach abroad, but for it to become a reality has been more challenging and more rewarding than I thought it would be."

Cooley says his experiences at Grand Valley have taught him to be a worldly learner, and he continues to stay in touch with former professors at GVSU for their honest advice and ideas, which he calls 'priceless.'

Matt hopes to one day pursue further studies in Educational Leadership, studying new ideas about teaching and learning differently.

He currently resides in Maastricht, Netherlands with his wife Victoria, and their English bull dog puppy Zoe. Watch the interview and video of Matt Cooley in his classroom. Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZDU-Nzow2o

David Garvey, '92

David Garvey, '92, of Grand Rapids was honored by Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern during the Governor's Service Awards ceremony held June 24, 2010, at the Gem Theatre in Detroit.

He was one of just five finalists selected for the Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award. This most prestigious of all the Governor's Service Awards honors an individual who has taken his volunteer service to the highest level, year after year. Finalists have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to community involvement and volunteer service, and have made service a long-term way of life.

The 67-year-old graduated Summa Cum Laude from GVSU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and has been volunteering in various roles for over 50 years. His total service is impossible to quantify, but hours logged with just a few of the organizations he has assisted over the years totals more than 6,000. A former smoker of 30 years, his current passion is in offering smoking cessation and recovery support. He volunteers for Tobacco Free Partners in Grand Rapids, and has counseled more than 500 individuals through various support groups he has formed. He is a constantly available smoking cessation resource, having his personal number listed on the United Way 211 help line, State of Michigan Self-Help Directory, and in numerous doctors' offices and hospitals.

Garvey first discovered the positive feelings volunteering can bring at the young age of 9. The simple act of making cupcakes for members of his Cub Scout den launched a lifetime devoted to service.

In his teenage years, Garvey became a volunteer member of the United States Air Force Ground Observer Corps, a civilian defense group who kept look out for invading aircraft before the regular use of radar. He was named an Honorary Life Member of the Ground Observer Corps in recognition of his voluntary and faithful service. "I became involved with the corps to continue my father's tradition of service to our country and honor his memory," said Garvey, whose father was killed on Leyte Island during World War II.

Garvey's motivation for volunteering changed, however, during his twenties and thirties. During this time, his volunteer activity primarily consisted of visiting the sick. He himself had spent much of his life in and out of hospitals battling illness and addiction, and underwent a particularly long hospital stay while recovering from a serious closed-head injury. "When I visited others, I became acutely aware of how lonely, left-out, useless and fearful I had felt when I had no visitors. I could see those same feelings and the pain in their faces. I could feel it," explained Garvey. "I originally visited the sick because I thought I could relieve some of their bad feelings but discovered something miraculous, my own negative feelings were relieved by being supportive of someone else."

In addition to his smoking cessation work, he continues to visit the sick and infirmed. He also provides volunteer online research for the director of faculty development at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, developing materials on teaching methods and ethics for faculty of the school, and regularly volunteer¿s for Grand Rapids Community College's Academic Service Learning Center.

He credits volunteerism with helping him develop a new world view, one which he strives to make a better place. He is extremely humbled by the Governor's recognition, calling it one of the most unexpected and exciting moments of his life. Quoting poet and artist John Ruskin, Garvey summed up the experience saying, "the highest reward is not what I get for my work, but what I have become because of it."

Added August 2010

Lisa Brooks, '92

Lisa Brooks, `92 had business on her mind when she took her first class at Grand Valley State University towards her bachelor's in business degree. With a passion for marketing, an eye for networking, and a willingness to live outside her comfort zone, she's now a successful marketer for a Fortune 500 company. And she's contributed to growing several national brands, including Coca-Cola, McDonald's and TGI Friday's.

Brooks is a senior customer marketing manager for Coca-Cola Refreshments, USA, working in Dallas, Texas for its Food Service and On-Premise division. Her title may be a mouthful, but it boils down to serving clients who sell Coca-Cola through fountain service in restaurants, theaters, amusement parks, and other food service venues.

"It's the most enjoyable job I can imagine," she says.

"My work isn't as simple as saying that I market Coca-Cola products," says Brooks. "I work more as a business marketing consultant, helping our customers achieve their goals for their brands." She assists in multiple ways, often providing market analysis, information on economic trends, and proprietary research done by Coca-Cola.

She has also helped her customers adopt new beverage technology such as Coca-Cola Freestyle, a touch-screen fountain machine that dispenses more than 100 beverage brands from one machine. Brooks describes it as a 'game changer' and "the biggest innovation in Coca-Cola's history."

Brooks' current clients include TGI Friday's, a popular chain based in Dallas with approximately 600 restaurants nationwide. Other clients are strong regional chains in the Southwest. Wingstop, which focuses solely on flavored chicken wings, has more than 445 restaurants. Another client, Taco Bueno Restaurants, has about 190 quick-service Mexican eateries.

It's rarely easy to find the most enjoyable job you can imagine and to secure work at a Fortune 500 company. Brooks credits her current position, first and foremost, to networking. "I had a great preparation--my Grand Valley education, the right work history, the right skill set. But it also came down to the right place, the right time and knowing the right people- people I met through my earlier positions."

In 2004, while Brooks was looking for a new job, a former boss mentioned that a woman executive was leaving a marketing position at Coca-Cola, and that she should apply. She contacted the woman, who turned out to be one of her former neighbors. The neighbor happily gave suggestions about pursuing the position. Brooks got the job, starting in Chicago and then competing successfully for a promotion to Coke's office in Dallas.

Lisa's career has connected her with some of America's most well-known brands. Before Coca-Cola, Lisa was assistant brand manager for Alberto Culver Co., based near Chicago, where she worked on their V05 Shampoo & Conditioner line. For another Chicago company, she helped McDonald's Corporation with marketing and advertising for the African American consumer market, including Happy Meal campaigns and promotions.

