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Welcome home - to the Geography and Resource Management (REM) Alumni family homepage.
Please keep us informed of your whereabouts and doings.
E-mail: kuhlkenr@cwu.edu or nancyh@ellensburg.com.
Incoming correspondence is arranged here in reverse chronological order.
David Killingstad (B.A., 1993) is a Principal Planner for Snohomish County, WA. He writes:
I've been with Snohomish County since graduating from Central. For the past 1.5 years I've worked on drafting development regulations. Prior to that I spent 13 years working in long range planning. Back in 1995 I married my college sweetheart and 1994 graduate of Central. The two of us have broadened our geographic horizons by traveling throughout the U.S.A and Caribbean. We've also spent time on both coasts of Mexico and one trip to Europe.
E-mail: davidkillingstad@comcast.net
Wade Reuther (B.A., 1994) is the GIS Coordinator for Grays Harbor County, WA.
Wade earned his GIS Professional Certification (GISP) from the GIS Certification Institute in December 2004, and serves as a member on the GIS Advisory Committee for the Grays Harbor College GIS Program.
E-mail: wreuther@co.grays-harbor.wa.us
Rob Simmonds (B.A. 1989) reports:
I am currently working as a Principal GIS Analyst for Snohomish County Information Services. The work really isn't as boring as the job title
implies, actually most of the work is related to environmental database development and analyses (e.g. land cover mapping and analysis at a
watershed scale). I prefer that type setting as opposed to land use planning & regulation, for example. In 1990 I married my college
sweetheart Kristen and good golly we just celebrated our 15 year anniversary. What else.oh, we have two children ages twelve and seven
and a Boston terrier name Harley. I had a lot of fun at CWU, and got in a fair amount of trouble with the local police and other authorities.
A well rounded education.
E-mail: simmonds5150@comcast.net
Corrine (McQuade) DeRosa (B.A., 1992) Lives in Issaquah and works as the principal at Issaquah Middle School.
Tom Jones (B.A., 1992) retired from the US Forest Service in 1999 after working 30 years all in Fire Management. My wife Barbara and I moved to Ellensburg last August.
Craig Miller (B.A., 1991). After working for Autodesk Location Services for 4 years as a Software Engineer, Julie, son Soren (4), and I moved back to WA where I have my own GIS/LBS software company called Spatial Minds, LLC
Sean O'Day (M.S., 1994) Commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's office of the Oregon Army National Guard. So with my current job as Assistant City Attorney in Salem, I'll spend 1 weekend a month and two weeks a year serving our country as a trial lawyer for the OR Army National Guard.
E-mail: s.oday@comcast.net
Sarah Nason (M.S., 2005) Graduated in June and is working in Seattle with Corporate Accountability International, a small grassroots nonprofit organization that works to protect people from irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. over the world. I snowboard and surf as much as I can.
Jeremy McNinch (B.A., 2004) Touchet, WA. Enjoy teaching, ESL & high school Spanish 1 and 2; plus more admin. Maureen and the boys are good, doing gardening and biking. Applying for MA in literacy education through WSU.
E-mail: mcninch@touchet.org
Rick Vogler (B.A., 1997) Management Analyst for the U.S. Small Business Admin.(SBA) in Washington, D.C. My main responsibilities include oversight of safety and security operations for the entire agency.
Jeff McCord (B.A., 1996) In Korea teaching. I am married and have a daughter.
E-mail: ket_dong@lycos.com
Shane Drexler (B.A., 1999) works for the SE Group in Bellevue. Most work is related to the Ski Industry! Impact Analysis for NEPA documents, 3D/Photo Simulations, graphic design, Webmap Site design for Ski Resorts all over the world. I snowboard and surf as much as I can.
Nathan Sather (B.A., 2001) writes in:
This is Nathan Sather from Niamey, Niger. I've been here for just over 2 months now and I becoming more comfortable in this strange environment. The language we've been working on is called Zarma. Its kind of like Jobba the Hut's lingo with a number of one syllable words: Ay Ma Nathan, Ay fun Amerik, Iri ga ba Niger gumo gumo. The name of my village is Bonnie Bangou & it has about 250 people, half kids, and is next to a seasonal river that flows into the Niger five miles away. No power, water, or TV. For fun we hang out in the shade, drink tea, gripe about the heat, and compare and contrast our two countries. The people here are very caring and so patient it makes me jealous. I'm slowly trying to understand the hierarchy of social relations within my village and have become very aware of our own, back in the states.
Pretty much, if you're a man in Niger, you can tell anybody what to do as long as they're younger than you or a woman. The women and children listen and bend over backwards without any rebuttals. The people genuinely care for each other and share everything down to the last bone. The main food crop is millet. All day long you can hear women of the village pounding, or thumping, depending on the course. Every small village has millet fields all around it that will be planted in 3 months. This community is so dependent on the millet crop that a dry rainy season literally kills, but the forecast is good! Market day is on Tuesday. Half of the village disappears to buy essentials: sugar, rice, beans, oil, tea, and hot peppers. I take an hour donkey cart ride to Gotheye, the market town, but I've yet to master the cooking end of the spectrum. Lately the temp has been hovering around 100 F. and the nights are usually in the 70s which is nice. Niamey has some power and phones with a couple of nice restaurants and dance clubs. We volunteers do manage to get out of the "bush" from time to time for some western entertainment. And on a more personal note I've been dating a sweet girl from Boston, so life is very very good to say the least. I hope all is well in Ellensburg. Please feel free to write back with any questions at all.
Take care.
E-mail: sathern_98335@yahoo.com
Jeremy McNinch (B.A., 2004) graduated in March; starts this fall at Touchet School District as K-12 Spanish Program Teacher (1st through 5th grade classes) and will serve as district liaison to migrant families.
E-mail: mcninch@ellensburg.com
Brett Angel (B.A., 2003) is a GIS specialist for Golder Associates, Inc., Redmond, typically working on watershed planning and geologic mapping projects, & occasionally a few remediation sites. Most recently I've been implementing some remote sensing techniques to the analysis and production phases of our projects. I plan to continue pursuing my remote sensing interests and trying to stay out of the office and on the river as much as possible.
Kelly Clark (B.A., 1998; M.S., 2003) is Senior Natural Resources Planner with Yakima County, and also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Cascade Land Conservancy.
E-mail: kellyclark_13@yahoo.com
Elisabeth Stocks (B.A., 1994; M.S., 2003) has been a GIS Analyst for the Washington Department of Natural Resources in Ellensburg for the past 9 years.
Adam Lindquist (B.A., 2003) works for the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - Marine Resources in Mill Creek: This involves a bit of GIS for mapping shellfish and fishing areas that are under our management. It's a 5-month temp job, but it will be a great stepping-stone possibly to get a full-time job. I play rugby for The Valley Rugby Club in SeaTac, WA. After graduation I took a 10-day cruise to the south Caribbean and central America - Bahamas, Aruba, Curacao, Panama, and Costa Rica.
E-mail: APL26@hotmail.com
Shane Scott (M.S., 2003) is currently working as an archaeologist for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
E-mail: sjscott91@hotmail.com
Corey Bailey (B.A., 2003) has a full time permanent job with Goodrich. They perform aircraft maintenance on most airliners. My duties include spill prevention and response, stormwater sampling and analysis, industrial waste water operation and sampling, monthly air emission data collection and reporting, and MSDS database management.
E-mail: BaileyC57@aol.com
Sandy Slover (B.A., 2003) is currently working full-time as an auto claims adjuster for Farmers Insurance and still serves in the National Guard: I am single and currently living in Tahyua, Washington.
