usf alumnivoice_september 2010

a publication by & for usf alumni association members

SEPT

EMBE

R-2

010

Reelin’ in the Years with Rocky

Lucky Ticket WinnersSee who’s going to the USF vs. UF game on us. PG 6

Career by the NumbersAnn O’Connell, `75, says math found her at USF. PG 22

Taking it to the Next LevelLocal sports personalities talk about what the Bulls need to do. PG 36

calendar

SEPTEMBER 2010 | ALUMNIVOICE 1

C O N T E N T S

Alum

ni V

oice

is p

rinte

d w

ith b

io-re

new

able

ink

at In

terp

rint,

a TE

C-ce

rtifie

d Gr

een

prin

ting

faci

lity.

FEATURES

6 Meet the Lucky Ticket WinnersAll 2,000 of the USF Alumni Association Life Members were automatically entered into a drawing to win tickets to the USF vs. UF game at The Swamp in Gainesville, plus two nights’ accommodations and free passes to our pregame tailgate.

12 Reelin’ in the Years with RockyFrom deep in the imagination of a student graphics assistant, Rocky the Bull was born in 1965 to a student body of just a few thousand people. Today, our beloved mascot fronts a Bulls fan base of more than 47,000 and an Alumni Army of some 224,000. As Homecoming 2010 approaches, we take a look at how Rocky has changed over the years and talk to alumni who have seen USF through his eyes.

22 A Career by the NumbersThanks to a knack for math and the encouragement of her USF professors, Ann O’Connell, `75, began a career in actuarial science that has lead her to the top executive ranks of the international professional services firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

36 Taking it to the Next Level Sportswriters for The Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg

Times, plus a popular sports radio talk show host, tell us what they think Head Coach Skip Holtz and the Bulls need to do to take their game to the next level.

12

22 36

3728 33

7

2 President’s Message 3 USFAA Board of Directors 4 News Roundup 7 Where’s Rocky?18 Chapters & Societies24 Blast from the Past

25 That Was Then; This Is Now26 Featured Member Benefit27 Employ-A-Bull28 Class Notes33 In the Bull’s Eye37 Calendar

DEPARTMENTS

a publication by & for usf alumni association members

SEPT

EMBE

R-2

010

HOMECOMING SCHEDULE PG. 17


2 ALUMNIVOICE | SEPTEMBER 2010

messagepresident’sAlumni Voice®

USF Alumni AssociationGibbons Alumni CenterUniversity of South Florida4202 East Fowler Avenue, ALC100Tampa, Florida [email protected]

Alumni Voice Editorial:Karla Jackson, [email protected] or Rita Kroeber, [email protected]: Rita Kroeber, [email protected] or 813-974-6312Design: Marilyn Stephens, University Communications & Marketing Contributing Writers in this Issue:Carter GaddisAshley Grant, `08Arleen Spenceley, `07Evan Tokarz, `11

Alumni Association Contact InformationExecutive Director: John Harper, `76Membership: 813-974-2100 or 800-299-BULLAlumni & Student Programs: 813-974-2100General Alumni e-mail: [email protected]/Scholarships: Ron Sherman, `[email protected] Bulls License Plate: www.BullsPlate.org Alumni Association website: USFalumni.org

Letters to the editor are encouraged. Please write to Karla Jackson at [email protected] or mail to the address at the top of the page. Views expressed in Alumni Voice do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USF Alumni Association, the University of South Florida or the editorial staff.

ALUMNI VOICE (USPS# 025203)Number 14Alumni Voice is published quarterly in January, April, July and September as a benefit of mem-bership in the University of South Florida Alumni Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455. Periodical Postage Paid at Tampa, FL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: University of South Florida Alumni Association, Communications Department, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455.

New Address? Moving?Update your official USF alumni record at myUSFbio.org or email your information to [email protected]. You also may remove the magazine label and send it with your correct address to Alumni Voice, USF Alumni Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave. ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620. © 2010 All rights reserved.

Fellow Bulls,

With this issue of Alumni Voice, your USF Alumni Association celebrates Homecoming 2010. We thought it’d be fun to look back at how USF’s beloved mascot, Rocky the Bull, a fixture at Homecoming since the early days, has changed over the years – unlike the rest of us, who still look the same as we did in college, right? Ahem. We also gave some space to three local sports personalities to talk about what they think your new USF Football Head Coach Skip Holtz needs to do to take the Bulls to the next level. Can you say “conference championship?” One thing is for sure, he needs the unflagging support of each and every one of us to succeed.

One fun way to support Bulls Football and your USF Alumni Association is by attending some of the events during Homecoming Week. OK, so maybe the Homecoming Dance isn’t quite your style. But what about coming to the free Homecoming Week Kickoff in the Ballroom of the Marshall Center at USF Tampa? If you haven’t seen the impressive new Marshall Center and the Courtyard, this is a perfect time to do it. You can hear Coach Holtz speak and stop by the USF Bookstore for some new Bulls gear to wear to the games. The kick off is Monday, Oct. 4 at noon. The other three USF campuses are also hosting Homecoming events, so if you can’t make it to the Tampa campus, be sure to visit their websites for details. I hope I see all of you at the annual Parade Watch Party and Running of the Bulls Homecoming Parade at the Tampa campus on Oct. 8, the Friday night before your USF Bulls beat Syracuse. It’s a great family event, with free food samples, music, games for the kids and prime bead-catching territory along the parade route. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. The party begins at 6 p.m.; the parade starts at 7 p.m. The biggest party of the year is the Bulls Roast tailgate, held at Raymond James Stadium three hours prior to kick off on Saturday, Oct. 9. Your ticket gets you a commemorative T-shirt and beads, all-you-can-eat barbeque, beer, sangria and soda, and free spirit supplies (including the popular “Class of” stickers.) There will be games for the kids, performances by the Herd of Thunder, USF cheerleaders and Sun Dolls and much more. It’s all of the fun of tailgating without any of the work. Get your ticket at www.USFalumni.org/Homecoming. Alumni Association members get a discount on admission. I can’t close without mentioning your USF Alumni Association’s Life Member program. You might be wondering why I keep harping on this. I do it because Life Memberships are a critical element of our endowment funds. The endowment funds ensure our financial stability well into the future. They allow us to continue to enhance our programs, provide scholarships and help shape the future of your University. Your Alumni Association is cognizant of the tough economic times we all face and is developing payment plans to make it easy to become a Life Member. If you’re looking for a way to make your philanthropic dollars count, this is it. Plus, Life Members get special perks, such as 25 Athletic Priority Points for preferred game seating. Life Members also were automatically entered in our drawing for USF vs. UF tickets this year. (Check out the ticket winners on page 6.) For details about becoming a Life Member, contact Ron Sherman at [email protected] or call him at 813-974-1891.

Go Bulls,

Brad Kelly, `79President & Life Member

NON-VOTING BOARD MEMBERS


USF alUmni aSSociation 2010-11 Board of Directors

DIRECTOREd Hoeppner, Marketing, `81

DIRECTORGary Hoog, Interna-tional Studies, `83 &

Special Education, `87

DIRECTORMark Levine, Esq.,

Psychology, `74

DIRECTORThomas King, Finance, `09

DIRECTORDiana Michel, Business, `88

DIRECTORSpencer Montgomery, USF Student Govern-ment Vice President

DIRECTORLeslie “Les” Muma,

USF Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman,

Mathematics, `66

DIRECTORJohn Harper, USF Alumni

Association Executive Director, Mass

Communications, `76

DIRECTORDr. Judy Genshaft, University of South

Florida President

DIRECTORAndrew Cohen,

USF Ambassadors President

DIRECTORJoel D. Momberg,

University Advancement Vice President

DIRECTORGene Haines,

Criminology, `97

DIRECTORAudrey Gilmore, Marketing, `80

DIRECTORGene Balter, P.E., Engineering, `77

DIRECTORLisa Provenzano Heugel, Mass

Communications/Journalism, `93, Information Systems, `96 & M.S. Computer Science `07

DIRECTORShaye Benfield, Marketing, `97

NON-VOTING BOARD MEMBERS

CO-TREASURER Victor Lucas,

Management, `85

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTRoger T. Frazee, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CPA, Finance & Accounting, `71

PRESIDENT-ELECTRichard Heruska,

Business, `99

CO-TREASURERDonna Brickman, Accounting, `81

PRESIDENTBrad Kelly, CPA, Accounting, `79

SECRETARYKimberly Choto Schmidt, Communication, `92 & M.A. Adult Education, `02

DIRECTORJeff Reynolds, Finance, `91

DIRECTORPatrick Poff, Esq.,

English, `92

DIRECTORMichele Norris, Marketing,`79

DIRECTORTed Rivera III,

Management, `98

DIRECTORJim Weber, Finance,

`77 & MBA, `82

DIRECTORChristi Womack-

Villalobos, English, `92

DIRECTORJon Smith, MBA, `07

DIRECTORAlan Steinberg,

Communication, `78

DIRECTORLee Winter, Finance, `85

DIRECTORDerek Williams, CFP,

Finance, `00


roundupnewsUSF Named “Military Friendly School” The University of South Florida has been selected by G.I. Jobs magazine as a “Military Friendly School” for 2011. This is the second consecutive year that USF

has earned the designation that places the University in the top 15 percent of all higher education institutions nationwide. In addition, USF currently is the only public university in Florida participating in a Department of Veterans Affairs program that reduces tuition for student veterans. Called the “Yellow Ribbon” program, it is part of the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Bill that took effect in 2008. The new GI Bill covers tuition and fees (up to the highest undergraduate rate in the state which in Florida is at the University of Florida) for student veterans plus a monthly housing stipend and up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies. By voluntarily participating in the Yellow Ribbon program, universities such as USF agree to fund up to 50 percent of any additional fees that exceed the VA limit. The VA, in turn, matches the same amount as the institution. To date, approximately 1,100 private and public colleges and universities nationwide have agreed to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program. USF was also the first university in the country to strike an accord with the Department of Veterans Affairs to have specialized services for veterans taking advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The program piloted by USF is called VetSuccess on Campus. To learn more about veterans services at USF, visit www.veterans.usf.edu.

USF Professor is Part of a Team that Discovers Earliest Use of Tools Bones unearthed by a team of scientists in Ethiopia show that early human ancestors used tools a million years earlier than previously documented, which means many

textbooks will have to be rewritten as the world gains a new perspective on human development. The Aug. 12 issue of the journal Nature recounts the story of the landmark discovery by the people who made it, including USF Geology Professor Jonathan

Wynn. He is part of the Dikika Research Project (DRP) team, led by paleoanthropologist Zeresenay Alemseged. The team works in the Afar Region of Ethiopia and was searching through sedimentary deposits when the discovery was made. The bones date to roughly 3.4 million years ago. Wynn’s research was instrumental in coming up with this estimate. He used the location of volcanic ash deposits known as tuffs to determine the age of the bones. They were found between tuffs already documented by Wynn as having fallen to earth 3.42 and 3.24 million years ago. Prior to their discovery, the oldest known stone tools were dated to between 2.6 and 2.5 million years ago at a nearby site in Ethiopia called Gona. Wynn has been working with the international team of researchers since 2002 when his reputation as one of a handful of experts in the geology of early humans in the African Rift led to an invitation from Alemseged to be part of DRP.

