1970s
Marty Schiff (COPA 1979) is producer of Coffee With..., a program created by the Pittsburgh-based Building Bridges for Business aimed at empowering and educating the region’s small business leaders by providing education and resources. In addition to Coffee With…Schiff has also produced many other projects independently, including La Dolce Vida, the National Shopping Network, Golden Sports TV, Be Well Network, The Working Class, and more, overseeing every aspect of production including budgets, scripts, broadcast schedules, media placement, contract negotiations and more. Schiff has more than 30 years of experience in every aspect of film, television, stage and radio.
John Keating (COM 1979) was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 2012 National Citizenship Education Teacher Award in recognition for individuals who teach citizenship topics and promote America's history, traditions, and institutions effectively. A citation given to Keating read: "Teachers change our society one day, one class lesson, one student at a time. There's no more important job. And there's no one who does the role better. Thank You." Since graduation, Keating worked at the New Kensington Valley News Dispatch and The Philadelphia Inquirer, then moved to New York City and worked off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons. For 18 years, he's been an English and history teacher at Sherman, New York.
1980s
Peter Wentzel (COPA 1982) is vice president of production finance at Media Rights Capital, where he has had financial oversight of feature films such as The Adjustment Bureau, M. Night Shyamalan's Devil and last summer's comedy hit Ted, which has grossed over $550 million in worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. The film Elysium, starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, will be released this summer and is expected to be a blockbuster, while Seth MacFarlane's live-action comedy western A Million Ways to Die in the West began production in May, 2013. Stars include MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi and Sarah Silverman. Wentzel's financial oversight also extends to television productions such as House of Cards, Netflix's ground-breaking foray into original streaming content that has garnered critical acclaim.
Wendy Thieshen Charlton (COM 1981), a Brookline resident who earned her degree in journalism and communications at Point Park in 1981, writes to share sad news: “My dear daughter, Rose Elizabeth Charlton, who briefly attended Point Park to study early childhood education, passed away suddenly at the age of 27 on February 24, 2013.” According the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “in addition to her family, Rose was an attentive caretaker to everyone around her, especially children and animals.” Read the full obituary, and sign the guest book, at: http://tinyurl.com/rosecharlton.
1990s
John Krysinsky (COM 1992) recently completed an assignment as project manager for Allegheny County's Family Resource Guide. His responsibilities included overseeing the launch a new, improved website (www.familyresourceguide.org) for parents and family members of children with special health care needs, disabilities and developmental delays. Krysinsky has since begun working in a new position at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC as coordinator of volunteer services. A resident of Aspinwall, Pa., he earned his degree in journalism and communication at Point Park.
Daniel A. Smith (COPA 1996) is teaching global studies as a full time teacher and faculty member at Carlbergergasse Jr. High School in Vienna, Austria. He joined the faculty of the Austrian school in Janurary 2012. The program is part of the CLIL (content and language integrated learning) program in which native speakers teach science, social studies and creative classes in a normal curriculum for fifth to eighth grade students. Smith earned his degree in film and video production at Point Park.
Kathy Gruver (COPA 1992) has released her second book, Body/Mind Therapies for the Bodyworker. She was recently awarded the National Association of Women Business Owners (Santa Barbara Chapter) Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award in Health and Fitness. Gruver maintains a health and wellness practice in Santa Barbara, Calif. and lectures around the country. For more information visit www.kathygruver.com.
Pamela Zagar (COM 1990, BUS ’10) has been promoted to clinical operations supervisor at CVS Caremark. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications and her M.B.A. in international business/health management systems at Point Park.
Carol Zeglin (A&S 1998) received the 2012-13 Outstanding Teaching Award from Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC), where she is an associate professor. At WCCC, Zeglin developed and implemented the Clinical Laboratory Technology, Laboratory Specimen Processing, Phlebotomy and Medical Assisting programs, helping the latter receive initial accreditation. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Point Park and also holds degrees from St. Vincent College and Franklin School of Arts and Sciences.
Walter B. Wallace (A&S 1990) has been appointed vice president of the video surveillance applications business unit at ImmerVision in Montreal, Canada. The firm invented the 360-degree panomorph lens and is the worldwide expert in immersive optical technology. Wallace was previously vice president of business development for Chinasoft International, where he led a global team. Before that, he held executive positions at MCS Fire & Security and GE Security. After earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology at Point Park, he earned his M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, Katz Graduate School of Business. “During my time at MCS Fire & Security, I saw ImmerVision Enables® as the 360-degree video standard in the same respect as H.264 is the standard for video compression in the security industry for cameras and video management systems,” according to Wallace. He and his team will work with integrators, consultants, lens manufacturers, camera vendors and software developers, to increase the value of video surveillance for the end-user.
