Class Notes Fall 2024

Did you get a promotion? Get married? Receive an award? Expand your family? Write a book? Meet a personal goal? Chat with a fellow alum about the good old days? We want to hear from you and your WPI classmates do, too! Tell us your latest news and it may appear in Class Notes—it’s a great way to reconnect with your fellow alumni: classnotes@wpi.edu.

Charles Beck writes, “I turned 83 this past July and live with my wife, Diane, in a small apartment in Albuquerque, N.M. Recently, I had a paper published in the Journal of the Analytical Sciences Digital Library, ‘Chemical Analysis: A Look at the Past, Present, and Future.’ In my 40-year career as a chemical analyst, I worked for seven analytical laboratories, one state lab, one private lab, one academic lab, two industrial labs, and two national labs.”

William Tanzer writes, “I have been retired for 18 years after a career of 33 years with Eastman Kodak. After spending most of the year in South Hamilton, Mass., my wife, Judy, and I continue to enjoy the winter in Palm Desert, Calif. Obviously, golf is a priority for us and birthdays have not helped us improve our scores. We would love to see 1967 classmates anytime.”

Edward O’Hara writes, “My wife, Debbie, and I have been retired since 2015 and 2014, respectively. We moved to Naples, Fla., in 2016 and enjoy it tremendously. We come north to see our children and grandchildren. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in May 2022.”

Steve Legomsky writes, “I just published my collection of 21 short stories, some humorous and some poignant, titled Change and Delusion. The common questions in these stories are whether we humans can ever truly change our fundamental natures, whether self-delusion is worth a try, and, in failing that, whether we can at least fool others. In the final story, all the characters get together for a reunion. Hailing from different places, different cultural backgrounds, and even some different historical eras, and with different personalities and insecurities, they nonetheless rise up in unison to mock and indict the author for portraying them in an unfavorable light. The endorsement on the book cover reads, ‘This book isn’t very good, but it’s better than his other writing. –The author’s mother.’ More information, including free sample stories, can be found here: www.amazon.com/dp/1958891290.”

John Goulet writes, “After 50 years of teaching (31 at WPI and more than 10,000 students), I retired from full-time teaching as of July 1. I continue to oversee a master’s program for high school teachers (mechanical and materials engineering) and, as part of that program, teach some courses that I designed. I will certainly miss the students and the work to address the post-pandemic challenges.”

Steven Alviti was a presenter at the 2024 IMTS Conference. This session focused on the topic of finishing operations within the manufacturing process. Alviti is the president and owner of Bel Air Finishing Supply based in North Kingstown, R.I., and is a lifetime member of several manufacturing societies. He has also written many technical papers and presented at various trade symposiums throughout the world.

Wilford Rose has rejoined ERA Key Realty Services as a broker. He was a real estate agent with the organization for 12 years until leaving at the end of 2023. He is certified in harm reduction and is a member of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors.

Rick Hajec was appointed CEO of Inkcups, a global printing company. He has been on the company’s advisory board for the last nine years and has served in multiple leadership roles with other organizations across engineering, operations, product development, marketing, sales, and divisional leadership, according to the announcement. “It is an honor to be stepping into the role of CEO, particularly at such an exciting time in the company’s journey,” he said in the announcement. “For the past 11 years, I have worked closely with the team as Inkcups has grown, developing new technology, penetrating new markets, experiencing growth across a wide range of segments and geographies. Now, the company is perfectly positioned to enter its next phase, continuing to grow, innovate, and deliver outstanding solutions globally.”

Jackson Nickerson was named as the next Edward Jones Dean of the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University. He is an internationally recognized scholar, teacher, and consultant for organizational strategy and has served in various teaching and research positions and several universities around the world. “I am thrilled and honored to serve the Chaifetz School of Business, Saint Louis University, and the St. Louis region, my home for 22 years,” he said. “The Chaifetz School of Business is on the move, and I look forward to working with [the] community to continue and accelerate this momentum, inspired and guided by SLU’s Jesuit educational ideals.” 

