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Jim Hickerson, CE 56, and wife Carole will be honored by the Honolulu Council of the Navy League of the United States at the council’s seventh annual American Patriot Awards Dinner on Aug. 7. Hickerson, who retired as a captain after 30 years of service to the Navy, spent nearly six years as a POW in North Vietnam after his aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile during an air mission in 1967 and he was forced to eject. Carole, whose first husband, a Marine Corps captain, vanished in ’67 while piloting a secret helicopter mission in Laos, helped create the National League of Families for POW/MIAs and served as its second president and a member of its board of directors.
Benjamin S. Persons, CE 50, of Atlanta, has been reappointed to the state board of registration for professional geologists by Gov. Sonny Perdue. A consulting civil engineer and geologist, Persons is a fellow with the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Geological Society of America and a member and subject matter expert of the Council of Geologic Examiners and Association of State Boards of Geology. He and his wife, Frances, have three children and five grandchildren.
Bill Whitworth, IM 51, wrote a mystery novel titled Butterfly Girl, published by Land of the Sky Books. Whitworth was a training executive with Southern Bell before owning and operating a purebred polled hereford business. He later began acting, landing a recurring role as Goody Tate on the TV series In the Heat of the Night and the part of Jackknife Jack in the 2007 film Ghost Town The Movie. Whitworth lives in Waynesville, N.C., with his wife, Christine, and cat, Priscilla.
Gary M. Cooper, M CP 61, of Birmingham, Ala., was inducted into the American Institute of Certified Planners’ College of Fellows in April. During his 50-year career, Cooper crafted one of Alabama’s first greenway plans; reshaped development standards after Hurricane Frederic struck Gulf Shores, Ala., in 1979; and contributed to Alabama’s first industrial heritage plan. Cooper also created state and regional planning agencies in Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Don P. Giddens, AE 63, MS AE 65, PhD AE 66, dean of the Georgia Tech College of Engineering, has been elected by the membership of the American Society of Engineering Education to serve as president-elect for 2010-11. He will assume the role of president next year.
J.E. “Eddie” Hicks, IE 63, MS IM 68, completed a two-year term as chairman of the board of the Worldwide Vending Association. He is the owner and CEO of Prestige Services Inc., near Albany, N.Y., and a past chairman of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, which named him Industry Person of the Year.
George Thomas “Tom” Humphrey III, AE 64, retired from Raytheon after completing a simulation project on airborne mine countermeasures for the Navy. In his 35 years in the training simulation field, he was instrumental in developing flight simulators and training equipment for NASA and the Department of Defense. Humphrey joined Raytheon in 2000 to work on the development of the astronaut training facility for the International Space Station. He and wife Mary Beth recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
Lawrence W. Olinger, MS SanE 68, was awarded the Harold Williams Award for Professional Excellence from Dewberry. Olinger is president of federal services for Dewberry. He is a longtime member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers and currently serves on its foundation advisory board. He also is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers and American Water Resources Association.
Willis J. Potts Jr., IE 69, was elected by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents to serve a one-year term as the board’s chair through June 30, 2011.
Dave “Bio” Baranek, Psy 79, joined Maverick, Iceman, Goose and Merlin dog fighting through the sky in the 1986 film Top Gun. Baranek had earned his wings as a naval flight officer in 1980 and risen to become a Top Gun instructor at the Navy’s elite fighter weapons school when he was assigned by the Pentagon to assist in filming the flying scenes of the movie, featuring Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer. Baranek, just like the pilots in the movie, was a skilled operator of the F-14 Tomcat. That passion for aircraft began with drawing and constructing planes while a child and continued through his ROTC experience at Georgia Tech. As Baranek writes in his new book, Topgun Days, the film experience included “riding in limousines to attend gala premieres and being singled out by giggling teenagers and awed schoolboys who recognized the name ‘Top Gun’ on [my] T-shirts.” After finishing a 20-year career in the Navy that included an assignment to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Baranek retired. He now works for a defense contractor in the Washington, D.C., area.