USF Geologists Find Tar Balls on “Clean” Beaches As researchers from USF’s Coastal Research Laboratory examined miles of beaches of north Florida and Alabama this summer, they discovered beaches hit by oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill and then “cleaned” by BP crews were anything but clean.

The sand, on the surface, looked better after crews had passed and was somewhat whiter, the scientists noted. But when USF beach geologist Ping Wang and researchers from his lab looked closer into the once pristine white quartz sands, they found that after beach-cleaning machines had combed the area, the beach was covered with thousands of tiny tar balls. Furthermore, the beach cleanup efforts were doing nothing to address layers of oil buried inches below the sand and accounting for possibly more than half of the beach contamination. “We estimate that less than 25 percent of the overall oil contamination, including both surficial and buried oil was cleaned,” Wang and Ph.D student Tiffany Roberts wrote in a report documenting the research, which was funded by the National Science Foundation.


NEWS AND NOTES

USF: Unstoppable Campaign Raises $51 million in 2010 Fiscal Year In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, the USF Foundation raised over $51 million from more than 44,000 donors. The total brings the amount raised on the USF: Unstoppable campaign to more than $363 million. The campaign’s goal is $600 million. The fundraising total represents a 10 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. The 2010 fiscal year included the public kickoff of the campaign.Rod Grabowski, senior associate vice president for Advancement and campaign director, said the year represented a positive step forward for the campaign. “The growth of total fundraising by 10 percent gives us tremendous momentum heading into our new fiscal year,” said Grabowski. “The energy and passion that surrounds the USF System and the USF: Unstoppable campaign is infectious, and bodes well for our future.” The USF: Unstoppable Campaign began with a quiet phase in 2005 and is focused on five pillars of the USF System. These pillars include faculty and students, interdisciplinary research, global and community impacts, USF Health and Athletics. The average gift to the campaign in the 2010 Fiscal Year was $1,150. The USF Foundation thanks everyone, all 44,375 donors, who gave to the campaign during this time period.

•••••••Stavros Family Contributes to Planned USFSP College of Business Building Gus A. Stavros and his wife, Frances Stavros, grew their generous and longstanding commitment to USF St. Petersburg and the USF System with a $125,000 gift toward a conference room in the planned College

of Business building at USFSP and a $150,000 gift to endow entrepreneurship scholarships. Their gift toward the building has the potential for a dollar-for-dollar match from the Florida legislature. The Stavros family’s continued philanthropic investment has created educational opportunities for students through scholarships and enhanced resources. Their latest gifts to support the University’s growing College of Business will enhance the University experience for undergraduate students in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation.

••••••• Keep checking your email inbox for the latest USF: Unstoppable webisodes, focusing on the people and programs that make the USF System unstoppable. Recent webisodes have focused on the pioneering Tutor-A-Bull program run by the USF College of Education in Hillsborough County middle schools and on the USF College of Marine Science’s efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. Future webisodes will focus on the USF Colleges of Business and Nursing, and USF St. Petersburg. To view the Telly Award-winning webisodes, visit http://unstoppable.usf.edu/video/webisodes/Unstoppable_webisodes/.

•••••••Upcoming USF: Unstoppable Events are scheduled for Orlando on Sept. 21 and in St. Petersburg in October. To learn more, visit http://unstoppable.usf.edu/news_events.aspx.

•••••••The USF: Unstoppable campaign continues to grow, with $365,104,127 raised as of August 12. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.unstoppable.usf.edu.

The incidences of “cleaned” beaches with widespread contamination were found along tens of miles of Alabama and northern Florida beaches, Wang said. He noted that heavily-used public beaches appeared to have been cleaned up more carefully, yet in other areas the clean-up efforts were largely superficial, leaving widespread amounts of oil crushed into small tar balls and mixed with clean, white sand. “A comprehensive beach cleanup plan should be

designed based on a solid understanding of the various forms of oil contamination and their spatial distributions alongshore and across-shore,” Wang wrote in his report. “As discussed, based on what we have observed in the field and what has been posted on the BP website, the cleanup efforts are largely superficial.”

Sources: USF University Communications and Marketing, USF Foundation


USF Alumni Association Life Members Dr. Gregory Flynn, `76 & M.D. `79 (left), and Shawn Gleason, `07, were the lucky winners of our drawings for a pair of tickets to the USF vs. U.F. football game, plus overnight accommodations and free passes to the Bulls pregame party in Gainesville. Show your Bull Pride by becoming a Life Member too. Contact Ron Sherman at [email protected] or 813-974-1891.

meet the Bulls vs. Gators ticket Winners!


where’s

Take Rocky on your next trip and

send your photos to: Karla Jackson

at [email protected] or to

her attention at the USF Alumni

Association, 4202 E. Fowler Ave.

ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620-5455.

rocky?

The USF alumni Memorial Day Weekend Cruise featured lots of food, fun and sun aboard the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Sea, with stops in Key West and Cozumel. Pictured on the bottom row are: Katie Giglio, M.Ed `02; Mona Jain, Ph.D `84; Lynn Federspiel and Fred Shaffer. In the middle are Earl Gertwagen, Greg Villalobos, Christi Womack-Villalobos, `92 and Ron Federspiel. Behind them are Roger Frazee, `71; Dr. Anila Jain,`81; and Ed and Janet Weiss. In the far back are Bill Bellamy, `92; Kathie Bellamy `96 and Michele Shaffer. To learn more about the USF Alumni Association’s Travel Program, visit www.USFalumni.org/travel.

Rocky looks like he’s about to become leopard chow in this photo taken at the Los Angeles Zoo by Barb Bushnell, `91.



USF Health officials took Rocky along on their trip to China to visit Ministry

of Health officials and do hospital site visits in the Gansu Province. Pictured with Rocky in Dunhuang in western

China are, from left, Professor Yiliang Zhu, Ph.D., of the College of Public

Health; Asst. Professor Lynette J. Menezes, Ph.D, Director of International

Affairs in the College of Medicine; USF Health Senior Associate V.P. and College

of Nursing Dean Dianne Morrison-Beedy, Ph.D, R.N., FNAP, FAANP, FAAN

and Professor John T. Sinnott, M.D., FACP, Co-Director of USF Health’s

Signature Research Program and Associate Dean of International Affairs

in the College of Medicine.

Rocky checks out the USS Constitution berthed at Pier 1 of the former Charlestown Navy Yard, at one end of Boston’s Freedom Trail, in this photo from Marcy Rua, `92.



Johnathan Roeper, `08, and Rocky caught a Cubs game at Wrigley Field during a trip to Chicago in May.

Here is Rocky on the deck of the M.S. Veendam in the harbor of Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world, with Dr. Lois Mautte, M.A. `77 & Ph.D `90, left, and Carmen Thomas, `69 & M.A. `72.

Patricia Torre Gaggi, `74, met a distant cousin of Rocky’s when she toured the Baths of Diocletian in Rome this summer with her husband Silvio Gaggi, Director of USF’s Humanities Institute.



Four Kappa Delta sorority sisters brought Rocky along on their “big birthday year” trip to Morocco. Pictured in Tangier from left to right are: Sandy Geist Foxworth, `71; Ellen Shanks Rosenblum, `72; Rose Tennyson Taylor, `72 and Candy Wright Current, `71.

Doctoral students in Adult Education made sure to bring Rocky on their study abroad trip to Sweden. This shot was taken at Lemshaga, a private castle in Stockholm. Pictured in the top row from left to right are: Melanie Wicinski, Lisa Wilson, Helena Wallenberg-Lerner, Christy Rhodes, Roberta Worsham and Carmeda Stokes. In the bottom row, from the left are: Rick Wright, Dr. Waynne James (with Rocky), Husam Amin and Dikeesha Govan.

Ernest J. DelGrosso, `93, planted a butterfly garden behind his office in Sunrise, FL, which soon became the home of Paco, a Cuban Anole that feasts on butterfly cocoons. DelGrosso set up his USF gnome to serve as a de facto scarecrow, but apparently Paco wasn’t scared. In fact, the lizard clawed at the window to get at the gnome. Score: Paco-1; Gnome-0.


SEPTEMBER 2010 | ALUMNIVOICE 11JULY 2010 | ALUMNIVOICE 11

Seckin Ozkul, MCE `09, and his wife, Pavla M. Ozkul, MBA `09, took Rocky on their honeymoon to Prague in the Czech Republic and Istanbul in Turkey. Behind them is the Prague’s presidential castle, a Gothic palace built in the ninth century.

Rocky toured Spain, France, Italy, Corsica, Malta and Tunisia on a Disney Cruise with, from left, Christine Butler, `97 & M.S. `00; Mercy Gilliard, `80 & M.A. `84 and future Bulls Megan and Jeramy Butler, pictured here in Tunisia.



W hat would Homecoming be without USF’s

beloved mascot, Rocky the Bull? Conceived

in 1965 as a plush toy to sell in the USF

Bookstore, Rocky was first sketched by student graphics

assistant, Ray Cooper, `66. In the early Seventies,

Rocky was set to paper as a cartoon for USF Athletics

to use in its newsletters. A snorting, fighting bull figure

standing upright on two legs was trademarked in

1974 and used throughout the early Eighties. Rocky

got a makeover in 1984, and again in 2003, when the

current Rocky was unveiled at Homecoming. Tradition

dictates that Rocky never speaks, but we were able to

track down a few former Rockys who were released

from their vow of silence to tell us a little bit about

their time as everybody’s favorite Bull.

Stories by Arleen Spenceley, `08

Rocky D. Bull as he appears today carrying the flag celebrating a USF touchdown.

A Reluctant Rocky, Renynold Gosselin, `78 Accounting, `79 Finance & MBA `81

While Renynold Gosselin worked on his MBA, Phyllis Marshall – yes, that Phyllis Marshall – asked if he’d do her a favor. He said, “Sure.” Little did he know

that she’d ask him to step out of his comfort zone and into the Rocky suit. “It is hot. It is smelly,” said Gosselin, a manager of worldwide production support for Verizon Data Services. The first time he played Rocky the Bull, Gosselin said he was “scared to death.” “Wasn’t quite as bad the second and third time,” he said. Marshall recruited him because the regular Rocky needed a sub for a few basketball games. Gosselin met Marshall, director of the University Center, when they served on several

Feature:Reelin’ in the Years

Reelin’ in the Years with Rocky


Why We came back:

“I’ve attended Homecoming several times. Touring campus reveals the incredible growth the University has experienced since I graduated. It’s also fun to attend alumni events and the parade and to see the school spirit and excitement surrounding the football game.”

Mark Greenspahn, `78, St. Louis, MO

Homecoming traditions were established with a bonfire, parade, carnival, entertainers, dances, and countless permutations of the bull mascot.

campus committees together. He felt like he couldn’t say no to the campus legend. Turned out that saying yes was quite the experience. “I wasn’t nearly as good a dancer” as today’s Rocky, said Gosselin, 55, who lives in New Tampa. “I couldn’t keep up with these kids nowadays.” Playing Rocky made him feel like a

glorified cheerleader, he said, but he got the hang of the gig pretty quickly. “By the time the game started, you’d get involved in the flow and the fans. All twelve or fifteen hundred of them,” he said. Some were “demonstrative and vocal and you stayed around them. The others were (either) the opponent’s fans, and you didn’t want anything to do with them, (or) the more seasoned basketball fans. Most of them would ignore me.” Gosselin said he must have done a decent job as Rocky because at the end of the season, Marshall asked if he’d do it again next season. By then, Gosselin had found his voice. “I said no,” said Gosselin. Too hot and smelly. “I definitely feel for these kids who are out there,” he said. “It’s a tough job. You’re either sweating or getting jeered at.” But even if only thrice, Gosselin is glad he did it. “It was a nice experience,” he said. “At the time, I might not have thought quite that, but now, it’s nice to think back on it.”

