Class Notes
1960s
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A. Dwight Abbott, MSM ’65, was recently recognized by the Purdue School of Aeronautics Astronautics Engineering as an Outstanding Aerospace Engineer. Abbott retired in 2000 and now resides in Palos Verdes Estates, CA, where he has served on the Palos Verdes Estates City Council and as mayor.
- Robert Bolduc, MSIA ’66, was named BusinessWest magazine’s 2010 Top Entrepreneur. Bolduc is the founder and CEO of Pride, a chain of 24 convenience stories in Massachusetts.
1970s
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John Groth, MSM ’71, PhD ’75, a retired Navy captain, was inducted into Purdue’s Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Hall of Fame in April. Groth, who served on active duty as a line officer, chief engineer and department head on a destroyer, is now a professor of finance in the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.
- Bettina Whyte, BSIM ’71, is a managing director and senior advisor with Alvarez & Marsal, an independent global professional services firm specializing in performance improvement, turnaround management and business advisory services. She previously chaired the advisory board of Bridge Associates LLC, a crisis management and restructuring firm.
- William H. Strong, BSM ’73, Lake Forest, IL, was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Indiana University by Governor Mitch Danielson July 1, 2010.
- Max D. Kime, MSM ’74, Indianapolis, IN, was named a 2011 Five Star Wealth Manager for the Indianapolis market by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine in its October 2011 issue. Kime is a senior investment advisor with Goelzer Investment Management.
- Roger G. Maclean, BSIM ’75, Lolo, MT, is the new dean of the School of Extended and Lifelong Learning at the University of Montana in Missoula, MT.
- John J. Luttrell, BSIM '77, was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of American Apparel Inc. in Los Angeles, CA. He previously served as chief financial officer at Old Navy, a Gap Inc. company.
- Donna (Ruggiero) Peoples, BSIM ’78, Atlanta, GA, is currently the executive director of World Water Relief working on water, sanitation and hygiene education projects in Haiti. Alumni who are interested in supporting this cause can contact her at donna.peoples@worldwaterrelief.org.
- Janice Bennett, BSIM ’79, whose career in philanthropy spans 25 years, is the executive director of the YWCA Lake County in Waukegan, IL. In addition to her Krannert degree, Bennett completed the Harvard Business School Executive Education Leadership Program.
- Scott Murray, BSIM ’79, Chicago, IL, has joined Northern Trust as chief technology officer. He previously served as business global program office head for Treasury Services at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In his new position, Murray will lead new technology development, support client-facing applications, and maintain back-office infrastructure, including data centers for Northern Trust’s global operating platform serving clients in some 40 countries worldwide.
1980s
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John K. Lines, BSM ’80, Nashville, TN, was named to the USA Triathlon Board of Directors for 2011. He has competed multiple times with Team USA, a collection of the nation’s best age-group tri-athletes who represent the country at the International Triathlon Union World Championships. An attorney, Lines is senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of National Healthcare Corp. in Murfreesboro, TN.
- Robert J. Parsons, BSIM ’80, MSM ’94, Carmel, IN, has joined Umbaugh, a financial advisory firm to local governments, as manager of organizational effectiveness. Parsons has spent his career improving performance for a variety of organizations.
- Barbara R. Smith, BSM ’81, is now senior vice president and chief financial officer for Commercial Metals Co. in Irving, TX. Smith, whose career includes 24 years with Alcoa, previously served as vice president and CFO for Gerdau Ameristeel. She also serves on the board of directors for Minerals Technology Inc.
- Valerie Grindle, MSM ’82, Boise, ID, was recently appointed CEO of PCS Edventures and elected to the company’s board of directors. Grindle joined PCS, which provides educational products and services to the K-16 market, in early 2011 as senior vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer. She previously served as CFO of Great American Appetizers.
- Charles Day, BSM ’83, a retired Army major, was inducted into Purdue’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Hall of Fame in April. He served in the Gulf War as an Army Artillery officer and then transferred to the Army Acquisition Corps. Day now owns a company that provides consulting and logistical support to companies and organizations throughout the world.
- Janet R. (Easton) Kirkman, BSIM ’83, and Roger D. Kirkman (ME ’82), Scottsdale, AZ, recently opened a new business, The House for Brides. It is the first business of its kind in the Phoenix metro area and provides one convenient location for brides to plan their weddings.
- David Springer, BSIM ’86, was named president and CEO of Cayenne Medical, Inc., a private sports medicine device company in Scottsdale, AZ, specializing in the soft tissue reconstruction segment. Most recently, Springer served as president & CEO of CHF Solutions Inc. in Brooklyn Park, MN.
- Christopher Nickol, BSM ’89, Woodstock, IL, was promoted to assistant vice president and regional safety operations manager for Selective Insurance Co.’s Heartland Region. Nickol joined Selective in 2007 as a senior safety management specialist and holds designations as both a Certified Safety Professional and a Certified Fire Protection Specialist.
- Manoj K. Singh, PhD ’89, recently joined the Collingwood Group as a special advisor. Singh has more than 13 years of executive-level experience on Wall Street, most recently serving as a senior vice president for Freddie Mac. In his new role, Singh will help clients navigate the business opportunities that exist in Washington as a result of the housing crisis.