Brooks gives praise for her Grand Valley education. "The Multicultural Business Education Cohort (MBEC) program laid a very valuable foundation for me," says Lisa. "We were mentored, there was practice in speaking publicly, we gained leadership skills, and that made the difference."

"Perhaps the program's key strength was its internships. My internship at Amway in marketing cosmetics had the greatest impact for me," Brooks said. "The skills I learned helped me get a permanent position at Amway right after college, where I stayed for five years. Amway helped me move beyond sales and straight into marketing and product development."

Reflecting on reasons for her success, Brooks says: "I think it is because I have been willing to change and adapt, to let go of my fears of not being in my comfort zone. I did not settle for the status quo. As a networker, I've kept my eyes and ears open for opportunities, I've recognized how important timing is, and I have not been afraid to `go for it.'"

Brooks, who grew up in Grand Rapids, also credits her success to willingness to move when necessary. "When I went to Chicago, it was one of the best moves I made. It gave me a broader exposure to many industries, which I was looking for."

Mentors were important for Brooks at Grand Valley. Dean Emeritus Don Williams, who led the MBEC program, helped in many ways, including steering her toward marketing after she decided her first academic choice, accounting, was not for her. Brooks also acknowledges Jean Enright, the retired special assistant to the President, for mentoring her during and even after Grand Valley.

As for the future, Brooks says she continues to enjoy the independence of her job, as well as all the change and excitement it holds. "Someday, I want to evolve to become a greater contributor, managing other marketers," she adds.

Wherever life and work take her, Brooks will always remember Grand Valley. "When I think of the good friends I have now, most are from Grand Valley. I hold their friendships in the highest regard; I'm still good friends with my first college roommate," she says.

"Looking at the success I've had and the friends I've made, that says a lot about Grand Valley being a special place."

Added July, 2011.

Kristine Crawford, '07

It's June - the signs of summer are everywhere. The temperature is heating up, the days are getting longer, and Kristine Crawford is glad for the extra hours of daylight during the busy wedding season - especially now that she is undertaking multiple full-time careers.

Crawford is an independent wedding photographer, founder of Wink Publications and creator and editor of "InFrame Bride Magazine". Just a few short years out of college, she has nearly single-handedly produced this high-end publication, featuring top photographers from throughout Michigan and unique articles on other state-wide wedding trends.

Crawford graduated from GVSU with a Bachelor of Arts in photography in 2007, and started her own wedding photography company. As she became entrenched in the market, she noticed the lack of a credible resource to assist brides and grooms with one of their most important wedding decisions. "As first time shoppers, many couples are completely uneducated about what to look for and expect from a professional wedding photographer. I wanted to offer the resources couples need in one place so they can be informed consumers, from how to choose the right photographer, to what you can expect to pay, to tips on how to look your best in front of the lens," Crawford said. Brides often get so wrapped up in the multitude of event details that they sometimes overlook the most long-lasting aspect, the photos. "It's one of the few tangible things that the couple has to show their children and grandchildren," she explained.

Thus, the concept of InFrame Bride was born. Crawford started doing research, talking with industry colleagues and printers, and began to educate herself on the basic concepts of publishing. She put together a business plan and traveled the state approaching the best wedding photographers to be part of the project. She said that once they understood the concept and how artful and exclusive the magazine would be, they wanted to be part of it. The magazine is rare in that an advertiser's work is additionally published throughout the articles, increasing its appeal to selected vendors.

In September 2009, the inaugural issue of the annual magazine was released. The result was a high-quality, well-produced publication with fresh features, and most importantly, beautiful wedding images taken by the most sought-after photographers in the industry. There is also an accompanying Web site which includes links to top photographers, videographers, event planners and venues in Michigan. The site will soon be upgraded to offer even more dynamic content, including a digital issue of the magazine and a blog where brides can submit their own real wedding stories for consideration. The second edition is slated for release in September 2010.

The success of the magazine has thus far greatly exceeded Crawford's expectations. It has been picked up for distribution regionally at both Meijer and Schuler Books & Music.

To order a copy or find out more, visit www.inframebride.com

Added June 2010

Bo Pratt, '05 & '07

If you regularly flip through the pages of a popular magazine or surf the cable channels at home, chances are you've seen the face of former Laker football player, and Grand Valley graduate Robert (Bo) Pratt, '05 & '07.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Art in 2005, Pratt ventured to Australia to start his master's degree.

"I decided at the beginning of my trip that everything I said that I would never try, due to fear, I would reconsider" Pratt said."

That's when Pratt's adventure began. His journey put him face to face with dingoes, took him bungee jumping, glacier climbing, and diving in the Great Barrier Reef. He met Green Peace members in Tasmania, drank Kava with local tribesmen, dined on insects, and he finished his semester abroad as a member of the undefeated Australian Rugby League.

When Pratt returned to the states to finish up his master's degree in Computer Science, he stumbled upon some modeling jobs to supplement his income. Upon graduation he took a position in tech support at a local internet supplier company.

"After a couple of months I looked around at my co-workers and managers one day and I realized how unhappy most of them were," he said. "I asked myself if I wanted to be like them, and the answer was no.""

A change of heart directed his focus on traveling and modeling and before long, Pratt was landing significant jobs in South Africa, and New York City. His résumé boasts of television commercials for Pepsi, Garnier, Samsung, and Kohl's, as well as ads for Cosmo, Essence, Meijer, Ford, MC Sports, and others.

Pratt splits his time between New York City and South Africa. He models and takes acting classes, but he has also found an appreciation for stepping behind the lens. He has taken up photography, and hopes to one day establish his own studio.

