Coralville, IA, is a senior engineer with KJWW Engineering Consultants, Rock Island, IL. Lori Voit Fenwick, Woodbury, MN, is manager of compensation with Securian Financial Group. Julee Norberg Hitz, Marshfield, WI, is an information system trainer at Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, WI. Molly Zrust Perry, Buffalo, MN, is director of academics at All Star Tutoring. Dawn Lutjen Hultgren, Barnum, MN, is working with infants at Little B’s. Michael Hansen, Columbus, OH, is a software developer at Nationwide. Sue Koch Myers, Colorado Springs, CO, is employed by RE/MAX Real Estate Group. Steve McCarthey, Lino Lakes, MN, is a process scientist II with Diasorin. Jamin Johnson is the special projects coordinator and program manager at WCI and The Resource Center Program (TRCP) NOTE TO ALL CLASS OF ’88 FOLKS: PLEASE, in addition to your career update, etc., include “fun stuff” (i.e., what your kids are
Boman publishes film school exposé
doing lately, what YOU are doing lately in your personal life, and so forth!!). I want to make this Quarterly update more than just “work.” We all have lives that we’d like to share, and as the new communication officer for the next five years, I would love to brag you all up!! Go for it! Thanks everyone! n Communication Chair: Kaari Olson Frondal (1988classofficers@gustavus.edu) Hello, Class of 1990! We have some news to share about a few of our fellow classmates: Diana Jensen Cramer is in her third year of law school at Gonzaga University, in Spokane, WA. You’re in the home stretch Diana—congratulations! Diana also is interning at the Spokane County Public Defender’s Office. Brian Ebent, Waconia, MN, recently took a new position as Operations Manager for Colony Specialty Insurance Company. Kevin Hanson, Colby, WI,
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In 2004, Steve Boman ’87 was an average Midwestern family man battling some all-toocommon setbacks—supporting his wife’s cancer recovery, grieving the loss of his sister (Annette ’88), and shouldering the burden of recent unemployment. Boman’s life was fairly typical for a father of three in his late 30s, except for one thing: he was about to enroll at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, the most famous and prestigious film school in America. Boman would hit a few more road bumps before completing his master’s degree in film production, but he would also accomplish the extraordinary. While still in school, he sold and produced a prime-time television series. Boman shares his unique tale in a new comic and candid memoir, and the title tells it all—Film School: The True Story of a Midwestern Family Man Who Went to the World’s Most Famous Film School, Fell Flat on His Face, Had a Stroke, and Sold a Television Series to CBS. “[This book is] a perfect companion for anyone who wants to know what it’s like to have a second chance at a new career, or who dreams of selling a television show to a major network, or who wants to know what it’s like to navigate Hollywood as an outsider,” Boman says. Looking for a fresh start after losing his reporting job, Boman applied to USC’s film school. Struggling through his first semester of demanding film shoots, cutting criticism from his professors, and aggressive classmates, Boman decided to return to his family and home in Minnesota. Buoyed by his wife’s encouragement, Boman reapplied to USC only to suffer a stroke on the first day of class. Boman returned to classes determined to make the most of his time at USC by taking chances to master the grueling film production program. The ultimate story of challenge and triumph, Boman became the Golden Boy on campus—dazzling his professors with strong films and compelling script ideas. Asked to pitch a new television series idea for a class assignment, Boman caught the attention of a bigwig Hollywood executive and ultimately sold his show idea to the CBS television network. Three Rivers, a medical drama based on the year Boman spent at the University of Chicago as a transplant coordinator, was one of only a handful of new series ordered that season and ran for 13 episodes in the fall of 2010. In Film School, Boman recalls the highs and lows of his time in the Hollywood hills, comically describes his fellow classmates from the quintessential hipster crowd to the academic critical film students, and gives an inside look at what film school and the film and television industries are really like. Boman has worked as a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Chicago Daily Southtown. He has written stories for Chicago magazine, Salon.com, Advertising Age, and others. In 2009, he graduated with an M.F.A. in film production from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. He and his wife, Julie (Schwantes ’87) reside in Edina, MN, with their three daughters.
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THE GUSTAVUS QUARTERLY
also started a new position, and is now employed at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home. Krista Gross Jass was appointed as a district court judge in Minnesota’s Fifth Judicial District (Blue Earth County, Mankato). Krista’s father, Bruce Gross ’68, serves as district court judge in Cottonwood County, and administered the oath to Krista—a proud moment! They are the only father-daughter duo serving as Minnesota judges at the same time. Prior to her appointment, Krista served her entire legal career in the Blue Earth County Public Defender’s office, most recently as Chief Public Defender from 2007–2010. Christopher Manlove, Shorewood, MN, is a partner at MMX Management LLC. MMX launched in 2010, and has offices in New York and Minnesota. MMX is a hedge fund placement agent and outsourced marketer for best-in-class hedge funds and private equity and alternative investment managers. Nicole Menz, Vero Beach, FL, is a partner in the law firm Menz & Battista. Nicole practices in the area of criminal law. That’s it for now! As always, send us your news—family related, career related, or anything else you’d like to share. n Communication Chair: Anne Miller (1990classofficers@gustavus.edu)
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0th Anniversary: 2 October 12–14, 2012
Alumni from the Class of 1992: We are still searching for classmates to fill class president, vice president/reunion chair, annual fund chair, and student recruitment chair. Please contact Annie (aemarshall@comcast.net) or the Alumni Office with your enthusiastic interest! Nathan Blair and wife Laura welcomed baby boy Simon on May 24, 2010. Congratulations! Suzanne Heller Reyburn performed in the area premiere of the Off-Broadway musical bare, which ran in downtown Minneapolis from March 18 through April 3, 2011. Suzanne played Claire in the production. She is active in the Twin Cities as a performer, music director, and voice instructor. Jennifer Lewison Schultz is employed by Salem Lutheran Church. Amit Shah is a senior research scientist at Genomatica. Melissa Mack Thompson is employed by Vernon Memorial Hospital. n President and Communication Chair: Annie Marshall (1992classofficers@gustavus.edu) The Class of ’95 has been busy. David Lahti is employed by the Department of Treasury as a technical consultant. Perhaps David has direct access to the Secretary of Treasury. Mark Nechanicky was honored to be one of the 10 finalists for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year in May. He is a fourth-grade teacher at Lakeview Elementary in Albert Lea and was awarded the Albert Lea Teacher of the Year award in 2010. What an accomplishment and contribution he is making to the education of our children. We are lucky to have teachers like Mark! Lots of future Gusties being born in our class: Erin Cunningham Dueber has her hands full with the birth of her second daughter, Daphne Laurel, on May 29. Congratulations! Nathan Mannix, who is living in Perth,
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