Mass Communications Alumni 1970s
Susan Davis Jones (1970) She works in the banking industry in Florida. She
earned her M.S. in advertising at the University of Illinois and her Ph.D. in higher
education from Florida State.
Linda Taylor Nichols (1970), owner of Novel Ideas, markets bookmarks nationally
to elementary and secondary schools. Based in Mauldin, S.C., she writes under the
pen name Elizabeth Andrew.
Katherine Jackson Reichle (1970) does sales for a publishing company in Des
Peres, Mo. She worked in Yellow Page sales for 16 years.
Ken Allen (1971) retired in 2006 after 35 years as a teacher and administrator
for the Hillsborough County School District
James R. Bird (1971) is president and owner of Coloroc Materials in Tampa.
He has worked in the family building materials business since 1973. He is married
and has two children.
Laura Avitable Brooker (1971) is a staff writer for Food Service Director
Magazine. She is the former editor of Life & Home Magazine and Bay Area Source
Magazine. She is a quilting teacher and lecturer.
Barbara Drescher Broughton (1971 and 1975) is the coordinator of Secondary
Curriculum for Marietta city schools in Georgia. She has two children and three
grandchildren and is active in the arts and community service.
John L. Renneker (1971) retired from USF where he was the sports information
director. He worked for USF for 20 years, and also served 20 years in the Air Force
before coming to USF as a student.
Cindy Tully (1971 and M.A., 1987) works for the marketing department of the
Tampa Tribune.
John Robert Wannall (1971) wrote for the Tampa Tribune before moving on to
community relations and development. He entered Asbury Theological Seminary in 1986
and has ministered in Florida since 1990. Today he is pastor of Middleburg United
Methodist Church.
M. Paul de Vietien (1971) is associate vice president of Solomon, Smith,
Barney in Indianapolis. Through his suburban church, he has tutored inner-city children
in math and reading. He served as deacon in charge of all inner-city ministries.
Martha Kaplan Backer (1972) lives in the Miami area. After graduation she
married a 1972 USF geology graduate and moved to Jacksonville and eventually to
Miami. She has three children and is active in civic and religious organizations.
Glenn Boundy III (1972) is a lieutenant and paramedic with Miami-Dade Fire
Rescue. He as worked for the fire and rescue service for 30 years. He is married
with two daughters.
Joe Coogan (1972) is a professional hunter, safari guide and writer whose
business is in Tanzania and who also maintains a home in Melbourne. He spent 20
years guiding safaris in Botswana and seven years in Los Angeles with the editorial
staff of Petersen’s Hunting Magazine. He currently guides safaris in Tanzania
and writes a monthly column for Shooting Times and feature articles on a freelance
basis.
James M. Crotty (1972) married
Georgann Petros (1973). Jim served in the Marines from 1972 to 1975. His
sales and marketing career includes 10 years with Proctor & Gamble and five
years with Pepsi-Cola. He has been national account manager for Johnson & Johnson
Products in Atlanta since 1991.
Winona Kahn “Dickie” Davis (1972) made her career at Miami International
Airport where she is a senior manager. In 2003, she celebrated her 30th year at
MIA where she has worked in public relations, marketing and operations. She currently
manages MIA's terminal operations. She has been married to her husband, Rick, since
1981.
Don Gienger (1972) is chief operating officer of Airsage Corporation in Roswell,
Ga. He started his business career with Xerox, where he spent six years. He worked
11 years in senior management with MCI Communications and is now chief operating
officer of a wireless services provider. He has been married for more than three
decades and has two daughters.
William B. Hackelton (1972) is executive director of communications for the
Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. He has worked in agency and corporate advertising,
established and managed in-house advertising agencies for two Florida community
developers and has been in his current position since 1994. He is married with two
children.
Steve Hill (1972) works for the marketing department of the Tampa Tribune.
Linnea Johansson (1972) is president of Johansson Associates in St. Petersburg.
She began her career in retail advertising with Maas Brothers department store and
later worked for the Eckerd drug firm. Since 1990, she has worked in association
management and she recently opened a consulting firm specializing in trade and professional
associations.
Tom P. Keating (1973) is president and chief executive officer of the Ybor
City Chamber of Commerce.
Linda Chase Liss (1972) is a self-employed health insurance agent and co-owner
of Advisory Insurance and Investments in Vero Beach. She worked in display advertising
for the Vero Beach Press-Journal for about five years and then sold advertising
for radio stations. She moved from advertising to insurance in 1979 and became self-employed
in 1981, when she opened the health insurance division of a large property and casualty
company. She purchased her own agency in 1999. She is married and has a stepson,
a daughter-in-law-and a grandson.
Marshall H. Moore (1972) is the president of Financial Communication Group
in Lauderhill, Fla. He has been a D.J., newsman, talk show host, anchorman and voice-over
artist. He now broadcasts on WMEL in Melbourne and has ownership interest.
Mark Wellman (1972) is broker and owner of Wellman Realty in Lakeland.
Ray Wolf (1972) is an Atlanta-based consultant and book developer. After
graduating from USF, he earned a master’s degree in journalism. He worked
for a series of magazines and eventually started to write and edit non-fiction books.
He specializes in books for homeowners, concentrating on decorating, gardening and
other home-related topics.
John R. Ashcraft Jr. (1973) worked in news and advertising photography for
17 years and taught photography for 10 years. The Marston Science Library, University
of Florida, promoted him to faculty in 1994.
Dolores K. Benjamin (1973) is a teaching assistant at the Write Start Learning
Center in Treasure Island. She was the director for the Resource Center for Women
for 25 years, prior to changing careers in 2002.