Andrew R. “Andy” Chambers, CE 75, of Fayetteville, Ga., has been reappointed to the state construction industry licensing board by Gov. Sonny Perdue. Chambers, who is the vice president of Gallagher Electric and Engineering Co., has been a member of the board since 1998. Chambers and his wife, Jeanne, have two children.
Thomas D. Gambino, CE 79, president of Prime Engineering Inc., joined U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as one of 10 U.S. business leaders on the first cabinet-level trade mission of the Obama administration. The delegation visited Jakarta, Indonesia, in May to explore opportunities to meet Indonesia’s growing demand for clean energy technologies.
Guy Gober, ISyE 75, completed a bicycle ride from Savannah, Ga., to San Diego to raise money for medical scholarships and prostate cancer research. Gober’s son Redding joined him on the 2,500-mile trip. More information is available at prostatecancerawarenessride.synthasite.com. Gober has a urology practice in a renovated 120-year-old farmhouse in Tiger, Ga. He is an Army colonel who has deployed to Iraq twice to serve in combat support hospitals.
H. Scott Kroell Jr., IE 72, of Midway, Ga., has been appointed to the state board of nursing home administrators by Gov. Sonny Perdue. Kroell is the CEO of Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville. He is a fellow at the American College of Healthcare Executives; a member of the Liberty County Board of Health; and a board member for The Heritage Bank. He and his wife, Diane, have two children.
Robert Paul Sherwood Sr., ChE 74, received a master of divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in May 2009 and joined Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Ga., as associate pastor in January.
William L. Snowden, M CP 77, was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He currently is the director of planning and economic development for the city of Tuscaloosa, Ala. Snowden previously served as planning director and later as assistant city manager of Albany, Ga.
Carine Scarborough Bullock, ME 85, has been named regional plant general manager of Florida Power & Light’s newest power plant, the West County Energy Center in Loxahatchee, Fla. She lives in Palm City with her husband, Douglas.
David Deiters, IM 82, has been promoted to co-president of global consulting firm North Highland. Deiters previously led North Highland’s flagship Atlanta office.
Jeffrey Hankin, EE 89, was elected to the Sparling board of directors at the annual meeting of shareholders. Hankin is vice president of market development and principal of the San Diego office. He joined Sparling in 1990 and became a shareholder in 1994. He was named a principal in 1999 and vice president this year.
Tom Hendricks, ChE 84, has been named vice president at Fluor Corp. He is responsible for the Southeast Asia operations of the manufacturing and life sciences business segment. Hendricks, a registered professional engineer with an MBA from Clemson, has worked for Fluor for 22 years.
Raymond King, Mgt 87, became president and CEO of Zoo Atlanta June 1. He replaced fellow Tech alumnus Dennis Kelly, ME 76, who left earlier this year to head the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. King spent the last 22 years working at SunTrust, most recently as the senior vice president for community affairs. He has chaired six nonprofit boards in recent years: Research Atlanta, Theatre in the Square, Committee for a Better Atlanta, Regional Business Coalition, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. King recently led an $8 million fundraising effort to rebuild the children’s spaces at Fernbank. In 2009, he was presented the Chairman’s Award from the United Way.
Pete McCarthy, Text 81, is semiretired and now in a second career as a math and entrepreneurship teacher. In September, he will be moving from Andover, Mass., to Melbourne, Australia, with his wife, Sandy, and two of their three children for a two-year sabbatical. While there, Sandy will be running Asia Pacific business for Mercer Retirement, and McCarthy “will rent surfboards on the beach.”
Carole McFee, Text 85, was promoted to director of quality assurance of the VF Corp.’s jeanswear coalition. McFee, who recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary with VF Corp., will have responsibility for quality assurance functions in Greensboro, N.C., and Monterrey, Mexico.
Gregory Tarasidis, AE 87, an otolaryngologist in Greenwood, S.C., was installed as the 149th president of the South Carolina Medical Association in May. He is chairman of South Carolina Physician Assurance Co. and the outpatient surgery center at Self Regional Healthcare and a South Carolina alternate delegate to the American Medical Association. Tarasidis received a medical degree from Emory University’s School of Medicine. He and his wife, Jamie, AE 87, MS AE 88, have two children, Anna and John.
