ClassNotes

Colleen Blake ’97 was named one of Silicon Valley Business Journal’s “100 Women of Influence.” As sr. director, Global People Operations, Brocade Communications Systems Inc., Blake is a key partner in driving the company’s involvement in community initiatives for young girls and women, and is responsible for the company’s diversity and inclusion strategy, including the expansion of Brocade’s Women In Networking (WIN) initiative across the globe. Blake was named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2012 "40 Under 40" list, and she is active in youth and women's organizations.

Imelda Wong ’98 married Jediah Kortens on June 23, 2012 at Northstar, Lake Tahoe. In attendance were fellow SCU alumni Jeff Prentice ’98, Amy Pearsall ’98, Angela (Wang) Fisher ’98, Meilissa Lum ’98, Malissa (Pena) Goldstein ’98, and Mary Grace Barasi ’98. Imelda is a teacher in San Jose, and Jediah works in HR.

Clark Stone J.D. ’98 joined Hogan Lovells as a partner in the intellectual property practice, based in Silicon Valley. Stone's practice focuses on litigation relating to patents, trademarks, Internet privacy, trade secrets, and business disputes for high technology clients, in federal and state courts and the ITC. He has handled cases involving semiconductor devices, manufacturing processes and equipment, electronic circuitry, global positioning systems, cellular handsets, patent licenses, commercial contracts, online trademark issues, software, electronic mail, and trade secrets misappropriation.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Stone worked in both technical and managerial positions for various semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies, including Applied Materials, Inc., and Novellus Systems, Inc. He has an extensive knowledge of semiconductor devices and manufacturing techniques, plasma etching and deposition, and Internet-related technologies.

A past president of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (2007), Stone has served as a volunteer arbitrator for the Santa Clara County Bar Association's Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Arbitration program since 2002, and also serves as a volunteer arbitrator for the State Bar of California's Mandatory Fee Arbitration program.

Robert P. Rutila J.D. '98 has returned to Ridenour, Hienton & Lewis in Phoenix, Ariz. He practices commercial litigation and is focused on construction law, landlord/tenant disputes, creditors rights, real estate, banking and general-contract issues.

Rachel (Palmer) ’98 and David Plut ’97 welcomed their third baby girl, Charlotte Sunshine, on August 20. The family lives in Spokane, Wash.

Jill Cardoza Painter '98 and Al Painter '95 welcomed Lilly Hannah Painter to their family Aug. 17, 2011.

Tina (Hughes) Nelson '86, M.A. '98 and Thomas—the adoption of their daughter, Antonia (Toni) Rose Nelson, on May 18, 2011. The family resides in Willow Glen/San Jose, Calif. Tina is currently the school library coordinator with the San Mateo County Office of Education while Tom is a senior system engineer with Lockheed Martin.

Meredith McKenzie J.D. ’98 was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown ’59 to the Dental Board of California. McKenzie has been vice president and deputy general counsel at Juniper Networks since 2012. She was senior director of intellectual property at Symantec Corporation from 2006 to 2012, director of litigation, licensing and IP for Cypress Semiconductor from 2001 to 2006 and corporate counsel and director of IP at Enuvis Inc. from 2000 to 2001. McKenzie was an associate for Howrey LLP from 1998 to 2000 and patent agent and design engineer at Intel Corporation from 1993 to 1998.

Jill Layfield ’98 contributed “The Trail to the Top” to The New York Times column "The Boss," about her career path. Layfield is the chief executive of Backcountry.com, an online retailer of outdoor gear based in Park City, Utah.

Cathy (Miller) Justl '98, M.A. '01  and David Justl '99 live in Wisconsin and are pleased to announce the arrival of Katherine Yeon Emma Justl, born March 17, 2011, in Osan, South Korea, home forever on August 30, 2012. She joins big sister, Kiya, age 4.

Olga Diaz ’98 was named Civic Leader of the Year at U-T San Diego’s second annual San Diego Latino Champions Awards ceremony.

Brian Crowley MBA ’98 joined MotionDSP, a Silicon Valley–based company that develops advanced, real-time image processing software for video enhancement and analytics, as director of federal solutions. Prior, Crowley led hardware, software, and services sales efforts throughout the U.S. intelligence community and U.S. Air Force for EMC and NetApp.

Jason M. Caskey ’98 is an attorney in the Intellectual Property and Information Technology group at Kutak Rock LLP, specializing in technology licensing, copyright, trademarks, and commercial transactions. His wife, Kirsten, and he welcomed their son Daniel Patrick on December 26, 2011, joining big sisters Grace (6) and Claire (4). The family lives in Omaha, Nebraska, but Jason makes it back to the Bay Area to visit with clients and friends as often as possible.

Aaron ’98 and Eileen (Briggs) Brinker ’98 welcomed their fourth child, Tyler Lynn Brinker, on March 6, 2012. Weighing 9 pounds and 21 inches, he joins siblings Mia (6), Reese (3.5), and Andrew (1.5).

Blake Boznanski '98 and Erica Boznanski '03 welcomed their first child, son Dylan Walter, on Oct. 11, 2012. The couple resides in San Francisco.

Pallie Zambrano J.D. ’99 has been honored by the YWCA of Silicon Valley with a 2013 Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) Award, one of the most prestigious awards given by local and regional YWCAs nationwide. Zambrano is a partner at McManis Faulkner, a leading Northern California trial firm.

The TWIN Award program was established in 1984 to honor the outstanding achievements of female executives who have demonstrated excellence in business leadership positions and to pay tribute to the companies in which they work. Zambrano joins a group of honorees selected from Silicon Valley technology, legal, communications, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations that have acted as successful role models for other women in business, exhibited top-level responsibility in a major functional role, and who have had a substantial impact on the organization’s growth, profitability and innovation.

Nicole (Moscini) Soluri ’99 was appointed by Gov. Brown to serve as Chief Counsel to the California State Lottery. She and husband Patrick Soluri also welcomed a baby boy, Connor, on February 24, 2012. The family lives in Sacramento.

Jaysson A. Reno '99 was recently named general sales manager of KSAN - 107.7 The Bone, flagship of the SF 49ers, and is also taking on the newly created role director of strategic partnerships, for Cumulus Media in San Francisco. Jaysson and his wife of 8 years have 3 children and reside in San Jose.

Ethan Parker ’99 writes that he became vice president of Boca Public Relations of San Francisco and moved to Austin, Texas, to open a new office.

Richard Lucero J.D. ’99 was appointed Fremont's chief of police.

Lucero, a 26-year veteran of Fremont police, has spent his entire law enforcement career in Fremont, where he has worked with several units, including SWAT, narcotics, street crimes and internal affairs.

He has served as commander of Fremont police's two major departments: the Patrol Division and the Special Operations and Investigations Division.

Lucero is a graduate of San Jose State University and Santa Clara University School of Law, and is a member of the State Bar of California. He is a volunteer with Officers Give Hope, a nonprofit organization that encourages officers to join the National Marrow Donor Registry. He also is first vice president of the California Peace Officers' Association.

Read the full story in the San Jose Mercury News.

Jeremy Johnston '99 is the bass player and assistant band director for Cirque du Soleil's Alegria. Alegria was the 22nd highest grossing worldwide touring act in 2011, and is the 10th highest grossing worldwide touring act so far in 2012. When not on tour, he lives with his wife and two boys in Hudson, Ohio.

Gianna I. Franzia '99 and husband Michael A. Gambatese welcomed their third child, Giuliana Franzia Gambatese on April 27, 2012. She joins sister Giada (4) and brother Lucca (2). The family resides in Chicago.