Debra Fulghum Bruce (1973), an Atlanta-based medical writer, has written 86 books, mostly health collaborations, and more than 2,500 magazine feature articles. She also is an editorial consultant for WebMD. For a list of her books, see her Internet site: http://www.healthwirecommunications.com/pubbooks.html. Bruce was named winner of the 1998 School of Mass Communications Outstanding Alumnus Award and has completed a doctorate in health communications.
Betty Calfee (1973) is vice president of CFI corporation in Tampa.
Robert "Bob" Colmer (1973) is a professional portrait and commercial
photographer in Dunedin. He notes that “Back in 1971, Don Bishop and Bob Kerns
were instrumental in changing my focus (no pun intended). I hope that other alumni
will join in my support of the Don Bishop Scholarship Fund.” Colmer, who has
photographed all of the presidents since Richard Nixon, has owned his own photography
company since 1973. He is married and has two daughters.
Jaclyn Dalrymple (1973) retired in 1991 from her position as associate foreign
editor at the Chicago Tribune. Prior to her position as associate foreign editor
she was a copy editor for the Chicago Tribune. She also worked as a copy editor
at the Orlando Sentinel and as a reporter at the Tampa Tribune.
Philip E. Dean (1973) is the president of Dean Communications in Tampa.
Jim Doughton (1973) is publisher of the Gainesville Sun. He began his newspaper
career in 1974 as an advertising sales representative at the St. Petersburg Times
and became advertising director at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in 1988 and later
marketing director.
Robert "Bob" Fiallo (1973) became marketing and communication director
of the USF Alumni Association in 1999. He is a former Oracle editor and worked as
a news editor for The Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times. From 1977 to 1998,
he owned a publishing company and sports photography business. Clients included
IMG, Arnold Palmer, the Tampa Bay Bandits, the Buccaneers, GTE Classic, Chi Chi
Rodriguez, Chrysler Cup and the Outback Bowl.
Vivian J. Muley Fiallo (1973) is a guidance resource specialist at Hillsborough
High School. She married Robert Fiallo, also a mass communications graduate and
a former editor of the Oracle. They have two children.
Rocky Glission (1973) works in the news department of WFLA television in
Tampa.
Greg Gordon (1973) is a reporter at the Tampa Tribune.
Joe Guidry (1973) is the deputy editorial page director of the Tampa Tribune. Prior to his position as editorial page director, he was the night city editor at the Tribune. In 1980, he earned a master’s degree in English from the University of South Florida.
Patricia McCauley Jenkins (1973), a registered nurse living in St. Petersburg,
writes freelance articles covering health issues.
Tom P. Keating (1973) is president and chief executive officer of the Ybor
City Chamber of Commerce.
Chris Kraul (1973) has worked as a business reporter at various newspapers
from Massachusetts to Ottawa since he graduated. He has been writing for the Los
Angeles Times since 1987.
Michael Kilgore (1973) is vice president of marketing for the Tampa Bay Performing
Arts Center. Previously, he was marketing communications director at the Tampa Tribune.
Lenora Lake-Guidry (1973) is a freelance writer and a correspondent for the
Tampa Tribune. She also has served as marketing and communications chair for the
Florida Parent Teachers Association for 10 years. Prior to free-lancing, she was
a staff writer for the Tribune. She is married and has one son.
Randall C. Lovely (1973) is a base photo officer at Naval Air Station Atlanta
in Georgia. Prior to his position at the Naval Air Station, he had a career in the
military as an Army special agent and as forensic photographer. He also owned a
photo processing center and a photography studio.
Sandra B. Klum Lochman (1973) lives in Melbourne and works as a civilian-planning
manager with the U.S. Air Force.
Tim Matthew (1973) is president of the Gadsden County Times and vice president
of Mid Florida Publications, which owns several newspapers. He has served as a director
of the Florida Press Association.
Shellie Morrison (1973) owns the Shelmor Group in Pompano Beach.
Betsy S. Nehr (1973) works for Crystal Care International, a Florida based
company that her husband founded. Prior to joining Crystal Care, she worked as a
sales representative for Philip Morris for 18 years.
William S. Nottingham Jr. and Mary Susan Denley (1973) work for the Los Angeles
Times. William is the senior editor of regional editions for the Los Angeles Times.
He worked for 12 years for the St. Petersburg Times before moving to Los Angeles
in 1985. His wife, Susan, is the director of editorial hiring and development for
the Times.
Tom Palmer (1973), senior reporter, has been with the Ledger, Lakeland, since
1980.
Katherine "Katie" Ramsberger (1973) is a national editor with CNN,
Atlanta.
Joe Registrato (1973) writes about the news media for FrontPageFlorida.com.
He was a reporter and editor for the Tampa Tribune from 1971 to 1986. After graduating
from USF, he earned a law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1989
and he now practices criminal and family law in Tampa.
Nancy Schubert (1973), accredited by the Public Relations Society of America,
is marketing director for Millward & Co. CPAs, Fort Lauderdale. Before moving
to Broward County, she directed public relations for the Tampa Port Authority and
the city of St. Petersburg.
Vicki Smithson Ruckman (1973) is the founder and chief financial officer
for Basic Engineering Concepts and Technologies in Arlington, Va. Prior to her position
at BecTech, she spent seven years working for non-profit organizations and nine
years in defense contracting. She has two sons.
Steven Shapiro (1973) is CEO of Troy Industries, an industrial cleaning supplies
manufacturer and distributor in Miami.
Laura Sneider Silverman (1973) owns Events By Design, a special events planning
and association management company in Tamarac.
Kathryn Slattery (1973) is author or co-author of three widely-published
books. The books are "The Gospel for Kids," "Grandma, I Miss You:
A Child’s Story About Death and New Life" and "The Grace to Grow:
The Power of Christian Faith in Emotional Healing."
