Class Notes

Name: Misha Ptak

Class Year(s): 1972, 1977

Note: Misha Ptak ’77 (KGCOE) writes that he has retired a year ago from a fulfilling career as a quality and process improvement professional. During his career, he worked as a government contractor on projects supporting the national defense and protection of U.S. borders. He also worked for the American Red Cross for more than five years, including actively supporting the response to Hurricane Katrina, which was very rewarding. With an electrical engineering undergraduate degree from RIT, and then later an MBA and PMP, He was able to apply learned skills to many different and evolving technical challenges. He has many hobbies and interests, including antique clock repairs and community volunteer work.

Submitted on: July 30, 2022

Name: Marcus Parker

Class Year(s): 1998,2002

Note: Marcus Parker ’98 (CAST), MS ’02 (CAST) has been elected by acclimation to The Tower Board Federal Credit Union for a three-year term. Tower Federal Credit Union was ranked #1 on Forbes Magazine’s Best-in-State Credit Unions for 2021. Since its inception, Tower has grown to be the largest federal credit union in Maryland with over $4.3 billion in assets and more than 210,000 members worldwide.

Submitted on: July 29, 2022

Name: Peter Arthur

Class Year(s): 1978

Note: Peter Arthur ’78 (KGCOE) recently retired after more than 44 years in the nuclear power industry. He is Now relaxing and doing part-time consulting work: DBA Peter J Arthur Consulting, LLC.

Submitted on: July 29, 2022

Name: Lisa Dreher

Class Year(s): 2009

Note: Lisa Dreher ’09 (CAST) was recently promoted to a senior dietitian at the UltraWellness Center. This is a functional medicine clinic founded, by Dr. Mark Hyman. Functional medicine determines how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease rather than simply treating the symptoms. Nutrition is a core principle in functional medicine, and it is a gift to work in an environment where my knowledge is valued and supported! Thank you RIT for providing such a solid education so I could go on to help so many people.

Submitted on: July 29, 2022

Name: Heather Hedges

Class Year(s): 2019

Note: Heather Hedges ’19 (SCB) was promoted to senior CPA at Flaherty Salmin CPAs.

Submitted on: July 29, 2022

Name: Deborah Kinahan

Class Year(s): 1976, 1988

Note: Deborah Kinahan ’76 (SCB), MBA ’88 (SCB) has achieved a life-long dream of becoming a published author since retiring in 2010 from the Defense Contract Audit Agency after 32 years of service. Her books (available on Amazon) follow the life and loves of a female CPA.

Submitted on: July 29, 2022

Name: Mike Phillips

Class Year(s): 2011

Note: Mike Phillips ’11 (KGCOE) was recently recruited to be the senior growth marketing manager for 12twenty, a SaaS company using deep data to accelerate right-fit employment connections for universities, job-seekers, and employers. He was headhunted due to the personal brand he has built on LinkedIn with “insanely insightful daily posts about growth” under #MarketingMuscle. Follow Mike: http://www.linkedin.com/in/marketing-muscle

Submitted on: July 29, 2022

Name: Joel Miller

Class Year(s): 1977

Note: Joel Miller ’77 (CLA) is now living in Oak Park, I.L. and is the director of operations for North Shore Congregation Israel -- one of the largest reform congregations in the Chicago area.

Submitted on: July 29, 2022

Name: Joseph Stevens

Class Year(s): 1978

Note: Joseph Stevens ’78 (GAP) retired on January 7, 2022. After 44 years of working in the printing industry, he am now volunteering at NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) as a facilitator. He also has 5 grandchildren.

Submitted on: July 29, 2022

Name: Mark Higgins

Class Year(s): 1997, 2003

Note: Mark Higgins ’97 (SCB), MBA ’03 (SCB) and Ron Toper ’97 (SCB), MBA ’98 (SCB) hosted the 13th Annual Autism Open. This year’s event raised $23,500 for Autism Up, a local Autism support group in Rochester N.Y. In 13 years of the event, RIT graduates, including many from the Triangle Fraternity in the late 80s and 90s, have helped the event raise over $190,000. RIT Grads in attendance included: 1983 - David Payne 1988 - Brian Fox 1990 - Vince Hesketh 1992 - Dave Bardusch 1994 - Mike Derose, James Stroud, Mike Scorzelli, Trevor Young, Jim Senall 1995 - Chris Merz, Donny Gentilcore, Eric Schmidt, Jack Degrace, John Flannery 1996 - Ryan Shooshan 1997 / 1998 - Ron Toper 1997 / 2003 - Mark Higgins 1999 - Ryan Kiley 2000 - Eddie Aro 2001 / 2002 - Adam Platzer 2007 - Dan Christner ??? - Josh Zenkel, Dave Peneskovic, Dave Browne & Jeff Fitch The Autism Open thanks you for your years of generosity and looks forward to seeing all the RIT grads at the 14th Annual Autism Open in June 2023!

Submitted on: July 29, 2022