E-mail: MTSTSANDY@aol.com
Eric Wickwire (M.S., 2002) says: After finishing, I set off to travel for a year (4 months climbing the American West, 2 months in Oaxaca, Mexico studying geography, culture, and language, and 2 more in Jackson, Wyoming backcountry skiing). Back to work? Yes, I returned to teaching high school social studies. I am applying my Master's degree, though, through teaching contemporary issues and having students conduct science-based, problem-solving research. This summer will involve scaling the largest, most remote rock walls within range of my gas budget.
E-mail: ewickwire@hotmail.com
Stacey Borland (B.A., 2002) works in Stevenson, WA as an Associate Planner for the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. She does mostly current planning, but also long range planning as the management plan for the Scenic Area is being revised.
E-mail: borland@co.skamania.wa.us
Steve Dampf (M.S., 2002) with wife Anna lives a quiet suburban life in Gig Harbor. No kids yet, but their weiner dog, Rudy, has put their parenting skills to the test. Steve's working for a cultural resource management firm in Seattle, which requires fieldwork all around Puget Sound. Current project: monitor construction of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge (a 5-minute commute).
Mari-Beth DeLucia (M.S., 2002) has been working as a Conservation Field Assistant for the Vermont Land Trust and living in Brattleboro: I spend a lot of time helping landowners manage their conserved land and doing GIS work. Going to the Grand Canyon in April for a two-week vacation.
E-mail: mari-beth@vlt.org
Nate Fears (B.A., 2000) is a GIS Engineering Tech with the City of Redmond, WA in Information Services: I map various infrastructure and transportation data from City Asbuilts using Geomedia Professional 5.1 with the help of Microstation V7.1, V8, and AutoCad's AutoDesk Map 2004. Been here 1 year after 2.5 years at Seattle Public Utilities. I live in Woodinville and manage to play in the mountains and on the water as much as possible.
E-mail: Nfears@hotmail.com
Diane McGuerty (B.A., 2002) has a permanent job with WSDOT HQ as a GIS Traffic Data Analyst. She just bought a house 2 blocks from the water. She's going to the ESRI conference in CA, as are a few other alumni.
E-mail: demcguerty@hotmail.com
Alex Levell (B.A., 2001) lives in Portland and attends Portland State University: Just got accepted to their M.S. program, working with Dr. Chang on urban/rural hydrology. I ski a lot at Mt. Hood, go climbing, camping, etc. I work for the USGS in Cook, WA as a Bio Tech and enjoy the job.
Jennifer Langdon (M.S., 2001), now Langdon-Pollock. Since 2001, working for PSMFC in the Economic Fisheries Information Network in Portland. Work merges cultural and natural resource analysis in terms of West Coast commercial fisheries. Our group does economic and social surveys of West Coast fishermen. I am more involved in the social side of fisheries, being given the opportunity to design future projects looking at coastal fishing communities.
E-mail: jenlang_2000@yahoo.com
Greg Lang (B.A., 2000) Still married - Stephanie is teaching Jr. High English. About to buy our 2nd home in N. Tacoma. Promoted to an IT Specialist as GIS Training Coordinator, Pierce County - limited project work, but mostly I'm teaching or developing classes for our 500+ regional GIS users. Working on ESRI ArcGIS instructor certification. I presented at the ESRI San Diego Conf. on a regulation building flood hazard modeling FEMA project and visited w/ Dan Church there. Able to summit 19 major peaks in 2003 & spend time in Canada sea kayaking.
E-mail: findmeoutside@hotmail.com
Tony Mayer (B.A., 2000) Just hired at the new Marriott, Redmond, as an uber-concierge. Call it "starting a career in Travel/Tourism." Last fall took a 47-day wanderlust through Europe.
E-mail: storedude20@hotmail.com
Michael Wandler (B.A., 2000) has worked at the Yakima Training Center for the last 3 years: where I make maps and do geographic analyses in support of the Environmental and Natural Resources Division. I traveled to Japan, Italy, France, and Switzerland. Both trips were amazing, and I made sure to get lots of pictures for Nancy's urban geography class. I am still an avid runner, but I have also taken to weight lifting over the last 9 months. I am planning on running the Honolulu Marathon in December 2005 (my 30th birthday gift to myself). In late August I will enter Heritage College to pursue an M.Ed. degree with high school counseling certification.
E-mail: michael.wandler@us.army.mil
Arlene Falkin (B.A., 1992) left the REM program after completing two years (in 2000) having one class and half a thesis to complete (I know, I know). Since then I have gotten married, worked for the Multiple Sclerosis Association of King County for the past 3 years, and began my own grant writing consulting business on the side, The
Grant Plant, LLC.
E-mail: rem515amf@yahoo.com
Amanda Taub (B.A., 2000) reports: After graduation, I had internships with Kittitas County Conservation District, the City of Mercer Island, & was an enumerator for the 2000 Census. In 2001, I joined Douglas County's Transportation and Land Services Dept., E. Wenatchee as GIS Analyst. My husband, Alex, and I bought an old railroad house built in 1917. My activities include: editor for the Puget Sound Chapter of the Assoc. for Women Geoscientists, member of the Central WA GIS Users' Group, and volunteering at the Leavenworth Community Coffeehouse. I relish gardening, doing cross stitch projects, beading necklaces and reading.
E-mail: ahstaub@yahoo.com
Katy Koval (B.A., 1999) is working with husband, Ray, for her father-in-law's business in sales and marketing: We have 3 dogs, 2 cats and live in Meridian, ID. We enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, and watching the Mariners!
E-mail:katy@kmaidaho.com
Dawn Forbes (B.A., 1999) writes: Life is wonderful in the Sierra Foothills of Grass Valley, CA! The skies are blue and the sun shines brightly. I'm a GIS Technician, County of Nevada (which IS in California) working in a huge building with planners, assessors, transportation, sanitation, health services, and housing specialists. Many demands on my time ? it's really interesting. I wish everyone a great year!
E-mail: geogdf@yahoo.com
Teresa Fleener (M.S., 1998) held a NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship in South Carolina until 2001. Worked for Forest Technology Group, but laid off when MeadWestvaco dissolved the consulting side. Hoping to find a job in Charleston, where her 3 children are doing very well in school and the Arts.
E-mail:tessgf@hotmail.com
Jerry Franklin (B.A., 1998) currently Floodplain Mapping Coordinator for The Dept. of Ecology, funded by a grant from the Dept. of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency: I'm tasked to modernize Washington's flood hazard maps and elevate the program to include multi-hazard mapping, interactive web mapping applications, and complimentary digital data such as GPS technology, satellite imagery, and high-resolution topography (LIDAR). I live in Olympia with my wife Kami and our 4-year old daughter Katherine.
Matt Kukuk (B.A., 1998) Left La Paz County (Arizona) in 2000, as an Assistant Planner and GIS tech, and became an Associate Planner for Island County, WA. After 1.5 years as the County's Code Enforcement Officer, promoted to a Senior Planner/Enforcement Manager, currently managing additional enforcement staff and enjoying a variety of job activities.
E-mail: matthewk@co.island.wa.us
Ann Stephenson (M.S., 1998) says: I'm starting my third year with Yakama Nation Fisheries, Yakima-Klickitat Fisheries Project, as a Biologist, mainly looking at the predation of birds on salmon smolts in the Yakima River. Still spending a lot of time on the river, both for work and for fun. I've got a year old Pointer dog, Juniper, who also keeps me busy.
E-mail: aanns@yakama.com
Larry Mattson (M.S., 1997) with wife Jenny, had their 3rd child in 3/04: Carly, joins her brothers Parker & and Cole (5,3). I'm challenged every day in my job with WSDOT Environmental division, now going on 3 years. Enjoy swapping stories with other CWU alums in our office (~50%!). Almost completed a full term on the Yakima City Council (3.75 years), but had to leave when we moved outside my electoral district.