Motivated by challenges and the freedom to express himself, Pratt says his experiences at Grand Valley have influenced the person he is today.

"I learned so many lessons whether in classes or social situations at GVSU. Most of them play out every day. They were building blocks in my work.""

It is uncertain where Bo Pratt's career will take him next, but it's sure to be an adventure.

You can find Bo Pratt's fan page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bo-Pratt/140480442638693

Eric Maino, '05

Eric I. Maino received a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from Grand Valley State University in 2005.

Maino's skill sets and foundation of software engineering and development from Grand Valley led him to a position with the Microsoft Corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington. For the past 6 years he has been employed full time in the Visual Studio organization within the Developer Division. On a daily basis, Maino, a senior engineer, works to improve the efficiency of Microsoft's internal developers and testers.

The liberal education Maino received fostered his critical thinking, innovative ideas, and an ability to work with people from various backgrounds. His managers refer to him as a "heavy-hitter" at Microsoft, and his former professors say he has been one of GVSU's "key" ambassadors in the high tech industry. Maino currently has three patents pending.

His successes in the technology field have earned him the much-coveted Microsoft "Gold Star" award for his work in assisting thousands of software developers, programmers, and managers in testing the quality of software.

While he has had tremendous success in his career, Maino keeps Grand Valley close at heart. He frequently returns to campus to speak to students and work with faculty on projects. In 2009, he founded the Eric Maino Community Technology Award, a scholarship established to not only help Grand Valley students with funding, but also to assist them with work experience and start them on a path to a successful career.

Maino grew up in Jackson, Michigan and currently lives in Seattle, Washington.

For his enthusiasm and dedication to his field of work and his passion for mentoring Grand Valley students and helping them to reach their full potential, Eric I. Maino is honored with the 2011 GVSU Young Alumni Award.

*Photo Credit: Daniel Rathbone
Added April 2011

Linda Masselink, '68

Linda R. Masselink earned a Bachelor's degree in Group Science from Grand Valley State University in 1968. She also earned a Master of Arts in Library Science from the University of Michigan in 1969.

Masselink started her career working for the Library of Michigan in Lansing. After getting married and starting a family, she returned to Grand Rapids and accepted a position at Davenport College Library. She worked at Davenport for 18 years before beginning her librarian career at Grand Valley.

In 1999 Masselink accepted a position at Zumberge Library on the Allendale campus. A year later she was asked to assist with the opening of the Steelcase Library on the Pew Campus in Grand Rapids. Her guidance and dedication led her to a promotion as Senior Librarian in 2007.

An experienced writer and presenter, Linda has been a member of the American Library Association since 1989 and is also a member of the Grand Rapids Chamber Foundation Center for Community Leadership.

Masselink's leadership and service shines through her long list of volunteer and community activities. She has been involved with Leadership Grand Rapids, United Way of West Michigan, served as a Schools of Hope tutor, and has been President of the GVSU chapter of Toastmasters International. Her passion for serving Grand Valley was strengthened when Linda took President Haas' 50 hour service challenge for GVSU's 50th anniversary. During her tenure Linda has assisted with the annual Alumni Freshman Move-In event and has been an annual GradFest volunteer for nearly 10 years. She is also a supporter and volunteer for the Faculty/Staff Giving Campaign, and is a consistent donor to university projects.

A recipient of several awards and honors, Masselink is a member of Beta Phi Mu Honor Society, and she was presented with the Community Service Award at Davenport College. Linda was most recently awarded Michigan Library Association Librarian of the Year in 2011.

Linda lives in Grand Rapids with her husband Bob. They have three children, and two grandchildren.

For her consistent service and commitment to Grand Valley State University and the Greater Grand Rapids area, Linda Masselink is the deserving recipient of the 2011 GVSU Alumni Service Award.

Added October 2011

Leslie Perales, '07

Leslie Perales, '07, has been named the editor of The Observer newspaper in Herndon, Va. She is now responsible for all editorial content in the company's print and digital publications.

Perales said she first became interested in journalism in high school but was also involved in photography and other types of media production. She intended to major in photography or graphic design, but picked journalism because it allowed her to incorporate those other skills.

"I'm really glad I stuck with journalism because it's a career that allows me to implement my photography and other media skills along with writing," she said. "At the Observer I have been a writer, photographer, videographer, and social networker, managing our Twitter, YouTube and Facebook accounts, as well as managing our Web site."

Perales graduated in 2007 with a degree in journalism. She also gained crucial experience outside the classroom, working at the Lanthorn, where she was a writer, copy editor, news editor and editor in chief.

"Some of my most memorable moments from Grand Valley were the many long days and nights I spent at the Lanthorn, with my fellow journalism and writing classmates," Perales said. "Nearly every experience I had there has helped further my career. My time at the Lanthorn really helped prepare me as a professional for the role that I'm playing now at the Observer."

Perales rose quickly at The Observer, where she started in January 2008 as a general assignment reporter covering community of Reston, Va. Perales soon took on the additional responsibility of covering Herndon and for planning the newspaper's coverage each week.

"Leslie has shown a great ability to understand how important local news is to our readership," said Observer Publisher Christopher L. Moore. "She is passionate about journalism, and compassionate about the people we serve."

Added March 2010

Stephen Leppard, '00

Stephen Leppard, '00, arrived at Grand Valley in the fall of 1997, after receiving a Bachelors degree in Biology from Albion College. As a graduate student Leppard lived downtown during his three years of working on a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy, spending much of his time in the labs and his clinical rotations. He developed close relationships with professors Dan Vaughn and Barb Hoogenboom, crediting them both for their positive impact on students. In addition to close contacts and mentorships he formed with professors, he also met his wife of 4 1/2 years Ryane (Eno) Leppard, '98, '01 at Grand Valley. She too is a physical therapist in Kalamazoo.