In the early years, Homecoming centered around basketball and Rocky looked nothing like he does now.



A Rollicking Rocky, Mike Mashke, Economics, `88

For four years, Mike Mashke rocked the Rocky costume across the Tampa Bay area. He first slipped into the

Rocky suit after a cheerleader friend issued him a challenge. Before he changed his major to Economics, Mashke studied Sports Medicine. As part of that coursework, “I was assigned to the cheerleaders,” said Mashke, 46, who lives in Beaufort, SC. “I was taping ankles and wrists and watching the mascot and critiquing the guy in the costume.” His roommate – one of the male cheerleaders – “was finally like, ‘Why don’t you shut up and try out?’ (He) challenged me to put my money where my mouth was.” So, Mashke auditioned and won the part.

“It’s tons harder than it looks,” he said. “It could be the end of the game and you’ve got to dig deep to pull a lot of energy out. I equate it to running a marathon. And I can say that, because I have run a marathon.” Suiting up to be Rocky means you can’t be claustrophobic. You’re confined, he said, and when sweat

drips down your face, you can’t do a thing about it. You’re breathing your own carbon dioxide and sometimes, you can barely


see out the suit. But Mashke loved every minute. “I really got into the character,” he said. Mashke made Rocky a Big Man on Campus. “Valentine’s Day, I would go get a hundred carnations,” he said. He’d attach them to cards that said “Happy Valentine’s Day from Rocky” and pass them out to all the University’s secretaries. He made appearances at the U.C. flea markets, the campus bookstore and at the Gasparilla parades downtown. And, of course, he brought Rocky the Bull to life at USF basketball games.

“We went up to UF one game, when Norm Sloan was coach. It was our turn to do a time-out cheer,” said Mashke. “UF fans started hurling cups and trash at us and everything they threw, I’d stomp into the ground.” Coach Sloan told him to get off the court. So he did. But in the locker room, Mashke got out an apparatus that he’d created to blow smoke out Rocky’s nose. He came back to the court, jumping and stomping on the bleachers near the Gator fans. “And I blew this blast of smoke out the bull’s nose,” he said. “Ten seconds later, I had about four cops escorting me out of the arena. They said they did it because they feared for my life.” Totally worth it, said Mashke. And it’s something that he went on to do for other teams long after graduation. For 22 years, Mashke played mascots for local teams including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Storm before he retired and went into banking. “I was with [the Bucs] during the Super Bowl run and I actually have a Super Bowl ring from that experience,” Mashke said. And it all started, he said, because he played the part of Rocky. “Rocky was my launching pad for my professional mascot career. He opened the door for me.”

Why We came back:

“Homecoming is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with USF, rediscover the ever changing campus, and relax with friends – both old and new.”

Sara DuCuennois, `99, Fort Lauderdale, FL


A Renegade Rocky Matt Hitchcock,

Mass Communications, `06

When Matt Hitchcock started his run as Rocky the Bull, he’d already had some mascot experience. For a year before he transferred to USF, he represented UCF as

Knightro, one of Rocky’s mascot rivals. But as soon as he got to the Tampa campus, he sent the cheerleading coach his resume.

He wanted to be Rocky the Bull. “I’m not the greatest athlete, but being the mascot presented an opportunity to be involved with sports from a unique perspective,” said Hitchcock, 31. He spent three memorable years in the Rocky suit. When USF played UCF for the first time at Raymond James Stadium, Hitchcock knew he’d take some heat from the Golden Knight fans. Before the game, on his way to dance with the Herd of Thunder in the parking lot, Hitchcock had to walk through a crowd of UCF fans dressed in the Rocky suit, which has somewhat limited visibility. In the process, he kicked over one of their coolers. “I didn’t see (it),” he said. “Needless to say, the group didn’t appreciate that.” The UCF fans voiced their displeasure loud and clear. Things got tense. Somebody radioed for help, Hitchcock said. “Somehow, that got out and the media reported that Rocky had been jumped by UCF students,” he said. Not true. “Heckling from the other team’s fans is part of the fun. It happened all the time.” Trading barbs with hecklers was fun, but the best part of playing Rocky was feeling like part of the team. “I would argue that I had the greatest seat in the house,” he said. He spent three years on the field when he otherwise probably wouldn’t have, he said. And he made some great memories. “(I got to be) on the football field for some dramatic wins, like the

45 to 14 victory over Louisville (and I got to lead) the team out of the tunnel against my former team, UCF,” he said.

Hitchcock, who lives in Sarasota, went on to work as ThunderBug for the Tampa Bay Lightning and as Storm Dog for the Tampa Bay Storm. These days, he’s the mascot for the Bradenton Marauders. But his years as Rocky mean a lot to him. “Right before I stepped on stage to receive my diploma, I put the Rocky gloves on,” he said. He still has the photo of himself shaking President Judy Genshaft’s hand with the furry, grey Rocky hands. It was bittersweet, he said, but it made his graduation “that much more special.”



SEPTEMBER 2010 | ALUMNIVOICE 17 ®

October 8-9, 2010

USF 2010USF 2010USF 2010HomecomingHomecomingHomecoming

Welcome Back, Bulls!Friday, Oct. 8Parade Watch Party, 6-8 p.m.Enjoy music, food and games at this FREE family-friendly event in front of the Gibbons Alumni Center on the Tampa campus. Bring chairs and blankets to set up along the parade route for the best bead catching spots.

Running With the Bulls Night Parade, 7 p.m.Dozens of floats, loads of beads and tons of fun for everyone. It’s the place to be the night before the big game.

Saturday, Oct. 9Bulls Roast Tailgate Party, 3 hours before kickoffIt’s the biggest party of the year, with BBQ, Budweiser, music, games, FREE USF spirit supplies, children’s activities and appearances by the Herd of Thunder, Rocky and the USF Sun Dolls and Cheerleaders. Get your tickets at www.USFalumni.org/Homecoming. $35 for USFAA members; $45 for non-members.

USF vs. Syracuse Homecoming GameGame Time TBARaymond James StadiumWatch your USF Bulls beat the Syracuse Orange! Get your game tickets at 1-800-GO-BULLS



Atlanta Alumni Chapter members Steve Fazio, `96, and Denise Dimbath, `94, introduced the Atlanta Braves mascot, Homer, to Pinellas Alumni Chapter member Victor Lucas, `85, right, who caught a Tampa Bay Rays game while in Atlanta. There’s no doubt which baseball team these USF alumni support.

The Jacksonville Alumni Chapter

held a Round Up for freshman from

their area who were headed to USF in

the fall. The event gave the new Bulls

a chance to meet some of their new

classmates, as well as alumni from their area. The

event was hosted by Jacksonville Alumni Chapter leader Ellen

Rosenblum, `72, pictured in the USF green shirt above right. Bulls Heaven owner and

alumnus, Jeffrey Neil Fox, `75, donated “care packages” of USF spirit supplies to the 14 freshman

who attended.

&chapters

societies


Members of the Pinellas County North Alumni Chapter and their friends made an event out of the opening of “Sex in the City 2.” After the movie, they were picked up in a Barbie Hot Pink Hummer and went dancing at several hot spots while enjoying the movie’s featured cocktail, Cosmos. Pictured in the top row from left to right are: Tammy Carlson-Kenny, `02; Meagan Fader, `06; Jamie Ellison, `06; Jeanne Lazo; Brenda Kenny, `07; Cece Shatz; Kim Voegeli-Krejci, `96; Donna Brickman, `81; Kelly Harvey and Sue Gardner. On the bottom row, left to right are: Doris Carlson; Judy Fechner; Tracy Craig, `03; Wanda Petkiewicz, `02; Karen Andrews and Sandy Conrad.


Brad Kelly, `79, second from left, may be taking his new duties as the 2010-11 President of the USF Alumni Association a little too seriously. But then again, maybe not. With Brad at the annual Board of Directors meeting held in June at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus are: Immediate Past President Roger Frazee, `71; Executive Director John Harper, `76; President-Elect Richard Heruska, `99 and former board

President Dr. Anila Jain, `81. Roger and Anila donated the handsome Bull statue that graces the USFSM courtyard with co-donors Jim and Angie Brewer.


chapterssocieties&

The USF Unstoppable campaign hosted several events around the Tampa Bay area this summer to rally support in the University’s ongoing pursuit of excellence. At left, USF Athletics Hall of Famer Radenko Dobras, `97, and Rocky shared a laugh with guests at an event held in June at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club.

Future Bull Bryce Di Gruccio, son of Angel Di Gruccio, MBA `05, was excited to meet Rocky D. Bull at the Tampa Palms party. Below, alumnus Joshua Pillock, `08, center, and friends Vivienne Brown and Joseph Saine mingle at an Unstoppable event held in July at the Tampa Yacht & Country Club.


Manatee/SarasotaSean [email protected]

Darren [email protected]

Miami-DadeCarlos [email protected]

Monroe (Key West)Kristen [email protected]

Greater OcalaKathleen & William [email protected]

Jerald “Jerry” [email protected]

OrlandoKatie [email protected]

Palm BeachScott [email protected]

Panama CityJanet [email protected]

Pasco County/New TampaKimberly [email protected]

Pensacola/Spanish Fort/MobileNick [email protected]

Peter [email protected]

Pinellas-Mid Pat [email protected]

Pinellas-North/TrinityBrenda [email protected]

PolkRandy [email protected]

St. LucieFrank [email protected]

TallahasseePhil [email protected]

National Chapters

AtlantaDenise [email protected]

AustinBrad [email protected]

Greater BostonLisa [email protected]

ChicagoKelly [email protected]

Amy [email protected]

CincinnatiChris [email protected]

Societies

Ambassador AlumniTed [email protected]

Architecture AlumniAdam [email protected]

Black AlumniShomari [email protected]

Business AlumniJamie [email protected]

Maegan [email protected]

Education AlumniFreda [email protected]

Engineering AlumniSandy [email protected]

Entrepreneurship AlumniFerdian [email protected]

Geology AlumniMike [email protected]

Honors AlumniLisa Provenzano [email protected]

Kosove AlumniChristina [email protected]

Marine Science AlumniBruce [email protected]

Beau [email protected]

Florida Chapters

Greater TampaShaun [email protected]

BrevardTodd [email protected]

John [email protected]

Barbara [email protected]

BrowardSara [email protected]

Alan [email protected]

Fort MyersSanjay [email protected]

HernandoKevin [email protected]

Jacksonville/St. AugustineGary [email protected]

Ellen [email protected]

Columbia, SCDoug [email protected]

D.C. RegionalLara [email protected]

DallasKen [email protected]

Rob [email protected]

Denver Mile HighMark A. [email protected]

HoustonAlan [email protected]

Michael [email protected]

IndianapolisKelly [email protected]

Jeremy [email protected]

Los AngelesJanet [email protected]

New YorkValerie [email protected]

Northern OhioSean [email protected]

Philadelphia/South JerseyJoe [email protected]

PhoenixStephen [email protected]

Pittsburgh, PARobb [email protected]

Portland, ORScott [email protected]

Raleigh, NCBob [email protected]

St. LouisMark [email protected]

San Antonio, TXRuben [email protected]

Seattle-Tacoma, WAJared [email protected]

Corporate Affinity Group

Lockheed Martin – OldsmarBarbara [email protected]

No matter where you live, you’ll always be a Bull!The USF Alumni Association has alumni chapters all over the country. We also have college and special-interest societies for like-minded alumni. It’s easy to get involved. Just email the contact person of the group you’d like to visit.

