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Alumni News To contribute, please email David Waugh '03 at dwaugh@kent.edu
10/2/08 - NICOLE MIKLUS B.S. 2004 After graduating from Kent, I went to Syracuse University to study paleoclimatology for my Masters. There I used the oxygen isotope values from fossil clams to determine paleoseasonality on Seymour Island, Antarctica during the Eocene. In 2006, I left SU and started working as a hydrologist with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. I did contaminant reviews for well permit applications and reviewed reports on proposed large wastewater treatment systems. Ironically, I lived in Kent County, Delaware. I finished my Masters thesis and finally graduated in June of 2008. Deciding that I enjoy writing about science much more than actually doing science, and that I missed learning about climatology, I started working as a science writer with a contractor of NASA Goddard in Maryland. I write brochures and other educational materials on NASA’s satellite missions. At Kent, I studied ostracode assemblages from mastodon sites in New York for my senior honors thesis with Dr. Smith. These results were recently published in a volume by the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca, New York.
8/20/08 - AMY TURNER - 2002 B.S. I had a 2-year internship with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Twinsburg office, from March 2004 to March 2006. Since Oct. 2006 I’ve been working with the Ohio Department of Transportation. I started out as a Geologist 1 with the Geotechnical Engineering Department at the Central Office in Columbus. I was classified as 100% travel which meant staying in a hotel every night of the work week. I traveled all over Ohio and got to see alot of places that I normally wouldn’t have. I was a Field Geologist traveling with our 2 drill crews documenting the initial description of the soil and rock samples we took. I was fortunate enough to work on the rock cores that some current Masters students are studying with Dr. Shakoor. Starting in June 2008, I moved to the District 6 office of ODOT as an Environmental Specialist. I do some field work, but mostly I review plans for environmental clearance based on Federal and State laws including NEPA regulations. I review possible impacts on Air Quality, Wetlands, Streams/Rivers/US waterways, Wellhead Protection Areas, Threatened and Endangered Species, Historic Buildings/Areas, Farmlands, Archaeological sites, Environmental Justice Areas and 100 year Flood Zones. I tell the engineers what permits they need and how to write up their plans properly to satisfy the environmental impacts of the project. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun. I love working for ODOT. It is such a great work environment and the people here are the best.
6/17/08 - DAVE BENNETT - B.S. 1967 In 2004 I retired after 30 plus years of mining and minerals consulting work, primarily, and started traveling and reading. I have worked for Anaconda (Butte, MT and Potrerillos, Chile, SA), Phelps Dodge (Bisbee, AZ), Magma Copper Newmont (San Manuel, AZ), Shell Oil (Cadiz, OH), and myself (by far my worst employer!). From my first marriage there are two daughters, Lesia (soon to be a veterinarian) and Danell (mother of granddaughter Autumn and grandson Dominic). I am currently married to Donna, my love and traveling companion, who retired in 2006 from Stark State College. Donna is also a 67 KSU grad with a BA in Biology. What a pair we make! We have been to Madagascar, the Galapagos, Europe three times, Hawaii, and the Inside-passage to Alaska and Denali, AK. These places have left me awe struck along with Salisbury Crag, Edinburgh, Siccar Point, Knockan Crag (Moine Thrust) in the U. K. With a future trip planned to Australia and New Zealand we are still having fun! The books I have read are not near as numerous as the ones I am going to read. I would like to talk to anyone about their reading experiences and subjects.	2006 photo - Underground in a test adit used for the proposed Red Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. Fortunately, the dam will never happen. The picture was taken while on a Grand Canyon National Park river trip.
4/14/08 - BARRY B. MILLER (1928 – 2008) When I reflect on my colleague, Barry Miller, who passed away on February 29, 2008, a number of phrases come to mind: “one of a kind”, “a diamond in the rough”, and “bigger than life”. Several colleagues who worked closely with him commented recently that Barry had a “continuous enthusiasm for knowledge that was infectious” and noted that “he was secure with himself and felt at home anywhere”, expanding that he had “seen him dressed in his field togs covered in mud and able to address people just as if he were in a tux.” Another commented that “Barry was loads of fun,” adding that “I don’t think I have ever had so much fun doing any type of field course as I had team-teaching with him.” I have known Barry since he joined the faculty in 1963 through to his retirement in 1996, and have seen him regularly since then up to our recent lunch meeting when he told me of his plan to visit New Zealand. He made that trip with two of his sons last Fall, had a great time, and passed away due to heart failure a few months later before a planned family trip to Alaska by car. Barry’s interest in non-marine mollusks thrived at KSU, and he became an internationally known expert in his field. He attracted the attention of other researchers who sent him their fossils for identification and interpretation. On a regular basis, his expertise was sought by geologists with the U.S. Geological Survey. Back in the 1960’s, our then small geology faculty enjoyed having daily coffee sessions with Barry during which we witnessed his brainpower and great range in temperament (from gentlemanly-demure to incisive-blustery, a contrast which could develop in seconds!!). During discussions one could see the wheels turning in his brain as he analyzed an issue and presented his case. At these times he would be oblivious to things around him, as happened once, when in the heat of debate, he was unaware that the tip of his tie had dipped into his coffee cup (In those days, most faculty members wore ties!). We sat there mesmerized as we watched the black coffee inching its way up his light-colored tie – providing the best visual demonstration of capillary action known to man!! To this day I still use this example in class when discussing the phenomenon. We miss you Barry Miller. Dick Heimlich
4/14/08 - JOHN MRAKOVICH - 1967 B.S., 1969 M.S., 1974 Ph.D. (Michigan State University) Upon leaving KSU with an M.S. in Geology, I was hired by the now nonexistent Gulf Oil Company as a Production Geologist working offshore Louisiana out of New Orleans. After about two years, I applied for and received a Fellowship from Michigan State University to work on my Ph.D., which I received in 1974. By the way, Bob Malcuit was also there. After that, I worked for Bechtel Corp. as an Engineering Geologist (which I am not) in Ann Arbor Michigan doing geologic site analysis for the construction of nuclear power plants. In 1976, Bechtel transferred our whole group to Houston, Texas, where I worked doing geologic site analyses for dams and a coal-fired power plant. After about two years with Bechtel, I got a job back in the petroleum industry (with a 25% increase in pay) and worked as a Reservoir Geologist for Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (they supply gas to their utility company in Chicago). I am told that the Company is so old, that Abraham Lincoln sat on the Board of Directors). I also taught some evening geology courses for the downtown campus of the University of Houston at this time. After a few years with the gas company, I worked as an Exploration Geologist for several other smaller oil companies in the Houston area. In 1987, we moved to California where I first worked for Aerojet Corporation and re-educated myself to be an Environmental Geologist, and was involved with inputting geologic data into groundwater flow models. After Aerojet, I worked for a couple other environmental companies and in 1995 opened my own 1-man company. I retired in 2001 and built a house in the Mother Lode Belt of the Sierra Foothills. My wife and I did about 75% of the work and it was quite an achievement for us. You really learn alot about each other (even after being married for about 30 years) after working so closely. We're still married and It was a good experience, but I wont do it again.	John riding his ATV snowplow at his new home (4100 feet altitude, right at the snowline). Despite appearances, he says he is “too old to shovel 300 feet of driveway.”
3/27/08 - CLAUDIA A. MAZAROS (1960 – 2007) Claudia Mazaros passed away, due to cancer, on February 19, 2007. She received the B.S. degree in geology from KSU (1983), and later a B.A. in science education (Utah State University) and an M.S. in secondary education (Weber State University). During the final three years of her life she pursued a Ph.D from the University of Georgia. “Claudia loved living in Utah and had a passion for the mountains, desert, and forest, particularly the Dixie National Forest and Escalante, Utah where she worked for many years with the U.S. Forest Service. She taught chemistry and physics at Bear River High School (Garland, Utah) for ten years and achieved her goal to make a positive difference in the lives of many high school students. She lived a life of adventure and managed to visit all fifty states in the U.S. She made friends everywhere she went….” Claudia will be missed by all of her many friends, family members, fellow alumni, faculty members, and by Becky, her loving partner for the last 17 years.
3/27/08 - DAVE MAKO - 1978 B.S. , 1981 M.S. (University of Wisconsin- Madison) Hi Dick, It was great to see you last summer when I was taking my kids on college tours. KSU's Geology Dept and campus must have made a big impression on my son, as he has already applied and been accepted to the Honors College! It remains to be seen how closely he may follow his dad's footsteps... Looking back, I would have to say that I don't believe I could have found a better undergrad geology program than what I had at KSU. It provided a rock solid foundation for an exciting career in exploration. After graduation in 1978 I went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned my MS degree studying mineral deposits. I ended up with Getty Mining for about 5 years in Salt Lake City, exploring for massive sulfide deposits throughout western US and Alaska. When Texaco bought Getty, I joined Barrick, a small, junior gold-mining company in 1986, and now one of the world's largest gold producers. Most of that time we lived in Elko, Nevada where our 3 kids were born. I "retired" early from exploration in 2000 for family reasons and we moved to the coastal rainforest of Ketchikan, Alaska - a dramatic change from the high deserts of Nevada. We loved living on the ocean and the magic of Alaska, but after a short while we moved again to a place of even greater contrast, western Massachusetts, where we continue to reside. I am currently teaching middle school math and science and really enjoy it. Plus it's great that my work schedule matches my kids' schedules. Still, I look forward to the day when they are all off to college, with an eye toward getting back into exploration someday. Hopefully, the business will still be booming then! Hope all is well with you! Cheers, Dave Mako, '78	Attached is a picture of the Mako clan from our visit back to Alaska in the summer of 2007.