Michael F. Thompson (1973) is the telecommunications advertising sales manager
at the Tampa Tribune.
John V. Trujillo (1973) is the vice president of Mercantile Bank in Tampa.
He has worked in banking for 29 years and also spent some time working for an advertising
agency producing jingles for television and radio.
Christine McDowell Tucker (1973), part owner and president of Psychiatric
Association of the Shenandoah, in Fisherville, Va., received her Ph.D. in 1991.
She is a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist and a certified yoga
teacher. She has three children.
David Lee Tucker (1973) is the minister of seniors, evangelism and assimilation
at the West Asheville Baptist Church in Asheville, N. C. He spent 21 years working
as a reserve Air Force chaplain and graduated from the Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary with a master’s of divinity degree. He is currently pursuing a doctor
of ministry degree.
Libby Allison (1974) is a professor of English and the director of the master
of arts program in technical communication at Southwest Texas State University in
San Marcos.
F. Philip Blank (1974) is an attorney with Blank Rigsby & Meenan, Tallahassee.
Jack Carlisle (1974) is the manager for process improvement for the Hillsborough
County Water Department. He received his Master of Liberal Arts from Texas Christian
University in 1977 and his master’s in management from Florida Institute of
Technology in 1987. His passion is writing and singing contemporary Christian music.
Mike Clark (1974) is executive director of videotape operations for Sony Pictures and Television in Los Angeles.
Michael L. Crowley (1974) is an attorney and has taught law in San Diego
as an adjunct professor for the last 10 years. Prior to going to law school and
becoming an attorney, he worked in newspapers. He is currently pursuing a master’s
degree in history.
Clifton Fisler (1974) is head of quality control and transportation for America’s
Body Company in Tampa. Since the 1980s he has been a manager for a variety of companies.
Carmen Patricia Givens (1974) is married and lives in Florida.
James W. Holland (1974) is a leasing agent for Hillsborough County real estate.
He started his career in real estate management and leasing shortly after graduation.
Ben Kupfer (1974) owns Kupfer & Co. Inc., a West Palm-based film and
video production company with its own non-linear editing system. He has directed
and shot hundreds of commercial and corporate productions.
Cheryl Cowlson Kupfer (1974) earned her master's in instructional technology
and now works as lead instructional designer for a computer-based training defense
contractor.
Gary Lantrip (1974) was employed at GTE in various capacities, including
public affairs. He also freelanced for magazines in the Tampa Bay area and did freelance
design work. He retired from GTE in 1999, and now serves as a volunteer in the USF
biology department where he creates graphics and web pages.
Mike Mahoney (1974), a former spokesman for TECO Energy, died in December
2005 in Tampa after a long illness.
Eric S. Malter (1974) spent 22 years in healthcare communications before
starting Medical Database Communications, which manages publication of a 1-million
circulation women's magazine.
Stephen McGehee (1974) owns Campaign Toolbox, which writes political campaign
software and provides other campaign services.
Marilyn M. (Evon) Mower (1974) is a contributor to The Encyclopedia of Yacht
Designers, which was published in 2005. She lives aboard a boat and cruises the
U. S. Eastern Seaboard. A former Oracle copy editor, sports and news stringer for
the St. Petersburg Evening Independent and editor of the SouthCoaster weekly newspaper,
she moved away from the Tampa Bay area in 1981 for a job with the University of
Miami university relations office. At UM, she created the Department of Publications.
In 1988 she began a new career in magazines with ShowBoats International, a megayacht
magazine then owned by Hachette Filipacchi Magazines and now owned by Curtco Media
Labs. After 15 years as executive editor, she retired to editor-at-large status.
She edited “The Megayacht Century,” published in 1999 and “Caribbean
Cuisine: A Culinary Voyage,” published in 2000. In addition, she is the author
of “American Classic: The Yachts and Ships of Jack Hargrave,” published
in 2004.
William O. Phillips (1974) is an instructional designer at the University
of Central Florida. Prior to his position at UCF, he spent 25 years working for
the Orlando Sentinel and then received his master’s degree in educational
technology at UCF. He is a currently a doctoral candidate.
Deanne Roberts (1974) is chairman of the board of ChappellRoberts, an award-winning Tampa advertising and public relations firm. In 1992, she received the School of Mass Communications Outstanding Alumnus Award and in 1996 she received the school’s top award: the Kappa Tau Alpha Hall of Fame Award. She is one of only two USF mass communications graduates to receive both the Alumnus and the KTA award. She was honored by the Tampa Chamber of Commerce in 2000 as the owner of the Chamber’s oldest woman-owned business.
Andrew E. Slatkow (1974) is a chiropractic physician in Delray Beach. He
graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic and opened his own private practice
in 1980.
Julian Keith Smith (1974) is a public information specialist for the Lee
County government. Prior to his position with Lee County he spent 19 years as a
television news photographer.
Doris "Dorie" Outten Southern (1974) works at the U.S. Department
of State, Washington.
Barbara Lee Tenzer (1974) owns a commercial brokerage firm in Los Angeles.
Robert L. Truelsen (1974) is a paginator, production manager and makeup editor
for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is also the co-owner of a magazine,
Cycling Utah, which covers bicycling in the Intermountain area.
India Woolums Williams (1974) is the consumer affairs manager for the city
of Tampa Water Department.
Pamela Abbey (1975) worked at the Miami Herald, has been an AIDS activist
and was Dade County Schools' 1994 Teacher of the Year. She is now working on her
Ph.D. in expressive therapy.
