The Carillon

2000s Alumni News & Notes

Fall 2024

2002

Peter Gemellaro was appointed to the staff of the Honorable Kevin Kiley in California’s 3rd Congressional District.

2003

Dr. Micheal Stratton, dean of the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and Technology, was selected by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for this year’s Becoming a Provost Academy.

Lauren Goldapper Hecht ’06 and Steven Hecht ’05 welcomed their fourth child, Alissa Rae, March 12, 2024.

2008

Christine Hmiel Schudde, executive director, Habitat for Humanity Capital District, was named an Albany Business Review 40 Under 40 honoree for 2024.

Christine Hmiel Schudde, Class of ’08

Young Do is the executive director of Hospitality House which was recognized by the Times Union as a “Top Workplace” of 2023.

Spring 2024

2000

Bain Loucks, Class of 2000

Bain Loucks, a medical malpractice and personal injury attorney, made partner at Fishkill NY-based firm Feldman, Kleidman, Collins and Sappe LLP.

2001

Emily Trievel is association vice president, Speaker Relations at Harry Walker Agency. She lives in Westchester County with husband Niyan Oladipo ’01 and their three children.

2006

Virginia Fasulo, Class of 2006

Virginia Fasulo received the Milken Educator Award. She is a science teacher at Lodi High School, Lodi, NJ Virginia holds a BS in biology and a MPH from UAlbany.

2007

Lauren Mendolera, Class of 2007

Lauren Mendolera is partner at Harter Secrest & Emery LLP in Buffalo. She has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America and was named an Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2021.

2008

Dan Mastin, Class of 2008 (left)

Dan Mastin, director of Energy Management and Commissioning for the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, was named “Energy Manager of the Year” by the NYC Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers.

2009

Crystal Beauchemin was listed among The Innovation Group’s 2024 Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40. Crystal is business manager, Sports Wagering Division, Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Fall 2023

2002

Robert Stoddard is lead tax partner for the gaming industry at KPMG, Stamford, Conn. He has spoken at several industry events, including KPMG Malta’s Gaming eSummit, SBC Barcelona, CasinoBeats, and the University of Arizona Global Symposium on Racing.

2006

Jesse Batus, UAlbany Class of 2006
Jesse Batus ’06

The Community Builders named Jesse Batus regional vice president for real estate development in New York/New Jersey. Jesse has been with TCB for 16 years.

2007

Frank Ditta, UAlbany Class of 2007
Frank Ditta ’07

Frank Ditta was promoted to director at Goulston & Storrs. He is a real estate attorney in the firm’s New York office. Frank holds a J.D. from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra.

Myles Fischer was named one of Albany Business Review’s Class of 2023 “40 Under 40” honorees.

2009

Julie Bush was named one of Albany Business Review’s Class of 2023 “40 Under 40” honorees.

A photo of UAlbany alum Ricardo Estremera in front of the Olympic rings.
Ricardo Estremera ’09

Ricardo Estremera finished 5th in the 2023 Central American & Caribbean Games. He won the 2023 CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge in May.

Kendra Jenkins Rubin was named one of Albany Business Review’s Class of 2023 “40 Under 40” honorees.

Spring 2023

2003

Nic Rangel, Esq., UAlbany classes of 2006 and 2011.
Nic Rangel, Esq., ’06, ’11

David Burch, partner at Barclay Damon, LLP, Syracuse, was among the 2022 Upstate New York Rising Stars honorees specializing in business litigation.

2005

Dan Bressler was promoted to partner at Seward & Kissel in New York, N.Y., where he is in the firm’s Investment Management practice group.

2006

Nic Rangel, Esq. was named Executive Director at the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York.

Tibisay Hernandez is diversity and inclusion manager, New York State Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management.

2008

Garrett Guttenberg cofounded Seaview Adjusting Group, an adjusting firm based in Long Beach, N.Y. The firm was featured on “The Blox,” the world’s largest live-in startup competition created by MTV’s Wes Bergman. The show can be viewed on Vimeo, the Beta Blox Facebook Page and the Beta Blox app.