Graduating in April of 2000 he started his career as a Physical Therapist in Chicago. A native of the Plainwell area, he has been back in the Kalamazoo area for the past seven years and is currently the Assistant Clinic Director at Physiotherapy Associates. Part of his role is to coordinate physical therapy student rotations for the eleven Physiotherapy Associates clinics in the Kalamazoo area. Currently, he has two first year and two third year GVSU PT students working at his location.

Leppard stays connected with Grand Valley in various ways; his favorite is mentoring students. He occasionally returns for the Doctorate of Physical Therapy research day as a way of supporting peers and to listen to the latest evidence based research. Leppard maintains connections with professor Dan Vaughn and also takes students for internships at his practice.

Though his educational path seems prudent and reasonably traditional, Leppard is in no way complacent. A seeker of change and adventure, he works to make an impact in life, constantly striving for meaningful experiences. In the summer of 2008 he organized a fundraiser titled "Padding for Josh." Raising money for a patient of Leopard's who has cerebral palsy, participants raced in the 61st Annual Au Sable Canoe Marathon, a 120 mile overnight canoe race from Grayling to Lake Huron that took over 17 hours. Recognized for his selfless efforts, he was nominated by the Kalamazoo Rotary for a vocational exchange hosted by Rotary International. Each local Rotary group could nominate one young person, between the ages of 25 and 40 years that has been in their profession for over two years and has had a profound impact on the community. Stephen was selected as that one person for the Kalamazoo community. Out of 100 nominees in the state, and through a selection process including written essays and interviews, he was chosen as one of four outstanding individuals to represent the State of Michigan. Beyond that, out of a group of physical therapists, teachers and other accomplished individuals, he was the only physical therapist of the group.

His exchange counterparts were a High School Spanish teacher, a freelance journalist and a consultant working with nonprofit organizations. Each was an ambassador for the State, and for their respective professions. There for the entire month of April 2009 the journey consisted of vocational visits in five different cities in Argentina. Rotary groups from each town would greet them at the airport and escort them to their town and residence for the week. At each rotation they stayed with host families and were accompanied by team leaders. One of the primary goals of the voyage is true cultural immersion. He joined his host families on museum trips, at local art fairs and to a Boca Juniors Futbol (soccer). Whatever was happening in the area, he was there with the family, eating local cuisine and assimilating as best he could. The exchange participants would break apart in the towns for their personalized vocation visits. One of his more memorable experiences was spending a day with the Physical Therapist responsible for training Velez Sarsfield, a professional soccer team. For Leppard, this was an opportunity to see high level physical therapy for a professional sports team that could be compared to the Bears, or Red Sox in the United States, and seeing the treatment for the teams was unique to observe similarities in physical therapy from one area to another. While their therapy was 10 years behind ours in evidenced based practices, and more mobility based, it was still good treatment," says Leppard.

Ultimately, for Leppard the trip was hard to summarize. The people in Argentina were so very warm, welcoming, and gernerous. What felt like six weeks in each city was actually only six days. As a sports fan and former soccer player, the highlight of his trip was seeing a Boca Junior soccer match. This renowned Argentinean soccer team (on the scope of the New York Yankees) had game attendance of 50,000 people, and the experience, for Leppard, was beyond words. Overall, however, what Leppard learned is that "so often people get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing day after day. Life goes fast. I encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and do something that challenges them. It makes life richer," says Leppard.

Reflecting on how his educational experience at Grand Valley prepared him for his career, and for this trip, Leppard proudly shared that " the PT program is regarded as one of the elite physical therapy programs in the State of Michigan so when I went on a clinical in Michigan, they knew I would be well prepared. The educational background prepared you well to be a leader, and a community member not only at physical therapy, but as a person in your community."

Added June 2009

Jason Paulateer, '96 & '05

In today's fast-paced world of competing career and family demands, it can be difficult to find the time to fulfill your passions and make a real impact in your community. Jason Paulateer, '98 & '05, a local executive at National City Bank, father of eight children (five of which were adopted), and member of numerous community organizations, seems to have mastered this work-life balance - and still finds time to volunteer along the way.

In an economy where many in his field are happy to even have jobs, Paulateer says he feels blessed to have been able to match up his life's work with his heart. "I've worked in the banking industry in some capacity for over 13 years, but no matter what I kept getting drawn back to working with non-profits." As vice president and executive director of National City's Community Development Association of Michigan, he now works to help non-profit and for-profit businesses obtain funding for urban real estate projects. He is proud to have been able to assist with the revitalization of several Grand Rapids neighborhoods by partnering to turn abandoned, dilapidated buildings into beautiful, thriving organizations. "Most people have to go to work and find personal time to give back, I get to go to work to give back," he says.

And give back he does in all areas of his life. Paulateer is local treasurer and a life-member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., as well as its district marshal (chairman of the committee tasked with hosting its 5-state district conference.) He is a board member for Wedgwood Christian Services and the YMCA - David D. Hunting Branch. His community involvement garnered him the W.W. Plummer GIANT Humanitarian Award in 2007, and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce named him the Financial Services Advocate of the Year during their annual Minority Business Celebration. In addition, National City Corporation has recognized his performance with Corporate Excel Awards, one of the highest honors bestowed upon its employees.

Paulateer holds both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Grand Valley State University's Seidman College of Business who honored him with their Up and Coming Alumni of the Year award. He received a bachelor of business administration in management in 1996, and a master of business administration with a finance emphasis in 2005. He says that giving back to the community was always in his nature but credits Grand Valley with helping to pull it out of him.

