The editors of the eDelt, our communication to Michigan Delta Chi fraternity members, decided to implement a new bi-monthly section called “Alumni Updates.” Our plan is to keep members in the loop in the forthcoming years by letting others know what is going on in their lives. Our success depends in having YOU tell us what is going on. It doesn’t need to be earthshaking, just a note. It can be long or short. Here is our second effort which we hope you enjoy. Frank Morrey ’64 at [email protected] and Keith Hellems ’62 at [email protected]
We would like to thank Thomas Bence ’13, previous president of the Michigan Delta Chi class in 2011, for gathering information for us in his time frame.
The editors of the eDelt, our communication to Michigan Delta Chi fraternity members, decided to implement a new bi-monthly section called “Alumni Updates.” Our plan is to keep members in the loop in the forthcoming years by letting others know what is going on in their lives. Our success depends in having YOU tell us what is going on. It doesn’t need to be earthshaking, just a note. It can be long or short. Here is our second effort which we hope you enjoy. Frank Morrey ’64 at [email protected] and Keith Hellems ’62 at [email protected]
We would like to thank Thomas Bence ’13, previous president of the Michigan Delta Chi class in 2011, for gathering information for us in his time frame.
Gary Mervak ‘74 retired a few years ago as a healthcare CFO but still spends some time doing M&A work with his former employer. He also teaches MBA level finance at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, FL just outside of his home in Fort Lauderdale. Gary and his wife Eleanor (a full professor at Nova) spend their time in Florida and also at the farm in Barnesville, Md near the Potomac outside of Washington DC. This year they’ve taken an active role in home-school (due to Covid) for the two oldest grandchildren, with hopes that at least one of them will attend the UofM! Gary M Mervak cell 505-301-1177 [email protected]
Ray Drapek ‘80 After graduating from Michigan I went to Michigan State for a Masters in Forestry (entomology specialty … that’s “bugs”). I graduated from there in ’85 and took a job in Corvallis Oregon. I worked for extension entomology there for 10 years. It’s a state-run organization with the goal of communicating any useful research results to farmers, businesses, and home-owners. So in my case we were working with agricultural insect pests. I then took a job with the U.S. Forest Service working on ecosystem computer models. These have been used for fire forecasting as well as projecting the impacts of climate change on forests. For the last 25 years in my spare time I manage a small nature center for the Audubon Society of Corvallis. Last year this confirmed bachelor got married for the first time I live with my wife Kim and five cats. P.S. It’s been great fun reading the stories of John Russel. [email protected]
Mark Nehmer ‘80 I moved to the Washington DC area with my husband (now 30+ years) in 2008 and became a federal civilian in the Department of Defense (DoD) to help stand up US Cyber Command. Then in 2014 became one of two founders of the DoD Insider Threat Management and Analysis Center with oversight of the insider threat mission for the entire DoD. In the spring of 2018 I helped establish the Defense Vetting Division and the Program Executive Office for what has become the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). DCSA is in charge of background investigations for security clearances and suitability checks for 107 Federal Departments and Agencies. It also provides continuous evaluation of individuals with clearances and oversight of counterintelligence operations for the DoD. In addition it is charged with figuring out how to provide protection for critical technologies. For the past 2 1/2 years, I have been the Technical Director, building the architecture to enable all of these missions, with a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence. Since I’ve been in the DC area I have had the fortune of meeting up with Capt (Ret.) Joe Gradisher (79) while he was still in the Navy and then after he retired and have been visited by my brother David Nehmer (79) and Rick Mousseau (79). On one of David’s visits I used up a favor from the Secret Service and got us a private tour of the White House. I see Molly Berry on Facebook and have been to a couple of marches in DC at the same time as her, but didn’t see her. Best regards and make it a great day, Mark [email protected] 954.465.8856 Cell
Joe Burak ‘98 I live in Arlington, VA with my wife, Elisabeth, and two kiddos, Madeleine (10) and Cole (5). I work as a Vice President of Federation Services for the National Association of Home Builders, managing a team of 15 focused on building stronger local and state associations through data analytics, leadership training, management consulting and professional development. I received my BA from UofM in ‘98 and MBA with a certificate in business analytics from George Washington University in 2015. And contrary to what was in the last e-Delt, I was also awarded the Fraternity President of the Year (I’m not sure if they still called it the Alan Lutes award) in ‘98. Joe Magro will just have to deal ?
I’m happy to still be in touch with several DXs from my time and enjoy swapping stories of the good ol days. I just can’t imagine how challenging it would be to live in the house and manage COVID and school and work today. [email protected]
Chris Bence ’10 lives in Ann Arbor, MI with his wife, Chrissy, and daughter, Rory. He is a manager of procurement at DTE Energy, where he has worked since graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He is a 2x-UofM graduate as he completed his evening MBA at the Ross School of Business in the fall of 2016. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, golfing, playing hockey and listening to music.
I asked him some questions about what DTE was and hockey and he responded—- Before COVID, I was playing in a beer league once or twice a week. I was friends with some of the guys before we started playing and have made a few more along the way. With our new daughter, I likely won’t play until a vaccine is wide-spread.
