Larry Tessler, of Moraga, Calif., writes, “With a retail career that spanned some 34 years, I can honestly say I enjoyed virtually every working day. I’m especially grateful for those who mentored me and for those I had the privilege of mentoring over the years as I worked for local and national retail stores as well as starting and operating my own small business. “My primary volunteer duty was in mentoring some 2,000 new or existing small businesspeople. My wife, who was an extensive volunteer and Cal grad, and I took many vacations to countries around the world in addition to traveling through most of the U.S.”

Carl Jacobs, of Woodland Hills, Calif., shares, “I moved back to Woodland Hills, bought a home, and remodeled it. I will redo some of the landscaping when it gets cooler, a prominent feature of which will be a Japanese garden with a working waterfall. Having been diagnosed with high-risk aggressive prostate cancer, over nine on a scale of 10, I completed treatment, which appears to have been successful. I am continuing drug medication, which is a bit debilitating, but it did not stop me from enjoying a 23-day trip to England and Wales. “On another note, I completed a year as co-president of the BHAN-LA chapter.”

Dick Vortmann, see MBA 1968.

Robert (Rebo) Rebuschatis, of Sebastopol, Calif., updates, “I released my second novel in spring 2025, titled Harvest and the Crush. A rollicking story full of drama and humor. Set in the Northern Cal wine country. Full of unique characters. One pleasing review in The Sonoma County Gazette says: ‘Clean and lyrical style. Almost predictable the author has a degree from Cal Berkeley.’ That was nice to hear! Buy on Amazon.”

Tony Richmond, of Dallas, shares, “In May 2025, after 36 years of practicing law at Latham & Watkins, I accepted the role of executive vice president, corporate affairs, at American Airlines in Dallas. This has been a wonderful transition to a senior management position in commercial aviation, an industry I love. I am greatly indebted to my wife, Pilar, for her support in tackling a new job and geography.”

Mitch Rosenberg, of Santa Barbara, Calif., was selected for the “Who’s Who in Healthcare & Insurance” report by Pacific Coast Business Times.

Andrew Shapiro, of Mill Valley, Calif., updates, “With Lawndale Capital Management’s activist funds reaching their 32-year maturity, I’ve entered a ‘rewirement’ that centers on more corporate board service and my work at Lawndale Capital Advisors. At LCA, I advise investors and company boards on constructive shareholder engagement, governance improvements, capital allocation, and activist campaigns. I was recently featured on the Activist Investing Today podcast on The Deal podcast network.

“My wife and I visit the New York area often to see our grandson, born April 2024, and we look forward to welcoming a granddaughter in January.” Shown: Andrew with wife, Audrey; daughter, Claudia (Shapiro) Freedman; and grandson, Brady Wolf Freedman.

Edmund Fong, of Sunnyvale, Calif., writes, “I have been retired on federal pension since 2017. Been offered an interview to be ‘winetender’ at the Osteria at Domenico Winery on Industrial Blvd. in San Carlos. Makes me think how lucky I was working at 1515 Industrial Way when the A’s and Giants were in the World Series. I have to learn how to better prompt AI to keep up with Gen X and millennials.

“Hoping to volunteer for Rep. Ro Khanna in his Santa Clara District Office. Planning and funding the Fong family reunion/Alaska cruise/train to Denali in 2028 to honor my father’s 100th. Planning to move to Chicago in 2027. I want to be in Philadelphia for July Fourth and in NYC for 9/11 in 2026.”

Ruby Zefo, of Palo Alto, Calif., shares, “After seven years of navigating the digital highway as Uber’s first chief privacy officer, over 30 years total practicing law at a law firm and other large tech companies, and almost five years as a marketing manager early in my career, I announced my retirement in August! But since I don’t know how to retire (yet), I went back to The Farm, joining Stanford’s Distinguished Careers Institute as a fellow in September. I remain a ‘Beardinal.’”

Elaine Fitch, of Washington, D.C., is a managing partner of Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, P.C. in Washington, D.C., and a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. She was named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers guide. She was also recognized in Washingtonian’s 2025 Top Employment Lawyers list and selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Timothy Yee, of Alameda, Calif., shares, “Despite Mother Nature’s best efforts, I survived my 13th trip to Burning Man. I am counting down the weeks until the 2026 Burn.”

Michael Lynch, of San Francisco, writes, “Very proud of my 15-year-old son, Jack. He attended a six-week ‘Innovation & Entrepreneurship’ course over the summer at Cal and earned an A- grade. From his professor: ‘Jack was an awesome addition to our…community…I would wholeheartedly welcome an opportunity to work and learn with Jack again!’”

Jerome Fogel, of Los Angeles, updates, “The boutique transactional law firm I co-founded, Fogel & Potamianos LLP, received a recognition in Chambers and Partners’ prestigious Chambers Spotlight California 2025 guide as a leading law firm in the field of corporate law. “My wife, Sheri, and I welcomed our second girl, Mia, this summer.” Shown: Jerome, Sheri, Gianna, and Mia.

Busayo “Michelle” Olupona, of Brooklyn, N.Y., writes about her fashion brand: “Busayo is now being sold at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales throughout the country.”

Belal Aftab, of Saratoga, Calif., shares, “I recently became the mayor of Saratoga, my hometown in the Bay Area. I still work at Stripe full time but enjoy problem-solving in my community.”