USF was well represented at the National Social Media Day Meetup at the Tampa Bay Brewing Co. in Ybor City. Stiltwalkers Orie Padgett, left, a USF junior, and Elle Agosta, right a USF senior, were among many performers, including a drum line from Busch Gardens. USF alumna Kelly Heckinger, `07, center, of the Ybor City advertising agency ChappellRoberts, helped host the event.


Throughout her life, USF alumna Ann O’Connell has managed to balance success by living in several locations – quite

literally. Growing up, her father worked on the thoroughbred racing circuit throughout Florida and New York, and the family split their time between both states following the racing seasons. Whether she was enjoying the winter weather on South Beach or hanging out in the stables of Saratoga, O’Connell considered it home.

Today, she calls Atlanta home and is a partner in the Global Human Resource Services practice of

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Her wildly successful career, much like her childhood, has spanned across several Zip codes to bring her to where she is today as one of the top female partners in one of the world’s largest professional services firms. The self-professed number cruncher and math geek says a career in actuarial science was not something she set out to do when determining what she wanted to be when she grew up.

“Math kind of found me when I was a student at USF,” she said. “Math seemed to be very easy for me and it was something I was clearly good at.” O’Connell explained that her professional calling was first

encouraged by an influential USF business professor named Dale Johnson. “He encouraged me to consider using my background in Math to pursue a career in actuarial science.”

She said Johnson and several other USF professors challenged her to go on to graduate school to pursue what eventually became a successful career that has spanned 30 years to date. “He (Johnson) was like a coach and a mentor and really explained what my career options were beyond college.”

“Before coming to USF, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” said O’Connell who went on to graduate from the College of Arts & Sciences with a B.S. in Math in 1975.

A Career by the Numbers

Ann O’Connell, `75, is a partner in the Global Human Resource Services practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers. She also serves on the firm’s Global HR Services Leadership Team as the pension representative.

By Jeremy Canody

Photos by Gary Meek

Profile in leadership


With her USF degree in hand and a new-found sense of purpose, she continued on to graduate school at Georgia State University in Atlanta to earn her Master’s degree.

Upon completing her graduate work in actuarial science, O’Connell had several job offers with various insurance companies and risk management consulting firms from around the country. The only job offer in Atlanta was in the pension area of Coopers & Lybrand. Wanting to avoid the hassle of relocating elsewhere, she took the job and established roots in Atlanta. “I spent three years at C&L as an actuarial analyst, or in other words, a lower-level number cruncher,” she said.

O’Connell said she yearned for more face-to-face time with clients. The opportunity presented itself when she served as an expert witness for a court case, where she met another actuary who worked for a benefits consulting firm in Tampa. He offered her a job on the spot and she moved back to Tampa with the local office of A. S. Hansen, a human resources firm, where she worked for five years.

O’Connell missed what was then a “Big 8” environment and returned to C&L in 1985, this time as a managing consultant. Her role was to establish a benefits consulting practice in Florida, to be headquartered in Tampa. “We grew that practice from a small pension consultancy into a larger reward practice by adding specialists in the benefits and compensation fields, thus expanding our service offerings and client base. I was made partner in the firm in 1988. When Pricewaterhouse merged with Coopers & Lybrand to form PricewaterhouseCoopers, I was

asked to serve as the office managing partner for both the Tampa and Orlando offices.”

By 2001, after a decade of continued success in Florida, O’Connell was promoted into her current role back in PwC’s Atlanta office. It’s no surprise that O’Connell actually holds two titles within PwC. In addition to her HR consulting role, she also serves on the firm’s Global HR Services Leadership Team as the pension representative with the responsibility of global benefits consulting.

“I really appreciate the diversity of the roles and responsibilities that I have,” she said. “That’s the good thing about PwC – I’ve been with the firm for almost 30 years and it’s never

gotten old. During that time I’ve had many roles and responsibilities.”

O’Connell, who is just a year from retiring, said she looks forward to spending more time with her family, traveling and continuing her volunteer work with organizations like the United Way. O’Connell and her husband have “two brilliant and beautiful daughters” – Alison and Kathryn – who are both in college. The family enjoys spending time doing a variety of water activities and travels to the Bahamas several times a year to fish and

dive. “I also hope to serve on a public board in retirement as it is something that is mentally stimulating without the demands of corporate hours.”

Reflecting back on her time at USF, O’Connell admits she really didn’t know what to think when she stepped onto campus for the first time. “I don’t think I knew any better. It was hot and sandy and had very few trees back then, but once I settled into campus life I had a good time.” She said she is amazed by what the University has

become and thankful for the direction her life has taken as a result of the educational foundation she received at USF.

“Now, I’m of the generation where my friends and I have kids in college, and I have recently come to realize that USF is a hard school to get into! The growth and progress there has been amazing.”

5Questions with Ann O’Connell, `75

What is your favorite book? I usually read historical fiction, but one book I liked in the self-help area is “Who Moved My Cheese?” I read it when I was at a crossroads in my career – part of our business unit was being spun out of the firm and I had to decide which way to go. the insights gleaned from that quick read helped in the decision making process and in the transition.

What is your favorite movie? “the Princess bride.” We watched it with the kids from the time they were little. It was interesting to see their changing views – they first saw it as an action/adventure movie and later saw the comedy in it. “Inconceivable!”

Where is your favorite place in the world?rome, Italy. I have been there several times, both on business and on vacation. I always enjoy the people, the culture and the history.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?When I was working full time and still studying for the actuarial exams, I was ready to give up on the profession. the partner in charge of the practice told me that I was too smart and too personable to do that. he convinced me to stay the course and finish the actuarial exams. he thought that being an actuary with a personality was an important career differentiator that would pay off later.

What super power would you like to have?the ability to fly would be convenient.

Ann O’Connell consults with PwC Dispute Analysis and Investigations Partner Chel Tanger in the firm’s Atlanta offices.


1971A Blast from the Past !

AT USF: USF

Medical School opens in July; the first Ph.D is conferred to Joseph Houbrick, a student of biology and marine science; Cecil Mackey becomes USF’s second president.

U.S. PRESIDENT: Richard M. NixonVICE PRESIDENT: Spiro T. AgnewMEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $9,028 (current dollars)UNEMPLOYMENT: 4.9%1st CLASS STAMP: 6 cents

IN THE NEWS: U.S. Supreme Court rules unanimously that busing of students may be ordered to achieve racial desegregation; Twenty-sixth Amendment to U.S. Constitution lowers voting age to 18; Pentagon Papers are

published in June, eroding public support for the Vietnam War.

Sources: USF archives; Infoplease.com; U.S. Census Bureau; u-s-history.com; U.S. Defenseimagery; fotographix.ca; Wiki Commons

IN SCIENCE: Intel introduces the microprocessor; Dennis Gabor of the United Kingdom wins the Nobel Prize in Physics for inventing a holographic method of three-dimensional imagery.

IN THE ARTS: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts opens in Washington, D.C.; Rock star Jim Morrison, 27, dies in Paris on July 3; Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” wins Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Album of the Year Grammy Awards.



By Evan TokarzClass of 2012

Two guys walk into a bar. First guy says, “Get me a Bud Light.” Second guy says, “Guinness for me, please.” Bartender says, “Sure thing, but can I see some ID first?”

Granted, it’s not a very funny joke, but these days, it’s a common situation for USF students at some of their favorite hangout

spots. Between bars, restaurants, parks and USF’s own campus, students of every generation have searched for places to connect and decompress.

Some of the more common places to kick back and relax are places that serve alcohol, like Mr. Dunderbak’s and Copper Top Pub. Between Dunderbak’s German-themed wonderland of beer and Copper Top’s closeness to campus, students of legal age can find what they seem to enjoy most: alcohol and close friends.

And, from the looks of a recent Facebook request I made asking alumni for hangout spots from back in the day, previous generations of USF grads also had the same interests. Take Ellen Shanks Rosenblum, `70, who replied that she liked a dive bar called The Infirmary back when she was a student and the legal drinking age was 18. Janine Profeta Kaminski, `81, liked The Brown Bottle and Slappy Hour at the U.C. Then there are people like Mickey Alexander Lyons, a student in the early 90s, who enjoyed “CiCi’s $5 sink or swim; feet sticking to the floor and hang-over FREE!!” during his time at USF.

These people all found time amid their studies and other responsibilities to unwind and be merry with their friends. If there was one common thread that united many generations of USF students on Facebook, it was CDB’s Pizza. Sixteen alums commented that this pizzeria landmark was one of their favorite hangouts from their USF years. Alum Rod Arroyo, `80, wrote, “the pepperoni they had was amazing back in the day.” Separated by nearly two decades, alums Jane Luke, `76, and Chris Wandemberg, `93, were both CDBs fans. And, like Elton John, it’s still standing, located on Fowler Avenue, just east of the University.

Of course, drinking isn’t everyone’s cup of Corona. Mary Mercer, `05, and Joan Shannon, `84, listed the library (not to be mistaken for the old Library Lounge) as one of their favorite hangouts. St. Petersburg resident Randa Hassaan, `04, listed the Salvador Dalí Museum. This just goes to show you that some students’ idea of a good time could pass a breathalyzer test.

I’m no different. Many of the leisure activities I enjoy do not require alcohol. In fact, until recently, I never understood the point of drinking. Now I realize that I simply had not been in a situation where drinking could be fun, which is nothing more complicated than being with good friends. I still think over-drinking is a bad idea; but, in moderation, alcohol can enhance a good evening.

So what do I do when I choose not to drink? I read. As uncool as this may seem to the considerable number of people who come to college for reasons other than learning, one of my favorite places to go is the USF library. Being surrounded by all the different choices of ideas and views of the world, was, and is, a chief source of pleasure for me. Studying wasn’t as important as reading what I wanted to read and finding out more about what I wanted to know. It’s like what Mark Twain said, “Don’t let your schooling get in the way of your education.”

Speaking of roaming, I wonder if people have explored USF fully. I spent some of my free time in my first years on the

Tampa campus wandering around, getting a feel for where things are and what the campus has to offer. I found some treasures; namely, the USF par course. The par course is probably the best-kept secret at USF Tampa, and I only mention it here because I notice construction has begun on the trail and I don’t want this gem to be razed and forgotten. Although it sounds like a golf course, the par course is actually a running trail. A shaded running trail. If you’ve ever tried to jog in the stultifying heat of a Tampa summer, you know the joy of finding a shaded trail. This miles-long, canopied trail offers a brilliant view of nature right on USF’s Sycamore Drive.

