Nine outstanding alumni will return to UNL Nov. 13-15 to share their experiences and knowledge with students as part of Alumni Masters Week.
This year marks the 49th annual Alumni Masters Week, a program sponsored by the Nebraska Alumni Association, Scarlet Guard (the alumni association’s student group), and the UNL Chancellor’s Office. All students are encouraged to take part in lectures, presentations and events with the Alumni Masters, who will speak about ways to apply formal education to working situations and career goals. Since 1964, nearly 280 alumni have participated in Alumni Masters Week.
The public is invited to meet the alumni masters and hear their perspectives on Civic Engagement during a panel discussion from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Nebraska Champions Club, 707 Stadium Drive.
The 2013 Alumni Masters are:
Maj. Gen. Daryl L. Bohac, a three-time UNL graduate, most recently served as the assistant adjutant general-air, Nebraska National Guard, and deputy adjutant general of the Nebraska Military Department. Bohac has served the Nebraska National Guard in command of the 155th Maintenance and 155th Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons, and as deputy chief of staff for operations; director of staff; and vice-director of the joint staff, Joint Force Headquarters. Bohac earned three degrees in psychology from UNL in 1987, 1991 and 1994. He is hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences.
Charles Dalluge is executive vice president of Leo A. Daly Co., where he is responsible for the firm’s operations and projects worldwide. Dalluge has worked in the Hong Kong, Singapore, Honolulu, Phoenix, Omaha and Washington, D.C., offices. Dalluge has a LEED accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. He earned a bachelor of architecture degree from UNL in 1982, and is hosted by the College of Architecture.
Karen Jennings is a real estate agent with CBS Home Real Estate. She has received countless awards from CBS Home including Top Sales Agent in 2008, Top Producer in 2009-2012 and Best of Omaha Winners Circle 2013. As a student-athlete at UNL, she was a three-time first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for women’s basketball. Jennings received her bachelor of science from UNL in 1993 and her master of science in physical therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1998. She is hosted by the Athletic Department.
Sharon McIlnay is a member of Matias Energy LLC, an energy industry-focused consulting and project development company that she co-founded. Matias Energy provides international and domestic energy infrastructure project consulting and management services. Prior to 2007, McIlnay served as vice president and general counsel of CMS Enterprises Co., the non-utility subsidiary of CMS Energy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1976, an MBA in 1980 and a J.D., cum laude, in 1989 from UNL. She is hosted by the College of Law.
Dean Rasmussen is president and CEO of Grandmother’s and Don & Millie’s restaurants and Prairie Life Fitness. He and his partners own and operate nine restaurants in the Midwest, and Rasmussen owns nine Prairie Life Fitness Centers in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Tennessee. He has served on the boards of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Project Harmony and more. Rasmussen graduated from UNL in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in music. His visit is hosted by the College of Education and Human Sciences.
Tim Roesler is chief business development officer and senior vice president for American Public Media, where he supervises business development, business planning, sponsorship sales (underwriting) e-commerce, and ticketed events for APM and its subsidiaries, Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio and Classical South Florida. He also is president of MPR’s Fitzgerald Theater Co. Roesler earned a degree in broadcast journalism from UNL in 1977. The College of Journalism and Mass Communications is his host.
Luke Smith is a consultant based in Scottsdale, Ariz., who specializes in start-ups and launches, international business and turnarounds. He provides consulting services for a California-based semiconductor start-up and is a director of ITAC (aerospace design services), a fellow of NUTech Ventures at UNL and an adviser for Newport Media Inc. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from UNL in 1970 and 1971. The College of Engineering is hosting Smith’s visit.
Joe Stone is the business unit leader for the Cargill Feed and Nutrition business globally, with responsibilities for serving customers and more than 10,000 employees across 26 countries. Stone joined Cargill in 1985, spending the majority of his career with Cargill AgHorizons and Grain and Oilseeds business units before joining the Cargill World Trading Unit in Geneva, Switzerland. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1984 in agricultural economics from UNL. Stone serves on the board of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at UNL. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program are hosting him.
Cecil L. Walker retired in 2001 as the chairman and CEO of Gannett Broadcasting. A Nebraska native who graduated from the UNL College of Business Administration in 1959, Walker began his media career in Denver and held financial and officer positions for years with a company purchased in 1979 by Gannett Co. Inc. In 1984, he was promoted to president and general manager of WXIA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Atlanta. In 1985, Walker was promoted to president of Gannett Television and in 1987 to president and CEO of Gannett Broadcasting. The College of Business Administration is hosting Walker’s visit.
More detailed bios for the Alumni Masters are available at http://huskeralum.org/2013-masters-bios.
