ARE YOU - FAU - Florida Atlantic University

Transcription

ARE YOU - FAU - Florida Atlantic University
FALL 20 09
ARE YOU
legacy
A Magazine for Alumni and Friends
?
IN THIS ISSUE
Alumni Entrepreneurs Share
Their Inspirational Stories
FAU’s 5th President,
Frank T. Brogan ’81, Bids Goodbye
Coach Schnellenberger:
50 Years and Counting
A Time of Transition,
A Time of Transformation
FALL 2009
VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1
EDITOR
Janette Robbins
As the 2009-10 academic year got under way, President Frank T. Brogan – a proud FAU
alumnus and the most dynamic president the University has ever had – left to become
chancellor of Florida’s State University System. As provost, I had the privilege of working
very closely with him during most of his
six-year presidency, and when he announced his intention to leave FAU I was
honored to be named interim president
by the Board of Trustees.
Over the past three years, FAU’s state
funding has been cut by more than $50
million, necessitating reductions in degree programs and personnel. This is a
time of transition and transformation, as
we work to redefine the ways in which
the University will pursue its multifaceted mission to offer top quality
higher education opportunities, carry
out cutting-edge 21st century research
and render meaningful service to the
many com munities in its very large
service area. Despite the challenges that
we’ve faced and continue to face, our University stands on the threshold of a future that
is overflowing with promise. That is why I ask you to get involved today and give back to
FAU by becoming part of our TRUE BLUE campaign. Some of the ways you can show
your support for your University are listed on page four of this magazine.
This fall FAU opened its doors to a record-high 28,000 students seeking degrees in a broad
spectrum of disciplines, from the arts and humanities to engineering, science and nursing. We
take tremendous pride in the success of our faculty, students and alumni. The entrepreneurs
featured in this issue are all visionaries who were able to see opportunity and create their own
success under a wide variety of circumstances. They did not wait for the “perfect time” to
pursue their dreams. By taking life as they found it and summoning the wisdom and energy
they needed to overcome obstacles, they reached their goals, and that is exactly the philosophy we are adopting to take FAU into the future.
Help us continue to move our great University forward. Working together, we can and
will bring FAU into the dawn of a whole new day. I am TRUE BLUE to FAU … are you?
A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R
Linda Holtz
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Patricia DeBona, Louise Hinton,
Doug McInnis, Marcus Nelson
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Jennifer Tyson
OW L N O T E S
Marlene Smith
PRINTER
JKG Group
A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
Randy Talbot
Executive Vice President, University Advancement
Executive Director, FAU Foundation, Inc.
The editorial staff invites you to send
comments, letters and editorial contributions
relating to Florida Atlantic University
or the content of the magazine. Submissions
will be reviewed and may be modified
according to editorial standards.
The editorial staff is not responsible for
loss of or damage to any material received.
All correspondence should be sent to:
legacy
FAU Division of University Advancement
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
legacy @fau.edu
or 561.297.2890 (fax)
legacy is published by the
Division of University Advancement
of Florida Atlantic University and the
FAU Foundation. The opinions expressed
in this publication are those of the editorial
team and contributors and do not necessarily
Sincerely,
reflect the official position of the
University or Foundation.
Be TRUE BLUE to FAU by making a gift online at
http://fauf.fau.edu/giveagift. Call 561.297.3010
John F. Pritchett
P R E S I DE N T (INTERIM)
or e-mail trueblue @ fau.edu for more information.
legacy
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
A Magazine for Alumni and Friends
4
FA L L 2 0 0 9
Are you TRUE BLUE ?
Learn 5 ways to be
TRUE BLUE to FAU
2
2 A Fond Farewell
Former FAU President
Frank T. Brogan ’81 bids goodbye
6
6 Coach Schnellenberger
After 50 legendary years, the
playbook is still being written
8 Creating Their Own Success
Alumni entrepreneurs share
their inspirational stories
16 Faces of FAU
Professor Neil Santaniello —
a breath of fresh air
29
18 Weathering the Economic Storm
How to strengthen your
financial future
20 Owl Notes
Outstanding Owl, alumni profiles,
owls in print and in memoriam
29 Philanthropy Spotlight
Peter and Kerry LoBello help
dreams take flight
Florida Atlantic University 1
A Fond Farewell
W
F O R M E R FA U P R E S I D E N T F R A N K T. B R O G A N ’81
TA K E S N E X T ST E P I N R E M A R K A B L E C A R E E R
University degrees often enhance the lives of those who earn
them. Former FAU President Frank T. Brogan, who earned his
master’s degree from FAU in 1981, has spent the past six years
helping to lift his alma mater to new heights in academics, hightechnology research and sports. He has left FAU to become
chancellor of the State University System of Florida.
“When I attended FAU as a master’s the time out of your schedule to mentor Research Institute. Brogan also oversaw
degree student in the College of Educa- me was truly priceless.”
the creation of a four-year medical edtion in the 1980s, I could not imagine I
A message from Sheila Yungk, an FAU ucation program in conjunction with the
would be so blessed as to return to its program assistant, says, “When I first University of Miami’s Miller School of
halls as its president,” said Brogan.“I was found out that you were considering this Medicine.
the only member of my family to
During his tenure, the state of
attend college, and much of the
Florida
awarded FAU $10 million
“ I H AV E N O D O U B T T H AT
success I have had in my profesto create the Center of Excellence
FA U W I L L C O N T I N U E T O
sional life I owe to what I learned
in Biomedical and Marine TechE L E VAT E I T S E L F T H R O U G H
at this wonderful university.”
nology.The Center’s researchers are
THE RANKS OF HIGHER
Brogan’s appointment to the
scouring Florida’s coastal waters for
E
D
U C AT I O N, B E C O M I N G O N E
statewide chancellorship marks the
naturally occurring substances that
OF THE TOP UNIVERSITIES
next step in a remarkable career that
could be turned into pharmaceubegan in 1978, when he arrived in
tical agents to treat cancer, heart
I N T H E C O U N T RY.”
Florida to teach at Port Salerno Eldisease and other illnesses. In addiFrank T. Brogan ’81
ementary School on Florida’s Treastion, Brogan played a key role in
W FAU PRESIDENT 2003-2009 W
ure Coast. He subsequently served
securing $80 million to bring the
as a middle school dean of students,
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Ina high school principal and superintend- position, I was upset…. I didn’t want you stitute under the FAU umbrella.
ent of Martin County Schools.
to leave…. You will be greatly missed.”
FAU is also the home of the Center for
The youngest person to be elected Flor Brogan presided over the biggest build- Ocean Energy Technology, which has garida’s Education Commissioner, Brogan ing boom in the University’s history, as nered more than $15 million in state and
also served as the state’s lieutenant gover- $250 million was poured into the trans- federal funding to support researchers’ efnor, alongside then-Gov. Jeb Bush. He was formation of its multi-campus network. forts to harness the power of Florida’s
named FAU’s fifth president in 2003.
Brogan also put particular emphasis on strong offshore currents to generate enLetters directed to a University website making FAU a nationally recognized cen- ergy. This critically important initiative
praise his performance at FAU and ex- ter for biomedical research.This was ac- got under way during the Brogan years.
press sadness that he’s leaving an institu- complished with lightning speed through
On Brogan’s watch the University’s
tion he’s done so much to build. Former partnerships with leading research or- football team moved from Division IFAU Student Government President Ancel ganizations, including the Scripps Re- AA, where it was nationally ranked, to
Pratt III writes, “You are a big part of why search Institute, the Torrey Pines Institute Division I-A. In short order, Head Coach
I am the leader I am today. Your positive for Molecular Studies, the Max Planck Howard Schnellenberger led the Owls to
encouragement and willingness to take Society and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer a Sun Belt Championship and a 2007
2 legacy fall 2009
W
F R O M T O P L E F T: President Brogan at his office on the Boca Raton campus. President Brogan and his wife Courtney pose with students during the activities
leading up to the 2008 Republican presidential primary debate held at FAU. The 2006 Society of Automotive Engineers student racing team pose with President
Brogan in the car they built before the big race at the Michigan International Speedway. FAU’s first family has some fun at Fall Family Fest.
acquire critical equipment to keep FAU’s
research initiatives on track. “We want to
make certain that we give our faculty the
tools they need to take this University to
the next level,” Brogan said. Other lease
proceeds are being put into building a
University endowment and providing additional compensation for
faculty and staff.
In his farewell letter to the University community, Brogan wrote,
“I have no doubt that FAU will
continue to elevate itself through
the ranks of higher education, becoming one of the top universities
in the country.”
He added, “For the past six
years I have had the enormous
privilege of waking each
morning knowing that
I was going to a job I
loved, and though
I am confident I
will enjoy
my tenure as chancellor, there’s no place
like home — I consider FAU my home
and the home of my wife and our son.”
PHOTO BY WILLIAM PLATE
victory in the New Orleans Bowl, followed by a 2008 win in the Motor City
Bowl, making FAU the only university
in Florida to win back-to-back bowl
games during those years.
By 2008, the University had been hit
by the worst economic downturn since
the Great Depression; multi-million dollar budget cuts soon followed. But Brogan rallied FAU in his 2008 State of the
University address. “We’ll make certain
that we plot a course for the future of this
University that will not allow difficult
economic circumstances to pull us down
and pull us backwards. You see, failure is
not an option here because our students
rely on us to navigate these difficult
times, with them as our highest priority.”
In the midst of crisis, Brogan saw opportunities to advance the University
using “outside-the-box” thinking. For
example, he oversaw an agreement that
leased unused University broadband capacity to a private company for $170
million, to be paid over 30 years. Part of
the funding is being used to
Florida Atlantic University 3
WE ARE
… ARE YOU?
“I am TRUE BLUE because FAU gave me the tools to launch my own
career and now I am fortunate that I can give back to others.”
S C O T T A D A M S ’87
Entrepreneur, Founder of FAU’s Adams Center
for Entrepreneurship and FAU Trustee
Alumni, students and friends of FAU everywhere are
coming together to tell us why they’re proud to be true
to FAU. Now we’re inviting you to join us by showing your
pride and appreciation for all that FAU does for our students and the community.
JUNG MIN WOO
Piano Performance Major,
School of the Arts,
Dorothy F. Schmidt College
of Arts and Letters
DR. MARLAINE SMITH
Check out our new TRUE BLUE campaign website at
www.fautrueblue.com and tell us why you’re proud to
be true to FAU.
Associate Dean for Academic
Programs and the Helen K.
Persson Eminent Scholar,
Christine E. Lynn
College of Nursing
Be TRUE BLUE by doing any or all of the following:
· MAKE A FINANCIAL GIFT
TRUE BLUE introduces new giving societies that recognize you
for your financial contributions to FAU’s greatest priorities,
scholarships or the University programs of your choice.
DR. KEITH BREW
Schmidt Senior Fellow and
Distinguished Professor and
Chair of Basic Science,
Charles E. Schmidt College
of Biomedical Science
· J O I N T H E FA U N AT I O N A L A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N
Members enjoy the camaraderie of fellow FAU alumni and friends,
and receive special discount benefits. Everyone can join!
· P U R C H A S E A N FA U O R H A R B O R B R A N C H
O C E A N O G R A P H I C I N S T I T U T E L I C E N S E P L AT E
Take your FAU pride on the road.
· AT T E N D A N FA U E V E N T
DR. DELSA BUSH ’91
Chief of Police,
West Palm Beach, Fla.
You can learn, watch, cheer and enjoy with students and faculty
who offer you hundreds of cultural, academic, social, athletic,
community and networking events throughout the year.
· U P D AT E Y O U R R E C O R D S
Don’t miss invitations, VIP announcements, news and feature
stories that will be e-mailed regularly to TRUE BLUE members.
4 legacy fall 2009
RAY DE LA FEUILLIEZ JR.
’69, ’74
Vice President of
Business Development,
Marketing and
Human Resources,
James A. Cummings, Inc.
Go to
www.fautrueblue.com
to find out more and
join the TRUE BLUE
family by making
a gift today!
Be TRUE BLUE by Joining the
FAU National Alumni Association
There has never been a better time to become a member of the FAU
National Alumni Association (FAUNAA). With prestigious academic
programs and partnerships, the excitement of athletic prominence
and an exceptional student body, it’s easy to see why everyone is
joining and showing their TRUE BLUE pride in FAU !
