Alumni Voices

Jeffrey R. Gilbert (’64 industrial administration)
Retired as vice president and officer of PPG Industries, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Pinehurst, North Carolina in 2004.

Ray Grinstead (’74 industrial administration; accounting)
I graduated in 1974. I got a job at McDonald’s. In 1982, my wife and I bought a McDonald’s. We were sponsored by John Dasher. We worked in Le Mars until 2015 and retired after many dedicated and hard-working days at our restaurant. We retired staying active with two children, five grandkids and also stayed active with hiking, pickleball, friends, fishing, gardening, and hunting. It is important to give back so that is a priority to others also.

Jim Warlow (’70 industrial administration; minor in economics)
After graduating, I was drafted for Vietnam. Upon exiting the army, I relocated to South Lake Tahoe and in 1976 opened a wine, gift, and specialty food store which my wife, Kim, and I operated for 40 years. We sold the store in 2016 and are happily retired and living the dream. We ski religiously in the winter and enjoy boating on Lake Tahoe in the summer and enjoy traveling the world in the off seasons. I sincerely appreciate my experiences at Iowa State and fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon.

Larry D. Grant (’74 accounting)
I was appointed by the U.S. ambassador to Canada to the Board of Directors of Fulbright Canada for a three-year term (2024-2026). The organization administers the prestigious U.S. State Department Fullbright program, specific to the United States and Canada. Fulbright Canada’s mandate is to identify the best and brightest minds in both countries and engage them in residential academic exchange. Founded in 1946, the Fulbright program is renowned for exceptional student and scholar exchange.

Nicholas Nassif (’76 industrial administration; minor in journalism)
I have had a varied career. While at Iowa State, I bought a food concession stand and booked it at the Iowa State Fair and South Dakota State Fair for 22 years. I also started a company and sold food concession trailers for 10 years. In 1982, I went to Drake University Law School and graduated in 1984. I moved to Los Angeles, California, and have been in my own law practice for over 30 years. I am licensed in California and Iowa. And I hold my Iowa roots close to my heart and come back to Sioux City twice a year.

Jeff Pattison (’77 accounting)
I retired in 2017 from a bank holding company where I was senior vice president and CFO. My previous experience was with two large manufacturing companies where I held executive positions in finance, treasury, tax, accounting, and human resources.

Nonprofit, board-level positions with a large, full-spectrum senior care facility, an organization focused on at-need individuals and an internationally reaching organization focused on policy issues related to peace and security.

Joseph P. Graziano (’79 industrial administration; marketing; minor in sociology)
After graduating from Iowa State, I began my career with Burroughs Corp., (later became Unisys Corporation as the result of a merger). I had a successful 40-year marketing career with Burroughs/Unisys selling large enterprise computing solutions and managing major account relationships. I retired in April 2019, and now fully enjoy life with my wife of 42 years, Christy (‘80), our kids and grandkids, travel, biking, golf, music, and volunteer helping our church and high schools.

Carson G. Praefke (’79 industrial administration; minor in economics)
After working for 10 years in the facilities department of university housing at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, I retired in 2022 at the age of 65. Since then, I spend most of my time restoring a couple of old buildings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Steven Netcott (’80 business; minor in accounting)
My masonry entry for the juried exhibition “Artists At Work” at the Smithsonian Institution is on display with 52 other winning entries in the Ripley Center concourse through March 2025. There were 152 entries. I am a fourth-generation mason. I have been a mason at the Castle of Smithsonian Institution for 14 years. My entry is a spiral brick column.

Tim Riley (’80 industrial administration; minor in speech)
I am currently vice president sales for TruChoice Financial. We were a subsidiary of Allianz and acquired December 2022 by Amerilife. I have resided in Woodstock, Georgia, since 1995 after extensive travel around the United States. My wife Lynn for 36 years. Bree and Ryan grown children in New York and North Carolina. Our dog Charlotte. I earned my MBA in January 2003. Previously with Maytag for 22 years and now GamePlan and TruChoice for 21years. I continue to work because I still enjoy. Hobbies travel, golf, tennis, family, faith.

Mark Arends (’82 industrial administration)
Retired in June 2023 after 18 years as CFO at Brokers Clearing House, Ltd.

Kevin Highland (’83 business administration)
Currently I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but have remained 110 percent all Cyclone in this Sooner and Cowboy country. Owned and operated my own mortgage company from 1999-2014 and named it in honor of the pizza shop, Great Plains Mortgage. Employed about 25 people in mortgage origination until I sold the company. Since 2014, I am the president of AVB Mortgage, which is a 1905 Broken Arrow family-owned bank of about $500M in assets. Love what I do and love living in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Annette Kay Horras (’84 business administration)
I worked for 38 years in human resources management and risk management. As of 2024, I am now a legacy of third-generation graduates from Iowa State. Also, my third granddaughter begins at Iowa State in fall 2024. My entire family’s education at Iowa State University positioned them for advanced degrees. Thank you, Iowa State.