3/27/08 - TOM LORENZ - 1985 B.S. Thank you KSU Geology pedagogues et al. for the inspirational Dec. 2005 newsletter! Also, accolades to David Waugh for the on-line departmental photo album. I particularly enjoyed the jpegs of the unwearied explorer of the Laurentian Rocks, Dr. Heimlich. I express my utmost gratitude to Mrs. Virginia Sand, Professor of Geology at the Tuscarawas Campus, for her enthusiasm and guidance. What an excellent spatiotemporal journey it has been, imbued with geologic knowledge of our planet and beyond. Given to eclecticism, my geological career has been heteroclitical at best. It began with a stint as mud-logging engineer (with a now defunct outfit) that resulted in logging over 50 oil and gas wells in the Rose Run play in Ohio. Joined in this endeavor with perennial “road-dog” Craig Williams (KSU-Geology ‘86), it was one adventure after another. Craig and I still range the field and rove the plain in an annual outing. Beginning in Y2K, I gained five years of practical experience in hydrology, mining and environmental issues by permitting surface coal mining and reclamation in the Appalachian Plateau physiographic province. During this time-frame, I became fascinated with the Flushing escarpment drainage divide and its role in reversal of the direction of drainage flow in southeastern Ohio during the late glacial period. Alas, the attrition inherent in the machinations of the permit processes squelched the joy of scientific inquiry. I did find some exquisite specimens of Lepidodendron, Stigmaria, and Indian artifacts. We recently launched Buffalo Wills, LLC. Located at the confluence of the Buffalo Fork of Wills Creek and Buffalo Creek near Pleasant City in Guernsey County, Ohio, we are developing a state-of-the-art aquaculture facility. In addition, Buffalo Wills, LLC offers hydrologic consulting services and wetland mitigation credits. We are working with the Guernsey County CDC, a 501 C3 non-profit corporation, to establish and preserve aquatic and wetland habitat, riparian corridors, and green space in the Wills Creek drainage basin. For more information, contact Tom Lorenz at (330) 343-6786 or e-mail avf@adelphia.net
3/27/08 - MARY ANN THOMAS - B.S., 1978 M.S., 1981 (Univ. of South Carolina), Ph.D., 1993 In the early-mid 1980's, after earning my M.S. degree, I worked as a Geologist for Amoco in New Orleans (1981-84) and then as a Hydrologist with the North Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources (1985). Since receiving the Ph.D, I've been working as a Hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division. I started at the USGS office in Charleston, WV, and then transferred to the Columbus, OH office in 1995. I work on ground-water quality studies, and for the past few years I've been focusing on arsenic and redox conditions in the glacial aquifer.
3/27/08 - PATTY HUNT - B.A. 1973 (Case Western Reserve University), M.S., 1980 It was great to hear from Dick Heimlich that so many grads have posted updates on the Kent Geology Dept website. Thanks for encouraging this, Dick! I loved my days in the department from 1978-80, and would love to hear what my friends from that era are up to. Most grads of the department back in 1980 were getting jobs in Houston, but I landed in a newly formed geology research group at Sohio Research Labs in Warrensville Hts., Ohio. There, I spent over 12 years working on petroleum production problems at the Alaskan Prudhoe Bay oilfields. While my research at Kent with Pete Dahl was oxygen isotope geochemistry work on metamorphic iron formations, I became a combination soft rock geologist/reservoir engineer at Sohio, working on both production problems and enhanced oil recovery research. My field work took me to Alaska many times, and there was a lot of great travel all over the US and Canada plus the UK. I was lucky to get on some great projects with much potential for novel work, so over time I accumulated three patents and several publications. As all of us who were in geology jobs in the early 80’s know, it was a great time to be a geologist in industry! During my time there, the name changed to the Standard Oil Company, and eventually, to British Petroleum, when BP took over Standard Oil. By the late 1980’s, things had taken a turn and BP was offering buy-outs to downsize. I passed on the first few buy-outs, but in late 1992, they offered what we all called the “golden egg” buy-out….too good to pass up. They hoped for about 800 people to take it and ended up with about 1600 people instead. It was the offer that prompted people to go into their next careers. At that time, I briefly ran my own consulting company on science education in K-12, and then landed at Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights. That is where I am now. At Hathaway Brown, I started an elective Science Research Program. In it, students attend a research seminar with me and we identify their area of passion in science or engineering. Then, I make a careful match with a professional at Case, Cleveland Clinic, NASA Glenn, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and others. Unfortunately, not at Kent as that is too far away from Hathaway Brown. Typically, the students go to their placement throughout high school. They become a real asset to the lab, and eventually are able to do well in big competitions. We have had 88 finalists or semifinalists in Siemens Westinghouse or Intel events since 1999, and over 120 technical publications, as well as 3 US patents. I’ve been lucky to receive some teaching awards for this program, and in 2004 was named to the USA Today All-USA Top 20 Teacher Team. It is great fun for me to coach these enthusiastic students as they do their research, plus I get to know a lot of local researchers, which is really great. On the family side, my husband Ed and I, who got married right before my senior year at Case, where I got my B.A. in geology, have two children, Brian (25) and Kelly (22). We live in Solon, and love to travel. That’s about it – 27 years in a nutshell!
3/27/08 - Kristen LaMoreaux '02 I'm currently a graduate student studying volcanology, my primary focus is volcano-ice interaction and more specifically trachyte-ice interaction at Mount Edziza in northwestern British Columbia... after achieving my undergraduate degree in geology, I worked for several years in the geological engineering and environmental industries until I decided I wanted to further my career... and went back to school. I hope to get back into business/industry when I've completed my research, most likely working within the mining or oil/gas industries. I look forward to catching up with anyone from the good ‘ole days! LaMoreaux_K@yahoo.com
1/20/2008 - TERRY COOKRO - B.S. 1973, M.S. 1978 (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology) I am currently working part-time on an availability basis for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an Environmental/historic preservation Specialist and a Floodplain Manager. My work is based on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Stafford Act which encourages lawful clean up and mitigation after a disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, or flood, in order to obtain federal reimbursements. I work with town leaders, private not-for-profit companies (PNP), and the FEMA project leaders in order to get federal reimbursements to the local governments and PNP’s as quickly as possible. Last year (2007) I worked in the New England States (ME, CT, NH, and VT) and Indiana; the eastern Spring was really beautiful. The work is enjoyable and it includes coordinating with state emergency managers, environmental leaders, and other federal officials such as those in the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I really get to see a lot of our country and to meet the many people who, through their dedication to public service, make our country work. So many of the small town mayors and other leaders make me feel honored to have the opportunity to be a part of their community service, and I enjoy working with the many national and international volunteer organizations that stand ready to send people out to help communities deal with disasters. I can never give enough thanks to those professors I had at Kent for their dedication to the young students, and their ability to get us out in the world with an excellent education base. Please email me at inforocks@gmail.com. I would love to hear from my friends and colleagues.
10/20/07 - MIMI FREEMAN 1934 – 2007 Mimi Freeman died of cancer on September 13, 2007. She was a truly remarkable person who accomplished a great deal in her 73 years, not the least of which was the nurturing of nine children and 26 grandchildren. Among her many interests, Mimi was particularly drawn to travel and outdoor activity where her focus was on running, hiking, and climbing. Her family and she vacationed throughout the U.S. and abroad to include Australia, Africa, South America, New Zealand, and Ireland. As well, they hiked through Grand Canyon National Park and they climbed Mt. Whitney in Sequoia National Park and Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. At age 68, no less, she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. Her college education included receipt of the B.S. degree at DePauw University (1980) followed by award of the M.S. degree (1983) in our program. After completing graduate study, she pursued environmental work, spending almost two decades as Project Geologist with URS Corporation in Cleveland. Her work over the years on a variety of environmental problems was highly respected. As my graduate student, Mimi impressed me with her enthusiasm, intelligence, writing ability, and dedication to timely completion of the field work, lab studies, and thesis writing. She was an ideal student and a wonderful person who was always positive, energetic, and cheery – attributes endearing her to fellow students and faculty alike. Dick Heimlich
	Mike Bush ('01) and Natalie, Oregon Coast, 2007
7/5/07 – JOHN PLEVNIAK – 1977 B.S. (Physics, Youngstown State University), 1980 M.S. After completing my masters in August 1980, I stayed on another couple of years taking classes in the new doctoral program in applied geology while teaching part-time at Youngstown State University. In early 1983 I took a position as Laboratory Manager for the Department of Geology at the University of Delaware while continuing to work toward fulfilling requirements for my doctorate from Kent State. At Delaware I managed the department’s research facilities, occasionally taught courses in geology and geophysics, and found the time to complete both the written and oral exams for the doctorate. However, with the birth of twins and a move to the private sector, my dissertation was never completed. I started as a Staff Geologist with Dames & Moore in Wilmington, Delaware in 1989. Transfers took me to Chicago in 1990 and finally to Kansas City in 1994. While with Dames & Moore I investigated hazardous waste sites throughout the Midwest and used geophysics to investigate unexploded ordnance and chemical weapons disposal sites at former military installations. Dames & Moore became part of URS Corporation in 1999, and I stayed with the firm until 2003. While with URS in Kansas City I worked primarily as a Project Manager and Program Manager on environmental restoration contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence. In 2003 I began working for the Louis Berger Group and immediately got involved writing proposals to provide program management support for the reconstruction of Iraq. I became Financial Manager for the awarded contracts and spent nine months working in Washington, D.C. I finally returned to environmental work in 2006 when I became Program Manager with CDM Federal Programs Corporation in Kansas City. I am currently managing environmental restoration and civil works projects under contracts with the Corps of Engineers. My wife Cheryl and I have been married 24 years. Our twins, John and Kimberly, are 17 and will be seniors in high school in the fall. Kimberly is an artist but has recently shown an interest in wildlife biology. My son is interested in aviation and is taking flight training over the summer at Kansas State University.