As a member you will receive special invitations and free or discounted admission to
FAUNAA-hosted events. Plus, simply show your membership card at participating restaurants and retailers and get exciting benefits and discounts including 25 percent off at McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant in Boca Raton, membership to the new FAU
Recreation & Fitness Center at the alumni rate, 10 percent off all FAU-related merchandise
at FAU Bookstores and so much more! Check out all the membership benefits at
www.faualumni.org/benefits.
Whether you’re a student, graduate, family member, friend or just a fan of FAU, everyone is invited to join! BeTRUE BLUE to FAU and become a member of FAUNAA today
at www.faualumni.org !
For more information about FAUNAA, contact the FAU Office of Alumni Relations at
1-888-FAU-ALUM (328-2586) or alumni.affairs@fau.edu.
A L L FA U N A A M E M B E R S G E T A D I S C O U N T E D R AT E !
Book Your Next Event or Meeting at the
Marleen & Harold Forkas Alumni Center
PHOTO BY WILLIAM PLATE
Superbly located adjacent to the future site of FAU’s stadium and Innovation Village residential and retail area, the Marleen & Harold Forkas Alumni Center has been expertly planned
to include classroom space and several venues for conferences, cultural activities, universitywide celebrations and special events. The 14,000-square-foot multi-purpose structure is
comprised of a great hall, two boardrooms, three classrooms, a library, two large reception
areas, a mentoring and professional center and a fully-equipped catering kitchen.
W A N T T O L E A R N M O R E ? Visit www.faualumni.org/alumnicenter to get price
information and choose your space by viewing the interactive floor plan guide, then
call 561-297- 6162 to book your event today!
Florida Atlantic University 5
AT H L E T I C S
COAC H
SC H N E LLE N B E RG E R
After 50 Legendary Years the Playbook is Still Being Written
W
hen Howard Schnellenberger reported to work for his first
coaching job 50 years ago, he didn’t know entirely what to
expect. The year was 1959 and Schnellenberger was joining
the staff of Blanton Collier at his alma mater, the University of Kentucky.
“I didn’t have any idea what I was getting into,” said Schnellenberger.
“When I played football, I saw only the work the coaches did with the
team, not the work that was going on behind the scenes.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAU ATHLETICS
BE L OW: Schnellenberger gives his FAU players a pep talk before a game at Lockhart Stadium.
6 legacy fall 2009
Schnellenberger’s first coaching job, with its
long hours and arduous tasks, was tough but
he loved every minute. “It was all on-the-job
training and it was the best training you can
get,” said Schnellenberger. “I spent a lot of time
sitting and listening to the other coaches who
were there before me. Once I had been at it a
few years, I started thinking about what I could
add to my pot of knowledge.”
Some 700 games later, including coaching
stints at Alabama, Miami and Louisville, he is
still excited to report to work each day, often
arriving to his office at the Tom Oxley Athletic
Center before the sun comes up. “The young
men coming through this program today inspire me to keep coaching,” said Schnellenberger. “They are more prepared for college
school work, more mature and have made
more right choices than ever before.”
Schnellenberger has been coaching FAU
players since he signed on in 1998 under thenPresident Anthony J. Catanese. “Catanese had
the foresight to bring football here. He protected us from the naysayers and the doubters,”
said Schnellenberger.
Schnellenberger has won a national championship at Miami, was an assistant coach for the
Dolphins’ perfect season and has put more
than 100 players into the National Football
League, but he says it’s what he is doing at
FAU that may be his most important job yet.
“I take great pride in these kids’ accomplish-
ments and the success of this young football
program,” said Schnellenberger. “Being able to
sprint past more seasoned teams in such a short
amount of time is remarkable.”
From FAU’s inaugural football game in 2001,
he has led the program into the I-A ranks. The
Owls have won consecutive bowl games and are
competing for a Sun Belt Conference championship this season.
There is still one hurdle left to clear as Schnellenberger aims to have the Owls play in an
on-campus stadium by 2011 as part of the Innovation Village project. “It gives
my players a real shot in the arm
to know their efforts will help the
For the most up-to-date FAU
stadium come to fruition,” said
football scores and schedule,
Schnellenberger.
visit www.fausports.com.
BELOW: FAU defensive lineman Jervonte Jackson shows off the
2008 Motor City Bowl trophy. RIGHT: While coaching at the
University of Louisville, Schnellenberger gets a visit from
then-President George H.W. Bush. LOWER RIGHT:
Schnellenberger celebrates the Owl’s victory
over the Memphis Tigers at the 2007
New Orleans Bowl.
“ I TA K E G R E AT P R I D E I N T H E S E K I D S ’
ACCOM PLISH M E NTS AN D TH E SUCC ESS
OF TH IS YOU NG FOOTBALL PROG RAM,”
SAI D SC H N E LLE N B E RG E R. “B E I NG AB LE
T O S P R I N T PA ST M O R E S E A S O N E D
T E A M S I N S U C H A S H O RT A M O U N T
OF TI M E IS R E MAR KAB LE.”
Florida Atlantic University 7
C R E AT I N G T H E I R O W N S U C C E S S
8 legacy
FA U A L U M N I TA K E R I S K S A N D R E A P R E WA R D S O F B U S I N E S S O W N E R S H I P
E
fall 2009
True individualists capture our attention. We
revel in their determination and uniqueness.
Standing above the crowd, individualists are
willing to express their beliefs, even when those
beliefs do not always conform to convention. At
FAU, a young public university with a convergence of students and faculty from many backgrounds, individualism has always been nurtured.
Programs throughout the university’s 10 colleges
have been designed to provide those creative
“out-of-the-box” thinkers with a solid academic
structure, a sounding board and a supportive
network of faculty and peers. An ideal and forward-thinking environment, FAU welcomes those
students who dare to turn dreams into reality.
We are spotlighting just a few of the many talented alumni who
were unafraid to reach beyond the norm and venture into the world
of business ownership. While today all are successful entrepreneurs,
their areas of interest span many different fields. Each started with a
single concept or vision. Immersed in the idea, each identified a niche
and carefully nurtured and tweaked the idea until, at just the right
moment, it was launched and then soared with possibility.
These are difficult times. Yet, despite the global economic downturn, our featured entrepreneurs, prepared well by FAU’s rich academic program, teach us how hopefulness outweighs the fear of failure.
They inspire us by their example and rouse us to confront our own
challenges. It is not a career path for everybody, but for those who
choose to veer from the main road, the thrill of the journey can be
especially rewarding.
J O H N C O N N E L LY ’ 7 1
E
NAUTICAL FURNISHINGS, INC.
Not wanting to show his client, Joe “Big Daddy” Flanigan, hesitation or doubt,
John Connelly ’71 didn’t miss a beat when he accepted the proposal on behalf of his
fledgling company, Nautical Furnishings, Inc. It was the company’s first client and
Connelly knew he had to appear confident, even though the prospect of redesigning
Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill in Atlanta was somewhat daunting. A quick call to
his business partner signaled an immediate charge to action. Within a few days they
had creatively transformed the restaurant’s interior décor using a generous supply
of authentic fishing net, anchors and vintage ship lanterns to create a rustic, beach
distressed look that would appeal to both seafarers and landlubbers alike. Flanigan
was so pleased with the ambiance they had created he hired Nautical Furnishings
to bring this same touch to his entire chain of restaurants.
clients request a naturalistic wharf-side look, while others
want more staging. My customers expect fresh, new ideas
and we do not disappoint.”
Connelly’s touch can also be seen in the nautical props
at Walt Disney World’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Six
Flags Premier Parks and Universal Studios. Visit the Jaws®
ride at Universal and you will see a 28-foot great white
shark replica, created by Nautical Furnishings, hanging
near the ride entrance. In addition, the company leases
items to movies and builds sets.
“Start with a good concept, attract the best staff, treat
your clients right and follow through on what you have
proposed,” Connelly advises to future entrepreneurs. “I
am thankful to FAU for giving me the freedom to develop
ideas and the encouragement to be creative.”
PHOTO BY JEFFREY THOLL
In the more than 30 years since landing its first account,
Nautical Furnishings has become nationally and internationally recognized as the foremost company of its kind. As
company president, Connelly has effectively cornered the
market in a very specialized field. Growing up on the New
Jersey shore, the son of a maritime history enthusiast father,
Connelly developed a love for everything nautical. It is not
surprising that FAU, an up-and-coming university near the
ocean, sparked his attention. After earning his undergraduate degree in business on FAU’s Boca Raton campus,
Connelly did a six-month tour with the Naval Reserves.
Returning to his home state of New Jersey, Connelly
worked in a family-owned business until a new venture inspired by his affinity for the sea, brought him and a business partner back to South Florida. Naming their company
Nautical Furnishings, the partners remained optimistic that
their company would take off. By securing Joe Flanigan as
their first major client, Nautical Furnishings gained a tacit
endorsement throughout the restaurant industry. The partners barely had to promote their company, as Connelly
states, “the product sold itself.” When the partnership dissolved in 1977, Connelly remained at the helm.
Today Nautical Furnishings’ vast inventory, housed in
a 55,000-square-foot showroom and warehouse in Fort
Lauderdale, is the headquarters for what is said to be the
world’s largest sales and leasing source for authentic marine artifacts and nautical décor. It contains original items
acquired from salvage wrecks and old ships as well as
recast and fabricated items, most of which are built in
one of the two on-premises wood shops. The company
also has a wide offering of vintage and faux antique
maritime lighting for the public to choose from.
What gives Nautical Furnishings the added edge is its
dedication to concept development. “We come up with a
concept and carry it out by developing interior plans,
often using architectural blueprints as a guide,” says Connolly, who has a client list that includes such powerhouse
restaurant chains as Red Lobster, Outback Steak House,
Olive Garden, Smokey Bones and the Ale House. “Some
E
J U A N B O R G E S ’73
B I O M E D I C A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O R P O R AT I O N
Enveloped in darkness, 16-year-old Juan Borges watched Cuba’s Guanabo Beach
shoreline slowly disappear. It was 1966 and Borges and his brother were among the
youngest of the 30 fleeing passengers in the boat bound for sanctuary in Miami. An
outspoken young man, Borges was determined to escape from Havana, despite the
uncertain odds of survival. Yet, as the little 32-foot boat made its way into Atlantic
waters, Borges felt his heart race in panic. He suddenly realized that his decision to
leave his parents and his country was irreversible. The young brothers’ eventual
arrival in the United States signaled the end of a long exodus and the beginning of
a fight to survive, without family and friends, on the streets of Miami. Eventually
a church-run outreach program placed the two in a stable living situation with
support from a child welfare program.
By 1972, Borges had earned a high school diploma and
was enrolled in FAU. For three semesters, he took classes
on what was then a satellite campus in Miami Beach. Continuing his studies on the Boca Raton campus, Borges,
who was majoring in psychology at the Charles E. Schmidt
College of Science, faced financial struggles. “I was as poor
as they came — working days as a lumber salesman, doing
odd jobs and going to school full time,” he says. “Because
of my work schedule I studied all night. At the time I
wanted to become a clinical psychologist but couldn’t afford graduate school. After graduation I got married and
made the decision to pursue a career in business.”
His first serious post-college job was with Baxter International, a medical products specialty company best
known for its work with dialysis devices. He began as a
medical sales representative in South Florida, advanced to
the position of international marketing specialist for Latin
America and later, at the age of 28, became sales manager
and president of Baxter Travenol Laboratories in Venezuela. When Borges left the company he was the general
manager of Baxter Travenol Export Corporation. Returning to Miami from Venezuela in 1981, Borges decided it
was time to launch his own business.
“I was willing to take a risk because I knew if I failed, I
was young enough, at age 34, to recoup my losses,” says
Borges. “The year of networking I did before I got my
company up and running was a difficult period — many
of my professional contacts disappointed me, but I survived and am grateful because the experience taught me
some business realities.”
In 1982, Borges launched Biomedical International
Corporation with a mission to sell and service hospital
and laboratory equipment and supplies. Understanding
the competitive nature of the medical industry, Borges
knew his company needed an extra edge — a niche market. He identified that niche in the pool of under-represented clients from the Dutch and English Caribbean
markets.Today, under Borges’ expert leadership, the busi-
10 legacy fall 2009
ness is thriving. With hospital and physician clients in
markets throughout North, Central and South America as
well as the Caribbean islands, Biomedical International
is the exclusive provider of such products as monitors,
ventilators, sterilizers, operating room equipment and
anesthesia machines. The company carries furniture for
hospitals, clinics, waiting areas and emergency rooms, as
well as a full line of turn-key products to set up entire facilities such as clinics, operating theatres, intensive care
units, radiology suites and laboratories.
