Outlook Magazine - Fall 2016

Celebrating 125 years

Magazine for Alumni & Friends • F all 2016

YEARS

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STOUT ES TAB L I SHED 1891

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S T A F F Mark Parsons Vice Chancellor, University Advancement and Marketing Juliet Fox ’92 Director, Stout Alumni Association Doug Mell Executive Director of Communications and External Relations

Fall 2016 • University of Wisconsin-Stout

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E C H A N C E L L O R 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 20 21 21 22 24 25 Bob Meyer reflects on UW-Stout’s history and future UW-Stout hosts national Science Olympiad Colleges, Student Life Services reorganizations Professor inducted into Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters University’s first doctorates awarded at May commencement

Amy Luethmers Director of Marketing

Jerry Poling Assistant Director, University Communications

Else named Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Volunteer of the Year Royal Construction builds foundation with UW-Stout graduates

Mesa Covill ‘07 Associate Director of Alumni Relations Jennie Smith ‘11 Stewardship and Donor Relations Coordinator Stephanie LaBair Sr. Graphic Designer, University Marketing John Ewald ‘14 Sr. Graphic Designer, University Marketing

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O N C A M P U S 3 4 5 5 6 8 9 9 A L U M N I N E W S 12 13 14 16 18

Alumni publish three books

Churchill continues Hollywood career with new Packers film Revsbeck helping students as principal of a St. Paul high school Pease enjoying dream job with major filmmaker

Hannah Flom Communications Specialist, University Communications Brett Roseman University Photographer

Harvey Hall grand reopening celebration planned Sept. 22

A T H L E T I C S 26

S H A R E YO U R N E W S We’d love to hear from you, and your fellow alumni would too! Drop us a line about your promotion, a reunion, or just to reminisce. S T O U T T R A D I T I O N S Your Alumni Association is interested in learning what traditions were part of your days on campus. Were there bonfires after the hockey games; did you have weekly dances; what event(s) did your fraternity or sorority hold each year? As you think back to those events, please share them with us. M A I L Stout Alumni Association Louis Smith Tainter House 320 S. Broadway St. Menomonie, WI 54751 O N L I N E Share your news or ideas at www.uwstout.edu/alumni E M A I L alumni@uwstout.edu

Records set by Blue Devil athletes

Graduates share stories about college experiences, what’s next Magazine lists School of Hospitality Leadership No. 10

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A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N & C L A S S N O T E S 27 A D V A N C E M E N T U P D A T E 30 31 32 32 33

Performing music in China

Alumni Association update

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125 years: Then and Now

Director’s update on the Foundation Book planned on university history 125 years: special mission accomplished

Ward spreads his talents as businessman, volunteer, mentor, writer Tucker named Bush Fellow for his mental health agency Roman has enjoyed 23 years as co-owner of a “top” Chicago restaurant Fashion statement: Caroline Hayden debuts collection Barlow’s paintings of iconic Vikings will grace new stadium

Generous support for science

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Looking forward to an exciting 2016 Stout homecoming

O N T H E C OV E R : Students carry some of the 40,000 books that were moved March 9, 1954, from Harvey Hall library to the new library. The event was called M-Day, or moving day. Students spent all day on the job and that night celebrated with live music and snacks. The “new” library, UW-Stout’s first stand-alone library, now is the north half of the Vocational Rehabilitation Building.

B A C K C OV E R 34

Flashback to past alumni publications

tinyurl.com/stoutalumni

facebook.com/stoutalumni

twitter.com/stoutalumni

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ON CAMPUS

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CAMPUS MELTING POT Science Olympiad National Tournament features students from 49 states

n a typical Saturday in late May after commencement, the campus at UW-Stout is a quiet place. On Saturday, May 21, the campus became a microcosm of the United States. Approximately 3,000 high school and middle school students from 49 states competed in the Science Olympiad National Tournament. Another approximately 2,000 coaches, officials and spectators took part. Groups of teenagers wearing colorful team shirts roamed the south campus throughout the day as they moved from event to event, such as bridge building in Applied Arts, disease detective in Jarvis Hall Science Wing and air trajectory at the Sports and Fitness Center. A total of 120 U.S. teams and an exhibition team from Japan competed in more than 50 events.

Message from the Chancellor BOB MEYER

The day wrapped up with an awards ceremony Saturday night in a packed Johnson Fieldhouse. Mira Loma High School of Sacramento, Calif., was named the high school champion and Daniel Wright Junior High School of Lincolnshire, Ill., the middle school champion.