JIM BARKES - B.S. 1951 Among the earliest group of students to receive the B.S. degree in geology from KSU, Jim has had a highly successful career in the petroleum industry. After graduation, at a time when few firms were adding to their geological staff, he worked for Goodyear in R & D for a few years and then spent a year in graduate school at Ohio State. At the end of his first year at OSU, Continental Oil interviewed there and hired Jim, During his 24 years with Conoco (1954-1978), as District Geologist and then Supervising Geologist, he worked in Casper WY, Bakersfield CA, Ventura CA, Carlsbad NM, Lake Charles LA, Midland TX, and Colombia, South America. During this period he was involved with all facets of the industry including reservoir evaluation, seismic exploration, field mapping, offshore and onshore well supervision, prospect evaluation, and wildcat-well supervision. Jim oversaw 130 wells during this period. During 1978-79, he served as Division Manager and Chief Geologist in the Midland TX office for NFC Petroleum Corp. until a well blowout (which burned for a month!) put the firm out of business. He then became Operations Geologist for Moran Exploration (1979-81) and was responsible for geologic recommendations, planning, and supervision of all the company’s exploratory and development wells in TX, NM, AR, OK, LA, and ND. Wellsite work with both firms involved another 37 wells. During 1981-89, Jim was a Consulting Geologist providing geologic well supervision in all areas of the Permian Basin. In this period, he participated in the drilling and completion of 145 wells in West Texas and SE New Mexico. When the petroleum industry went into recession in 1987-88, while still working as a Petroleum Geologist he attended evening classes in the Midland College Nursing School and became an EMT (1987), a Paramedic (1988), and an ER Nurse (2000) - oldest to graduate from Midland’s Nursing School! After working in the medical field for the last 18 years, he retired earlier this year at age 80. Jim says: “This is the first time I’ve been unemployed in 67 years” !! Jim and Eunice (married 50 years ago) live in Midland TX where Eunice, an anthopologist/archaeologist, works part-time at the Museum of the Southwest. They have two children, a married daughter who lives in Twentynine Palms CA, and a married son living in Greenwood TX. Between the two, Jim and Eunice have three grandchildren.
JOHN SNYDER - B.S. 1992, M.S. 2003 Having worked at SAS Environmental for 3 years, I recently joined Flynn Environmental in Canton as an Environmental Geologist. At Flynn my workday consists of conducting site investigations for leaking underground storage tanks, groundwater monitoring, soil analysis, well installation, and other types of environmental studies and procedures. I spend about 40 % of the time in the field and the rest writing up reports. My wife, Tara, and I live in Rittman, OH with our son, Ian, who will be 3 years old in a few months. We are expecting a new addition to our family this October. As a labor and delivery nurse (KSU graduate) at Akron City Hospital, Tara is an expert in this area!!
BILL SMITH - B.S. 1987, M.S. 1991 (Purdue University) After receiving the B.S. degree at KSU, I attended Purdue where I obtained an M.S. in hydrogeology. I went to work in consulting, which involved a lot of environmental and geotechnical engineering work (and some water-supply projects). In 1998 I obtained an Ohio P.E. license. In 2005 I joined the geotechnical engineering department at American Electric Power Corp. in Columbus where I work as a Geotechnical Engineer. Most of my work with AEP currently involves earth-dam and tunnel safety inspection and analysis. I also do a lot of design work using geosynthetic reinforcement and lining.
MARY McKENZIE - B.S. 2001, M.S. 2004 During my seven years at KSU, I developed great friendships, learned a great deal, and had wonderful experiences in the Geology Department. I was privileged to work with Dr. Daniel Holm conducting geochronological and thermochronological research surrounding the Penokean orogenic belt. I often look at the numerous photo albums and fondly reminisce about all the great times we had. After graduation in 2004, I started working for YRC Wordwide to bring in some money. After a year I accepted a position with ARCADIS U.S., Inc. (here's a shameless plug < www.arcadis-us.com>). Arcadis is an internationally recognized environmental and engineering consulting firm, with offices all over the U.S. I work out of the Cleveland, OH office and travel to many others. My primary responsibilities are those of a Staff Scientist, and I work on a variety of projects from BUSTR and VAP to train derailments (see photos). I'm responsible for data management and analysis as well as GIS support for two large clients. I also conduct field activities such as drilling and various monitoring events ranging from Phase I, II, and III. Just recently, there was a large-scale train derailment in Brooks, KY; and over 350 ARCADIS employees were dispatched from more than 20 offices to investigate and remediate the environmental impacts. I wear many hats at my job and I LOVE it! Work is never boring. I never thought I'd say that I love my job, but I do. I currently reside just south of Cleveland, OH. I have a golden retriever named Abby and a cat named Callie. I spend a lot of time in Columbus with my significant other, and enjoy traveling all over. Feel free to email me at <mamckenz@kent.edu> anytime to catch up.
6/7/07 TEX GILMORE (B.A. 1976) RECEIVES TWO NATIONAL AWARDS Our hearty congratulations to Tex Gilmore who received (March 14, 2007) an award from the American Institute of Professional Geologists, as follows: “Each year AIPG recognizes certain individuals who have an exemplary record of distinguished service to the profession and to the Institute. I am pleased to have the opportunity to inform you that you have been selected as recipient of the John T. Galey, Sr., Memorial Service Award.” Signed K.J. Buchanan, AIPG President. Tex will receive the award at the Awards Ceremony (this October 9 at 6 PM) in conjunction with the AIPG Annual Meeting in Traverse City, MI. Earlier (May 22, 2006), Tex received the U.S. Congressional Certificate of Achievement “in recognition of your outstanding leadership of the 2006 Science Olympiad Team.” For the last few years, Tex has been Earth Science Olympiad Coach at Washington High School (in NC where he lives). Recently his team qualified for an unprecedented third straight trip to the National Science Olympiad competition in KS. It’s nice to see this much energy and devotion given to service at both local and national levels. Tex has accomplished all of this while keeping plenty busy as Chief Geologist and Superintendent of Mine Planning for the PCS Phosphate Company in Aurora, NC.
6/7/07 LARRY D. PORTER - B.S. 1972 After graduation I took a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service in Columbus, OH. I worked there for over three decades and became an Informatiion Technology Specialist. Recently I switched jobs, but I am now back (as a Geologist) with the USDA where I plan to stay for a few years until I retire. I am very happy about returning. Dick, I am doing mainly what you so appropriately referred to many years ago in song (“The Septic Tank Game”). I remember that song just like I remember many things you taught me. But most of our septic tanks are large pits that hold waste products from several hundred animals. We just cannot have those things leak, so we need to perform a geologic evaluation of each potential site to make sure we have proper low-permeability material there (clay-rich till, for example) before we develop a pit. The idea is to put the structure in correctly because you sure do not want to return to repair one! I knew that working in the field can be hard work at times, but I do not remember it hurting quite so badly 25 years ago!!
5/14/07 VIRGINIA SAND - B.S. 1950 Northwestern University, M.A. 1969 KSU We were recently notified that Virginia Sand, former professor in the KSU Tuscarawus Regional Campus, passed away on February 13, 2007. Born on 11/23/28 in Evanston, IL, Ginny received the B.S. degree in 1950 at Northwestern University, and was the first woman to receive a degree in geology from that university. In 1969, she completed the Master of Arts in Teaching Earth Science at KSU and joined the Tuscarawas Campus faculty as Part-Time Temporary Instructor. She was hired as full-time Assistant Professor shortly thereafter, and promoted to Associate Professor in 1982. Ginny retired in 1993, but continued part-time teaching until 1997. Throughout her teaching career she was loved by her students. She received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1975, Most Popular Professor Award in 1977, and she continued to be the top nominee for both awards for many years thereafter. Ginny was a long-time member of the Association of Women Geoscientists, and she served as Editor of the Association’s Newsletter for a number of years. In addition to extensive volunteer work in support of local outdoor causes and education, she traveled extensively (to Japan, China, Turkey, Germany, France, Galapagos Islands, Iceland, and Antarctica). In the U.S. she loved the southwest, particularly Grand Canyon NP within which she took part in 9 whitewater rapids excursions along the Colorado River. In fact she was planning a return trip there with her family this summer.
2/28/07 - LARRY WICKSTROM NAMED OHIO’S NEW STATE GEOLOGIST On February 21, 2007 Sean Logan, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, appointed our alumnus, Larry Wickstrom, as Ohio’s new State Geologist and Chief of the Geological Survey Division. Logan commented that “The challenge facing the Department is to find the ideal balance between conservation and wise use of our natural resources. Larry Wickstrom’s knowledge and experience will help give us the foresight to plan for the most progress for the most people for the longest time possible.” We are especially proud of Larry’s success, and we heartily congratulate him! Larry received the B.S. degree at KSU in 1980, and then the M.S. here in 1982. In 1983 he was hired as a Geologist with the Subsurface Geology Group of the Ohio Geological Survey. During the period 1996-2006, he was Supervisor of the Energy Resources Group. In 2006 he became Assistant Chief of the Geological Survey Division. Early on he became a strong impetus for use of computer technology within the Survey, and he became a recognized authority on the State’s energy inventory. He led efforts to research Ohio’s carbon dioxide sequestration capability in geological materials. He serves on Ohio’s FutureGen Task Force, is the Ohio Department of Natural Resources energy coordinator, and he is liaison with the Governor’s Energy Advisor. Larry has over 100 publications as well.
1/6/07 - KATHY WEST - B.S. 1988 (Geoscience, Penn State University), M.S. 1993 After the M.S. degree at KSU, I spent 8.5 years as Project Geologist with Roy F. Weston, Inc. (West Chester, PA) working on a variety of environmental projects including the first Air Force Base closure (Pease AFB in Portsmouth NH). The glacial geology there was similar to that in Ohio (lots of till, sands and gravels, boulders and buried valleys). Best part of the job was completing some bedrock wells, including one which cut the only felsic dike noted at the site. Among many other jobs was a chromate stabilization project (Copley OH) which kept me at the site for 16 straight weeks! It was a great job for a geochemist, and made for very easy access to KSU friends. While at Weston I traveled a great deal. I could count the days at home on my fingers during some of those 8 years. In that period I worked mostly east of the Mississippi River, but as far north as ME/NH and as far south as FL. When I tired of the constant travel and lengthy commute to the Weston downtown Philadelphia office (where I was on loan), I found a local job with a small engineering/environmental boutique firm, Advanced GeoServices Corp. (Chadds Ford, PA), and spent 4 years as Senior Project Geologist handling many projects in OH, PA, N J and NC. My work here included former battery breaking plants and former/current electronic manufacturing companies. In 2003, I hired on with URS Corp. as Senior Geologist working under its Master Services Agreement Contract with DuPont. I am currently assigned to the DuPont Chambers Works Complex which includes two sites, one (started in 1892) where explosives were manufactured, and the other (started in 1917) where dyes and chemicals were produced. Over the last year I helped develop a comprehensive site conceptual model including design of a GIS tool as well as 3-dimensional solid and groundwater models. Much of the work that I do now is related to reporting and management tasks, however I do get out in the field every now and again. I still live in Christiana, DE just a few miles away from where I grew up, and nearby to various family members as well as only 14 miles away from work.
