Kathryn Baxter-Greene (MED 2010)
Kathryn married Christopher Greene on May 12, 2012, in Staten Island, N.Y. She teaches fifth-grade writing at the Bedford Stuyvesant Collegiate Charter School in Brooklyn, and he is an associate at the Manhattan law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.
Posted: 05/14/2012

Kathryn Flum (MM 2010)
Kathryn, a flutist, is an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for the 2012-2013 season.
Posted: 05/14/2012

Serdar Cizmeci (CER 2011, MM 2009)
Serdar, a trombonist, won his audition with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for the 2012-2013 season.
Posted: 05/14/2012

Michelle Spellerberg (MBA 2005)
Michelle took a new position in Novemeber 2011 as chief marketing officer of Sikich LLP, a top accounting, advisory, technology and managed services firm for midmarket organizations. Sikich is headquartered in Naperville, Ill. Spellerberg was formerly with CareerBuilder as the senior director of emerging media solutions.
Posted: 05/09/2012

Issa Alia (BUS 2009)
Issa announces his engagement to Natalie Balicki (BUS '09). A fall 2012 wedding and reception is planned in Lockport, Ill., and Chicago.
Posted: 05/08/2012

Natalie Balicki (BUS 2009)
Natalie is engaged to Issa Alia (BUS '09). A fall 2012 wedding and reception is planned in Lockport, Ill., and Chicago.
Posted: 05/08/2012

Cecelia Hall (MUS 2006)
Cecelia has been getting great reviews for her portrayal of the title role of the Chicago Opera Theatre's production of Handel's Teseo. John von Rhein wrote, "...the gleaming-voiced mezzo-soprano Cecelia Hall, a rising star of Lyric's Ryan Opera Center, is headed for an important career."
Posted: 05/07/2012

Cecelia appeared in Lyric Opera of Chicago productions of" Lucia di Lammermoor," "Aida," and "Rinaldo" this past season. She will make her Chicago Opera Theater debut in the title role of Handel's "Teseo."
Posted: 04/09/2012

Michael Shoemaker (MBA 2007)
Michael is the chief compliance officer for Driehaus Capital Management LLC and Driehaus Mutual Funds in Chicago.
Posted: 05/07/2012

David Kalainoff (MBA 1983)
David has been promoted to president and chief underwriting officer of U.S. reinsurance at Alterra Capital Holdings Ltd. He has been with the company since 2002 and previously worked with its Bermuda division.
Posted: 04/27/2012

James McKay (CMN 1980)
James, an assistant state's attorney in Illinois, is the prosecutor in the Chicago trial on the killing of actress Jennifer Hudson's family. He heads the complex litigations task force in the Cook County office and has prosecuted many high-profile cases.
Posted: 04/27/2012

Jamie O'Reilly (MUS 1981)
Jamie created and performed a spring showcase, "Songs of a Catholic Childhood," with singer Michael Smith in April. The shows were matched with a special prix-fixe menu at Chief O'Neill's Pub and Restaurant in Chicago.
Posted: 04/27/2012

Jason Eckerly (JD 2002)
Jason has been named shareholder at Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney. He works in the firm's Chicago office and is a litigator whose practice focuses on the defense of toxic tort, asbestos and general liability litigation.
Posted: 04/27/2012

Michelle Stopka (CMN 1999)
Michelle and her husband, Michael, are proud to announce the birth of their son Evan Nathaniel, welcomed with love on Jan. 27, 2012. Evan joined big brother Vance, 18-1/2 months.
Posted: 04/27/2012

Nicole Homb (LAS 2005)
Nicole has been selected for assignment as an intern in the Department of Health Statistics and Informatics with the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Currently, Nicole is a practicing doctor of chiropractic and clinical research fellow in the master of science in clinical research program at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.
Posted: 04/27/2012

Peter Chantel (BUS 1992)
Peter is chief financial officer at SugarSync, a cloud-based data service with headquarters on San Mateo, Calif.
Posted: 04/27/2012

Hisham Alrayes (MBA 2003)
Hisham is now acting chief executive officer for Gulf Finance House, an Bahrain-based Islamic investment bank. He previously was chief investment officer at the corporation, where he has worked since 2007.
Posted: 04/20/2012

Jeffrey Kroll (JD 1990, BUS 1987)
Jeffrey, principal of the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll, has been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. The invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society includes less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellows are selected based upon excellence and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. Jeffrey uses his 21 years of experience representing injured victims and their families at his Chicago-based personal injury law firm.
Posted: 04/20/2012

