AROUND THE BLOCH
Alumni Briefs and Class Notes
Peter Monett (BBA ’66) retired from Fine Furs Exclusively in Columbus, Ohio.
John Fraze (BBA ’70, J.D. ’71) retired from active practice at the Social Security Administration where he served as regional chief judge, supervising nine offices across four states.
Patrick Geschwind (MPA ’73) serves as owner and senior consultant for his own company, Patrick Geschwind & Associates in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
The Hon. Hugh H. Ryan (B.S. ’74, Admin of Justice ’75, MPA ’78) retired from the bench in 2024. Ryan is an instructor for the police academy at Metropolitan Community College teaching constitutional law and law updates to in-service officers.
Ted Floyd (BBA ’76) celebrated 11 years of retirement from Keystone Automotive Operations in Kansas City, Missouri in 2024.
Barbara Jolly (BSPS ’76, MPA ’84) retired from academia in 2021 and now writes professionally for her own company, Lifelong Learning, LLC. Jolly is also authoring a series of children’s books.
Roxanne “Roxie” Jerde (MBA ’83) is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Florida. She plans to retire later this year after leading the foundation for 14 years, more than doubling its assets, expanding fundraisers and providing millions of dollars in support for Florida nonprofits.
Kathy Rolfe (MBA ’88) is owner of Rolfe Bridge Services, LLC. After making the decision to retire from a local electronics manufacturer in 2006, Rolfe shifted focus to her love for the game of bridge. She is now full-time self-employed teaching new players and overseeing games in the Kansas City area.
Nancy Tillmon (BBA ’90) retired with 38 years of federal service from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation where she served as a senior consumer affairs specialist-Consumer Response Unit.
Diane Bowman (BSA ’92) started a new job as a controller for City Rent A Truck in Kansas City, Missouri.
Michael VanBuskirk (BBA ’92) has been named vice chairman, principal of Newmark Zimmer, a full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. VanBuskirk remains involved with the Bloch School on the advisory board for the Lewis White Real Estate Center.
Debora Bass (MBA ’93) joined the Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City in 2022 as chief development officer. In this role, she helped JFS celebrate its 120th anniversary in 2024, coordinating special events and fundraising.
Jason Roberts (BBA ’95) was promoted to lead creative designer at Secured Capital Corporation in Los Angeles, California.
Jacquelyn Eidson (BSA ’97) was recently awarded a prestigious three-year tenure on the Fulbright Specialist roster by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and World Learning. In this role, she will travel abroad, meeting with international colleagues to share and gain knowledge and foster relationships across borders.
Troy Nash (J.D. ’97, M.A. economics ’05, M.A. political science ’11, MBA ’13) graduated in Dec. 2024 with his Master of Public Health degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Alongside his daughter, Arielle, he has co-founded Agi Affinity, a 100% minority-operated tech company, which seeks to democratize the use of artificial intelligence in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities across the U.S.
He is also CEO of his own company, an affordable housing developer and real estate advisory firm called The Nash Group.
Elisa Williams (BSA ’99) is finance director for the city of Raymore, Missouri. Under her leadership, the city was recently awarded both the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. She was also recently named treasurer for the Missouri GFOA Western Chapter.recently joined the Department of Corrections as a litigation attorney. He focuses on legal matters involving civil rights claims and prisoners' rights.
Jwana Adebiyi (BBA ’00) is president of Community Outreach Partners for Empowerment, taking the place of her late father, Pastor Cedric L. Smith. The group celebrates 15 years of service to the Kansas City community in 2025.
Doug Fredrick (BBA ’00, J.D. ’03) recently received his Master of Military Studies with emphasis in joint warfare from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He has served as major in the United States Air Force Reserves since 2021 and currently practices law from his own law office in Springfield, Missouri.
Bastian Mueller (MBA ’04) is co-owner and chairman of WM SE in Norway, developing and producing e-fuels, C02 neutral fuels for future combustion engines.
Adrienne Foster (MPA ’05) is president and CEO of her own firm, Foster Consulting, which helps small businesses identify their strengths, weaknesses and solutions for growth. In recent years, she has helped hundreds of businesses navigate the Payment Protection Program, Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and more as businesses navigate challenges of the COVID era.