1/5/07 - RICK L. REEVE - B.S. 1980, M.S. 1983 After completing the Masters degree, I couldn't find employment in the geology field for 9 months as this was the very tail end of the prior petroleum boom. I had hoped to hook up with a major oil company, which was the reason I went for the MS degree in the first place. Of course by that time (1984), major hiring had been seriously curtailed and no offers were being made. I must say at this point in my career I'm glad it worked out that way, since I have managed to stay continuously employed here in Ohio ever since. I obtained my first job with David Shafer Oil Producers in Wooster, and worked there as the company Geologist for 10 years. In 1994 the owner retired and sold the company's wells. At that time I began working with a group of four producing companies, none with a real exploration geologist. We formed a new exploration company, Four Knox Exploration, to search for Rose Run-Beekmantown remnants. I was a Consulting Geologist with a monthly retainer (allowing me to keep my head above water), and I provided consulting services for a number of Ohio companies in addition to generating drilling prospects for Four Knox Exploration. This arrangement went on until 2003 when the next low cycle hit the oil industry. At that point I began working with Gatherco, Inc. Gatherco had bought all of Columbia Gas Transmission's gathering pipelines throughout Ohio. The position with Gatherco involved conversion of all of the old paper CGT pipeline maps to a digital format. By this time I had become very proficient with computers and mapping programs, so it was a good stopgap position. The conversion project was supposed to be a very short project, but I ended up there for 2 years doing more and more for them, and I was beginning to manage their land department by that time in addition to all my other duties. I was ready to get back to looking for oil and gas, and I hooked up with fellow Kent alum, Doug Gonzalez. Doug started GonzOil, Inc. in 1988 and by 2005 was ready for some help and hired me as his "Geology Manager". I continue to work with Doug and hope to make this my last employment stop before retiring. On the personal side, I have been married to my wife Patty since 1980 (we married right after I received my BS at Kent), and she carried me for the three years it took to obtain the MS from Kent in 1983 (and she continues to carry me to this day!). We have two sons, Brian and Dan (21 and 17). I have found being a petroleum geologist a fascinating career choice and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the field to anyone. Just be prepared for hard work and some ups and downs in your career. At this point there is a real need for new blood in the field and hiring is up significantly.
1/3/07 - DAN KATTALIA - B.S. 1978 Dick, Like others, my career has taken many turns, all for the better. For the last 10 years I have been a Project Manager for the Midwest Division of Sevenson Environmental Services, located in Merrillville, Indiana. Sevenson is a full-service environmental remediation construction firm specializing in containment, ground water treatment, dredging, soil solidification/stabilization, bio-remediation, and hazardous waste removal. Our clients include USEPA, COE, DOD, DOE, and major industrial firms. I met my wife Carol in Phoenix, Arizona when I was working there for a highway contractor. Married now for 20 years, we have three daughters: Kathryn is a freshmen at Valparaiso University, Samantha is a high school junior, and Jennifer is in sixth grade. Raising three daughters can be as stressful as taking one of your Petrology finals, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am very fortunate. Congratulations on your 45 th year at KSU, and to all the smiling faces you have taught. Again thank you for your email. I am looking forward to viewing the "Alumni News".
1/3/07 - STEPHEN N. DECATUR - 1971 B.S. (Westminster College), 1979 M.S. After graduation from Kent in 1979, I left for Houston, Texas to work as a Geologist for Amoco Production Company. At one point we had 16 Kent State geologists in our Houston office. There are still some Kent State geology grads working with BP including Kevin Heaton, Gary Barker, Dan Biros, and Mark Dice (a fifth Kent Stater, Mike Schlorhotlz, just retired from BP). I did enjoy returning to Kent as a recruiter during the 1980s and present a little grant money to the Geology Dept, and also to see familiar faces and have contact with the students. However, job transfers along with the drop in oil prices in 1986 finished the recruiting trips to Kent. After Houston ( where I worked on exploration in the Permian Basin, East Texas Basin, and mid-continent U.S)., I moved to Amoco’s corporate headquarters in Chicago. Here I worked on a variety of projects including the Corporate Five Year Plan for the Exploration and Production Sector, analysis and documentation of Amoco’s worldwide exploration results, and monitoring Amoco’s exploration activity in Europe, the Far East, and South America. After Chicago I transferred to London to manage exploration activities for Amoco in the North Sea, and later managed production in the Central North Sea. Other areas of interest included managing exploration and production in Egypt and parts of the Middle East as well as production and operations in the western Gulf of Mexico. I retired in 2003 after nearly 25 years with Amoco/BP. This past year I've done a little consulting for Anadarko, BHP, BP, and Devon Energy. While at Devon Energy I ran into one Kent Stater, Jim Sigmund. Currently I'm back with BP for a while to lead their geoscience recruiting effort. I am enjoying this part-time work and seeing lots of old friends. This may be a good excuse to get back to Kent to see how the Department is doing. Geology has not just provided a career, but it has been a life-long hobby through mineral collecting. Unfortunately the number of boxes containing my collection is now overwhelming our storage capacity. Geology is also a part of the family, as my son Mark, is a hydrologist for an environmental firm in Fort Worth. He is also attending grad school in environmental management through TCU’s Geology Department.
1/3/07 - KARA E. FARRIS - B.S. 2006 Drs. Moore, Dahl, Heimlich, Holm, Hacker, and Ortiz: I just wanted to take a moment to wish you happy holidays and to thank all of you for the knowledge you have graced me with during my time at Kent. I am doing very well at Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc. as a Junior Geologist. I have been here for a little over 7 months and love every day of it! I do a little of everything, from asssisting with BUSTR corrective action reports, Phase I and Phase II reports, groundwater and soil sampling events, and soil boring and well installations. A few weeks ago I traveled to Indianapolis to assist the Indy office with a huge BP terminal sampling event. It was good experience to see how other states conduct corrective action tasks. I have been very busy and have enjoyed all of it, even in the rain and snow! I hope all of you are in good health and everything is going well. I miss you very much. Here is a picture of me at my desk, decorated for the holiday season.
1/3/07 - BETH ULLOM Well, all, it’s true that I am moving from Canton to Dayton within the next few weeks. At the ripe age of 52, I started life on my own but with kids close by. I’m still with Bowser Morner in Dayton, managing the environmental division in the engineering department. I’ve found a house, now all I have to do is sell the house in Canton. My oldest son Bill some of you may remember. He is married with two beautiful daughters and lives in Springfield with his family. He does some wetland consulting for me, but mostly is involved in IT at Rittall in Urbana. Loves it. I spend as much time with the kids as I can. Youngest son Andrew, who was a baby in tow when I was in grad school, is in Columbus, assistant manager of Guitar Center. He and his significant other, Nicole, are erstwhile students and work part time. Andrew has done a little time in the recording studio lately and I think he is pretty good, but then, I’m the mother….. Drop me a line and say hello! I’d love to hear from any of you who were in grad school when I was. Here’s a pic too…..shorter hair and more wrinkles, but I suppose that means I am more wise…. Regards to all, Beth
12/15/06- With sadness we note the passing of Bill Laughlin, our first geochemistry professor. Bill joined the faculty in 1970, and rapidly established a reputation for excellence in research and teaching. Soon he received an outstanding offer of appointment at one of the country’s top laboratories located in a part of the U.S. he loved, and in 1974 he joined a large group of scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. After retirement, he settled in Santa Fe where he died on September 1, 2006.
9/12/06 - LEE KETTREN - B.S. 1968, M.S. 1970 (Virginia Polytechnic Institute), M.S. 1991 (administration, Central Michigan Univ.), Ph.D. 2006 (water resources development, Michigan State Univ.) After receiving B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology, I worked two years as Staff Geologist with GAI Consultants, Inc. involved in site evaluation for a proposed reservoir in WVA and mine subsidence potential at numerous sites in western PA. This was followed by eight years with Dames & Moore in engineering geology associated mostly with IL coal mines, and then three years as Senior Engineering Geologist with Commonwealth Associates. In 1985 my interests shifted more toward hydrogeological/environmental work when I began three years as Senior Geologist with International Technology Corp. followed by several years as Project Manager for Warzyn Engineering, Inc., both involving contaminated land-sites and rivers. This work continued until 1996 with employment as Project Manager for three more firms dealing with environmental impact studies, soil/groundwater contamination, and remediation work. During the late 1980’s and in the1990’s this work overlapped my developing interest in getting more education and, ultimately, moving into college teaching. During 1985-’88 I taught at Central Michigan University, in 1991 I received an M.S. in Administration degree from CMU, and in 1999 I taught there again. Since 1999 I have been Adjunct Instructor at Jackson Community College (Adrian, MI) while completing requirements for the Ph.D. in Water Resource Development at Michigan State (degree was awarded in 2006). I am now busy reformatting my introductory geology course into a hybrid online presentation, working part-time with the MSU Institute of Water Research (administering three courses in watershed management and soil erosion/sedimentation control), and editing a six-course virtual watershed series. To keep busy, my wife Leslie and I have incorporated as Kettren & Associates (offering community planning and environmental consulting services), I am looking for a full-time university teaching position in applied geology, and I am heavily involved in online distance learning. 1/14/06 Dick, I got my copy of the alumni newsletter yesterday and thought it was time to write to you. You may not remember me since I got my B.S. in geology at KSU in 1968 and there have been several glacial advances since then. I was active in KSGS, was an original member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, participated in the first Summer Field Camp (of the current era) with John Anderson, and was Gordon Nelson's field assistant in the Bighorn Mtns in 1968. It looks like the Deptment has really matured since I was there. Even then we knew we had a good dept. This opinion has been reinforced by my subsequent experiences at other universities. My KSU experience was probably my best. The faculty was highly student-oriented and sincerely interested in our education and professional development. As students, we were involved in research and given every encouragement. Since leaving Kent, I got an MS in geology at VPI where I worked on a series of igneous intrusions and kimberlite bodies in northern VA. I then went into engineering geology and did EIS and permitting studies for nuclear power plants and other facilities. I spent about 4 years working on applied rock mechanics research related to longwall coal mines in southern Illinois. I've been in Michigan for about 25 years and have been involved in environmental assessments, hydrologic investigations, and remediation projects. About 5 years ago I gave that up and returned to school at Michigan State for a Ph.D. in groundwater policy. I'm working on a management system using negotiations to resolve well-interference conflicts in the Great Lakes Basin. I'm writing my dissertation now and expect to graduate in May. I plan to start a new phase of my career in education and research. I've had a varied career, so I guess it is true when we said that a good hardrock geologist can do about anything. Best Regards to you and everyone at Kent. Lee Kettren (B.S. 1968) Lkettren@aol.com
11/12/06 - ZACK HAMILTON - B.S. 2000 After graduation I was hired as an Assistant Geologist with SECOR International in Uniontown, Ohio where I was involved primarily with field work on many environmental projects such as remediation of numerous retail underground storage tanks (UST) and bulk-terminal above-ground storage tanks (AST) at petroleum storage facilities in several states. I am now certified in Ohio for building inspection and sampling of asbestos. I have also performed many Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) for commercial, industrial, and banking corporations across the country. After getting my feet wet and gaining valuable background experience, I became Project Manager for a group of retail petroleum service stations in northeast Ohio, responsible for the day-to-day remediation activities to attain environmental closure with the State of Ohio, scheduling of subcontractors, interaction with State regulators pertaining to the actions taken, budget creation and adherence, and report generation. In April, 2006 I was hired by ATC Associates in Brecksville, Ohio as a Project Geologist working primarily on petroleum-related sites. Recently, I transferred to ATC’s Gahana (Columbus, Ohio) office and I look forward to involvement with diverse projects in the central and southeastern Ohio region. I have gotten the chance to travel extensively through work over the few years that I have been out of school. I have traveled to half of the states in the country, mostly western states, including Alaska.
