NOW?

From the arts to finance or education to engineering, ESD alumni can be found in nearly every field around the globe. Featured here are seven, one who has returned to the nest, three in the arts, and three real estate professionals.

Jack Neuhoff ’17

Associate Engineer, Oncor Electric Delivery

What makes your job exciting? One of my favorite parts of my job is that I’m not sitting behind a desk every day. While I do spend most of my time in my office, I frequently get to travel and see the areas I’m designing transmission lines for in person. I’ve also been able to go to several other states to inspect some of the factories we source our materials from.

What are the biggest opportunities in your industry at the moment? With all of the concern about the electric grid, electric utilities are taking on a ton of projects to add redundancy to existing systems. What this means for me is that there are a lot of new projects going on in order to make sure we can handle extreme weather and keep the lights on.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? ESD was extremely influential in helping shape who I am today. I was a lifer at ESD, and growing up there is where I learned to manage multiple projects at once and face challenges head-on instead of running from them. ESD also played a huge role in how I wound up in my current role today because I was reaching out to the ESD network when I got the opportunity to interview at Oncor.

COMMON THREAD: STEM

Jory Shive ’13 Intern Physician, Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center Dallas

What are the biggest opportunities in your industry at the A huge area of opportunity is preventive medicine. We currently have a very reactive system – we diagnose a patient, and we start a medication. If we could prevent patients from developing disease in the first place, we would improve quality of life and decrease healthcare utilization. Treatment options out there are truly incredible, but I’d love to see that same research and attention given to preventive medicine.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? I knew I wanted to be a doctor before I came to ESD my freshman year. Biology with Mr. Auge only furthered my interest, and I am forever grateful for how well he prepared me for college and medical school. Dona Hotz also primed me to study abroad in college and speak in near-fluent Spanish with my patients. Though my dad founded the ESD WORX Internship Program the year I graduated, I was still able to work with founding WORX Partner Dr. Megan Wood in her office and see firsthand what it is like to be an exceptional physician. Though I did not follow her into surgery (incredible to witness but certainly not for me), I continued to refer back to that experience during college to keep me motivated through particularly tough classes (such as organic chemistry). The ESD faculty and community created such a supportive learning environment, and the leadership opportunities and challenging coursework instilled in me the work ethic and confidence needed to make my way through undergraduate studies and medical school. I must also mention that the friendships I formed at ESD are, to this day, some of my very closest.

Words of wisdom: what do you think are the secrets to being successful in your profession? To be successful in medicine, commit to being a lifelong learner. There is no “I’ve made it” knowledge endpoint, and many experienced physicians still say “I don’t know” on a regular basis. Not having an answer serves as an impetus for further study. Above all else, listen. Listen to patients, their families, and your colleagues. You could have all the knowledge in the world, but it is of little value if your patients don’t trust you or feel heard. Your treatment plan is only as strong as your communication with your patient.

Daniel Hull

’13

Engineering Manager, Baebies

What makes your job exciting? My job is to manage a team that helps make sure our products meet the needs of our customers, both in the present and in the future. I love the opportunity to make a difference. A sampling of what I do is flying to our hospital/lab customers, providing requirements for future products, and managing a team of service and support engineers.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? Can I say deeply? It’s hard to overstate the foundational beliefs in loving your neighbor and that every child is significant because of being made in the image of God. My company’s mission statement is “Everyone deserves a healthy start.” There’s definitely some overlap there. On a more practical level, my peers ahead of me at ESD chose a similar major, and I loved Mr. Auge’s biology class and Mr. Rooney’s chemistry class. All pointed me in the right direction.

Words of wisdom: what do you think are the secrets to being successful in your profession? Whether you’re managing people, talking to vendors, or interacting with customers, try to put yourself in their shoes. It’s hard to solve someone’s problem if you don’t know them or empathize with them.

COMMON THREAD: STEM

Allison Kramer Ratner ’09

Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Vernon & Waldrep OB-Gyn Associates (The founder is Kathryn Waldrep whose son, Kyle, also went to ESD. She was one of the first doctors that I shadowed while I was in high school.)

