Michael Angle, BS ’79, MS ’82, recently named chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey. Previously chief of the geological survey unit since 2012, Angle had earlier been the geologist supervisor for the ODNR’s regional geology section. He has authored more than 20 maps and more than 12 articles and publications on Ohio’s geology and hydrogeology.

Alan Lavine, MA ’73, author of the nation’s longest-running mutual fund column, is a bestselling nonfiction writer and syndicated newspaper financial columnist whose work ran in the Boston Herald for nearly 25 years. His book, “Rags to Riches: Motivating Stories of How Ordinary People Achieved Extraordinary Wealth,” was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and topped Amazon, Associated Press, and United Press International best-seller lists. The book was dedicated to the late Dr. Robert Deitchman, a University of Akron associate professor whom Lavine served as a research assistant in the 1970s. Keep reading

Samuel C. Randazzo, BSBAM ’71, appointed chairman, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio by Gov. Mike DeWine. Randazzo has been a private attorney more than 40 years, representing utilities in front of the PUCO.

Christopher R. Bolinger, BS ’86, has authored, Daily Strength for Men. The book is a 365-day devotional for men, written after Bolinger could not find a suitable study guide for his own daily devotions.

C. Randy Cole, BS ’89, executive vice president and chief solutions officer at Ownum, a blockchain company founded in 2018. Cole leads Ownum’s national expansion efforts toward making government more efficient and transparent through the digitization of paper-based processes, all recorded to blockchain.

David A. D’Apolito, JD ’89, begins as a member of the 7th District Court of Appeals effective February 9th. The court has jurisdiction over eight Ohio counties, including Mahoning, Columbiana, Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe and Noble.

Patrick M. Dunn, AAS ’86, BS ’88, JD ’18, now an associate attorney at Black McCuskey Souers & Arbaugh, LPA after successfully passing the Ohio State Bar exam. Dunn practices in the areas of intellectual property and patents, an is experienced in patent licensing and is a named inventor on nine U.S. patents.

Patrick M. Goss, BSME ’87, appointed national sales director at Technicote, responsible for leading the company’s North American field sales organization. He will also sit on the Technicote executive team, collaborating with marketing, operations, supply chain and innovation.

Patricia “Tricia” M. Tomko, BS ’87, appointed chief financial officer at McorpCX, Inc. Tomko is an accomplished financial leader and has been a member of the executive team for both publicly traded and privately held companies as well as within the U.S. Federal Reserve System.

Omar Lozano, MM ’99, selected to receive the 2019 Ohio Music Educator of the Year award, given annually by the Ohio Music Educators Association. Lozano will be further recognized at the OMEA’s Cleveland conference later this school year. He is the choir and band director at Miami East High School in Casstown, Ohio, where he has taught since 2009.

Melissa A. Marik, AAB ’98, promoted to VP, Chief Operating Officer at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven.

Michael S. “Scott” Rister, BSA ’90, appointed president of Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, a Columbus-based wealth management firm.

Charles V. Shepard, BSCE ’97, named structural engineering manager at Wheaton Sprague Building Envelope’s Stow branch office.

Christina I. Smith Reiheld, BA ’98, JD ’03, now serves as magistrate of the Knox County Juvenile and Probate Court, a post she began in January.

Mary Taylor, BSA ’90, MT ’98, former Ohio lieutenant governor, joined Welty Building Company as executive VP, CFO. Welty provides professional construction management services, specializing in Lean Construction for clients in a variety of markets nationwide.

Rebecca L. Blice, MS ’06, recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a Notable Woman in STEM. Blice is currently a senior biomedical engineer at Nottingham Spirk.

Jeffrey P. Cook, BSCE ’03, promoted to director of structural engineering practices at Wheaton Sprague Building Envelope. Cook offers technical leadership of means and methods in various engineering projects. He continues as a senior engineer and PE in charge, working within the Stow engineering department and servicing existing clientele.

Carlin N. Culbertson, BS ’04, promoted to VP at Meaden & Moore. Culbertson has more than 14 years experience advising clients in a variety of industries.