11/12/06 - BRENDA ABKE - B.S. 1990 Since graduating in winter 1990, I worked for a local environmental/geotechnical consulting firm (R&R International, Inc.) which offered me a full-time job after being an intern (thanks to Kent's great program) for about a year. In the Akron R&R office I was a Geologist and a Project Manager on environmental projects until about 1993 when I relocated to Columbus to set up and manage a new environmental department at the R&R Columbus office. In 1994, while still with R&R, I began work with the Department of Energy's office at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio. I moved to Chillicothe and, less than a year later, was recruited by Martin Marietta. I then transitioned to Lockheed Martin when Lockheed merged with Martin Marietta, and began work as a Program/Project Manager working on groundwater and remediation projects. I continued in this function with the Bechtel-Jacobs company when they assumed the Lockheed Martin contract. I left the DOE site in southern Ohio in 2000 when I accepted a position with The Scotts Company in Marysville Ohio as a Senior Program Manager in the corporate environmental management department. This brought me back to the Columbus area, first having an office in downtown Columbus but eventually the present one in Marysville. I have had several different responsibilities while at Scotts, but I’m currently managing all company environmental investigation/remediation projects, the environmental portions of all due diligence activities (acquisitions and divestitures), and the development of corporate environmental programs.
10/1/06 - JOHN SNYDER - B.S. 1992, M.S. 2003 I have been working at SAS Environmental for approximately 3 years now after FINALLY graduating in 2003. My wife, Tara and I recently moved to Wadsworth Township from Cuyahoga Falls. We have a 21-month old son, Ian. Tara is a labor and delivery nurse (KSU graduate) at Akron City Hospital. I am currently working at SAS Environmental in Copley, Ohio.
8/9/06 - KEN HAHN - B.S. 1974, M.S. 1976 I began work at Exxon’s research branch (Exxon Production and Research Company) in Houston as a part-time Lithographer describing well cuttings and cores. I became interested in the chemical analyses they were doing in the lab and gradually moved over to working with different analytical instruments. We were at the cutting edge of technology as far as source-rock evaluation went. I helped bring online the first Rock Eval pyrolysis unit, which could quickly (30 minutes or so) evaluate a rock sample as to its source potential and maturity level (producing oil now, could produce oil in the future, or cooked too much). We later added an elemental analyzer (C,O,H, and N) and a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer to help refine our evaluations. While helping to bring the equipment online I also got involved in writing the reports (describing the source-rock potential of an area) that we sent back to the other Exxon affiliates. As part of our job, we schooled other employees to show them how we arrived at our conclusions. That started the teaching itch for me, and I soon landed a part-time teaching job at the University of Houston-Downtown, where I taught a Petroleum Geology class to students who were interested in a Petroleum Land Management degree. I taught that class for two years and then UH phased out the degree program. I decided I liked teaching and wanted to teach high school science. So I left Exxon and went back to college for two years to get certified as a teacher. I got my certification and lucked into a job at a small (500 students then) high school east of Houston. One of my responsibilities was to coach the academic science team. The students would travel to different meets on a Saturday (usually lasting all day; I was always amazed they would be willing to do that) and take different tests. Those who tried science took a multiple choice test on biology, chemistry, and physics (involving all college freshman-level questions) armed with only a pencil and calculator. A periodic table was furnished, but they had to know all the formulas they would use. The tests were graded, the students were ranked, and those in the top ten received an award. The competitions ultimately led to the State Meet, and I was lucky enough to have several students make it to the state level over the years. Now I am entering my 18th year as a teacher and still love it. This upcoming school year I will be teaching chemistry, general science, and geology (!!!). I have taught AP Chemistry and AP Biology, and had several students pass the AP exam and earn college credits. Another teacher has taken over the AP classes as I am now involved with the lower level students more. I am trying to help them pass the state mandated science test.
8/7/06 - NAZILA (EMADIAN) HUMMER - B.S. 1977, M.S. 1981 In the summer of 1979, after completing my thesis data analysis, I left Kent and moved to Los Angeles to join the rest of my family and to start a new life in California. I got a part-time job and went to work on completing the writing of my thesis. After swapping drafts with Pete Dahl, I finished it by the summer of 1981 and officially graduated at the end of that summer, but was unable to land a job in geology right away because of the downturn in the oil industry. I married Bob Hummer in 1985, we lived in Santa Monica for two years, and then bought a six-acre lot in the Tehachapi Mountains where we built our first house. At this time, I started taking some geology courses at California State University, Bakersfield and, through some connections at the University, landed my first geology job as a Petroleum Geologist with Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) International Exploration in Bakersfield. This was a dream job for me, and I totally enjoyed working at Oxy! As a geologist in the New Ventures Department, I got a chance to work with a group of extremely talented petroleum geologists and to work on the geology of very interesting petroleum basins including the Gabon and Congo petroleum provinces and the Shuaiba play of the Persian Gulf region. I also got to travel to some exotic locations in Russia and Oman to do wellsite geology, which I enjoyed a lot. However, as anything good must end, through massive attrition many of us lost our positions at Oxy in 1998 as the company relocated its International Operations from Bakersfield to Houston, Texas. After Oxy, I went back to school, got my teaching credentials, and I have been teaching earth science to high school students for the last several years. I am also an Adjunct Faculty member at CSU Bakersfield and Fullerton College in southern California, teaching geology and oceanography for the summer and astronomy this fall. Bob and I have now been married for 21 years and he is my best friend. We still enjoy going camping even in our old age! There is nothing better than getting out of our tent, walking into the fresh mountain air, and cooking a bacon and eggs breakfast for Bobby. He really digs geology as well, and I think he must have been a geologist in his other life! Last December we went to Death Valley, we fell in love with the place, and have decided to explore every canyon and to hike Telescope Peak. How bad can life be when I know I’ll be exploring Death Valley for a couple of weeks this December?
8/5/06 - WARD HERST - B.S. 1983 I graduated in 1983 with a BS in Geology from KSU. I see a few familiar names on the KSU alumni page from that time period (1979 – 1983). I was a particularly quiet person back then, and combined with working as a bus driver for the Campus Bus Service on an almost full-time basis as I was paying my own way through school, I don’t expect that too many folks would have a clear recollection of me. I was married in August of 1982 to a KSU business student. Upon graduation in June of 1983, she went to Minneapolis to begin her career and I went to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for graduate school (Hydrology, with an emphasis on Math and Engineering). We were apart for two years other than the occasional weekend/holiday together, then met up in Denver after I completed my Master’s degree. We’re still together, and getting dangerously close to 25 years of marriage. I’ve had a wonderful career so far, principally in environmental science. My wife and I started our own environmental consulting firm in 1998, based in St. Louis. There’s a picture of us at www.herstassociates.com. I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with KSU geology graduates across the country. The KSU degree and its reputation certainly opened academic and professional doors for me. On the personal side, I have a daughter who is 17 years old, and twin sons who are 13. My daughter is active in marching band (trombone of all things!), swimming, and fencing. My sons are active in wrestling, football, swimming, and trumpet/saxophone. To test my patience, one son is a Browns fan while the other is a Steelers fan. It makes for interesting times in the house. In 2003 I began my mid-life crisis phase as a racecar driver. I race in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and a couple of other racing organizations. I have a Mazda RX-7 that is my 160 mph racecar, and a Mazda Miata that is my 130 mph racecar (they race in different classes). Last year I qualified for SCCA’s National Championship race in the Miata, and hope to qualify both cars in their respective classes this fall. Both my parents and my wife’s parents still live in NE Ohio, so I take the children on a driving tour of the KSU campus about once a year when we’re in town to visit. Let’s my wife and I reminisce about the Fletcher and Manchester dorms, the Rat, Rays and Mothers (we tone that part down for the sake of the kids), etc.
