SIFE Alumni Profiles

 

Rob Best (Spring 2000)

Chris Coutant (Spring 1994)

Ann Beuler (now Giammona) (Spring 1999)

Suzanne Cozad (Spring 2000)

Ken Doswell (Spring 1995)

Danielle Emis (Spring 2000)

Todd Giammona (Spring 1999)

Dawn Houston (Spring 1999)

Meagan James (December 1994)

Mandy Kullar (Spring 2000)

Erik Lunde (Spring 1997)

Julie Millett (now Coutant) (Spring 1994)

Greg Mills (Fall 1996)

Ed Person (May 2000)

Julie Rose (now Schneider)

Trudy Shines (Fall 2002)

Jeraline Jessica Singh (Fall 2002)

Barinder Suprai (Fall 1998)

Heather Tatton (Spring 1995)

Kelby Thornton (Spring 2001)

Todd Wells (Spring 1999)

Rob Best

Graduation:    May 2000

Major:            Organizational Communication / Minor:  Business Administration

Employer:       Tax Ready of L.A.

Job Title:        Director (Big Boss Man)!

E-Mail:           Robjamesbest@hotmail.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE:

Uncertain if we would advance to the Round of 16, Curt and I stood in the back of Kansas City's convention center awaiting the call for Chico State SIFE to approach the stage.  International competition breathes many emotions, but none like the moments of anticipation to advance to the next round.  Sweaty palms, dry mouth, and a slew of butterflies filling your stomach as a year full of hard work, pride, and commitment is in the hands of someone else to judge your team's competitive worth.    

Oh, and of course, when our team drove all night for "The Price I$ Right” trip…I won a washer/dryer but choked in the Final Showcase!                     

Advice to a New SIFE Student:  

The more you give to SIFE, the more SIFE gives in return.  But your intentions must be pure... if personal recognition is your goal, this is not the organization for you.  Never lose sight of your mission, involve others, and most important, HAVE FUN!

Other News I’d Like to Share:

In November, 2001, I became engaged to a beautiful woman from Ashland Community College, Ashland, Kentucky. I met Sarah in Kansas City last year, when I served as a judge in the two-year division. We are planning to get married in Kansas City on June 1, 2002, in the water plaza across from the Marriott Hotel.

Ann Beuler (now Ann Giammona)

 

Graduation:    Spring 1999

Major:            Management Information Systems

Employer:       Hewlett Packard

Job Title:        Project Manger

E-Mail:           Ann_giammona@hp.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE:

Working with junior high school kids was a great experience for me. It helped me teach what I was learning in Accounting. Also, being part of the SIFE presentation team and preparing for competition was an adrenaline rush. I can still remember the Washington D.C. trip and the Kansas City competition. However, making life-long friendships will be the greatest part of being a member of SIFE.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:  

 

Stay in College as long as you can and take an active role in SIFE. You will never forget a SIFE competition.

 

Note:

 

Anthony Michael Giammona was born in late Spring 2001. He weighed in at 9lbs 14oz/ 21 inches long. As of this writing (October 22, 2001), he is almost 5 months old and weighs in at 21 lbs/ 26 inches long!

Chris Coutant

 

Graduation:    May 1994
Major:            History & Political Science
Employer:       Qwest Cyber.Solutions
Job Title:        National Director of Customer Program Managers

E-Mail:         Coutantc@aol.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

Spirited conversations with Curt!  Learning and helping others in a community-focused, business-driven organization.

Advice to a New SIFE Student:  


Understand that the skills you have an opportunity to learn today will help you be successful in your future.


Suzanne Cozad

 

Graduation:    May 2000
Major:            MIS/Accounting
Employer:       Hewlett-Packard
Job Title:        IT Analyst

E-Mail:           Suzycoz@yahoo.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

I was working with the North County High School students for Cal-High SIFE and we had them start their own business.  They decided to make St. Patrick's Day T-shirts.  The business was a success and they actually generated a profit.  The best moment was seeing them do their very own presentation and winning an award.  I could see that each of those students felt a sense of pride and confidence in what they had accomplished.  I felt great to have been a part of that.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

Never shift your focus from what the true meaning of SIFE is - making a difference in other peoples lives.

