Class Notes 

1940s
Raymond T. Book ’47 is a former state representative for the 41st district, and reports that his proudest accomplishment was proposing two bills that were signed into law: House Bill 1155, which let people declare organ donor status on their driver’s license, and House Bill 90, which arranged for doctors to discuss organ donation with next of kin after a patient’s death. Ray lives in Brentwood.

1960s
Thomas D. McKinney ’62 is chapter president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees in Dunwoody, Ga., where he recently presented a certificate of appreciation to Georgia Congressman Tom Price for his support of active and retired federal employees. A veteran, he served in Vietnam, Korea, Europe, and Panama during a 35-year career with the U.S. Army Audit Agency. Tom and his wife, Sandra, live in Atlanta.

1970s
Robert Heller  ’74  was named chief financial officer of Heritage Ministries, a Jamestown, N.Y., nonprofit agency that provides assisted living for seniors and social services to seniors and children. Robert formerly was chief financial officer of Montgomery Place in Chicago, and has held financial officer positions in senior living facilities in the Pittsburgh area. He lives in Chautauqua County, N.Y.

Elbert “Elbie” Yaworsky ’75 was named executive director for 3 Rivers Connect, a Pittsburgh nonprofit organization that provides data on the local economy, regional social services, and recreational programs and activities. Elbie has been on the organization’s board since 2005. Elbie and his wife Denise Scarsella Yaworsky ’76 live in Ambridge.

Jes Hutson ’76 is cofounder of the newly created Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in July. Jes has been a kinesiology faculty member with Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, for 13 years and lives in Uniontown.

1980s
Debi Ronczka Leopardi ’80 has been named general manager of Value Ambridge Properties at the Ambridge Regional Distribution & Manufacturing Center. She is responsible for operations and budgeting for the 85-acre industrial business park in Beaver County. Debi has been with the company for five years and previously was its director of business. She lives in Baden.

Darnell L. Williams ’80 is an investment advisor and the author of the “Bond Investments” blog on Blogspot and the book Building Wealth with Corporate Bonds. He lives in Harrisburg.

Robert D. Beer ’81 joined First National Bank in August as senior vice president with FNB Business Credit Department. Bob was previously senior vice president, senior portfolio manager with RBS/Citizens Business Capital. He and his wife, Cynthia Moldovan Beer ’81, live in New Brighton. Picture

John M. Swiatek ’82 was appointed director of GSP Consulting’s new division specializing in sports, entertainment, and marketing. Previously John was president and managing partner of the Washington Wild Things minor league baseball club. He lives in Pittsburgh.

David Hammer ’83 was appointed Pittsburgh regional president for Huntington Bancshares Inc. in July. He previously was executive vice president and managing director of National City Corp.’s wealth management operation in Pennsylvania. David lives in McKees Rocks.

Joan Horoho M’83 is a financial assistant with Trebuchet Consulting LLC, in Upper St. Clair.

Tom Julian ’83 has written the Nordstrom Guide to Men’s Style, a hardcover guidebook published by the major department store. His Tom Julian Group in Manhattan provides marketing consulting and consumer research.


Martin Webler M’86  is a business management specialist for the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s project financing and technology department in Pittsburgh. He was previously with Duquesne Light Co. Martin lives in Mt. Lebanon.

Lauri A. Lisanti ’87 was promoted to senior consultant at Goff Backa Alfera & Company LLC, where she has been a member of the professional staff since 2003. Lauri lives in Fox Chapel with her husband, Jerry, and two daughters.

Nellie F. Mells ’89 was named president of Pittsburgh chapter of the National Contract Management Association for 2009-10. Nellie works for Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc.

1990s
Kara D. Rutowski ‘91, M’06, director of development at The Early Learning Institute, recently had her research she coauthored on nonprofit benchmarking published in Benchmarking: An International Journal. Kara conducted the research as part of her RMU master’s in nonprofit management at RMU, with professors Jeffrey Guiler, Ph.D., and Kurt Schimmel, DBA.

Tyrone T. Steals ’91 is the pastor of the  Beacon Liberty Street Temple Church of God in Christ in Meadville, and the assistant superintendent for seven churches in the Erie district. Tyrone and his wife, Tracy, have four children: Tyonna, Tyrone, Tyra, and Tynesha.

Dana Yagulli ’94 and Victor Mejia were married on June 6. Dana is employed with Crown Castle International and Victor serves in the US Army. The Mejias live in Washington, Pa.