Diane Detweiler Bach (1975) is the vice president for communications and
marketing for American Gastroenterological Association in Bethesda, Md. She earned
two Silver Anvil awards during her 17 years at Ketchum Public Relations.
Sandy Bailey (1975) is the editor of Sports Illustrated for Women. She was
named winner of the 1999 School of Mass Communications Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Debra Anne Berner (1975) is president of Frazer-Berner Advertising in Holly
Hill. She spent six years in radio promotion and production and nine years in marketing
before starting her own full-service advertising and public relations firm. She
has served as the president of the Daytona Beach Advertising Federation.
Andrea Brunais (1975) is media relations coordinator for the H. Lee Moffitt
Cancer Center and Research Institute. She previously was the editorial page editor
at the Tallahassee Democrat and before that was a member of the editorial board
of The Tampa Tribune. She has published a novel, "Night of the Litani."
Fern Copeland Burr (1975) made a career in real estate sales and brokering
in Orlando.
Patricia Glasnap Chiszar (1975) is an Illinois-based consultant and tournament
bridge player who travels 30 weeks a year.
Harold R. “Robin” Clark (1975) retired in 1998 from the position
of business editor of the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville.
Shannon Odom Damschen (1975) is a realtor in central Florida. Prior to real
estate sales, she lived in Washington for 10 years taking care of her two children
and breeding horses. She also spent 14 years in radio and advertising sales following
graduation.
Richard E. Davis (1975) is a customer service engineer for Pitney Bowes in
northern Florida. Prior to earning a degree in computer electronics and working
with computers for 11 years, he spent 13 years in the cable television industry,
building and operating television production studios and mobile production facilities.
Jim DePury (1975) is the news director for WPMT-Fox 43 in York, Pa. His 10
p.m. program received the 1995 Emmy for outstanding newscast in Pennsylvania.
Ethel Sloshower Donaghy (1975) is an analyst with Nielsen Media Research
in Dunedin.
Jeanette LaRussa Fenton (1975) is manager of Urban Development and
Job Training for the city of Tampa.
Sherida L. Ferguson (1975) is a certified financial planner and financial
adviser for JBHanauer and Company. in Tampa. She also teaches a course at the University
of South Florida’s Division of Professional and Workforce Development.
Jacqueline Habblitz Galinsky (1975) is an account manager with Corporate
Express, a worldwide office-products dealer in New Jersey.
Wallace W. Gentry Jr. (1975) died in 1994 from complications associated with
multiple sclerosis.
Robert P. Griffin (1975) is the owner and president of Griffin Productions,
which prints tourism guides and magazines. He also manages www.seeflorida.com, a
tourism Web site.
David J. Gruskin (1975) is an attorney with a St. Petersburg law firm.
Gary Hackney (1975) is a producer for Spectrum Films in Jacksonville. He
has worked on over 400 commercials and several movies. Prior to working for Spectrum
Films, he lived in Miami and worked on national television commercials and co-founded
a substance abuse program. He is married and has two sons and one daughter-in-law.
John B. Harper (1975) is associate vice president and executive director
of the USF Alumni Association. He was named interim director of the alumni association
in 2006 and became permanent director in 2007. He retired from Verizon in 2001 where
he worked for 28 years. His final position was director of commercial marketing,
managing domestic and international marketing. Harper is an accredited member of
the Public Relations Society of America.
Christine L. Hart (1975) is the director and producer of two daily news programs
for WJXT television in Jacksonville and has worked for WJXT for 26 years. She has
also taught television production part time at Matthew Gilbert Middle School for
the last five years.
Ben Henderson (1975) is a faculty member at the University of Florida. He
is also a public relations coordinator for the Florida Botanical Gardens and University
of Florida/Pinellas County Extension.
Cynthia Horden (1975) is a writer for Redbook magazine.
Marie F. Izzo (1975) is the founder and president of the Inside Review, a
consulting company which provides peak performance solutions and corporate image
enhancement. She lives in Pennsylvania.
Marshall W. Jenkins (1975) is vice president of Internet property development
for Quaylor Communications, Melbourne. He also has a master's from FSU.
Judy Kane (1975) is the vice president of development for Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Tampa Bay.
Marcus Keys (1975) is a film and television producer in Los Angeles. His credits include “The Phone,” “Sunday Best,” “Tease,” “King of Vegas,” “Law Firm,” “Love Again,” “The Thin Green Line,” and “Tales from the Crypt.”
Chuck McGinness (1975) is a news reporter at the Palm Beach Post in Delray
Beach. He has worked at the Post since one week after graduation.
Michael Moghari (1975) is a producer for Miami News Net in Miami.
Dave Moormann (1975) is a sportswriter for the Alexandria Town Talk in Louisiana.
He is also a journalism teacher at the Louisiana New School Academy, a free-lance
writer and co-founder and publisher of MoorSports, a monthly magazine. Prior to
his position at the Town Talk, he was the assistant sports editor of the Baton Rouge
Morning Advocate.
Karen Murray-Parker (1975) is a columnist for Watermark Magazine in Orlando.
Prior to her position at Watermark, she was the bureau chief for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune,
the executive editor of the Gasparilla Gazette and the public relations director
for the 20th Judicial Circuit.
Stevan Northcutt (1975) presides as judge in the Florida 2nd District Court
of Appeal, Lakeland. He frequently writes and lectures on legal issues, especially
family law.
Ilene Pickus (1975) has been a Florida-based freelance script supervisor
for motion pictures, television productions and television commercials since 1976.
John D. Sizemore (1975) is a technical director/cameraman with NBC in Burbank,
Calif. He has worked on major television events including Super Bowls and World
Series.
James A. Scott, Jr. (1975) attended Florida State University School of Law,
where he graduated with honors. He is now an attorney in Palm Coast. He concentrates
on personal injury, employment discrimination and family law.