E-mail: i90guy@netzero.net
Scott Corwin (B.A., 1997) has a new job, still GIS, but for consulting group, Ridolfi. It does not pay environmental lip service. Great group.
Jordyn Mitchell (1997, BA) is a Cartographer/GIS Specialist, WSDOT, Olympia: My wife and I are having a baby in July and we just bought a house in January.
E-mail: mitchejo@wsdot.wa.gov
Tim Berg (B.A., 1996) has been working at Deschutes County, Oregon as a GIS Analyst/Programmer for nearly 8 years: The growth is incredible down here - Bend's population was < 27,000 when I arrived. Thanks to an annexation of 18,000 people in 1999, and rampant growth, the population is now > 66,000. GIS is used in nearly every facet of planning here. With a wife and two daughters (ages 1 & 4), living 20 miles from Mt. Bachelor and close to the Deschutes River, we stay busy!
E-mail: Tim_Berg@co.deschutes.or.us
Bob West (B.A., 1996) Air Quality Specialist for Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority for 6 years. Recently bought a house surrounded by 15 acres of sagebrush, and now spring brings all the beautiful wildflowers. He loves to watch the hawks catch a thermal and play in the sky. He may lose his house under a dam if the proposed Pine Hollow Reservoir becomes a reality.
E-mail: wwwest@nwinfo.net
Kevin Kinnan (B.A., 1996) went to Hawaii to graduate school and completed his Master's degree. Has volunteered with AmeriCorps 2000-01. Currently is in Federal Way, job hunting.
E-mail: kinnan1@juno.com
Nicole McCoy (B.A., 1995) is a Mapping Tech, Santa Barbara County Assessor's office, doing tax parcel updates with AutoCAD. They are planning to move to GIS. She'll be at the ESRI conference this summer, so look for her. Family fine; husband Bret a realtor, son Robby (17) started playing guitar and taking college credits. It is extremely expensive living in Santa Barbara so we have been renting and probably will for another couple of years. We just moved into a fabulous house minutes from downtown and the beach.
Mike McDermott (B.A., 1995) is a third grade teacher in San Antonio, TX.
Sean O'Day (B.A., 1994) just took a job with the City of Salem, OR as Assistant City Attorney: My primary responsibilities are to handle the City's quasi-judicial land use issues as well as advising the planning department, community development department, finance and the airport. We welcomed our son, Colin, into the world last August, and Kennedy turned three in January. Its amazing how fast they grow.
E-mail: s.oday@comcast.net
Dana Baker (B.A.,1994) Applications Developer. Current projects include application development for a sensitive species geodatabase and an aquatics database. Day to day tasks include user interface design and development. Spare time is spent with her fiancé and two parrots, & being active in local professional groups and community issues.
E-mail: danabaker@earthlink.net
Celia Slatta, formerly Elizabeth Missy Piecuch (B.A., 1993) has been working at Chelan PUD for 7 years: Started in a drafting position and moved to a customer service engineer, but what I do is electrical distribution jobs for new customers, power line extensions, and rebuilds. It is nice because I get a lot of field time. I was a surveyor assistant for a year, which I absolutely loved. I have gotten to work a lot with ArcView and now ArcGIS, but with my new duties, I don't get to explore it much.
Corrine (McQuade) DeRosa (B.A., 1992) is the Principal of Issaquah Middle School. She's a grandma now.
Bob Sule (B.A., 1962) remembers his geography courses from Kaatz, Jakubek, & Funderburk. Now in Pittsburgh, PA, retired from Air Force 1992, & active in commercial real estate. He is amazed at the number of CWU buildings named for faculty members he knew. "Central had some wonderful teachers in that 1958-62 period. I hope to return to campus, and look forward to meeting with you and sharing a few remembrances."
Joseph Stoltman (B.A., 1962) has been appointed editor of the new journal Research
in Geographic Education. Dr. Stoltman is now Professor of Geography at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. After receiving his bachelor's degree from CWU, he taught junior high school in Ellensburg, then went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Chicago, and the doctorate in geographic education from the University of Georgia. He has been on the faculty at WMU for the past 32 years, where he has served as department chair and as an associate dean. Author of numerous books and journal articles, he is perhaps best known for his work with geography curriculum development teams leading to print and CD-based materials entitled Activities and Readings in the Geography of the United States (ARGUS) and Activities and Resources for teaching the Geography of the World (ARGWorld). |
 
Joe Stoltman: then ..........
and now . |
Jim Hash (B.A., 2002) reports:
Hello all! The family and I are settling in nicely in Phoenix, AZ. Seems like time flies when you are scrambling around trying to find schools,
houses, and jobs. I have been employeed by CB CB
Richard Ellis as a Mapping Specialist. CB Richard Ellis is the world's largest commercial real estate
company with 250 offices around the globe. It is a very nice working enviornment and a well funded department. I produce metro, aerial photo,
demographic, drive time and analytical maps for markets across the US. Well I hope all is well at Central and I look forward to hearing from
anyone that would like to write.
Sincerely,
Jim Hash
Mapping Specialist
CB Richard Ellis - Global Mapping Center
1403 West 10th Place, Suite B111
Tempe, AZ 85281
1.877.580.4674
JHash@cbre.com
Wayne Hunt (B.A., 1998) electronically writes in:
Since graduating, I have worked for 2 engineering/consulting firms as a land surveyor, and in several capacities on temp projects for WA State Fish and Wildlife. In May of 2002, I became full time permanent with Fish and Wildlife. As of November 1, I have been promoted to Wildlife Bio 2 on the L.T. Murray
Wildlife Area. I will be assisting Cindi Confer, manager of the L.T. Murray/Wenas Wildlife Areas in dealing with any and all land and wildlife management issues. It is a very exciting opportunity for me!
My thanks to the Geography Department at CWU for your resources and support (which I will continue to rely on from time to time). You have an outstanding and caring department, and much to be proud of. Morris, Marilyn, Nancy, Karl, Huck, Alan, George M., Bob K., Doug E., Scott Brady, Martin Kaatz, Lois (wow, listing is a dangerous thing, hope I didn't forget anyone, still there or not ....... if so,sorry) ... thanks to you all for playing an important role in getting this old guy through school and/or your support and encouragement since. My deepest appreciation; and as this new job evolves, I hope to find ways to give back to you all by involving some of your students in work we do on the Murray. First I have to get a handle on the job and develop a little more clout.
I will drop in to say hello, I owe some of you a visit. Later.....
Sincerely,
Wayne C. Hunt
huntwc@hotmail.com
Andy Perleberg (M.S., 2001) sends this e-mail update:
I hope all is well in E-burg; I miss the hell out of central Washington. Life is good here though, and we are settled and enjoying our new boy Martin. Extension work is great. How many people are lucky enough to talk about what they love, take field trips, and run around in the woods with people who really care about their forests and want to manage them wisely? ...and get paid for it!
Best Regards,
Andrew B. Perleberg
NW Area Forest Stewardship Educator
WSU Cooperative Extension
306 S. 1st Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-3805
(Tel) 360-428-4270 (Fax) 360-428-4263
andyp@co.skagit.wa.us
Kelly Peterson (B.A., 1997) gives us an e-mail update:
Well it will has been almost 3 years since I started working for the City of Kent. I can't believe how fast time goes by. I often wish I was back in Ellensburg studying, hoping to get an "A" on a Lillquist exam. Things in Kent have been keeping me busy. I still work with our groundwater resources where I am on the team developing a Habitat Conservation Plan for one of our water supply operations. It is similar to what Seattle and Tacoma had to go through, however on a much smaller scale. Other projects I am working on include the wetlands program, development review, IPM and drafting new critical areas codes as required by GMA. (Still doing some planning work, Dr. Kuhlken). Needless to say I stay very busy and still get to stay involved with physical geography.