“How lucky I am to love what I do. I look forward to
coming to work every morning, and can’t ever see myself
retiring,” says Borges. “My early escape to this country had
a profound impact on my life. I learned to stand alone
despite the odds, to push myself to the limits and to never
give up. I am proud of what I have accomplished, but always remind myself to be humble and simple at all times.”
PHOTO BY JEFFREY THOLL
The late afternoon sun casts a dark shadow on
the concrete and plywood structure, a future fourstory luxury, beach-front condominium. A salty
breeze from the east welcomes architectural engineers Michael Lansing and Ursula Iafrate to the
construction site. They put on their hard hats and
begin to unroll their blueprints. Lansing and Iafrate,
principals of FAE Consulting, are skilled at conceptualizing beyond the two-dimensional floor
plans. Integral to the design phase of any construction project, architectural engineers are in charge
of the infrastructure within the walls — the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems — the MEP.
M I C H A E L L A N S I N G ’0 2 A N D U R S U L A I A F R AT E ’ 0 3
E
FA E C O N S U LT I N G
“The architect designs the shell of the building. As engineers, we take that shell, with its artistic features and
distinctive style, and give it life and functionality,” says
Lansing. “Our work, for the most part, goes unseen by
the public. We design the lighting, distribute the power
and install the sprinkler, fire alarm, air conditioning and
heating systems.”
Both Lansing and Iafrate are alumni of the College of
Engineering and Computer Science’s program in electrical engineering. As university colleagues, the two took
classes together, never thinking that in a few short years
they would become entrepreneurial (business) partners.
While still a student at Boca Raton High School, Lansing took a part-time job as a draftsman with the MEP
firm of Formica and Associates. When Lansing entered
FAU he was working full time at Formica. Robert Formica, company president, encouraged Lansing, an architecture major, to consider a career in engineering instead.
Listening to his mentor’s advice, Lansing changed majors. He graduated from FAU with a degree in engineering. That same year Lansing also accepted a partnership in
Formica. As partner, Lansing helped grow the company
from a staff of 6 to 28, with two offices. Lansing recruited
Iafrate, then a senior at FAU, to the company and in 2002
she began an internship at Formica.
Born in Peru, Iafrate grew up in Fort Lauderdale. She
entered FAU, knowing from the beginning that she
wanted to study engineering. Previous internships took
her to the Gillette Company in Boston and to Harbor
Branch Oceanographic Institute.
“Within two months I was sold on a career in architectural engineering,” says Iafrate. “I enjoy both the structural and architectural aspects of my work. I am a
detail-oriented person. When I draft a plan I can assure
you it will be compliant with codes and 100 percent accurate on paper — nothing can be missed.”
In February 2008, eager to branch out, Lansing and
Iafrate launched their own MEP business, FAE Consulting. Currently they have 40 to 50 clients, and that list
keeps growing. The company’s inaugural year yielded 250
projects. With each working at least 60 hours a week, they
hope to top that number of projects this year.
“ To be in this fast-paced business you need
to be very sure of yourself. You must be
driven, confident and decisive. FAU trained
me to be a problem-solver and taught me
to think like an engineer. All that thinking
outside the box will sharpen your mind!”
MICHAEL LANSING
For Lansing and Iafrate this work is more than a job, it
is a passion. “To be in this fast-paced business you need to
be very sure of yourself,” says Lansing. “You must be
driven, confident and decisive. FAU trained me to be a
problem-solver and taught me to think like an engineer.
All that thinking outside the box will sharpen your mind!”
Iafrate, the 2000 Student Talon Award recipient, remains deeply connected to her alma mater. She serves on
the FAUNAA board and supports many FAU events. “I
think FAE Consulting and FAU have a kinship. Both are
young and growing and share limitless possibilities for the
future,” Iafrate says.
Florida Atlantic University 11
E
B A R B A R A P O L E O ’93 A N D R O D N E Y D I L L O N ’ 7 8
PA S T P E R F E C T F L O R I DA H I S TO R Y, I N C .
The Deerfield Beach warehouse, home to Past Perfect Florida History, Inc., is
almost overflowing with rare, antique, used and out-of-print books and maps.
Managing to carve out a small space for themselves amidst the inventory, Past
Perfect owners Barbara Poleo and Rodney Dillon ’78 view the clutter as a sign of
their success. Together these two former history majors from FAU’s Dorothy F.
Schmidt College of Arts and Letters have built a business based on their shared
fascination for Florida’s past.
While working together at the Broward County Historical Commission, Poleo and Dillon forged a special
bond that over the course of nine years led to their entrepreneurial partnership. Poleo began at the Commission
as an FAU intern, working for Dillon. She eventually became special projects coordinator in charge of public outreach, exhibits and the organization’s newsletter. Dillon,
who also holds a master’s degree in history from University of Florida, began his career at the Fort Lauderdale
Historical Society. Currently he is an adjunct professor at
Palm Beach Community College.
As historians, each had a penchant and knack for book
collecting. Poleo, who had always dreamed of owning her
own bookstore, naturally transitioned from special projects coordinator to book dealer. Dillon wanted to prove
that, as a history major, he could do the unexpected. Starting carefully, the two officially established Past Perfect
Florida History and began buying and selling Florida history books on the Internet and at
book fairs and antique shows. They
soon branched out to include
books by and about Florida au-
12 legacy fall
2009 2009
summer
thors, artists, sports figures, architecture, archaeology, nature, gardening and cooking. By frequenting estate sales,
auctions and through word of mouth, Poleo and Dillon
have amassed an amazing collection. Their acquisition efforts yielded some unexpected treasures, such as a John Lee
Williams first edition from the 1820s that they sold for
$1,000. The company has a long list of regular customers;
some are collectors, others represent libraries. Their flyers
and announcements reach a mailing list of between 8,000
to 12,000 people nationwide.
In 2001, without abandoning their online customers,
Poleo and Dillon expanded their audience by opening a
store in Boynton Beach. It didn’t take too long before the
Boynton Beach store proved too small. The company relocated to its current site one year ago. The added space
has afforded Poleo and Dillon the opportunity to offer
American history books that go beyond the borders of the
Sunshine State. Upon moving to Deerfield Beach, they
renamed their retail facility The Book Cellar. They distribute new books by Florida authors under the name Past
Perfect Florida History. Ultimately the partners will retain their warehouse location as a book distribution site
and relocate sales operations to Orlando where they will
expand The Book Cellar to include a café.
The willingness to start small and bend their company
in different directions just may be the key to their success.
The business now distributes history books for 15 authors
and the list of authors seeking distribution services is
growing. In addition, both Poleo and Dillon are hired to
edit history publications and consult as historical researchers. Their clients include law firms, construction
companies in search of land use information and genealogists. They have also created custom historical
tours for corporate groups.
“As long as it has to do with history, Barbara and I
enjoy it,” says Dillon. “Our passion for the past has
opened the door for our future in countless ways. We
are proof of what can be done with a history degree.”
You can visit Past Perfect Florida History online at
www.past-perfect-florida-history-books.com.
PHOTO BY JEFFREY THOLL
D R . H E L E N G I L M O R E ’ 66 , ’ 70
E
HELEN GILMORE LEARNING CENTER
It is almost impossible to count the number of
students Dr. Helen Gilmore has helped throughout
her career as a teacher and as founder and president of the Helen Gilmore Learning Center. With
no interest in retiring, that number keeps growing.
Born in Lake Worth, Fla., Gilmore draws inspiration
from the life of her great grandfather James Park Moore,
a teacher in Central Florida during the 1880s. She imagines that his experiences bringing education to this untouched rural area were both challenging and satisfying.
As a teacher in modern-day Palm Beach County, Gilmore
hardly considers herself the pioneer her great grandfather
was, but she is proud of her own accomplishments as an
educator in both the public and private sectors.
Married just out of high school, Gilmore did not enroll in college until after her children were born. Juggling motherhood and classes was not always easy.
Finally the years of studying late into the night were
behind her. Helen had earned a degree in elementary
education from FAU, and now it was time to teach.
With new sense of pride and a certain amount of trepidation, Gilmore took a deep breath and entered the
classroom, ready to do her best.
In what would become a 20-year tenure with the Palm
Beach County School District, Gilmore taught kindergarten through sixth grade. She returned to FAU, where
she earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She went on to obtain a doctorate in education
from Nova Southeastern University. During this time,
Gilmore became a program specialist and worked specifically with public school students who were designated as
gifted. She served as president of the Palm Beach County
Classroom Teachers’ Association and vice president of
the Florida Education Association, formerly the Florida
Teaching Profession - NEA.
A desire to strike out on her own as both an entrepreneur and a teacher fueled Gilmore in her decision to establish the Helen Gilmore Learning Center. “I wanted to
do what I truly loved doing and wanted to do it my way,”
says Gilmore. Providing a full array of educational services
including enrichment and remedial one-on-one tutoring
for children and adults, educational testing and consulting, the center has been in operation for 20 years.
“I employ a small team of certified teachers and together we teach our students how to develop lifelong learning skills,” says Gilmore. “When students come to us for
help with the SAT, GED and even professional licensing
exams, we show them how to study and set goals.”
Gilmore has been an adjunct faculty member at FAU and
is currently working in that capacity at Nova Southeastern. In her spare time Gilmore likes to fly and recently
served as co-president of her local chapter of the Florida
Aero Club. She has formed the Young Astronauts Club
for kids interested in space travel.
“I feel very fulfilled in my life. My business brings
me great joy each day,” says Gilmore “Teaching is
my purpose, I am rewarded by what I see in my students’ faces. In this business you must love kids and
must be able to impart knowledge in a fun and creative way.”
Florida Atlantic University 13
E
M A R K H I C K I N B OT H A M ’82
S AW C R O S S I N C.
· P R OV I D E N C E B I O F U E L S
After graduation Hickinbotham accepted a job in the
power generation division of the General Electric Company, first in the Schenectady, N.Y., office and later in
the Jacksonville, Fla., branch. In this position he was
responsible for overhauling steam and gas turbines.
After working for an additional year under a design
engineer, Hickinbotham passed the state of Florida
professional engineer (PE) licensing exam and found a
position with an industrial contractor.
In 1992 Hickinbotham founded Sawcross Inc., a specialty
company that designs and builds water plants, wastewater
plants, pump stations, industrial ventilation systems and
fuel delivery systems. As president, he has successfully
turned Sawcross into one of the leading industrial engineering and construction companies in the states of Florida
and Georgia — no easy feat in today’s hard-hit construction industry. The company has grown into a 50-employee operation with annual revenues of $12 million.
Three years ago, after being awarded a patent on a
grease-removal unit that he and another engineer co-developed, Hickinbotham launched a second company,
Providence Biofuels. This company, dedicated to protecting the environment through the responsible management of industrial grease, is unique because the
patented grease-removal unit is mobile. When the unit is
dispatched to a specific location where a grease trap or interceptor needs to be cleaned, it collects and separates fats,
oils and grease (FOG) from water within minutes. This
brown grease can later be converted and compressed to
create a natural gas called bio-gas. Originating from organic material, bio-gas is an inexpensive and renewable
fuel that can be used for heat. In its compressed state biogas can be used as vehicle fuel. Currently Hickinbotham
is in the process of signing a licensing agreement with a
company that will manufacture mobile units. The unit
will consist of a truck with three tanks mounted on the
chassis for removing and separating grease. Each will be
sold for $250,000.
“It’s a great feeling to know that with my FAU education I have made a difference in the world,” says Hickinbotham.
14 legacy fall 2009
PHOTO BY MARIO PERALTA
Grateful to the tough-yet-caring team of professors who helped shape him as an engineer, Mark Hickinbotham ’82 is the product of a solid FAU education. He recalls the
camaraderie that developed among the students within the unusually small department.
“I studied alongside some very sharp minds,” Hickinbotham says. “We were a close-knit
group of only nine graduating students — each of us eager to learn. FAU was an ideal
academic environment. The values I have today as a professional were formed during
my FAU years.”