Doug Petras ’94 was inducted into the Norwin School District Sports Hall of Fame in July as a former three-time all-state soccer goalie and a scholastic All-American as a senior. Doug was also a two-time All-American at RMU, and played soccer professionally with Tampa Bay Mutiny and Chicago Fire. Doug is employed with the Lower Paxton Township Police Department. He and his wife, Liane Schilpp Petras ’95, live in Harrisburg with their sons, Jacob and Evan.

James R. Polliard Jr. ’94 is the accounting manager for FrankCrum in Clearwater, Fla., and has earned an MBA from the University of Tampa. James lives in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla.

Vicky Vento ’94 is employed with PHH Mortgage dealing with its Fox Chapel, Hampton and Butler offices. She has been in the mortgage industry 18 years, and is a recipient of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Pennsylvania Platinum Superstar award. Vicky lives in Pittsburgh.

David W. Durbin II ’96, M’05 is partner and chief information officer of Blackball Online Marketing. His start-up company provides internet marketing services to Pittsburgh small business owners. Learn more at http://www.blackballonline.com.

Jason Halperin ’96 and Kimberly Montag Halperin ’96  are the proud parents of  Jacob Meyer, born on May 7. Kimberly is a medical claims analyst for United Health Care. The Halperins live in Las Vegas, Nev.

Robert Merenick ’96, vice president and manager of business development for Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, was appointed to the Pennsylvania Bankers Association professional development policy committee in July. He lives in Pittsburgh.

Kristina Fausti ’97, director of legal and regulatory affairs for Fiduciary360 in Sewickley, will join the board of the Financial Planning Association of Pittsburgh this year as director of government affairs. Kristina lives in Presto.

Donald S. Johnston M’97 will serve as president of the Allegheny Tax Society. Donald is a partner with Grossman Yanak & Ford LLP in Pittsburgh. He lives in Wexford.

John L. Fisher ’98 was promoted to vice president, ticket sales and service for the Arizona Diamondbacks, overseeing sales for all groups, suites, and season tickets. He joined the Diamondbacks in 2007 as director of season tickets sales.

Matt Monroe ’99  is assistant athletic director for ticket services at the University of Maryland. He lives in Crofton, Md.

2000s
Nikki Soto Franciscus ’00 and her husband, John, became the proud parents of Owen, born on May 29. He joins big brother Connor, 3. Nikki is a financial consultant with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. The Franciscuses live in Hagerstown, Md.

Kristan Bosak Weir ’00 and Daniel Weir ’01 and big sister, Grace, welcomed Lily Christine, born September 2. Dan is vice president for Aon Benfield. The Weirs live in Mt. Lebanon.

Todd Ahern ’01, M’05 and his wife, Terri, are the proud parents of Lucas Michael, born September 12. He joins big brother Matthew, 3. Todd is a system analyst with PPG Industries. The Aherns live in Allison Park.

Daniel G. Horgan ’02 is Director of Community Affairs with Capital One in the Washington, D.C., area. Dan previously served as executive director of Pittsburgh Cares.

Anna Reed ’02 married Alex Kaleida on August 15. Anna is an executive administrative assistant with H.J. Heinz Co. Alex is a Penn State graduate and also is employed at H.J. Heinz. They live in Ross Township.

Kevin McDermott ’02 and his brother opened a Minuteman Press franchise in 2005 in Hermitage, Pa. In May, the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce gave them the Phoenix Award for Entrepreneur of the Year. Kevin lives in Hermitage.

Keturah Elaine Wasler ’02 She recently published a book of poetry, Box of Chocolates. She works for Matthews Packaging Graphics as a consignment purchasing manager and divisional financial services specialist. Keturah lives in Pittsburgh.

Bobbie Jo Belus ’03 is assistant director of development for the Duquesne University department of athletics. Bobbie Jo lives in Conway.

Amy Lute ’03 and Ryan Sutton ’03 have set May 29, 2010, as their wedding date. Amy is a reservation manager at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Pittsburgh Airport and lives in Aliquippa. Ryan lives in Moon Township.

Stacy Sustar Ritchart ’03 was awarded the President’s Club award from FedEx as one of the top sales professionals in the country. She has worked at FedEx since 2007. Stacy and her husband, Doug Ritchart ’01, live in Hopewell with their 2-year-old daughter, Ella Agnessa.

Paul D. Spradley ’03, M’06 will serve on the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council board. Paul is the assistant director of student life for multicultural affairs at RMU. He lives in Coraopolis.

Sarah E. Vijlee M’03 and Lucas E. Brown ’99 announced their engagement. They are planning a wedding for this coming fall.

Stacey Yablonski ’03 was promoted to manager of the accounting and audit department at Alpern Rosenthal. She lives in Monaca.

