Alumni in the News - January 2010
Headliners
Ag Science Alum is Among New Advisers for California Legislature
The California Council on Science and Technology has awarded the first California Science and Technology Policy Fellowships, placing 10 science and technology advisers to serve one-year terms in the California State Legislature. Among the 10 advisers is Maurice Pitesky (M.S., Agriculture, 2000) Pitesky will advise the California Senate Energy, Utilities & Communications Committee. In addition to his Cal Poly degree, Pitesky received his masters of preventative veterinary medicine degree and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from UC Davis. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the UCLA.
More on Pitesky and the other science advisers on the CCST Web site
Read the story in the San Jose Mercury News
Stork Comes Out of Retirement to Lead Cuesta College
The Cuesta College campus is now led by Cal Poly alumnus and veteran leader Gil Stork (B.S, Math, 1963, M.S., Math, 1966). Stork was appointed as interim president of the Central Coast community college in December, and will serve while the campus looks for a permanent leader. Stork has strong ties to the college, dating back to its beginnings. He was first hired as a teacher and coach in 1967 at Cuesta and has served as vice president of student services there. In addition to his education, Stork has a unique tie to Cal Poly: He is one of the survivors of the 1960 crash of an airplane carrying the university's football team.
See the story, including video, on KCOY.com | Read the SLO Tribune column on Stork and his appointment
Custom Cars: The Extreme Rock-Crawling Version
Cal Poly alum Jeff Friesen (B.S., Ag Systems Management, 2004), just couldn't find the car he wanted on a dealer's lot -- anywhere. Friesen's off-road hobby is extreme mountain vehicle rock crawling. He's building his dream crawler from scratch in his workshop in Kingsburg. He got started custom "car" building with the Cal Poly Tractor Team.
Read the story in the Kingsburg Recorder
When Hogs Fly: Alum is Working On a Flying Motorcycle
On architecture alum Sam Bousfield's flying motorcycle, you would be able to make it to the Bay in less than 45 minutes. Bousfield (B.Ar., Architecture, 1979), 53, describes himself as "mechanically inclined." After earning his degree at Cal Poly, he went on to work with Boeing engineers on aircraft propeller technology for a race plane. Bousfield's Meadow Vista-based company Samson Motorworks is currently creating a prototype of the hybrid motorcycle/airplane.
Photo courtesy Samson Motorworks
Read the full story on Bousfield in the Sacramento Press
Food & Wine
McPhee's Opens Second Location in Avila Beach
For more than 15 years, McPhee’s Grill in Templeton has been one of the top restaurants San Luis Obispo County. Now the wine-friendly dinner menu is also available at the Avila Beach Golf Resort - McPhee's second location. Chef-restaurateur Ian McPhee arrived on the Central Coast thanks to a full football scholarship to Cal Poly. He's an alum of both the Engineering Technology and Food Science Programs.
Read the full story in the SLO Tribune archives - sign-in required
Alumna Making a Name at Napa Winery
With names like Little Chica, Middle Sister, Monogamy and Purple Cowboy, Canopy Management Wines are catching the attention of shoppers. Alumna Natalie Wassum (B.S., Ag Business, 2000) is director of sales and marketing at Canopy Wines -- where 80 percent of the sales are to women. She was the subject of a December Q&A in the Napa Valley Register.
Read the interview with Wassum in the NVRegister
Alum Among California Ag Leadership Program's Next Crop
Mike Richardson (B.S., Ag Business, 1986) is already an agricultural leader in the community of Fillmore. He was recently selected to participate in the statewide California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), one of the premier agricultural leadership opportunities in the United States.
Read the story in the Fillmore Gazette
Career Moves
Sierra Geothermal Power Appoints Engineering Alum to Board of Directors
Sierra Geothermal Power Corp. has appointed Bryan Bertacchi (B.S., Electrical Engineering, 1982) to its board of directors. Since 2008, Bertacchi has been the CEO of Radback Energy Inc. He is a certified professional engineer. In addition to his Cal Poly degree, he earned an MBA at Saint Mary's University.
Read the story in TransWorldNews
Alum Named Director of Development at Aimbridge
Aimbridge Hospitality has promoted Kevin Dingle (MBA, 2003) has been promoted to director of development. Dingle joined the Aimbridge Hospitality team in 2006, leaving Remington Hotels, where he had focused on feasibility, financial analysis and ground-up hotel development. In addition to his Cal Poly degree, he earned his bachelor's from the University of Houston.