E
A DA M S CENTER FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
College of Business
Imagine that you are an FAU student. Creative, independent and adventurous
by nature, you gravitate toward the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship (ACE) in
the College of Business. Here you can take individual courses or enroll in one of
several programs designed for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
ACE offers a bachelor’s degree program in small
business entrepreneurship and a master’s degree program in innovation entrepreneurship. Undergraduates
majoring in management may also take classes at ACE
to enrich their courses of study with the benefit of an
entrepreneurial focus. Not everyone at the Adams Center is a business major; committed to diversity, ACE’s
Innovation Entrepreneurship Certificate program is inclusive of a cross section of promising college graduates from varying disciplines.
An experiential, project-based approach is the hallmark of ACE. Case studies in class make theory come
alive and provide students with opportunities for strategizing and problem-solving. Working together in faculty-facilitated teams, students examine the marketplace
of today and learn how to turn an idea into a business,
non-profit organization or product.
ACE also offers real-world extracurricular programs
such as the FAU Business Plan Competition — a
hands-on training opportunity for students, faculty
members and those from the business community who
wish to learn how to seek venture creation funding. The
goal of this annual spring event is to seed FAU teams as
“best in show” new companies of south Florida.
The Executive Leadership Program, a cornerstone of
the center, matches students with mentors. These mentors, seasoned professionals from the business community, share their own personal stories of success and failure.
“Through the courses and programs offered at ACE,
students get the traction they need because we show
them what is really happening in the business world,”
says Kim Gramm, ACE’s executive director.
“Our students learn by example. Take Scott
Adams, ACE’s lead and named
donor. There is no better
The 2008 FAU Business Plan competition winners in the limited investment category, Student
Housing Off Campus (first place) and Bicycle Transit System (2nd place), celebrate their
win. For information about this year’s competition, visit www.fauadamscenter.org/bpc.
role model of ingenuity and the entrepreneurial spirit
than Scott.”
Adams ’87, a pioneer in the web-hosting industry and
key influence in establishing South Florida as an Internet
“hot spot,” is the force behind the center. He and his wife
Shelagh Adams ’88 generously gave an initial gift in 2000.
A subsequent matching gift from the state of Florida
helped create ACE. Initially conceived as a research center, ACE, although still a hub for scholarly activity, has
become best known for its exciting undergraduate, graduate and certificate courses, tracks and programs.
As ACE continues to assert its presence as a leading
scout for entrepreneurial talent, its programs grow. Internal partnerships between FAU’s colleges and ACE is
on the rise. This results in the creation of an even
greater number of cross-disciplinary courses of study.
Private-public collaborations strengthen and yield exciting opportunities and internships for FAU students
and faculty. Despite the economic downturn, ACE retains
its strong grip on success.
FAC E S O F FA U
Professor Neil Santaniello
A BREATH
OF FRESH AIR
When Neil Santaniello speaks about the environmental landscape of
South Florida — its inherent beauty and pressing challenges — there are
equal parts awe, anger and protectiveness resonating in his words. This
seasoned environmental journalist turned professor teaches in the School
of Communication and Multimedia Studies at FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt
College of Arts and Letters. He has helped pioneer an innovative multimedia practicum that gives journalism seniors the opportunity to produce
print, video and audio content for the Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers.
The multimedia practicum, a required, four-credit course was created
in 2007 by Santaniello and Mike
Canan, an editor with Scripps Treasure
Coast Newspapers. Alternating between the class room and newsroom,
students transition from inexperienced
writers to bylined reporters with portfolios of real-world experience. “We
created a team-teaching situation, with
an FAU instructor and Scripps editor
guiding student writing one-on-one
while tapping into a variety of guest
speakers from the newsroom,” says Santaniello.
Forty-one students have completed
the practicum since it began in January
2008. Students in last spring’s class saw
70 percent of their 56 assigned stories
16 legacy fall 2009
published in print or online, earning 40
bylined clips. Three of those received
front-page play.
Santaniello also works with professional journalists as director of the fouryear-old Scripps Howard Institute on the
Environment. Dr. Susan Reilly, director
of the School of Communication and
Multimedia Studies, brought this continuing education program to FAU
Jupiter by securing a $50,000-a-year fellowship grant from the Scripps Howard
Foundation. The weeklong institute, focused on environmental studies, has educated 87 print and electronic media
writers, editors and producers from
throughout the United States, Puerto
Rico and Canada. The jam-packed schedule includes lectures by environmental
experts and outdoor excursions to the
Everglades National Park, the Loxahatchee River and Lake Okeechobee.
“It’s rewarding to see journalists from the
interior U.S. watch their first endangered
sea turtle laying eggs on a moonlit Florida
beach,” Santaniello says.
Santaniello earned undergraduate degrees in English and philosophy from
Boston College and a master’s degree in
journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School in 1982. He was a
reporter at the Sun-Sentinel, where he
began his career covering police and government news. For 10 years he was the
paper’s bylined environmental reporter.
“Environmental journalists expose physical destruction, potentially damaging
policies and issues affecting public health,
FRONT PAGE
PHOTO BY JEFFREY THOLL
NEWS
A STUDENT ’S PERSPECTIVE
wildlife, food supplies and ecosystems.
They interview scientists and researchers,
activists, attorneys and environmental
regulators. It is fascinating and rewarding work,” Santaniello says.
While he sometimes misses the fastpaced newspaper business, he calls FAU
“a breath of fresh air.” His hybrid position allows Santaniello to straddle two
worlds. “I get to teach student reporters
and help with the continuing education
of practicing journalists.”
Santaniello is a resident of Delray
Beach, where he lives with his wife, Tari,
and children Zachary, 14, and Cassandra, 11. He is a member of the Society
of Environmental Journalists and recently
helped judge the environmental report-
ing category of the Scripps Howard Foundation’s National Journalism Awards.
He finds it highly rewarding to be able
to review some of the nation’s top environmental reporting while sorting
through contest entries. “It is a bit of
a downer reading one story after the
other warning about the latest ecological or human threat. Still I come away
quite impressed by the intelligence,
depth and energy of the reporting done
on this news beat.”
To learn more about the Scripps
Howard Institute on the Environment,
visit www.ces.fau.edu/scripps. For information about the Multimedia Practicum
for FAU students, contact Neil Santaniello at nsantane @ fau.edu.
For Lindsey De Joseph ’09, a graduate of the
School of Communication and Multimedia
Studies, the multimedia practicum offered an
“intense, no-holds-barred sense of the world
of journalism.” As part of the required course,
De Joseph wrote stories for Scripps Treasure
Coast Newspapers.
Her stories, with subjects ranging from bail
bondsmen to tree farmers, were published in The
Fort Pierce Tribune, Stuart News and tcpalm.com
with a story about Latin masses running as a
front-page centerpiece. De Joseph also shot web
videos and audio to accompany her stories.
“Students have completed every multimedia
journalism course prior to the practicum and are
expected to hit the ground running,” says De
Joseph, a full-time marketing professional for
the past 11 years. Other than a stint with her high
school newspaper, DeJoseph had never written
for the media and initially found the task daunting. “Mr. Santaniello was always available to
help me structure a story, develop its color and
tone and make it newsworthy,” she says.
Despite the challenge of juggling her work
schedule to accommodate the daytime practicum and writing assignments, De Joseph found
the experience invaluable.“The practicum takes
a lot of work, but at the end of the day you have
a portfolio of published pieces and you are
much better prepared to enter the workforce.
And hopefully, you get an A,” she says. For the
record, De Joseph did.
V I E W L I N D S E Y D E J O S E P H ’S
S T O R I E S O N L I N E AT
WWW.TCPALM . COM :
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/oct /27/
latin-mass-brings-an-element-of-mystery-for/
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jan/
03/200901022058-03ttrees/
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/oct /23/
economy-hits-bail-bondsmen-in-the-pocketbook/
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/dec/
22/refugee-raft-highlights-student-plannedexhibit /?feedback=1
Florida Atlantic University 17
how to weather the
economic
storm
A N D S T R E N G T H E N YO U R
FINANCIAL FUTURE IN THE PROCESS
L
et’s face it: times are tough. Indeed, even the experts agree that the next
few years will be especially challenging as investors try to balance shortand long-term investment decisions in the face of downturns on the global
financial and employment fronts. This was the consensus of the speakers at the first
annual Executive Roundtable hosted by FAU’s College of Business School of Finance,
Insurance and Economics earlier this year. The program, which addressed important
issues affecting the financial and economic vitality of business and individuals,
brought together some of the world’s most experienced economists and financial
services industry executives.
“Despite the gloomy forecast, the program was extremely successful and well received,” says Cecelia Kempler, who is director of
the School of Finance, Insurance & Economics and the roundtable
organizer. “Our speakers were among the most respected authorities on the international financial stage. Their respective views on
our economic future stimulated outstanding interaction with the
audience well beyond the planned conclusion of the session.”
The participants included Stuart Schweitzer, Managing Director
and Global Market Strategist for J.P. Morgan Private Bank and J.P.
Morgan Asset Management; John Lipsky, First Deputy Managing
Director of the International Monetary Fund — the highest level
U.S. IMF representative; Donald Shepard, Chairman of the Board
of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Francis Goodhue III, Senior Vice President-Investments, UBS Financial Services.
As a former practice leader in a global law firm representing leading insurance and reinsurance companies and investment banks,
Kempler offers students a practical understanding of how the global
insurance industry functions and its fundamental importance in
supporting global economic prosperity. She also has a few practical
suggestions to offer those struggling with money issues. At the top
of her list is the creation of a realistic budget that covers the entire
year. “By realistic, I mean evaluate your assets, budget and actual
spending, with the assumption that the economy is not going to
18 legacy fall 2009
turn around any time soon,” she explains. “This means to plan for
no salary increases, or even for the loss of your job. By budgeting to
spend less and to save more, you’ll be better prepared to get through
any unforeseen downturns.”
Hand-in-hand with over-spending and under-saving is what
Kempler calls America’s collective “instant gratification mentality.”
“This concept of having every worldly good on an instantaneous
basis has run its course, and the country is better off for it. Americans must permanently alter their thinking about how inappropriate it is to approach life with the view that ‘I deserve what I want
today.’ This sense of entitlement shows an inability to deal with adversity,” she warns.
For those caught in a temporary bind and in need of “relief”
money for unplanned expenses or just to pay bills, Kempler suggests turning to the possibility of utilizing their life insurance policies. “If you have life insurance that has cash value and you need
money, you can borrow against the cash value of the policy, while
still maintaining your insurance,” she explains. “Even more important is to remember that this is not the time to let your life insurance
lapse in order to save money by not paying premiums. Life insurance is an important source of protection for dependents, and its
value is exponentially greater during times of financial stress.”
On the bright side, Kempler sees the current financial crisis as a
“ It ’s very dif ficult to ask people
for money when they are so
uncertain about their own
futures. Ironically, it’s times
like these that non-profit
institutions need assistance
from donors more than ever.”
CECELIA KEMPLER
D I R E C TO R O F T H E S C H O O L O F
F I N A N C E , I N S U R A N C E & E CO N O M I C S
great opportunity for people to reassess their goals, prepare for a better
future and/or change priorities altogether. “Perhaps it’s a good time to
go back to school to update your skills, or to get an advanced degree,” she suggests. She is speaking from experience as she returned
to school at a non-traditional age to earn her law degree at New
York Law School, graduating cum laude. It’s a decision that
changed the course of her life and led to a rewarding career with
a prestigious New York law firm specializing in insurance industry matters.
Kempler retired to Florida four years ago and joined the
FAU faculty two years later. Her infectious enthusiasm for the
University and her new teaching career is contagious. Students
are particularly responsive to her positive attitude, high energy
and strength of character — the same qualities she says will
help anyone not only survive but succeed, even in a gloomy financial climate.
A big believer in giving back to the community, Kempler
volunteers her time and talents to numerous charitable and
professional causes. She particularly worries about the current economic crisis and its effects on philanthropy. “It’s
very difficult to ask people for money when they are so uncertain about their own futures,” she says. “Ironically, it’s
times like these that non-profit institutions need assistance from donors more than ever.” For those who are
thinking about cutting back on their donations, she
suggests they rethink the amount of their donation.
“Above all, please don’t feel embarrassed about giving less than before — every bit is appreciated. The
University is very grateful for anything you can do
to help us weather the economic storm.”