Dear alumni and friends: Every Outlook magazine is special in its own way as the UW-Stout Alumni Association works to stay connected with the 70,000 alumni spread over the country and around the globe. But this Outlook, coming out in the university’s 125th anniversary year, obviously has a unique significance. The intent of this edition is to bring our alumni insights into the history of the institution they hold near and dear. Therein lies the value of celebrating a milestone like our 125th anniversary; it provides us with the opportunity to look back on what has made us the vibrant institution that we have become. As a UW-Stout alumnus, I feel incredibly privileged to be the chancellor of UW-Stout at the time of our 125th anniversary. Our 125th year has been an extraordinary one. Once again we achieved record enrollment with 9,535 students attending classes in the fall of 2015, and applications for fall 2016 also are strong. Consistent enrollment growth confirms the value of a UW-Stout degree and reflects the positive efforts our staff continues to make in improving our great programs. In addition, our last graduating classes posted an outstanding 97.3 percent employment rate (up from 97.1 percent). This rate provides clear evidence that UW-Stout graduates are held in high esteem and bring immediate value to employers. The high employment rate also reflects on the outstanding reputation of our alumni in the workplace. But the year was not without challenges as we worked through a state funding cut that reduced our operating budget by 10.5 percent. Historically, this was our second highest budget reduction, eclipsed only by the 17 percent budget reduction during the Great Depression. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our staff we were able to minimize the effects of the reduction on our students in the classroom. This downward trend in state funding has revitalized our efforts to raise private funds. I’m proud to report that the Stout University Foundation has made great strides this past year developing a major fundraising campaign that will be vital to our future.

I used my spring commencement address to discuss the grit, dedication and perseverance that Sen. James Huff Stout needed to keep his dream alive after his beloved Stout Manual Training School burned to the ground four years after it was built. Instead of abandoning that dream, Sen. Stout immediately began planning a new building, and he even made the Clock Tower higher. Bowman Hall stands today as a symbol of our founder’s incredible character and strength. When we find ourselves in rough seas, I often think about what Sen. Stout went through during those days and how his dream continues today. Nothing that confronts us is as devastating as the fire that consumed the first Stout Manual Training School. If Sen. Stout could make it through that tragedy, we can weather whatever storms come our way. In closing, I want to bring attention to three items of special significance for our alumni. A special history book on our first 125 years, written by Assistant Communications Director Jerry Poling, will be published soon. Every reader of this magazine will want a copy. I want to offer a personal invitation for alumni to attend the grand reopening celebration of Harvey Hall, which was built 100 years ago and has been totally renovated. The celebration is Thursday, Sept. 22. Finally, our 125th anniversary homecoming will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, with many alumni- centered activities. Read more inside about all three of these topics. Again, I can’t begin to express how honored I am to be part of UW-Stout during its 125th anniversary celebration. Every day, I am reminded that one of the major reasons we have thrived over our long history is because of the passionate and dedicated alumni who remain connected to their university. Please accept my thanks for all you do for UW-Stout.

About 300 students, faculty and staff from UW-Stout helped with the event. Chancellor Bob Meyer was one of the speakers at the opening and closing ceremonies. Many faculty and staff gave presentations Thursday and Friday during a STEM expo and opening ceremony. The tournament director was Forrest Schultz, UW-Stout chemistry professor who led the effort to bring the event to campus. It was the 32nd annual national tournament.

MenomonieHighSchool students participate in the opening ceremony at JohnsonFieldhouse.

Competition on campus included the robot armevent.

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Colleges, Student Life Services Reorganized to Help Reduce Budget he 2015-17 state budget dealt UW-Stout a tremendous fiscal blow by reducing the amount of state aid the institution receives by $5.3 million a year. The campus Strategic Planning Group adopted a set of principles on how the significant reduction would be addressed, with the intent being to protect as much as possible the quality of education that students receive. To implement that principle, UW-Stout administrators reviewed operations outside of the academic areas for whatever reductions would be possible. That led to two major reorganizations. Colleges T

“My single-minded focus is on students, their learning and development.”

It took 125 years, but UW-Stout has awarded its first doctoral degrees. The university graduated 10 students May 7 with a Doctor of Education, Ed.D., in career and technical education. The school’s first doctorate program was approved by the UW System Board of Regents in February 2013 and by the Higher Learning Commission, UW-Stout’s accrediting body, in October 2013. The first students enrolled in fall 2013. UW-Stout, founded in 1891, has offered master’s degree programs since 1935. “The degree is designed to help career technical education professionals — administrators and instructors — advance their careers and contribute to workforce development with applied research,” said Professor Urs Haltinner, program director. In career and technical education, UW-Stout also offers master’s and bachelor’s programs. The programs are an outgrowth of one of the school’s earliest programs from the early 1900s, industrial education. In addition to the first doctoral graduates, commencement featured UW-Stout’s first graduate in the Master of Fine Arts in design program, Mary Rohl, of River Falls. The MFA in design, requiring 60 credits like the CTE doctorate, is considered the equivalent of a doctorate in the fine arts field. University’s first doctorates awarded at May commencement MAKING HISTORY CTE doctoral program graduates are front row from left, Nancy Chapko, Shelly Olson, Laura Reisinger and Kinga Jacobson. Back row from left, Mike Bird, Brian Bartel, Jeffrey Sullivan, Matthew Simoneau, Shaun Dudek and Matthew Janisin.

The number of colleges was reduced from four to three, effective July 1. The reorganization will save about $360,000 a year. The idea was recommended in 2015 by the campus Strategic Planning Group as one way to address the state aid reduction imposed in the 2015-17 state budget. • College of Arts, Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences • College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management • College of Education, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences Maria Alm will remain the dean of the College of Arts, Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences. Chuck Bomar was selected following a search as dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management. Robert Salt was selected following a search as dean of the College of Education, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences. The final structure is:

UW-Stout Professor Steve Nold, who was named a Wisconsin Academy Fellow to the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, teaches a freshman biology class.