Kerry McCane (MBA ’05) is president of The Blue Collar Recruiter in Kansas City, Missouri, which opened in April 2024.
Destiny Bounds (BBA ’06) recently opened her own law firm and consulting business, Bounds Law LLC, which supports Kansas City area small businesses with everything from formation to contracts, negotiations, trademarks and more.
Lisa Gioia (MPA ’07) has retired after serving 34 years as a self-employed CPA assisting non-profit organizations in Philadelphia and Kansas City. She has also retired from teaching Nonprofit Financial Leadership classes at the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership.
She received an Ingram’s Local Heroes Award in 2022, a Marquis Who’s Who Distinguished Worldwide Humanitarian Award in 2023 and her picture was published in the Wall Street Journal in 2024.
Audra Kosinski (MBA ’07) started a new position as a risk management specialist at Axcet HR Solutions.
Laura Boswell (BBA ’08, MBA ’13) has been promoted to vice president of operations at Playabilities Pediatric Therapy Clinic in Leawood and Prairie Village, Kansas. Playabilities offers occupational, physical and speech therapy for children with various neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Anastasia Stromgren (B.A., sociology ’08, MBA ’11) celebrated eight years in Global Supply Chain management for Starbucks Coffee Company in April 2024. Stromgren currently serves the company as a global logistics manager.
Alissa Workman (B.A., political science ’08, MPA ’11) works for the City of Overland Park, Kansas. She, along with fellow alumna Brenna Duffy (MPA ’15) have been conducting work for Overland Park’s Neighborhood Services section. Together, they have launched a Leadership Summit for neighborhood and HOA volunteers and presented before the Neighborhoods USA Conference in May 2024. At the same conference, their Neighborhood Cleanup Program received the 2nd place award for Best Neighborhood Program.
Casey Cline (MBA ’09, J.D. ’09) has launched a career as an author. With a focus on historical romance, Cline has produced one novella and anticipates the release of her first full novel “The Wayfaring Widow” in September 2025.
Caleb Egli (BSA ’09, MSA ’23) was recently promoted to managing director at the Washington National Tax Office for Crowe LLP.
Sara Kohm (BBA ’10) started a new position as IT project manager at Lathrop GPM.
Troy Norris (MBA ’11) is co-owner of Level One Game Shop in Kansas City, Missouri and recently began a new position as a senior front-end developer for internal products with Dimensional Innovations in Overland Park, Kansas.
Terrance Ward (Ph.D. ’12) was honored with the 2023 Hugh J. Zimmer Award for Excellence in Urban Education by the UMKC School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences. He currently serves as adjunct professor at The Rabbit hOle in North Kansas City, Missouri.
Benoit Blondeau (MBA ’13) had his article “A Few Things to Consider While We Work on the Eradication of Cancer” published by the Commission on Cancer.
Christina Avery (MSA ’14) is owner and CEO of Gram’s Five and Dime Cannabis Co. She and her husband recently relocated to central Maine where they’ve partnered with family for the venture. The company has been named Dispensary of the Year two years running by the Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine.
Douglas Levasseur (MBA ’14) was promoted to director of wealth planning digital strategy at BMO Bank at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
Katherine Patterson-Paronto (MPA ’14) has been hired as the first-ever director of InspireU Children’s Discovery Center in St. Joseph, Missouri.
John Moore (BBA ’16, MBA ’24 ) completed his MBA at UMKC in 2024 and started a position as chief revenue officer at SG Medical out of Tustin, California.
Pedro de Oliveira (Ph.D. CIPHD ’17) was published by textbook company Springer, providing a chapter for the book Entrepreneurship in South America, in which he shares his knowledge of entrepreneurship in Brazil.
Logan McNear (MBA ’17) is in a position supporting The Hershey Company’s global supply chain network by partnering with each of the company’s manufacturing facilities to drive performance results.