He especially enjoys returning to his alma mater to share his experiences with current students, partially in response to an encounter he had. Paulateer says that one of his most memorable experiences at Grand Valley was attending a Minority Business Enterprise Center event where a human resources executive from Steelcase was giving interviewing tips to students. At the end of the program, the presenter handed out his business card and told the students to call him if they wanted to set up a mock interview, which Paulateer later did. "I've never forgotten his openness and the impact that made on my career. I hope that I can share some of my experiences and in turn help a student today," says Paulateer. "They say you learn from mistakes, but that doesn't mean you have to make them all yourself."

Jason and his wife Chapri (Bell) Paulateer, '96, have three biological daughters, and initiated the licensing process to become foster parents in late 1996. The couple has since adopted a sibling group consisting of five children from their community. The bustling family resides in Grand Rapids.

Added July 2009

Rick Rossow, '98

Rick Rossow, '98, former president of Grand Valley's Student Senate, graduated from GVSU in 1998 with a degree in Russian Studies. Soon after, he moved to Washington, D.C. and took a position with the U.S. India Business Council at the United States Chamber of Commerce. It was a time when, he says, people were not very interested in the developing nation. His small group was responsible for establishing a dialog between the United States and India, and served as a leader in forging international trade with the country. "It was incredible to be in the front row for change between the U.S. and India, a foot soldier helping to build one of our country's most important new relationships," says Rossow. The position provided an amazing opportunity for him to learn how business and governments interact. Today, he uses those skills in a new role, following insurance regulations in foreign markets for New York Life Insurance.

One of his greatest accomplishments with the India Council was bringing a business delegation of 150 executives to India during President Clinton's visit in 2000. "We were forging a relationship that had been practically non-existent prior to 1998. At that time, most Americans only [thought of the country in terms of the] India-Pakistan conflict, and we made it our goal to de-hyphenate that relationship." He says that many Americans still hold negative perceptions of India, such as poverty and the conflict with Pakistan, but that positive images of India as a democracy, and its growing technological culture have now become prominent in most American's view of the country.

His tremendous work with the India Council was recognized by New York Life Insurance Company who offered him his current position in 2008. They needed someone responsible for following insurance regulations in foreign markets, and of the 8 countries in which the company has investments, India was the fastest growing. "While I was working with insurance companies before as a part of the larger mix of business with India, I am now focusing exclusively on the insurance industry and need to know enough about our business to communicate interculturally." New York Life has been extremely active in furthering Rossow's career growth by providing professional development opportunities and supporting him in learning several new languages.

His role with the company involves several components, not least of which is staying on top of the evolving regulatory structures of 8 different countries. He maintains regular communication with teams in each country and provides guidance to the countries themselves on how other nations are regulating business. He also serves as one of the company's interfaces for foreign trade and policy in Washington D.C., remaining current on U.S. trade negotiations and how they impact New York Life's international business. He sits on numerous key trade associations to advocate for the company and meets with foreign government officials when they visit D.C.

In the short time since his graduation, Rossow has established an extraordinary career. He attributes his success to the help of several mentors, including former Ambassadors to India, Frank Wisner and Tom Pickering, both of whom came back to the U.S. and became forceful advocates for building the relationship with India. He also cites Susan Esserman, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative in the Clinton Administration, and Ray Vickery of the Department of Commerce, for their visionary leadership in establishing U.S.-Indian relationships, as well as Joe Alhadeff, Chief Privacy Officer of Oracle Corp., and Mary Pittilli of Discovery Communications. "For me as a young person, learning how to be an advocate was such an excellent skill to gain."

Additionally, Rossow credits his alma mater in providing a foundation for his career. "At Grand Valley, I learned that the world is a whole lot different than the one I grew up in. College broke through the mental wall and made me open up to other cultures. It made me sensitive to cultural differences - certain courtesies, adapting to your environment and other cultures." He also had the opportunity to study abroad in Russia, his first time out of the country. "Professors Christine Rydel and Edward Cole, who coordinated my Russian trip, were instrumental in teaching me that it was critical to learn how to spot and be open to cultural differences."

He also attributes GVSU for providing him a solid foundation in communication skills. He participated in the campus chapter of Toastmasters, a public speaking group that is still active at GVSU. "Toastmasters provided me with the chance to learn the mechanics of public speaking, and as Student Senate President, I really had the opportunity to hone those skills." Additionally, he is thankful for the solid writing skills he gained in school. "At Grand Valley I had some of my most useful writing critics - they were fierce. Writing is something that is heavily weighed in all careers," continues Rossow. "It's a key part of my job, writing critically and concisely." He used his writing skills to serve as a senior staff member of the GVSU student newspaper, The Lanthorn, alongside friend and editor-in-chief Dave Yonkman, '98.

Today, Rossow and Yonkman serve as officers of the GVDC Alumni Club, organizing programs and activities for graduates in the Washington, D.C. area. The group, which hosted its largest-ever event on January 15, 2009, with 60 attendees, began in 2002 when Rick and some of his GVSU friends who met for happy hour decided to develop an open group for others in the area. For more information about GVDC, visit http://www.gvsu.edu/alumni/gvdc.

Rossow has maintained close connections with GVSU, volunteering his expertise when called upon. In 2004, he helped organize and spoke at a Van Andel Global Trade Center conference on conducting business in India, and recently helped promote a Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies' event in Washington D.C. to area alumni. "I am just really proud of the university, and want to do anything I can to contribute."

Added April 2009

Kevin Michael Schmitz, '06

Kevin Michael Schmitz, '06, is a professional advertising and editorial fashion photographer in Los Angeles and New York. He is the principle/founder of Kevin Michael Schmitz Photography, specializing in location lighting, digital imaging and large scale production. Kevin Michael photographs magazine spreads, fashion lookbooks, advertising campaigns, fine art pieces, documentary spreads, album covers, and is branching into celebrity fashion photography. His high-profile work has been published in eight national and international magazines within the past year.