Nature has always been an integral part of USF. Nicole Medders Salazar, `96, posted that she remembers sitting under the trees by Gamma and Alpha dorms and feeding squirrels on cool days. Squirrels still roam the campus and are a reminder that nature exists outside of the dusty textbooks and clinical lab settings. Semi-feral cats lurk around the dorms. Herons and ducks feed in the retention ponds behind the Gibbons Alumni Center. Charter Class alum Kent Moss recalls dove hunting after class in the scrub where the Sun Dome now sits. USF St. Petersburg has the waterfront. And don’t forget Riverfront Park and the Botanical Gardens near Moffitt, for people who want to take the time to smell the roses.

Taking the time to smell the roses is an important part of college life. Whichever campus you’re from, go back and wander around a bit. You never know what you might find.

SHAREA MemoryEnjoy these excerpts of memories from members of the USF Alumni Association. Email your favorite USF memory to [email protected] or post it on our Facebook page.

Way back in the day, 1970, I remember looking out my window in De Soto (or was it Fontana Hall?) and seeing students march down Fletcher Ave. in protest of the Vietnam war. And then, decades later, attending the first Bulls football game! Selinda Walden, `74

Back in the 80’s, let’s not forget the fun that Charlie Bradley (CB) brought to the USF campus in basketball. He was awesome ... and a great guy. He would always give you a “hello” when passing by. I remember the days when we all lived on the third floor at Fontana Hall, playing basketball with Tony Grier and Cuda downstairs.Mark Faden, `86

I’ll never forget meeting the woman of my dreams in 2001: the brilliant English Literature grad student Ana Maria. We shared an adoration for Shakespeare and took a grad-level Shakespeare course, where we met. Our teacher, leading Early Modern scholar Dr. Deats, recognized the chemistry between us and essentially played Cupid. We’re coming up on our seventh anniversary, with beautiful children who love the Green and Gold!Michael Giel, `02


featured

member benefit

Bulls Football is in full swing and USF Alumni Association Life Members are taking advantage of an amazing benefit! Life Members of the USF Alumni Association who are season ticket holders receive 25 priority points – the single-largest priority point allotment given! The priority point system assists USF Athletics with providing seating options for post-season competitions and

other events where ticket demand exceeds availability. Point totals establish priority for access to tickets, and for

seating location for NCAA championships, bowl games, BIG EAST Conference Tournaments, NCAA events hosted by USF and away games. Additionally, in the event reseating is required in any USF athletics venue, the priority point system will determine the order of seat selection.

Athletic Priority Points

Get priority on the best seats in the house! become a Life member of the alumni association today.Visit http://USFalumni.org/lifemember


In the new normal, job seekers must think differently about their employ-ment options, in addition to a traditional job search. Some alternatives to consider are self-employment, starting or buying a business, or buying a

franchise. Recently, I had a very interesting experience putting a former chemi-cal industry CEO in contact with an intriguing business-to-business franchise concept. I thought it would be a perfect fit. Unfortunately, it did not go well. The breadth of options to invest in a franchise is staggering, including everything from ice cream parlors, to spas, hotels and automobile dealerships. The upfront investments can range from low-five to high-eight figures, depend-ing on the nature of the business. Like buying a home, investing in a franchise opportunity is a big transaction that most people don’t fully understand. Fran-chise acquisition is a process with a lot of steps that are governed by federal and state regulations. Franchisors utilize a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to formally offer and educate you on all aspects of their business. FDDs are similar to a prospectus given to investors contemplating the purchase of public securities, but unlike a prospectus, FDDs are often not up to date or accurate. The good news is that a simple Google search will reveal a lot of relevant information to help you evaluate the FDD. Better yet, I recommend that you begin by visiting www.franchise.org. This website, sponsored by the International Franchise Association (IFA), provides a wealth of information to help you evaluate options and navigate the process. Additionally, LinkedIn has a number of franchise-related groups worth your consideration. Before getting too deeply into the process of evaluating franchise options, I recommend that you take stock of your personal situation, including a person-ality assessment. You may have the financial resources to buy a franchise, but you also need to assess your risk tolerance. It would be well worth your while to see a professional to help you understand your psychology as it relates to entrepreneurship and managing your own business. Some people are meant to be entrepreneurs, but most are not. You can save yourself a lot of money and headaches if you understand your suitability for business ownership.

Owning a Franchise: Is it Right for You?

USF Alumni Association Board Member Jim Weber is the founder of New Century Dynamics, Inc., an executive search firm for the food service industry. If you have career questions for Jim, email them to us at [email protected].

Get ahead of the herd with tips from executive recruiter Jim Weber.Class of `77 & MBA `82

Employ -a-Bull

If you want to buy into a franchise, you must be prepared to do a lot of research to find an affordable opportunity that fits your goals and aspirations. Understanding the opportunity and the acquisition process early on is vital to a successful outcome. Talk with existing franchisees; visit multiple locations; make sure you understand how to achieve success with the franchise. Due to the nature of the transaction and due diligence required, a prospective franchi-see would be wise to consider the value of advice from professionals familiar with the process, such as franchise brokers, financial advisors, attorneys and accountants. The franchisor will manage the acquisition process and the expectations of the prospect, including the time frame to closing, financial return, training, lifestyle and ongoing marketing and operations support. Good franchisors will want to ensure that the prospective franchisee has a full and realistic picture of their business. Prospective franchisees must feel confident that the franchi-sor is committed to their success. Fundamentally, that is what you are buying. Larry Bader, a chief development officer candidate advises that “Failed closings are usually due to a lack of confidence in the executive team.” Understanding the culture and competence of the management team that provides steward-ship of the franchise brand is an essential part of your due diligence. As a prospective franchisee, you must be confident that management shares your values, goals and ethics. Investigate the system-wide relationship between the franchisor and franchisees. Are the franchisees generally happy and success-ful, or are they disgruntled and pursuing lawsuits against the franchisor? Call around to other franchisees to glean this information. My CEO friend added that “Franchise attorneys are critical in the due dili-gence phase of evaluating a franchise. An experienced franchise attorney will recognize FDDs that are well-written and fair. They will advise you about areas you need to discuss/negotiate with the franchisor. Listen to your attorney’s input.” According to Jim Squire, a highly respected franchising professional, “The prospect needs to be careful about the legal advisor they choose. Some things are negotiable, like leases, buildings and equipment costs, but some things are not. Franchise agreements are generally not negotiable. The agree-ment is designed to protect the brand.” It makes sense to hire an attorney who has expertise in franchise law. To summarize:

• You must have the financial wherewithal and personal characteristics of a successful entrepreneur. You must be comfortable with risk and have confidence in your abilities.

• Extensive research is required to find the right concept for you.• Speak to existing franchisees of the brand, both those referred by the

franchisor and those you find on your own.• You will be expected to be good partner to the franchisor, so be pre-

pared to be a team player.• Using professionals such as lawyers, franchise brokers and others is

highly recommended. So, what killed my deal? There was clearly a clash of values and styles. The franchisor employed high-pressure sales tactics that did not go over well with my CEO friend. Eventually, after doing his own due diligence, my friend became comfortable with the franchise opportunity and arrived at a clear understanding of the potential sales within his professional network. Further-more, he chose an attorney who was well-versed in franchising. This attorney pointed out a number of questionable stipulations, which my friend attempted to negotiate. Just prior to the scheduled closing date, the franchisor refused to discuss any changes to the franchise agreement, which came as a big surprise to my friend, who decided not to proceed to closing. The fundamental lesson I learned was to direct people to a franchise bro-ker/consultant as opposed to sending them directly to the franchisor. If I had done that originally, a lot of time and effort would have been saved. Fortunate-ly it was not a costly lesson for any of us and we are all still friends.


notesclassRichard A. Lagomarcino, Accounting `79, retired from the Florida Department of Revenue on Dec. 31, 2008, after 19 years, five months of service.

Steve T. Libby, Jr., Management `71, was named as a finalist in the “CFO of the Year” rankings by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Libby is senior vice president and chief financial officer of Tampa Housing Authority.

Chuck McGinness, Communications `75, is a traffic incident management (TIM) coordinator for AECOM, a global provider of technical and support services in the fields of

transportation, facilities, environment, water, energy and government. McGinness joined AECOM after retiring in August 2008 from The Palm Beach Post, where he spent 33 years as a reporter covering mainly government and transportation issues. AECOM is under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation to provide traffic incident management services in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. As a TIM coordinator, McGinness works with law enforcement, fire rescue and other first responder agencies on ways to clear crashes and other incidents on major highways faster and safer.

Dale Pilkington, Accounting `77, was named president of Versus Underwriting Managers, LLC.

Ronald Sanders, Management `73, joined Booz Allen Hamilton as senior executive advisor. Sanders has more than 37 years of experience in addressing the federal government’s most difficult human capital challenges across civil, defense and intelligence agencies. He recently retired as the U.S. intelligence community’s first chief human capital officer.

Byron Shinn, Accounting `79, was named to USF’s Board of Trustees by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. Shinn is president of Shinn & Company, LLC.

Carolyn House Stewart, Special Education `74, was installed as the 28th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The swearing-in ceremony marked the climax of the

sorority’s weeklong conference that took place July 9-16 at St. Louis’ Convention Center. In ascending to the international presidency, Stewart becomes the first lawyer to head the organization. She is also the first president to serve a full term in the sorority’s second centennial. Alpha Kappa Alpha celebrated its first century in 2008. Stewart will serve a four-year term from 2010-2014. During that time, she will guide policy, develop programs and set the leadership tone for Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 250,000 members in 975 chapters worldwide. Steward earned her Juris Doctorate degree from

the University of South Carolina Law Center. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1978 and was subsequently admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Southern District of Florida; the U.S. Court of Appeals, for the 11th and 5th Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court. Since 1997, Stewart has been a shareholder in the law firm of Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen, one of Florida’s oldest law firms. She handles cases in the firm’s civil litigation, casualty and labor law sections.

`80s

A. Manette Ansay, Creative Writing – Fiction, `89, has a new book, Good Things I Wish You, published by Harper Collins. The book came out in paperback on June 22. Ansay will speak to creative writing classes at USF on Sept. 16 in a program run by faculty members Rita Ciresi and Karen Brown Gonzales. After a (mis)diagnosis of multiple sclerosis forced her to choose a sedentary career, Ansay–once a piano performance major–began writing fiction. Today she is able-bodied and the author of five previous critically acclaimed novels, including Vinegar Hill, an Oprah’s Book Club pick; Midnight Champagne, a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist; and Blue Water. She lives with her daughter in Florida, where she has earned 18 hours towards her private pilot’s license and teaches in the MFA program at the University of Miami.

Colleen Chappell, Public Relations `88, received the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s prestigious 2010 Business Woman of the Year Award. Chappell is co-owner of ChappellRoberts, an Ybor City-based integrated advertising and marketing firm founded by her business partner Deanne Roberts, `74.

Carol Conaway, M.A. Aging Studies `82, received a Community Champion Award from Molina Healthcare of Florida. Conaway is a mentor, Guardian ad Litem and vice president of

regions and councils for the state Parent Teacher Association (PTA) board. She is also PTA liaison for two Pinellas County Schools committees and a member of the Juvenile Welfare Board task force. She is the chair of the Education Committee at Ready for Life, a nonprofit organization focused on foster care youth. The Education Committee, which consists of Conaway and a diverse volunteer team of education experts, advocates for foster youth and works to ensure that youth transitioning out of foster care have the information and access to the resources they need to further their education and future. Each of the five Community Champions received a $1,000 grant to give to the nonprofit organization of their choice. Conaway chose Ready for Life to receive the grant.