Leslie Schermer (MED 1999, JD 1985)
Leslie was unanimously appointed as regional superintendent of schools in McHenry County, beginning May 1, 2012. Previously she served as assistant principal at LaSalle Language Academy in Chicago.
Posted: 04/20/2012

Oto Carrillo (MUS 1993)
Oto was appointed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Horn section in 2000. He has been teaching horn at DePaul University since 2003.
Posted: 04/20/2012

Alexsandra Sukhoy (CMN 1995)
Alexsandra is an adjunct professor at the Monte Ahuja College of Business at Cleveland State University. Additionally, she teaches film classes at the Cuyahoga Community College. Alex continues her career coaching and writing with Creative Cadence LLC.
Posted: 04/17/2012

Bryan Wilson (JD 2008)
Bryan was named an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2012.
Posted: 04/17/2012

Christina Toto Lynch (JD 2004)
Christina was named an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star in Business Litigation for 2012.
Posted: 04/17/2012

Ginny Cascio (JD 2011)
Ginny has joined McMillan Metro, P.C., in Rockville, Md., and assists clients with business, employment, intellectual property and artist's rights issues.
Posted: 04/17/2012

Vincent Auricchio (JD 1997)
Vincent, of the Auricchio Law Offices, was selected as a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 in personal injury litigation.
Posted: 04/17/2012

William Bike (LAS 1979)
William recently published the third edition of his political science book, "Winning Political Campaigns," this time as an e-book. He is a journalist, public relations professional and political pundit.
Posted: 04/17/2012

Brent Walters (MS 1999)
Brent was promoted to vice president of STV, a leading engineering, architectural and construction management firm. He previously was associate general counsel, having joined the firm in 2008 in its New York City office.
Posted: 04/16/2012

David Wyrick (MBA 2000)
David became business unit director of the marine and industrial group for Charles Industries Ltd. His prior experience includes product development and design, marketing, manufacturing and business strategies focused on stored energy solutions.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Denise Balfour Simpson (CSH 2005, CMN 2005)
Denise (maiden name Balfour) and Tourgee D. Simpson, Jr. were married on March 4, 2012, in Virginia Beach, Va., at Lesner Inn Catering Club. Denise is currently seeking her Ph.D. in Higher Education at Old Dominion University and completed a masters of education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Edward Buron (LAS 1957)
Ed became a member of the advisory board for the Benedictine University Center for Lifelong Learning. The center is part of the university's Moser College of Adult and Professional Studies in Naperville, Ill.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Elizabeth Vaughan (SNL 1992)
Elizabeth joined Trustmark Voluntary Benefit Solutions as regional sales director for the company's Midwest region, comprising most of Indiana as well as Chicago, its southern suburbs and downstate Illinois. She has more than 20 years of experience with the past 10 years in voluntary and worksite benefits.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Ian Tobin (LAS 2009)
Ian will be a fellow in Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office for summer 2012. He will conduct research for the mayor's senior staff on several policies related to community stabilization.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Malcolm O'Neill (CSH 1962)
Malcolm is the recipient of the 2012 Ronald Reagan Missile Defense Award for his outstanding support and leadership of the United States' ballistic missile defense program. A veteran of 34 years of active military service, he retired as a lieutenant general in the United States Army following a highly decorated career. Most recently, he was assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Rose Doherty (BUS 1983)
Rose has been appointed to the Illinois CPA Society board of directors. She is a partner at Legacy Professionals LLP.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Sarah Schaus (MBA 1996)
Sarah is the new assistant vice president of treasury of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. She joined Allianz Life in February 2009 as director of treasury and assistant treasurer.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Steven Rubinow (MS 1986)
Steven has become chief information officer for FX Alliance Inc., the world's leading electronic foreign exchange platform. For the past six years, he was executive vice president and CIO of NYSE Euronext, Inc.
Posted: 04/16/2012

