Becca Lamon ’93 is one of three finalists to become superintendent of Bloomington District 87 schools. Fellow alum David Deets ’02 is also a finalist. Read the full article here.

Bruce Bennett ’93 recently joined Benson Hill’s Executive Leadership Team as President of its Ingredients business segment. Benson Hill, based in St. Louis, MO, is a food tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants with its cutting-edge food innovation engine. In this newly created role, Bennett will oversee global operations and adoption of Benson Hill’s ingredients portfolio for the growing plant-based protein market to enable more nutrient-dense, better-tasting, and sustainable food.

Mark Gibson ’93 of Madison, Wisconsin, died June 4, 2021. He was 49. Mark majored in chemistry at Illinois Wesleyan and later attended graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He worked as a software engineer for Forte Research Systems (now Advarra, Inc.) for more than 15 years. His hobbies included playing the piano and classical guitar, learning and speaking foreign languages, ballroom dancing, and participating in charity runs. A devoted husband and father, his family was his priority. He is survived by his wife, two children and a sister. More information can be found here.

Niki Burkey ’93 graduated from Aurora University on May 1, 2021 with her doctorate of Leadership in Educational Administration. Niki is the principal of Lincoln Prairie Elementary School in Community Unit School District 300, Algonquin IL.

Michael Howard ’93 was featured in the Sheridan Road Magazine, here, for serving the community on the frontlines of the oncoming pandemic. Congrats!

Julie Brown-Haapapuro ‘93 has served as the head of Human Resources for PBS Distribution, in Arlington, Virginia, since 2018. She previously served in a variety of human resources roles, most recently at MicroStrategy and Freddie Mac. She also serves as President of JBH Consulting, Inc., a human resources consulting service she founded in 2010.

Shaye Mandle ‘93 took part in a panel discussion on the technological and economic renaissance taking place in Rochester, Minnesota, hosted by Finance and Commerce. Shaye has served as president and CEO of the Medical Alley Association since May 2014, overseeing a period of dramatic growth and transformation for the association.

Thank you to Todd Stocke ’93 who gave a virtual Titan Career Chat called Book Publishing 101 on 4/20/20, concerning his experience as Senior Vice President and Editorial Director of Sourcebooks, one of the world’s leading independent book publishers.

In an IWU Webinar, Mark Denzler ’93, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers Association, discussed the pandemic response led by the Illinois Essential Equipment Task Force, which he co-chairs.  You can view the webinar here.