Notes from the Class of 2009

Imagine this: A cookie sandwich stuffed with strawberry ice cream, a brownie and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. This heavenly creation can be found at the Baked Bear, an ice cream sandwich shop owned by Robby Robbins (Mktg’09) and Shane Stager in San Diego.

The statistics on sex trafficking are shocking, yet many remain unaware the phenomenon exists. Maya Lea Osterman (Thtr’09) is trying to change this. She is performing a one-woman show, “For Sale,” to increase awareness on the subject in theaters, schools and conferences across the country. The fictitious characters are based on several years of Maya’s research.

Avery Bang (MCivEngr’09), CEO of Bridges to Prosperity, received an honorary doctorate of science degree from Clarkson University this spring. The award recognizes her commitment to engineering that benefits humanity. Since joining Bridges to Prosperity as a volunteer in 2006, Avery has worked to ensure safe, year-round access to markets and health clinics in rural developing communities. She was the featured speaker at this fall’s Back to Boulder Homecoming Weekend luncheon in the CU Rec Center and also received the Alumni Association’s Kalpana Chawla Outstanding Recent Graduate Award.

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation selected Jennifer Kling (MPhil’09) as one of 22 Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows. The fellowship is the nation’s largest award for PhD candidates in the humanities and social sciences addressing questions of ethical and religious values. Jennifer is working on a doctorate in philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her dissertation project is titled “The State Right of Self-Defense: A Claim in Need of Justification.”

Bryan Cardwell (Chem), is head brewer at Chuckanut Brewery in Bellingham, Wash. The brewery opened in 2009 and has received numerous medals, including four at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival.

Last spring National Corporate Housing named Natalie Gregarek (Comm) chief talent officer. She lives in Littleton, Colo.

In October a Google executive performed a record-breaking near-space dive from a high altitude balloon at 136,000 feet. Jared Leidich (MechEngr) and Josh Hecht (AeroEngr’11, MS’12) were part of the StratEx team that made the dive possible, working on the design of the balloon, the life support system, system development and operations.

UC San Diego Extension hired Jennifer Newell (Jour) as the marketing representative for business programs. She says one reason her application was singled out was because her current supervisor saw that Jennifer had graduated from CU. The supervisor’s husband, Mark Zumberge (MPhys’78, PhD’81), also went to CU and the couple had lived in Boulder.

Beecher Tuttle (Engl) is editor of eFinancialCareers’ North American site. Beecher previously worked at Fins.com, a career-focused editorial website formerly owned by the Wall Street Journal that was bought by eFinancialCareers.

Louisiana State University hired Fred Peterbark (MMus) as assistant dean for recruitment and diversity for its music and dramatic arts college. Additionally, he presented a duet recital with his sister, Audrey, for the Estes Park Music Festival. The recital included a performance of the aria “New York Lights” from the opera “A View from the Bridge.”

After abruptly experiencing horrible pain in her teeth and gums almost 10 years ago, Lilit Gertner Brissette (Geog, Geol) was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. She is finally having relief after experimental brain surgery. She said the outpouring of love from her friends and family have made the recovery possible.

Eight days after graduating, Luke Geddie (Mgmt) left for Vietnam, where he planned a coconut oil business, Skinny and Co. Coconut Oil. It launched in Indianapolis in 2013 and now sells throughout the U.S. and in Canada.

This spring, Megan Richard (IntPhys, Span) received a medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. In July, she began work as a resident physician at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Megan was one of four students in her class selected to serve a yearlong pre-doctoral teaching fellowship in her second year and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2013.

On Aug. 1, 2015, Gregory Ryan (Acct) married Morgan Senzer Ryan (Jour’09) in the company of many other Buffs, including Gregory’s older sister, Sara Hitt (Acct’05), and her husband, Andrew Hitt (Bus, Comm’05). The bridal party carried a CU flag up to the top of the mountain in Vail to show their CU pride.

The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation chose Dawn Yetter (Math’09), Meghan Mosher (MEdu’14) and Christine Askham (MEdu’15) as members of its 2015 cohort of Teaching Fellows.

Beecher Tuttle (Engl) is an editor for eFinancialCareers’ North American website and is based in New York. He previously worked for FINS.com, a career-focused editorial website formerly owned by the Wall Street Journal. He has covered technology, business and healthcare beats for many publications and also has worked as a recruiter.

The Butterfly Groove: A Mother’s Mystery, A Daughter’s Journey is marketing professional and writer Jessica Barraco’s (Jour) first book. The memoir catalogs the life of her mother after she passed away at an early age. Jessica lives in San Diego.

Jeff Popp (PolSci), co-founder of Denverbased backpack company CO.ALITION, was featured on the TV show Shark Tank. CO.ALITION, which developed the first backpacks integrated with smart mobile technology — including power for charging mobile devices and wireless hard drives for uploading files or streaming movies — was selected from 50,000 other business to pitch to the “Sharks.” The episode aired Jan. 29, 2016.

Steven Mokan (MBA) is the owner of Boulder County adventure travel company Chasing Epic. The company offers all-inclusive, guided mountain bike adventures to destinations in the western U.S., and includes custom trips, women-only trips and trips for experienced riders. Trip locations include Sedona, Crested Butte, Durango and Park City.

Patricia Krus (MClass) and Joshua Stanfield were married in May. The ceremony was held at the Sunrise Amphitheatre on Flagstaff Mountain above Boulder with a dinner and dance reception hosted at CU Boulder. Josh and Patty honeymooned in Costa Rica, then traveled to Germany in September to continue the celebration. They live in Boulder with their Aussie kelpie, Tessa.