I have also been married for a year now to a wonderful women (Trish) who teaches first grade. I am very proud of her because she can now identify various types of mass wasting, knows quite a bit about the Missoula floods and can identify which towns have design standards when we pass through them. I will make a geographer/planner out of her yet.
For those of you who remember Cassie (my black lab), she had her second litter of pups (13) this past spring. She had a rainbow litter of black, yellow and 1 chocolate. We were lucky and a picture of some of them was published in the Seattle Times as "feel good" article.
We hope everyone is doing well and feel free to contact me at
petersonkelly@msn.com
Rick Vogler (B.A., 1997) sent this e-mail in:
I just accepted a position as a program analyst with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Washington, D.C. This position became available because of my selection as a Presidential Management Intern (PMI) Finalist last month. The PMI is a two-year program that selects top graduate students across the country to serve in the federal government. I attended the PMI job fair last week in D.C. and the DEA made the best offer. So, I'll be moving to D.C. in August/September to begin another chapter in my life. I will graduate this summer with a master's degree in public administration from the University of Washington.
I would love to hear from each and everyone of you, so please email or call (206) 547-7111 or write:
Rick Vogler
4612 & 1/2 Meridian Ave. N.,
Seattle, WA 98103.
Take care and keep in touch,
vogie1@hotmail.com
Allen Rozema (B.A., 1997; M.S., Resource Management, '01) is now the Community Development Coordinator for the Swinomish Indian Reservation, overseeing the building, permitting, zoning, transportation, forestry, and economic development programs.
e-mail: arozema@swinomish.nsn.us
Jamey Ayling (B.A., 2001) stopped by the office the other day to say hello. He has been working as a Planner with the Development Services Department of Canyon County, in Caldwell, Idaho, but just landed a job in current planning with Yakima County Planning Department.
Sean O'Day (B.A., 1994) sends this update:
In December 2001 I took a new position with the state of Oregon as Governor John Kitzhaber's Deputy Legal Counsel. I also have a new email address: s.oday@attbi.com
Teresa Ryan (M.S., 2000) is now the Salmon Recovery Coordinator for the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board, located in Chelan.
Teresa Ryan
Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board
PO Box 3096
Chelan, WA 98816
save.salmon@verizon.net
Joe Brentin (B.A. Geography, '01) reports:
I'm now a GIS Tech. working for Pierce County Information Services. I love the job, I get to spend 75% of my time in the field, which is great, (except when it rains). The work is exciting and the people I work with, including former CWU alum Greg Lang, are all great. Right now I'm working on a project using GPS to map the storm drainage in within the county. I hope everything is well in Ellensburg; it's funny how much I miss it!
Joe
GIS Technician
Pierce County GIS
253-798-4901
Cell 253-973-1239
Satomi Sakai (B.A. Geography, '01) says hello with this e-mail:
Hello. Time goes fast, and it has been more than three months since I left Ellensburg. I have been busy adjusting myself to Japan and looking for a job. I was lucky to have several job offers, and I am confident that I have taken the best offer. I will be working for a company called a DAIKO
SHOUKAI, Inc., Inc. This company imports construction materials and special paint materials from companies in the USA and Europe. Their main product is called COOLTHERM, which is a special kind of paint made of three types ceramics. The COOLTHERM has a tremendous effect in reducing temperature both outside and inside. Therefore, it can slow down global warming and cut down energy use. My position will be the international correspondence personnel and the director of the catalog making. I chose this job because I would be able to use my English ability and the knowledge that I had gained through geography courses. I am happy and excited about this job. I will start working on October 1st. Thank you very much for all of your help and support. If you have a chance to visit Japan, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Satomi Sakai
satomi5581@yahoo.co.jp
662-0862 Hyougo-ken Nishinomiya-shi
Aoki-chou 6-25
Gurandiiru Seika 106
Japan
Cell Phone: 090-5172-6103
Dawn Forbes (B.A. Geography, '99) sends an update:
I'm starting my third year of graduate work at the University of Delaware in Geography (go Blue Hens!). For my thesis, I've ventured into the wonderful world of hydrology/soil moisture and GIS, which is very interesting, while still keeping a foothold in teaching Cultural Geography and Human Geography. I should be finishing my thesis this spring and graduating! Yah-hoo!
Andy Perleberg (M.S. Resource Management, '01) sends this e-mail message:
Krista, Ellen and I moved to Sequim, WA, in April of 2001, where I began working with the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe. I have never enjoyed working with a group of people more in my life, as I have here at Jamestown. The salary's not great compared to other fisheries opportunities, but in our minds, the people and the environment trump a high-rolling urban lifestyle. I'm a habitat biologist, and most of my time is spent working with forest landowners, assisting with timber harvest design, road construction, and implementing and monitoring fish habitat enhancement projects. Work is good, and I am able to deal with all levels of resource management--from BS'n with local folks over a cup of coffee, to delivering testimony to the state Legislature. My office is right off of Highway 101, so friends, please drop in if your up on the peninsula.
aperleberg@jamestowntribe.org
Andrew B. Perleberg
Habitat Biologist
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
1033 Old Blyn Highway
Sequim, WA 98382
(Tel): 360-681-4603
(Fax): 360-681-4643
Nate Fears (B.A. Geography, '00) reports:
I am currently working with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) for Real Property Services. Two others and I are on the Geocode Project that involves mapping all of SPU's property transactions relating to our service area. The area I'm mapping is the Cedar
River Watershed.. I use deeds, ordinances, etc., and ArcView 3.2 to map the types of property rights we have for each acquisition.
Dawn Tjemsland (B.A. Geography, '96) brings us an update:
For the last 5 years, since graduating from Central, I have been working as a cartographer at AAA in San Francisco. I'm definitely ready to move on, but I am still deciding which direction I will go. I have been considering returning to school for a teaching credential. Last year I got married, my last name is now Estrella. This summer I am taking my first real vacation since 1995 - a two week trip to Yellowstone. I can hardly wait!
Kelly Haugen (B.A. Geography, '00) sends in a job tip:
I'm still working in Iowa at Alliant
Energy.. The company I work for,TechStaff,, said that there might be some more opportunities at Alliant for anybody who would like to move out to Iowa. Alliant is currently working with SmallWorld GIS and will be converting to ArcInfo 8 this summer. They will train new employees.
Sean E. O'Day (B.A. Geography, '94) sent this e-mail:
Hello all. I've been meaning to post to this page for quite some time. My how quickly the time has passed. Here is what has happened since leaving Ellensburg in the spring of 1994:
I was fortunate to receive a "for credit" position as a Governor's Intern with the Transportation Planning Office of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in Olympia. It lasted through my final term at school and the department extended it for another six months after I graduated. My work consisted mostly of evaluating local government comprehensive plans and tracking their progress. It was a lot of fun. (Plus I was able to work with a few of my classmates who were in other parts of the department -- e.g. Ron Boren -- where are you Ron?)
After my stint with the WSDOT, I went to work for the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) as a Municipal Government Analyst (read lobbying assistant). Although less related to geography than my previous job, I was able to work on a mix of energy, telecommunication and some environmental issues for the association.
In 1995, while working for AWC, I married the most beautiful bride in the world -- Christine Jones. A former CWU student (but not geography) whom I had been dating since my junior year.
I spent 2 1/2 years with AWC and then moved on to law school at Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College. Because the school had a nationally recognized environmental law program, I was able to return to some of my natural resource roots. I graduated last year with high honors (May 2000). By the end of my legal education I was able to get two papers published on environmental law topics (e-mail me if you would like web links to them) and was one of two students honored at graduation with the Bernard O'Rourke Award (formerly the Natural Resources Law Award).