Cliff Tsang, of San Francisco, writes, “My company, Willowmar Real Estate, was once again named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the top real estate sales teams in the country. We serve the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego…and are proud that many Haas alumni are our clients. I’m also thrilled to share that fellow Cal alum, Brandea Bunnag, BA 15, was promoted to partner earlier this year.” Shown: Cliff; Connie Chung, BA 09; Bunnag; and Kenny Gong, BA 11

Valentina Fung, of Seattle, comments, “After two years with BCG in Seattle, where I’ve worked on transformation and growth strategy projects for Fortune 500 clients in biopharma, consumer, and technology, I’m now exploring what could be next! I’m especially excited about roles at the intersection of strategy and operations within healthcare or
technology, and I’m interested in returning to the Bay Area. I’d love to connect with alumni who’ve made similar transitions. Feel free to message me on LinkedIn!

“I got married this October! Over the past five years, I earned my MBA at Chicago Booth and worked in the wine industry before joining BCG. Outside of work, I love food and travel (including recent trips to Uzbekistan and Oman) and am looking forward to reconnecting with the Bay Area community.”

Caroline Piehl, of Denver, updates, “Became a managing partner at Timewise Financial. Also attained the enrolled agent designation, which allows me to represent clients in front of the IRS. Timewise Financial exists at the intersection of tax and wealth planning, and as a managing partner I am now playing a key role to shape our future as a firm.

“I also founded Win Your Wealth, a financial literacy program for athletes—teaching them the basics of money and how to establish proactive habits. I worked with the Cal women’s basketball team last fall. Joined the advisory board of a nonprofit, Strong Girls United, that aims to empower girls through sport.”

Asha Culhane-Husain, of Westlake Village, Calif., writes, “I wanted to provide an exciting career update that will bring me back to the Bay! In October, I’ll begin work at Mirador Capital Partners, a wealth management firm based in Pleasanton. I’ll be working as a financial planning associate, and I am so excited to serve amazing clients and work with such a talented team. Fun fact—I interned for this firm when I was a junior at Haas and have stayed in touch with them over the years. I’m honored!”

Victoria Stafford, of Washington, D.C., writes, “On Sept. 13, I hosted Healthy Environment Day 2025 at the Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market in Utah. Eight environmental nonprofits, including Stewardship Utah and Citizens’ Climate Lobby, came from all over the state to connect with Cache Valley residents. Like-minded organizations and leaders planted seeds for future coordination and collaboration at a time when funding for environmental causes is tight. I’m always energized to see how others are working to support people and the planet and would love to hear from the Haas community!”

Adithya Shakthi Kumar, of Los Angeles, writes, “I’m currently serving as growth and partnerships lead at Layer N, where I’m focused on scaling Web3 infrastructure solutions. Previously, I co-founded Monte Carlo, working on AI-driven data reliability platforms, and served as product and operations engineer at SpaceX. Recently, I launched several Web3 and AI product initiatives, and I’m excited to share that I’ve signed with Prescription Songs as a producer and recording artist, blending my technical and creative passions.

“Recently moved to L.A. to be closer to the tech and music industries. I’ve been volunteering with Berkeley alumni events, helping connect recent grads with industry opportunities and mentoring students interested in the intersection of tech and creative arts.”

Larry Lin, of Philadelphia, comments, “Started my PhD at Wharton.”

Ron Kaufman, of San Francisco, writes, “As Arnold says: ‘Retirement is for sissies.’ However, I do read two papers in the morning before getting my behind in motion and leave the ‘heavy lifting’ to others. I’ve been volunteering for the past 60 years. Thankful for a very good life, good family, great career, and for still being here.”

Dick Vortmann, updates “In my 82nd year and have been retired now for 20 years. I earned my bachelor’s degree and my MBA at Haas (before it was Haas) and having taught as a part-time associate in accounting while pursuing a PhD (which I never obtained), I found myself well prepared for departing the academic world and entering the business world. I invested a lifelong career with the old Kaiser conglomerate headquarters in Oakland and its subsidiaries. I wound up the last 29 years of such with National Steel and Shipbuilding in San Diego, 22 years of which I served as president and CEO. We took the 4,000-employee company private as a 100% employee-owned firm. After a successful 10-year run, we then sold out to General Dynamics. Bottom line: Life has been good given my head start at Cal.”

Bernard Friedrich, of Aix-en-Provence, France, and Lone Pine, Calif., shares, “Now 82 years old, enjoying an active retirement since 2013 between California and France. Still in contact with my former (and younger) clients and business contacts. Since my MBA in 1970, I’ve lived in France (Marseille and Paris), London, New York (1975–1983), Los Angeles (1983–2019), and Lone Pine.”

George (Max) Oliva, of Spokane, Wash., writes, “I am a Jesuit priest serving both in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Spokane, Washington. My website is Ethics in the Marketplace: haas.org/GeorgeMaxOliva.”

David Jones, of Culver City, Calif., comments, “Retired, working with a personal trainer to rebuild my physique for the next 25 years.”

Michaela Rodeno, of Napa, Calif., updates, “Villa Ragazzi has added estate Oakville Cabernet to its otherwise all Sangiovese product line. This is a big change for us, intended to support a livelihood for the millennial next gen who will carry on the family business. Grateful to my Haas MBA for this insight.

