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KENNY WATTS ’71 wrote and published a spiritual techno-thriller novel, Neurifact. The main character is a Florida Tech research professor, and many of the scenes are on campus.
JAMES “JIM” SUMNER ’77 A.S., ’78, was recognized by President Joe Biden for his volunteer effort at Arches National Park with a President’s Volunteer Service Award. Since retirement, Jim and his wife, Patty, have been regular volunteers for the National Park Service, contributing over 1,000 hours at Arches, Denali and Glacier national parks.
JOHN TIEDEMANN ’80 M.S., after a rewarding early career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, recently retired as School of Science assistant dean and marine and environmental biology program director at Monmouth University. He worked at the university for 26 years.
TRISH (LINDSAY) MURPHEY ’85 was elected chair of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which is responsible for fishery resources from 3 to 200 miles off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. She represents the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.
BRIAN SARGENT ’87 A.S. reconnected with several Florida Tech alumni at the United Airlines Annual Standards and Training Meeting in Denver in October 2024. (Pictured from left): MARCUS BUCHANAN ’88, NEAL SORENSON ’86 A.S., ’88, MARK HOMAN ’88 A.S., ’90, MARTIN GERHARD ’88 A.S., ’90, BRIAN SARGENT, JOHN CHAMPION ’87 A.S., ’88, DARREN PATTERSON ’93 and DAN SULLIVAN ’93.
TIMOTHY LING ’89 was recognized at the Ohio Manufacturers’ Leadership Forum by the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) with the Babington Award for his involvement, contribution and leadership within the organization.
ROBERT DILL ’90, ’91 M.S., crossed the finish line at the Ironman Hawaii triathlon race in October 2024.
PAULETTE KING-MORIN ’94 was the keynote speaker at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior’s special tribute to the FDNY Retirees of Brevard County and the Palm Bay Fire Department Sept. 11, 2024.
JEWELL (WHEELER) POWELL ’98 M.S. has found success in a second career as an award-winning filmmaker. Her first feature film, “Unfailing Love,” has garnered over 15 awards, including Best Audience Choice, at various film festivals.
JUSTIN MEYER ’99 was awarded the Ted Buschelman Legacy Award from the Airports Council International–North America and his North American airport industry colleagues.
MARK WIESE ’00 is the manager of deep space logistics at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Gateway Program. Wiese was recently featured on the podcast, “Houston, We Have a Podcast!” where he discussed his role in shaping the future of space exploration.
EMILY (WILL) TORLAKOVIC ’03 and her husband, NAIM TORLAKOVIC ’01, ’03 M.S., started Happiness Horse Farm in Palm Bay, Florida. This volunteer-run nonprofit farm and animal sanctuary is for local community members and students.
ROBIN DESMORE ’08 M.S. was selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. Desmore, a distinguished professional with over 30 years of experience in government contracting and strategic management, is the CEO and founder of Avant-Garde Concepts LLC.
PAUL DECKER ’11 was promoted to onsite school programs coordinator at the Seattle Aquarium. Within this role, he coordinates pre-K through college student programs that inspire marine environment conservation.
GAËL LE BRIS ’11 MSA and LOUP-GIANG NGUYEN ’19 MSA, who both work at WSP, have published The Future of Airports: A Vision of 2040 and 2070. The book, the result of a six-year research project that has involved over 100 aviation experts and leaders around the world, explores long-term challenges and opportunities in aviation along 11 strategic topics.
NICHOLAS KARL ’11 is engaged to Kathryn McClenahan, and they have planned their wedding for June. Karl is employed at Sandia National Laboratories.
RYAN MONTES ’13 is co-founder and CEO of MicroPure Genomics, a biotechnology company aiming to improve lives by making genomic analysis accessible anytime, anywhere and for anyone. MicroPure’s end-toend automated solution for front-end sample preparation dramatically reduces preparation time, complexity (in both labor and steps) and costs, and it is backed by organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF).
CAROLYN (CHABUZ) MONTES ’14 is completing a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Ohio State University. After earning her biology degree from Florida Tech, she went on to earn her M.D. from the University of Florida, from there matching for residency at the University of Colorado, specializing in otolaryngology, or ENT (ear, nose and throat).
EMILY (SYBO) GLATZ ’15 and her husband, Jared, welcomed their Panther cub, Noah, Aug. 5, 2024.
ALEXANDER NICKERSON ’15, ’16 M.S., successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation, Sea Surface Temperatures, the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current, Hurricane Ian, and Their Junction. Florida Tech meteorology associate professor Pallav Ray was on his committee.
ERIN (PITTMAN) ALVARADO ’16 and her husband, DAVID ALVARADO ’13, ’14 M.S., welcomed their Panther cub, Owen, Aug. 6, 2024. Erin has worked for the Florida Tech Office of Alumni Affairs as the communications and content manager for over two years (and happens to write these AlumNotes).
LILLY FLOWERS ’20 M.A. became the youngest female African American executive director of the Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention in Wiregrass, Alabama.
NICOLE BARNETT ’21 and TREY SCHANEVILLE ’21 got engaged July 4, 2024. The couple met at Florida Tech, where Barnett was the captain of the women’s soccer team and Schaneville played football and basketball.
CAMILA RAHIM ’21 M.S. has been working in human resources for the past two years and recently started a career services online business, MilaCareerServices.com.
This piece was featured in the winter 2025 edition of Florida Tech Magazine.
© Florida Institute of Technology.