Desi Bellamy, CmpE 95, returned to Atlanta and started Ink2net.com, for which he is CEO. Ink2net.com provides a messaging service that allows people to share, discuss and buy off-line content from magazines. Bellamy, a 1999 graduate of Harvard Business School, started Destiny Information Technologies while a freshman at Georgia Tech.
Danielle Phillips Davis, IntA 97, MS IntA 99, and her husband, Chad, announce the birth of son Harrison Clarke Davis on Nov. 30. Harrison joins siblings Hadley Kate, 2, and Thatcher, 4, at the family’s home in Leesburg, Va.
Melissa Jones Efferth, Mgt 99, of Alpharetta, Ga., announces the birth of a son, Walker Benham Efferth, on Dec. 11. Efferth is a full-time mother.
Amy Billups Engel, Mgt 98, and her husband, Nate, announce the birth of a son, Max Carter, on April 28. Engel is a corporate marketing manager for the U.S. Golf Association in Far Hills, N.J.
Jancie S. Hatcher, MS Chem 90, recently received a doctor of pharmacy degree from Mercer University and has accepted a position as staff pharmacist for Ingles Pharmacy in Cleveland, Ga.
Cayman Percy James, CE 99, MS EnvE 01, and Daniel James, EE 00, announce the birth of son Riley William on Feb. 19. Riley joins his brother, Ethan Rex, 2, at the family’s home in Peachtree Corners, Ga. Cayman works part time with CH2M HILL as an environmental engineer, and Danny is a contractor with AT&T’s operations and services development.
Dana Thompson Lowenthal, MgtSci 96, and Todd Lowenthal, IE 96, announce the birth of son Andrew Scott on March 24. Andrew joins sisters Ashley, 4, and Lexi, 7, at the family’s home in Marietta, Ga.
Scott Machovec, ME 97, was promoted to senior mechanical engineer by Southern Company Services. He is in the design engineering department at the National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Ala., operated by Southern Company for the Department of Energy.
Colleen Varley McCann, IE 99, of San Francisco, completed an MBA in May at the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on marketing and strategy. She works in inventory strategy for Gap Inc.
Nick Melitas, AE 97, has been promoted to avionics engineering manager at Northrop Grumman in Melbourne, Fla.
Christopher Rawlins, Arch 95, wrote the cover story for the Summer 2010 issue of Modernism magazine. The article serves as a preview of his upcoming book about beach house architect Horace Gifford. Rawlins is president of Rawlins Design Inc., an architectural and interiors firm based in New York.
Brandon Sherstad, IE 99, and his wife, Christina Sewall Sherstad, Mgt 01, announce the birth of a daughter, Harmony Grace, on Dec. 31. Brandon is a senior manager for Ernst & Young. After eight years working in the Georgia Tech Office of the Dean of Students, Christina is a full-time mother. The family lives in Fayetteville, Ga.
Kristine Lawrie Williams, CE 99, MS CE 00, and her husband, Kristian, announce the birth of daughter Samantha Violette on March 17. Williams, a professional environmental engineer, works for Providence. She and her husband will celebrate their two-year wedding anniversary Oct. 18.
Christy Richards Wright, ABiol 99, and Greg Wright, CS 00, MBA MoT 09, announce the birth of sons Bradley and Bennett on April 12. The twins joined siblings Anna Claire, 3, and William, 5, at the family’s home in Marietta, Ga.
Christopher Argote, AE 09, is working at Georgia Tech’s Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory while he pursues a master’s degree. During the summer break, Argote is working in Indianapolis for Rolls-Royce. The company awarded Argote a graduate fellowship. Argote attended Georgia Tech with help from a scholarship from the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering Inc.
Stephanie Carter, Biol 05, of Atlanta, has been named special assistant to the commissioner for policy and projects at the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Katie Dieterman, Mgt 08, Psy 08, married Dino Sammarco, AE 06, Mgt 06, on June 5. Dieterman is a human capital analyst with Deloitte Consulting in Atlanta, and Sammarco is a senior consultant at Radiant Systems in Alpharetta. The couple live in Atlanta.