7/29/06 - SEAN K. RAGAIN - B.S. 1988 Sean has been with GeoEngineers, Inc. in Portland, Oregon since 1999. GeoEngineers (www.GeoEngineers.com) is a growing northwest regional multidisciplinary geoscience and engineering firm with a staff of 300 distributed among 14 offices in eight western states. Most recently Sean has served as the Managing Principal of their Portland, OR and Pacific regional operations, but he is in the process of moving his family to Anchorage, AK where he will help lead a new subsidiary, Geo LLC, a recently-formed company with the goal of managing the firm’s off-shore and international projects. With the energy market booming once again, Geo is busy performing marine geophysical studies, geotechnical investigations, and HDD design projects in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, Russia, the Republic of Georgia, and Trinidad among other locations. GeoEngineers and its subsidiaries employ more than 175 earth scientists and engineers and is always looking for well-trained and enthusiastic staff to join the team. Sean encourages Kent State students, new graduates, and alumni to contact him for employment opportunities, internships and, of course, general information on Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. His email address is <sragain@geoengineers.com>
7/29/06 - JASON S. RAMPE - B.S. 2000, M.S. 2003 (UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO) After my graduation from KSU, I worked for the USGS (through the NAGT program) in Menlo Park, CA. As a member of the Seismic Hazards Team, I installed and upgraded seismic equipment throughout central and northern California. In the fall of 2000 I enrolled at the University of New Mexico to pursue a masters degree in geology. My thesis work involved the paleomagnetism, geochronology, and structure of the Cripple Creek diatreme complex in the Front Range of Colorado. The Cripple Creek complex is also host to significant Au-Te deposits and is currently mined by open pit. During my summers as a graduate student, I interned with Anglogold Corp. at Cripple Creek conducting ore control and pit mapping of the district. Following my M.S. graduation from the University of New Mexico in December, 2002 I began employment with Newmont Mining Corp. in the Surface Mine Geology Group on the Carlin Trend. I worked with this group for two years conducting ore control, pit and field mapping, and near-mine exploration. Starting February 2005, I became a member of Newmont’s Global Exploration Team conducting grass-roots exploration in central and northern Mexico. I will be working in multiple field areas with little to no established geologic backgrounds for the next year.
7/29/06 - BOB DAWSON - B.S. 1976 I have been working for Wagner & Brown Ltd. as an Exploration Geologist for the last 22 years, concentrating primarily on the S. Texas Wilcox trend and most of the East Texas basin. Since graduating from Kent, I initially worked for Core Laboratories in Tyler, Texas for about 1 year, and then I went with Exxon in 1977. At Exxon I worked in Alaska, South Texas, and East Texas as a Production Geologist. After 3 years I left Exxon and joined Superior Oil as a Geologist working the same trends until Mobil bought Superior in 1984. That’s when I was hired by Wagner & Brown. My wife Brenda and I have been married 28 years and have 2 boys, Ryan (22) and Matt (21). Ryan is a junior at Baylor University in Waco TX., majoring in Pre-Law. Matt is a sophomore at Montgomery College (University of Houston) working on a degree in hotel management. We live in The Woodlands, TX.
7/29/06 - TIM ALLEN - B.S. 1970, M.S. 1981 Dick, I'm still Project Hydrogeologist here at Raytheon in Tucson. Since 1988 I've been directing environmental remediation of the plant site which experienced extensive contamination of soil and groundwater by chlorinated solvents and chromium. The plant site is part of the Tucson Airport Area Superfund Site. I'm planning on retiring from Raytheon in November. All of the interesting remediation work here is now done, and it's time to find something else to do. I'll probably go to work for a local hydrogeology consulting firm part time, and try to revive my severely atrophied geology skills. Much of my present job involves things like engineering, practicing environmental law without a license, project management, keeping track of budgets, writing funding proposals; everything but geology. I've been doing a lot of volunteer field work on weekends for a local environmental group called Sky Island Alliance. They are dedicated to preserving habitat and wildlife corridors for the large carnivores in southern Arizona, like black bear, mountain lion, jaguar and Mexican gray wolf. I also get out hiking, backpacking, kayaking and looking at the rocks whenever I can. My 22 year old daughter just completed a degree in computer graphics and animation at Pima College. She's now out on her own and working. I checked out the KSU Geology web site. I'm glad to still see a lot of the familiar names on the faculty. You're looking good in your picture on the web site. From what I saw, the Kent geology program is still first class. You all have done a great job keeping up the department standards. Say hello to everyone there for me.
7/29/06 - MARK KROENKE - B.S. 1991 (New Mexico State), M.S. 1996 Hi Dick, Nice chatting with you the other day. I've worked as a geologist for Ohio EPA in the Ground Water group since 1995. In 1996 I finally graduated from Kent with my M.S in Geology (for some strange reason, employment actually motivated me to finish my thesis and graduate after a few years of spinning wheels in Kent). In early 2001 I was promoted to Lead Geologist in the Ground Water group, with primary job duties including the review of all ground water data or hydrogeologic investigations related to solid-waste landfills and enforcement of our rules. I also assist the other geologists in my group, when requested, and participate in statewide rule-making efforts coordinated by the Central Office in Columbus. My professional highlight so far was being the lead geologist for Ohio EPA in an enforcement case against a closed landfill in Cuyahoga County. We ended up in court and I testified for the State of Ohio regarding all the failures of the owner/operator to properly monitor the landfill and address the ground water contamination migrating from the landfill. The judge decided in our favor on all counts and, just this past month, we learned that the Court of Appeals upheld the judge’s original decision! As some of you know, I was dating a fellow KSU graduate student, Kim Darrah, back in the 1990s. We married in August, 1999 and have resided happily in the Portage Lakes area south of Akron since 2001. We own and operate a very small Appaloosa horse farm where we currently have five horses and five cats (I know, I know, this qualifies us as the crazy cat people on our block!!) In our defense, they are all fixed and only one gets outside to decimate the small rodent population around our house. When I can fit it in, I golf as much as I can afford to (Let's face it, golf has gotten pretty expensive over the last 5-10 years!). My golfing goal for the last two seasons has been to break 80. I'm close, but my short game is holding me back :-). Last Fall, I made my rock-star singing debut as Kroenke Lee Roth! Complete with outrageous hair and outfit, I took the stage to front my friend's band, and belted out some Van Halen, ZZ Top, George Thorogood, and Joe Walsh. It was a blast, and I look forward to doing it again this September, with a little more VH and AC/DC thrown in for good measure! :-). Take care, Mark	Mark and Kim (Darrah) Kroenke.
7/29/06 - AL STANDEN - B.S. 1976, M.S. 1986 (University of Texas) After completing the B.S. degree in 1976, I worked for the next three years in uranium exploration (out of Grants, NM and then Corpus Christi, TX) and socialized with Mike and Toni Padrutt and Toby Kirk. In 1979 I became an Assistant Research Scientist with the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) in Austin, researching uranium deposits. I have lived in Austin ever since. In 1981 I went part-time with the BEG and enrolled in the graduate program at the University of Texas (thesis topic was an epithermal gold deposit in Silverton, CO). I received the M.S. degree in 1986, having worked summers (1980-1986) in gold exploration for Chevron Minerals and Bear Creek Mining in CO, UT, NV, and AZ. Depressed gold prices in 1986 caused me to take a Research Scientist position with the BEG where I worked on strategic metal studies, mineral deposits in West Texas, evaluation of two low-level nuclear waste sites, the super-collider site, geographic information systems (GIS), and curating of a large core facility. While at the BEG, one of my associates was Jules DuBar, KSU’s first recipient of a degree in geology (B.S. 1949) – small world! A major career shift took place when I left the BEG in 1994 and took a position with International Technologies, Inc. (IT), a firm specializing in drilling and evaluating nuclear blast sites (in NV and MS) and contamination on military bases throughout the western United States. In 1998 I entered the water resource business when I was hired by LBG-Guyton Associates. There I began evaluating regional and municipal water availability/quality problems using GIS, and I fell in love with the complexities and politics of water. Daniel B. Stephens and Associates hired me away from LBG-Guyton in 2002 and offered me a position as the Texas Water Resources Director based in Austin, TX. I have been working with water supply and quality issues for San Antonio, San Angelo, Midland and Lubbock. My special interests include recharge estimates, pharmaceuticals in water supplies, rainwater collection systems, GIS analysis and calculation of volumetrics for groundwater resources.
7/29/06 - GARY MANZER - KSU BS '69, MS '72, Rice PhD '78) I've had a very interesting geological career following the "Geologic Time Scale" from ancient to recent. Academia in the late 60's to mid 70's (Kent and Rice) was spent in the Precambrian (Archean to Keweenawan) of Wyoming, Minnesota and other areas of North America investigating the chemical evolution of basaltic magmas through time. A great time mixed with field work and lab. Post graduation began a new phase and progression upward on the "Time Scale", oil and gas exploration in the Paleozoics (Ordovician through Permian, skipped Cambrian) of the Mid-Continent (Oklahoma). Exploration discoveries in the 80's accounted for 35 to 40 BCF of gas and 40 K bbls. of oil, most of which are still producing today. Hooray for increased density drilling! Also conducted limited Mesozoic (Jurassic) exploration in north Texas and southern Arkansas. The late 80's brought about another geological phase and advancement to the Cenozoic (Tertiary, Quaternary and Recent). With the mid 80's oil bust (and 3 companies that sequentially went out of business) a number of us out-of-work oilies were fortunate to participate in a government sponsored hydrogeological retraining program (who ever said a hard-rocker doesn't like to play in water?). Onward and upward on the "Time Scale". Environmental investigations through the 90's to the present (mostly Quaternary and Recent) have spanned nearly every state west of the Mississippi and disciplines from water resources, waste disposal to toxic waste (Yuk!, but someone has to do it). Best part is my boss can't fire me unless he goes bankrupt (i.e. GM Environmental Consulting, 9 years and counting). Not to digress, but sometime during the chemical evolution of Precambrian basaltic magmas, my first daughter was born (now 31). During the drilling of Morrowan sandstones and Hunton limestone my second daughter was born (now 27 with her first daughter). Working my way upward stratigraphically, my son was born during the drilling of Cherokee sandstones (now 25). Wow, how time flies! That brings us to the very Recent (today), having the time of my life enjoying family, friends and work. My best to all KSU professors (past and present), students and alums. A special thanks to Dick, Glenn and Bill. Experience tells me that the geological foundations acquired at KSU are priceless!!! ---------------------------- Oh, and the Cruiser is my latest hobby, which has won several trophies at car shows. Currently working on my wifes '05 convertible.