A Fine Fellow Professor inducted into Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters

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Jerry Poling

Nold, chair of the biology department, was recognized for “blurring the lines between original research and undergraduate

W-Stout Professor Steve Nold has been inducted as a Wisconsin Academy Fellow into the Wisconsin Academy

of Sciences, Arts and Letters.

education,” according to the academy website. Using the tools of discipline-based education research, Nold studies how classroom students learn when they perform original scientific studies. In his classes, Nold uses and develops cooperative, problem- based, case study and open- ended inquiry techniques to inspire student learning. “My single-minded focus is on students, their learning and development,” he said.

The Fellow award, the academy’s highest level of recognition given to individuals, “acknowledges a high level of accomplishment as well as a lifelong commitment to intellectual discourse and public service,” according to the academy’s website. Nold, who has taught at UW-Stout since 2000, was nominated by Chuck Bomar, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. “I nominated Steve since he is a clear visionary on the state of science education in the state

Jerry Poling

From top: Maria Alm, Chuck Bomar, Robert Salt.

Also, UW-Stout Online and the Graduate School are being merged for a total savings of up to $100,000. Student Life Services Provost Patrick Guilfoile and Phil Lyons, vice chancellor for Administrative and Student Life Services, announced a major reorganization in some areas that provide services to students. The plan also went into effect July 1. The interim position of dean of students and director of housing became a permanent position and will be located administratively in the Division of Administrative and Student Life Services. The interim dean, Sandi Scott-Duex, will continue in the merged role. The position of executive director of Enrollment Services will be replaced by the position of executive director of Enrollment and Student Services.

Professor Stephen Nold and students Mary Marchiafava, Courtney Worthington and Peng Vang collect data and water samples from Tainter Lake.

Nold, one of 11 people recognized and the first at UW-Stout to be inducted into the academy, received the award April 17 in Madison.

and country. His efforts to engage students at all levels have made him a game changer in higher education,” Bomar said. Nold called the induction “an enormous honor. To be recognized alongside the great scientific thinkers, writers and artists in the state of Wisconsin is humbling,” he said. “I feel challenged and energized to continue my work improving scientific thinking skills among the people in our great state.”

For more information about the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences Fellow award, refer to the website www.wisconsinacademy.org/fellows .

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W-Stout is preparing to celebrate the completion of the largest, most expensive and longest building renovation project in the campus’ 125-year history. A grand reopening celebration, with speakers and tours, is planned at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, for Harvey Hall, the largest academic building on campus. Work on the building continued into summer 2016. The building has been closed since January 2014, when the project began with asbestos removal. The $28 million project was a top-to-bottom renovation, including remodeled classrooms and offices; new infrastructure and historically correct 9½-foot-high windows; brick tuck-pointing and exterior cleaning; and the addition of a first-floor food and lounge area.

Back on line

Harvey Hall grand reopening

celebration planned Sept. 22

Students meet outside Harvey Hall in 1959.

The location of classrooms and offices were reversed, with classrooms moving down to the first two floors and offices to the third and fourth floors. Fourth-floor skylights, part of the original building, were restored. Hallways again have 13-foot ceilings, with drop ceilings removed. A mechanical room was added to the roof. A second elevator, part of the original building, was installed, partially necessitating the rooftop addition because the old, unused shaft was housing some mechanical operations. The heating and cooling system also was upgraded. Matthew Frey, a 2012 UW-Stout construction graduate, was the project manager for Miron Construction Co., Inc., the general contractor. Miron is owned by a UW- Stout alumnus, David G. Voss Jr., who graduated in 1976. The company is based in Neenah and has four regional offices in Wisconsin and one in Iowa. The project actually is the second phase of the building’s renovation. Harvey Hall Theatre reopened in April 2011 after a $5.6 million upgrade. The theater was closed during the current project. Harvey Hall was named the Domestic Science Building when it opened in 1916 and then the Home Economics Building. It was renamed in 1952 for Lorenzo Dow Har- vey, the school’s first president from 1908 to 1922. The building, the third academic structure on campus, was erected while Harvey was president.

Dan Jack, left, site superintendent, and 2012 alumnus Matthew Frey, Harvey Hall project manager for Miron Construction, hold a building charter signed by more than 100 renovation project workers.

A grounds crewworker plants flowers in July outside Harvey Hall.

For details about the celebration go to www.uwstout.edu/125/Events.cfm .

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DIPLOMA AND JOBS IN HAND The careers of 1,311 students were launched in early May during commencement ceremonies at Johnson Fieldhouse. UW-Stout’s 97.3 percent employment rate means most of those graduates went right into the workforce. Here are two of those stories:

In late May, 29 UW-Stout students traveled approximately 7,390 miles to share American music with their counterparts in China. The students, 17 with the Blue Devil Jazz Project and 12 in the Chamber Choir, visited universities in Yinchuan, Guilin and Hangzhou with the help of a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of State. The students were led by Jerry Hui, an assistant professor and the Chamber Choir director, and Aaron Durst, an associate professor and the Jazz Project director. “The goal of the grant was to bring American culture to places in China where American culture isn’t well-represented,” Hui said. During the three-city tour, the students performed songs about American history, especially African-American, with a focus on New Orleans-style street jazz. “Our performances were very well received,” said Durst. “It was common for our performers to spend 30-45 minutes after every performance taking selfies with audience members,” he said. “To have such large audiences that showed such enthusiasm for our music was a thrilling experience for our musicians who are, in reality amateurs, and play music for primarily their own enjoyment, not as a career,” he said. The UW-Stout students, in addition to the international experience, also were able to earn up to four academic credits by taking a related class on American and Chinese music. Jazz Project, Chamber Choir perform at universities in China MUSICAL EDUCATION

