Alumni News
1970s
LeTourneau University President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford recently awarded the Gerrie Forbis Staff Excellence Award to Assistant Director for Academic Support Debbie McGinness, ‘74. The award is presented in recognition of effectiveness in mentoring, dedication to LeTourneau University and Christian education, helpfulness to students, spiritual leadership, service and continuous improvement. McGinness manages the tutoring program at LeTourneau University, including the math lab and special instruction programs on campus to assist students to accomplish their academic goals.
1980s
Shane Williams, ‘84, is the new West Jefferson High School superintendent. Williams has worked for years in the Madison School District in Rexburg, most recently as principal at Kennedy Elementary school.
Jodi Prestwich, ‘86, is the new principal of Tyhee Elementary in Chubbuck. Prestwich has worked for 15 years in the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District. She worked for 10 years as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Jefferson and Edahow elementary schools and the last five years as a Title I Interventionist at Greenacres Elementary School.
Madison High School Band director Dan North, '87, is retiring after 32 years conducting at the Rexburg high school.
1990s
Phoenix Copper Limited announce that Ryan McDermott, ‘92, chief operating officer, has been appointed a director of the company. McDermott has 27 years’ experience in mining and mineral exploration for base and precious metals.
Karla Hess, ‘97, FNP-C (Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified), has expanded women’s health care at the Firth Medical Center in Firth. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Idaho State University, a bachelor’s degree in human development from Utah State University, and a master’s in nursing/family practice from Gonzaga University.
2000s
Cambia Health Solutions Dr. Esther Machen, D.D.S., ‘ 02, has been appointed to the board of directors for Cambia Health Solutions. Dr. Machen is currently a member of the Idaho Oral Health Alliance, the Idaho State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. She also completed a term serving on the Idaho State University Dental Hygiene advisory committee. Dr. Machen graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, receiving her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. She also attended Idaho State University and graduated with a BS in Dental Hygiene.
Andrea Binggeli, ‘03, has opened a children’s consignment store in Pocatello. Poky Kids is a resale store for quality clothes, shoes, baby gear, books and educational toys.
Janelle Brouwer, ‘05, is the new superintendent of the Marion Independent School District in Iowa.
Carl Darrington, ‘05, has been named commercial relationship manager for Zions Bank, responsible for developing and maintaining banking relationships with agricultural and business clients. He is based at the Burley branch. He has 14 years of banking experience and previously worked as a business relationship manager for Wells Fargo, focusing primarily on agricultural clients.
Spence Ward, ‘06, has been hired as the Shoshone-Bannock tribal water engineer. He has worked for the Tribes for the past 13 years as the tribal water resources deputy engineer from 2006-2018, and was appointed to serve as the interim water engineer in February 2018.
Mike Blauer, ‘06, is the new CEO at Bear Lake Memorial Hospital. Blauer moved from Mountain Home to Montpelier to take on the new position.
Lester Stewart, ‘08, is the new Casper College Thunderbirds men’s basketball assistant coach.
2010s
Adam Velasquez, ‘11, vice president and executive banking relationship manager at Zion’s Bank, was recently named a 2019 Accomplished Under 40 award winner by the Idaho Business Review.
Nathan Capps, ‘13, has founded Streamline Energy Solutions, an energy efficiency company in Santa Clara, California.
Payette County recently hired Adam Gonzalez, ‘15, to fill the new role of assistant emergency manager.
Scott Anderson, ‘16, has taken ownership of American Falls’ Rockland Pharmacy. Anderson took over the pharmacy and boutique in April.
Davis School District in Utah has hired Kathleeen Chronister, ‘16, to fill a new district-level administrative position to lead social and emotional learning (SEL) across the district. Chronister comes to the new position from Davis district’s alternative high school in Kaysville, Mountain High, where she was the principal. Under her leadership, the school’s on-time graduation rate hovered around 95 percent. She has 29 years of experience working in Davis School District, including five years as a teacher, 10 years as a curriculum specialist, and 14 years as a school administrator.
Hailey Dugan, ‘17, has joined Title One as a marketing communications coordinator in the company’s Boise office.
Madeline Connaughton, ‘18, has joined TitleOne as a delivery specialist in the company’s Idaho Falls office. She has eight years of customer service experience.
Scentsy Project Management Director Kerri Bryan, ‘18, was named one of the Idaho Business Review’s 2019 Accomplished under 40 award winners.
After nearly three decades of service at Idaho State University, Vice President for University Advancement Kent Tingey is retiring at the end of the year.
Tingey first began his career at ISU in 1989 as Director of University Relations. He assumed the vice president position in 1999. Under his direction, ISU raised $152.5 million in its first-ever capital campaign. The result of the campaign was the construction of ISU’s Stephens Performing Arts Center.