Robert M. Smith (1975) is the owner and president of Darkhorse Enterprises,
Inc. in Orlando. He invests and manages real estate in Colorado and cattle ranching
in New Mexico.
Janet Pedretty Stevens (1975) is a vice-president of public affairs for Verizon
Information Services in the Dallas, Texas, metropolitan area. She has worked for
GTE and Verizon since 1977. She is an accredited member of the Public Relations
Society of America.
Barry A. Stinson (1975) is an account executive for Clear Channel in Atlanta.
Prior to his position as account executive, he was the creative services manager
for WGNX television in Atlanta and promotions director for WTOG television in Tampa
Bay. He has received one Emmy and several nominations.
Kelly Bohannon Thomas (1975) is a self employed artist. Prior to her career
as an oil painter, she was a flight attendant. She is married and has no children.
Carol Trent (1975) won two Addy Awards for her copywriting, which she did
until 1980. She is now a senior personnel representative in Human Resources at USF.
Claudia McIlwain Watson (1975) is president of Corporate Communications Group
in Reston, Va. She has worked in the computer and software industry and held marketing
management and communications positions with MCI and ITT.
Paul Wilborn (1975) is executive director of the Palladium Theater in St.
Petersburg. Between 2003 and 2007, he was responsible for promoting art, music and
theatre in Tampa as the city’s creative industries manager. He is a former
Los Angeles-based Associated Press reporter and St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune
reporter, and won the Paul Hansell Award for the “Best Reporter in Florida”
by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors.
Sheldon Babyatsky (1976) is a marketing consultant in New Jersey.
Lana V. Bajsel (1976) is a sales associate for Breeder’s Choice in
San Francisco. Prior to joining the Breeder’s Choice staff, she was in veterinary
care, pet sitting and animal rescue. She also started a non-profit animal shelter.
Bruce B. Blackburn III (1976) is an editor and writer at the Inside Review,
an image/mystery shopping consulting business in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining
the Inside Review staff, he was the senior editor for Nouveau Magazine and a free-lance
writer. He was also vice president for VIPCOM.
Tony Briggs (1976) is the managing online editor for the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Prior to his position as managing online editor, he was the Metro section editor.
He also worked as a reporter at the Tampa Tribune and the Clearwater Sun.
Wilma Gordon Coleman (1976) is a licensed, self-employed Christian counselor
in Connecticut. Prior to receiving her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling
in 1996, she worked as a television receptionist and as a broadcast announcer.
Timothy Dietz (1976) is president of Dietz Assoicates Inc., an advertising
agency he founded in 1992 in Kennebunk, Maine. He has written four books on marine
mammals, one of which was listed in the top 100 science and technology books of
1987.
Richard Dodge (1976) earned his master of divinity degree from New Orleans
Baptist theological Seminary. He is the adult ministry designer for LifeWay Christian
Resources in Nashville, Tenn.
S. Rebecca Ware Kitowski (1976) founded Accucolor Printing, Temple Terrace,
in 1983.
Susan Pyles Linden (1976) owns her own marketing communications firm in Aspen,
Colo.
Brian A. Lunde (1976) served as national field director for Jimmy Carter's
presidential campaign, as executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party and
as executive director for the Democratic National Committee before becoming a partner
in Lunde & Burger, a political consulting and government relations firm in McLean,
Va.
Charles G. McArthur (1976) is an area sales manager for Weyerhaeuser in Atlanta.
Prior to his position at Weyerhaeuser, he was in sales as a manufacturer’s
representative. He received a master’s degree in journalism and communications
from the University of Florida in 1978 and has been married for more than two decades.
Patricia Seaver McGivern (1976) is a hypnotherapist in private practice for
the Brain Enhancement Institute in Tarpon Springs.
Milana McLead (1976) is the editor for Habitat for Humanity International
in Georgia.
Anthony J. Mignella (1976) is a senior attorney for the Office of the Public
Defender in Somerset County, N.J. He is a graduate of the University of Miami law
school and is licensed to practice law in both Florida and New Jersey.
Michael L. Nitz (1976) is a technical services supervisor at Appleton Public
Library in Wisconsin. Prior to his position as technical services supervisor, he
was a collection development librarian at Appleton. He received his master’s
degree in library science from the University of South Florida in 1978.
Steven J. Norris (1976) is pursuing a career as a public school teacher in
central Florida. After graduating, he was in the U.S. Air Force for four years and
then worked for Florida Tile Industries and Publix Supermarket in warehouse positions.
Gina L. Randolph (1976) teaches English at Rodgers Middle School in Tampa.
She is the newspaper advisor for the Stingray Sentinel there. She was a finalist
for teacher of the year in 1994 and chairs the Multicultural Committee.
William F. Schwarz (1976) is director of photography for broadcast commercials
and feature films. He lives in Dallas, Texas.
Craig Sheftell (1976) is the managing director at Fallbrook Capital in West
Hills, Calif.
Elanor K. Sommer (1976) is the editorial director for the Center for Applications
of Psychological Type in Gainesville. Prior to her position as editorial director,
she founded and published Business View Magazine and was an editor for Naples Now
magazine.
Glenn S. Throssell (1976) lives in Miami.
Marinda Weatherly (1976) is a copy editor for the Austin American-Statesman
in Texas. Prior to her position as copy editor, she was the assistant sports editor.
She has also worked in the sports department of the Tampa Tribune.
Michael Werner (1976) is director of advertising and exhibits for the International
Chiropractors Association in Arlington, Va. His duties include advertising management
of all organization publications and Web sites, and recruitment of exhibitors and
sponsors for national and international events.