Hannah Carlson Hometown: Hugo, Minn. Major: Retail merchandising and management Awards, honors: Chancellor’s Award

WORLD

RANKING

Why did you choose UW-Stout? I transferred to UW-Stout as a sophomore and chose the university based on recommendations about the retail program. I had a few other schools in my sights to study retail, but overall the hands-on education and 99 percent placement rate of the retail program won out over all other choices. What stands out among your college experiences? What stands out the most to me has been my involvement with the Stout Retail Association. At my previous university I was not involved on campus at all, but at Stout I was eager to change that. This organization has helped me gain confidence in myself and explore new opportunities and learn so much more about my field than I ever could have imagined. What’s next? My plan is to begin my career at Kohl’s corporate as a product development coordinator in August. During my time off before starting my job I will be traveling to Peru with my good friend and enjoying time with family before moving to Milwaukee. What matters most to me is working for a company that I share values with and that sees the need for sustainable retailing. Awards, honors: First places in 2015, 2016 in national network design competition Why did you choose UW-Stout? I always had an interest in IT and thought that it would make a good major. I decided that I wanted to pursue a major in the networking/server side to IT. I started searching colleges in the Midwest and found out that UW-Stout was one of the few that actually offered a major in this field. This made my choice pretty easy to go to UW Stout. After a tour of the campus, I knew that Stout would be the perfect college for me. What stands out among your college experiences? The Association of Information Technology Professionals puts on a national collegiate competition every year with many different events. I competed with a partner in the network design competition and two years in a row, 2015 and 2016, we won first place. What’s next? I will be working for Marshfield Clinic Information Services in Marshfield as a network engineer. Brandon Wolf Hometown: Unity Major: Information technology management

Magazine lists School of Hospitality Leadership No. 10 he School of Hospitality Leadership at UW-Stout is in exclusive company. In April the school was ranked No. 10 in the world on the list of the 50 best hospitality and hotel management schools by CEOWorld magazine of New York. The magazine considered 300 schools worldwide for the ranking and surveyed more than 18,000 hospitality recruiters and senior managers of luxury hotels worldwide. The 2015 rankings were released the week of April 4, 2016. Three of the top 10 schools were from Switzerland and the other seven from the U.S., giving UW-Stout the No.7 U.S. ranking. Cornell University was ranked No. 1, followed by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Michigan State. To see the rankings, go to http://bit.ly/29fXvqL . CEOWorld is a business and technology magazine for high-level executives, according to its website. “As we approach our 50 years of hospitality education (in 2018), we are honored to receive this distinguished recognition,” said Kristal Gerdes, director of the school. “It underscores the fact that our students are recognized as leaders in a global hospitality industry. T

#10 in the world of the 50 best hospitality and hotel management schools by CEOWorld magazine

“This recognition supports our commitment to quality education with global perspective addressing diversity, management skills and leadership,” Gerdes added. In 2015, the School of Hospitality Leadership was ranked fifth best in the U.S. by the Successful Student website.

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125 YEARS

Does history repeat itself, as the saying goes? Historic photos from campus paired with more recent photos show that history has at times come full circle during UW-Stout’s first 125 years.

Left: 2016, student Mara Dietrich’s bridal collection Right: 1969, fashion photo shoot at Devil’s Punchbowl

Top: 1970 Right: 2015, first day of classes

Above: 1954, prom dance queen Right: 2016, DJ zz Jackal puts on a show for campus

Top: 2015, Brett Brandenburg, a transfer student picking up textbooks Right: 1968, student browses in the library

Top: 2014, Maleka “Polly” Hashmi (left) and Audrey Freischel. do cardiovascular biology research in the physiology lab Above: 2001, Professor Glenn Gehring works with a student in Fryklund Hall

Above: 1969, students socialize and dine in Tainter Hall Left: 2016, students take a break in the Terrace of the Memorial Student Center.

Top: 2016, UW-Stout staff show their 125 year pride Right: 1951, Stout Institute Band at football game

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ALUMNI NEWS

NO SLOWING DOWN

Making an Impact Owner of Minneapolis mental health agency named Bush Fellow

Ward spreads his talents as businessman, volunteer, mentor, writer

individuals who are leaders and who can make an impact in their area. Tucker will receive funds to pursue training to increase his impact and to develop a nonprofit agency paralleling Kente Circle. Tucker, with a bachelor’s degree in social work from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., chose to attend UW-Stout and the marriage and family therapy program for its “stellar reputation for training good clinicians, its size and hands-on practice,” he said. The program also was recommended to him by mentor Bruce Minor, M.S.

Bob Ward, left, helps with a Habitat for Humanity building project in China.