7/29/06 - MIKE PADRUTT - B.S. 1977 Dick, Toni (formerly Frisone) and I married shortly after we both graduated in 1977 and moved to Corpus Christi, TX where I worked (along with Al Standen, Tobi Kirk, and John Dribus) in Mobil's uranium exploration business until Jane Fonda and 3-Mile Island temporarily sunk the US nuclear industry. Toni worked for a few years as a Site Investigations Geologist responsible for training newly-hired engineers in basic geology and rock-testing procedures. It was Toni's desire to leave industry after we had children to be a full-time mom (which she and our kids at times only mildly regret). She developed a high school-level science curriculum for a local community college that served their local home school community while we lived in Dallas, and taught 7-9th grade science at a private school here inHouston for a year until some health issues prevented her from continuing. After my brief but enjoyable stay in the minerals industry, I moved into Mobil's oil and gas division, and worked primarily South American foreland basins for several years. In 1990 we were transferred to Stavanger Norway, and there I was involved with various exploration and development projects in the North Sea. We stayed in Norway for nearly 6 years and remember it fondly as one of the highlights of my career. After moving back to Texas I became Lead Geologist on a team evaluating several exploration and development projects in China (a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there!). After China and a few years doing special projects offshore, Brazil Mobil merged with Exxon and I joined the ExxonMobil Development Company in Houston. For the past several years I have worked exclusively on development of new oil and gas fields in Trinidad, Canada, Nigeria, and now Alaska. My current position is Geoscience Coordinator for development of the Point Thomson Gas Field on the North Slope, AK. Toni and I have 3 children: Andy (25) graduated from the University of Texas with a political science degree and will graduate shortly from the Irving, TX Police Academy. Law enforcement has always been an interest, and a stint in the police force is part of Andy’s long-term plan to enter federal law enforcement. Katie (21) has her foot in the door of the banking business. She attends a local community college working on a business degree while employed full-time as a personal banker for Wells Fargo. Ian (16) is quite the athlete, plays on 2 soccer teams, and thinks he wants to be an architect. Alas, no scientists ! Unfortunately, Toni has undergone some rough health issues over the last several years, having contracted a fairly rare disease (typically fatal if left undiagnosed). A very concerned doctor identified the disease and, after scheduled surgery and drug treatment, the prognosis is good and she is looking forward to getting back to at least shades of her former self and caring for and training her dogs (she is passionate about "her" 2 golden retrievers !). We received the Alumni Newsletter and really enjoyed it. Hopefully we can visit on our next trip back to Ohio. Best regards, Mike.
7/22/06 - ED D’AMATO – B.S. 1991, M.S. 1994 I've worked at the Ohio EPA since 1994. My career began in Ohio EPA's Northwest District Office (Bowling Green) in the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) where I was responsible for investigating environmental crimes in the district's 23 counties. My job duties were similar to that of a police officer, except I didn't carry a gun. I interviewed suspects and witnesses, participated in stakeouts, executed search warrants, testified in court, and coordinated sampling activites (including occasional covert sampling in the dead of night). After 3 1/2 years in the flatlands of NW Ohio, I developed “topography deprivation syndrome” and transferred to Ohio EPA's Central Office in Columbus where I continued my OSI career for another 2 1/2 years. In 2000, I decided it was time for some more change and transferred to the Division of Hazardous Waste Management in Ohio EPA's Northeast District Office where I have been ever since. My responsibilities include conducting compliance inspections, oversight of facilities with hazardous waste permits, investigating complaints, and oversight of some RCRA remediation actitivies. On the personal side, I met my wife Laura (an elementary school librarian) in 1999. I proposed in Rome, Italy in 2001, we married in 2002, and we had our first child (Jonathan) in 2005. For the past few years I've been trying to learn to golf, but with only limited success so far. I finally broke 100 last year (see what I mean?). For several years I was involved in a group now called All Aboard Ohio, an advocacy group for expanding passenger rail and alternative transportation in Ohio. I was even president for two years. I've taken an interest in the sustainable development movement in northeast Ohio and published an article in the Summer 2006 issue of Yes! magazine about the "Greening of Cleveland" Family matters take precedence, so the majority of my energy is devoted to being a dad. When I can find the time, I play guitar (sort of), study Italian, and try to re-learn the piano (I should never have quit when I was 10!), among other things.
7/22/06 - CARLOS LOPEZ - B.S. 1969 (University of Puebla), M.S. 1982 After receiving my M.S. degree, I started working for S.A.I. Engineers in Santa Clara, California. I worked as a Geologist at the Geysers Geothermal field (in Santa Rosa, Northern California), one of the largest geothermal fields in the world. In 1984 I accepted the position of Geothermal Geologist with the California Energy Commission, and I managed one of the largest geothermal projects in California funded by the Commission (The San Bernardino District Heating System). It was an incredible and rewarding experience. I also worked on exploration assessment of low-temperature geothermal fields, for domestic use, across the State. In 1986 I changed the focus of my work when I became an Engineering Geologist with the California Department of Transportation. Since then I have dealt with environmental issues related to soil and groundwater contamination. My work consists of environmental reviews, regulatory compliance (for soil and groundwater contamination), technical consultation for our districts, and coordination /management of the underground storage-tank program. I am a licensed Professional Geologist and Engineering Geologist for the State of California. But more important, I am very pleased and proud of the education I received from Kent State University. In particular I am very grateful to Dr. Yoram Eckstein for his teaching and guidance. Family wise, I am married (wife Marcella) and have 2 daughters. My wife teaches at Elk Grove High School.. My oldest daughter is finishing her Ph.D. program (University of California Santa Barbara/San Diego State -a combined school program) in geography. My youngest daughter will be a senior this fall at Saint Marys College in Moraga, CA.. No grandchildren yet :-)
7/22/06 - MIKE HIRT - B.S. 1987, M.S. 1991 "I currently reside in the Chicago area with my wife, Diane, and two four-year old children Jennifer and Li Wen. No they're not twins. Jennifer is a domestic adoption and Li Wen a Chinese adoption. Needless to say we keep very busy. Professionally speaking, I worked for 10 years with two large engineering/environmental consulting firms, Golder Associates, Inc. and Montgomery Watson. Finally got smart in 2000 and joined a few colleagues at a start-up company - Environmental Information Logistics, LLC (EIL). We serve the solid waste industry throughout the U.S., focusing primarily on groundwater and landfill gas compliance issues at both active and closed landfills. The best part is that I work full-time from home. No more long commutes except for the stairs to the basement. I would enjoy hearing from former classmates or professors. Please feel free to contact me."
5/20/06 - RICHARD L. STOLLAR - M.S 1976 We were saddened by the recent (April 22, 2006) passing of Dick Stollar who received the B.S. degree at Mount Union College in 1974 and the M.S. degree at KSU in 1976. Dick began his 30-year career in oil and gas exploration with Columbia Gas Transmission in Charleston, WV and then moved to Columbia Natural Resources there when the company formed in 1988. Afterward, as founding partner and Chief Geologist for Triana Energy , he helped manage the firm through a period of tremendous growth. He was responsible for many important oil and gas discoveries in the Appalachian Basin and, over the years, he was a mentor for many of the geologists working in hydrocarbon exploration in the region. He shared his career experiences through regular involvement with primary and secondary school students. Survivors include his wife and two daughters, parents, sister, and a niece and nephew.
5/20/06 - MATHEW S. WICKS - B.S. 2000 After graduation I became a Stereo Compiler with Kucera International and worked there for 3 years collecting data for large-scale mapping projects. I then moved to Aerocon Photogrammetric Services where I was hired to work on detailed maps for engineers and developers. I just moved to Virginia to begin work as a Geoscientist 2 with Integrated Defense Systems (The Boeing Company). My primary role there is to serve as part of a geospatial production team which supports the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). I live in Woodbridge, VA.
5/6/06 - DALE VEVERKA - B.S. 1974 Immediately after graduation I was offered three teaching positions (times have changed). Accepted the job at Jamison Jr. High in Cleveland because it was exclusively 7th grade earth science and it paid the best (spent 2 years here). In the summer of '75 I began work on my Masters of Education at KSU. Working with Dr. Gordon Vars opened doors for me at Harmon Middle School in Aurora. For almost 20 years I taught 9 week mini courses in Landforms, Rocks and minerals, Paleontology, Oceanography and assorted space sciences to 7th and 8th graders. Thanks Drs. Anderson, Carlson, Heimlich, Laughlin, and Feldmann - your efforts were much appreciated. When the state introduced 6th grade science proficiency testing Aurora switched me to 6th grade and a comprehensive science emphasis. We scored as high as 11th in the state but earth science was only a minor portion of my curriculum. I am still teaching in Aurora, this is year 30 at Harmon with only 3 years until retirement. Enjoyed seeing Dr. Heimlich at McGilvrey as well as at a number of Portage County science fairs. Met my wife, Beverly at KSU in 1975 and we married in 1977. She enjoyed her intro Geology class with Dr. Heimlich while we were dating. Oldest daughter, Amy Parker (22) is married with a geology degree. Son, Neal (20) is a criminal justice major at Mt. Union in Alliance OH. Youngest daughter Amber (17) attends the Career Center in Brecksville taking auto service technology (go figure) My hobbies include restoring muscle cars and church work. I really appreciate the efforts involved in setting up this site. Neat to read about Manley-Booth, Davis, Kammerer, Scotte and all. Would love hearing from others from the old days (Koshal, Pettit, Christ, Nalle, Fagley). Any leads on these folks would be helpful.
5/6/06 - JOE STRUCKEL - B.S. 1969 After graduation I spent four years with the military (ROTC obligation) in the Army Corps of Engineers, including one year in Korea and several working on a geology-related project conducted for the Army by the Lawrence–Livermore Laboratory in California. Not able to find a job in geology immediately after the Army duty, I worked at a machine shop in Meadville, PA for two years until I answered a newspaper ad for mudloggers (about which I knew nothing, but saw that a B.S.degree in geology was required!!). For the next three years I was a Mudlogger working out of Denver, CO at drill sites all over the Rocky Mountain area. In 1978 I was hired as Midcontinent Manager for Continental Laboratories in Houston. In 1983, when Continental Labs downsized and looked to sell off some of its equipment, I asked if the firm would lease it to me. The company agreed and, with eight of the newly-unemployed men, I formed my own firm, Geosearch Logging, Inc., in Edmond, OK. Today I have 85 employees, business is booming, we are actively recruiting (just made a presentation in the Department of Geology at KSU), and, at age 59, I have no plans to retire for decades! Along the way, in 1989 I started Geosearch Environmental, Inc., although the main activity today is with Geosearch Logging. My wife Karen and I live in Edmond, OK. Karen is also a Kent State graduate and serves as Corporate Secretary and Treasurer of Geosearch Logging Inc.