Melissa Alcoba joined the Worker’s Compensation group at Goldberg Segalla in Garden City, N.J

Fall 2022

Last updated July 14, 2022.

2000

Steven Lorenzet was appointed dean of the Touro University School of Health Sciences. Dr. Lorenzet previously served as associate dean at Seton Hall University Stillman School of Business. His research has won multiple awards including the Citation of Excellence from Emerald Publishing.

A photo of Steven Lorenzet, UAlbany Class of 2000
Steven Lorenzet ’00

2001

Vanessa Gibson was elected Bronx Borough President. She is the first female and first African American to hold the position. Previously she served as a member of the New York City Council, representing the 16th district 2014-2021.

A photo of Vanessa Gibson, UAlbany Class of 2001
Vanessa Gibson ’01

2002

Fernando Luciano is founder and CEO of Day 1 Graphics US, a graphics and signage consultant company.

Manny De Los Santos is assembly member of District 72. Manny previously served 13 years as a social worker and community school director in schools across NYC. He is a proud UAlbany EOP and track and field alum, and member of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

A photo of Manny De Los Santos, UAlbany Class of 2002.
Mann De Los Santos ’02

2004

Diane (Matthews) Ryan won the masters (40-and-over) title at the 2022 Freihofers Run in Albany.

Brian Kearns was promoted to partner at UHY LLC in Albany. He leads the firm’s National Not-for-Profit and Government Practices. 

2005

Todd Zuckerwise was named assistant principal at Nassau BOCES Jerusalem Avenue Elementary School for the 2021-22 school year.

A photo of Todd Zuckerwise, UAlbany Class of 2005.
Todd Zuckerwise ’05

2007

Brent McGrady and wife Melissa welcomed a baby boy, Brogan, Nov. 11, 2021.

2008

Dennis Amore was listed among the 2021 New York Super Lawyers “Rising Stars.” Dennis is an associate in the Consumer Financial Services Litigation group in McGlinchey Stafford PLLC’s NYC office.

Spring 2022

2000

Jill (Dizeo) Guzzardo was appointed to the administration at Nassau BOCES Children’s Readiness Center (CRC) for the 2021-22 school year.

Jill Dizeo Guzzardo, UAlbany Class of 2000
Jill Dizeo Guzzardo ’00

2003

David Burch was selected to the 2021 Super Lawyers Upstate New York and Rising Stars lists. He is partner at Barclay Damon LLP, Syracuse.

David Burch, UAlbany Class of 2003
David Burch ’03

2009

Ema Buco joined Northwestern Mutual as chief strategy officer. She oversees the highest level of financial representative recruiting, onboarding and development processes. Ema is a former resident director at UAlbany. She currently serves on the Alumni Association’s Benevolent Association Board of Directors.

Ema Buco, UAlbany Class of 2009
Ema Buco ’09

Fall 2021

2004

Virginia Rawlins is the founder of Building Blocks Together, an advocacy organization that helps people buy houses. She is a licensed real estate agent and economic development program assistant at the Capitalize Albany Corporation.

Arleny Alvarez-Peña

Arleny Alvarez-Peña participated in the 7th annual Great Cycle Challenge USA to raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. She met her goal of 200+ miles and raised over $2,500.

2005

Jeanette O’Neil was appointed assistant director of Workforce Development, Columbia-Greene Workforce New York Career Center, Columbia-Greene Community College.

2007

Kyle Ketcham, director of policy for the State Senate Republican Conference and Brittany Vogel, government analyst at Albany-based law firm Hinman Straub, were named “City & State 40 Under 40 Rising Stars”.

2008

Katie Birchenough was named a “City & State 40 Under 40 Rising Star”. She is an associate attorney at Greenberg Traurig. Thomas Briggs was named a “City & State 40 Under 40 Rising Star”. He serves as manager at KPMG.

2009

Nicholas Van Dam is the director of the newly established Contemplative Studies Centre in the University of Melbourne’s School of Psychological Sciences.

Fall 2024

Yes, Chef!

Actress Liza Colón-Zayas '89 earns historic Emmy for her star-making turn on "The Bear." She shares her inspiring story.

Share recent news and milestones with your classmates!

Submit a class note