Jeff Fondelier M’04 was named vice president of operations of Community Action Southwest, a social services agency for Washington and Greene counties. He has been with the agency since 2004. Jeff lives in Bethel Park.

Matthew J. Husak M’04 is vice president and audit/compliance/risk director with Parkvale Bank in Pittsburgh.

Paul Mavrinac M’04 will serve as recording secretary of the Allegheny Tax Society. Paul is a senior manager at McCrory & McDowell in Pittsburgh.

Larry E. Tanner M’04 is a senior accountant for tax services with Beard Miller Co. He is also treasurer for the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project.

Ray Butter ’05 and his wife, Beth, are the proud parents of Max Joseph, born August 6, and his big brother, Logan.  Ray is head equipment manager for the RMU athletic department. The Butters live in Aliquippa.

Kelly Domenick M’06 was promoted to senior management at Carbis Walker LLP.

Dana Hackley  M’06 and her husband, Grant are the proud parents of Cole Patterson born on August 6. Dana is the Student Print & TV Media Advisor at RMU.

Rochelle E. Oaks D’06 is president and CEO of The Oaks Group LLC. She presented The Power of Your Personality workshops at the Blacks In Government National Training Conference in Baltimore in August and at the Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative Conference in Pittsburgh in October. Rochelle is a native of Pittsburgh.

Diana Repack ’85, M’00, D’06 and her husband, Bill Repack, recently achieved the level of black belt in tang soo do, a Korean martial art. The couple spent four years, and more than 2,000 hours of practice, to earn the honor. They live in Moon Township.



Amanda Kvortek ’06 married Brett Williams on June 27 in their hometown of Bentleyville. They now live in River Edge, N.J.

Sherian Foust M’07 was promoted to business development director with ThoughtDrivers, a business consulting firm in the trucking industry. She now oversees the company’s driver leasing service. Sherian lives in Beaver Falls.

Lloyd Gibson D’07 and Regina Gibson D’08 were presenters at the International Council for Small Business World Conference in Seoul, Korea in June. They presented two papers, “Chinese American Internet Banking Acceptance: Implications for Multicultural Marketing” and “Online Mentoring Acceptance by Women Entrepreneurs.” Lloyd is the director of the MBA program at Seton Hill University and assistant professor of business. The Gibsons live in Pittsburgh.

Christie L. Ninehouser ’07 joined Burns & Scala Real Estate Services as senior financial support associate. Christie lives in Allison Park.

Logan Bittle ’08 signed with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the Central Hockey League in July. Bittle lives in Peoria, Ill.

Ryan Gottron ’08 is assistant controller with  Vision Financial Group Inc. He lives in Baden.

Chad Snyder ’08 is a project manager with Smith Brothers Agency in Pittsburgh. Chad lives in Beaver Falls.

Jillian Howley ’09 is assistant coach for the Mercyhurst College women’s lacrosse team. She is also studying for her master’s in organizational leadership there. Jillian is a native of East Northport, N.Y.

Natalie Doran ’09 and Robert Eaton were married on July 11. The Eatons live in Aliquippa.

IN MEMORIAM
Walter James “Jamie” Lee III  ’75, of Northern Cambria, passed away on July 26 at the age of 58. Jamie was the former executive vice president of W.S. Lee and Sons Inc. and was actively involved in Boy Scouts programs.

Robert C. Cogdell Sr. '76 of Penn Hills passed away on August 4, 2009 at the age of 69.

Alumni Awards
In a Homecoming ceremony at the 50-yard-line, Catherine D. Trexler ’01 was presented with the RMU Alumni Association’s 2009 Alumni Achievement Award in recognition of her professional distinction. As management analyst for the Allegheny County Department of Public Works, Catherine orchestrates a program that led her employer to become the first agency in Pennsylvania accredited by the American Public Works Association. Trexler also is an instructor for the Local Government Academy.

Christopher J. Kaiser ‘00, senior account executive with Johnson Controls, won the Young Alumni Achievement Award. Chris was a live liver donor for his mother in 2003, and serves on the board of the American Liver Foundation’s Western Pennsylvania Chapter, as well as his local library board.

The university library’s cataloging and government documents assistant, Karen Spiegel ‘06, received the Alumni Service Award. Besides her service on the university’s Women’s History Month Committee and work coordinating the 2007 Women’s History Month Health Fair, Karen is active in the Boy Scouts of America as a merit badge counselor.

Road Trip to State College

The Office of Alumni Relations and other friendly faces went road-tripping in November for a big game against the Penn State Nittany Lions. While the team may not have prevailed, we had a blast catching up with our central Pennsylvania alumni at a pregame reception at Damon's before going together to the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park.