After receiving a bachelor of science in photography from Grand Valley State University, Kevin Michael Schmitz pursued a master of fine arts in photography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Upon moving to Manhattan Beach, California, he began his advertising photography business full-time. He employs six photography interns whom he mentors about the business of photography and advanced lighting techniques. As an educator, he guest lectures at photography and fashion workshops in Los Angeles.

Kevin Michael has taken his photographic thesis from GVSU entitled Alchemy of a Dream, to an entirely new level. As dreams have a unique way of transforming our unconscious into a limitless reality, photographs can trigger deep unconscious memories. Each fine art fashion piece is photographed as a multi-image composition of an archetypal figure meshed into a black & white negative background. This new style of fine art and fashion digital montage encompasses an ethereal feel that is represented by an inverse dreamscape of the collective unconscious.

In January of 2009, Kevin Michael Schmitz traveled throughout Israel during the war in Gaza. He photographed and authored documentary magazine editorials published in the United States and Europe. The project entitled ISRAEL: A Culture at War documents the people and Holy Land of Israel and the West Bank during a time of war. These gripping images and articles tell the perspective of the people living within the conflict.

Kevin Michael Schmitz is an active member of numerous professional organizations and holds an impressive list of clients. He plans to begin working as an adjunct professor of photography in Los Angeles this year to educate the future of the photographic industry in Southern California.

"I am deeply honored to have been nominated for the GVSU Young Alumni Award. Grand Valley truly prepared me for the world in so many ways, and I am excited to be living my dream as a professional advertising photographer."

www.KevinSchmitz.com

Added September 2009

Hunter Eberly, '09

Take a trip to Jacksonville, Florida, and get tickets to see the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra playing at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. When you arrive for the concert, look in the first chair of the trumpet section and you'll see the earnest but happy face of Hunter Eberly, '09.

He's delighted to be there as the principal trumpet for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and he should be. It's among the leading orchestras in the Southeast and ranks in the nation's top 30 to 40 orchestras.(Listen to Hunter and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.)

Eberly began with the orchestra last November at the age of 24. He earned the prized spot earlier through a grueling and nationally competitive audition in which he was one of 94 trumpeters who vied for the position. During the day-long audition, he performed through four rounds as the field was narrowed and narrowed again before he won the principal trumpet position.

"Each round meant performing several different pieces of music, with only about an hour's notice of what that piece would be," said Eberly. "I was excited, but also felt prepared because of the excellent training I had at Grand Valley. Professor Rich Stoelzel prepared us for just this type of experience in the orchestra repertoire class. I can¿t thank him enough."

Eberly studied at Grand Valley with Stoelzel, associate professor of trumpet and the brass department coordinator. "Professor Stoelzel's experience playing in orchestras had a huge impact on my development and education," says Eberly, noting that Stoelzel currently fills the principal trumpet position in the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra.

"Being instructed by a current professional orchestral musician was a huge benefit," adds Eberly. "He deserves a great deal of credit for my accomplishments."

Eberly is no stranger to success. As a Grand Valley senior Eberly won first prize at the 2009 National Trumpet Competition College Solo Division, held in Fairfax, Va. Hunter is the first Grand Valley student to win the top prize in the college solo competition. He was also a member of Grand Valley's trumpet ensemble in 2008, when it took first prize at this competition.

After graduating from Grand Valley, Eberly continued to advance his career. He completed master's graduate studies at the Colburn School's Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, and performed as a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic trumpet section just prior to his Jacksonville audition.

"Jacksonville has definitely been the culmination so far," says Eberly. "The orchestra is excellent, and the brass section itself is very young and very talented."

"One of the hardest things, is playing with people who have been with the orchestra since before I was born. I have to jump in and sound like I have been playing as long as everyone else, when in reality I haven't played 90 percent of the pieces before. It is a lot of fun, and definitely keeps me on my toes!"

Someday Eberly would like to teach as a trumpet professor at a university, but for now life is very full. Eberly was recently engaged and will be getting married in June to Kim Savage, a current GVSU student. She plans on moving to Jacksonville and getting a job once she graduates.

"Jacksonville is great, everyone has been incredibly nice and hospitable," says Hunter. Acknowledging all his good fortunes and successes, Hunter is quick to credit his faith in Christ. "Without Him, none of this would have been possible."

Added February 2011

Stacy Stout, '04

For Stacy Stout, '04 , education director of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, a typical week at the office covers a wide range of duties: writing grants, researching best practices in youth and adult education, arranging academic enrichment events for teens, and sitting down one on one and in small groups with Hispanic youth, aged from 13 to 21, who have the potential to be promising and dedicated workers, even entrepreneurs, in the Grand Rapids community.

Many of the youth she works with are teetering on the edge of gang membership and incarceration, or gaining the education needed to be successful and contributing members and leaders of their community. This 'edge' is where Stout's passion is, where she does her best work, and where you'll find some of the reasons she was recognized this past October as one of the Grand Rapids Business Journal's '40 Under 40' young business and community leaders who are making a difference.

Since 2005, Stout has filled multiple roles at the community-based nonprofit Hispanic Center, located in southwest Grand Rapids. Currently, as education director, Stout oversees all adult education and youth services. She is certified as an Intermediate Gang Specialist by the nonprofit National Gang Crime Research Center. Stout uses this knowledge, and her extensive youth development experience, to provide gang awareness, prevention, and intervention trainings for school and community groups.

The trainings also generate revenue for the Hispanic Center's Supporting Our Leaders (SOL) Program, which serves over 150 youth annually, with a third of the youth struggling with gang affiliation when they begin the program. By emphasizing education and parent engagement, she helps youth see that they can get out of gangs, and in fact has helped many to successfully leave them.