Florida Atlantic University 19
OWL NOTES
Kathy Molinet,
BHS ’95, MS ’04
OUTSTANDING OWL
O C C U PAT I O N
Advanced Registered Nurse
Practitioner-Family Nurse Practitioner
for private medical practice;
Adjunct faculty member at FAU’s
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
FA U D E G R E E
Bachelor of Health Services, 1995;
Master of Science in Nursing, 2004
BACKGROUND
Kathy Molinet’s career as a registered
nurse began on the medical/surgical floors
of Broward General Medical Center.
Leaving hospital nursing, Molinet worked
alongside her husband in his internal medicine practice for close to 30 years, until he retired. During this time
Molinet juggled a nursing career with her home life as the mother of
two and a rigorous course load at FAU. Although Molinet works aggressively to promote such issues as health care access, the quality of
health care delivery and patients’ rights, she is most proud of the caring approach she has embraced as a professional in the field of nursing. Currently a nurse practitioner in private practice, Molinet
diagnoses and treats patients, incorporating a holistic approach to
those in her care. She has been able to parlay her experience as a
nurse into her new career as an adjunct professor at FAU.
What do you remember most
about your experience at FAU?
My FAU undergraduate degree prepared me for a career as a hospital administrator, however, I changed my focus and began graduate school at FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. I feel
very fortunate that FAU was able to meet my academic needs with
two very different, yet excellent, degree programs in two separate
FAU colleges.
Who inspired you at FAU?
Dr. Anne Boykin, dean of and professor at the Christine E.
Lynn College of Nursing inspired and encouraged me to enter
the graduate program within the college of nursing. Anne’s commitment to the caring philosophy, now a signature of the college,
touched a cord and opened a new door for me.
How did FAU impact your career?
My degrees from FAU prepared me for the challenges I face
today in private practice. My professors and
advisors stand as my role models, particularly when I teach.
A F F I L I AT I O N S
Past president of the Florida
Medical Association Alliance
• Member and past president of
the Broward County Medical
Association Alliance
• Current president of the South Florida
Council of Advanced Practice Nurses
• Member of the American Academy
of Nurse Practitioners
• Member of the American Nurses
Association and Florida Nurses
Association
• Member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honors
Society of Nursing
• Member of the Florida Atlantic University
National Alumni Association Board
• Member of the executive board of the Broward Seaside
Shindig, formerly the Broward Alumni Roundtable
• Member of the advisory board of the American Lung
Association
• Board member of the Royal Dames of Cancer Research
• Sustainer in the Junior League of Fort Lauderdale
• Elder and trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of
Fort Lauderdale
• Member of the Ambassador’s Council of the Pantry
of Broward
•
AWA R D S
• 2008 FAU “Pearl of Broward Award”
• 2007 Florida Medical Association “Jill Edison
Legislative Award”
• 2005 Florida Medical Association Alliance
“Pride in Partnership Award”
• 2003 March of Dimes “Woman of Distinction Award”
• 2002 “Healthy Mothers /Healthy Babies Mother
of the Year Award”
• 1999 Caducean Society “Wilbur F. Helmus,
M.D. Medical Humanitarian of the Year Award”
• 1993 “American Cancer Society “Woman of the Year Award”
• 1992 Symphony of the Americas “Women of Style
and Substance Award”
OUTSTANDING OWLS ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE FAU NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO FAU AND THE COMMUNITY.
20 legacy fall 2009
OWL NOTES
CLASS NOTES
1960s
Eduardo Padron ’66 of Miami, FL, president of Miami Dade College, was recognized by the Holocaust Documentation
and Education Center with its annual Honoree Award.
Recently he was elected as chairman of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
’66
Armand Grossman ’67, ’70, ’77 of Boca
Raton, FL, was the recipient of the 2008
Alumni Talon Award. Presented annually
to a member of the FAU alumni body by the FAU National Alumni Association.
’67
1970s
H. Loy Anderson, Jr. ’70 of Riviera Beach,
FL, was named relationship manager at
Lydian Bank & Trust located in Palm
Beach. The bank provides wealth management services to its clients as well as wealth advisory, private
banking and fiduciary services. Mason Jackson ’70,
’71 of Pompano Beach, FL, was named Executive Di-
’70
John F. White ’74 of Miramar, FL, has
served as pastor to the Mount Hermon
AME Church in Fort Lauderdale since
October 2001. Rev. White was recently ordained as the
church’s 130th bishop and heads the Office of Ecumenical and Urban Affairs.
rector of the Year by the National Workforce Association. Dale Miller ’70 of Davie, FL, was appointed to the
senior executive team as senior vice president of Vadium Technology, Inc. Vadium Technology, Inc. is the
leading provider of easy-to-use, unbreakable date encryption solutions. Richard Schmidt ’70 of Boca Raton,
FL, received the 2008 “Tiffany Biggest Heart Award”
from the Florence Fuller Child Development Centers.
He is currently chairman of the board of trustees of
Boca Raton Community Hospital.
’74
Wilson Bradshaw ’71, ’73 of Fort Myers,
FL, is president of Florida Gulf Coast University. Previously he was president of
Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, MN. Kenneth
Hammons ’71 of Panama City, FL, is the new city manager of Panama City. Eric Williams ’71 of Henderson,
NC, is the new town manager of Smithfield.
Randall J. Konigsburg ’76 of Hollywood,
FL, was selected as the new rabbi for
Temple Emeth in Delray Beach. Luis Alberto Moreno ’76 of Washington, DC, is the president of
the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The IDB
is a source of multilateral financing for economic, social
and institutional development in Latin America and the
Caribbean. He previously served for seven years as Colombian ambassador to Washington.
’71
Carol Hunstein ’72 of Decatur, GA, is
Georgia’s new Supreme Court chief justice. Frank Andrews ’72 of Key Biscayne,
FL, is the area sales manager for the Central and South
American headquarters of Sundyne Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of engineered pumps and compressors serving process industries worldwide.
’72
Alberto Dosal ’73 of Coral Gables, FL,
was named chairman of the Greater
Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Committee.
’73
’75
’76
Scott Hackmyer ’75 of Ocala, FL, retired
from Fessenden Elementary School in
Ocala after a 33-year career in education.
John Lagana ’77 of New Rochelle, NY,
was named publisher and CEO of Pai sano Publications, LLC. He has over 20
years experience in senior management positions at
well-known magazines including Forbes, Rolling Stone,
and Maxim. Steven May ’77 of Delray Beach, FL, was
named vice president of Fleet Operations at Southeast
Toyota Distributors, a subsidiary of diversified automotive company of JM Family Enterprises, Inc. Judith OrtizCofer ’77 of Louisville, GA, is the Regents’ and Franklin
’77
TRUE BLUE Horizon Members
THANK YOU
to all of our TRUE
BLUE Horizon Members
Harriet C. Boettcher ‡ Nancy Botero ‡ Dr. Frank Brand ‡ Phil Brodt ‡ Marjorie C. Buglione ‡ Iain and Jane B. Calder ‡Nicholas A. Cassas ‡ Charlotte Chickering ‡ Bernard and
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Scott Ellington ‡ Doris D. Emmett ‡ William Fabricant ‡ Grace Wald Fait ‡ Robert M. & Nadine A. Fitzgerald ‡ Marshall E. and Lynn Fleury ‡ Lawrence P. Fraiberg ‡ Henry
‡ Jack & Margaret Guistwhite ‡ Robert N. and Norma W. Heit ‡ Herb Group ‡ Donald E. and
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‡ Bjorn N. Lamborn ‡ Angelos C. Langadas
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Irving and Rosalind Nyman ‡ Helen M. O’Leary ‡ Gustavus L. and Sharon A. Pearthree ‡ Rudy Reis ‡ Hugh Ripley ‡ Leonard L.
and Betty Ann Rivkin ‡ Kathleen P. Ryan ‡Charlotte L. Schaub ‡ Eric H. Shaw ‡ James P. Slowiak ‡ Virginia Smith ‡ Eugene Snyder
Theodor Sokolowski ‡ Peter B. and Susan A. Stein ‡ Robert J. Steinberg ‡ Elaine S. Sturla ‡Roxanna Jonsson and William C.
Trinka ‡Richard Charles Valentino ‡ Winifred S. Wambach ‡Evelyn Weinberger ‡ Louis and Alice Winokur ‡ Barbara B. Wymer
Florida Atlantic University 21
OWL NOTES
Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Georgia in Athens. Marsha Levy ’77, ’83 of
Fort Lauderdale, FL, was named to the Broward Community College Foundation board of directors.
Lou Larkin ’78, ’85 of West Palm
Beach, FL, is chief technologist at Lockheed Martin’s Riviera Beach facility. He
was named Lockheed Martin Fellow, a rare distinction
that recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to sustaining Lockheed Martin’s leadership
in advanced technologies.
’78
Christine Crandell ’79, ’82 of Miami,
FL, was named executive vice president and chief marketing officer for
Egenera, a virtualization technology company serving
350 customers worldwide. John Valentino ’79 of West
Palm Beach, FL, was hired by AEG, one of the country’s largest music promoters, to head its Florida operations.
’79
1980s
Kevin McAllister ’80 of Spotsylvania,
VA, earned a second master of science
degree from the Industrial College of
the Armed Forces in Washington, DC. He was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate, an honor given
only to the top 10 percent of the graduating class.
’80
Vickie Allender ’81 of Bokeelia, FL,
health and physical education teacher at
Trafalgar Middle School, retired after 30
years of service in the Lee County School District.
Clarence Anthony ’81, ’82 of West Palm Beach, FL,
is chief marketing officer and presiding director of
the board of directors for global consulting firm,
PBS&J, and former Mayor of South Bay, was recognized by the Orange Bowl Committee for his contributions to the South Florida community. Oscar
Fumagali ’81 of Boca Raton, FL, is the chief financial officer for Brightstar Corporation. He won the
CFO of the Year Award from the South Florida Business Journal. Antonios Loudaros ’81 of Jupiter, FL, is
a teacher at Elbridge Gale Elementary School.
Loudaros has carried the torch for the 1996, 2000,
2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
’81
Susan Ruby ’82 of Delray Beach, FL,
will be retiring as Delray Beach city
attorney. She was the city’s first female
and longest-serving attorney.
’82
’83
Barbara “Kim” Beaumont ’83 of Ocean
Ridge, FL, was appointed to the board
of the Old School Square Cultural Arts
Center. Donald Dufresne ’83 of Wellington, FL, is an
attorney with the law firm Greenspoon Marder, P.A.
Kevin Ann Huckshorn ’83 of Alexandria, VA, is the
director of the National Association of State Mental
Health Program Directors. She was named 2008
Psychiatric Nurse of the Year by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Sharon Swendner ’83 of
Orlando, FL, president of marketing for Orlandobased about. com, was recently elected to the board
of directors for doterati, the first professional organization in Flori da focused on interactive marketing, media and technology.
Emile Decuba ’84 of Fort Peirce, FL, a
professional tennis player was honored
as the United States Tennis Professionals Association Pro of the Year.
’84
22 legacy fall 2009
Anthony Hughes ’96
Sixteen years ago Anthony Hughes ’96 was at
a crossroads in his life and never imagined the
adventure that awaited him. The Pennsylvania native, then in his 30s and newly recovered from a
debilitating eye disease that sidelined him for
years, was watching his father battle brain cancer.
“Despite the illness, my parents enjoyed every
day,” says Hughes who, at his dad’s urging, returned to college. “I enrolled at FAU as a mathematics major and was struck by the personalities Anthony Hughes accepts the Aegis Balistic Missile
Defense (BMD) Excellence Award from Navy Rear
of my talented professors. Dr. Lee Klingler and Adm. and Aegis BMD Program Director Alan B. Hicks.
Dr. Stephen Locke offered life-changing advice
about career possibilities. They encouraged me at a time when I really needed it.”
After graduating from FAU in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Hughes
taught algebra at Palm Beach Community College before relocating to Bedford, MA.
He was hired as a software engineer for Raytheon’s Electronic Systems division where
he found himself applying familiar math concepts to an unfamiliar topic — radar technology. Hughes grasped the subject quickly. “Math teaches you to think logically,” he
says. When Raytheon relocated its Missile Systems division to Arizona in 1999, Hughes
welcomed the challenge, accepting a systems engineer position for the Exoatmospheric
Kill Vehicle, a land-based ballistic missile interceptor. He was later promoted as a lead
senior systems engineer for the sea-based Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Six-Degrees-OfFreedom simulation, responsible for software development and analysis.