 

 

Ken Doswell

 

Graduation:    1995
Major:            MBA, Production And Operations Management
Employer:       Intel Corporation
Job Title:        Commodity Manager

E-Mail:           Kenneth_Doswell@ccm2.hf.Intel.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

Getting the organization started.  Great working with Curt as well as all of the other chartering members. All of us were very driven to see the organization grow and become a real value to the College of Business and the university as a whole.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

Work to become the leader of the organization. Take advantage of every opportunity; strive to represent the College of Business and fellow students by presenting the team’s projects at Regional and National Competitions. Leverage your contacts into career opportunities. Have fun!

Danielle Emis

 

Graduation:    May 2000
Major:            Production and Operations Management
Employer:       Providian Financial
Job Title:        Project Manager

E-Mail:           Danielle_Emis@providian.com

 

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

 

 

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

SIFE can be one of the greatest organizations you become involved in. But it is only what you make it to be. Experience all of SIFE to its fullest, and you will take away as much as you put into it!

 

Todd Giammona

 

Graduation:    Spring 1999
Major:            MIS
Employer:       Hewlett-Packard
Job Title:        IT Program Manager

E-Mail:           Todd_giammona@hp.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

The people I met as part of SIFE. SIFE members/students are always the highest caliber people.  I made a number of life long relationships started while in SIFE.  I also have fond memories of the teamwork and commitment of my SIFE teams.  Whether it was setting aside time in very busy schedule to make it out to a middle schoolto teach a lesson or pull all-nighters preparing for a presentation, SIFE team members always pulled together and got the job done.  Although would expect to find the same level of commitment and teamwork in workplace, I have rarely found such in my career.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

You get out what you put in.  The values and attitudes of your SIFE team will help you succeed for the rest of your career.  Most of all work hard but always remember to take time to play hard.

 

Note:

 

Anthony Michael Giammona was born in late Spring 2001. He weighed in at 9lbs 14oz/ 21 inches long. As of this writing (October 22, 2001), he is almost 5 months old and weighs in at 21 lbs/ 26 inches long!

Dawn Houston

 

Graduation:     Spring 1999

Major:             Economics, honors

Employer:       Regus (Instant Offices Worldwide)

Job Title:        Business Development Manager for the West Coast

E-Mail:            dawn.houston@regus.com

 

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE:  Gosh, there are so many!

 

 

On a more serious note: the memory that got me hooked on SIFE was during Make A Difference Day.  After the team worked so hard the week before planning and organizing the event, it rained!  Everything had to change in an instant!  Ed and Suzanne could have easily given up and canceled the event, but instead they rallied the troops and had us move the event inside. Then we had to quickly come up with new activities and make room for all the kids who were scheduled to pick up trash in the park!  We pulled it off in the end.  I was assigned to a group of kids from Chapman and during lunch one of the girls really touched my heart.  We sat down to eat our Burrito from Chevy's and after a few bites the girl wrapped hers up.  I asked her if she was not hungry or if she did not like the burrito.  Her reply to me was that the burrito was very good, but she wanted to bring it home so her little brother and mother could eat also.  On the verge of tears I told her to eat her burrito and I would go and get her more to take home.  She was so happy and thrilled and she said I was her best friend and she latched onto my arm. If our team would have given up when it rained, we would have never Made a Difference and I would have never made a new friend!

 

Advice to a new SIFE Student: 

 

Be creative!  If you don't want to following along with someone else's project, create your own.  Do not alienate yourself or get involved with cliques. Try and stay updated on what every group is doing and when you get the opportunity to work with someone you don't know- do it!  This will broaden your experience in SIFE and with the people who make up your team.

Meagan James

 

Graduation:    December 1994
Major:            BS in Business Administration (Marketing)
Employer:       Gap, Inc.
Job Title:        Sr. Manager, Supply Chain IT

E-Mail:           siemons@mindspring.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

Being at the beginning of something so powerful. It was really empowering to be in the first group at Chico and to compete for the first time in Kansas City. In addition, the experience of teaching junior high kids about business and math skills gave me a love for training others that I have carried into every job that I have had.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

Get deeply involved in as many SIFE activities as you can—there is no better training for the 'real world' of work and career than your experience with SIFE.