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He hopes that his fellow alumni will fall in love with the concept of social tourism — travel with a cause — and join him. For more information, contact Ward at rwardofs@gmail.com or Mesa Covill at 715-232-1259, covillm@uwstout.edu.

ob Ward, ’74, is busier than ever as president and chief marketing officer for Oaks Financial Services in Apple Valley, Minn., trip leader for Habitat for Humanity International, mentor, board member for Stout University Foundation and writer. Ward, who grew up in Whitewater, planned on becoming an industrial education teacher. His sisters, Margaret Ward Whalen, ’66, and Libby Ward, ’72, had attended UW-Stout, and he followed. Ward taught for three years in West Bend but realized his heart was in the business arena. Ward is married to Shelley Sherman Ward, ’75. Shelley, with a degree in fashion merchandising, also experienced a career change of heart. She found business not to be her cup of tea and went into teaching. Ward has held positions with three Fortune 500 companies and one state agency. In 2015 he established the financial planning business Oaks Financial Services. “I love what I do,” he said.’’ Volunteerism part of Ward’s DNA Ward became involved with Habitat for Humanity when he was invited to go on a building trip to El Salvador in 2008. “It was such a powerful experience that I wanted to share it with people I knew and loved,” he said. “My industrial education training at UW-Stout gave me a good background for building.” This summer he participated in his eighth international Habitat for Humanity project — he also has been to Portugal, Argentina, China and Fiji — and is working with the alumni office at UW-Stout to plan a 2017 trip to Malawi, Africa.

“Working and volunteering is part of my DNA,” Ward said.

’87. “It was a good fit and a life changer,” said Tucker, who was impressed by the set-up of the program with its onsite clinic, observation rooms and co-therapy model. “It was a creative, effective way to learn.” The agency, with a similar model as the MFT program, works intentionally but not exclusively with people of color, Tucker explained. The ethnically diverse staff are trained in cultural competence “to be in tune with their own cultural identity,” he said. The firm takes its name from Kente cloth, a brightly colored traditional cloth of the Ashanti people in Ghana. The cloth is “representative of how we see ourselves, the people we serve in therapy and the people we are living with in the communities where we reside. Each person comes with his or her own experiences (colors) in life that tell their story,” according to the agency’s website. Tucker still meets with clients. “My greatest satisfaction is being able to love people, to ignite them, to encourage them and to teach them to love others at the same time,” he said.

Ward’s greatest wish and wildest dream was to have one of his children accompany him on a Habitat for Humanity trip. His dream came true when Shelley, his three children and his son-in- law joined him in Braga, Portugal. “It was one of the highlights of my life,” Ward said. Ward also mentors a 15-year-old boy through Kids ’n Kinship, an affiliate of National Kinship in the Twin Cities area. “It has Ward is a board member of the Stout University Foundation and Hennepin Technical College Foundation. “I always wanted to give back to the university (UW-Stout) where I felt I had a good education,” he said. He feels the need to support educational institutions that offer practical job skills and those that prepare students for jobs that are available, he said. As a result of his travels and enthusiasm for social tourism, Ward is writing the how-to book “Six Continents of Significance: The Joy of Social Tourism,” which will be self-published and released in 2018. taught me to have more patience,” Ward said. Foundation board member and writer

Larry Tucker co-founded and owns Kente Circle mental health agency in Minneapolis.

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rowing up in the inner city of Milwaukee, Larry Tucker, M.S. ’00, never imagined that one day he would have two college degrees and be the owner of a business. However, with support from his community and mentors, he was able to “write a different story” than what might have been. Tucker co-founded and owns Kente Circle, a mental health agency specializing in providing individual, couples, family and group therapy to clientele living in Minneapolis and surrounding communities. He and co-founder J. Philip Rosier, M.S. ’00, started the agency in 2004 with one counselor. Rosier is no longer with the agency. Twelve years later, the agency is thriving with 17 employees and eight interns. Kente Circle also provides training and consulting to agencies interested in enhancing cultural knowledge and experiences for staff and clients. In recognition of his work, Tucker was named a 2016 Bush Fellow by the Bush Foundation. Fellowships are awarded to

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ALUMNI NEWS

Roman has enjoyed 23 years as co-owner of a ‘top’ Chicago restaurant

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or the past 15 years, the UW-Stout Alumni Association has gone right to the top for its annual spring Chicago get-together — the Signature Room at the 95th atop

With 45 people including eight chefs on the culinary team, part of a staff of 260, new ideas are tweaked for months before they reach the menu. Roman is part of the review panel. “I don’t have a culinary background, but I love food and try to approach it from a guest perspective,” Roman said. Roman realized soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that the local customer base was strong. The tower was closed the next day. When it reopened Sept. 13, with people understandably jittery about being in a skyscraper, just two customers showed up. “Tourism dried up and there was no business travel. We relied on patronage from local guests, and (soon) they came in droves, as if to say ‘we’re standing behind you,’” Roman said. Roman’s love for the restaurant industry was cultivated at UW-Stout, where he was part of the nationally known Haute Cuisine dinners and found nurturing professors such as Jafar Jafari, Lee Nichols and Phil McGuirk. “UW-Stout was the preparation ground for me, no question about it. I had the chance to put into practice what I learned in the classroom,” he said. He found another love at UW-Stout, Susan Mark Roman, a 1980 hospitality program graduate. They married and had two children before she passed away in 2012. She was an “instrumental” part of the restaurant for more than 20 years finding talented staff members as human resources director, Roman said.

the John Hancock Center on Michigan Avenue.