2000s
Nathan Garlitz (A&S ’08) and Sarah Mauger Garliz (COM ’08) write to say, “we proudly (and somewhat belatedly) announce the birth of our son John Robert, who arrived on December 24, 2012.” Sarah is a broadcasting graduate and Nathan is an engineer with G Force Engineering Services. The family lives in Indiana County, Pa.
Amy Constantine-Kline (BUS ’00) is the patron services and marketing manager at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild Jazz. A 2000 graduate in the sport, arts and entertainment management program, she also serves as the social media chair for the International Ticketing Association and is a member of the organization’s Peer Consulting Committee. In 2012, she was recognized by INTIX as the inaugural Young Ticketing Professional of the Year. Constantine-Kline is also a leader of the regional ticketing association known as POINK (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky). She has spoken to various Point Park classes on the subjects of ticketing and marketing for the arts.
Jace Lumley (COM ’11) is the photo editor at GQ Magazine in New York City. A photojournalism graduate who played basketball at Point Park, Lumley says his job responsibilities include shooting assignments for projects and articles and researching photos at GQ. “I also contribute my voice to GQ's web content, which is an extremely fun and creative process.” The Butler, Pa. native says that “anything done creatively requires a great amount of time and passion. The classes at Point Park taught me how to spend time doing what was keeping me inspired. No matter how good or bad the feedback was, I loved what I was doing, and was only going to continue to work on bettering myself. I found my way into the photojournalism program after meeting professors Chris Rolinson and the late Patrick Millard, who I owe the majority of my passion and photography pursuit to. Everyday in class with them was a complete adventure. No matter what it was we were working on or talking about, you learned to love even a little part of it.” Eventually, Lumley “would like to creatively direct a team or continue to work my way in to the publication and fashion industry. I'm also taking acting classes, would like to live in South America, be flown to exotic areas to photograph wildlife and join some type of organization that aids less fortunate countries.”
Lindsey Whissel (COPA ’07) produced the television program You Can’t Say That (YCST), which was selected from nearly 90 entries to represent the United States at the International Public Television Screening Conference. Whissel, who earned her degree in cinema and digital arts, joined the director of the program in traveling to El Salvador in May 2013 to present YCST to industry professionals from around the world. Learn more and view a trailer of the program.
Jim Mistick (BUS ’12) writes to share the happy news that “I recently proposed to Lynda Brenner and have set a wedding date for July 13, 2013. Our first date was the night before my M.B.A. graduation from Point Park, so the two most important things in life happened on the same weekend!”
Brandon Dujmic (BUS’12) is a customer care representative for ShowClix, Inc. A native of McKeesport, Pa., he earned his bachelor’s degree in sport, arts and entertainment management. “Throughout much of my time at Point Park, I was employed in ticketing at Stage AE. I was naturally curious to explore new frontiers, and I knew that my primary interest was based in ticketing. I was searching for jobs when ShowClix just so happened to pop into my search results. I knew the company from a few concerts I’d attended, but I never would have imagined its young and exciting work atmosphere and the outstanding product that the company has created. I was thrilled when I got the job offer.” Dujmic’s responsibilities include “taking ticket orders by phone for the thousands of events that we service nationwide. This is no small task. It takes getting familiar with the ShowClix administrative program, not to mention getting accustomed with the variety of customer calls and their ever-changing and unique situations….Perhaps the most fascinating part about my job is that I get to talk to people from all over the country.”
Amadeo Fusca (COPA ’09) was selected from 60 finalists as the winner of the So You Think You Can Roast? competition. As the winner, he roasted actor Jack Black on April 5 at the Friars Club in New York City. Fusca joined such entertainers as Jeff Ross, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller and John Cusack on the Friars Club stage. A native of Pittsburgh, Fusco is active in Point Park alumni activities in his hometown and in New York City.
Stacey Kammerdiener (COM 2005) began a new position as a strategic enrollment consultant with TWG Plus, a higher education marketing firm in Austin, Texas, in April 2013. A mass communication graduate of Point Park, Kammerdiener previously served as associate director of admissions and guest experience coordinator at Queens University of Charlotte, N.C. She was also a marketing project manager, and asenior assistant director of admissions, at Queens University of Charlotte.