After studying, taking, and thankfully passing the Oregon State Bar exam, I have since been a judicial law clerk for the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. The position is scheduled to end in August 2002 -- I'm just now starting to think about where to go next.
The most recent and greatest of all events since graduating from CWU, however, was the arrival of our little girl in January 2001 -- Her name is Kennedy Jean. OK, I now have to take back what I said about my wife being the most beautiful girl, that honor now goes to my daughter (although my wife is still a close second). ; ) Kennedy has been an absolute joy. Not a day goes by that Christine and I don't feel blessed to have her in our family.
Looking forward to hearing about what others have been up to.
odays@aol.com
Craig Miller (B.A. Geography, '91) reports:
When I left CWU in 1991 my wife Julie and I moved to a cabin on the Wenatchee River where I worked for the Leavenworth Ranger District. In the Fall we moved to Wenatchee (Julie's hometown) when Julie took a position as a 4th grade teacher at Columbia School. We stayed in Wenatchee for a number of years. During that time I worked for the Chelan County Conservation District as their GIS Manager, and then as the Lead GIS Analyst for the US Forest Service - Wenatchee Forestry Sciences Lab working on the Eastside Forest Health Assesment (EFHA) and the Eastside Ecosystem Mananagement Project (ICBEMP).
We later moved to Redmond, WA (my hometown) where I worked for CH2M Hill as the GIS Manager for their Bellevue office. After a brief stint in Redmond we decided to head back to school in Ellensburg. Julie earned her M.Ed. at CWU while I took the prequisite courses (A lot of math and computer science) for the graduate program I wanted to go after. I also worked 1/2 time as the GIS Manager for US Army Yakima Training Center - Directorate of Environment and Natural Resources in Selah.
In the Fall of 1998 we moved from Ellensburg to Orono, Maine where I pursued an M.S. in Spatial Information Science and Engineering at the University of Maine. This was a wonderful two years for us. We made great friends, enjoyed our work, school, and Maine. In the Spring of 2000 when it was time to leave we were sad, but excited for the next phase of our life to begin.
In June of 2000 we moved 3000 miles to San Rafael, CA while my wife was 8 months pregnant. In July of 2000 we had our first child Soren, and in October of 2000 I began my new job as a Senior Software Engineer at Autodesk Location Services. For my first 6 months I have been working on the palm-computer based GIS OnSite View. In January of 2001, we moved from San Rafael to Petaluma, CA in lovely Sonoma County.
Mark Lange (B.A. Geography, '93) sends an update:
Just an update from one of your long lost students. I entered the graduate program at East Carolina University in 1998 and I received my Masters in geography this past summer. And, I did it in 2 years! My whopping thesis title was "Beach and Bar Dynamics on a Low-energy, Micro-tidal Coast: Cedar Island, North Carolina". North Carolina was a great experience, I survived 4 hurricanes and "the flood of the century". For a physical geographer, that's heaven. My research took place on a scenic barrier island and I really began to appreciate striking physical and cultural differences between the U.S. coasts.
This summer I received a merit fellowship to the Ph.D program in Geography at the University of Southern California and I started this fall. I'm working with Bernie Bauer and really enjoying it. It's incredible to be in a department with students from all over the world. Los Angeles wasn't a place Amy and I ever pictured ourselves living, but it's incentive to finish my degree early. Quite a change from the rural south. Or Ellensburg!
I met Graeme Aggett briefly last fall - Central and USC are both lucky to have him. I've also done some work with Dr. Mark Lorang who I understand has worked with CWU on the Yakima River. It's wonderful running into people affiliated with Central.
Mark Lange
Department of Geography
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0255
(213) 740-9646 (office) or (213) 740 0050 (dept.)
fax: 213-740-0056
Jordyn Mitchell (B.A. Geography, '97) sends this note:
After graduating I took a job as a temp at Microsoft's geographic unit, working on their geographic multimedia products. That was pretty fun. Later I was offered a job with USGS in Virginia and wound up staying almost 3 years. I was helping produce geologic maps, using ESRI and Adobe software among other things. Now I'm back home and working as a cartographer at WA Dept. of Transportation in Olympia.
mitchejo@wsdot.wa.gov
Nicole McCoy (B.A. Geography, '95) writes:
I have been working in Ellensburg for the past four years. I didn't realize I would be staying in Ellensburg for awhile, but it has worked out well. I am the GIS technician at the Kittitas County Conservation District. This job has been awesome! My job is making maps that help farmers in their conservation planning. Before we could make these maps the crop data layer needed to be developed. I was hired to do that, using ArcView. This led to writing and getting a grant to train conservation districts statewide to do the same type of work. This led to another grant (phase II) for advanced ArcView/Spatal Analyst training. This led to where I am now; involved at the national level with USDA to get GIS implemented in districts nationwide. I just did a nationwide survey and confirmed that most conservation districts don't have GIS technology and need it badly! So I am a liaison for the conservation districts. This is very exciting and maybe will lead me to bigger and better things in GIS! Nancy has been wonderful in providing great GIS interns through the years to assist us with field and GIS work.
Nicole McCoy
GIS Specialist
Kittitas County Conservation District
607 E. Mountain View Ave.
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Ph: (509) 925-8585 X113
Fx: (509) 925-8591
nicole-mccoy@wa.nacdnet.org
Teresa Ryan (M.S. Resource Management, '00) is now working on a PhD through the Institute of Resources and Environment at the University of British Columbia. A research cruise in May 2001 off the coast of BC was totally awesome! The first presentation (of preliminary results from the cruise) was given at a workshop on oolichan for the Native Brotherhood of BC only two days off the ship. Additional research from the cruise will continue through the summer. Samples of oolichan (a.k.a. eulachon, hooligan) were obtained for toxicology and other studies. Teresa's dissertation research focuses on the smelt-like fish oolichan (Thaleichthys pacificus).
Krystal Jackson (M.S. Resource Management, '00) is now guiding school groups that are touring the Oregon Caves National Monument.
Sean Hare (B.A. Geography, '99) sends in some news with a job tip:
I'm still working for Snohomish County, not as a planner, as my educational background would lead you to believe, but rather as an Engineering Technician. I'm leading a GPS crew in gathering watershed drainage information within UGA's throughout the county.
By the way, if anyone is interested in working in the Everett area, Snohomish County is advertising for 6-8 more GPS techs. for drainage inventory. You may want to direct interested individuals to our web site. The jobs are posted as Engineering Tech IV's and the salary range is nearly $3,300 per month. If you have further inquiries don't hesitate to e-mail me.
I look forward to the Geography updates!
hare_s1@yahoo.com
John Marvin (B.A. Geography, '00) sent this e-mail:
I've been working for the Yakima County Planning Dept. since June. I'm working on revising their Critical Areas Atlas. I've done a lot of research and am able to use my geography skills, but I've really learned a lot about the political side of resource management.
Take care,
budahcon@yahoo.com
Adam J. Fyall (B.A., Geography, '94) brings us up to date on his activities:
Recently completed sixth year of employment with Benton County. Specialize in intergovernmental relations and manage special projects related to the Hanford Site and Hanford Reach -- primarily those concerning land use, resource management, and economic transition/development. Also act as liaison to ports, tribes, and Congressional delegation. It has been a good run.....never thought I would be here this long! Perhaps not where one thinks a "geography" degree is going to take them, but once you are in the system there is no telling which direction life's journey will take you.