Jerry K. Yates (1976) is vice president of manufacturing, operations and
distribution for the Oxford Shirt Group in Lyons, Ga. Upon graduation, he joined
Burdines of Florida in Miami and was ultimately promoted to associate buyer in menswear.
He moved to Tropical Garment Manufacturing Company in Tampa, where he became senior
vice president of operations by 1989. In 1992, he joined Oxford Industries, based
in Vidalia, Ga. He notes that although he did not follow a career path in mass communications,
he is “grateful for the writing skills (he) was able to develop” in
the School of Mass Communications.
Wendy Wax Adler (1977) lives in Marietta, Ga., and is the author of “7
Days and 7 Nights,” published by Bantam Books. Her next book, “Leave
It to Cleavage,” will be released in summer 2004.
Mike Barnitt (1977) is a Tampa Bay area-based freelance sound mixer working
on various movies, commercials, documentaries, music videos and training projects.
Howard E. Brown (1977) is a finance officer with a Northern Virginia firm.
He was a reporter for the Tampa Tribune for three years, was an agent for an international
insurance agency in Washington, D.C., and was a teacher in Germany prior to assuming
his current position.
Don Chapman (1977), living in Mesa, Ariz., is a pilot for United Airlines.
Ronald Cossman (1977) is an assistant research professor at the Social Sciences
Research Center at Mississippi State University. Prior to his position at the university,
he was an economic consultant and the deputy press secretary for Gov. Bob Graham.
He earned a second bachelor’s degree in 1992, this time in economics at the
University of North Florida and later, a master’s degree in demography from
Florida State University and a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Colorado.
Wilson Craft (1977) is senior vice president of operations for the Atlanta-based
Longhorn Steakhouse group. Previously he was president of the Chili’s Grill
and Bar chain, which is an operating unit of Brinker International, a Dallas-based
company that owns more than 1,400 restaurants. He and his family live in Atlanta.
Lisa DeMatteo (1977) is a senior manager at Charles Schwab Learning and Development
in Phoenix. Prior to joining Charles Schwab, she worked in journalism and then went
on to work in the airline industry for 14 years.
Yvette Gagne (1977) is an account manager for Wachovia Bank in Tampa.
Karen Gardner (1977) is a supervisory special agent for the Federal Bureau
of Investigation. Prior to joining the FBI in 1983, she was a public relations account
executive for Daniel J. Edelman. She earned her master’s degree in education
from the University of Virginia in 2001 and is currently a doctoral student.
Ken Keeler (1977) has focused his career on real estate marketing since the
early 1990s and currently is a marketing executive for an Orlando-area real estate
firm.
Susan Lewis Knopf (1977), now based in Arlington, Texas, has written, reported
and freelanced for television on both sides of the Mississippi. Some of her work
has appeared on network television.
Steve Paskay (1977) is a California-based television consultant whose credits
include being a producer for "Entertainment Tonight" and co-executive
producer for "America’s Funniest Home Videos."
Paula Lohse Payne (1977) is the owner of WBZ Mechanical Contracting, a firm
that specializes in government contracts. She lives in Colorado with her husband
and has two children.
Cynthia Martin Ondecker (1977) is director of customer service at American
Express, Tampa.
Dean Scott Splitstone (1977) is a landlord, telephone solicitor and independent
artist. "What a long strange trip it’s been," he writes.
Joe Torelli (1977) is director of broadcast applications for Quantel in New
York. Torelli has been on both sides of the broadcast news business for more than
25 years. His 13 years as and editor and photojournalist for NBC News gave him first
hand experience in more than 70 countries covering Papal trips, presidential summits,
earthquakes hurricanes and floods, Central American civil wars and terrorism in
the Middle East. In 1992, after being exposed to digital non-linear editing technology
at NBC News, he became the senior product specialist at then newcomer Avid Technology.
In 2002, he received the J. Winton Lemen Fellowship Award from the National Press
Photographers Association, "for his outstanding work in the development of
non-linear video editing systems for TV News operations and his commitment to the
NPPA, photojournalists and photojournalism." In 2003, he joined Quantel, where
his duties include product design of server-based news and graphics products, workflow
analysis, and streamlining Quantel's approach to the broadcast news and graphics
environment.
Chris Hulsebosch Ward (1977) is the manager of marketing and media relations
for Goodwill Industries. Prior to her position with Goodwill, she was the marketing
manager for Price Waterhouse Coopers and a staff writer for the Florida Dental Association.
She is married and lives in Tampa.
John "Jack" Windish (1977) is vice president of Corporate Insurance
Management in St. Louis, where he has worked for 20 years as a commercial lines
insurance broker.
Cindy J. Aaronson (1978) teaches master’s students at Columbia University
School of Social Work, in addition to having a private psychotherapy practice and
working part-time at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in psychiatric research. She earned
her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University in 1985 and her
doctorate in social work from the same institution in 2001. She has two children.
Deborah E. Babyatsky-Grayson (1978) has published three books and earned
her master's in counseling psychology since graduation. She is a registered poetry
therapist in Fort Lauderdale.
Dana Thomas Beyerle (1978) is bureau chief for New York Times Regional Newspapers
in Alabama. He has worked at the Tampa Tribune, Plant City Courier, Decatur Daily
and United Press International.
Chuck Bruno (1978) is vice president of DiMare Tampa.
Robin Buller (1978) is an administrator for the Broward County Housing Finance
Authority.
Marilyn A. Carter (1978) is executive director of Meals on Wheels in Tampa.
Brenda Chapman (1978) is a homemaker in Mesa, Ariz.
Randall Coppersmith (1978) is chairman and chief executive officer of the
Breakaway Group, a full-service marketing communications agency in Leesburg, Va.