`60s

Carol McCoy, International Studies & Political Science `69, was elected as the first woman president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, the statewide conference for members of the state appellate courts and the trial bench, composed of approximately 185 trial and appellate judges in all. She served as president from July 1, 2009 to June 20, 2010. She is now an elected chancellor (trial judge) in Nashville, TN and has served in this capacity for approximately 14 years. Prior to that, she was first a partner in the firm of Farrell & McCoy and then a partner at Davies, Cantrell, Humphreys & McCoy. She was a staff attorney with the Tennessee Department of Revenue and Legal Services of Nashville before entering private practice. McCoy was named to the TSU Women of Legend & Merit in 2009, and has earned many other civic and community awards for her personal and professional efforts. McCoy earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the Vanderbilt School of Law.

`70s

Larry Flegle, Communications `75, is an associate professor for the American Public University System and started an online campus radio station, AMU Internet radio, that recently won a Platinum Microphone Award for outstanding programming from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. He was appointed to the board of directors for Cherokee FM Radio, Inc., owner of WPCG-FM, in Canton, GA. Flegle was recently invited by Krabi Baptist Church in southern Thailand to air a one hour rock ‘n roll show on Saturday nights called “USA Radio Show” for the youth surrounding Krabi, Thailand. Flegle began as a broadcaster in Florida in the 1960s, when he was 15 years old. He was known as Larry Michaels on WQYK in Tampa in the `70s.

Elizabeth Indianos, MFA `75, who designed the Gainesville Solar Walk, a well-known Gainesville, FL landmark, was recently presented with Gainesville’s Beautification Award for “making a significant contribution to the community through an outstanding project highlighting aesthetic and artistic appeal, originality, innovation, creativity, long term strategy, sustainability, excellence in design.” Over the last 30 years, Indianos has completed numerous public art projects throughout the southeast, including Tampa’s Southern Transportation Plaza and Marion Transit Center, for which she was recognized with Awards of Excellence from the Tampa Planning Commission for “environmental sensitivity, innovation, and creativity.”


SEPTEMBER 2010 | ALUMNIVOICE 29SEPTEMBER 2010 | ALUMNIVOICE 29


notesclassJohn Potanovic, Criminology `82, was named to the Florida Super Lawyers list. He is a member of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.’s Executive Committee, chair of the Employment

Law practice area and was among the first attorneys to achieve Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law in Florida. He defends employers in discrimination and harassment lawsuits, including cases brought under Title VII, the ADA, the FLSA, as well as matters under the Fair Labor Standards Act, EEOC investigations and all aspects of employment law counseling. Potanovic received his law degree from the University of Florida, with honors, in 1988.

Kevin Schultze, M.A. Economics `81, was promoted to managing director and head of the Portfolio Strategy Group. He is the firm’s acting chief economist, responsible for developing fixed-income strategies for the firm’s institutional fixed-income clients. Schultze has more than 20 years of expertise in fixed-income portfolio management.

Douglas “Ty” Taylor, Accounting `85, was selected as a Pink Tie Guy by the Orange County

Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The title is given annually to prominent businessmen who are selected to advocate for Komen’s mission of finding a cure for breast cancer. Taylor is group president of Experian InteractiveSM, previously served as president of Experian Consumer Direct and also spent eight years as a senior vice president and general manager for Equifax. He also is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Robert Wierzel, Theatre `80, was nominated for a Tony Award in the Best Lighting Design of a Musical category for his work on “Fela!,” directed by recent USF Theatre guest artist Bill T. Jones. Wierzel was also in residence at USF, lighting Jones’s “Serenade/The Proposition,” performed by students in the School of Theatre and Dance.

Tobias Winright, Political Science `87, who is associate professor of theological ethics at Saint Louis University, has coauthored the book, After the Smoke Clears: The Just War Tradition and Post War Justice (Orbis Books), which will be published this month. Having held previous faculty posts at

David Kagan, Finance & Marketing `83, has joined Spacenet, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., as senior vice president of business development.

Ross D. Montgomery, Engineering Mechanics `82, was installed as vice president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) at its 2010 Annual Conference held in June. As vice president, Montgomery is a member of the board of directors and the executive committee and serves as vice chair of Technology Council. Montgomery is an ASHRAE-Certified building energy modeling professional and commissioning process management professional and the owner of Quality Systems and Technology, Inc., in Palmetto, FL. He also maintains a Florida professional engineering license, a Florida state certified mechanical and electrical contracting license and certifications in energy management, IAQ and green building engineering.



Don’t be shy Alumni! We’d like to include your news and photos in Class Notes. Send in your information to: [email protected] or you can mail your information & photo to:

Karla Jackson USF Alumni Association Gibbons Alumni CenterUniversity of South Florida4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100 Tampa, FL 33620-5455

Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa and Walsh University in North Canton, OH, Winright moved to Saint Louis in 2005 and also has served as director of the university’s Ethics Across the Curriculum Program since 2008.

Charles Yeo, Finance `88, recently founded WISDEO.com, a video education website, which educates users on a wide range of topics, from stamp collecting to Western cooking, using videos created by various experts in the field. After graduating from USF in two and a half years, Yeo worked as a fund manager at JP Morgan in Hong Kong and then bought a failing magazine company called “Technology News.” Despite having little experience in this line of business, he managed to turn it around and sold it for a tidy profit. Yeo then started another magazine called “Technology Digest,” which is the only news magazine that is fully dedicated to the semiconductor business in Asia.

`90s

Christopher Caddell, Accounting `96, was promoted to controller at A&B Properties, Inc. in Maui, HI. He joined the company four years ago and is a certified public accountant.

Chris Carter, Special Education `93, is a teacher in the Bay Pines Life Skills class in Pinellas County. When budget cuts threatened his job, the parents of his students rallied on his behalf, offering to donate enough to pay half his salary for at least a year.

Phil Connor, Marketing `93, is a dealer territory manager for Hearth and Home Technologies, a division of HNI Corporation. He manages a network of dealers in southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and southern New York.

Daniel L. Dent, M.D. `90, was promoted to professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He was named to the editorial board of the Journal of Surgical Radiology, elected to the board of directors of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery and inducted in the University of Texas Health Science Center Academy of Master Teachers.

Gene Haines, Criminology `97, welcomed his second grandson, Drake Weston Harms, to the world on May 12 at 8:01 a.m. Drake was 9 pounds, 2 ounces and 21 inches long. Gene is a board member of the USF Alumni Association and the president and co-founder of the USF Bullbackers.

Sabrina Hughes, Humanities `99 & Art History `10, was awarded a summer curatorial internship in the Photography Department at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Selected from a national

pool of M.A. and Ph.D students after a rigorous and competitive three-stage application process, Hughes will assist in the research and organization for an exhibition on the 19th-century French photographer Charles Marville. In recognition of her outstanding work, the Art History Faculty nominated her thesis, “Empty Streets in the Capital of Modernity: Formation of Lieux de Mémoire in Parisian Street Photography from Daguerre to Atget,” for the USF 2009-10 Outstanding Thesis Award.

Elio López, Art `95, unveiled his latest major work, “El Lector,” (The Lector) at The Louise & Arnold Kotler Art Gallery on Sept. 8, in celebration of National Literacy Month and the importance of Tampa’s historic role with the literacy movement for Cuban, Italian and Spanish immigrants who worked in Ybor City’s cigar factors. López’s family history tells two stories of Ybor’s cigar industry, both portrayed in “El Lector.” His maternal grandfather was a celebrated lector, a person hired by the cigar workers to read aloud news and literature during the work day. His paternal grandfather was a union organizer who crafted an agreement that ended the tradition of lectors in the cigar factories. This dualism is the topic of López’s work. Known for his invention of the resist painting technique, López’s “El Lector” is part of a new collection marking a major shift in style and approach for the artist. After the exhibition, the work will tour throughout Florida’s public buildings, universities and centers. López is an American artist of Northern Spanish decent, born in Tampa. Using the latest technology and tools, López’s art is best described as a mix of Postmodernism combined with Modernism.

Jenifer Monahan, Business `93, has written An American in Oz: Discovering the Island Continent of Australia, a book about her post-graduate experiences in the land down under. In December

1999, Jennifer and her travel partner, Jeff, flew half way around the world to explore the Australian continent for two months. Jennifer kept a travel log to remember the trip and, once she returned, turned it into a 265-page book. An American in Oz now serves as an introduction for students planning to study abroad in Australia. Copies are available in the USF bookstore. Monahan has worked in a variety of jobs, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Postal Service and in the private sector as a bookkeeper and professional organizer. As a member of Toastmasters International for five years, she was the 2007-2008 president of her local chapter and became an award-winning speaker and leader in her community. Jennifer’s travels have taken her to 44 of the 50 United States. In addition to Australia, her trips abroad include Canada, the Bahamas, Taiwan, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Fiji, Great Britain and Mexico. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, three step-sons, and two cats.

Priscilla Nelson, M.A. Guidance & Counselor Education `95, co-authored Riding the Tiger, a hands-on, step-by-step approach to leading organizations out of crisis. The book tells the true story of how one company, Satyam Computer Services, rebounded from disaster and how people reacted, responded, and courageously led in the most extreme conditions imaginable. Nelson, former chief learning officer for Satyam, wrote the book with Ed Cohen, former global director of people leadership. It provides practical, valuable lessons and expert advice as told through the case study of Satyam’s multi-billion dollar financial scandal and subsequent successful turnaround. Prior to Satyam, Nelson was an executive coach and consultant.

Trong Nguyen, MFA `98, has established himself as a well-known artist and curator in New York’s professional art world since moving there after graduating from USF. He was recently featured as a contestant on Bravo’s reality show, “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist.” Although he was a viewer favorite, he was eliminated unexpectedly in the second episode. Working in almost all forms of media, Nguyen has produced a large range of art in the form of installations, video, mixed media, performances, sculpture, paintings, and even an iPhone application that, together, make up a comprehensive body of work. When not occupied with new projects or working at his day job as Senior East Coast Editor of the online art network, Artslant, Nguyen is actively curating exhibitions, a job he was familiar with prior to moving to New York City.

Rose Nieves, Nursing `96, MSN `99 & Ph.D. `07, is on the faculty of South University in Columbia, SC. She is also a registered nurse practitioner.

Andy Noble, Dance `97, teaches dance at Sam Houston University in Texas. He choreographed a work that was featured in the 2010 American College Dance Festivals Association, held in May at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Eric Partlow, Psychology `99, was named to the 2010 Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. The 2010 Florida Super Lawyers magazine was published in June. Partlow was honored

in the field of Business Litigation. Florida “Rising Stars” include top lawyers who are 40 years old and younger. Only 2 percent of the attorneys in the state receive such an honor. He is a partner with Adams and Reese, a multidisciplinary law firm with offices throughout the Southeast.

Trudy Usner Pettibone, Religious Studies `95, became pastor of the Burnt Hills Baptist Church, Burnt Hills, NY, in January 2010. Prior to that, Trudy had



notesclasspastored the yoked parish of Minerva and North Creek Baptist churches, in the Adirondacks of New York, for six years. Trudy received a Masters of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, in 1998, and an M.A. in Bible and Cognate Studies in 2001 from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.