5/6/06 - BRUCE THOMPSON - B.S. 1960, M.S. 1963 (Miami University) After completing the M.S. degree, I went to work for Texaco in Casper, WY and then became its Assistant District Geologist in the Billings, MT office. Later (1968-’79) I joined Inexco Oil as Area Geologist, working out of Casper WY/Denver CO/Houston TX. During 1979-’82, I was Exploration Manager (Denver) for United Natural Resources, and then became a Consulting Geologist (1982-‘90) throughout the Rocky Mountain region. During 1990-’93 I was employed by Viersen & Cochran as Rocky Mountain Geological Manager (Denver office) and then (1993-’95) served as Consulting Geologist for Cenex in the Green River and Wind River basins. During 1995-’98 I was Williston Basin Geologist for Basin Exploration and Rocky Mountain District Geologist for Hugoton Energy. A major highlight of my career came in 1994 when the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists selected me to receive its Outstanding Explorer Award. Comments in the Association’s letter to me include the following: “He has as many as 18 oil and gas discoveries attributed to his individual and team leadership efforts over the past 30 years. Bruce has earned RMAG’s Outstanding Explorer Award for his skill and tenacity in using geology in a manner that lead to many important discoveries throughout the Rocky Mountain region” and “Bruce is a wonderful example of an explorer and oil finder with tremendous success to prove his talent. It is humbling to total the oil and gas reserves attributed in some manner to his exploration efforts but clearly they represent many million barrels of oil and billions of cubic feet of gas.” In 1998 we moved back to Ohio where I am a Consulting Geologist actively working the Clinton Sandstone. I have been an active “ham” radio operator since 1954, and have operated all over the western states as well as Canada and the Cayman Islands. Gerry and I live in Ellsworth, OH.
4/8/06 - RENEE (SUDDUTH) BANCROFT - B.S. 1985 I have been working as a Hydrogeologist with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection since 1986, specifically in the Site Remediation group helping to clean up the groundwater at industrial sites in the state. The most interesting part of the job has been learning about the new technologies to remediate sites, including in-situ chemical and biological injections, electrical resistance heating, molasses injection, and air sparging/soil vapor extraction. I have worked on 100's of sites all over the state such as Lockheed Martin, RCA, Curtiss Wright Flight Systems, Air Products, Diamond Shamrock Chemicals, and Bristol Myers. Many of the tools/instruments and technologies in the environmental field have their origin in the petroleum industry. During my time at Kent I thought I would end up in that industry, even working in the summer with the oil companies. But in the end I joined the "cleaner side" of things in state government and have found it to be very rewarding. (It also comes with a nice pension plan. Believe it or not I am currently planning my retirement in 10 years with 30 years of service!) Many KSU geology alumni have worked/work here. Ted Ronning, Stan Radon, Dan Fisher, Marc Okin and Joe Krulik have sinced moved on from the NJDEP, but Wayne Bevan, Gary Czock, Fred Wise and I have remained. I've also worked with Allistair MacDonald on the outside (Golder and Associates). My family and I live in New Egypt, the geographic center of NJ, 45 minutes southeast of Trenton where the NJDEP is located (Also 45 minutes from the Jersey shore, Atlantic City, New York, and my favorite Philadelphia!) Anyone interested in doing geological work in state government as a public employee should definitely let me know. At the moment there is a hiring freeze due to the recent election of a new Governor, but we all hope that ends soon. It was a good choice for me, and I was only able to accomplish this goal with my roots from KSU.
4/8/06 - BOB ONDERKO – B.S. 1980 (Bowling Green), M.S. 1991 I have currently relocated from Virginia to the San Antonio, TX area where I am still employed with Earth Tech, Inc. as a Geologist and Field Manager. I serve as an environmental consultant working primarily on U. S. Air Force sites across the country. We have two adult children, a teenager, and one grandson. My wife, Joan, and I also run a small corporation that buys distressed properties, rehabilitates them, and sells the property (for a modest profit). We live in Lavernia, TX.
4/8/06 - ERWIN RUNGE - B.S. 1957, M.S. 1959 (Miami University), Ph.D. 1965 (Oregon State University) I entered KSU in 1953 intending to major in biology, but two years later I met my future wife and decided to switch my major to geology. Glenn Frank mapped out a program whereby I could complete all required coursework in geology and graduate in 1957. After graduation I entered Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where I received an M.S. degree in 1959. In August, 1959 Barbara and I were married and I began work with Western Geophysical a week later. Constant moving on the job got to be too much, and we re-located back to Akron with a plan to obtain a teaching degree in Science Education. In 1961, I was hired as a Part-time Instructor to teach freshman geology labs and a lecture section of historical geology at KSU, and it was then that I met Dick Heimlich and Gene Szmuc. I received my Science Education degree in 1962, and the wonderful geology teaching experience at Kent built a strong desire to return to graduate school. I started the Ph.D. program at Oregon State University in the Department of Oceanography in 1962 and graduated in 1965 with a Ph.D. in Oceanography specializing in Geological Oceanography (my dissertation was a study of the continental shelf sediments from the Columbia River to Cape Blanco, Oregon). Shortly thereafter I accepted a position with the federal government in the Washington, D.C. area. I retired from government service in 1987, and for about the next 10 years worked as an independent consultant to both the federal government and industry. I finally retired for good in 1997. Barbara and I are currently snowbirds, living in the Pacific Northwest in the summer and in the southwest (Tucson, AZ) in the winter. We have three children and four grandchildren. The web site the Department is building is great, as it gives graduates the opportunity to learn about old friends. My thanks to all the people who are working so hard to put the web site and the newsletters together.	Erwin and Barb Runge
4/8/06 - PATRICK W. DUNCAN - B.S. 1992, M.S 1997 (Case Western Reserve University) After completing the M.S. degree at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, where I concentrated on stable isotope geochemistry, I began working for RP Consultants, Inc., an environmental consulting company that performs environmental site assessments of properties, wetlands delineations/permitting, and geological consulting for the sand and gravel industry. I became Vice-President and Co-Owner of the firm and, recently, its President and Owner. I employ several geologists including Chris Mazzei, a KSU grad (B.S. 2005). I also own a title company and a property management company. I have been married to my wife Sherri since 1993, and have three children ages 7, 6, and 2. We live in Mentor, Ohio.
3/18/06 - JIM HANLON - B.S. 1981 After graduation 25 years ago, I began my career with Energy Unlimited, Inc. in Marietta, Ohio. In 1983, I joined Enterprise Energy Corporation in Cambridge, and in 1986, transferred to Belden & Blake Corporation in North Canton. In 2002, I founded Hanlon Exploration, Ltd., a company that provides geological consulting services to the oil and gas industry. Just recently I was hired by North Coast Energy, Inc. (Austintown, Ohio) where I am Geology Supervisor for the Northern Appalachian Basin Unit. I’m an active member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Professional Well Log Analysts, Ohio Oil and Gas Association, Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Program, and the Ohio Geological Society. My family and I reside in North Canton, Ohio.
3/18/06 - MARC OKIN – B.S. 1984 (Bowling Green), M.S. 1989 I was first employed in 1989 with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. This was followed by a position as Hydrogeologist for several years with Sun Oil Co., and then I went into environmental consulting. In 1996 I moved to West Virginia and began working for Columbia Gas Transmission in their Environmental Remediation Department. It was here in God’s Country (WV), where I met my wife Mary, and we had our little girl, Olivia, who is now 4 years old. We moved to Columbus, OH in 2003 for me to start working for Columbia's parent company, NiSource, in their corporate Environmental Health & Safety Department. Much of my work centers on characterizing and remediating coal tars associated with Manufactured Gas Plants (MGPs) that operated in the late 1800's. I left KSU in 1987 before completing my M.S. thesis, but my goal was to finish the writing in spite of a serious medical problem at the time. Two years later (after completing the first draft, six revisions, and a bone marrow transplant for cancer), I received the M.S. degree. Please say hello to Dr. Palmer and Dr. Dahl.
3/18/06 - DREW LONERGAN – B.S. 1986 (Eastern Illinois), M.S. 1991 After leaving Kent in 1990, I went to work in Washington DC with Ebasco Environmental where I worked on environmental remediation projects as a Geologist/Hydrogeologist, and married Deborah Jennings. I received the MS in 1991 (I think because Dr. Dahl was tired of me!). In 1992 I joined ABB Environmental and transferred to their Tallahassee, FL office to work on remediation projects under contract with the US Navy. In 1996 I transferred to ABB’s Brighton, MI office, and have been working in the Detroit Metro area since then, migrating into project management while keeping my hand on the technical side of things too. In 1999, I started with Earth Tech where I was a Program Director and helped start a new office (an interesting challenge for those of you who haven’t tried it). We did great and got the office up to about 35 people, with stable contracts and revenue flow. I left Earth Tech in 2005 after six years. I'm now at CTI and Associates in Brighton, MI, which focuses mainly on geotechnical studies and landfill design. My plan is to build a thriving environmental remediation practice at CTI. CTI is minority-owned, and we're planning to use this to assist in marketing environmental services to the Fed Gov and large companies with diversity targets. Deb is working 3.5 days a week as a speech pathologist for the local school system and loves her job. Her schedule tracks with the kids' schedules and she gets summers off. She doesn't want to move from Brighton, but says that I'm free to leave whenever I want. This might cause her intense happiness, so I have stayed! August, 2006 will be our 16th anniversary if you can believe that. Deb and I have two children. Emily, born in 1992, will be going to high school in the fall (Yikes!). She's big-time into figure skating, cheerleading, and social studies - and wants to be President of the US! Charlie, born in 1995, will enter middle school in the fall. He’s big on hockey, plays almost year round, is only casually interested in school - and does not want to be President of the US!
2/11/06 - JENNIFER FORSYTHE - B.A. (Chemistry) 1993, M.S. (Geology) 1998