“Our next-gen millennials are now reunited in Napa Valley, bringing with them gen 3. It doesn’t get better than that.” Shown: Jade Blum, Michaela, and Tenny Frost at Villa Ragazzi.

45th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Glenn Bacal of Scottsdale, Ariz., shares, “I continue to work full time as an intellectual property attorney at our firm. Bacal & Garrison Law Group has been repeatedly recognized by Chambers and Best Law Firms as a top-tier firm, and we compete head-to-head with firms hundreds of times bigger than us.

“Became a grandparent for the first time in August with the birth of a wonderful grandson.”

Schalon Newton, of Irvine, Calif., recently became principal of Immune Boost Capital, a new philanthropic venture fund of the Arthritis National Research Foundation. He previously spent more than two decades at Allergan, including five years as president of Allergan Japan, and has since held senior leadership roles at Santen Inc. and Trefoil Therapeutics. Newton earned his DBA at Case Western Reserve University and serves as an adviser and board member to early-stage biopharma and medical device companies.

Mark Berger sold his Menlo Park home and moved to beautiful Bainbridge Island in May 2018 after 37 years in the Bay Area. He subsequently retired from NVIDIA on Tax Day (April 15, 2019). Candace DeLeo (spouse) and he undertook a COVID remodel from 2020 to 2021. He can be found shooting clay pigeons at the local Sportsman’s Club, kayaking on Murden Cove where he lives, birdwatching, or protesting.

Marta Johnson, of Concord, Calif., shares, “I’m home! After living for more than 30 years in NYC, I quit my job and moved back to the Bay Area. I’m so happy to be back and am keeping busy swimming (outside!), hiking (on real mountains), and taking classes offered by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkeley and other universities.”

Jon Dutra, of Cupertino, Calif., comments, “I am still at Apple, designing hardware and systems and mentoring all the young engineers—basically getting paid to do my hobby. Life is good!” Shown: Jon and Dianne in Reno.

Michael Sosebee, of Oakland, Calif., updates, “After a 30-year career on Wall Street as a bond trader and bond salesman, I created Forsight, Inc., an AI startup in the construction space, seven years ago with two partners. We just sold Forsight to EquipmentShare, where we are now employed.

“This past year, we were blessed with our fourth grandchild.”

40th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Steve Blechman, of Philadelphia, writes, “I have recently retired after a (nearly) 40-year career in HR and HR technology. See my LinkedIn announcement for details!

“I’m easing into retirement and will continue to pursue my musical ambitions, focus on my health, travel, and keep my mind engaged. I’ll be making many more visits to Berkeley and the Bay Area to visit family and friends in the coming years. Very much looking forward to our MBA class 40-year reunion and would love to rekindle past connections!”

Paul DeMuro, of Wilson, Wyo., has joined the Dallas office of the Katten Muchin Rosenman law firm as counsel, where he focuses on healthcare and information technology.”

Bob Merrill, of Naperville, Ill., shares, “I now serve on three boards: Quaker Window and Doors, North American Specialty Laminates, and R2P Innovations. Serving on boards keeps me engaged and busy while allowing the flexibility to travel and spend time with friends and family.

“Maureen and I celebrated our 41st anniversary and are enjoying being grandparents, with the second grandchild due in December!”

Michael Webster, of Orinda, Calif., writes, “After a seven-year stretch of bank employment ending as a director, I retired from banking last November and returned to full-time business ownership. I maintained my firm (Webster & Company) while in banking, so the transition back has been relatively smooth. Now focusing mostly on consulting and expert witness assignments while still mixing in some appraisals and staying busy enough. Let me know if I can assist in anything commercial/residential real estate related.

“My wife, Grazyna, PhD 00 (agricultural and natural resource economics), is staying busy as a tenured professor at Las Positas College. My daughter, Anna, is a sophomore at UC Berkeley, majoring in statistics. I’m enjoying my time as a commissioner on the Orinda Parks and Recreation Commission and now have time for travel. To decompress, I’m taking great pleasure in slowly renovating parts of our house.”

Bill Cohen, of Santa Barbara, Calif., updates, “Career was in medical devices. I sold two businesses—one after 20 years with 200 employees and the other after three years, which was a patent and FDA-approved product. Still at it with a rapid diagnostic test for purity of marijuana and a surgical product to limit phrenic nerve damage during AFIB surgery. Not my ideas, but fun to be along for the ride.

“This month is the 40-year anniversary of my wife, Kathy, and I running the Colorado River. We went two years after a famous run called the Emerald Mile (a book of the same name details the boat trip taken by three men during the 1983 flooding). The dam managers were letting out large volumes of water. We went while it was running at 35,000 cubic feet per second (it runs at 14,000 cfs now). Kath and I are still running rivers with family and friends. Lots of peace on the river.”

Stacy (Anastasia) Nathaniel Jackson, of Washington, D.C., shares, “My Afrofuturist play, The Codex of Narma, was a semifinalist for the 2025 Eugene O’Neill National Playwright Conference and received a staged reading presented by the National Queer Theater in partnership with The Arts Project of Cherry Grove and The Other Side of Silence.”

35th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Dan Lynch, of Lafayette, Calif., writes, “I moved back to the U.S. after 28 years in Eastern Europe. I reconnected with my college girlfriend, and after 18 months long distance, we decided to merge our families in Lamorinda. Now, with five kids total, we have only two left in college (phew) and are finally empty nesters. I have been coaching Miramonte High School football, angel investing, golfing, and traveling. It’s good to be back in the Bay Area.” Shown: Dan and family.