In January 2008, Hughes received a “drop everything” order when the U.S. Navy
and Department of Defense approached Raytheon with a highly classified mission
request. Hughes and a small band of engineers were asked to reconfigure the SM-3 to
intercept a potentially dangerous, non-functioning spy satellite that had lost communication with ground control after its 2006 launch. The timeline was tight and the
challenge daunting. The satellite was predicted to reenter the earth’s atmosphere in
less than 30 days and the SM-3 was designed to hit ballistic missiles — not satellites.
Sequestered in a lab round-the-clock, Hughes spent countless hours crunching numbers and running simulated flight tests to hit the target — the spacecraft’s 1,000-lb tank
filled with hydrazine fuel. Traveling 17,000 mph, the satellite was the size of a school
bus; the tank the size of a bus seat. When at last the SM-3 was launched from a Navy
cruiser, the USS Lake Erie, it obliterated the spacecraft 153 miles over the Pacific
Ocean into small debris that burned safely in the atmosphere.
With his first top-secret assignment behind him, Hughes continues his own personal mission. “I tutor kids in math and science to pass on what my parents, my faith,
teachers and FAU professors passed on to me,” he says. Hughes is a Raytheon representative in Math Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA), a mentoring program for middle and high school students. He judges MESA’s science competitions
and is thrilled that many of his former students are now engineers. “I always thought
I’d be a teacher and then life brought me down a different path. Now I have the best
of both worlds,” he says. Hughes was awarded the University of Arizona’s Dr. Alfonso
Ortega Engineer of the Year Award for his work with MESA and was named Senior
Engineer with Honors by Raytheon last year.
To see a video clip of the SM-3 mission,visit:www.raytheon.com/newsroom/technology/
rtn08_intercept/.
OWL NOTES
Charlene Bender ’85 of Fort Lauderdale,
FL, is the vice president of private
wealth with SunTrust Bank and serves
on the board of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber
of Commerce. Irwin F. Edenzon ’85 of Mobile, AL, is
the sector vice president and general manager of
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding – Gulf Coast. Mary
Locke ’85, ’92, ’02, ’05 of Fort Peirce, FL, vice president/provost of instructional services at Indian River
State College, was recently recognized with the national 2009 Administrator Award of Distinction from
the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society.
’85
Tom Devito ’86 of Yardley, PA, is currently the vice president and general
manager of AT&T wireless division in
New York and New Jersey. Kenneth Elder ’86 of Boca
Raton, FL, was corporate marketing director of the
2009 Super Bowl and will serve as the vice president
of the 2010 South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. Annette Orangio ’86, ’04 of Pensacola, FL, has
been named the new simulation specialist of the Mary
Ekdahl Smart Center for Patient Simulation Training &
Research. Paul Pagnato ’86 of Vienna, VA, is a specially trained and accredited advisor in the Private
Banking and Investment Group at Merrill Lynch. He
was recently recognized as one of the top advisors in
D.C. by Barron’s Winner’s Circle.
’86
David Langley ’87 of Greenacres, FL, a
sculptor, is currently working on a project for the Art in Public Places program
in St. Lucie County.
’87
’88
Kathy Aguirre ’88 of Boca Raton, FL, is
the director of economic development
and government affairs for the Greater
Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. David Brennen
’88 of Lexington, KY, was named dean of the University of Kentucky College of Law. Along with more than
15 years of experience in the classroom, he is regarded
as an innovator in the field of nonprofit law. Scott
Davidson ’88 of Newport Coast, CA, was named chief
financial officer at Quest Software, Inc. Olga Hernandez-Longan ’88 of Phoenix, AZ, is chief financial officer at Nutrastar, Inc. Previously she served as vice
president and controller of Wal-Mart International from
2004 until 2006. Mark Kudisch ’88 of New York, NY,
can be seen in his new leading roll in “9 to 5” now playing on Broadway. Michael Tillett ’88 of West Palm Beach,
FL, is a certified public accountant and professor at
Palm Beach Atlantic University. Tillett is the recipient
of the university’s 2008 Outstanding Teacher Award.
Marlene Figueroa Ross ’89, ’94 of Boynton Beach, FL, director of community
affairs for WXEL TV/FM, was selected as
the 2008 Hispanic Woman of Distinction by Latina
Style magazine. Michelle Lemnah-Fowler ’89 of West
Palm Beach, FL, joined Planned Parenthood as the
new vice president of human resources.
’89
1990s
Cynthia Harris ’90 of Powhatan, VA,
was name Powhatan County School Division Teacher of the Year for 2008-09.
The eleventh grade English teacher is also the junior
varsity basketball coach. John L. Heller ’90, ’91 of Fort
Lauderdale, FL, is a principal accountant in the advisory services division of Rachlin LLP, in Fort Lauderdale. Christopher Palumbo ’90 of Fairfield, CT, is the
co-owner of the new business, Fairfield Cheese Company. Haroon Sulaiman ’90 of Lake Worth, FL, is president of the Muslim Community of Palm Beach County.
’90
Jackie Fulford ’91 of Tallahassee, FL, was
appointed to the Second Judicial Circuit
Court of Tallahassee by Gov. Charlie Crist.
’91
’92
William Bingham ’92 of Boynton Beach,
FL, is the fire rescue chief at the City
of Boynton Beach Fire Department.
He is also president of the Palm Beach County Fire
Chiefs’ Association.
Fritz LaPorte ’93 of Boca Raton, FL, is
the senior vice president of finance and
administration and chief financial officer and treasurer of MAKO Surgical Corp in Fort Lauderdale. MAKO is an innovative orthopedic medical
’93
CONTINUED ON PAGE 25
Dr. Gay Voss ’72, ’77
After 51 years, first as a teacher and
then as a principal in the public schools of
Florida, Dr. Gay Voss ’72, ’77 officially
retired last year. Today the former principal of Rolling Green Elementary School
in Boynton Beach remains passionate and
deeply committed to her profession. To
mark her retirement in a special way, Voss
created the Rolling Green Elementary
School Scholarship Fund at Florida Atlantic University for deserving staff and faculty members of Rolling Green who wish
to enroll in FAU’s College of Education.
The impact of such a gift is immeasurable,
particularly during a time when highly
skilled teachers are so desperately needed.
“Everything starts with a dream,” says
Voss. “My dream was to help my peers in
the teaching profession. By turning my
work benefits into a scholarship fund, I
was able to ensure that deserving members of the Rolling Green faculty and
staff would be able to further their edu-
cation at the College of Education. The
many accumulated hours of my unused sick and vacation time were converted into dollars, and those dollars
allowed me to establish the scholarship.”
Working tirelessly as Rolling Green’s
principal for more than 24 years,Voss cham pioned the underserved student. Many of
her students came from homes where parents work two or three jobs at a time just
to make ends meet. Although the school
was ranked poorly at the beginning of
Voss’s tenure, Voss and her staff transformed Rolling Green into one of Palm
Beach County’s “A” rated school in 2006.
Married to the Dr. Stephen Voss, an
FAU founding faculty member and former
university marshall, Gay is part of a dynamic team approach to giving. Stephen
established the Elementary Education
Scholarship Fund in the College of Education. This gift was created with money
withdrawn regularly from Stephen’s pay-
checks over a period of 40 years.
“If you believe in kids, surround them
with books and teach them well, they will
do well,” Voss says. “My husband Stephen
and I are not wealthy. We are just ordinary people trying to do our best. When
you do what is right, things have a way
of working out.”
Florida Atlantic University 23
OWL NOTES
owls
in print
Edwina Raffa ’68 of Fort Myers Beach, FL, is the co-author of
Kidnapped in Key West (Pineapple Press, Inc. 2008). Co-written with Annelle Rigsby, this novel is for children ages 9-12.
Set in 1912, Kidnapped in Key West tells the story of 12-yearold Eddie Malone, the son of one of Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea
Railroad workers. When his father is accused of stealing money
from Flagler, Eddie goes on a courageous quest to prove his father’s innocence. This book has been endorsed by the Florida
Reading Association and the Flagler Museum. The writing pair
also collaborated on another work of historical fiction, Escape to
the Everglades (Pineapple Press, Inc., 2006).
Gerard Webster ’71 of Jacksonville, FL, is the author of In-Sight
(Outskirts Press, 2008), a Christian novel in which family values triumph over impossible odds. Webster is a former Peace
Corps volunteer, soldier, businessman and addictions counselor.
Dr. Mary Custureri ’69, ’72, ’85, ’89 of Port Orange, FL, is the
author of several teaching and learning strategy books including the latest one, geared toward college and high school students, titled Help Yourself Learn in Ten Easy Steps (Highpoint
Publishing, Inc., 2008). She has also written the Happy Anderson series of children’s books. This series helps students
gain confidence in the classroom by learning to read
independently. The most recent title in the series is
Happy Anderson and Dimmy Dolphin (Highpoint Publishing, Inc. 2008). Custureri is a lecturer at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach.
Former journalist and present-day mystery writer Deborah Sharp
Deborah Sharp ’78
’78 is a Fort Lauderdale native whose family has lived in South
Florida for generations. Sharp graduated from FAU’s Charles E.
Schmidt College of Science with a degree in psychology. After
earning a master’s degree in psychology from the University of
Georgia, Sharp transitioned into the field
of journalism. Her reporting career began
at the News-Press in Fort Myers where
she covered every subject from manatees
to crop freezes. It was at the News-Press
where she met her future husband, television reporter Kerry Sanders. A move to
Tampa, in 1986, landed Sharp a features
writer position with Gannett News Service. She continued writing for the GanDeborah Sharp ’78, shown here
nett-owned USA TODAY after a move back
with former FAU President Frank
home
to Fort Lauderdale in 1991. At age
T. Brogan, was inducted into
the FAU National Alumni Associ- 50, Sharp left journalism and began a caation Hall of Fame in 2008.
reer as a mystery writer.
“I wanted to create a world where I could punish the bad and
reward the good … I chose to write light, funny mysteries, which
basically means very little blood and nobody gets autopsied,” said
Sharp. Her “Mace Bauer Mysteries” are traditional-style mysteries set in Florida.
24 legacy fall 2009
Elizabeth Karram Mitchell ’80 of Boca Raton, FL, is
the author of Journey for the Heart (Doghouse Digital Media, Inc., 2009). This inspirational book tells
the true story of Mitchell and her family’s experiences in grappling with their son’s congenital heart
disease. It has been written to offer hope to others
who must face their own struggles and challenges.
Jennifer Ford Berry ’98 of Attica, NY, is the author of
Organize Now!:A Week by Week Guide to Simplify
Your Space and Your Life (F&W Media, Incorporated,
2008). This spiral-bound “how to” book provides
readers with a step-by-step approach to the art of organizing. Berry is a consultant, speaker and professional organizer. She is founder and owner of a
company called Organize This! Her company provides
its clients with organizing services.
Are you an “Owl In Print” …
or do you know of an
FAU graduate who is?
Please send a message to legacy @ fau.edu or
legacy, FAU Office of Alumni Relations,
777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431.
OWL NOTES
device company that develops advanced solutions for
keyhole orthopedic surgery.
Lauren Hahn ’94 of Boca Raton, FL,
joined Planned Parenthood as chief financial officer. Kenneth Kanter ’94 of
Hobe Sound, FL, received the Technician of the Year
Award from his company, American Leak Detection.
Eric Klein ’94 of Marina Del Rey, CA, is a former actor
and model. Klein, who was a contestant on the television show “Oprah’s Big Give,” is the founder of CanDo, a nonprofit organization that enables people who
make charitable donations to actually see how their
money is being spent. Linda Socolow ’94 of Boca
Raton, FL, is an attorney at Shutts & Bowen, LLP in
Fort Lauderdale. Socolow is also a member of the Land
Use Practice Group.
Dennis
Shannon ’76
’94
Jennifer Benson ’95 of Lunenburg, MA,
was elected to represent the Massachusetts 37th Middlesex District. Marcus
Bodet ’95 of Miramar, FL, an attorney, has joined
Abadin Cook as it newest partner. Bodet’s practice is
primarily focused on negotiating and drafting a wide
range of information technology agreements. Elizabeth
Ferrer ’95 of Jacksonville, FL, is Florida state president of Bank of America. Donald Kiselewski ’95 of
Palm Beach Gardens, FL, was named a member of the
President’s Circle by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. He is Florida Power & Light’s area manager for
northern and western Palm Beach County. Tammy Knight
’95 of Dania Beach, FL, an attorney who practices in
the areas of corporate, securities and franchise law,
was named partner for Holland & Knight, LLC. Johnny
McDaniel ’95, ’05 of Cleveland, TN, is the director of
schools for Bradley County. Venetia Tiberi ’95 of Fort
Lauderdale, FL, was appointed director of mall marketing at the Town Center at Boca Raton. Gregg Weiss
’95 of Plantation, FL, is the founder of meetup.com
an online networking group for individuals who want to
assist various charities.