Why? There’s the view – the best in Chicago. There’s the food — rated some of the best in a city known for its fine restaurants. And there’s the host — restaurant co-owner Rick Roman, who graduated from UW-Stout in 1982 in hotel, restaurant and tourism management. While Roman provides an additional draw for the Alumni Association, the Signature Room at the 95th has scored high marks for the past 23 years relying on its main attractions — fine dining with a bird’s-eye view of the Windy City. It’s been a winning combination since 1993 when Roman, who worked there for nine years after college, and a business partner bought the restaurant. With 340 seats and 27,000 square feet, the Signature Room at the 95th is one of the city’s biggest upscale eateries. In 2015 more than 730,000 customers visited the restaurant and accompanying lounge, which occupies the 96th floor. Among the customers over the years have been two presidents — the Obamas had their first date there — and plenty of celebrities and sports stars, such as Michael Jordan. Roman has enjoyed the challenge of running a high-profile restaurant in a highly competitive industry. “The biggest challenge we have is to always maintain the vision we had when we created the restaurant. If we do that then we’re probably going to be successful,” Roman said. “We’re constantly trying to reinvent ourselves. It’s very exciting when you hit something out of the park. Most of the time it’s just understanding our customer better.” The restaurant focuses on food and drink first — trend- setting American cuisine relying heavily on local growers, a top-notch American wine list and craft brews — and then its view. “When we took it over we wanted it to be a restaurant owned by Chicagoans for Chicagoans and where they’d be proud to bring their guests and where visitors also could enjoy it,” Roman said.

Signature

EXPERIENCE

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ALUMNI NEWS

“The research I did said that if I could just survive the first collection then I could have an opportunity to learn the ropes and start seeing a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. That’s exactly what’s happening,” said Hayden, a 2003 graduate. “The feedback has been very positive. “I went into it knowing it’s very difficult. I’m going up against very wealthy and well-known designer brands. It’s an uphill battle for sure. The whole experience has been very emotional.” Hayden’s first collection can be seen at www.carolinehayden.com. She designs for the

Caroline Hayden

modern, fashion-conscious bride with high-end fabric and detailed embroidery. Her gowns, also evening gowns, accentuate the female figure but aren’t revealing, what she calls a “seamless extension of the woman. “I base most of my designs on the shape of the garment and how it’s going to make the woman feel,” she said. “It just feels like the clothing is giving you a hug and comforting you.” The average cost of a Caroline Hayden gown from her ready-to-wear collection is $4,100. The average cost of a custom bridal gown, her original business for 13 years, is $5,000. She sells her custom gowns, including a fitting with the bride, through the White Room in downtown Minneapolis. All of her designs are made in the U.S. “It’s the first time in my career I’m happy to charge that much because I know what I’m doing and my time is worth that now,” said Hayden, who is married and has a son, 3. Hayden, who has no employees and a small office in her father-in-law’s car dealership, didn’t let geography get in the way of her decision to sell her designs nationally. She lives in Crookston, Minn., population 8,000, in the northwest corner of the state far from fashion hot spots. She grew up in nearby Perham, Minn., where she learned about fabric and entrepreneurship at her mother’s Bay Window quilt shop, named one of the top 10 quilt shops in America by Better Homes and Gardens. At UW-Stout, she learned valuable lessons that she uses every day as a designer and developed the confidence she needed to open her own business. Her senior project, a bridal collection in shades of white, won Best in Show and the Designer’s Choice Award in the annual Silhouettes Fashion Show on campus.

Debut Co l le c t i on

STATEMENT n 2015 when she turned 35 and after 13 years of making custom bridal gowns, Caroline Hayden decided it was time. “It was now or never. If I don’t try to make it happen now, it may never happen,” she told herself.

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“It” was her dream — to become a nationally known women’s wear designer. After releasing her debut collection in February, the UW-Stout apparel design and development graduate is seeing success come together a few stitches at a time. For example, Hayden saw buyers excited about her 2016 fall-winter designs when she met with them in New York; she received encouraging emails from stylists interested in using her garments for their celebrity clients and in their photo shoots; one of Hayden’s gowns was used in a Harper’s Bazaar magazine shoot for an online article; her 22-piece collection of gowns and separates were for sale on Moda Operandi, a leading fashion website; and the collection was featured in Minnesota Monthly magazine.

“That’s the first time in my life I thought I was any good at it,” she said.

One of those gowns was chosen as a national finalist at a fashion show in Chicago. “I flew there and got to see one of my gowns on a runway. That moment gave me the encouragement to continue designing.”

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ALUMNI NEWS

UW-Stout alumna scored a “touchdown” at the new Minnesota Vikings stadium well before it even opened in fall 2016. Leslie Barlow, a 2011 graduate, was commissioned to create six paintings of former star Vikings players to hang inside U.S. Bank stadium. Barlow was one of 34 Twin Cities artists chosen for the stadium project out of nearly 1,100 who submitted examples of their work to Sports and the Arts, a California company overseeing the collection. The company has curated art for other high- profile venues, including Yankee Stadium in New York. Barlow, www.lesliebarlowartist.com, primarily creates oil paintings. A Minneapolis native, she even has a childhood memory of meeting one of the former players she has painted, Cris Carter, an NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver from the 1990s who has become an analyst for ESPN. Carter once visited Barlow’s elementary school. Barlow also painted Fran Tarkenton, Korey Stringer, Mick Tingelhoff, Jim Marshall and Alan Page. Each painting is 24 A SIX POINTS FOR ARTISTRY Barlow’s paintings of iconic Vikings will grace new stadium .