Mandy Kullar

 

Graduation:    Spring 2000
Major:            BS in Business Administration (MIS)
Employer:       CAST Software
Job Title:        Systems Engineer/Consultant

E-Mail:           MandyKullar@hotmail.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

Looking back at my college years, my fondest memories are those attached with SIFE, and those individuals with whom I worked, and also those that I met along the way. For me, I received much personal gratitude and satisfaction by working with many groups of people.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

Let’s have an alumni get together. It would be great to see Curt and the other alums.

 

(Note from Curt: All alumni are invited to Chico State on March 15 and 16. There is going to be a FANTASTIC banquet on the evening of March 16, in Bell Memorial Union. Earlier that day, we’d like you to help us judge the sixth annual Cal-High SIFE Competition! The night before, at Curt’s house, we will have a backyard wine and cheese reception. Formal invitations will be mailed in February.).

Erik Lunde

 

Graduation:    Spring 1997
Major:            BS in Business Administration (Marketing)
Employer:       Sendmail Inc.
Job Title:        Account Executive, Fortune 500

E-Mail:           elunde@sendmail.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

I really enjoyed SIFE as a vehicle to engage with my peers and the community.  Working with at-risk students was my personal highlight.  It was a rewarding challenge to encourage and mentor these kids and to give them the inspiration, tools and the know-how to be self sufficient, contributing members of their own futures and the community at large.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

Participate; don't just show up to get your name on a list. Pick 1 thing or a few and take ownership of it.  You will find hidden gems with yourself and others by getting involved. the leaders in the business community!

Julie Millett (now Coutant)

 

Graduation:    Spring 1994
Major:            BS in Business Administration (Accounting)
Employer:       Lake and Associates, a division of CBIZ LLC
Job Title:        CPA & Project Manager

E-Mail:           CoutantJ@aol.com

 Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

Meeting Chris Coutant, the team’s first real President.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

Don't marry a SIFE President!

Greg Mills

 

Graduation:    Fall 1996
Major:            Finance Major, Economics Minor
Employer:       Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals
Job Title:        Therapeutics Sales Rep

E-Mail:           ChicoGreg@aol.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

My fondest memory of SIFE was teaching in the eighth grade classrooms.  This is where I felt like I made the biggest impact, helping the students develop their own professional business skills!

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student: 

 

This one is easy; get involved in everything you possibly can.  SIFE is the most rewarding professional student organization on campus.  Getting involved will enrich your public speaking skills, professional business skills, and will gain you access to lifelong business partnerships with students, teachers, and the leaders in the business community!

 

Ed Person

 

Graduation:    Spring 2000
Major:            Marketing
Employer:       Integrated Financial Services
Job Title:        Territory Sales Manager

E-Mail:           erperson27@yahoo.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

Friendships, working with others, traveling and winning the International Championship

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

You will have fun with this organization and learn a lot about giving to others.

Heather Rosdail

 

Graduation:    Spring 2000
Major:            MIS
Employer:       Philip Morris
Job Title:        Investment Specialist

E-Mail:           Hrosdail@yahoo.com

 Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE:  

One of the best days for me is Make a Difference Day (MADD) in 1999. I was the VP of Special Events that year and we had both MADD and the Formal Banquet on the same day (it sounded like a good idea at the time!). We had a great day because so many people got involved! One of the things I remember most was a picture of the teenagers; they had covered themselves with temporary tattoos. That night Danielle and I hosted the Banquet.  I was nervous, but the cocktail Tim Colbie purchased for me overcame that!  One of the parents from the afternoon also attended the banquet.  That was his first exposure to SIFE.  I remember he ran around all day with lunch bags strapped to his belt (they were given to each child at the beginning of the day). He had such a great day; he got involved by joining the BAB!
 
Finally (the point), after all this babbling, the best memory is actually more a feeling of camaraderie and community.  Everyone helps and it makes a big difference.  Whether it is a one-day event or an ongoing project, it is all wound up together to make one gigantic wonderful memory.  Now is your time, take advantage of it!

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

GET INVOLVED!  You have the opportunity to shine and express your ideas if you take the initiative. All it takes is passion and determination; the rewards are practically limitless!