’95
Diane Arrieta ’96 of Tequesta, FL, is an
artist whose work has been displayed at
the Boca Raton Art Museum and the
Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale. Jeffrey Fessler ’96 of
West Palm Beach, FL, a teacher at U. B. Kinsey Elementary School, was a 2008 Dwyer Award winner. The
award honors outstanding educators from public and
private schools in Palm Beach County. Cheryl Grumbach ’96 of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, is a registered
nurse. She was appointed nurse practitioner for Stuart
Cardiology Group. Dr. Jayendra Ramesan ’96 of Phila -
’96
We want to
hear from you!
Visit www.fautrueblue.com
and tell us your True Blue story
or go to www.faualumni.org
and submit your owl notes.
A 30-year veteran of CBS News,
Dennis Shannon ’76 has covered it
all. He worked on the CBS Evening
News as a technical director. His time
on the Evening News spanned a 15year period that saw both Walter
Cronkite and Dan Rather as news
anchors. He worked weekends for
CBS Sports covering NFL and NBA games. As a cameraman, Shannon has traveled
the world shooting disasters and triumphs. He has covered every president beginning
with Richard Nixon and has been at every national political convention since 1988. He
can proudly give a first hand account of 15 hurricanes that he covered for the news,
including Andrew (his first) and Katrina (his last). In Lima, Peru, Shannon was an eyewitness to a commando raid that rescued 75 hostages. Shannon, who lives in Falls
Church, VA, currently works for CBS Newspath, an affiliate news component, as a
field cameraman and satellite truck operator. He attributes FAU, in particular Dr.
Voncille Smith, for “jumpstarting” his career in news. He still feels that the greatest
job ever is as his son’s Little League coach, his daughters’ soccer team fan and being
best friend to his wife, Sarah.
delphia, PA, was appointed head of analytics at Dexterity KPO Services, a knowledge process outsourcing
services firm. Amy Simko ’96 of West Palm Beach, FL,
an advanced registered nurse practitioner, has accepted a position at the David Lawrence Center in the
newly expanded Children’s Outpatient Services Center.
Zachary Bery ’97 of Palm Beach Gardens,
FL, is the director of operations at American Commerical Realty. Alice Everett
’97 of Miami, FL, a certified public accountant was
named director of Internal Compliance at Imperial Finance and Trading, LLC in Boca Raton. Cheryl Meeks
Garnett ’97 of Lake Wales, FL, was named enrollment
services and outreach coordinator of Polk Community
College. Darcy Gordon ’97 of Lake Worth, FL, is the
owner of Gateway Stables in Lake Worth. Nicole Greggs
’97 of Coral Springs, FL, is a teacher at Plantation Park
Elementary School. She was named the 2008 Broward
County Arts Teacher of the Year. Nicole Hessen ’97 of
Lake Worth, FL, is an attorney with Rosenthal, Levy &
Simon, P.A., in West Palm Beach. Jackie Lambert ’97
of West Palm Beach, FL, is the program coordinator for
Club Managers Association of America Therapeutic
Recreation Complex in Lake Worth, a recreation facility for people with disabilities. Erica Pacey ’97 of
Miami, FL, is co-owner of Nugaard Designs in Miami,
a company that designs and sells jewelry. Phillip “Flip”
Schultz ’97 of Los Angeles, CA, is a successful comedian. He has performed as part of more than five improv troupes, including the Hollywood Improv and has
appeared on television’s “Last Comic Standing” and
“Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
’97
Kirk Brown ’98 of Opa Locka, FL, was
awarded the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. James D. Green ’98 of Louisville, CO, is
the art director and co-owner of Darkstar Industries, a
company that develops video games. Jeremy Murphy
’98 of New York City, NY, is vice president of com munications at CBS. He is also the editor-in-chief
of watch! magazine, a publication he helped launch.
Stacey Quinones ’98 of Boca Raton, FL, was named
principal for Binks Forest Elementary School in
Well ington.
’98
Christopher Kariher ’99 of Gulf Breeze,
FL, is an architect at SMB Architecture,
a full-service design firm specializing in
high-quality facilities and land planning. Sonal Murthy
’99 of Assonet, MA, is a pharmacist at Pharmahealth
Pharmacies, with locations in Dartmouth and New Bedford. Coleen Scott ’99 of Hollywood, FL, is a registered
nurse at Memorial Regional Hospital.
’99
2000s
Stephen Anand ’00 of West Palm Beach,
FL, is a teacher at the Alexander W.
Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Jeffrey Backman ’00 of Pembroke Pines, FL, was promoted to partner in the Fort Lauderdale international law office of
Adorno & Yoss. Matthew Badiali ’00 of Fernandina
Beach, FL, is the editor of the S&A Resource Report,
a monthly investment advisory that focuses on natural
’00
CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
Florida Atlantic University 25
OWL NOTES
PHOTO COURTESY OF NASA
Astronaut Steve Swanson
in the Quest Airlock of the
International Space Station.
Steve Swanson ’86
NASA astronaut and mission specialist Steven Swanson ’86 was a member of
the space shuttle Discovery’s STS-119
mission team. The crew of seven blasted
off from the Kennedy Space Center on
March 11, 2009, on a 14-day mission to
the International Space Station. Swanson brought an FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science flag
aboard the shuttle. The crew was responsible for delivering and installing
the space station’s final set of solar
26 legacy fall 2009
arrays, part of a solar panel system that
will bring electricity to the station’s team
of six. Swanson, while walking in space,
helped mount a truss to the right side of
the station. He joined NASA in 1987 as
a systems engineer in the Aircraft Operations Division of the Johnson Space
Cen ter. In June 2007 Swanson made
his first journey to space aboard the
Space Shuttle Atlantis. On that mission
he logged 336 hours in space, including
almost 14 spacewalk hours. He is the
recip ient of the NASA Exceptional
Achievement Medal, the Johnson Space
Center Certificate of Accommodation
and the Flight Simulation Engineering
Award. He received a bachelor’s of science degree in engineering physics from
the University of Colorado, a master of
applied science in computer systems from
FAU and earned a doctorate in computer science from Texas A&M University. He was named the Fall 2007
FAUNAA Hall of Fame recipient.
OWL NOTES
resource investments. Bettee Collister ’00 of Loxahatchee, FL, is an adjunct professor at Palm Beach
Community College, teaching in the paralegal program.
She is on the board of directors of Take Stock in Children, Inc. and a founding member of Women in Philanthropy of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Marisa
DeMato ’00 of Boca Raton, FL, was a contestant in
season six of Donald Trump’s TV show The Apprentice.
She is currently an associate in the firm of Coughlin
Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP. Nikki Dixon ’00,
’03 of Boca Raton, FL, is a marketing consultant and
public relations professional. In 2008 Dixon was
featured in Ocala Magazine as one of Ocala’s 40 Under
Forty, the magazine’s annual hot list of young professionals. She was also named one of the United Way’s
Men and Women of Marion County of 2008. Justin
Flippen ’00 of Wilton Manors, FL, was named president of Broward’s Dolphin Democrats, the state’s
largest gay and lesbian democratic club. Consuelo
Robinson ’00 of Boynton Beach, FL, is the founder of
math1on1.com, an online math tutoring company for
children. Alica Rucekova ’00 of Englewood, NJ, is a
physician with Guthrie Health. She is a member of the
American College of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine. Julie Scuderi ’00 of Boca Raton, FL, is a
math teacher at Morikami Park Elementary in Delray
Beach.
Lisa Barrera ’01 of Miramar, FL, and her
husband Michael are owners of Florida’s
only Extreme Pizza, a franchise based in
San Francisco. Leticia Forster ’01 of Lynchburg, VA, is
the human resources analyst for Central Virginia Community College. Sandra Fleming ’01 of West Palm
Beach, FL, is president of Florida Wilmington Trust
FSB. Dennis McCarthy ’01 of Deerfield Beach, FL, is
the new assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida. Ramon
Sotolongo-Veras ’01 of Aurora, IL, is a certified physician assistant employed in the otolaryngology-head and
neck surgery department at Dreyer Medical Clinic in
Aurora. Willie Frank Washington Jr. ’01 of Coral
Springs, FL, is the assistant minister at Golden Heights
Church of Christ in Lauderdale Lakes. He is a former
police officer and public school teacher.
’01
Antoinette ‘Toni’ Backhus ’02 of Lake
Worth, FL, was named an associate at
Holland & Knight law firm in West Palm
Beach. Tamara Matejka ’02 of Asheville, NC, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, has joined Asheville
Anesthesia Associates and will provide services at Haywood Regional Medical Center. Dana Silbersweig ’02 of
Boynton Beach, FL, is a teacher at Christa McAuliffe
Middle School in Boynton Beach.
’02
in June. Charmain Johnson ’05 of West Palm Beach,
FL, is the writer, producer and director of Lovers and
Friends, a popular lesbian web series. Elissa Rudolph
’05 of Delray Beach, FL, has been elected as chairman of American Mensa, Ltd. He is a delegate to the
International Board of Directors and sits on the Executive Committee for Mensa International. Steven
Scott ’05 of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, and his wife
welcomed into the world their first child in 2008, Jeffrey Christopher. Scott, a professional golfer who
has played against Tiger Woods, is a PGA of America
assistant professional at Hidden Creek Golf Club in
Egg Harbor Township.
Roy Leavitt ’06 of Boca Raton, FL, runs
an operates Evolux Transportation, an
online private aircraft charter marketplace. Amy Madill ’06 of Ocoee, FL, a Miami Dolphins
cheerleader, was selected to be part of the Armed
Forces Entertainment Tour. The cheerleaders entertained troops in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Djibouti. David Vazquez ’06 of Hollywood, FL, was
promoted to assistant parks and athletics manager for
the City of Hollywood.
’06
Pamela Brown ’07 of Annapolis, MD,
was appointed executive director of the
Partnership for Children, Youth and Families. Elizabeth Cifelli ’07 of Palm Beach Gardens, FL,
is a teacher at Seminole Trails Elementary School in
West Palm Beach. She is the recipient of one of Palm
Beach County’s Beginning Teacher of the Year awards.
Joshua Hurley ’07 of Cooper City, FL, who drives the
No. 171 APR Motorsport APR/BBS Volkswagen GTI
with Ian Baas, recently won the Legacy Credit Union
200 in Round 8 of the 2009 Grand-Am KONI Sports
Car Challenge. He was the 2008 SCCA Jetta TDI Cup
champion. Bob Javid ’07 of Plantation, FL, was named
staff accountant for Jewett, Schwartz, Wolfe & Associates, a full-service accounting and tax advisory firm,
based in Hollywood. Sara Kroeger ’07 of Plantation,
FL, is a Radio City Rockette. Latoya Richardson ’07 of
Fort Lauderdale, FL, is a caseworker at ChildNet, a private company that manages foster care children on a
state contract.
’07
Brandon Kloess ’08 of Boca Raton, FL,
was signed by the Chicago White Sox.
Jessica Manna ’08 of Lauderdale Lakes,
FL, is the vice president and chief marketing officer of
Residential Finance Corporation. Alan M. Pena ’08 of
Tampa, FL, graduated from Officer Candidate School at
Fort Benning in Columbus, GA, and was commissioned
as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
’08
IN MEMORIAM
Amy Dean ’03 of North Palm Beach, FL,
was promoted to vice president of Palm
Healthcare Foundation, a leading healthcare foundation in Palm Beach. Theresa Frankel ’03
of Boca Raton, FL, is an assistant director who has
worked on countless music videos and films, as well
as the television series Miami Ink.
’03
Ioannis “John” Angelopoulos ’04 of
Palm Beach, FL, along with his father,
is the owner of Gyro Plus a new Greek
restaurant in Sebring. Phillip Primato ’04 of Raleigh,
NC, is sales and marketing manager at General Sports
Venue, LLC.