Tamra Chase Lines (’84 management; minor in management information systems)
After 39-and-a-half years of service at Mutual of Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, I retired last September. All of my time was spent in the IT department. I started out as a Cobol programmer, then worked through the ranks to end my career as an agile project manager. My husband, Todd, and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary this year. Our two daughters are married, and we also have two adorable grandsons. I’m looking forward to spending more time gardening, exercising, and traveling.

Neal Hakenson (’84 marketing)
Just celebrated 40 years as a product development manager for Mutual of Omaha.

Andy Harris (’84 business administration; accounting)
After 22 years of managing my own CPA practice, Harris & Co., CPAs, with locations in Ames, Iowa and Ankeny, Iowa and 15 employees, my partner, Sonal Patel, and I elected to merge our practice with Hogan Hansen, P.C. We now practice as part of that great organization, and have begun our final succession plans. This past tax season we also hit a milestone as my 40th year of tax preparation and public accounting.

Paul J. Pascuzzi (’86 finance)
Working in Sacramento, California, as a commercial bankruptcy lawyer doing interesting business-related legal work. Carrying the Cyclone flag rooting for Brock Purdy, Breece Hall, and David Montgomery.

Kelly O’Connell (’87 marketing)
I am a senior account executive with Express Scrips by Evernorth, a Cigna company, and recently celebrated my 30th anniversary with Express Scripts. My husband and I relocated to Florida four years ago, after 30-plus years in Chicago, Illinois, and we are loving everything about the sunshine state! Looking forward to some exciting Cyclone football this fall.

David Andrews (’90 accounting)
Secretary II at Iowa State from 1990 to 2002. Secretary III at University of Michigan from 2003-2005; and career services admin at Baker College of Business from 2005-2010. Federal employee from 2012-present; administrative assistant FDIC from 2012-2016. Currently, procurement technician Department of Defense government contract management 2016-present. Still employed full-time at 68 years old. Moved from Iowa back to Flint, Michigan, in 2002. Thirty years Army Reserves including two tours Afghanistan. Finance officer American Legion eight years.

Elizabeth (Herrald) Putnam (’91 marketing)
I am happy to share that I completed my doctor of education degree (EdD) in educational leadership and education technology at University of Phoenix in May 2024. I am currently an adjunct faculty member at Clarke University, and entrepreneur and content creator for a virtual family business to open later this fall. I am grateful for my education, and look forward to continued growth and success.

Paul Berte (’92 finance)
County executive director, USDA Farm Service Agency, 30 years of service with USDA. Currently employed out of Pocahontas USDA Service Center.

Mark Drummond (’92 accounting; ’93 business administration)
Am currently working at Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Daryl Drake (’98 MBA)
Enjoying retirement from 3M Ames, Iowa Army National Guard, and Union Pacific Railroad. Family day with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren when I’m not attending NHRA Championship Drag Racing, Good Guys Rod, custom car shows, and Hy-Vee Indy Car Race Weekend. Travel with Carol to Iowa State women’s basketball and following Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever tops my travels this year.

Janet Wilwerding (’02 marketing)
In October 2023, I was promoted to the position of communications director for the City of Johnston. I have been with the city for seven years and had previously held the positions of communications manager and communications specialist. I take pleasure in assisting the community and witnessing the impact of our communication and marketing initiatives on the residents we serve.

Erik Distler (’03 accounting; finance)
After graduating and moving to the West Coast, I spent several years in public accounting and consulting. I then attended graduate school and earned a master’s in public administration in sustainable management. Since then, I’ve worked within the intersection of sports and entertainment and sustainability at organizations such as Nike and PwC. At present, I live in Los Angeles, California, and serve as the vice president and head of sustainability at AEG.

Elizabeth Goh (’05 management information systems)
I am working on four IT certifications in these two years:
1. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) by Project Management Institute (PMI)
2. AI for Everyone by DeepLearning.AI
3. No Code AI and Machine Learning: Building Data Science Solutions by MIT Professional Education (MIT PE)
4. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) by Scrum Alliance
Wish me best of luck to clinch all four IT certifications.

Kelly Hogg (Hanus) (’05 marketing; international business; minor in advertising)
I am a December 2005 graduate and former student-athlete (swimming). I have been married for 15 years (16 years in October 2024). I am the proud mom of a 14-year-old boy who will enter high school this fall. I live in Littleton, Colorado (suburb of Denver). In June 2022, I started a new roll with Tallgrass Energy, as an account director on the natural gas assets within the commercial team. I am proud of the advancements that are being made as we lead the way to create a cleaner energy future.