What are the biggest opportunities in your industry at the moment? Robotics and minimally invasive surgery. We can now take out uteri using only small laparoscopic port sites that we previously would have had to remove with large incisions. Some patients can even return home the same day after a surgery that previously would have kept them hospitalized for at least two nights. This technology has been groundbreaking, especially in the field of gyn-oncology where they use fluorescent dye and the improved visualization and mobility of the robot to find the lymph nodes closest to the organ of interest and remove them.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? Both my husband and I always say that ESD gave us the foundation to be successful in any career that we wanted. Namely, we learned to love the pursuit of knowledge, how to be comfortable presenting ourselves in a professional environment, and finally, how to stay well rounded.

Words of wisdom: what do you think are the secrets to being successful in your profession? Working hard, finding a mentor, and not always taking the most straightforward path toward one’s desired outcome. I didn’t do this, but I have so many happy colleagues in the medical field who pursued other interests prior to going to medical school, and these experiences enabled them to have different perspectives or insights as physicians.

Laken Litman Prosperi ’07 Reporter, Fox Sports

What makes your job exciting? The very nature of it! I covered Lionel Messi versus Kylian Mbappé in the World Cup final and, less than two weeks later, covered the College Football Playoff semifinal between Georgia and Ohio State. I saw the U.S. women’s hockey team beat Canada in a penalty shoot-out to win a gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. I’ve interviewed Megan Rapinoe, Kevin Durant, Nick Saban, and Breanna Stewart. I’ve been fortunate to travel around the world for work and go to places I never dreamed of going, like South Korea and Qatar. This summer, I’ll be going to New Zealand and

Australia for the Women’s World Cup.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? I discovered my passion for sports writing at ESD, specifically in Mr. Randall’s class my junior year. I was lucky enough to be in his advisory, have him for junior year English, and then again for short stories class as a senior. He helped me develop my voice and writing style that I have only continued to hone and craft. I always loved sports and knew I wanted my career to have something to do with them, but it wasn’t until Mr. Randall taught me how to write at ESD that I knew I could have a career doing what I love.

Words of wisdom: what do you think are the secrets to being successful in your profession? Be curious and ask a lot of questions. Don’t take no for an answer. Apply for the jobs you want, even if you might not be the most qualified candidate. Use your failure to fuel your future success. And always bring snacks to the press box (the food is never that great).

COMMON THREAD: SPORTS

Drew Moor ’02 Major League Soccer Player, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Toronto FC

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? ESD taught me many things: the value of my faith and family, developing relationships, the importance of time management, and working hard even when nobody is looking. I feel like these are all values that I used during my soccer career and have and will continue to use in my everyday life.

What setbacks from your time in sports later gave you an advantage? Sports are a microcosm for life. There are many challenges along the way: losing championship games, having long-term injuries, being traded, and getting benched. However, every day is an opportunity to go out and prove to myself and my team that I will do everything I can to perform to the best of my abilities no matter the situation.

Alumni, please keep us posted on where you are; we hope to highlight more of you in coming editions.

Words of wisdom: what do you think are the secrets to being successful in your profession? The advice I always give to young players just starting their professional careers is to embrace every single day: the good days, the bad days, and every day in between. Each day is an opportunity to make yourself better both on and off the field, so embrace ALL of them.

What makes your job exciting? The sports industry is constantly evolving. Each year, we have a new group of athletes entering the MLB and NFL draft with the hopes of making their athletic dreams a reality. Our job as an agency is to ensure they are prepared on and off the field to maximize their potential. At Ballengee Group, our motto is “Make It Matter.” Whether negotiating contracts or helping establish a foundation for causes close to athletes’ hearts, we want each athlete to feel as though they are making a difference in their community. Those events and foundations have let me see into the personal lives of our athletes and what their passions are away from the field. It’s important to remember that these highly trained athletes have unique interests that, in many cases, have nothing to do with their chosen profession.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? Part of the original reason I moved to ESD in the seventh grade was to have the chance to get involved in athletics at an interscholastic level. The coaches, teachers, and classmates I had throughout my years played a crucial role in developing the person that I am today. Each pushed me in different ways to lay the foundation to become successful in my current position.