Arturo Cornejo, of Houston, updates, “Twenty-nine years to the day after Bertrand and Balkis’ wedding in France, we got together again to celebrate Eleonore, Bertrand’s daughter, and Maxime’s wedding in France. In Munich, I also had the opportunity to visit with Dirk Hofer, lifelong friend from the Berkeley Haas FTMBA Class of 1992.” Shown: (L-R) Helen Chen, Balkis Levoir, Bertrand Levoir, Philippe Joachain, Victor Casalino, Arturo, and Marinus Krinkels.

James Kamradt recently joined the Family Office of DealPoint Merrill as chief risk officer. He moved from Mill Valley to Woodland Hills in L.A.

Atsushi Toda, of Tokyo, shares, “A year ago, I started my own company to provide financial advisory services to corporate clients. This September is the company’s first anniversary. During the year, many things happened, and I’ve realized once again how precious all the support my clients and friends give to me is. Small business is not easy, but I would like to continue my work and give something back to clients, friends, and society.”

Donna Wills Colson, of Burlingame, Calif., says, “My most recent position is board chair for Peninsula Clean Energy, a community-based electric company providing affordable clean energy for San Mateo County and Los Banos.

“With our children launched and my husband slowing down his work, we are traveling more and volunteering in our community. My most recent trip was to see art at Burning Man.”

Marcy Porus-Gottlieb, of Seattle, writes, “What a delight to participate in the Haas Story Salon at our 30th reunion (shown)—and to reconnect with so many beloved classmates! The experience of unearthing the truest story I could tell invigorated one of my favorite aspects of my consulting business: coaching midlife folks like us through career shifts and life transitions and helping them make meaning of their own stories to lead the most thriving lives possible.

“If you’re in transition, feeling stuck in something that no longer serves, on the edge of something new, or simply wondering, ‘What’s next for me?’—this is my sweet spot. Let’s chat: marcypgconsulting.com.”

30th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Mark Beckford, of Folsom, Calif., writes, “My latest venture, NetBridge Communities, has expanded into several new nonprofit consulting practice areas this year, including strategic funding, marketing, and AI/automation engagements. This new work enables me to combine the main passions of my career: disruptive technology, entrepreneurship, and helping those in need.

“This Christmas, I’m taking my first real vacation in years. I’m renting an RV and road-tripping with my three sons (all in their 20s) and my nephew, from Sacramento to Cabo San Lucas.”

Andy Peay, of Piedmont, Calif., shares, “Next year, I’ll celebrate 30 years as the founder and owner of Peay Vineyards and am currently picking my 25th harvest this fall. I do not see retirement on the horizon.

“My two high school sons, my wife, and I have become more involved in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, where I’m a board member.” Shown: Andy, Tucker Peay, Ami Schiess, and Jack Peay.

Edward Ruben, of Mountain View, Calif., writes, “August 2025: retired from Google after 20 years and the tech world after 34 years. Now focusing on health, travel, and the world of comedy. Let me know if you’re looking for an emcee/host for your organization’s event.”

John Carrick, of Los Angeles, shares, “After being displaced by the wildfires on Jan. 7, Catherine and I completed the remediation of our home in Pacific Palisades, and we moved back several weeks ago! It will likely be a number of years before our beloved community gets back on its feet, but we are staying positive and are constantly inspired by the resiliency of our friends and neighbors, many of whom lost everything.”

Chris Rigatuso, of Evergreen, Colo., shares, “This year, I published my first architecture paper with an amazing co-author. Working on my next book now with details here: haas.org/ChrisRigatuso.

“My current focus is on topics for publications in the future of technology, economics, and societal challenges. Modality is mostly just being outdoors and collaborating with world class co-authors and CEOs in startups. And a bit of travel. Living in the mountains after 30 years near a beach. Great to be close to skiing, hiking, and mountain climbing.”

Ratnesh Sharma, of Los Altos, Calif., says, “After many years in the technology industry, I found myself reevaluating what truly mattered following the loss of both my parents in 2016. That reflection led me to Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. I’m now completing a master’s in counseling psychology at Santa Clara University and will begin my practicum at Mission College this August. It’s been a deeply humbling and rewarding transition.

“Outside of school, I continue to pursue my passions for hiking and landscape photography. I walked the Kumano Kodo in Japan and the Camino de Santiago in Spain, traveled through Patagonia (shown), and, most recently, completed a trek in the Himalayas.”

Chris Heid, of Incline Village, Nev., shares, “I went full nomad in late 2023 after selling my home and putting all my stuff into storage. Traveled the world with only carry-on luggage for the better part of two-and-a-half years. I was able to visit with some MBA classmates during the travels. I’m now taking a break to remodel and set up a home base in Tahoe before the journey begins again in 2026.”

Ann Hsu, of San Francisco, updates, “My nonprofit American and Chinese bilingual and bicultural K–8 school (Bert Hsu Academy) is 2 years old! We’ve grown from four to 19 students and are providing our students with an excellent ABC (academy, bicultural, and character) education. I recently took our students to visit Berkeley Haas to inspire them to aim for the stars!” Shown: Ann and her Bert Hsu Academy students at Haas.