Amber Rodgers (’07 marketing)
In February, the Iowa Economic Development Authority promoted me to lead the newly created global business team at the agency. This department oversees trade, international business, foreign direct investment, domestic business expansion, and business attraction for the state of Iowa.

Ashley Albrecht (’09 marketing)
Last October, Bret Heuberger (‘08 supply chain management) and I welcomed our first child, Kathleen Emilia Ann Heuberger.

Scott Gessner (’11 accounting; finance)
I started a bookkeeping and accounting business called Gessner Accounting Solutions in December 2017. After working in financial accounting for nine years at various corporations, I decided to quit my full-time job to be the full-time CEO of my business in September 2020. My business provides bookkeeping services online in the cloud to any business in the United States. I am proud to say I have never lost a client due to poor service and have an outstanding track record of client retention.  

Rishabh Anand (’11 management information systems)
We recently went on first cruise from LA to Mexico. Now that my parents are also settled in United States with me, it was our first whole family trip after a long, long time.

Andrea Biagioli (’11 accounting; marketing)
I am now a CPA, CFA, and the chief financial officer of Tenfold Security, a cyber security provider in Kansas City, Missouri. I am also the owner of an accounting firm that I am building from scratch. I am getting married in early August to my fiancé, Parker. I am looking forward to married life and continuing to operate both of my companies, while always being a life-long learner.

Moira Hopson (’12 management; marketing)
After graduating, I moved to Kansas City and worked for Cerner. I traveled extensively for Cerner and moved abroad to Melbourne, Australia, for the company for a three-year contract and got my master’s in health informatics from Northwestern. After my contract was complete, I moved to Maui, Hawaii, where I was a scuba instructor for two-and-a-half years. I then helped my husband run his construction business until we sold it in 2022 and moved back to the mainland. I work remotely now for LabWare from Cape Coral, Florida.

Ben Currie (’12 accounting; finance)
I’m a licensed CPA. I worked six years in audit at RSM US LLP. I worked two-and-a-half years at Meredith Corp in their corporate finance. In February 2021, I became CFO of TruBank in Indianola, Iowa, where I oversee accounting but also manage the bank’s marketing. I’m the 2024/2025 president of the Iowa Chapter of the American Marketing Association (nonprofit) and serve on two Iowa Society of CPAs (nonprofit) committees, Financial Institutions and Education Foundation Advisory.

Elliott Frey (’15 marketing; management)
Our family resides in Des Moines, Iowa, where I work as an escalations manager for Global Atlantic Financial Group. My wife, Kellee (’17 elementary education), and I welcomed our first child to the world in December 2022. We love getting back to Ames, Iowa to visit, and enjoy maintaining many special relationships at Iowa State University.

Philip Weinert (’16 accounting, finance, management information systems)
I graduated from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business with my MBA this spring. Now that I’ve graduated, I plan to work at Bain in strategy consulting this fall in Chicago, Illinois. Thank you to the Iowa State Ivy College of Business for giving me the foundation to propel my graduate school education and business career forward.

Juliana Johnson (’16 MBA)
I recently accepted a position as public relations manager at Terran Orbital (NYSE: LLAP).

Madeline Glancy (’17 finance)
I received my MBA from the University of Illinois in December 2023 with an emphasis in mergers and acquisitions. I am currently employed at Ernst & Young (EY) in the strategy and transactions group.

Alex Juergens (’17 management information systems)
After graduating from the Iowa State University Ivy College of Business, I worked in the IT industry as a contractor for several years before eventually joining Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance as a QA test analyst in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Michael Hanstad (’17 marketing)
This year we added two new restaurants to our portfolio. We opened Pepp’s Pizzeria in Grimes, Iowa, a New York-style pizzeria with a Midwest twist. In October, we will open up our third Charlotte’s Kitchen location in Altoona, Iowa. It was our first experience doing a new build and the concept will be the first drive-thru only location. At the end of this year, we will have four restaurants operating with over 70 employees. We are truly blessed to be where we are today.

Rachel Axline-Dankbar (’17 marketing; international business)
Since graduating from Iowa State University in 2017, I have married and am blessed with two wonderful boys. I earned my teaching certification and currently teach second graders in Texas. As a certified travel agent, I enjoy traveling with my family during holiday breaks and specialize in marketing, planning, and booking destination weddings and honeymoons. I also love spending time outdoors, making the most of every moment with my family and students.