Christina Gagnon writes, “Since graduating from WPI with a math degree, I completed a career as an actuary, and am now focused on philanthropic endeavors. Last year I found myself revealing my life story by writing a novel dedicated to helping children in need called Amazing Rays: A Down East Island Novel. Published under my pen name, T. C. Flynn, it is a heart-warming coming-of-age cozy mystery filled with love and loss, friendship and family, adversity and hope. It’s also so much more. Written for readers aged 12 to 112, it’s a philanthropic effort to benefit children’s charities. Rather than making money off the book, I invite readers who have enjoyed the story to pay it forward by helping a child in need. My sole goal in writing Amazing Rays is to see how many needy children my readers and I can help. So far, we have helped 375 children and counting!”

Brent Modzelewski was honored for his expertise in medical device technology and leadership as senior director of Aventusoft by Marquis Who’s Who, an organization that recognizes the most accomplished individuals in various industries. He has contributed to the development of Hemotag, a non-invasive heart monitor that can help detect structural heart issues. His work has been recognized with industry awards and he is a member of several prominent engineering societies.

Woody Bradford, a WPI trustee, was named CEO of Generali Group’s asset management arm, Generali Investments Holdings, a global insurance and asset management provider with a presence in more than 50 countries.

Jeff Yoder was named professor of biological sciences and executive director of Genetics and Genomics Academy (GGA). His previous role was professor of innate immunology in the Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. His role as executive director will oversee collaborations across research, training, and outreach activities at the university. “I am honored and excited to step into this leadership role with GGA,” he says. “By listening to and working with the GGA membership, I hope to build upon its current strengths in research and training while also developing new interdisciplinary opportunities for faculty and students in education, research, and external engagement.”

Sam Pullara was featured in TechCrunch, a tech-focused news website. He is the managing director at Sutter Hill Ventures, a private equity firm in Palo Alto, Calif. He has varied experience in computer engineering, working for several prominent tech-based companies, including Twitter, Yahoo!, and WebLogic.

David Koelle was a keynote speaker at SXSW 2024. He is the director of engineering at Charles River Analytics and a principal software engineer. He has served as principal investigator or technical lead on projects related to human-centered technology, as well as social and organizational modeling and simulation.

Daniel Nason was selected as the Harvard, Mass., town administrator. He previously served as the town of Sudbury’s director of the Department of Public Works. The Harvard Select Board members unanimously voted for his appointment. He is known as a “thorough, long-term planner” who emphasizes “collaboration and team building,” according to the announcement.

Michael Shannon was appointed interim director of the Animal Care Services (ACS) department in San Antonio, Texas. He has worked for the city for 22 years, most recently as director of the Development Services Department (DSD) and has been on the board of ACS for the last four years. As director of DSD, he oversees land development, building inspections, permits, zoning, and code enforcement.

Erika Wachs was appointed director of business development at ABL, a biotech company specializing in “contract development and manufacturing services” to advance vaccines through clinical development, according to the announcement. She says, “At ABL, I have the opportunity to learn something new every day from each new client and provide the critical partnership and services to deliver these vital therapies to patients in need.”

John Genereux was appointed as a board member for MassMEP (Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership), an organization that assists the growth of small and mid-sized manufacturers across the commonwealth. He is a senior executive who has held various leadership positions in the high-tech manufacturing industry. He currently serves as vice president and general manager of Hamilton Storage, a global manufacturer of life science automation equipment.

Beth Schweinsberg is a member of the newly created Technical Advisory Group within the U.S. General Service Administration, in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget. This group will provide the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program with expertise for decision-making for the “technical, strategic, and operational direction of the program,” according to the announcement. She serves as the senior technical advisor at the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Michael B. Mahan was appointed president of Crane NXT’s Payment Innovations (CPI), an industrial technology company. He is responsible for driving growth strategy and innovation. “I am thrilled to be joining Crane NXT,” he said. “There is tremendous potential across the entire business, and I am looking forward to partnering with the CPI leadership team to build upon the company’s strong foundation of driving business excellence and incredible spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Marc Bullio joined Auburn Construction as vice president and project executive. He is responsible for managing and coordinating company projects, including business development, preconstruction, and project conclusion. He previously led large-scale, multimillion dollar projects for many prominent clients, including Quest Diagnostics, Puma, Nokia, MIT, and Historic New England, among others. He is also a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Army.

Neal Bradbury was appointed chief product officer at Barracuda Networks, a cloud security solutions company. His new role entails leading a “unified product, engineering, and advanced technology team” to drive innovation for its customers, according to the announcement. He has served in various leadership roles within the cybersecurity and tech industries, including co-founding the software company Intronis.