’04
’05
Jessica Carafiello ’05 of Coral Springs,
FL, competed in her first U.S. Women’s
Open after qualifying for her first major
Alumni
Robert “Sandy” Bowser ’65,
February 27, 2008, Puyallup, WA
John M. “Jack” Benton ’66, March 1, 2009, Athens, GA
Vera Doris Herbert-Reid ’66, ’68,
June 12, 2009, Hendersonville, NC
Ruth Corneil McInvale ’66, ’66,
November 3, 2008, Southport, FL
John Lee Rautio ’66, ’67,
October 10, 2008, Boynton Beach, FL
Samuel Weatherford ’66, ’67,
April 17, 2009, Vero Beach, FL
Leonore “Lee” Arbib ’67, June 2, 2008, Jacksonville, FL
Patricia C. Ford ’67,
September 26, 2008, Los Angeles, CA
Edith Bing Oden ’67, November 19, 2008, Miami, FL
Sandra Cain Helseth ’68,
November 19, 2008, Vero Beach, FL
Charles “Jack” Putnam ’68,
April 13, 2009, Port St. Lucie, FL
Robert “Bob” Turk ’68, ’81, ’91,
May 30, 2008, Hollywood, FL
Leo S. Fox ’69, October 28, 2008, Palm Coast, FL
Joan Merle Rabin-Levy ’69, ’74,
January 30, 2009, Pompano Beach, FL
Paulette “Polly” Wright ’69,
January 10, 2009, West Palm Beach, FL
Edward Joseph Kotchi ’70,
November 5, 2008, Saint Leo, FL
Ronald D. Brisbon ’71,
November 5, 2008, Suquamish, WA
Camille Dorman ’71, ’74,
January 10, 2009, Dunnellon, FL
Charles “Bert” Furbee ’71,
February 18, 2009, Tallahassee, FL
Francis T. O’Brien ’71, March 9, 2008, Vero Beach, FL
Verdell Gallon Floyd ’72, ’77,
February 24, 2009, Fort Pierce, FL
James “Jimmy” Frederick Clark ’72,
March 18, 2008, Palm City, FL
Susan T. Sciuto ’72, February 9, 2009, Chesterfield, NH
Susan Davis ’73, ’83, May 5, 2009, Punta Gorda, FL
Randall Robert Ross ’73,
April 6, 2008, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Brett Bullard Wattles ’73, May 28, 2009, Crystal River, FL
Monika Adams ’74, ’76,
April 5, 2009, North Palm Beach, FL
Joseph Clark ’74, June 2, 2009, Vero Beach, FL
Mary Caroline Davis ’74,
February 23, 2008, Vero Beach, FL
Bettie Louise Horne Brown ’74,
November 18, 2008, Lauderhill, FL
John Clifton Schandelmayer ’74,
February 7, 2009, Delray Beach, FL
James C. Throop Jr. ’74,
May 1, 2009, West Palm Beach, FL
Richard “Rick” Wells ’74,
March 21, 2008, Tallahassee, FL
Regan G. Haupt ’75, April 12, 2008, Selinsgrove, PA
Roy Ishman Mitchell ’75, ’77,
July 28, 2008, Jacksonville, FL
Priscilla Louise Bain-Smith ’76,
March 21, 2009, Lenexa, KS
Walter Dlugolecki ’76, June 1, 2009, Stuart, FL
William R. McKibben ’76,
September 27, 2008, Lighthouse Point, FL
Douglas Pratt Reeder ’76,
January 21, 2009, North Palm Beach, FL
Gertrude May Smith Bagdon ’76,
March 19, 2998, Pompano Beach, FL
James A. TenEyck ’76, March 1, 2009, Port St. Lucie, FL
Thomas Lloyd Sullivan ’78,
September 19, 2008, Pompano Beach, FL
John M. Mannin ’80,
October 21, 2008, Greenacres, FL
Randall Wayne Williamson ’80,
March 21, 2008, Pompano Beach, FL
Colonel John W. Roberts Jr. ’81,
May 7, 2009, Watkinsville, GA
S. Walter Sauls Sr. ’81, October 26, 2008, Atlanta, GA
Meg Duntz ’82, May 31, 2008, Gulf Breeze, FL
Mary Anne Foley ’82, October 18, 2008, Sunrise, FL
Robin B. Parker ’83, ’94,
February 25, 2009, Hobe Sound, FL
Linda Jean Hartwell ’84, April 28, 2009, Greensboro, NC
Charles Francis Mruz ’84,
April 22, 2009, Jacksonville, FL
Carole C. Noon ’87, May 6, 2009, Fort Pierce, FL
Robert Councilman ’88, May 19, 2009, Stuart, FL
Florida Atlantic University 27
OWL NOTES
Eileen Harden ’89,
October 1, 2008, West Palm Beach, FL
Harvey C. Holland ’89,
December 1, 2008, Port Saint Lucie, FL
Timothy Allan Nash ’90, April 23, 2008, Lake Worth, FL
Julie Reisinger Bassett ’92, January 29, 2009, Austin, TX
Patricia Money Rollo Kane ’92,
November 5, 2008, Madison, AL
Christopher Benavides ’93,
April 11, 2008, Boca Raton, FL
David Paul McDeavitt ’93, May 1, 2008, Lake Worth, FL
Carol A. Petersen ’93, May 21, 2009, Jupiter, FL
Karla M. Leavenworth ’94,
April 4, 2009, East Longmeadow, MA
Jennifer R. “Jenny” Hattan ’96,
January 26, 2009, Wichita, KS
Kathleen Papes ’97, ’98,
February 21, 2008, Boca Raton, FL
Jean Ellen Sampson ’97, July 13, 2008, Lake Worth, FL
Erin Kathleen Jennings ’98,
February 24, 2009, Coral Springs, FL
Jeremy W. Mullins ’98, June 13, 2009, Savannah, GA
Regina “Reggie” Maria Capparelli Dougherty ’05,
April 22, 2009, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Christopher Seiffert ’05,
October 13, 2008, Delray Beach, FL
Faculty and Staff
Bill Hardy, June 18, 2008, Communication Services
Wayne Landowski, July 5, 2008, Boynton Beach, FL,
Environmental Health and Safety, director
Ely Meyerson, July 15, 2008, Boca Raton, FL, assistant provost and Lifelong Learning Society, director
Robert Louis Muller, March 25, 2008, Melbourne, FL,
Department of Purchasing, director
Joseph Orr, November 1, 2008, Jupiter, FL,
adjunct professor
Mary Ellen Phillips DeVane ’02, April 17, 2008,
Hendersonville, NC, Lifelong Learning and
Professional Development, assistant director
Ann Prushansky, June 10, 2008, Boynton Beach, FL,
Department of Purchasing, senior clerk
Joyce Wiest, July 5, 2008, Student Health Services,
program assistant
Special Friends
Eric Alexander, May 24, 2008, Port St. Lucie, FL,
established the Eric Alexander Engineering and Computer Science Endowed Scholarship in 2007 at FAU
Sue Wilson Stroud, June 19, 2009,
Henderson, KY, served as a president of
FAU’s Volunteer League
Owl Notes compiled by Marlene Smith.
O I N M E M OR I A M O
Harold Forkas, Of Blessed Memory
Harold Forkas, a retired business executive whose generosity to Florida
Atlantic University led to construction of a long-awaited alumni center
on the Boca Raton campus, died on April 20, 2009 at age 90.
“In becoming the lead donors for our alumni center, Harold and his wife, Marleen, gave the University
a gift of incalculable value that will forever link them to FAU,” said FAU President Frank T. Brogan.
“The FAU community joins Marleen in mourning the passing of this great philanthropist and wonderful human being.”
A native of Woodridge, New York, Harold began his career in 1935 working in the office supply
business. He subsequently joined the sales staff of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company and soon advanced to a management position. After becoming a successful entrepreneur through the acquisition
and operation of eight Midas Muffler franchises, Harold and his wife retired to Boca Raton in 1988.
Their involvement with FAU included supporting the University’s football team by joining the Inner
Circle of Football Founders. They regularly cheered for the Owls at both home and away games, and
made a major gift to the future FAU football stadium.
Their $1.1 million donation to the University, made in 2005, funded construction of the Marleen
and Harold Forkas Alumni Center, a 14,000-square-foot facility on the Boca Raton campus that
has become a “home away from home” for the more than 111,000 FAU alumni.
They have also been significant benefactors of the B’nai Torah Congregation and major supporters
of the Boca Ballet, Boca Raton Community Hospital, the American Heart Association and numerous
other well-known charities in Boca Raton.
28 legacy fall 2009
P H I L A N T H R O PY SPOTLIGHT
helping dreams
TAKE FLIGHT
gines into industrial engines. Accounting
students, eager for real-life experience, also
became part of Jet Turbine’s work force.
Pete’s willingness to provide students with
new opportunities and his own professional accomplishments in the field of aviation engineering landed him a seat on
the College of Engineering and Computer
Science Advisory Board.
Shortly after relocating to Boca Raton,
the LoBellos were introduced to their research park neighbor, coaching icon Howard Schnellenberg, who was beginning to
design the blueprint for the FAU football
program. Long-time sports fans, the LoBellos became the 13th members of FAU’s
Inner Circle of Football Founders. A subsequent gift to athletics named the LoBello Family Quarterbacks Meeting Room
at the Tom Oxley Athletic Center. “We
loaned the team our red fire truck for parades and helped outfit the marching band
in their uniforms,” Pete says. “We even donated a working antique cannon to the
team for use on the field at home games.”
Interested in other areas of the Univer-
PHOTO BY JEFFREY THOLL
Far-reaching generosity and warmth
have earned Peter “Pete” and Kerry LoBello
the unofficial title of “Goodwill Ambassadors of FAU.” Modest about their
attributes, this engaging couple, whose
giving history at FAU began in 1999, donate because they care about the University and its future in the academic world.
Their commitment to FAU is as genuine
as their belief in higher education.
Brooklyn-born Pete enlisted in the U.S.
Air Force when he was only 17.
The service trained him how to repair
B-52 jet engines. After serving in the Air
Force, Pete found work as a mechanic
with Western Airlines in Los Angeles. At
the same time, with help from the G.I. Bill,
he completed an associate’s degree program in business administration at Cerritos College. Moving up within Western,
Pete became the executive assigned to running production in the engine shop. It
was at Western where Pete and Kerry met.
A native of San Diego, Kerry was no
stranger to the world of aeronautics when
she started to work for Western as a reservation agent. Her father played a key role
in the early days of the space industry.
Married in 1975, the couple moved to
Dallas where Pete launched his own
company Jet Turbine Service. Eventually he sold the company but by the time
they migrated to South Florida in 1995,
Pete had resurrected Jet Turbine Service,
this time with a stronger focus on supplying converted industrial engines to
power plants.
The LoBellos’ relationship with the University began in 1998, when Pete moved
his company to the Florida Atlantic Research and Development Authority —
the Research Park at FAU on the Boca
Raton campus. One of the park’s first tenants, Pete chose this location for its close
proximity to the University, particularly the
College of Engineering and Computer
Science and the College of Business. Pete
turned Jet Turbine into a hub for aspiring
engineers by asking students to help design
the parts that were needed to turn jet en-
sity, the couple established the LoBello
Innovation Leadership Endowed Scholarship Fund for engineering students, and
have supported the commercial music
program in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.
After a brief retirement Pete started
Solar Transportation Solutions (STS), a
developer of solar-powered transportation and maintenance vehicles, headquartered in the Research Park’s Technology
Business Incubator. He launched a student
co-op program through STS in collaboration with FAU faculty and students.
Together they are designing and manufacturing solar-powered golf carts and
installing roof conversions.
“Neither of us come from academic
backgrounds, yet we have been adopted
by our FAU family,” says Kerry. “We get
great pleasure from helping the next generation of leaders.”
If you would like more information
on philanthropy opportunities at
FAU, call 561.297.3010.
Florida Atlantic University 29
Are You
TRUE BLUE?
Visit www.FAUTrueBlue.com
and make your gift today!
Jose Herrera ’05, ’09
Member of the FAU National Alumni Association
Member of the TRUE BLUE Club
At FAU, we take great pride in the accomplishments of our students,
alumni and faculty. Now we ask you to show your TRUE BLUE pride
in FAU by getting involved and giving back.
561.297.3010
‹
annualgiving@fau.edu
University Advancement
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431- 0991
‹
www.fautrueblue.com
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