Silvia Curbelo (1978), a Tampa resident, writes and edits for Aubrey Organics.
She has received writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the
Cintas Foundation and the Florida Arts Council. She has just published a collection
of poems, "The Secret History of Water."
Jeff Dunlap (1978) is the president of Powerline Public Relations and a speech
writer for senior executives at large companies. He is the author of four books
about business applications and is the father of one son and one daughter.
John W. Fritts (1978) is senior quality engineer, Primex Technologies, Red
Lion, Pa.
Robert Gomez Jr. (1978) works for Sight to Key Services Group and has spent
more than 22 years in the commercial real estate industry. He also spent eight years
in the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard. He lives in Tampa with his wife, one
daughter and one son.
David A. Grachek (1978) is a court clerk for the Clerk of the Circuit Court
in Hillsborough County. He worked for numerous radio stations as a station manager,
board director and public service director prior to his position with the court.
Cheryl Arden Hand (1978) is the manager of a Prudential office in New Jersey.
She has worked in real estate for 15 years, is married and has two children.
Deborah Stone Hess (1978) is a reporter at WJZ television in Baltimore, Md.
She also works as a freelance writer, producer and director for corporate videos.
Kathy Hindman (1978) is the office manager for Holmes, Hepher and Associates
Architects. Prior to her position as office manager, she spent five years as a business
manager at Wright’s Gourmet House. She also worked in marketing and as a reporter
for the Tampa Tribune. She lives in Tampa with her husband and one son.
Dolisa Lund Horvath (1978) is a substitute teacher. Prior to working in teaching,
she traveled and worked in Hawaii and in Alaska. She also worked at Paramount Studios
in California. She is married and has one son and one daughter.
Gretchen Beckham Hunter (1978) works as a director of human resources. One
of her sons is also a USF graduate. She has two other children and is a PTA president.
Robin Kurtzman (1978) is a production manager at Production Partners in Tampa.
She began her advertising career with J. Walter Thompson in Los Angeles and then
returned to Florida to work with FKQ Advertising in Clearwater as a production manager.
Mark Mandel (1978) is the inside contract and recruitment advertising manager
for The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C. Prior to his work at The Post, he owned
an advertising consulting firm in Charleston and held a couple of different positions
in advertising sales promotions at Jay B. Randolph in Tampa. He earned his master’s
degree from the University of South Florida in 1980, is married and has two daughters.
Steven L. Maza (1978) is a Los Angeles attorney specializing in personal
injury.
Elena Minicucci Goldberg (1978) is the assistant city attorney for the city
of Hollywood. Prior to going to law school and her work for the city, she spent
seven years working as a manager for Burdines. She also worked for National Public
Radio.
Keith Morelli (1978) is a reporter at the Tampa Tribune.
Dave Morrison (1978) worked for the St. Petersburg Times for eight years
before starting Morrison Photographics in St. Petersburg in 1984.
Kathleen Elizabeth Thomas Petersen (1978) is an assistant attorney general
for the Louisiana Department of Justice in Baton Rouge. After earning her law degree
from Louisiana State University in 1990, she became a prosecuting attorney for the
state attorney general’s office. She also served one year as an assistant
United States attorney with the Middle District of Louisiana. She works in the area
of Medicaid fraud.
Frederic A. Prisley (1978) retired after a successful career in the Navy.
He worked for a year at WTVT television in Tampa. While in the Navy, he worked as
a Naval commander in the Pentagon and at a computer and telecommunications station
in Guam.
Drew Rashbaum (1978) died in August 2008. His friends, employers and family
created a School of Mass Communications scholarship fund in his name. He was vice
president of sales for Radio Disney at the time of his death. Since graduating USF
in 1978, he had been employed as a music critic for the St. Petersburg Times, an
editor-in-chief of a weekly newspaper in New Port Richey, and an account executive
at an advertising agency. Most of his experience, however, was in broadcast--as
a seller, a local and general sales manager or as vice president and general manager.
He managed Paxson's media group in the Tampa Bay area (including five radio stations,
a television station and a billboard company) and he managed stations for Clear
Channel, Entercon and Infinity. He launched several stations and formats in the
Tampa Bay area including WSJT, WHPT, WLLD and Radio Disney AM 1380.
Sonya Lamb Rasmussen (1978) is a speech pathologist for Hardee County
Terrance Robie (1978) is a bartender at Club 5901 and at Club XS in Tampa.
She also has photography displayed in galleries and in various publications. Prior
to bartending, she produced and placed radio advertisements for several businesses.
Susan Shulins (1978) is a freelance writer and communications consultant
in Tampa. She began her career working as a local newspaper reporter and then entered
public relations and corporate communications, working for several local companies
including the international headquarters for Shriners Hospitals and Tampa General
Hospital. She began her own writing and communications consulting business in 1993.
Marcie Simmons (1978) is an administrator for Central Florida Lumber and
Supply Company.
Laurie Statmore Smirl (1978), director of human resources compensation and
benefits for Health First in Cape Canaveral, did public relations at Kennedy Space
Center for seven years before going into hospital work.
Chris Duffy-Waldman (1978) spent 20 years in health care marketing and public
relations in the Tampa Bay Areas before founding her own consulting firm. After
a move to North Carolina and a stint at an ad agency, she moved back to Tampa to
head up the Public Information function at the Hillsborough County City-County Planning
Commission. She is married and has one son.
Elizabeth Kuehner Smith (1978) and her husband founded the Wine News, a national
magazine based in Coral Gables, in 1985. Between 1978 and 1984, she worked in public
relations for Bayshore Records in Coconut Grove and then for the Miami Americans
soccer team.