Read the full story on HotelworldNetwork.com
Alum Will Seek Another Term as SLO County Auditor-Controller
Citing his experience, longtime San Luis Obispo County Auditor-Controller Gere Sibbach (B.S., Math, 1993, M.S., Math, 1975) has announced that he will run for re-election to a sixth term next year. Sibbach, 58, filed papers with the county clerk-recorder in December. In addition to his duties in office, since 1975 he has periodically served as a lecturer in math and accounting courses for Cal Poly.
Read the SLO Tribune story on Sibbach
Alum Named Regional Sales Director at BeneTrac
BeneTrac recently announced Long Beach-based Patrick Baldwin (B.S., Nutrition Science, 2000) as regional sales director. BeneTrack is a Paychex company that provides Web-based electronic enrollment and employee benefits administration software.
Read the story in the Long Beach Press Telegram
Alumna is Mayor of Atascadero
Roberta Fonzi (B.S., Liberal Studies, 1976) was appointed Atascadero’s mayor in December. After graduating from Atascadero High School in 1971, Fonzi graduated from Cuesta College and then went on to Cal Poly, where she met her husband, Al (B.S., Political Science, 1976).
Read the story in the Atascadero News
Veteran Teacher Seeks Spot on Lompoc School Board
A Cal Poly alum is among four applicants seeking to fill a vacancy created by a resignation on the board of the Lompoc Unified School District. Martin “Marty” Lee (B.S., Liberal Studies, 1990), has been a a teacher for 20 years, including adult education classes in Lompoc, after earning two degrees at Allen Hancock College.
Read the story in the Lompoc Record
Alum Seeking Seat on City Council in Washington State
A Cal Poly alum is among seven Poulsbo residents are competing for an open seat on the Poulsbo City Council in Washington state. James Thayer (B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1965) is a retired engineer who worked for Fort Lewis Public Works from 1986 to 2005. He moved to Poulsbo from Enumclaw in 2004.
Read the story in the North Kitsap Herald
Awards & Recognition
Alum, Longtime Cal Poly Dean Recognized by Community College League of California
Shell Beach resident Don Morris (B.S., Physical Education, 1953, M.A., Physical Education, 1958) received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Community College League of California at its recent meeting in San Francisco. The award was presented by Martha J. Kanter, undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Education, and Mt. San Antonio College President John Nixon.
Morris graduated from Mt. SAC in 1950 and went on to finish his education at Cal Poly and become a professor and dean at the university. In addition to his Cal Poly degrees, Morris earned a doctorate from UCLA. He also achieved the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy. At 79, Morris also recently won the Senior Olympic Navada State and Huntsman World Championship in free throw shooting and three point shooting.
Alum is President of the California Farm Bureau Foundation
Modesto-area almond and walnut grower Paul Wenger (B.S., Animal Science, 1979) was elected president of the California Farm Bureau Federation in December. Wenger, 54, a third-generation family farmer, will assume the role of spokesman for the organization on a wide range of issues of interest to farmers around the state, including access to water and economic pressures. Wenger attended Modesto Junior College before transferring to Cal Poly.
Read the story in the Modesto Bee
Business Alum is Among Central Coast's '40 Under 40'
Rob Garcia (B.S., Business Administration, 1998) made the Pacific Coast Business Times 2009 "40 Under 40" list. He is president and CEO of Rob Garcia Wealth Management in Templeton and also a branch manager iInvestment adviser representative with LPL Financial. He is also a regular contributor KSBY's "Daybreak" show on the Central Coast, where he has been providing financial information and market updates weekly for more than eight years.
Photo Courtesy Rob Garcia Wealth Management
More on the Pacific Coast Business Times
Passings
Helicopter Crash Kills Wildlife Biologist 'Clu' Cotter
A Cal Poly biology alumnus was among three California Department of Fish and Game biologists and a pilot who were killed Jan. 5 when their helicopter crashed. Clu Cotter (B.S., Environmental and Systematic Biology, 1991, M.S., Engineering, 2006), 48, was a wildlife biologist who specialized in mesocarnivores and an avid bike rider.
Read the story in the LA Times | Read the story in the SLO Tribune
Robert Grice, COO, Glidewell Laboratories
Robert Grice (B.S., Business Administration, 1983), COO of Glidewell Laboratories, passed away Dec. 6 in a Southern California motorcycle accident. He was 50 years old and is survived by wife Cathy and daughters Nicole and Shelley.
Read the Glidewell Labs announcement in Registered Dental Hygenist Magazine
James Patrick McDougall
James Patrick McDougall (B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1964) passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009.
Read the obituary in the SLO Tribune