Words of wisdom: what do you think are the secrets to being successful in your profession? There are two pieces of advice I would give to those looking at the sports industry. The most important would be to create and maintain a network of contacts. Some of the connections I made at ESD eventually led to my current job. In addition, I advise everyone with an interest to be open to new and different opportunities. You never know what can happen unless you keep an open mind to the opportunities that are presented to you.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? Being at ESD, you get your first glimpse into the competitive nature of the world both on the field and in the classroom. Being around a competitive atmosphere academically pushed me to be better in the classroom, and in turn, those traits like hard work and communication were what I was able to translate to the field.

What setbacks from your time in sports later gave you an advantage? In sports, you’re gonna beat people, but you’re also gonna get beat sometimes. In general, what I am always seamlessly able to translate from sports to the real world is that failure is inevitable. I can’t count on my hands the number of times I lost, or I failed, or my job didn’t get done on the field. And when that happens, it’s hard, but it really is back to the drawing board. You’ll get another shot at it, and it’s about what you’ve been able to learn and your attitude after failure. So in life, when things don’t go right (all the time), I’m just like, hey, it’s all good. How can we be better next time?

Words of wisdom: what do you think are the secrets to being successful in your profession? I think the keys to being successful are simple. First, everyone should live to make the world a better place. The older I get, the more I realize that it isn’t simply about me; it’s about us. Second, open your doors and open your lives up to other people who are different from you. The broader your perspective, the more places you’ll fit in, the more you’ll allow yourself to learn, and the more you’ll learn to appreciate where it is that you come from.

COMMON THREAD: SPORTS

Social Media Manager, The Dallas Mavericks

What makes your job exciting? What makes my job exciting is the opportunity to tell stories about the Dallas Mavericks as a team and an organization through social media. Each day, there is a new story to tell visually through video, photo, and graphics, to name a few, and no day is ever the same. Being able to humanize our players and show fans what they don’t get to see on a daily basis is one of my favorite things about my job.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? ESD played a huge role in who I am and my career path. For one, my closest friends are from ESD, even 12 years after graduating. My work ethic, success in college, and passion in my past and current jobs stem from my experience at ESD as well. Being challenged as a student and being pushed to be my best self at school taught me to strive for what I really wanted to do with my path and career. I love being involved at ESD to this day because of what I gained from going there as well from my current participation in the Alumni Board and in coaching cheerleading.

Words of wisdom: what do you think are the secrets to being successful in your profession? Always be open to learning. In my field of work, things change every day, and we constantly have to adapt. I am always trying to learn new skills, enhance existing ones, and experiment with different ways of doing things when it comes to social media and content. It has opened up so many opportunities and played a huge role in my success.

Jack Betts ’19

Senior Wide Receiver, Amherst Mammoths College Football Team, Founder of The Make Your Own Legacy Academy

What makes your job exciting? What makes my position especially exciting is the fact that I’m running a business while I’m still in school. Running a business while being a studentathlete has taught me several important skills – especially time management. I also get to work and connect with athletes from all over the country – D1 to D3 – who might become business partners sometime down the line! By utilizing the platform I have today, I’ve also been able to forge relationships with fellow entrepreneurs both inside and outside the sports industry, thereby enabling me to increase my professional presence.

What setbacks from your time in sports later gave you an advantage? Being an athlete, you’re always going to face adversity at some point in your career. In my athletic career, I’ve consistently played on teams that were upperclassman dominated, which didn’t allow me to get much playing time. I’ve always been a firm believer that good things come to those who wait, and that’s been my philosophy, especially in my athletic career. Having patience is a skill that is applicable not only in sports but also in life. But equally as important is seizing the opportunity when it is presented to you. It’s the reason why I am playing collegiate athletics today, and it is the reason why I have been able to find success off the field as well.

How did ESD play a role in shaping who you are today and your chosen career path? ESD played a role in shaping who I am today by helping me discover my passions. Being an English major, taking classes that especially aligned with this interest aided my discovery of my passion for writing. By taking classes such as Mrs. Livingston’s Entrepreneurship Class, I discovered a gravitation toward being my own employer and creating work for myself. Being part of the community that ESD fosters was also very beneficial in my upbringing. As a lifer, I created several meaningful friendships that have extended far beyond my time at ESD, and I am forever grateful for them.