For adult education, she coordinates an integrated computer English as a Second Language (ESL) program focusing on occupational training readiness and is working to establish a new General Equivalency Diploma (GED) preparation class for English and Spanish speakers. She sees both programs as key stepping stones for residents to pursue two-year and four-year degrees.

Stout says her Grand Valley experiences were invaluable. "The highlight of my undergrad career was the mentorship," she added.

"I was fortunate and grateful to have influential people who believed in me and mentored me; such as Don Williams, Mike Woods, and Eduardo Rojas-Sanchez." Williams and Woods each led the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) at different times. Rojas-Sanchez recruited Stout to apply to Grand Valley when she attended the Hispanic Youth College Conference in Muskegon near her hometown of Whitehall. His encouragement helped her to gain a scholarship, student employment, and ultimately her first job after graduation as the OMA's Freshman Academy and Special Projects Coordinator. Today Stout is a colleague of Rojas-Sanchez, who is now assistant principal at Burton Middle School in Grand Rapids.

"Having mentors was also very important for me as a first-generation college student because I was going through so many changes as I began to define who I am," said Stout.

According to Stout, Grand Valley¿s effect on her was profound. "It changed my life. I grew up in a homogeneous community, and Grand Valley made me more aware of the world through my involvement with the Cultural Board working with racial and ethnic student groups. Grand Valley helped me define who I am as a person of color and a woman," Stout said. The university also helped her by providing many student leadership experiences, such as planning on-campus Hispanic Heritage Month events, Cesar E. Chavez Celebrations, and work with Latino Student Union.

Stout still has many connections with Grand Valley. The Hispanic Center hosts Grand Valley interns regularly. Stout speaks to Grand Valley classes and promotes the university at other community events. Current members of the GVSU chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta adopted her youth program as their official philanthropy and they, along with other GVSU student groups, volunteer hundreds of hours annually.

In the coming months, Stout will complete her Master's degree in Public Administration at Grand Valley, focusing on nonprofit leadership. Her goals for that degree include being a role model for her daughter and becoming a better supervisor. "I worked very hard and long hours to get where I am, but I also recognize that I didn't get here on my own. Many of my supervisors challenged me to grow. I have great people working for me now, I want to give them the kinds of chances I had. And so many of those chances began at Grand Valley."

Added March, 2011

Troy Hardy, '95

Multi-Emmy nominated music editor, composer, and guitarist, Troy Hardy, '95, will receive the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award during the winter commencement ceremony on December 12. Hardy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from GVSU in 1995 and is owner of Los Angeles-based Meltro Music. He has completed work as a music editor on over 250 television episodes, including Entourage, CSI, The West Wing, Huff, My Name is Earl and Grey's Anatomy. Hardy also boasts an impressive list of composition credits, having scored original songs for a multitude of television shows and movie trailers. The accomplished guitarist can be heard playing on the main title theme for TLC's Little People, Big World, and has played with many established Los Angeles artists and Grammy winning songwriters. He has received four Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series and earned Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel nominations in 2008 and 2009 for Best Sound Editing.

Added December 2009

Mandi Zemba, '07

2008-12-22 16:36:11.0

Mandi Zemba, '07, the newest member of the Team USA Minnesota, began her competitive running career at GVSU in 2001. From Menominee, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, she won her first of eight NCAA Division II National Championships that year.

The elite athlete was actually a late-comer to running, however, spending 11 years as a competitive swimmer before focusing the endurance she had gained from her swimming experience on running. "I had some success in High School by UP-standards in distance running and track and was offered a scholarship to Grand Valley. That's really when I learned how to train," says Zemba. "One of the main reasons I chose Grand Valley was for the running program and because it was an up-and-coming school that had a good program in my major (Physical Education-Corporate Fitness & Wellness). [Head coach] Jerry Baltes was building a very reputable program and has great passion for running. It was a very good fit."

After winning her first National Championship her freshman year and leading the Lakers with a third place finish in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship in 2002, Mandi red-shirted the 2003 season. She was contending with some injuries and gave birth to her son, Zac. "I was going through some struggles with injuries and other personal [matters]," explained Zemba in an interview with Down the Backstretch, "Having Zac [made me] able to focus more on what was most important in my life and not take anything for granted," she says. "I felt like Grand Valley and Jerry [Baltes] gave me a second chance and I wanted to make the most out of it."

Zemba definitely took advantage of that second chance and continues to add to her remarkable successes. She went on to win seven more national titles at distances ranging from 1500 to 5000 meters, as well as in cross country. After graduating last April, Mandi became the Laker's assistant cross country coach and continued training under Baltes. She finished eighth in the 5000m at the USA Championships last June and competed in July for Team USA at the 2007 Pan-Am Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

In December, she received news that she had been added to the Team USA Minnesota roster, a post-collegiate long distance development group, and moved with her husband and Zac from Grand Rapids to Minneapolis. "I am so grateful for the opportunity to be competing at this level. I am learning so much from training every day with this group of elite athletes." Last Thursday, Zemba left her new Minnesota home to begin warm-weather training in Austin, TX. She is preparing for the 2008 USA Cross Country Championships and World Cross Country Team Trials to be held on February 16 in San Diego, CA. Her ultimate goal is to compete for Team USA at the Olympics.

Added February 2008

Tenzin P. Bhagen, '04

2008-12-22 16:31:34.0

Tenzin P. Bhagen, '04, arrived at Grand Valley State University in 2000 following a path that none before him had taken, a fitting precursor for the eventual founder and primary guide of Tashi Delek Travel Company based in Washington D.C.

Tenzin was the first student to receive GVSU's Tibetan Refugee Scholarship, which was originated by President Emeritus Arend Lubbers in 1999. He was selected from a wide slate of deserving candidates due to his remarkable background and his unwavering dedication to the quest for education.