Dr. Lynette Phillips, MSPH `98, has joined the new College of Public Health at Kent State University as an assistant professor of Epidemiology. She was previously a research associate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University.

Tyra Read, Business Administration `97, was named as a 2010 Rising Star by Florida Super Lawyers. Read works with private lenders to formalize loan transactions and

works with developers to create residential and commercial communities in Southwest Florida. She also assists buyers and sellers in formalizing and closing real estate transactions, prepares and reviews easement agreements and handles title issues and title claims. Read also is a published author and contributed two chapters to the book Florida Foreclosure, What Lawyers Need to Know Now, published by Thomson West. Read received undergraduate degrees from Edison Community College (1996) and University of South Florida, summa cum laude (1997) and her law degree from Stetson University, magna cum laude (2000).

Silvia M. Mendez Robinson, Management `96, has published her second book, Windows of the Heart. Robinson has been a human resources professional, author, poet and songwriter. She is a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. She received Honorable Mention awards in 2006 and 2007 for her lyrics. She has also received a Director’s Award from Paramount International for her lyrics. Her first book, Merry-Go-Round, was published in 2006.

Paul Wartenberg, Master’s of Library and Information Sciences `93, wrote a collection of short stories, Last of the Grapefruit Wars, originally published in 2003, which has been republished in eBook format for Kindle, NOOK, Sony eReader and others.

`00

Dr. Mike Armstrong, B.A. & MSBE `04 & M.D. `08, recently graduated from the U.S. Naval Dive School, New London, CT. Armstrong, pictured with his wife Erin Rahla Armstrong,

Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences `08, will be stationed in Kings Bay, GA, where he will serve as undersea medical director, and Erin will attend graduate school.

Jeffrey Batten, MPH `02, is a senior ecologist for Horner Environmental Professionals in Lutz. He specializes in permitting, wetland jurisdictional delineations, violation resolution,

condemnation cases, mitigation design and eminent domain. Before joining Horner, he was an assessment scientist for the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County from 2002 to 2006.

Bethany Graves Brown, Nursing `09, is enrolled in the Nurse Practitioner program at the USF College of Nursing and is currently training in critical care. She also participated in the college’s newest tradition at the Nursing Convocation Ceremony, the Alumni Path of Light.

Matthew Thomas Caine, M.M. Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance `07, graduated Aug. 7 with a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of South Carolina. His dissertation requirement included four public conducting recitals and the research document: “Todor Popov: A Historiography and a Conductor’s Analysis of His Choral Cycles.” Dr. Caine began work on July 1 as the full-time director of Music Ministry at The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville, FL, where he conducts four choirs, serves as organist for two weekly worship services, oversees the On the Riverbank Fine Arts and administers a comprehensive music program serving over 1,200 active parishioners.

William Capp II, Criminology `09, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the U.S. Army Reserve’s Medical Command in December 2009. While attending the Army’s Basic Officer

Leadership Course (BOLC) at Fort Sam Houston in the spring, Capp was selected to the Commander’s Board, based on strong recommendations from BOLC senior leadership, physical fitness scores, academic scores and evaluations of his leadership. He plans to continue his MPH program with USF, continue to be a USF Athletics and alumni donor and compete in his first triathlon in the near future. Last summer, Capp appeared on the TV show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and won $25,000.

April Childers, MFA `09, and Carmen Tiffany, MFA `10, participated in SITEfest 2010, a two-day interdisciplinary event in March highlighting the diversity of performance in Brooklyn’s emerging art scene, Bushwick. Now in its second year, SITEfest reflects the progressive live art in BETA Spaces and open studios encompassing a variety of forms including theater, dance, music, and

collaborative performance. Childers and Tiffany formed the collective Destineez Child as a means of examining the nature of cheaply mass-produced commodities and the process of where and by whom these items are accumulated. Destineez Child also explores themes in trickle down marketing and cultural phenomenon surrounding places, such as convenience stores, hair salons, car washes and flea markets.

Trevor Colestock, M.A. Library and Information Sciences `03, was elected in March as an AFT, NEA, FEA, AFL-CIO Florida/South Florida delegate, as a member of United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz’s Eagle Caucus. He was also elected as one of the UTD Building Stewards at Miami Norland Senior High School in May. Colestock obtained a Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Grant on May 28 for his library media center at Miami Norland Senior High School and met the former First Lady to accept the award. More than 10,000 applications were submitted and only 188 were chosen, 13 of which were from Florida, eight from Miami-Dade County.

Phil Collier, Finance `09, joined Raymond James & Associates as a Financial Advisor at the Belleair-Largo office.

Christine S. Davis, Ph.D. Communication Studies `05, was promoted to associate professor with tenure and was named coordinator of the Communication Studies Graduate Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Nicole M. Fisher, Business Management `07, and Behn Tubman were married on June 26, 2010 in East Tawas, MI.

Michael M. Giel, English `02, was selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers 2010 as a Rising Star. The Florida Super Lawyers selection process is based on peer recognition and professional achievement, and not more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to the Rising Stars list. In addition, he was quoted extensively in Susan Burnell’s article on conflict management, titled “Conflict Management: Can We Agree on One Thing?” This article appeared in the June 2010 newsletter for HELPS: Health Enhancement for Lifelong Professional Students, a program offered by the USF College of Medicine to provide guidance and assistance to its students, dependents, or significant others. Giel is an attorney with Volpe, Bajalia, Wickes, Rogerson & Wachs, P.A. in Jacksonville.

Angela Granese, Mass Communications `06, graduated from Florida International University with a Master’s in Linguistics in August 2010.



Don’t be shy Alumni! We’d like to include your news and photos in Class Notes. Send in your information to: [email protected] or you can mail your information & photo to:

Karla Jackson USF Alumni Association Gibbons Alumni CenterUniversity of South Florida4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC100 Tampa, FL 33620-5455

By Ashley Grant, `08

For dancer and businesswoman Amanda Szeglowski, Homecoming happened back in June when she brought her New York City dance troupe, Cakeface, to

USF to perform in “Florida Dances,” a program that was part of the annual Florida Dance Festival, one of the most pre-eminent dance workshops in the southeastern United States.

Cakeface performed “alpha pups,” a piece Szeglowski choreographed as an “exposé of the desperation and bizarre communication methods used in the final rounds of 1980’s game shows” like the ones she grew up watching while at-tending Blake High School for the Arts.

Szeglowski, who earned degrees in both dance and business and graduated summa cum laude from USF, con-siders herself “a true product of Tampa Bay’s arts education offerings.” Serving as a captain of the Sun Dolls during her junior and senior years at USF helped hone the leadership skills she uses today in her dual roles as Cakeface artistic di-rector and manager of development and public relations for Dance New Amsterdam, an arts center in lower Manhattan. It was at USF that she also learned that dance is a business, as well as an art.

“I make work based on the concept that abstract art is relatable and thus sellable to mass culture,” she says. “Un-

like so many of our contemporaries, Cakeface has never paid to self-present, even in its initial season. I strictly fol-low fiscal practicality, and as a result, we’ve been presented in New York City by Dance New Amsterdam, AUNTS, The Tank, and Triskelion Arts and Movement Research at Judson Memorial Church – a feat for an emerging company.”

After seven years in NYC, Szeglowski was thrilled to return to her roots as an accomplished professional who has merged two diverse skill sets into a satisfying career. Learn more about Cakeface at www.cakefaceart.com.

in the Bulls Eye… Amanda Szeglowski, `03

She has been accepted into a Ph.D. program with a graduate assistantship at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and began her studies this fall. Her doctorate will be in Applied Language and Speech Sciences and she will simultaneously be working on her speech-language pathologist certification.

Don J. Green, M.A. History `05, has written Third-Party Matters: Politics, Presidents, and Third Parties in American History (Praeger, 2010). The book tells the stories of 11 third parties, starting with the antislavery Liberty Party of 1840.

Kimberly Hannah, MBA `03, is now the director of public relations for BOING! Jump Center in Tampa.

Jenese Harris, Communication `07, is a news anchor appearing weeknights on the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. news for WABG, an ABC affiliate in Greenville, MS.

Megan Hendricks, MBA `00, is the new executive director of the MBA Career Services Council, a national professional association of MBA career services professionals and recruiters.

Hendricks and her husband David Hendericks, Music `93, had a baby girl in August of 2009: Grace Kaylen Hendricks.

Megan Higbee, `04, a teacher at Lanier Elementary, turned the oil spill tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico into a teachable moment for her fourth grade class. The class was so moved by the lesson that they started a school-wide effort to donate cleaning supplies, which was covered by The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com

Thomas Jackson IV, Management Information Systems `07, has joined Hillsborough County’s Water Resources division as a business analyst.

Dr. Geraldine M. Jacobson, MPH `00, was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Radiology (ACR) in May. She is associate chair and clinical director of radiation oncology and a clinical professor at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She is a member of the ACR, Radiological Society of North America, American Association of Women Radiologists, American Society for Radiation Oncology and serves as chair of the Congressional Relations Subcommittee of the Government

Relations Council for the American Society of Radiation Oncology. She earned her medical degree from the University of Utah in 1981.

Ian Lanzillotti, Russia & History `05, is a doctoral student at The Ohio State University and was recently awarded a Fulbright-Hays grant by the U.S. Department of Education. Lanzillotti is studying in Russia for nine months to research the role of states in forging national consciousness, governance and security in multiethnic and multiconfessional states, and the legacies of colonialism and empire. His dissertation, “Ethno-Nationalism and Interethnic Relations in the North Caucasus: Kabardino-Balkaria, 1858-1991,” examines the history of interethnic relations and national identity formation in Kabardino-Balkaria, an unusually peaceful republic in Russia’s strategically important North Caucasus region. After earning his dual Bachelor’s at USF, Lanzillotti earned an M.A. in Russian East European Studies from Indiana University (2008).

Kalup Linzy, MFA `03 and Guggenheim Fellow 2007, filmed a guest role on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital.” According to the New York Observer, Linzy will be the “first sometimes-in-drag


Pennsylvania, a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing om Radford University, a Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Bachelor of Arts from Hunter College.

Dr. Anthony (Tony) Schuster, MBA `05 was named Chief Medical Information Officer at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Clay Smithers, M.A. Geography `08, was selected by the Florida Economic Gardening Institute for an Economic Gardening Team that will serve as a technical assistance analyst in support

of growing second-stage companies as part of the GrowFL program. He will offer expertise to participating companies through an advanced mapping technology called Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Smithers is also a GIS developer at WRScompass, an engineering firm based in Tampa.

Jennifer Spegon, Environmental Science & Policy `02, earned her Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Duke University on May 16, 2010. She worked with the Southwest Florida Water Management District before leaving Florida and heading to Wyoming, where she has worked for the United States Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management for the past six years. During her time with the DOI-BLM she worked in one of the highest-producing oil and gas permitting offices, a pilot office identified by the Bush Administration’s 2005 Energy Policy Conservation Act. Spegon spent these last few years writing mitigation for the protection of natural resources during the height of energy development in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. She is passionate about protection of natural resources and tailored her Master’s research to study reclamation and restoration of ecological systems during energy development.

Lt. Col. Jason Strickland, MPA `05, was selected to be the Chief, U.S. Army Geospatial-Intelligence (GEOINT) Office at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) headquarters

in Bethesda, MD.