Weddings

On 6/11/2022, Kathryn Anderson, Class of 2013, married Hunter Williams in Santa Barbara, California.

On 5/7/2022, Nick Boulle, Class of 2007, married Allison Bereswill in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

On 4/30/2022, Camie Carlock, Class of 2009, married Matthew McKee in Hunt, Texas.

On 12/31/2022, Shelby Conine, Class of 2014, married Captain Colin Vestal in Austin, Texas.

On 8/20/2022, Lacy Cowden, Class of 2009, married Zach Perry in North Carolina.

On 9/3/2022, Landen Kerr, Class of 2010, married Romain Blouquit in Paris, France.

On 2/26/2022, Laken Litman, Class of 2007, married Alex Prosperi in Dallas, Texas.

On 8/20/2022, Caroline Low, Class of 2011, married Trafford Lamar Jr. in Dallas, Texas.

On 2/19/2022, Larson Lynn, Class of 2015, married Nolan Pickens ’13 in Dallas, Texas.

On 10/29/2022, Arzu Molubhoy, Class of 2008, married Farouk Jamal in Dallas, Texas.

On 11/19/2022, Janette Rojas, Class of 2012, married Tomas Eduardo Becerra in Dallas, Texas.

On 10/22/2022, Ellie Skochdopole, Class of 2011, married William Wolfe in New York, New York.

On 4/16/2022, Kimberlee Staffieri, Class of 2011, married Joe Sorce in Jekyll Island, Georgia.

On 4/22/2022, Austin Patry, Class of 2013, married Colby Plott in Orlando, Florida.

On 4/23/2022, Jeff Patton, Class of 2014, married Sally Raymond in Dallas, Texas.

On 12/10/2022, Hunter Crow, Class of 2012, married Cameron Cleveland in Dallas, Texas.

On 11/12/2022, Kyle Noonan, Class of 2014, married Sarah Ellis in Dallas, Texas.

Births

On 3/10/2022, Monica Mehra Armstrong, Class of 2003, and Adam Armstrong welcomed Axel Armstrong.

On 11/26/2022, Oliver BarbierMueller, Class of 2006, and Katelyn Barbier-Mueller welcomed Ann Bennett Barbier-Mueller.

On 8/17/2022, Anna Williams Brown, Class of 2011, and Cary Brown welcomed Noah Brown.

On 5/20/2022, Natalie Chavez, Class of 2010, and Chris Michael welcomed Charlie Chavez-Micheal.

On 8/17/2022, Marianne Miller Davidovich, Class of 2005, and Mark Davidovich welcomed Mary “Mimi” Davidovich.

On 8/25/2022, Jessica Jones Donnell, Class of 2011, and Cameron Donnell welcomed Eugenia “Gigi” Donnell.

On 5/15/2022, Davis Felder, Class of 2006, and Laura Felder welcomed William Felder.

On 8/29/2022, Taylor Frank, Class of 2007, and Amberly Frank welcomed Beckham Frank.

On 5/7/2021, Parker Ackerman Gutjahr, Class of 2012, and Joshua Gutjahr welcomed Scarlett Gutjahr.

On 8/13/2022, Valerie Bangs Hayes, Class of 2008, and Bryan Hayes welcomed Harrison Hayes.

On 11/15/2022, Matthew Marshall, Class of 2005, and Colleen Marshall welcomed Lucy Marshall.

On 8/8/2022, Catherine Cannata McNabb, Class of 2012, welcomed Jack McNabb.

On 6/8/2022, Christina Berg Mealey, Class of 2008, and Matthew Mealey welcomed Jackson Mealey.

On 12/2/2022, Bradley Agather Means, Class of 2005, and Coley Means welcomed Hunter Means.

On 12/1/2022, Ross Mulford, Class of 2008, and Tori Mulford welcomed Ross Mulford.

On 6/29/2022, Alexa Wisz Pass, Class of 2008, and David Pass welcomed Oliver Pass.

On 11/11/2022, Amanda Whitlock Piper, Class of 2005, and Brian Piper welcomed Jackson Piper.

On 8/15/2022, Caroline Khoury Sabeti, Class of 2009, and Michael Sabeti welcomed Sebastian Sabeti.

