The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/114745
classnotes Patrick Tormey '86 writes, "I am delighted to be working at PerkinElmer with several other alumni as a result of the acquisition of my former company, CambridgeSoft. I currently manage sales for our North and South American operations. In addition, I have been able to use my skills as a member of the board of a nonprofit that has built a school and orphanage in Haiti (see ryaneppshome.com), and have enjoyed many trips there over the last few years both with teams of people and my family." Mercedeh (Mirkazemi) Ward '86 says, "I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in June of 2010. After six months of chemo, lumpectomy surgery, and 38 sessions of radiation, I am healthy again. Having wonderful friends and family that supported me through all the treatments is why I am healthy now. I showed up to work through all of the cancer treatments. Going to work made me stronger but, unforgettably, after my hair grew back I lost my job due to a layoff. I keep busy consulting in the toy industry these days. My two kids, Kyle, 20, and Arianna, 18, are both in college. Makes me feel old. :)" 11 Larry LaFreniere '88, president and CEO of Electric Supply Center (ESC), was elected by Wentworth Institute of Technology to the Corporation of the Institute. As a corporator, he will it was first released, energy efficiency is not just an important 11 Margaret (Motyka) Shinkle '86 attended Red Sox issue for homeowners—it's critical. The new "Completely Fantasy Camp in Ft. Myers, Fla., and met many retired Sox Revised & Expanded" edition is part of Taunton Press's Build legends. "I played baseball at Fenway Park," she writes, Like a Pro series. Bruce currently serves as technical director "Even caught a fly ball in the outfield—and the small crowd of Conservation Services Group. went wild." Jim Baum '86, CEO of Symbotic, was the WPI Venture Ed Sofio '86 holds the post of senior vice president at Bank Forum's keynote speaker in January. In a talk called "Exit of America, supporting e-commerce. Staged Right!" he shared his experiences at Netezza, a data warehousing company in Marlboro Mass., where he led the Amy Swotinsky '86 writes, "Akwaaba (Welcome) from Gha- company through an IPO and then an acquisition by IBM. na! I recently returned from IBM's Corporate Service Corps, Beyond the mechanics of such deals, he discussed the deci- which is often referred to as the corporate version of the Peace sions that need to be made and the impacts on the company Corps. This wonderful program provides organizations in de- and its founders. veloping countries with sophisticated business consulting and skill development to improve their local conditions. I spent four John Joseph '86 says, "After selling our last company, weeks in Accra, Ghana, working closely with the Ministry of EqualLogic, to Dell in 2008, co-founder Paula Long and I got Health to assess its strategy to improve its national health sup- together again to start DataGravity, with a mission of pushing ply chain and to develop a system to mitigate risks. During my business-relevant information to users from stored data. time overseas, I also explored the African continent, visited Based in Nashua, N.H., we are nearly 30 software engineers with kids at a local orphanage, and enjoyed the local cuisine working to develop our next product for launch in 2014." (mostly with my hands!). It was an amazing experience and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work side by side with the John MacDougall '86 is manager of the Circuit Breaker Ghanaian people. Although our recommendations are only Electronic Products Group at Schneider Electric in Cedar one piece of the overall plan, I'm glad I was able to help Gha- Rapids, Iowa. He was recently named Arc Fault global team naians move closer to realizing their vision of an accessible, leader, managing responsibility for the global architecture of serve as a model for countries faced with similar challenges." and advancing the Institute. Larry purchased ESC in 1997. His notable projects include the Central Artery Third Harbor Tunnel, Boston Engine Terminal, Fan Pier Count House, and Braintree Light Co-Gen Plant, where ESC managed very large-scale projects from start to successful finish. He lives in Boxford, Mass. Greg '87 and Kim (Maddi) Johnson '89 recently celebrated 22 years of marriage; they live in Westford, Mass. Kim is a 7th and 8th grade mathematics teacher at the Innovation Charter School in Tyngsboro; Greg manages global logistics activities for Invensys Operations Management in Foxboro. Their son, Jessie, is a member of the WPI class of 2016, pursuing mechanical engineering while enjoying breaking in the new aquatic facility for the WPI swimming and diving team. "Go, Goats!" Their younger son is a junior at Westford Academy, and currently determining his post-high school graduation plans. Congratulations to Karen (Manello) Davis '88 (MS MG), the new president of the North Carolina Healthcare information and Communications Alliance. She was elected by the affordable, and quality healthcare system that, hopefully, will Arc Fault Protection products. John and his wife, Maeghan, serve as part of a key advisory board for guiding, advising, are expecting their 10th child in May. NCHICA Board of Directors at its annual meeting Sept. 11, 2012. Karen works for RTI International as vice president of research and computing. William Riccio '88 writes, "Greetings from Newport, R.I., where I have begun my sixth year as director of Public Services (aka public works), overseeing the 42-person depart- Winter 2013 83