Notes from the Class of 2003

In April Leah Buechley (MCompSci’03, PhD’07) served as a panelist at CU’s 65th Conference on World Affairs. She is an associate professor at the MIT Media Lab where she directs the High-Low Tech research group, exploring the integration of high and low technology from cultural, material and practical perspectives engaging diverse groups of people in creating their own technology. Leah has studied theater, dance, fine art and design at the college level. Her work has been featured in The New York Times.

In February structural engineer from Lakewood, Colo., Jerod Faris (CivEngr, Math’03, MCivEngr’12) returned home from a project trip to Santa María del Real, Olancho, Honduras. Jerod was part of team of architects and engineers from across North America who volunteered their time with Engineering Ministries International’s America Latina office in Costa Rica. The team spent weeks in Honduras developing the concepts and designs for Clínica El Buen Pastor.

Associate professor Ross Haenfler (PhDSoc’03) teaches sociology at the University of Mississippi. His interests focus on how people pursue social change in their daily lives as part of lifestyle movements such as slow food, voluntary simplicity and green living. As a graduate student at CU he co-authored The Better World Handbook: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference. In April he spoke at CU’s 65th Conference on World Affairs. Ross lives in Oxford, Miss.

Writer, actor and producer of the film Born & Raised Nick Loritsch (Film’03) was named best actor and the film was rated “most undervalued” byReel Georgia. Born & Raised has secured distribution with R Squared Films. The film played at Logan Film Festival in Logan, Utah, and Gasparilla Film Festival in Tampa, Fla., in March. Nick lives in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The five-time award-winning feature film Born & Raised written and co-produced by Nick Loritsch (Film’03) played in Los Angeles in April at the United Film Festival. Nick also stars in the film and lives in Beverly Hills, Calif.

On May 30, Ryan Becker (EnvSt, Geog’03) and his wife welcomed a son, Jude Patrick Becker. Jude joins big sister Nicole. Ryan and his family live in Littleton, Colo.

After graduating from CU-Boulder, Narelle Helmer (Comm’03) served in the U.S. Marine Corps. She was featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary The Invisible War. The documentary about rape in the military won several awards at the Sundance Film Festival. Narelle married Jonathan Woods in Boulder and the couple resides in Wilmington, N.C. Her brother Barrett Helmer (Jour’05) earned his master’s in foreign service from Georgetown University.

Erie, Colo. resident Matthew Boggs (Acc’t03) will marry Lauren Johnson on May 10. Matthew is a controller with Zayo Group in Louisville, Colo.

In 2007 Jordan Gardenhire (Bus, Span’03) and his partners opened Baja Brewing Co., the first brewery in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Their mission is to bring a craft brewing culture to Mexico that is similar to the one in Colorado. They have three popular brewpubs and distribute their flagship authentic Mexican ale, Cabotella, in the U.S. Southwest. Jordan began brewing beer while attending CU-Boulder.

Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union hired Sarah Melton (EnvSt, PolSci’03) as in-house counsel and area vice president. Sarah advises the CEO and senior management on legal and regulatory risk and compliance. Previously Sarah worked with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Alaska and Washington, D.C. She has taught business law at the University of Alaska and serves as pro bono attorney for the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Anchorage Youth Court.

The Vancouver Business Journal named Meghan Williams (EnvSt’03) “Accomplished and Under 40.” Meghan practices law at Miller Nash in Vancouver, Wash., with a focus on general business and real estate law.

Leeds business school graduate Marley Hodgson (MBA’03) co-founded MAD Greens, a healthy food fast food alternative. The restaurant has branches in various cities in Colorado, including Boulder, Denver and Centennial. MAD Greens celebrates itself as the “alternative to all those burger places” and “a commitment to locally sourced ingredients straight from Colorado farms.” Lucas Clarke (Mktg’05) has been director of marketing since the year he graduated. Marley lives in Sedalia, Colo.

Have a taste for Mexican craft beer? The Baja Brewing Company, the original craft brewery in Baja California Sur, is now offering its flagship beer, Cabotella, throughout the U.S. Southwest. Co-founder and brewmaster Jordan Gardenhire (Bus, Span’03) first began brewing beer at CU-Boulder with the intention of bringing the craft brewing culture to Mexico. Cabotella can be found in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. For more information visit bajabrewingcompany.com.

As a runner Kai Costanzo (Span’03) hated the smacking sound of flip-flops. He invented Kai-Kai sandals, which uses the slogan “the flip that doesn’t flop.” Kai was part of CU-Boulder’s triathlon team when he was a student. He lives in Montauk, N.Y.

In his longest-lasting case as a lawyer, Nicholas Kant (Jour’03, Law’06) succeeded in getting a large settlement from a former New Jersey paving company accused of substandard paving work for the state. Nick was mentioned in several local news reports after the case was settled. He resides in South Orange, N.J.

Robert O’Leary (IntlAf’03) is an associate in international law firm Mayer Brown’s Banking and Finance group. He focuses his practice on project finance and project development, representing lenders, owners, developers and contractors in energy and infrastructure financing and project construction. He also maintains an active pro bono immigration practice.

For more than 15 years Jessica Kizorek (Span) has offered training in self-expression and leadership. An entrepreneur and international activist, she owns a video production company called Two Parrot Productions. Jessica has traveled to more than 60 countries and covered dozens of humanitarian causes. She has also lectured at universities, written eight books and has been featured as a small business expert on CNN and Fox.

Matthew Graziano (Engl, Hum) completed his PhD in counseling psychology at the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University. He received his first job post-graduation as a school psychologist for the Chapin School in New York. He writes, “I miss Boulder every day!”

Jordan Kaufman (Comm) joined The Boulder Group, a boutique investment real estate service firm, as a vice president. He brings 10 years of experience in the net-lease industry and has arranged more than $500 million in sales. He previously served as executive vice president at Quantum Real Estate Advisors.

On March 3, 2015, Shaun Flaherty (Thtr) and his wife Kyra Lewandowski (Thtr’07) welcomed a baby girl, Petal Jane Flaherty. They live in Chicago.