Sam Gutmann was named one of Software Report’s “Top 25 Cloud Computing Executives of 2024” for his work as CEO and co-founder of Own Company, a data platform that helps its clients ensure the security and availability of critical data. He has served in various leadership positions within the investment and trading industries. He also co-founded and served as CEO of Intronis, an “online backup software company he helped build using an industry-leading economic model that led to significant ROI,” according to the announcement.

Kerry Maynard, MS ’06, was appointed president of E.T. & L. Corporation, a woman-owned heavy construction company in Stow, Mass. Since earning her bachelor’s degree, she has held positions as office engineer, project manager, and vice president. Her new role is responsible for the business operations of the company.

Greg McHale was a presenter at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2024 Conference, speaking on cost calculation in manufacturing with a focus on data benchmarks for managing manufacturing costs and performance. He is the president, CEO, and founder of Datanomix, a “company delivering game-changing production insights and intelligence to manufacturers of discrete components,” according to a company announcement.

Tim Nelson, a faculty member in Brown University’s computer science department, has received a promotion to senior lecturer. “I love doing research work with students,” he says of his teaching work, “and Forge (a lightweight formal methods tool built with teaching in mind) has been a five-year project with many student collaborators. There are great tools out there, but most aren’t built for teaching. Forge lets us do pedagogy research, not just curriculum. I’m proud of what we’ve built together.”

Sahag Voskian’s company, Verdox, was named to TIME magazine’s “America’s Top Green Tech Companies 2024” list. Verdox is a sustainability company that uses electricity to remove carbon dioxide from the air and emissions sources.

Julie Bliss Mullen’s company, Aclarity, was named to TIME magazine’s “America’s Top Green Tech Companies 2024” list. Aclarity uses electrochemistry to break down PFAS (forever chemicals).

Aaron Birt, MS, PhD ’17, and Sean Kelly, are founders of Solvus Global, which was named the 2024 Small Manufacturer of the Year. The organization is “a technology solution provider for materials and manufacturing, specializing in the areas of additive manufacturing, machine learning, and sustainable materials processing,” according to the announcement. “It’s an honor to be recognized as Small Manufacturer of the Year. Growing up in the area, it has been so exciting to see the resurgence of manufacturing in the region and we’re grateful for the support we’ve had from leaders in the region to have the opportunity to be part of that growth,” Kelly said in a statement to Boston 25 News.

Joshua Croke was featured in an article by MassLive for their LGBTQ+ community advocacy work. They started a podcast this year titled “Queer for Cities” that interviews members of the LGBTQ+ community and explores “queer life and influence in Massachusetts,” according to the article. “I started doing podcasts years ago when the medium was more emergent,” they said. “I just really loved the format of audio as a way to tell stories, share ideas, and talk about issues. This is the main driver of Queer For Cities—unearthing the stories of LGTBQ+ people in our fight for space and rights to exist authentically as ourselves everywhere.” They also founded Love Your Labels in 2019, a nonprofit aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ youth through art and fashion design. They believe that cities and towns should do more to support and empower members of the LGBTQ+ community. “This is a mission that goes beyond Worcester,” they said. “We’re imagining inclusive ways of living alongside each other. A way that values and centers the individual, communal, and cultural needs for everyone.”

Bansari Kamdar was “named Europe, Middle East, and Africa editor for the Reuters Global Markets Forum,” according to a company announcement. She has written for several prominent publications, including The Diplomat, The Boston Globe, The Conversation, and Huffington Post and has worked in research and communications.

Nick Bradford writes, “I recently co-founded an AI startup, Ellipsis, which raised funding from Y Combinator (we just finished participating in their W24 batch). Other alumni who work in software engineering can use our AI developer tool for automated code reviews and bug fixes.”

Emma Burkhardt was featured in an article by the Sentinel & Enterprise for her work with those who have lost limbs, particularly children in Kenya. Her current master’s program at the University of Hartford focuses on prosthetics and orthotics. “After the Boston Marathon bombing happened, I began following the stories of the victims that had limb loss from the event,” she told the publication. “The more I researched the profession, the more I saw myself becoming a clinician someday so I could help others.” Emma was chosen as one of two University of Hartford students to travel to Kenya to work with CURE International Hospital’s Limb Kind Foundation, an organization that helps Kenyan children who need protheses.