Also, DTE Energy is primarily an electric and gas utility company, serving southeast Michigan. We also have a few subsidiaries that focus on midstream gas, power and industrial projects, energy trading, etc. I work in the electric utility and am responsible for procuring fuel for our power plants.
Christopher Bence ’10 and Chrissy Bence gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Rory Christine Bence, on 9/23/20. The whole family is happily residing in Ann Arbor, MI. [email protected]
Nicholas Fotieo ’11 and Anna Fotieo gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Harper Elizabth Fotieo, on 11/10/20. [email protected]
Tom Bence ‘13 is based in Los Angeles these days where he works as a project engineer for Zachry Engineering. Tom received his professional engineering license in 2018 and escapes out to the mountains to ski or trail run when he can. [email protected]
Tim Curran ‘13 and his wife Michelle were enjoying the Denver lifestyle after doing a lot of travelling post graduation but have recently moved this summer to North Carolina where they bought a house. Tim received his MBA from Duke University and continues to work in consulting at Mckenzie. [email protected]
Andrew Eckhous ‘13 finds himself in Austin, TX these days as he pursues his Law Degree from University of Texas and recently proposed to his now fiance Merissa. Andrew lead a group with AmeriCorps after graduating and plans to continue to fight poverty and injustice with his law degree. [email protected]
Erik Eklov ‘13 has stayed local in Michigan and is the proud father of two (Isla and Finn) with his wife Courtney. Erik works for Accenture and dabbles with the occasional microbrew batch or ski trip to Colorado in his free moments. [email protected]
David Finkbiner ‘13 is likely running as you read this, having completed seven 100 mile ultramarathons, a full Iron Man Triathlon, and hiked the Appalachian since graduation. He recently relocated to Charlotte, NC where he continues to work for Accenture and enjoys giving back to the community through running organizations (Bigger Than the Trail and Back on My Feet). David got engaged to his fiancé Lauren this month so our congratulations to them. [email protected]
Zach Hawkins ‘13 recently became engaged to his fiance Valeriia and is finishing up his MBA at U of M. Zach recently moved to Cleveland and continues to work in manufacturing for Ford Motor Company. [email protected]
Gabe Hinden ’13 enjoyed a pit stop in Chicago before moving on to live in DC where he is currently in an International Development Masters Program at Georgetown University called Global Human Development at the School of Foreign Service. [email protected]
Ari Kaye ‘13 found early fame as the post production editor for Emmy award winning documentary The Square before moving on to manage post production at Vice and Media Monks in LA. You can find him biking down to the beach for an ocean dip and chess match on the weekends. [email protected]
Mario Longobardi ’13 is happily living in New York City with his wife Alessandra and puppy Alonzo. Mario continues to work at Bloomberg where he landed after college. [email protected]
Matt Pilon ’13 hopped from the east coast to west coast post graduation and received a PHD in physical therapy in 2018 from Drexel. He is just starting a travel PT job in San Mateo with future rotations planned to take him to Hawaii and Alaska. [email protected]
Will Schutt ’13 recently became a homeowner in Cleveland, OH with his wife Sarah who he married in 2019. He is studying for his Clinical Psychology PHD at Case Western Reserve University and just added a puppy to his family. [email protected]
Nathan Shapiro ’13 has been creating custom woodworkings in Chicago since graduating, you can find his work scattered around the city and beyond. He is fixing up a sprinter van as a camper now to head out west in the spring for a healthy taste of van life. [email protected]
GREG KAISER, ‘ 61. After completing my studies at Michigan for AB and MA degrees in Chinese and East Asian Studies, I taught for several years at Min. State Univ., Mankato. In 1964, I entered a special Ph.d program at the Univ. of Chicago, which emphasized intensive study and research in classical/modern Chinese languages, history, geopolitics and economics, along with Japanese and central Asian history. In 1968, I received Fulbright Hayes and Stanford Fellowships to continue my intensive studies and research in Chinese at National Taiwan Univ. and Academia Sinica in Taiwan and Hong Kong. This was the start of my lifelong career of living, working and traveling in East Asia, which has lasted for almost 50 years, and continues today.
In 1976, my wife, Leslie, a China art history specialist, and I started The Asia Group, a consulting/training company that provides multi-purpose advisory and training services to major corporations and banks that have long-term operations in China and Japan; our clients are located in the U.S., China, Japan and Taiwan. Today, we still have almost 50 multi-national banks and corporations utilizing our services. Our work also includes advising government agencies in East Asia, notably the major banks and Keiretsu in Japan and the central government State Owned Enterprises in China.
Spending so much time out of the country, I have not been able to maintain close contact with Delta Chi over the years. In the last few years, however, I have renewed my connection with the house, mainly through long talks with Keith Hellems ’62 and Dave Falconer ’62, former roommates in the old house. We have spent a lot of time discussing the funding and operations of the new house.
My wife and I have two children: Kurt, 38, a ceramic engineer in Atlanta; and Kristine, 37, a cardiologist in Ann Arbor. Both have traveled to China, Taiwan and Japan with us on several occasions. They have met any of our Chinese and Japanese business partners and friends, both overseas and in the U.S. They have also visited both the old and new houses several times, they think the new house is great. East Asia and Delta Chi are rewarding experiences in our household. TEL: 309/222-2173 EMAIL: [email protected]