Opposite page from left: Leslie Barlow’s portrait of former Vikings star Cris Carter; Barlow in her studio; and a self-portrait.

inches by 24 inches. The stadium has 500 pieces of art, which were unveiled in late July. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at UW-Stout. “My time at UW-Stout was such a great experience. I liked the emphasis on foundations in the program, as that really helped me become confident with working with the figure,” Barlow said. Barlow has exhibited her work throughout the Twin Cities and nationally. She will do a monthlong residency in October at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash. Earlier this year, she was awarded a $10,000 visual arts grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. She will do eight to 10 oil paintings featuring interracial families to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court case of Loving vs. Virginia, which legalized interracial marriage in the U.S. An exhibition is planned for a venue in Minneapolis. One focus of Barlow’s work is revealing multiculturalism, “otherness” and identity through the human figure.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Solid footing Royal Construction builds foundation with UW-Stout graduates

DOING THE RIGHT THINGS Else named Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Volunteer of the Year

BOOKSHELF

‘Cranberries Revealed’

Wayne Martin, ’82 masters in media technology, published “Cranberries Revealed: From the Marsh to the Table,” an 84-page coffee table book that highlights the beauty of Wisconsin’s state fruit with

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reg Else, ’97, grew up doing volunteer work with his family, so it isn’t too surprising that since joining Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois in 2003 he has logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours and was named BCBSIL’s Volunteer of the Year for 2015. “Giving back is important for strong communities,” Else said, “and for those who are able, volunteering is a great way to do so.” With the award, Else received $1,000 to donate to a nonprofit of his choice. He elected to split the stipend between Access Living and the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. As a kid growing up in Watertown, Else volunteered locally through his family’s church and sometimes farther afield. “We went on a service trip to New York City to help bring a transitional housing facility online and to volunteer at a soup kitchen,” he said. UW-Stout, preparation for a career Else, with a B.S. in business administration, chose UW-Stout because of its “strong hands-on approach to learning and for the opportunities to get involved in student organizations,” he said. He was active in the American Marketing Association, DECA, and volunteered weekly at the Dunn County Food Pantry. “I would highly encourage students to get involved in student government or other campus organizations to learn how groups of people work effectively together to achieve more than is possible alone,” he said. “UW-Stout gave me the educational foundation and practical learning experiences to hit the ground running in corporate America. My degree from UW-Stout was a good value and a great investment in my future.” He has served on theStout University Foundation Board of Directors for the past six years and is a sponsor with family and friends of the $1,000 Eugene W. Else Memorial Scholarship in memory of his father, who passed away in 2014. Eugene

his vivid photos. The book also includes recipes.

Martin, a Wisconsin native now of Plymouth, Minn., received two Midwest Book Awards for his work: in the arts/coffee table/photography division and in the cookbooks/crafts/hobbies division. Learn more and order the book at cranberriesrevealed.com . ‘My Hometown’ design, published his first book, “My Hometown,” a children’s story based on his hometown of Mosinee. A magical newspaper takes a little boy on a tour of Main Street in his hometown from the 1860s to present. Griesmer is art director at Capstone Publishers in Minneapolis. He also is a freelance artist and photographer. For more information on “My Hometown,” including how to order, go to www.russellgriesmer.com. Russell Griesmer, ’07 BFA with a focus on graphic

xperts in the construction field know the importance of a solid foundation. It’s likely no coincidence therefore that more than a quarter of Royal Construction’s employees — 11 out of 40 — are UW-Stout graduates, most from the highly respected construction program at UW-Stout. “What makes UW-Stout’s program so good? It’s the hands-on nature of the teaching, the practical side. If I could teach and train the kids at UW-Stout faster, I could get them all jobs,” said Jim Bunkelman, a 2000 UW-Stout graduate. Earlier this year, Bunkelman was named president and CEO of Royal Construction, a commercial builder in the Eau Claire area. He is part owner of the company. In addition, he is teaching a class at UW-Stout, Light Construction Methods and Materials, and has come back to school as a student in the university’s construction master’s program. Royal’s UW-Stout foundation goes well beyond Bunkelman. Co-owners and vice presidents Brian Bessinger and Dennis Tischer graduated from UW-Stout in 1998 and 2004, respectively. Tim Pabich, vice president of business development and previous owner, is a UW- Stout alumnus and former Blue Devil football player. Tim Pabich’s father founded Royal as a home-building company in 1967. Most of the other UW-Stout construction alumni on Royal’s staff are project managers, Bunkelman said. Royal enjoyed a big year in 2015 with a record amount of revenue. It worked on several high-profile projects in the Eau Claire area, such as the Staybridge Suites hotel that opened in June in Altoona. In spring 2016 Royal was named Small Business of the Year by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. Four UW-Stout alumni are executives with Royal Construction, which built the new Staybridge Suites in Altoona. From left are Dennis Pischer, Brian Bessinger, Tim Pabich and Jim Bunkelman. E