Stephen Splane (1978) is a producer at CBS News in New York City. Before
joining CBS in 1986, he worked in news and talk radio in Tampa and Miami,ending
up as a reporter and stringer for the Miami CBS radio affiliate. He joined the CBS
radio network and in 1993, he moved to the television news network, initially as
an assignment editor on the national desk. Since 1999, he has been a field producer,
preparing packages for the "CBS Evening News," the"CBS Early Show,"
and the "CBS Weekend News."
Rhonda L. Agliano (1979) is a paralegal at Ford and Harrison in Tampa.
Randy Bobbitt (B.A., 1979, M.A., 1989) is the director of the journalism
and public relations program at the new Fort Walton Beach campus of the University
of West Florida. Bobbitt previously taught at the University of South Florida from
1988 to 1992, at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. from 1992 through 2000,
and at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington from 2000 until 2006. He earned
a doctoral degree from Bowling Green State University’s School of Communication
Studies and is the author of a public relations textbook published by Allyn and
Bacon in 2004.
Kenton Cameron Brooks (1979) has covered sports for Texas' Beaumont Enterprise
since 1980.
Debbie Herskowitz Carmichael (1979) is the operations manager at Bay Tech
Label. She lives in Palm Harbor with her husband.
Nicholas R. Conforti (1979) is senior vice president at Media Himmel Equities
LLC in New York City. He has two children.
Linda Proper Degen (1979) has worked in television production for 20 years
and traveled extensively covering sports. Currently she is a post-production editor
at WFLA television inTampa.
Susan B. Garnett (1979) was director of public relations for Northwood University
in Dallas until she retired as a result of a medical disability in late 1999. She
now makes her home with her sister and brother-in-law in Tallahassee. While living
in Texas, she served on the board of the Texas Public Relations Association, the
Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Dallas Press Club.
Gary C. Gerard (1979), a U.S. Air Force major, is a senior navigator and
NATO public information officer stationed in Geilenkirchen, Germany.
Mary Glass (1979) is a Florida-based consultant to NRT on acquisitions and
mergers. Prior to her position with NRT, she owned her own marketing and consulting
business for 12 years and spent eight years as director of advertising for Chris
Craft Boats.
Rachelle "Shelly" Pinsky Greene (1979), special events coordinator,
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, traded in her award-winning career as an education reporter
to take up corporate public relations. She lives in Fort Lauderdale. Caring for
her daughter is her favorite job.
Ellen Kemper (1979) left Tampa after graduation and headed home by bicycle
to Baltimore, Md. She works as an attorney/consultant in Indian affairs in Santa
Fe, N.M. She adopted two foster children in 1991 and loves horseback riding.
Brenda Dunlop Laminack (1979) is a telecommunications manager at MCI and
lives in Texas with her two daughters.
K. Leslie Larson (1979) is a project coordinator for Life Works in Texas.
Prior to her position as project coordinator, she was the assistant promotion manager
at WFLA television. She earned a master’s degree in psychology from Texas
Women’s University.
Bonnie Merrill Limbach (1979) is the vice president and chief communications
officer of the Society of the Plastics Industry, a trade organization based in Washington,
D.C. She has previously worked as a news editor for the St. Petersburg Times, an
editor-in-chief of a trade publishing company and a press secretary for a U.S. Representative.
Annette Drolet Mardis (1979) is assistant bureau chief for the Tampa Tribune
in Pasco County. She is the former city editor of the Clearwater Sun.
Scott D. Maynor (1979) worked in advertising before returning to USF for
a degree in elementary education. He has taught gifted math for 11 years, and works
as a stuntman for the Hollywood Stunt Show during summer breaks. He’s also
worked as a circus ring master.
Jim Melvin (1979) is an editor at the St. Petersburg Times.
Jon Miller (1979) is the president of Miller Insurance Service in Toledo,
Ohio.
Bob Payne (1979) is a freelance travel writer living in New York City. He
is a contributing editor for Conde Nast Traveler. He is a four-time winner of the
Lowell Thomas Award for excellence in travel writing.
Daniel Pawley (1979) is a professor of journalism at Northwestern College
in St. Paul, Minn. He has a master's degree in journalism from Northern Illinois
University and is completing a doctoral degree in media studies from the University
of Edinburgh.
April Arfaras Pelaez (1979) is the vice president of development and communications
relations at the Tampa Bay Research Institute. She has made a career in non-profit
management and also writes, directs, sings and acts in various productions and publications.
She is married and has three children.
Les Rose (1979) is a videographer with the CBS network and is based in Los
Angeles. He presents a photojournalism workshop each spring at USF and was named
winner of the 2000 School of Mass Communications Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Daniel Savarese (1979) spent 20 years running several family restaurants
and now works as an outside field technician for Southern New England Telephone.
Ellynne Schaffner (1979) is a print production manager for Circle K Advertising
and for Radio Shack and lives in Texas.
Sheridan John Southerland (1979) is an account executive for Entravision
Group, an affiliate of the Univision Network in Denver, Colo.
Ana Veciana-Suarez (1979) is a syndicated columnist for the Miami Herald.
Her latest book, Birthday Parties in Heaven, was published in October 2000 and excerpted
in the October 2000 issue of O: The Oprah Magazine. She lives in Miami with her
family.
Jeff Turk (1979), branch manager, Intervise Consultants, worked as a stockbroker
in California for 15 years before moving back to the east coast to manage a consulting
business in Raleigh, N.C.
Charles Robert Underwood (1979) is a Los Angeles-based free-lance television producer and writer. His latest work was as executive producer for the "Wrong Coast" mini-series. His earliest credited work was a producer, executive story editor or writer for many episodes of "Night Court" for network television.