Tomoko Kusamoto, of Hakuba, Japan, announces, “Hakuba International School is now in its fourth year, serving 53 students in grades seven through 11, representing 18 different countries. Our first graduating class will cross the stage in May 2027. We’re fortunate to have an extraordinary community of students, families, faculty, staff, and local partners all dedicated to building a unique learning environment where both people and the planet can flourish. I’m a proud founder and a representative director of the school.

“I’m grateful to continue living in Hakuba in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. If you find yourself in this part of the planet, I’d love for you to visit!”

Michael Cappelluti, of Sacramento, Calif., writes, “After founding The Highlands Consulting Group in 2002, I’m excited to share that my partners and I have sold the firm to Accenture. Over two decades, Highlands Consulting grew into a respected name in management consulting services, serving clients primarily in the public sector. I’m grateful for the support of the Haas alumni community throughout this journey and look forward to the opportunities ahead.”

25th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Joe Alioto shares, “I’ve had my own law practice, Alioto Legal, for four years and represent small businesses in civil disputes, executives in white-collar cases, and individuals against corporate or government overreach and abuses of power.

“Living in SF with my wife, Erica, JD 01; son, Dominic (16), daughter, Athena (14), and dog, Bochy. Reach out.”

Alison Oliveira Wheeler, of Washington, D.C., is excited, inspired, and humbled to lead the UN Foundation’s Global Health Advocacy Partnership team. From engaging corporate partners in health access and equity initiatives for infectious disease and vaccine- preventable diseases to building coalitions to drive collective action for disease surveillance, she is collaborating on public/private partnerships to ensure all children and communities have a healthy shot at life.

Jennifer Ruzek Liebermann, of Lafayette, Calif., comments, “After 19 years leading innovation at Kaiser Permanente, I made the leap into independent consulting in 2023, initially working on several White House initiatives (which have been DOGE’d!).

“I’ve recently taken the plunge into the water sector, and it’s been incredibly rewarding! Water systems are both technically complex and deeply human. Every challenge requires systems thinking, and every solution depends on building trust across multiple stakeholders. Would love to connect with other Haas water or infrastructure nerds! Reach out if you’re in this space or considering a transition—I’d love to start a consulting circle.

“My husband and I are raising two teens, which will undoubtedly contribute to our early demise. We are still in Lafayette, and I cross paths with many Haasies semiregularly, including Megan (Rouse) Gordon, Emily Miller, Chris Crossen, and Brenda LeMay.”

Peter (Todd) Wehmann, of Alameda, Calif., writes, “I’ve been serving as VP of global e-commerce at Blackhawk Networks for the past year, where I lead our gift card business operations worldwide.

“I’ve officially joined the empty-nester club! My older son graduated from LMU this past May and has started his career in San Diego, while I just dropped off my younger son for his freshman year at Skidmore College. I’m staying active with masters swimming and spending time with classmate Emily Miller. We visited Quebec City this summer.”

Inder Grewal, of Scarsdale, N.Y., and Mahiro Ochi caught up at a baseball game in Tokyo.

Eric Meyerson, of San Francisco, shares, “I recently launched my own fractional marketing leadership practice for mission-driven organizations, and I’ve already completed some fascinating projects in the climate tech and education spaces.

“Two years ago, I stepped up my involvement with the Haas community, and I’m now co-president of the Haas Alumni Network of San Francisco. It’s been such a joy to work with our board, volunteers, and the broader community.”

Shawne Robinson, of Andover, Mass., updates, “I recently launched Tosch.ai, a college sports data analytics platform. As co-founder and CEO, I have the privilege of building it alongside my son, who serves as co-founder and chief product officer. Together, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges families face when navigating the college athletics process: finding clear, reliable information. Tosch.ai brings together previously scattered data and applies AI-powered insights to help student–athletes and their families make more informed decisions about where to continue their academic and athletic careers. Our platform also supports the broader college athletics ecosystem—including athletic directors, counselors, and even sports enthusiasts.”

Vivek Sanghi, of Campbell, Calif., shares, “After working as a strategy and partnerships leader in the credit/debit card data industry for seven years, earlier this year I embarked on the exciting journey of building Ease Vertical AI (easeverticalai.com). Our mission is to help businesses adopt and deploy modern AI-based solutions for addressing their multimodal, data-rich use cases. We’re currently building our inaugural product, EaseGTM, which will transform the efficiency, productivity, and velocity of the business-critical GTM use case for businesses globally.

“Our son, Vidur, returned to CMU for the sophomore year of his dual-degree program in CS and saxophone performance.”

Rodrigo Brumana, of San Francisco, started a new job as CFO of Joby Aviation, a $15 billion market cap company headquartered in Santa Cruz that’s going to bring flying into everyone’s life through clean energy and eVTOL capabilities (essentially take off as a helicopter and transition to fly as an airplane). “What I watched from Jetsons as a kid will become a reality in my lifetime—incredible.

“I started flying last year and am working on my airplane private pilot license. Alessandra is doing great, continuing to focus on the mental health space helping tons of people. Our daughter is going to college next year, and we hope she’ll be a Cal student.”

Benjamin Allen, of Piedmont, Calif., shares, “Just celebrated my 20th anniversary at Parnassus Investments—my only employer since Haas!

“Our oldest child is in college, but we still have two more in the house.”