Greg Else and Nicole TenHaken, a Eugene W. Else Memorial Scholarship recipient.

encouraged his children to further their education and to give back to the community. Commitment to community Else is a client implementation consultant at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and co-chair of Celebration of Caring, an employee volunteerism committee at the company’s headquarters in Chicago. “When folks talk about our commitment to our communities I can say my company supports 70 projects within our community per year,” Else said. Else is particularly proud of his company’s participation in the annual Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon project, the city’s largest day of service. More than 300 people help spruce up Chicago public schools. “The staff and some of the students are thrilled with the transformation that occurs in one day,” he said. Volunteerism, whether it involves a “single day hands-on service project, or over a period of time through long-standing partnerships, gives a great sense of satisfaction,” Else said. “Simply, it’s the right thing to do.”

‘It’s OK Not to Cry’

Gina Schampers, ’09 business administration, wrote “It’s OK Not to Cry,” published by Balboa Press. The book is about grieving and loss. Schampers was in her 20’s when her father and mother died, the latter when Schampers was six months pregnant.

“The book is intended to help others going through a difficult time,” said Schampers, who grew up near Green Bay. For more information about the book, including how to order, go to ginaschampers.wix.com.

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little bit so it’s more about relationships and people who are fans of any team,” said Churchill, who grew up in Beloit. “It’s very funny but has a true, heartfelt story.” If all goes well, “The 60 Yard Line,” www.the60yardline.com , will be in Wisconsin theaters and beyond in 2017. The fan house where the film takes place — most filming was on location in fall 2015 — was purchased by Churchill’s best friend in 2004, planting the seed for the movie script. Churchill and Greco, a Chicago Bears fan, produced the low-budget film, which was fully funded with investors and crowdfunding. Enthusiastic supporters of the film in Green Bay, including the city, helped keep costs low. Most of the film’s actors have Hollywood experience, and several members of the supporting cast have Packers

Churchill’s acting career took off in the early 2000s when, fresh out of college and working in the printing industry, he took a night acting program at Second City in Chicago and began appearing in plays and improv shows, leading to his departure for Los Angeles in 2004. In making the film, Churchill said he used skills learned from professors Jim Tenorio, Ted Bensen and others in UW-Stout’s graphic communication management program, which now is called cross-media graphics management. “It’s the same process: preproduction, production and post-production. The words are just different and what comes out the other end is different. A movie is very similar to printing a catalogue or magazine,” said Churchill, who added that Tenorio and Bensen taught him how to set a timeline and goal and to work toward it. There’s one other similarity between “The 60 Yard Line” and Churchill’s former career: The main character works in a printing company. “Low-budget, indie films die very easily. It’s very rewarding to see how far we’ve come,” Churchill said. “It turned out really well. We’re confident that we’ll be able to sell the film. That’s the ultimate goal. We know we have a core demand here in Wisconsin and with football fans across the U.S.”

PRINTING CAREER TO ACTING CAREER The film adds another chapter to Churchill’s career. He recently was in an episode of the CBS TV drama

PASSION PROJECT Churchill takes Hollywood career to new level with Packers film

” “ I t ’s very funny but has a true, heart fel t story. “The Mentalist” and has been in many commercials, such as for Taco Bell, All-State and BMW. At UW-Stout he slowly gravitated toward acting. He used to do stand-up comedy at house parties then took a night acting class in St. Paul when he was doing an internship, leading him to “fall in love with acting. My teacher said I definitely have a future as an actor.” connections, fullback John Kuhn and former Packers Mark Tauscher, Ahman Green, Gary Ellerson and Mike Montgomery. The film’s narrator, Earl Mann, used to work for NFL Films.

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“The 60 Yard Line” is based on a true story about a die hard Packers fan who is torn between allegiance to his team and his girlfriend. The setting is an actual fan party house next to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, with the film taking place in 2009 when ex-Packers star Brett Favre played for the Minnesota Vikings. Churchill believes “The 60 Yard Line” has universal themes and hopes it will be purchased by a national film distributor, the indie film equivalent of reaching the Super Bowl. “It’s a movie about football fans and how it affects your personal life. There are a lot of us out there who get a little too wrapped up in our team, especially Packers fans. We could have made this movie just for Packers fans, but we tried to broaden it a

rowing up in the 1990s in Wisconsin, Ryan Churchill became a Packers fan practically by osmosis. Green Bay won the 1997 Super Bowl, energizing fans from his hometown in Beloit to the state’s northern tip in Superior. When he went off to college at UW-Stout, he developed another passion: For acting. In 2004, five years after graduating in graphic communication management, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream. Now a successful actor and still a Packers backer, Churchill has combined his passions into a project that he and co-producer Nick Greco finished this summer. They have high hopes for “The 60 Yard Line,” an independent feature film they wrote, acted in and helped produce.

Ryan Churchill, opposite page and above right, has taken a new step in his Hollywood acting career by making a movie. Above, Churchill talks with “The 60 Yard Line” actor Chuck Liddell, right, a former mixed martial arts light heavyweight champion.

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