Notes from the Class of 1983

George Solich (Bus; MMktg’91), of Denver, was able to attend CU Boulder with the Chick Evans Scholarship, a full-ride scholarship for golf caddies. After graduating, George began his career in the oil and gas industry. Now a successful CEO, he has given back to his alma mater in many ways, including his founding of the Solich Scholarship, a needs- and merit-based program for CU Boulder business students. George and his brother Geoff Solich (Bus’81), of Centennial, Colorado, also founded the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy, a Colorado Golf Association program that provides grants and training to young caddies.

Greg Berger (Econ; Law’86) of Denver has been named department head of the Corporate & Business Department of Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck Law Firm.

Bill Kling (Econ) runs a law and policy practice in Chicago. He is also a professor at University of Illinois at Chicago and Kent College of Law, where he teaches students how to engage with policymakers to effectuate change. He has drafted and advocated legislation at the federal, state and local levels. He lives in Elmhurst, Illinois. 

In December 2020, Susan Stinson (Engl) released the 25th anniversary edition of her novel Martha Moody. The book was first published by Spinsters Ink and is now being sold by Small Beer Press.

Evans Scholar Gary Baine (Jour’83) was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in fall 2021. A fixture in Colorado golf journalism, Gary has covered major golf events across the state, including each of the last 38 Colorado Opens, all 21 Internationals at Castle Pines, two U.S. and three U.S. Women’s Opens, a Solheim Cup and many other events. Gary worked at the Daily Camera in Boulder for 25 years, including six as sports editor. He is a regular contributor to the Colorado Golf Association’s website and founded Colorado Golf Journal in 2008. His work has won several Colorado golf journalism awards, and most recently he was honored with the 2019 Robert Kirchner Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the Colorado golf community. He lives in Boulder.

Intellectual property law firm Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds elected Mary Lou Wakimura (ApMath’83) as chair of its board of directors. Mary Lou plans to use her 35 years of experience at the firm and her patent prosecution and operational expertise in her new role. She lives in Atkinson, New Hampshire.

James Michael Brodie (Engl’83) is president of The Black and Gold Project Foundation, a group of CU Boulder alumni that supports increasing the percentage of African American students, faculty and
administration at the university. On June 25, James and the foundation celebrated the 40-year career of professor William King. William began teaching Black Studies at CU in 1972 and went on to become the director of the Black Studies program. He also was a founding member of the National Council for Black Studies and eventually served as its national chairman. At the luncheon, Gary Jackson (PolSci’67; Law’70), retired senior judge of the Denver County Court and former Denver district attorney, spoke and said, “(Dr. King) was more than a legacy. He was a role model that all of us in this room could pattern our lives after.”

Founder and principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning (KAP), Nate Kipnis (EnvDes’83) — a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) — was honored as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2022 Notable Leaders in Sustainability. The award category honors chief sustainability officers, top executives, nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs who are leading the way in sustainable business. KAP, which has locations in Boulder and Evanston, Illinois, is recognized as a premier firm in sustainable architecture. Additionally, Nate serves on the AIA Climate Action and Design Committee.