Mark Kress, of Orinda, Calif., writes, “I’ve joined Hadron Energy as their new CFO! This clean energy company is well-positioned to address critical energy needs both domestically and internationally. See hadronenergy.com.”

20th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Alex (Robb) Ortiz, of San Francisco, comments, “In 2022, I founded Bright Growth, a marketing consulting firm from Silicon Valley that offers marketing leadership as a service (interim, fractional, advisory) to CEOs of venture-backed B2B companies, ensuring efficient high growth
and success.

“I still live in San Francisco with my wife, Patricia, and kids, Duncan (14) and Fiona (12). I recently got involved in BHAN-SF—hope to see you at our next event.”

Jennifer Quan, of Kailua, Hawaii, updates, “August was a big month for us. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary and dropped our eldest off at college. We celebrated in Istanbul and Cappadocia and are cheering on our college student while settling into our new rhythm with five at home.” Shown: Jennifer with husband, Eric Quan, MBA 14, in Cappadocia.

David Saxe, of Sausalito, Calif., writes, “Brian Chuck, Brian Milovich, MBA 06, and I closed on the acquisition of The Glens, an 88-unit multifamily community in San Jose’s highly sought-after Willow Glen neighborhood. This deal represents the type of opportunity Calvera Partners is looking for: well-located multifamily assets with strong upside potential in the heart of Silicon Valley. We’re actively seeking additional opportunities and partnerships. If you’re interested in investing or learning about upcoming deals, please reach out.”

Hu Liang, of Los Altos, Calif., says, “I started at Haas when my oldest daughter was just 2 months old—she’s now 20, and my youngest of three just turned 12.

“A year before graduating, the startup I helped grow was acquired by State Street Bank. That led to a decade at State Street. The role took me across continents, including a four-year stint in Hong Kong, and gave me experiences that were both rewarding and challenging. At the end of 2017, I left State Street to launch a fintech venture in the capital markets and digital asset space. The confidence, know-how, and network I gained from Haas played a huge role in bringing the company to success. In early 2022, we merged with Gemini. I recently founded Novellus, where we are reimagining securities lending.

“I’m constantly reminded of the doors that Haas opened for me. I look forward to what’s next and hope to reconnect with fellow alumni along the way.” Shown: Omniex Co-founder John Burnett and Hu. 

Jeremy Guttenplan, of Hoboken, N.J., shares, “Two years ago, I stepped away from the corporate world to dedicate myself to my true passion: leadership coaching and training. Since then, my practice has expanded beyond what I could have imagined. I’m proud to lead a team of expert coaches. Together, we focus on helping leaders build and scale service-based businesses and supporting corporate executives in strengthening leadership presence and transforming company culture.

“I just got back from Glacier National Park, Mont., where I was able to reconnect with nature and return completely reenergized. We recently moved from the Upper West Side (Manhattan) to Hoboken and are loving the change of pace.” Shown: Jeremy with wife, Shannon Chirone, and sons, Maxwell and Zachary.

15th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Hamza Khan, of Saudi Arabia, shares, “Moved to a new part of the world with/for work. Having a great time so far in Saudi Arabia.”

Joe McPherson, of Bethesda, Md., updates, “After retiring from the Coast Guard in 2021, I’ve been working on tech productization and channel strategy in the defense/intelligence space while my side-vibe, so to speak, is helping with the kids’ schools, sports, scouts, etc.

“We miss the Bay Area and did pop by Haas briefly during a stopover there. Snapped a quick picture with my twins who were just one when we graduated.” Shown: Joe with sons Joseph and Rocco.

Ben Buchanan, of Los Angeles, writes, “I’ve recently started a new role as senior vice president, worldwide distribution, at Sony Pictures Entertainment, negotiating multi-territory and global deals with key clients, including Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Apple, Paramount, and others.

“I’ve joined the Australian Wildlife Conservancy USA Council, helping to advance AWC-USA’s mission by providing strategic guidance and supporting innovative conservation efforts to protect Australia’s unique wildlife and ecosystems.”

Aashi Vel, of Renton, Wash., writes, “Traveling Spoon is now in 65 countries and more than 230 cities worldwide. We were recently featured in The New York Times as the ‘Airbnb for cooking’ and the ‘best way to bond’ with locals.”

Sakshi Chadha, of Chicago, says, “I began advising Tribela last November, and I’m now stepping into a new role with the team. The goal is to have the app launch to the public by December. I’ll be leading efforts in raising capital, monetization, brand partnerships, and product alongside our founder, Natalie (shown). Tribela’s mission is deeply inspiring—born out of Natalie’s family’s experience with the harms of social media—and I’m grateful to be part of building a more authentic, human- centered alternative.

“I moved back to Chicago in 2022 and am working part-time on a cookbook!”

10th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Pete Dillon, of Oakland, Calif., says, “I’m excited to share that I am now a California-licensed CPA, rounding out the credentialing portion of my path toward executive finance leadership. As a “triple Bear”— MS 07 (chemistry), MBA 16, and accounting certificate 21—I’m grateful to have been supported by Cal throughout this journey!”

Rob Kenny, of Berkeley, Calif., shares, “Earlier this year, after several years as a CFO at early-stage companies, I joined boutique investment bank Rizoma as a director. I would love to catch up, especially if you want to talk about climate or healthcare startups or are a founder who needs support with an M+A or fundraising process.”