Robert Dunton, MS ME 08, was promoted to chief information officer at Tully Rinckey PLLC. Dunton is responsible for overseeing and developing the firm’s IT infrastructure and Web site and supporting the firm’s ongoing growth initiatives. Dunton previously was a marketing associate for the firm.
Will Eidson, Mgt 04, completed his first Half Ironman triathlon, 70.3 miles, in May. He swam 1.2 miles and biked 56 miles before running a half marathon. Eidson, an attorney with Thompson & Knight LLP, lives in Dallas with his wife, Melanie Murray Eidson, ID 05, who works in commercial real estate for Stream Realty Partners LP.
Jennifer Yu Hardy, AE 04, and her husband, Brent, will celebrate the first birthday of their son, Luke Dylan, on July 22. Six weeks after their son’s birth, the couple moved back to Atlanta from St. Louis, where Hardy was a systems engineer at Boeing working on the F-15 Singapore Simulator.
Emily Hein, MS BC 08, announces the birth of her son, Westen Paul Hein-Warren, on Feb. 24. The family lives in California.
Eileen Hitcho, IE 01, MS HS 02, and her husband, Shawn Symonds, announce the birth of son Dean Michael on Nov. 25. Hitcho, who graduated from residency in June, works as an emergency medicine physician in Charlotte, N.C.
Alicia Hodler Hurley, CE 00, and Adam Hurley, CE 00, announce the birth of daughter Bridget Faye on March 26. Alicia is a project manager for Brasfield & Gorrie. Adam is a foundation manager for Berkel & Company. The family lives in Marietta, Ga.
Daniel James, EE 00, and his wife, Cayman Percy James, CE 99, MS EnvE 01, announce the birth of son Riley William on Feb. 19. Riley joins brother Ethan Rex, 2, at the family’s home in Peachtree Corners, Ga. Danny is a contractor with AT&T’s operations and services development, and Cayman works part time with CH2M HILL as an environmental engineer.
Yulong “Clark” Li, MBA 02, has joined Balentine as global investment research director. He is responsible for leading the investment team’s overall research efforts. He previously served as executive manager of the research department for the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Robert Madayag, ChE 02, was selected as a director of the management division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for a two-year term. He is an attorney in the Atlanta office of Woodcock Washburn LLP and a trustee of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.
Grace Ou, MS IDT 05, a co-founder of Rival Industries, was featured in the April issue of Digital Signage Magazine in response to Rival’s award-winning touch-screen applications Virtual Home and Mobile Games Market, which were showcased at Samsung’s inaugural Race to Innovation competition and the 2010 Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas.
Ravi Puri, MS MoT 00, has been appointed a vice president of the global consulting firm North Highland. Puri leads North Highland’s CIO Services & Supply Chain Management practice. He previously held leadership positions at IBM and Deloitte.
Troy Rice, IE 01, and his wife, Tracy, announce the birth of daughter Reagan Marie Rice on March 31 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Rice is director of corporate sourcing for Florida Power & Light and a member of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association’s board of trustees.
Christina Sewall Sherstad, Mgt 01, and Brandon Sherstad, IE 99, announce the birth of a daughter, Harmony Grace, on Dec. 31. After eight years working in the Georgia Tech Office of the Dean of Students, Christina is a full-time mother. Brandon is a senior manager for Ernst & Young. The family lives in Fayetteville, Ga.
Jeff Weese, MS IDT 05, a co-founder of Rival Industries, was featured in the April issue of Digital Signage Magazine in response to Rival’s award-winning touch-screen applications Virtual Home and Mobile Games Market, which were showcased at Samsung’s inaugural Race to Innovation competition and the 2010 Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas.
Greg Wright, CS 00, MBA MoT 09, and his wife, Christy Richards Wright, ABiol 99, announce the birth of twin sons Bradley and Bennett on April 12. The twins joined siblings Anna Claire, 3, and William, 5, at the family’s home in Marietta, Ga.
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Kudos to Dr. Gober.on your successful ride for prostate awareness!