On 3/8/2022, Ahnie Gampper Sheehy, Class of 2009, and Topper Sheehy welcomed Holland Sheehy.

On 11/8/2022, Jack Vander Linden, Class of 2010, and Kayla Vander Linden welcomed William Vander Linden and J. Vander Linden.

On 6/4/2022, Vanessa Varela Viloria, Class of 2013, and Amable Viloria welcomed Valentina Viloria.

Izzy Martin ’28, seventh-grade friend, died on July 29, 2022, after valiantly battling cancer for the past two years. She was named Readers’ Choice 2021 Person of the Year by People Newspapers. One of Izzy’s nominators said, “She not only maintained a positive attitude but also spent countless hours helping the community.” Her efforts included donating hundreds of care packages to Austin Street Center, raising significant funds for pediatric cancer research, and serving as an inaugural member of United Way’s “Team United.” Many community members joined “Team Izzy”; in her passing, may we continue to honor her legacy of courage and leadership in service to others.

Charlyn Aikman

John A. Alexander

James Michael Allen

Helen L. Allison

Marion Baker

Rhodes Semmes Baker

Bobbie Bass

William M. Bass

Lucy Belknap

Ralph A. Belknap

Frederick Hagaman Benners

Katharine Beutel

Jane R. Bowles

William Britain

John R. Castle

Eric Chancellor

Carolyn Clark

Donald R. Cochran

Olive Gray Coe

Frances S. Coleman

Jack Rue Coleman

W. Deryl Comer

Pamela Cothard

Lois Couch

Gary L. Cowger

John Cranfill

Morrow Cummings

Steven A. Davis

David Earl Deason

David Dinsdale

Jean L. Duffy

Stanley Edwards

Nohelia Eells

Carter Flynt Emmons ’11

Donald F. Finn

Frances Fitts

Jacqueline Elaine Fojtasek

Russell Steven Fojtasek

Lois F. Folse-Alford

Jerome McNair Fullinwider

Rutila Garduno

William Kernan Gayden

John George Angelo Joseph Giorlando

Laurice Rountree Goodrich

Vaughn E. Groom

Malcolm J. Gudis

Fred Lee Hackney

Isabell Haggar

Ellen Helbing

Donald Ray Herring

John G. Himelfarb

David Hodges

Blaise Warren Jones

Marilyn Koontz

William M. Lamont

Maxine Langston

Jean W. Lattimore

Elbert Hampton Lewis

Ann Madans

Ann Royall Maffitt

Richard Marcus

Isabelle Grace Martin ’28

Max McNabb

Ed C. Miller

Ellen R. Miller

Sadie Montagna

Mark Hector Narvaez ’17

Henry Neuhoff

Dennis Noteboom, M.D.

Amy L. Osler

Margaret Elizabeth Perot

Ruth Prats

Rustan Rhone

Billie Leigh Rippey

Aidan Patrick Salmon

Randall Jack Shafer

David Patterson Smith

Shawn Smith

Robert Smythe

Darlene Hunsaker Spellings

Linda B. Steelman

Joseph Stout

Edie Tomsyck

Lee Daniel Vendig

Torie Ann Walker

Steve Westmoreland

Beverly Wilson

James R. Wood

Cayla Woodruff

Georgia Zaemes ’88

Barbara Zale

Mal Gudis served on the ESD Board of Directors from 1991 to 2012, and he held the position of Chancellor for 10 years. When Mal accepted his position on the Board in 1991, Father Swann penned a letter expressing his appreciation in the following words: “You have already served our mission well as a parent, benefactor, advocate and friend…(You) in my opinion, will join the ranks of our founders who you know well.” During his time of service to ESD, Mal’s intuitive manner helped guide the Board during the school’s strong growth and development. Father Swann wrote, “The days and years have gone quickly. Your 25 years of friendship and service to ESD have seen me and this school through valleys and across mountain tops.”

ESD celebrates the lives of and acknowledges the loss of alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, alumni grandparents, faculty and staff members, past Board members, friends, and benefactors. May the memory of their lives be blessings for all who loved them. This list is taken from our records and primarily includes calendar year 2022. Please reach out to Denis Stokes to honor your loved ones in our spring 2024 issue.