Alexander Konetzki (JD 2010)
Alexander became an associate in the FEC Compliance and Vetting Department of President Obama's reelection campaign.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Bradford White (JD 1985)
Bradford has been appointed associate director at the Alphawood Foundation Chicago. He has more than 25 years of professional and volunteer experience in community and economic development, affordable housing, preservation, public policy and advocacy.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Ehren Bilshausen (BUS 1999)
Ehren was elected to partner at the law firm of Cassiday Schade, LLP. Ehren works in the firm's Chicago office and concentrates his practice in construction and transportation-related litigation.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Jeffrey Hesser (JD 1998)
Jeffrey was elected to partner at Cassiday Schade, LLP. He works in the firm's Chicago office and concentrates his practice in the areas of general negligence and medical malpractice defense.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Jeremy Robinson (JD 1996)
Jeremy is the senior legal advisor/instructor for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College located at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Jiyeon Choi (JD 2007)
Jiyeon is staff attorney for Lake Bluff, Ill.-based BENNU Legal Services, a nonprofit legal aid agency. BENNU Legal Services provides assistance to immigrants transitioning into the United States, as well as to entrepreneurial small businesses in their growth. Jiyeon recently obtained an investor visa for a Singapore-based investor to establish a new company in Chicago.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Kwame Raoul (LAS 1987)
Kwame, an Illinois state senator, has joined the national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP. He will work in the Chicago office as a partner in the labor and employment group.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Lindsey Nemcek (CMN 2009)
Lindsey (maiden name Drakert) married Eric Nemcek (CMN '09) in Grayslake, Ill., in June 2011. They moved into their first house in Antioch, Ill., in January 2012.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Mark Horne (JD 1973)
Mark, a partner at Quarles & Brady, LLP, has been named a 2012 BTI Client Service All-Star in Real Estate by The BTI Consulting Group, Inc. Honorees are identified as leaders of client service excellence who have impressed corporate counsel with their understanding of business practices and their approach to legal services.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Mark Lezerkiewicz (MBA 2004)
Mark was promoted to manager of the Enterprise Security Program for the Federal Reserve and currently is building a new team.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Micah Marcus (JD 1999)
Micah, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, was named an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2012.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Richard Gellersted (JD 1988)
Richard, a volunteer attorney for Lake Bluff, Ill.-based BENNU Legal Services, recently served as a judge in the opening round of the American Mock Trial Association competition. BENNU Legal Services is a nonprofit legal aid agency that provides assistance to immigrants transitioning into the United States, as well as to entrepreneurial small businesses in their growth.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Stephan Blandin (JD 1986, LAS 1983)
Steven received a Trial Lawyer Excellence Award from Law Bulletin Publishing Company for the highest reported verdict in an Illinois chiropractic malpractice case for 2011. He is a founding principal and partner in the Chicago law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Szymon Gurda (MS 2006, JD 2006)
Szymon has been named partner at Cherskov, Flaynik & Gurda, LLC. The firm specializes in intellectual property issues for small- and medium-sized clients.
Posted: 04/13/2012

Andrew Thompson (MUS 2009)
Drew was named the contrabassoon for the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. A St. Louis native, he was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and its outreach-oriented MusiCorps Woodwind Quintet. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and other orchestras in the Chicago and Boston area.
Posted: 04/10/2012

Alana Arenas (THE 2002)
Alana is in the cast of "The March," through June 10, 2012, at Steppenwolf Theatre, of which she is an ensemble member.
Posted: 04/09/2012

Christopher Feigum (MUS 1995)
Chris performed the role of Danilo in the Kentucky Opera production of "Merry Widow" and performed Brahms' "Requiem" with the Kansas City Symphony.
Posted: 04/09/2012

Derek Gaspar (MFA 2011)
Derek is understudying several parts for "The March," Steppenwolf Theatre, through June 10, 2012.
Posted: 04/09/2012

Lindsay Metzger (MUS 2010)
Lindsay won third place in the Musicians Club of Women Scholarship Competition in March 2012, winning a $7,500 scholarship, membership to the club and a chance to give a recital in the Cultural Center this year. She also performed the role of Daphne in the Haymarket Opera Company's production of Charpentier's "La Descente D'Orphee aux Enfers" earlier this year.
Posted: 04/09/2012

Lucy Sandy (MFA 2010)
Lucy is an understudy for "The March," Steppenwolf Theatre, through June 10, 2012.
Posted: 04/09/2012

Phillip Brannon (THE 2006)
Phillip is in the cast of "The March," Steppenwolf Theatre, through May 30, 2012.
Posted: 04/09/2012

Rebecca Robinson (MUS 2009)
Becky won first place in the North Shore Chorale Society Competition.
Posted: 04/09/2012

Shannon Matesky (THE 2010)
Shannon plays Pearl in "The March," Steppenwolf Theatre, through June 10, 2012.
Posted: 04/09/2012