Erin Carrigan Mitchell (’18 MBA)
I took a new role at Collins Aerospace and am now a senior manager of execution excellence. In this role, I am responsible for developing functional excellence and standard work across the avionics communication, navigation, and surveillance portfolio. I’m also planning and executing our new Customer Experience Center and the site’s 50^th anniversary this year in November.

Arman Vatani-Oskooi (’18 marketing)
In February, I got my real estate brokers license in Minnesota and with Wisconsin on the way. I now run Bridge Realty, the largest family run real estate brokerage in Minnesota. My brokerage just received the StarTribune’s #1 Top Workplace here in Minnesota for large companies. My title company, Lake Title, also received Top Producing Agent in Minnesota for 2023.

Jhoanmy Luque Leon (’18 marketing; international business)
In 2019, I embarked on my professional journey in the insurance industry. Eager to expand my expertise and contribute more significantly to the field, I obtained my insurance license. After two-and-a-half years at Farmers Insurance, I sought new challenges and opportunities for growth and moved to the broker side of insurance. This transition led me to join Marsh McLennan, where I have been thriving as a placement specialist for the past three years. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a great team.

Joshua Bourassa (’19 management; marketing)
I married my wife, Grace, in October 2022. I am still working in the insurance industry but am now a partner at V&V Insurance Agency located in Cresco, Iowa. My father and I also decided to take the plunge into franchising by partnering with Cabin Coffee to make an addition to our community in Cresco. We have more exciting things coming in the future, so we’ll continue to enjoy the journey as we get there.

Jenna Oftedal Hagen (’19 MBA)
In May, I married my Iowa State sweetheart, Bradley Hagen (‘19 MBA), who I met in the MBA program on campus. We got married in our hometown of Westminster, Colorado, with a bunch of our favorite Cyclones in attendance.

Kelly Best (’20 supply chain management) and Kennedy Fischer (’19 marketing; supply chain management)
Kennedy and I are best friends who met at Iowa State in 2017. We now both work on the same team at Revlon, where we’ve supported the grocery retail business for the last two years. I am a sales analyst who models, forecasts, and analyzes sales data to make strategic decisions. Kennedy works in logistics and manages our e-commerce platforms, inventory, and item management. We both are fully remote. Kennedy is living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and I am in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Andrew Ernst (’20 management; minor in sociology)
A year and a half ago I accepted a position as a freight expeditor with Airfreight.com. I love the job and since it’s WFH, my fiancée and I decided to move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where we have lived for almost a year now. We love the city and are having a blast exploring everything it has to offer.

Mary Katerine (Kat) Jones (’20 marketing; minor in communication studies)
Since becoming an ISU swimming and diving and Ivy alumni, I have moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. After a little over two-and-a-half years with NMDP (formerly Be the Match) I have started a new role as a marketer for member donor and product operations. In a full-circle moment, I now help support marketing for our Get in the Game program; which partners with college athletics to help save lives through cell therapy.

Madelyn Bloom (’21 marketing)
After three years in Chicago post-graduation, I recently moved back to Des Moines, Iowa, to continue my career at Athene USA, where I interned in summer 2020. I’m grateful to Ivy College of Business and the career services department for preparing me for interviews and securing the internship that ultimately led me back to Iowa to continue my career in marketing.

Cody King (’21 marketing; international business)
Last fall, I accepted a promotion within Pella Corporation and moved from Las Vegas, Nevada, to San Diego, California. Without Raj Agnihotri’s sales class in the Ivy College of Business, I would not come in contact with Pella Corporation nor be where I am today.

Omar Waheed (’22 marketing; minor in journalism)
I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to attend grad school at Arizona State to pursue my MA in journalism. I ended up transferring out to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to finish. I got my master’s, but between then, I worked for the New York Times for a bit and earned multiple awards for news I wrote in investigative and consumer news at my current news outlet Madison365.

Jacob Fetterer (’23 MBA)
A key objective of enrolling and completing the MBA program was to allow me the opportunity to broaden my career experience outside of the hospitality industry. While I do enjoy the field, the lack of work-life balance that comes with it was having a negative impact on my family. My Ivy MBA gave me the tools and resources I needed to be offered a job as an accounts receivable manager with Iowa State University, delivering the balance and new experience I was striving for.

John Mobley IV (’24 MBA, MEd higher education administration; graduation certificate in entrepreneurship and innovation)
I’m starting my engineering education research doctoral program at the University of Michigan this August, focusing on nuclear engineering and disability studies. I also have two exciting professional development activities lined up for the rest of the year: (1) meeting with congressional members from Michigan and Iowa in D.C. through the 2024 Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation and (2) presenting findings from my ISU Honors seminar at the 2024 International Youth Nuclear Congress in the UAE.