Continuing the family tradition of commitment to public service. A Richland Parks Commissioner for three years now, volunteer for Habitat For Humanity and Junior Achievement, and member of the Development Board for Northwest Public Radio. Most enduring commitment is to the Tapteal
Greenway Association, of which I am President for 2001. Still hiking, fishing, and racing. 152-pound halibut near Sequim in 2000 was a new personal record. Reached the "highpoint" of 13 states now; and will complete 5th Boston Marathon and 4th Ironman Triathlon in 2001. Keeping busy and active. After talking about it for the past six years, will finally make applications to graduate school (public policy/administration) and seriously contemplate moving on. Ellensburg, Tri-Cities, and Eastern Washington have been good to this 4th-generation Seattle transplant; leaving will be difficult. Thank you to all in the CWU family who have helped me over the years :-)
ajfyall@urx.com
Derek Jones (B.A., Geography, '99) has not been letting any moss grow:
I've been working here in Denver, Colorado for a little over a year now at a place called ImageScans, Inc. where we scan aerial and satellite photos (diapositives and negs) into digital format, and then we either do simple rectification or we'll do that and then put the number of images that they want done into a mosaic. That's a pretty simplified explanation of what we do there, but on a day in, day out basis, that's what I do more or less. I use PCI software(ortho-engine and GCPworks), a little ArcView and ArcInfo, and also have learned the basics of UNIX while I've been there. Right now we're experimenting with a program called DIME created by a customer of ours called Positive Systems based out of Whitefish Montana. It's a simpler method of mosaicing the larger projects that we get in that are sometimes over a hundred frames in size. It makes cutlines and colormatches automatically, saving mucho time!
I'm leaving here in early March to take a trip around the world. I am meeting some friends of mine that came here from Europe and lived in Sue Lombard Hall back in the 97/98 academic year. You MIGHT remember P.A. Cordey from Switzerland, he was a geography major. Anyway, about 5-6 of us every year meet to go snowboarding in Europe...this year it's Zermatt, Switzerland. John Busch from Belfast, Thomas Haywood from Edinburgh, Freddie Verwoerd from the Netherlands, and P.A. of course.
After that, it's on to India where I'll be travelling all around including Nepal and Pakistan for approximately 2 months, and on to
Thailand for a few weeks, then to South America for about 3 months or more...depends on how the money's holding out. I will return to Seattle and start the job search all over again, or POSSIBLY return to my old job if they need me back. I assume I can at least get that job back since they've said what a wonderful job I've done for them. I don't really want to return to Denver, but I DO have a lot of friends here so it wouldn't be so bad. I miss Seattle a lot so hopefully I can find something around there when I get back. I haven't ruled out the possibility of San Fransisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego...I've always wanted to live near water so you can see why I don't really want to return to Denver!!
Well, hope all is well there at Central!
delbrow@yahoo.com
Tony Schouten (B.A. Geography, '00) reports:
This past summer I worked for the Department of Transportation, in the Geographic Services building as a Cartographer. I was involved in 2 projects. One was to update the State Routes on the database, and the other was to generate "wellhead" maps from scratch, of the maintenance districts in WA state. We had ArcInfo 8.0 which is great. It contains ArcMap which was very easy to use and had lots of flexibility. Right now I am working for the Washington State Legislature. I am a Committee Clerk for the Commerce and Labor committee. I had a tough time getting a GIS related job after DOT, but I've bought myself a couple of more months to find one. This job isn't geography related, but does fit in nicely with my Public Policy degree. I'm having fun with this job and am learning first hand about our "democratic" political process. Coincidentally, I have run into 4 people from Central on the Capitol campus. Its a small world...
Take care,
oenglish40@hotmail.com
Blaine Cameron (B.A. Geography, '98) sends this update:
Well, I've been moving around a bit. I'm back from Arizona, and working at the UW now. I'm the Assistant Director of Facilities
and Planning for the College of Arts & Sciences. Most of what I do here is maintain a space database for the college in the form of AutoCAD drawings. I do quite a bit of Design/Project Management for the college as well. One of the newest things though is that I'm the main correspondent for the college to the Capital Space Planning office at the UW. I'm the guinea pig for a new GIS system in which we will be putting all of our floor plans into ArcView, and posting them on the web using ArcIMS. This is a major project that I'm having a lot of fun working on. If things go well, the Capital office will institute the system campus wide. I had a stint with Pima County Development Services while I was living in Tucson, but they're beyond Land Use Planning at this point. I must have personally reviewed and approved well over 200 single family home permits, and at least as many mobile home permits in the 5 months I worked there. Apartment complexes - maybe 5 went through our office. Witnessing urban sprawl first hand is absolutely frightening. All in all it was a fabulous learning experience though. I can now be found at my new home, with my new wife (married in October).
Blaine
(206) 616-6518
blainec@u.washington.edu
Greg Lang (B.A. Geography, '00) writes:
I am currently working for Pierce County as a GIS Technician and hope to be promoted to an ITS position relatively soon. I am primarily participating in a county wide GPS based drainage inventory project. I am also developing a county GPS class focused on data collection for the benefit of other departments interested in implementing GPS technology. I am giving a GPS oriented presentation at the February URISA conference (wish me luck Huck). I will finally be married some time between now and August 4th 2001 to my lovely friend Stephanie!
2fastnlight@backpacker.comor
Gregland88@hotmail.com
Dawn Forbes (B.A. Geography '99) is in her second year of graduate work at the University of Delaware:
Right now, I'm having the excruciating pain of teaching my first class. It's Human Geography. Teaching is a lot more difficult than I gave you all credit for:)! It takes all my energy to get everything created for the next day, for every day. Whew. The class is certainly a learning experience. I'm doing it again in the summer and hoping that it won't be as hard because I'll already have it created. Besides that, I'm TA-ing a cultural geography class (which I have been for this year and last) again. It's a big one, about 200 students, and a lot of grading, but I really enjoy it. I'm also doing my thesis research gathering soil moisture and raingauge data in the area. It's really interesting and fun and I'm enjoying every minute so far. I should be done with the gathering by May or June and writing by the summer. :) I hope all is well in Ellensburg! Please send my well wishes and greetings to all!
Dan Church (B.A., Geography '00) has this to say:
After graduating I continued my internship at the Bureau of Reclamation until December 2000 when I accepted a full time position as a Cartographic Technician. It's a great job that really allows me to perform a wide range of activities. I work with irrigation districts to develop GIS coverages of their districts by providing advice, training, or actually performing the mapping. I have spent a significant amount of time locating and mapping salmon redd's for a couple of research projects as well. (It's tough getting paid to float down the river, but somebody has to do it). Since there are only two GIS people here in the area office, I get to work with a lot of different projects, so work is always interesting, whether it be setting people up with ArcView and giving them some training, or making pretty maps for presentations. Every day gives me something new to do, and never underestimate how nice it is to be able to spend time out in the field!
dchurch@pn.usbr.gov
Matt Kukuk (B.A., Geography '99) has changed locations:
Just giving you an update for your alumni page, which I just checked out and found to be very cool. After spending just over a year in Arizona working as GIS Coordinator for the La Paz County Department of Community Development, I have returned to Washington and was just recently hired as an associate planner for the Island County Planning Department. My return has opened the position at La Paz County and if anyone would like information on the position please feel free to have them email me. I hope everything is going well in Ellensburg.
mattkukuk@hotmail.com
Heather Stringfellow (B.A.,Geography '00) is still on campus and is busy doing geography:
I have now been working with Graeme Aggett for 3 weeks in the Center for Spatial Information. I am learning a lot and excited to gain more experience using the Trimble Pro XRS and to learn ArcIMS. I am also helping with Project CAT (Cougars and Teachers) with the Cle Elum Roslyn School District to incorporate GIS in their curriculum while students learn about cougar habitat.
stringfh@yahoo.com
Allen Rozema (B.A.,Geography '97, and M.S. candidate, REM) sends this update:
Things are busier then ever at the tribe. I am working more and more on economic development projects. The tribe is moving forward with our Marina after purchasing 300+ acres of land as well as starting construction on a new freeway interchange, gas station, and telecommunications tower. It's all pretty exciting keeping all these projects moving forward without a hitch.