Stephen Powell (CER 1993, MM 1991)
Stephen appeared in the concert performance of Franz Schmidt's opera "Notre Dame" by the American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein. Vivien Schweitzer wrote in the New York Times, "The rich-voiced baritone Stephen Powell sang with power and authority."
Posted: 04/09/2012

Daniel Green (BUS 2001)
Daniel and Melinda Green (LAS '01) welcomed their daughter, Ella Inez, on March 10, 2012.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Jason Abrahams (MBA 2007)
Jason has joined Club Colors, a global provider of promotional products and branded apparel, as marketing manager. He comes to the company after serving as vice president of marketing at Elgin, Ill.-based National Gift Card.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Jennifer McCafferty (MA 2011)
Jennifer and Patrick Emling (CDM MS '10) will be married June 30, 2012, in Cincinnati at St. Ursula's Chapel.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Kathleen Clair (MS 2008)
Kathleen and her husband, Ron, happily announce the birth of their second son, Andrew James, who arrived on Feb. 22, 2012. Andrew also was welcomed home by his big brother, Tyler.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Kristine Meek (MBA 2004)
Kristine has been appointed assistant director of the Harmon-Meek Gallery in Naples, Fla. She is the eldest daughter of owners William and Barbara Meek.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Laura Bacon (JD 2006)
Laura recently joined O'Hagan Spencer as a litigation associate in the firm's Chicago office. She will focus in the areas of employment, professional liability and condominium association law.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Mathew Siporin (JD 2005)
Mathew was recently named as a Rising Star among Illinois litigators by Super Lawyers Magazine.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Melinda Green (CSH 2001)
Melinda and Daniel P. Green (COM '01) welcomed their daughter, Ella Inez, on March 10, 2012.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Patrick Emling (MS 2010)
Patrick and Jennifer McCafferty (LAS MA '11) will be married June 30, 2012, in Cincinnati at St. Ursula's Chapel.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Ray Melton (JD 1999)
Ray has been named partner at the law firm of SmithAmundsen LLC. He works in the firm's Rockford, Ill., office in civil litigation, personal injury defense, product liability defense, commercial litigation and insurance coverage.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Ryan Kastner (MBA 2004)
Ryan has joined Heartland Bank and Trust Company as vice president in asset management for commercial real estate. He will serve the Chicago metropolitan and suburban market from the company's Western Springs, Ill., office.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Stephen Micatka (MBA 1985, BUS 1977)
After 27 years in financial management at Illinois Tool Works Inc, the last nine as audit director, Steve has decided to retire and pursue his next career. He's not yet clear as to what exactly that will be, but it certainly will involve relaxing a bit, cheering on our Blue Demons and traveling with his wife, Lenore Micatka (COM '77, MBA '85), who retired from Morton Salt two years ago.
Posted: 03/23/2012

William Crossett (JD 1981)
William was inducted as a fellow of The College of Workers Compensation Lawyers. He is a founder and vice president of the Injured Workers Bar Association of New York and is the immediate past chair of the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section, Workers Compensation Division of the New York State Bar Association.
Posted: 03/23/2012

William Williams (JD 1990)
Bill was appointed company-wide chief financial officer of H. D. Smith, one of the nation's largest pharmaceutical wholesalers. Previously he was the company's interim CFO.
Posted: 03/23/2012

Janai Brugger-Orman (MUS 2005)
The following are brief biographical notes for the 2012 National Council Auditions winners. The region in which each singer won the earlier round of competition is noted. Janai Brugger Soprano (Darien, IL. Winner of the Western Region) Age 29 Janai Brugger is a second-year artist with Los Angeles Opera's Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program. This season's highlights include Musetta in La Boheme with the Los Angeles Opera, Juliette in Romeo et Juliette for her debut with the Palm Beach Opera, and the First Lady in Die Zauberflote at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Last season she appeared in Los Angeles as Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro and the Page in Rigoletto. She holds a bachelor's degree from De Paul University and recently received her master's degree from the University of Michigan (where she sang Tatiana in Eugene Onegin). In 2009 she sang Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the 'Opera in the Neighborhoods? Program and the following year joined the San Francisco Opera's Merola Opera Program. She was a 2011 finalist in the Loren Zachary Competition and a Midwest Regional (Detroit district) winner of the 2008 Met National Council Auditions. Read more: http://opera.broadwayworld.com/article/Metropolitan-Opera-Announces-2012-National-Council-Auditions-Winners-20120318##ixzz1pZdK3lAV
Posted: 03/19/2012