Joshua R. Davis, BA ’02, BA ’02, JD ’05, named interim associate vice chancellor for International Engagement and Global Strategies at University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Davis serves as senior international officer and oversees Education Abroad, Global Strategies and the International Student and Scholar Office.

Joseph A. Ferrise, BA ’05, BA ’05, JD ’09, named to Board of Trustees of Community Legal Aid Services, a nonprofit law firm serving low-income residents in northeast and central Ohio. Ferrise is a staff attorney and operations manager for the Office of the Chapter 13 Trusteeship in Akron.

Lissann S. Gittner, PH.D ’09, recipient of the 2019 Women of Excellence Award for Science, an annual honor presented to notable community members by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Lubbock, Texas. Gittner is associate professor, Public Health and Political Science at Texas Tech.

Julie M. Grant, JD ’09, named anchor at Court TV. Grant was previously legal editor, anchor and reporter at KDKA-TV, the CBS owned-and-operated station in Pittsburgh, Pa. Prior to joining KDKA, she was an anchor for three years at the Fox affiliate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Melany A. Kotlarek Fontanazza, JD ’05, and an attorney at McGlinchey Stafford PLLC, named to Ohio Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in the area of business litigation. Fontanazza represents banks, lenders, and other financial institutions in consumer financial services litigation. She handles various types of business litigation and insurance defense cases at the trial and appellate level.

Meghan C. McCarthy, BSBA ’05, promoted to senior VP, media & activation services at Fusion92. Founded in 1999, Fusion92 is a Chicago-based independent marketing innovation agency focusing on helping growth-stage and Fortune 500 companies.

Matthew R. Miller, BS ’01, named President at Park National Bank, effective May 1, 2019. Miller, as executive VP, provided additional focus on strategic opportunities and enhancing relationships throughout Park’s communities and industry.

Twin brothers, Brian H. Nicholson, BA ’09, and Scott H. Nicholson, BA ’09, are major collaborators in Ariana Grande’s ‘Dangerous Woman Diaries’ docuseries. The duo are Grande’s frequent collaborators and have served as the entertainer’s back up dancers since 2012.

Judge Jon A. Oldham, JD ’02, will serve as the administrative/president judge of the Akron Municipal Court for 2019. Oldham will oversee the administration, docket, and calendar as well as the reporting and termination of all cases in the court.

Kimberly D. Stanley, MS ’09, received the Athena Award at the annual Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce dinner on February 13, 2018. Stanley has dedicated her life to helping women who need assistance in restoring their lives. Through her work at the Domestic Violence Shelter, Stanley helps women who have previously been domestic violence victims.

Amanda S. Todorovich, MA ’01, Senior Director, Content & Creative Services at the Cleveland Clinic, honored with the Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) of Cleveland, Distinguished Marketing and Sales Awards 2019.

Samantha Coldwell, MAE ’11, honored with the Woman of the Year Award - Creativity, by Women’s History Project of the Akron Area, Inc. The award will be presented by Summa Health on March 13, 2019.

Stefanie L. Deka, JD ’12, and an attorney at McGlinchey Stafford PLLC, named to Ohio Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in the area of business litigation. Deka practices consumer financial litigation for banks, lenders and large financial institutions, focusing on all aspects of residential foreclosure litigation.

Karen B. Plaster, MSE ’10, recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a Notable Woman in STEM. Plaster is currently an associate professor of practice, STEM Center, at The University of Akron.

Ryan C. Robinson, named an associate attorney at Black McCuskey Souers & Arbaugh, LPA after successfully passing the Ohio State Bar exam. Robinson practices in the areas of business, litigation real estate, and labor & employment law.

Allyson L. Smith, BA ’18, will be honored with the Woman of the Year Award - Woman to Watch, by Women’s History Project of the Akron Area, Inc. The award will be presented by Summa Health, on March 13, 2019.

Laura L. Wallerstein, JD ’10, MBA ’10, promoted to shareholder and Roetzel & Andress LPA. Wallerstein, in the firm’s Akron and Columbus offices, is a member of the real Estate Group, focusing her practice on commercial real estate transactions, franchisee representation, as well as condominium and homeowner association matters.

Christopher G. Warren, BBA ’16, named sales development leader at Payscape, an Atlanta-based financial technology company, with an office in Columbus, Ohio.