My mailing address is:
Allen Rozema
206 S. 11th
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
arozema@swinomish.nsn.us
Jeff McCord (B.A. Geography, '96) sent this e-mail:
Employment: Seattle Times delivery and sales. I am non-union so I worked throughout the strike. It affected me negatively because the Times stopped producing the early Sunday edition. That is what I sold on weekends, so about 20% of my income disappeared. That paper isn't back yet and may not be for a long time. All the union accomplished was to cost the Times money and encourage the advertisers to leave the Times. They settled for the original offer the Times proposed too. I am not against union labor, but there obviously wasn't a lot of thought put into this strike.
Other activities since graduation: Travels to Japan Dec 96-Jan 97; Mexico Feb-April 97; Mexico and Costa Rica Feb-Aug 98; Mexico Nov 98; and Switzerland, Italy and Norway in Dec 99-Feb 2000. Feb 7th I am going back to Mexico for a week to attend a cousin's wedding. Besides traveling I swim and read travel guides to ease my boredom in Anacortes.
I drive the same cruddy 1977 Dodge, speak Spanish now, am still single and starting to think about a career maybe in teaching. About my heart, I got a pacemaker implanted in September 1996. Since then my health has been fine. In another 5 years I will have to get a new pacemaker as the batteries only function 9 years.
jjmccord@hotmail.com
Mary Barrett (B.A. Geography, '90) writes:
I'm now a GIS Analyst II with King County. I'm working in the Wastewater Treatment Division (aka Metro) developing and maintaining data for a long-term infiltration and inflow study of the County's sewer system. I got here by taking a long learning process through the State Departments of Ecology and Natural Resources. I started out as a regional database analyst and worked my way up to managing public land contracts. But managing contracts involved lots of enforcement, not my bag, so I tried breaking into the GIS world again. After 3 years of updating my GIS education and working in temporary positions, I finally landed this permanent position with the County.
I spend some of my free time running (2 Marathons so far), volunteering at the local animal shelter by taking the dogs out for runs, and volunteering for King County by being a Salmon Watcher (doing weekly salmon counts during spawning season) and a Beach Naturalist (identifying the beach critters people see during spring/summer minus tides).
So there you go, my update.
Mary.Barrett@METROKC.GOV
Tony Bynum (B.A.,Geography, '94; M.S. Resource Management, '97) is on leave from the Yakama Nation's natural resources department while working in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Tony is now Special Assistant to the Senior Indian Program Manager in the EPA's Office of Air & Radiation, where he works on issues related to tribal implementation of the Clean Air Act. He sends this post card. |
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Jeff Bandow (B.A. Geography, '99) sends in some e-mail:
After moving to Eugene a little more than a year ago I have finally started grad school at the U of O. I've given up the horrendous wind for torrential downpours. Can't even remember when I first started thinking about getting here, but I made it. Even though it is only three weeks into it they are already having us first year students find some direction. So far my first two options are studying how land use changes have affected the Siuslaw watershed, or some sort of geoarchaeological site interpretation in central Oregon (so I'll either be doing field work in a down pour or in the blazing sun!). Hope everything is well with all those who also got sucked into the wonderful vortex that is Ellensburg.
jbandow@darkwing.uoregon.edu
| Steve Krippner (M.S. Resource Management, '95) and spouse Linda have just completed a bicycle trip from Washington to Minnesota. Check out their web report: http://www.homestead.com/krippners/begin.html Steve writes: When I am not out having an adventure, I work as an Analyst/Programmer for King County's Transit Department. Our group specializes in geographical information systems (GIS) ... most of my time is spent developing programs that allow others to visually "see" in a computer map format, large and complex databases. |
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Kirsten Escure (B.A. Geography, '97) is now working as the Assistant Site Director at Quincy for Northwest Learning Achievement Group, a non-profit organization based in Wapato that works with junior high and high school students at risk.
Kelly Peterson (B.A., Geography '99) reports:
After working for a year in planning and code enforcement for the City of Edgewood ( I was hired by Eric Phillips, CWU geography alumni and where I worked with CWU geography alumni Katy Cornwall Koval), I left to come to work for the City of Kent in the Environmental Engineering division. Here I help manage groundwater resources and review development proposals. Occasionally I get involved in other resource issues including mass wasting in salmon bearing streams, wetlands, ESA issues, education, mapping and air photo work. I have met someone from the wet side of the hill and have convinced her (Trish) that some day the east side is the place to be. Hope everyone is doing well, feel free to drop a line.
Kelly B. Peterson
Wellhead Protection Engineer
City of Kent
220 4th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032-5895
(253) 856-5547
KPeterson@ci.kent.wa.us
or kelyp1@aol.com
Jerry Franklin (B.A., Geography '98) writes:
Since graduation, Kami and I got married after 18 years of engagement. We had our first baby on May 1st, 2000. Katherine Galianna Franklin. (See the web site...www.users.uswest.net/~jkndwoods.) I'm still working for Ecology, doing GIS analysis for the "Southwest Washington Coastal Erosion Study". In July, I will be starting my new project..."Flood Map Modernization Project". A statewide effort to get NFIP paper maps into the digital world. I'll be doing data conversions, analysis, mapping, and preparing the data for Hydro-Analysis using LIDAR remote sensing data. Life is good! Hope all is well. Say Hi to all for us.
Jerry Franklin
GIS Analyst - Southwest Washington Coastal Erosion Study
GIS Project Coordinator- Flood Map Modernization Project
Washington Department of Ecology
(360) 407-7470
Jfra461@ecy.wa.gov
Star Gentry (B.A.,Geography '97) has been working in Everett as a land use planner for Spencer Consulting.
stargentry@msn.com
Joe Sheridan (B.A.,Geography '99) just landed a job as a Planner I with Whitman County, in Colfax, Washington.
joesheridan7@hotmail.com
Rick Vogler (B.A.,Geography '97) writes:
Hello from sprawling Naches! I have good news: the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs has accepted me for their program starting in September! Additionally, they are offerring me a $5000 fellowship! Needless to say, I am very happy!
vogie1@hotmail.com
Kirsten Escure (B.A. Geography, '97) stopped by the other day. She now works as a Biological Technician specializing in weed control for the Bureau of Land Management out of that agency's Wenatchee Field Office.
Kirsten_Escure@or.blm.gov
Terry Owens (B.A. Geography, '82) writes in:
Not everyone stays in the field of Geography. After putting in Gold Claims for a year after graduating, I went to Officers Candidate School and have been in the U.S. Marine Corps since January '83 with a two year break selling pharmaceuticals in the mid-west. I am now back on active duty and finishing a three year tour in Okinawa, Japan. This has been a great career for a geographer... getting to travel to some pretty exotic and just nice places. I have been to the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Guam, Australia, Thailand, Iwo Jima, just to name a few. In May, I move back to the United States and will become the Executive Officer for Marine Corps Recruit Depot, at Parris Island, South Carolina.
owense25@konnect.net
Katy (Cornwall) Koval (B.A. Geography, '99) reported in at the end of January:
Just wanted to drop you a few lines to let you know what I've been up to for the last six months. Ray and I were married in September and had a fun honeymoon in Europe. Can you believe that? I hadn't even been to Canada! We spent four days in London and three in Paris. There were lots of tourists around. We would have liked to get out of the big cities but were limited on time. I had accepted a job with the City of Edgewood as an assistant planner in June. After six months of planning and code enforcement (nice combo), I was offered a position in Idaho, which is where Ray and I were hoping to eventually move. We decided to go for it and moved two weeks ago. I am now working for the State of Idaho Department of Water Resources, Technical Services Division. My title is GIS Specialist. I work with about 130 people in this office; 15 in the GIS department. After two weeks, I love the job. The people here are great. We're living in a cute little apartment in Boise. We are absolutely loving it! Our two kitty cats are fitting in just fine. I will leave you with some info, just in case you want to reach me. I do miss you all. Hope you all are doing well. Take care.