Jonathan Geyer (BUS ’11) is global network manager at Holtec International. A resident of Mt. Pleasant, Pa., he earned his bachelor’s degree in information technology and management at Point Park. “I had been working for Holtec for a few years in their IT department as a systems administrator. Expansion and growth of the company created an opportunity for me to advance into this role as a global network manager and gain more global infrastructure and design responsibilities,” says Geyer. “Point Park’s professors were very helpful in delivering subject matter that incorporated theoretical expertise into the technical experience I’ve gathered over the years. Fred Kitner and Joan Mosey were wonderful professors who encouraged communication and great discussions within their classes. They were not the only professors there, but they are at the core of my memories about my education from Point Park. All of the professors at Point Park created a collaborative atmosphere that embodied the education experience one could hope for in college.”
Riley Faison (COPA 2010) writes, “Since I graduated from Point Park with a degree in musical theatre in 2010, I have lived in San Diego and traveled to Orange County and Los Angeles for film shoots. Over that period of time, I worked on the independent film (through Chapman University) titled Burmese Refugee, in which I played a kitchen worker who worked alongside the lead character of the film, San Aung. In spring 2012 the film was featured at the Phoenix Film Festival and it has garnered much attention in the national and international spheres, as it sheds light on the potential challenges that Burmese refugees face coming to and living in America. After working as actor in independent films for two years, I decided to audition for graduate theatre programs and in fall 2012 I enrolled in the M.F.A. program in acting and directing at The University of Wisconsin at Madison. I will be here for three years and after finishing the program I would like to teach at the university level.”
Rachel Kernic (BUS ’12) is internal events coordinator at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh. She has also been a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Canonball Crew and co-founder of Glitzburgh, a black-tie fashion show that has raised more than $50,000 for local children’s charities. While earning her degree in sport, arts and entertainment management, she says she “worked extremely hard to network and get as much experience in my field as possible. One of the job requirements for my position was to have a couple of years of professional experience in event planning. I believe that because I worked so hard volunteering my time and gaining experience in events, Phipps was able to look past the fact that I had just graduated and took my experience as a student as professional experience. Kernic’s responsibilities include “figuring out the logistics of the event and make sure it is a success. There are so many different types of events I plan at Phipps, from 25 guest board meetings to wine galas with 400 guests. Each event is different and requires less or more of something than others. I am the person who figures out what is needed and makes sure it is executed. I need to make sure my client is happy and that I have given them what they expect at the event. My client could be the CEO of Phipps, an employee of Phipps or a client that is bringing in a national three-day conference,” she says. “No two events are the same and the day never gets boring!”
John Magaro (COPA’05) is a film, television and theatre actor whose most recent role is playing "Douglas" in the Paramount movie Not Fade Away, which also stars James Gandofini. Magaro praises his student experience, saying “Point Park grants students great freedom that many other schools do not provide — the freedom to develop as artists inside and outside of the classroom. In the classroom, students have the chance to work with faculty who nurture an appreciation and awareness for theatre,” says Magaro, who will also appear in an upcoming film with Tom Hanks and Catherine Keener. “Students at Point Park also have many opportunities to apply what they've learned, like working on productions at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and other theatres in the community. This allows students to work side-by-side with experienced professionals in an industry setting. That is a priceless gift.” See a trailer for the film Not Fade Away.
Patrick Huber (BUS ’09) is an athletic trainer II/program coordinator in the Sports Concussion Outreach Program at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine in Pittsburgh. He earned his M.B.A. with a concentration in international business from Point Park and he has an undergraduate degree in exercise science. “As an athletic trainer, I work with athletes from a variety of levels who sustain injuries that are usually orthopedic. However, I always knew that I did not want to spend my entire career on the sidelines treating athletes,” says Huber. “I chose to pursue an M.B.A. to help diversify my opportunities. With an M.B.A., I could move into more of an operations role rather than a clinical one. By choosing a concentration in international business, I diversified my portfolio enough to be marketable in health care and other industries with national or multinational corporations. I chose Point Park specifically for the classes and the international business concentration… [which] has students in it from all over the world. During class we would hear about different cultures, foods, religions and politics from various perspectives. It was by far the best experience of my entire collegiate career.”