Julie Rose Schneider

 

Graduation:    1999
Major:            Business Admin w/option in MIS
Employer:       AT&T – Enterprise Hosting
Job Title:        Project Manager

E-Mail:           jarose@att.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

There is something about being at a SIFE competition and going up on stage to win more awards than any other team (everyone knew who Chico State was)—what fund! Then the next year, 1998 breaking through and making it into the Top 10, felt like we had won the gold.

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

There is more to school than classes. A combination of classes and SIFE involvement taught me more than I could have imagined. Jump into SIFE, and decide what you want to give and get out of it. You can be a participant or you can be a leader. The skills I learned and experiences I took away have been extremely beneficial and rewarding both personally and professionally.


Trudy Shines

 

Graduation:    Fall 2002 (currently completing one last class at CSU, Sacramento)
Major:            Business Administration w/option in MIS
Employer:       California Franchise Tax Board
Job Title:        Compliance Representative

E-Mail:           SHINEDEAU@aol.com

E-Mail:           SHINEDEAU@aol.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

The team spirit and the pride gained from voluntarily working and helping others. Competitions and judging, both large and small.

Advice to a New SIFE Student:  

Try and keep team goals simple and easy for every one to understand.  Get commitment regardless of how small.

Jeraline Jessica Singh

Graduation:   Spring 2002 (UC Santa Barbara)
Major:            Legal Studies and Politics
Employer:       Still a Student at UCSB
Job Title:        N/A

E-Mail:           jeraline@hotmail.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

All of the Kansas City trips!

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

Enjoy every moment of it!

Other News I’d Like to Share:

I have joined the California Army National Guard, and I finish UCSC in June 2002!

 

Barinder Suprai

 

Graduation:   Fall 1998
Major:            Business Administration w/ an option in MIS
Employer:       NEC Systems
Job Title:        Network Engineer

E-Mail:           Bsuprai@yahoo.com

 Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

All the nights we spent building the SIFE web site.

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

 

Get involved and participate as much as you can because it is one of the best experiences you'll ever have.

Kelby Thornton

 

Graduation:    Spring 2001
Major:            Management Information Systems
Employer:       Chevron
Job Title:        Business System Analyst

E-Mail:           take@chevron.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

Working with the students at Four Winds of Education Elementary school.  Teaching two older ladies how to use the Internet at the Butte County Work Training Center and when they went to send an email they typed in the street address! 

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student: 

 

Take advantage of every leadership opportunity and give back to the community!

 

Heather Tatton

 

Graduation:  Spring 1995
Major:            Accounting and Management Information Systems
Employer:       Computer Associates
Job Title:        Field Services Group - Manager

E-Mail:           heather.tatton@ca.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

My fondest memories of SIFE are helping to build the team from the ground floor, so to speak.  Struggling to build the team dynamics, make a difference with the kids, and make a name for ourselves as a part of the national SIFE organization was a real challenge, but very rewarding.  We accomplished a lot on those first few years, and each of us challenged ourselves to become better leaders and communicators in the process.  My fondest memories, specifically, were our trips to Kansas City and Washington DC.  Presenting our story to an audience and traveling with the team... wow.. what can I say.  We had a great time!

 

Advice to a New SIFE Student: 

 

Enjoy the experience.  Challenge yourself.  Enjoy the experience.  Make goals for your own growth, how you can contribute to the team, and how you can make a difference with one or more kids.  ... Oh, and did I mention, enjoy the experience?

Todd Wells

 

Graduation:    Spring 1999
Major:            Business Admin w/ options in MIS and POM
Employer:       Nortel Networks
Job Title:        Business System Analyst III & Project Lead

E-Mail:           todwells@nortelnetworks.com

Fondest Memory (or Memories) of SIFE: 

Competitions - working all night to finalize and practice and the way the whole team pulled together.  Also placing in the Top 10 after three years of trying is my biggest memory.  The projects, lifelong friendships and being able to make a difference and actually see the effect of it are something that I'll always remember. 

Advice to a New SIFE Student:

Don't hold back; try anything and everything to better yourselves.  In life each path you take opens doors to so many opportunities, even if the path is not traveled at least open the door to see where it leads as you may need to travel that route some day.  Make a difference in yourself by making a difference to someone else. You will never fail until you stop trying!