Bhagen was born in eastern Tibet. He had family members who were chieftains in the area prior to the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950, many of whom were eventually executed or imprisoned for political dissent. Bhagen himself spent his youth as a child laborer. He never dreamed that one day he would learn to read and write, let alone graduate from college. "There was no opportunity for any type of education where I grew up and no way to gain knowledge of the outside world."

In 1987, he fled Tibet, lumbering over the snow-covered Himalayas to northern India where he entered his very first classroom at the age of 21 and earned his high school diploma. He moved to San Francisco in 1996, began working for a non-profit organization founded by the Beastie Boys to support non-violent social change, and enrolled in community college. It was while in California that he received an email from Grand Valley informing him of the newly established scholarship.

"I was reborn at Grand Valley. To me, a human being without an education is not fully developed, like a bird without wings." Grateful for his unique opportunity, Tenzin made sure to explore the many doors opened to him through GVSU. He studied hard, worked for the student newspaper, the Lanthorn, and spent a year studying abroad in London, further expanding his international experience in education. In 2001, he became a U.S. citizen

Earning a B.A. in Journalism from GVSU in 2004, Tenzin became the first person from the area where he was raised to earn a modern college degree. He moved to Washington D.C. and began his career pursuits. With his first-hand knowledge of Tibetan culture and people, he was offered a job leading student expeditions to his homeland.

"I returned home and saw that friends and many of the children remain illiterate. I realized that I had to use my experiences to help and saw the best way to do this was by avoiding political avtivity." With a loan he received from Jeff Koeze, a Grand Rapids businessman that he met through connections to GVSU professor Michael DeWilde, Tenzin started his own travel company. The journeys provide total cultural immersion and not just a visit to a tourist destination. "Because of my connections, I am able to arrange home stays and meetings with monks, nuns, and lay people as well as guide treks through Tibet's beautiful terrain." His unique tours and the amazing philosophy the company was founded on have earned him national exposure through articles in the New York Times and National Geographic.

On starting his company, Tenzin explains, "I hope to be a cultural bridge between the East and the West. I want to benefit the people of Tibet but also the people from my new country by exposing them to a very different culture and way of life. The experience in Tibet really changes people spiritually, physically, politically. I often feel that if everyone in the world could spend a week living with a family in a different culture, the world would be a better place." His ultimate goal, however, is to establish scholarships for Tibetan natives helping them gain access to higher education, as he himself was helped by Grand Valley and President Lubbers.

Tenzin is organizing a trip in the Summer of 2008 specifically for people at Grand Valley and in the Grand Rapids community. He will also begin offering rare winter trips during the Tibetan New Year this February. "The winter in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is actually warmer than in Grand Rapids. It's when the tourists disappear and the Tibetan pilgrims from all corners of the country flock to Lhasa, providing a [rare photographic] opportunity," explains Tenzin. If you are interested in participating in a trip, or would like more information on Tashi Delek Travel, visit www.tashidelektravel.com.

Added December 2007

Chriss Lyon, '91

2008-10-07 17:03:36.0

Chriss Lyon, '91, a dispatch supervisor for 911 of Berrien County, enjoys the challenge of solving mysteries. But it's when she leaves her day job that her work as a detective begins. A self-taught genealogy expert and member of the Western Michigan Genealogical Society and Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates (MSRA), Lyon spends her free time researching victims of shipwrecks and plane crashes to help long lost relatives find previously unidentified loved ones.

While Lyon studied film and video production at Grand Valley, she says she's always been intrigued by detective work and history. "My dad was a firefighter and I think that is how I became interested in disasters and mystery." Her grandmother sparked her eventual interest in genealogy through researching their own family tree.

One of Lyon's recent volunteer genealogy efforts has recently garnered extensive media coverage with the dedication of the NWA flight 2501 memorial in Berrien Springs on September 20, 2008. The ceremony marks the culmination of a project she had been working on for nearly seven years.

She first began researching flight 2501 in November of 2001, when she found an online article about the crash while putting together a genealogical history of grave sites in Berrien County. "I was shocked that so little was known or even reported about such a tragic event."

Flight 2501 crashed into Lake Michigan near the city of St. Joseph in June of 1950, and at the time, was the largest aviation disaster in U.S. history. None of the 58 passengers survived the crash and the cause of the disaster remains unknown as the wreckage has never been located. After the crash, remains that washed ashore were collected by Coast Guard officials, unceremoniously cremated and placed in an unmarked grave. The remains were nearly forgotten about until Lyon got on the case.

Though most records from the time no longer exist, in 2007 Lyon discovered two lines in an old log book of the Riverview Cemetery in Berrien Springs indicating the grave site of "plane crash victims from 1950." Family of the victims were finally able to obtain a sense of closure after more than 50 years.

MSRA and Lyon had been able to identify and contact the majority of family members, many of whom traveled to Michigan from as far away as Virginia and California for the memorial ceremony and dedication of a donated headstone containing the names of all 58 victims.

"It is so important to give family a place to go to remember their loved ones. Now they have a place to visit," explains Lyon. "We wanted to be sure that these people who were forgotten for so many years by the area would never be forgotten again."

This may seem an unlikely course for an individual who earned a bachelor of arts in film and video, but Lyon sees it differently. She thinks of genealogy as an art from, not a science. "It's researching a bunch of official documents that some people take as absolute. They are supposed to be completely accurate but there are often errors in transcription and spelling. You need to approach it with a degree of creative license, using the documents as guidelines, or else you'll miss something," she says.

Lyon looks forward to continuing her life's passion. Her success on recent projects has shed light on what else she is capable of doing. "There are so many other people out there searching for closure and so many unidentified remains. I hope in my own small way that I may be able to help with the preservation of history."

Added October 2008