Jermaine Terry, Dance `05, recently received a contract with the first company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York.

Michael Zelenak, M.A. Music Education `01, is a Ph.D student in Music Education in the College of The Arts and participated in the 2010 Biennial Music Educators National Conference, held March 25-27, 2010 in Anaheim, CA. At the conference, Zelenak presented a research poster: “A Mixed Methods Analysis of a Professional Development Model for Integrating Technology into the Music Classroom.” In the project, Zelenak evaluated a music technology

black performance artist on daytime television.” Linzy is best known for his series of performance artwork satirizing the tone and narrative approach of soap operas. Linzy performs most of the characters himself, many of them in drag.

Angela Lloyd, MSPH `09, was named as a fellow in the Houston-Galveston Schweitzer Fellows Program, of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. The fellowship provides service opportunities and support for graduate students in health-related fields and undergraduates certified to practice upon graduation (i.e. social work, nursing, etc.) who seek to help those currently underserved by our healthcare system.

Dr. Robert Norman, MPH `01, was the editor of and a contributor to the new book, Preventative Dermatology, “the first book fully dedicated to prevention of skin disease,” according to its publisher, Springer. The book also includes a chapter from USF grad Lisa Hutchison, MPH `01.

Frantz Pierre, International Studies `01, assumed command of the U.S. Army Alpha Company, 602nd Aviation Support Battalion at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. Capt. Pierre and his wife Sanel, welcomed their new son Mikhail Kabelo Pierre on June 1, 2010 in Cheonan, South Korea.

David Reali, Accounting `09, is a staff accountant in the firm CS&L CPAs in Bradenton, FL. He started with the firm as an intern in February 2009, and became a full-time employee in April 2009. He specializes in individual taxes and QuickBooks for small businesses. Reali was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Manatee Children’s Services, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Manatee County.

Samuel Realista, M.S. Nursing `09, passed his certifications by the AANP and the ANCC and received his certifications as a nurse practitioner. He works for West Orange Nephrology

as a nephrology nurse practitioner for Dr. Banji Awosika in Ocoee, FL He has been accepted into the University of Florida’s Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) where he is studying part-time. He is also going with First Baptist Church of Orlando on a mission to the Dominican Republic to help some of the impoverished communities by seeing patients in a faith-based clinic.

Lisa Rinsdale, Doctor of Nursing Practice `07, is an assistant professor at Florida Southern College. Her practice specialty is Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. In addition to her DNP, Rinsdale also has earned an Master’s of Science in Nursing from the University of

notesclass

in memoriam

Allison Clayback, `08, 6/18/2010

Maria McNamara Toole Schultz, M.A. `02, 5/13/2010

James Robinson, `79, 4/16/2010

Daryl B. Sanchez, `95 & `01, 3/28/2010

Richard Singer, `95 & `97, 11/19/1999

Sandra Helen Wilson, Ph.D `73, 6/21/2010

training program for in-service teachers held in a local Tampa Bay school district. He found a significant difference between program participants and non-participants and also between secondary and elementary teachers, in their knowledge and skills with music technology.

`10s

Darin Garrison, Studio Art `10, was selected to show his artwork at the 21st Annual University Student Exhibition, held June 18 to August 28, at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, FL. The state’s most prestigious and selective exhibition of student artists has included USF representation every year of its existence.

Carmen Tiffany, MFA `10 and April Childers, MFA `09, participated in SITEfest 2010, a two-day interdisciplinary event in March highlighting the diversity of performance in Brooklyn’s emerging art scene, Bushwick. Now in its second year, SITEfest reflects the progressive live art in BETA Spaces and open studios encompassing a variety of forms including theater, dance, music, and collaborative performance. Childers and Tiffany formed the collective Destineez Child as a means of examining the nature of cheaply mass-produced commodities and the process of where and by whom these items are accumulated. Destineez Child also explores themes in trickle down marketing and cultural phenomenon surrounding places, such as convenience stores, hair salons, car washes and flea markets.



athletics

Success is relative in college football. Your USF Bulls, by any standard, have enjoyed a rapid climb toward national prominence since their first game in 1997. Not

so long ago, Bulls fans spent their autumn Mondays eagerly awaiting the release of the weekly NCAA Division I-AA poll. Success back then meant seeing USF show up on the list of “others receiving votes.”

Each new season presented new obstacles, new expec-tations. The Bulls graduated from I-AA to I-A independent, played briefly in Conference USA, then gladly accepted an invitation to join the revamped BIG EAST Conference in 2005. By 2007, the Bulls’ third season in the BIG EAST, victories against No. 17 Auburn and No. 5 West Virginia

st a Conference Title, then a BCS BowlThat’s what the Bulls need to take their game to the next level, say the local sports media.

By Carter Gaddis

propelled USF to a No. 2 national ranking. That moment stirred new dreams of a conference championship, a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) invitation – even a national title. None of that happened, of course, but the mere fact that the Bulls could be mentioned seriously in conversations about college football’s premier achievement meant that USF once again had redefined its definition of success.

Which brings us to the dawn of the Skip Holtz Era at the University of South Florida. As the former East Carolina and University of Connecticut head coach takes over on the USF sideline, he becomes the lead character in a story with a quickly rising arc toward the top of the college game, interrupted in recent years by an abrupt (and frustrating) in-ability to reach the pinnacle.

As the Bulls began their 14th season, their first under Holtz, three close observers of the program offered their thoughts on what constitutes the “next level” for the Bulls, and what Holtz can do to get them there:

Steve Duemig, afternoon host, WDAE-620 AM, the Sports Animal:

“The next level for the Bulls is to win the BIG EAST championship. You’ve got to crawl before you can walk, and to me, they haven’t gotten out of next-to-last place in the last couple of years. So, to me, go out there and win the BIG EAST.

“What you have to do in order to win the BIG EAST, you have to beat the teams you haven’t beat. Other than that one West Virginia game (in 2007), they don’t really compete in those games. So, you have to be able to beat the teams that are standing in your way and have consistently beaten USF in the past.

“I have a lot of faith in Skip Holtz. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll get it done. He brings a level of disci-pline that I don’t think these kids have seen before. Which then turns into accountability, and I don’t think that’s been part of it at any point under (former head coach) Jim Leavitt. You have to be accountable to your teammates, and I think that’s certainly something that Skip Holtz is going to bring.”

a

1

Photo froM WDae 620-aM


Greg Auman, USF beat writer, St. Petersburg Times:

“Their big tests in past years have been single-game wins, whether that’s against Auburn or Florida State, or even BIG EAST wins, like West Virginia or something like that. The next step for them is definitely winning a conference championship. And in terms of what they can do this year, I think the first thing USF has to do is get themselves in position to play for

that conference championship in the last weekend of the season.

“They haven’t necessarily finished the year as a ranked team, which is what they really need to do to get accepted. I think right now they have that reputation as being a team that gets off to great starts, validates that great start with at least one big win, like Florida State or Auburn, but then can’t hold up to even the rigors of the BIG EAST. They re-ally have to show they can finish in the top echelon of the BIG EAST, if not win the league, in order to make that next step.

“This year, I think (Holtz) gets kind of a mulligan as a transition year. He can brand it as his team. I think he can use this year to forge a new identity, show what the person-ality of his team will be at USF, show at least a basic idea of what his teams will be on offense and defense. I’d hope by the end of this season, Bulls fans have a better sense for what a Skip Holtz team will play like and will look like.”

... the mere fact that the Bulls could be mentioned seriously in conversations about college football’s premier achievement meant that USF once again had redefined its definition of success.

Scott Carter, USF beat writer, The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com:

“The next level to me is they have to first at least win a confer-ence championship and get to a BCS bowl. That’s not something they’ve been able to do yet in the five years they’ve competed in a BCS conference. Until they get there, they still have that step to take. I think Skip Holtz, that’s obviously why they brought him here. His track record, he won back-to-back

Conference USA championships with East Carolina, so he knows what winning conference championships is like and what kind of teams can do it. I think he’s going to try to do the same here.

“They’ve won some big games in their history. What they’ve done is impressive for such a young program. To get to No. 2 in the nation already, I think that was their 11th year of existence. They’ve won some big games, like at Florida State and Auburn. Or, what I should say is, they have a lot of good wins in their history, but they haven’t won a lot of ‘big’ games. And what I mean by that is games that count in the standings in the BIG EAST record for that BCS bowl. Those kind of wins in big games in the BIG EAST, that’s what has to happen.”

Photo froM the st. PetersbUrG tIMes Photo froM the taMPa trIbUNe/tbo.CoM

calendaryourmembershipin action

September 12 Chitram – A Portrait of India, 4:30 p.m., Oval Theater, Marshall Student Center, USF Tampa. Visit http://global.usf.edu/indiastudies/ chitram.php for details and tickets.

25 USF vs. Western Kentucky, Time TBA, Raymond James Stadium. Visit www.GoUSFBulls.com for tickets.

30 USF Hispanic Heritage Celebration Kickoff, 5 p.m., Traditions Hall, Gibbons Alumni Center, USF Tampa.

October 2 USF vs. Florida Atlantic University, TBA, Raymond James Stadium. Visit www.GoUSFBulls.com for tickets.

8 USF Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting, 9 a.m., Traditions Hall, Gibbons Alumni Center, USF Tampa. Contact Jenny Cater at [email protected] for details.

8 USF Alumni Association Parade Watch Party and Running of the Bulls Homecoming Parade, Party begins at 6 p.m.; Parade at 7 p.m., in front of the Gibbons Alumni Center, USF Tampa. Free. Visit www.USFalumni.org for details.

9 Bulls Roast Tailgate, 3 hours before kickoff, in the fenced lot outside Gates A & B at Raymond James Stadium. Visit http://usfalumni.org/bullsroast for details and tickets.

9 USF vs. Syracuse Homecoming Game, Time TBA, Raymond James Stadium. Visit www.GoUSFBulls.com for tickets.

14 USF vs. West Virginia, 7:30 p.m. in Morgantown, WV. Broadcast on ESPN.

22 USF vs. Cincinnati, 8 p.m. in Cincinnati, OH. Broadcast on ESPN2.

November 3 USF vs. Rutgers, 7 p.m., Raymond James Stadium. Visit www.GoUSFBulls.com for tickets. Broadcast on ESPN2.

10 USF Veterans Day Ceremony, 11 a.m., Marshall Center Courtyard, USF Tampa campus.

13 USF vs. Louisville, Time TBA in Louisville, KY.

20 USF vs. Pittsburgh, Time TBA, Raymond James Stadium. Visit www.GoUSFBulls.com for tickets.

27 USF vs. Miami, Time TBA in Miami, FL.

December 4 USF vs. Connecticut, Time TBA, Raymond James Stadium. Visit www.GoUSFBulls.com for tickets. Broadcast on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

Eventdatesanddetailsaresubjecttochange.PleasevisittheAlumniAssociation Websiteathttp://usfalumni.orgforthelatestinformation.

2010 USF ALUMNI TRAVEL PROGRAM

www.usfalumni.org/travel

Travel With Us

USF Alumni AssociationGibbons Alumni CenterUniversity of South Florida4202 E. Fowler Ave. ALC100Tampa, FL. 33620-5455 Membership Renewal Date:

PERIODICALS

Explore. Experience. Enjoy.

usf alumnivoice_september 2010

Documents