Katy Koval
3081 N. Five Mile Road, Apt. 101
Boise, ID 83713
(208) 378-8459
Kathryn Gellenbeck (M.S. Resource Management, '99) sent us this message in early January '00:
I will be starting work next week at the GIS Section of the Seattle Public Utilities' IT Division as a Research and Evaluations Assistant, Specialist I. Basically, I will be a liaison between the GIS staff and scientists on a water quality project and be learning and teaching an Arcview application to track water sediments/pollutants. It is a great position and I am lucky to have it.
Way to go Katie!
Jason Langbehn (B.A., Geography '99) is now working as a county planner in Ephrata, WA.
Darlene Middleton (M.S. Resource Management, '98) sent this e-mail from Belize:
Well just keeping in touch and hoping the resource mgmt. program is going smoothly. The last four months were pretty busy for me as the government gave us a deadline to finish the Regional Development Plan for southern Belize. Since April I have been acting as project manager. I had to ensure that we met the 31st October deadline and we did, so I am pretty happy. However at our board meeting last Thursday they told me that I will have to make a presentation to Cabinet on the 9th of November, when they are considering the endorsement of the plan. The next step of the project is to complete some zone plans and detail community level plans for some 72 communities. At the same time the project will be undergoing a transition into a legal corporation that can implement the plan. I guess the work is never over. However I am in desperate need of a vacation as I could not take my vacation in September because of the deadline. I think I will spend 1 week in Trinidad and 10 days in Los Angeles in December. I cannot believe that my first job after grad school would involve so many responsibilities. So how are those students that promised to finish their thesis, is there any progress in that area?
Bye, Darlene
P.O. Box 146
Belmopan, Belize
Central America
dmiddle29@hotmail.com
Larry Mattson (B.A.,Political Science '92, and M.S. Resource Management, '97) was recently elected to the Yakima City Council. In what the media described as a stunning upset victory, Mattson unseated the incumbent candidate. Larry has been working in the Yakima County Planning Department since graduating with the Master's degree from CWU. Starting out as an intern, he has steadily moved through several promotions and now works as a senior planner. On the homefront, Larry and Jenny have their hands full with a new son, Parker. |
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| Allen Rozema (B.A.,Geography '97, and M.S. candidate, Resource Management) writes: |
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Steve Krippner (M.S. Resource Management, '95) sent us this a while back:
I started my current job in April (1997). It's a permanent position and I am developing databases, writing programs and going to meetings to make sure our other "clients" (read other departments) are happy with our services. The job is interesting and rewarding and so far I like it. The division I support is the long range think tank for mass transit in King County. They are all nationally recognized as leaders in their fields. This is not your average county department - things move really fast and we are actually pushing the capabilities of current technology.
Linda and I are buying a house and, barring any unexpected problems, will be moving in on September 10th. It is a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath in the Ballard neighborhood, pretty close to the ship canal and the Locks and fish ladder. The grounds have 4 cherry trees, 2 apple trees, a plum tree, a pear tree and a grape arbor! It's big enough that we could host a wine tasting party here and we wouldn't be tripping over each other.
I hope the information is useful and if any students are curious about what's happening in GIS at King County, feel free to encourage them to call or email. Cindy Abrahamson (M.S., REM '95) is now working for Snohomish County's parcel data conversion project. She started about a month ago and I'll pass on to her your desire to update ex-student's personal info.
Steve
Stephen.Krippner@metrokc.gov
Dawn Forbes (B.A.,Geography '99) is now attending graduate school at the University of Delaware and is most interested in historical geography. She writes:
I am officially a Blue Hen. I have the ID card to prove it (it is much nicer then Central's cards. They actually take your picture here instead of have it computer generated). Pretty exciting. I am adjusting pretty well to my new environment. At first, for a few weeks, I was basically losing it because my apartment wasn't yet home to me and I missed Ellensburg, of all places and my boyfriend. :) But, now it's cool. The professors here are really nice and easy to talk to freely. I am using a lot of my education in sociology, as well as geography, in my classes, which is nice.
dawnmf@earthlink.net
Jerry Franklin (B.A.,Geography '98) is working in Olympia for the state Department of Ecology doing GIS.
JFRA461@ECY.WA.GOV
Doug Findley (B.A.,Geography '98) is working for the Lewis County Planning Department as assistant planner.
d_findley@hotmail.com
Tabitha Luzik (B.A.,Geography '98) is working with the Pacific County, WA Planning Department.
Rick Vogler (B.A.,Geography '97) will be looking forward to graduate work in geography next fall, at a location that's still undecided as of yet.
vogie1@hotmail.com
Blaine Cameron (B.A.,Geography '98) sent us this from Arizona:
I am emailing you from my new desk as a Pima County Zoning Inspector. I have just finished my first full week of work here and it's pretty interesting. I haven't yet heard from the U of A about acceptance to the grad program, but I think I'll be hearing from them soon. For right now I'm just happy to be in a good learning position to move up in the regional planning field. They certainly need it down here in the desert. They are actually in the process of transfering all base maps, zoning, planning and everything else to ArcView so I'll be here when everyone starts using it and growing with it. I'm really excited to start learning more about that and using it.
Blaine
Matt Kukuk (B.A.,Geography '99) also found work in Arizona:
I am writing to let you know that I have just accepted a job offer for a planning/GIS coordinator position in Arizona. The position that I got is far from a dream job, but it is allowing me to get my foot in the door in the field. It is also allowing me to live in a region that offers so many places to explore and the weather that will allow me to do it. I would greatly appreciate it if you could put my new address on your mailing list.
mattkukuk@hotmail.com
Stephen Mosley sent in the following:
Dear Friends,
Sorry for the long time in calling. I would just like to give you the good message that I have been employed by the the respected firm of Earth Consultants Inc., located in Bellevue, in the present position of geotechnical advisior to EastSide and Seattle area building and environmental projects. It has been two weeks, and I have learned so much. This field is great, and I have a lot to learn. It is so very nice to associate with those who share the same great interest in the earth, environment, and local infrastructure. I can only hope to represent CWU in a great and honorable manner. This opportuniy is a fantastic step towards a future of success within this dynamic, and educational field of geography and geologic land analysis. Please extend my e-mail address to those interested in job opportunities. Contacts are many, and I would be happy to help my fellows. I would be more than happy to be a point of contact. I will let you know how things are going.
stevemos@gte.net
Sean Smith (M.S. Resource Management, '96) went to the Park Service Law Enforcement Training Center at Santa Rosa, California last winter. He finished first in his class and was elected president of the class! While in the San Francisco area he'd been contacting the Earth Island Institute (an environmental group) and they essentially created a job for him. He's working on their anti-jet ski and ORV proposals. The Park Service career is on hold for a while. We don't have an address or any details yet, but Sean is supposed to be contacting us soon. He just found a place to live in SF.
Mark Lange (B.A., Geography '93) is a graduate student at the Department of Geography, East Carolina University, in Greenville, NC 27858.
mdl0224@mail.ecu.edu