Ghulam Nabi Kazi (MPA ’17) returned to Pakistan following graduation, to join the non-profit Dopasi Foundation as a senior advisor of research and development. Recently, Nabi Kazi has been working as editor-in-chief of the Public Health Action journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. They also recently held a role as joint mission team leader for UNDP to review TB control programs and aided in the development of a National Strategic Plan in Sudan.
Daniel Brichler (MBA ’18) has been promoted to head of data at LeafLink in New York, New York. In this position, Brichler oversees teams including data engineering, analytics engineering, insights and data science.
Adrianne DeWeese (MPA ’18) started her Ed.D. in Innovate Leadership in Higher Education at the University of Saint Mary. She also a new role as assistant director of philanthropy at Rockhurst High School where she oversees the school’s annual fund, the Eyrie Fund, to ensure sustainable funding for tuition assistance and other programs.
Taylor Rippe (BBA ’19) has joined the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Centurion’s program and is in the Pinnacle Class of 2025.
Koal Artzer (MSA ’20) started a new CPA firm, Artzer Accounting and Advisory in Goodland, Kansas.
Austin Belt (BBA ’20, J.D. ’23) was admitted to the Missouri Bar Association in September 2023 and hired as an associate attorney at the Law Offices of Lance Loewenstein.
Jacob Boresow (BBA ’20) was promoted to human resources manager at Consultants for Children, Inc. in Lakewood, Colorado.
Davina Litt (MBA ’20) started a new role as scrum master for the Centene Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri.
James Shackelford (MPA ’20) was recently promoted to assistant dean of admissions and recruiting for the UMKC School of Medicine.
Jason Sharp (MBA ’20) was deployed to the Middle East and returned safely to the Kansas City area where he recently opened Sherri’s Cigar & Jazz Lounge in the W. 39th Street District. He has also published multiple books, including his first children’s book.
Brad Starnes (BIT ’20, MBA ’22) recently moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he has started his own business, Screaming Cow Marketing Group, which quickly scaled to six figures in the first year. Starnes currently serves as president and CEO of the company.
Lauren Aleshire (MBA ’21) is a recent graduate of the Kansas City Tomorrow Leadership Program provided through the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City.
Amelia Anne Bodde (BBA ’21) spent a year in Okinawa, Japan after graduation. Upon returning home, Bodde started a job with Booz Allen Hamilton, a defense contracting firm that specializes in people and management solutions for the United States Government.
Grace Ball (BBA ’21, MBA ’22) has been appointed young adult discipleship coordinator of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, overseeing the largest young adult ministry in the U.S.
Jason Elliott (MPA ’21) recently started a new role as executive director of development at the University of Illinois-Chicago, College of Engineering.
Adrian Jordan (BBA ’21) has started their own online business, The Blu Flamingo Boutique, selling women’s clothing and accessories.
Jamie Spangler (MBA ’21) completed a Certificate in Agile Project Management from Johnson County Community College
Sarah Napolitano (MBA ’22) started a new position as assistant human resources business partner for Terracon Consultants, Inc. in Olathe, Kansas.
Michael Bennett (MSF ’23) started working as an investment operations analyst at FCI Advisors in Overland Park, Kansas.
Haley Broockerd (BBA ’23) has been pursuing her passions in the events industry, working as an event manager and more at historic venues in Kansas City. She has also recently worked as assistant wedding coordinator, helping lucky couples in the Kansas City area tie the knot.
James Dugdale (MSRE ’23) started a new position as a full-time faculty member in the Finance Deptartment of the Wilson School of Business at the University of Northern Iowa where he will teach courses in finance and real estate.
Ted Rienhardt (BBA ’23) has relocated to New Jersey and began work for Saint Paul’s Outreach where he aids the group’s housing and outreach programs.
Alyson Boldt (BBA ’24) has started a new job as a program coordinator at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management.
Mahailet Mamo (BBA ’24) started a Rotational Financial Analyst program at H&R Block and has returned to UMKC in pursuit of a Master of Business Administration.
Yuki Ochi (MSA ’24) has taken a position as a tax associate at PwC US Tax LLP in Los Angeles, California.
Maggie Schoemehl (BBA ’24) recently started a position as training manager for the Hillstone Restaurant Group, working at the South Beverly Grill in Beverly Hills, California.