FACETIME MAY 2013 1990s

Former NAU quarterback Mark Huston, ’90 BS, once again hosts the Let It Fly Football Drills and Skills Camp, from April through July at Anthem Preparatory Academy in Anthem, Ariz. The program, which has grown from six youth in 2005 to 176 in 2012, is designed for youth ages 6-18 and styles itself after similar workouts used by higher-level athletes. 

Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa has selected Alex Moro, ’90 BS (above), as director of sales. Formerly director of sales at the Arizona Biltmore, Alex brings with him 22 years of expertise in the hospitality industry, with an emphasis on luxury properties. He spent seven years with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts in national sales. Alex lives in central Phoenix with his wife Lisa and children Leo and Gemma.

Several forestry alumns were featured in a article by Scientific American. Jose Iñiguez, ’90 BSF & '00 MSF, Amy Watlz, ’94 MS, and Ed Smith, '97 MSF, were quoted along with Dick Fleishman ’80 BSF &’90 MPA, and Amy Watlz, ’94 MS about a new forest-thinning program designed to reduce uncontrolled wildfires.

Normando Bustamante, ’91 BSBA, has been hired as general manager of the Rudolph Honda Dealership in El Paso, Texas. Previously Normando worked as district manager, parts and new car division at American Honda Motor Company.

Reuben Singer, ’92 BFA, is production manager for FLM+, a strategic marketing and communications firm in Minneapolis, Minn. Reuben brings years of experience in marketing and sales.

Physical therapist and yoga instructor Shawn Flot, ’94 MPT (photo above),was featured in the Ashland Daily Tidings, which highlighted his six-week fall class on vitality and movement. Instructing for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Talent, Ore., Shawn combats the aging process through physical activity and education. He has developed a clinical practice that combines elements from yogic practice with manual physical therapy. 

Melissa Luke, '94 BS, was featured in the Huffington Post in an opinion piece encouraging students to seek professional experience during their summer breaks from school, offering her own experiences as a reason to be proactive in finding an internship. Melissa is a corporate professional speaker and adjunct professor at Boise State University.

Dr. Lance Price, ’94 BS & ’00 MS (above), director of Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN) North’s Center for Microbiomics and Health, has been selected for the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods, which examines food safety, food processing and microorganisms, for  the Agricultural Department. At TGEN, Lance is studying foodborne pathogens, specifically the relationship between E. coli bacteria and antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections in women. Lance also serves as professor of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University.

Nancy Wodarz, ’94 EDD (pictured above), has been appointed as head of The Sage School of Foxborough, Mass. A talented leader, developing opportunities and programs for her students has been top priority for Nancy, and she maintains a strong commitment to the local community. Prior to her current role, Nancy was head of Forsyth Country Day School in Winston-Salem, N.C. She possesses nearly 30 years of experience in public and private education. 

Fidencio Rivera, ’95 MED (above), was featured in the Latino Perspectives “Those Who Serve” profiles for his role as chief deputy U.S. marshal. A 22-year veteran, Fidencio works with the federal judiciary, interacting with the community and assisting other deputies in apprehending fugitives. He was honored in 2010 with the U.S. Marshals Director’s Honorary Award for Meritorious Service for his outstanding career achievements.

Julie Beischel, '96 BSBA (above picture), is co-founder and director of research at the Windbridge Institute for Applied Research in Human Potential in Tucson and serves as adjunct faculty in the Graduate College of Psychology and Humanistic Studies at Saybrook University. Pursuing a scientific quest for answers to parapsychology phenomena, she recently published her first book Among Mediums: A Scientist's Quest for Answers.

After spending approximately 20 years as a mental health social worker, Sharon (Hickey) Sterling, ’96 BSW, has published her first novel, The Well (photo above). A psychological thriller set at Montezuma Well in the Verde Valley, counselor Allie Davis is caught in a murder mystery that links together a beautiful Apache woman, a seductive psychiatrist and excerpts from an ancient Chinese book of prophecy.  

Chris Knutsen, ’96 MED, is the new assistant superintendent of the Florence Unified School District in Florence, Ariz. Previously serving as principal of Florence High School, Chris will miss being further away from the students on a daily basis, but is excited for the new leadership role, and confident that he will have broader impact on student success.

The San Diego-North office of Lee and Associates has named Ryan Bennett, ’98 BAILS, as its newest company shareholder. Ryan has represented buyers and sellers of commercial properties, closing transactions totaling more than $500 million throughout his career.

Jason McCutcheon, ’98 BA (Yuma High, welding instruction), took home the high school category honor of Teach of the Year for Yuma County. Rodolfo Rodriguez, ’01 BAILS & ’09 MED (Carver Elementary, fifth-grade), won the intermediate (fourth-sixth-grade) award. The 2013 Yuma County Teacher of the Year Award went to Jarrod Norris, ’11 BSED (G.W. Carver Elementary, special education).

Carli Castro, ’99 BSACC,is now the CEO/President of 4 Seasons of Change LLC, a change-management consulting and coaching practice in Chandler. She guides executives through organizational change to improve business environments and realize goals. Carli writes a monthly blog entitled Thyme for Change geared at helping professionals “season” their lives with reflection on life priorities. We recently had the opportunity to connect with Carli at an alumni reception at the Secret Garden in Phoenix.

Bret Contreras, ’99 BS, has released a new book, Strong Curves, co-authored by Kellie Davis. A 320-page, full-color training guide for women, the fitness manual contains instructions for more than 200 exercises, and includes a nutritional guide. Bret is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  

Randy Mahlerwein, ’99 MED & ’06 MED, is the new principal of Cooley Middle School in Gilbert, Ariz. At the same time, the Higley Unified School District also approved NAU alumna, Terri Wattawa, ’00 MED, as the new principal of Williams Field High School.

Members of the national Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) elected Vicky Young, ’99 MED & ’01 MED, to its board of directors. Vicky was selected as Patient Donor Affairs and Voluntary Health Organization representative. Vicky, who donated her kidney in April 2004 to a former work colleague, is chair of human development studies and serves as a core faculty member for liberal arts and teacher education at Prescott College, in Prescott, Ariz.