Manish Mukherjee, of Sunnyvale, Calif., writes, “Leading Cisco Silicon One software in the U.S. Silicon One is an ASIC family that powers almost all of Cisco Networking gear and also powers some of the critical AI infrastructure at Hyperscalers. Won the Pinnacle Award at Cisco—like the Oscars in technology innovation—in 2023 and 2025.

“Continued partnership with Berkeley funding Sky Computing Lab and giving a talk on autonomous driving and AI.

“My wife, Nupur Thakur, EMBA 14, and I used to bring our daughters to Haas. Our oldest, Medha, is pursuing her BS at NYU Steinhardt. Our youngest, Priyanka, started her BS in international business at SJSU.” Shown: Manish, Medha, Priyanka, and Nupur.

Sadiya Nur, of Sacramento, Calif., updates, “After nearly a decade in tech, I stepped into entrepreneurship and launched Lei & Mar Co., a modern jewelry brand creating everyday minimalist pieces. Inspired by East African and Middle Eastern gold traditions, I’m reimagining gold for modern life. Using an advanced physical vapor deposition process to bond 14-karat gold to 316L stainless steel, our pieces are durable, waterproof, sweatproof, and hypoallergenic. I wanted jewelry that carries the elegance and meaning I grew up with while remaining practical and designed for real life. Visit leiandmar.com.”

Erin Gums, of Los Angeles, shares, “I’m celebrating two years of my business, Tap into your Wellspring, a coaching and wellness platform for high-achieving leaders looking for greater congruence in their careers and lives. I have officially launched my podcast, Another Way Through, featuring stories from people who stopped trading their authenticity for acceptance and found lives and careers that center their wholeness, joy, and inner peace. While the journey may be difficult and requires courage, choosing yourself is always worth it.”

Scott Kagawa, of Berkeley, Calif., comments, “I recently joined Adobe’s Global Marketing Organization as a senior business strategy and operations lead for the GenStudio program. We’re building a best-in-class content supply chain in the age of AI.

“I also joined two nonprofit boards. The Berkeley Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League is a chapter of the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization. I’m also co-director of a local summer school, Daruma no Gakko, a three-week program for elementary school children to learn about Japanese American heritage.”

Ashley Lannquist, of San Francisco, shares, “After seven wonderful years post-Haas on the public-sector side of fintech payments and digital currency policy at the WEF and IMF, I’ve started a job at a boutique payments-focused strategy consulting firm called Glenbrook Partners. Reach out to chat about payments, fintech, and strategy!”

Laura Andersen, of Orinda, Calif., writes, “I continue to support educator well-being and retention with great partners nationwide and encourage anyone to check out educatorsthriving.org/2025report to hear how educators are doing. There are many headlines about education funding and policy. We hope to ground leaders in the daily reality of the workforce and how we can best support the adults who are serving the next generation.”

Chase Roberts, of San Francisco, updates, “I’m joining Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) as AI operating partner, where I’ll work with the firm’s top AI companies.”

Samuel Roth, of San Francisco, writes, “In the summer, I started a company called Trainn (trainn.pro). Its mission is to build stronger communities through fitness, creativity, and play. Trainn does this through its platform, which makes it easy to book activities for adults and kids. We’re starting in SF and aim to expand to other cities soon after.”

Bryce Gilleland, of Berkeley, Calif., writes, “I am working with faculty member Kurt Beyer as the general partner of the California Innovation Fund, which invests in Berkeley founders, students, or alumni who have impact-focused startups, then donates 50% of its profits back to the school to support future entrepreneurs. It’s amazing to see so many brilliant, driven, and supportive people working together to carry forward Berkeley’s tradition of driving impactful change. We’re launching Fund II soon and always looking for people to get involved.

“I moved from Puerto Rico back to Berkeley to be a part of the magic again. I’m so excited to be here experiencing the wonderful drive and energy that occurs in the Bay.” Shown: Stacey King, Bryce, and Mohammad Naqvi, MBA 24.

5th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Mitesh Agrawal, of San Francisco, updates, “Founder and CEO of a semiconductor company, Positron AI, taking on NVIDIA. The previous company that I co-founded, Lambda, is filing to go public soon.

“First child—a daughter named Ava.” Shown: Mitesh, Kavi (wife), Ava, and Thor (dog).

Darren Lim, of Union City, Calif., shares, “In 2024, I went off to start my own fractional COO firm Canovo Partners, focused on supporting early-stage climate tech startups! Published my first book! It’s a climate-focused children’s book on batteries. Find it on Amazon, titled My Baby’s First Climate Book: Batteries.”

Konso Mbakire, of Boston, writes, “My partner and I got engaged in December!” Shown: Johsias Maru and Konso.

Anmol Aggarwal, of Mountain View, Calif., says, “I have recently taken on a new role as a senior product manager at Intuit. My work focuses on using AI to drive personalization for TurboTax, which has been both a challenging and fascinating project.

“My wife and I were married in July last year. To celebrate our first anniversary, we recently spent a week in Hawaii.”

Tara Rezvani Flowers writes, “Alec Flowers and I got married in Lugano, Switzerland, in May! Haas alumni in attendance included Stacy Demetriou, Ilana Ostrov, Natasha Sihota, and Paul Noe. Our guests spent the week soaking in Lugano—boat rides on the lake, Alpine views, delicious cuisine, and time with friends. The week culminated in a ceremony overlooking the lake, surrounded by loved ones, followed by a magical night of dancing.”

