1974
Jeff Palmerton (FRM) retired after 41 years with Carolina Handling in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sept. 30. He was in sales with a company that provided material handling equipment (warehouse equipment) to multiple customers in North Carolina. He eventually became a national account manager and had responsibility for multiple large customers such as Smithfield Foods, Revlon, GlaxoSmithKline, and Bridgestone/Firestone. Palmerton lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, north of Raleigh. He plans to travel with his wife, Betty, spend more time at their second-home getaway at Sunset Beach, North Carolina, golf and take up fishing again.
1977
In 2020, Dr. Michael Rubinstein (EFB) finally released his long-awaited book, “Rubinstein Coin Magic.” Already in its fourth printing, “Rubinstein Coin Magic” is a best seller and has become the classic reference text on sleight of hand with coins. Rubinstein retired from practicing veterinary medicine in 2019 and lives in New York City with his wife, Karen Dorangrichia, Spike the cat, and Angie the wonder dog.
1978
Edward G. Olley Jr., RA AIA, (LA) has finally retired as director of architecture at Gymo Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors DPC in Watertown, New York.
1986
Dr. Lisa A. Price (EFB) has published three books: “Cooking through Cancer Treatment to Recovery” (Demos Health Inc., 2015) “Breast Cancer: Thriving through Treatment to Recovery” (Demos Health Inc., 2019) and “Prostate Cancer: Thriving through Treatment to Recovery” (Demos Health Inc., 2019).
1989
Regina Buttner (LA) is proud to announce the publication of her debut novel, “Absolution,” a story of domestic suspense set in 1990s Seattle.
Sarah Lewis (ESC) writes, “My first novel, ‘The Change Agents: Whispers in the Wind,’ was recently released. It’s an optimistic climate fiction story of animals seeking an extraordinary partnership with humans, and racing together against the climate crisis to save their shared world.”
1990
Robert Gilbert (EFB) recently earned his Board Certified Entomologist certification through the Entomological Society of America. Gilbert graduated from the EFB program in 1990 where he concetrated in entomology. He then earned his M.S. in Entomology from Clemson University in 1993 where he studied insecticide resistance. He works in the pest control industry as a staff entomologist and lives in Tempe, Arizona, with his partner, Victoria.
1991
Sheila Myers (ES) was a featured guest on the History Channel’s Engineering That Built the World on Oct. 10, 2021. She was interviewed about Thomas Durant, head of the Union Pacific Railroad while building the Transcontinental. Myers wrote a fictional trilogy about the Durant family and Thomas Durant was one of the main characters in her novels. During the late 19th century, the Durants owned a half-million acres in the Adirondack Wilderness, including the acreage of what is now Newcomb Forest. Thomas’ son William West Durant, a pioneer of the Great Camp style of architecture, built two of the lodges at Huntington Wildlife Forest in Newcomb, New York. Myers’ trilogy on the Durants (The Durant Family Saga) won a literary award from the Adirondack Center for Writing in 2017.
1995
Tracy Farrell (FRM) has taken the position of director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Farrell formerly worked for Conservation International and brings with her 20 years of experience developing, leading and overseeing global conservation and sustainable development initiatives and programs along with technical and policy experience in freshwater and ecosystem services, protected areas, biodiversity conservation, and conservation finance.
1997
Katherine Culbert (PSE) is now serving as the deputy director of Commission Shift, a non-profit watch- dog organization that is working to reform oil and gas oversight by building public support to hold the Railroad Commission of Texas accountable to its mission in a shifting energy landscape.
2001
Rita (Neznek) Hite (ES) has been named president and CEO of The American Forest Foundation (AFF). Hite formerly served as AFF’s executive vice president of external relations and policy. Since 2008, she has played a pivotal role in developing and leading the organization’s conservation agenda and market- based strategies. In her 20-year career in forest conservation, she has staffed congressional leaders on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, built and curated coalitions and partner- ships, including the Forest Climate Working Group and the Women’s Forest Congress and served as a non-profit innovator. She has shaped strategy, programs and policies that have unlocked billions of dollars in support of family forest stewardship that has had a significant impact on climate change, wildfire resilience, and forest sustainability across the United States. She felt the call to champion natural resource conservation, and the families that own and care for the land, having grown up making hay, harvesting firewood and herding cattle on a farm in upstate New York. She finds energy in tackling complex conservation challenges and bringing together diverse teams, coalitions and resources to create market-relevant solutions.
2002
Save Our Seabirds (SOS), one of the largest bird rescue centers in Florida, recently appointed Aaron Virgin (EFB) as its new chief executive officer. He brings an extensive background in wildlife and environmental issues to the nonprofit. Most recently, he served as the philanthropy officer for Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. In his new role, Virgin will be responsible for working with the SOS board of directors to create and fulfill the board’s strategic plan, establish appropriate goals for financial and operational performance, manage a high-performance team and control operational aspects of the organization, among other duties.
2013
Kevin Pagini (ESC) writes, “I am currently employed as the town planner for the Town of Wallingford, Connecticut. I have ESF to thank for helping me increase my knowledge and skill set.”
2020
Julie Romano (EB) joined Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District as the crew leader for the water chestnut project last summer.