1st Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Agyapal Singh, of Folsom, Calif., updates, “I started a new role as a senior staff engineer at an AI hardware startup. I’ve also started to make my personal applications using AI. I had a child during my MBA program at Haas, and we’re on our way to welcoming another child soon!” Shown: Agyapal, Avreen Kakkar, and Navneet Sehgal.

Chris Phenner, of Northbrook, Ill., says, “I build partnerships focused on in-vehicle transactions (EV, fueling, parking, and tolling). My near-term focus is parking, but EV charging is increasingly happening in parking facilities, and these transactions unlock other in-vehicle spending. If you work in the auto, EV, mobility, or parking industries, shoot a short note to [email protected], and ask me about a topic you’re working on.

“Getting into more competitive tennis—happy to travel with my racquet, provided we’ll keep score and you bring a can of fresh balls.”

20th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

15th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

10th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Anita Ratnathicam, of San Francisco, writes, “After over 25 years in food operations and strategy, I am now enjoying my work with Google’s Workplace Services Center of Excellence, focused on enabling solutions to make our offices accessible to all.”

John Maher, of Ashland, Ore., says, “I got my MBA to transition from banking to real estate development, to pursue creating safe, sustainable, affordable homes. This year, I joined KDA Homes, a regional green home builder, as the general manager and CFO. We’re soon breaking ground on an over 250-home, net zero, master-planned community. This would not have been possible without my training at Berkeley and its incredible cohort of students, teachers, and staff.”

Xiangxi Song, of Menlo Park, Calif., is working on RWA and crypto.

1st Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Deng “Danny” Huang, of Millburn, N.J., is fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a pilot, at age 49. When he’s not up in the air, he’s deep in the world of quantitative trading. He’s worked at Citigroup and Bank of America, and now he’s doing his thing at GTS Securities, a proprietary trading firm.

Thomas Jones, of Seattle, shares, “I retired from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington as the Boeing Professor of Business Management. My primary research themes were stakeholder theory and ethical decision-making models. A recent study of citations done at Stanford placed me in the top half of 1% of scholars in economics and business. 

“My wife, Judy Edwards, and I enjoy cruising in the Salish Sea.”

Rick Boettger, of Key West, Fla., writes, “OpenAI’s GPT-5 is a huge advance over GPT-4, close enough to singularity for me, and I’m having fun doing math and other complexities with it I have never otherwise been able to do with anyone else. Nice to die feeling humbled.”

Avinash Banga, of Mumbai, India, comments, “In February 2024, I started a new role as the head of customer relations at TVS Supply Chain Solutions Ltd. Excited to be leading customer engagement and partnerships for one of India’s leading 3PL companies.”

Mohammed Ashfaque Hussain, of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, says, “I completed the Berkeley Executive Education programs in Management, Business Excellence, and Leading Innovative Change. I have started innovation on e-commerce, e-education, and e-services as new frameworks to impart knowledge and know-how in relevant fields that will soon be launched as a series of startups to create jobs in the U.S., Canada, U.K., India, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, and all remote areas. I have been to the boards of several startups and am moving to the U.S. soon to create millions of jobs via my initiatives.”

Akram Aburas, of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, updates, “I currently serve as CEO of a diversified group of companies. Recently, one of our portfolio companies achieved a major strategic breakthrough that positioned us to regional expansion and sustainable growth. I led efforts across executive alignment, operational restructuring, and growth planning, working closely with partners and internal teams to lay the foundation for the next phase of development. It expanded my awareness to cross-border strategic execution and reinforced my passion for a value-based and goal-oriented organization.

“We recently launched a new sister company in India as part of our group’s strategic expansion into the South Asian market. I led the selection process and set up local leadership and operational teams ensuring alignment with our parent company’s values and objectives. Our venture has proven successful and gained exponential market penetration and business development. We are further branching our India portfolio into digital and software markets. Our India venture seems to provide strength in our global strategic expansion. Though it is a one step forward, all accomplishments begin with one step at a time. I believe in building teams across borders, a perspective I look forward to deepening at Haas.”

Uday Ayyagari, of Sacramento, Calif., writes, “I’ve launched Aurus.ai, building AI solutions that simplify complex workflows. Moved to our vacation residence to get closer to the mountains while continuing to grow my startup.”

Paresh Deshpande, of San Francisco, shares, “I recently stepped into a new role as enterprise partner manager for the Western U.S. and Texas, where I manage a multimillion-dollar portfolio. Alongside supporting enterprise clients, I advise startups on growth strategies and guide them in navigating an AI-agentic world through LLM-driven consulting and innovation. My work sits at the intersection of enterprise partnerships and AI-driven innovation, and I welcome conversations with alumni who want to explore where this space is headed.”

Carlos Lone, of Guatemala, updates, “One of my proudest moments during my career is that I was recently appointed as Microsoft Guatemala’s country manager. Read more at haas.org/CarlosLone.”

Hiromi Mizutani, of Japan, recently published a book in Japan, titled Leading Transformation—People-Centered Digital Transformation in the Digital Era. He currently serves as Partner at Ridgelinez, where he advises global companies on digital strategy and people-centered transformation.”