Berkeley Haas Magazine Spring 2026

Ralph Bruce Ricks, of San Diego, is a proud triple Bear (BS 56, MBA 57, PhD 63) whose career spanned academia, federal housing policy, and private-sector real estate. Building on his Haas dissertation research on real estate equity investments, he published work through the Institute of Urban and Regional Development and what is now the Fisher Center for Real Estate + Urban Economics, helping introduce quantitative methods to the emerging field of real estate economics.

He taught at institutions including UC Berkeley, Stanford, Wharton, and UCLA, where he also held roles as an assistant dean of both the Graduate School of Management and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

From 1969 to 1973, Ricks served as a chief economist at the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, where he oversaw national studies on mortgage risk, default behavior, and structural conditions of the housing finance system. He spent the subsequent decades in private real estate investment, acquiring commercial properties across California and developing real estate partnership structures. He continues to follow developments in real estate and remains engaged with the field.

Coulter “Terry” Stewart, of Reno, Nev., writes, “My wife and I retired from daily work in 2003. We have volunteered in community service, politics, research, and public policy since then, and via travel we have acquired a real appreciation for other cultures. We support democracy, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, environmental revival, and truth in political and corporate speech and debate.”

David Zweig, see MBA 1968.

Rowland Reeves, of Sacramento, Calif., updates, “Upon retiring, I started my own company, US Space Corporation, which designs, builds, and tests new rocket engines. I am excited to begin testing of our new rocket engine.”

James Smith, of Spanish Springs, Nev., writes, “Becker’s Hospital Review recognized my work at Saint Mary’s Health Network in Reno as one of its ‘190 Hospital and Health System CFOs to Know’ nationwide for 2025. I attribute the foundation to my career success to the outstanding education I received at Berkeley.”

Lawrence (Larry) Lopardo, of Bella Vista, Ark., retired in 2022 after 23 years as chief legal officer of a large regional healthcare system. He is Berkeley Law class of 1981. “My wife of now 44 years and I traveled for almost a year in Europe and the Mideast before moving to Arkansas to be near our daughter and her wife. Hoping for grandkids. We travel at least once a year to Europe. Just returned from five weeks in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Heavily involved with my Rotary Club. Go Bears!”

Edmund Fong, of Sunnyvale, Calif., says, “Famous landscaper Alrie Middlebrook has agreed to work with my ideas to bring her vision connected with the California Native Garden Foundation into Sunnyvale Meadows HOA, my home. This year, I start my APU online courses in Life Coaching. I also want to visit Chicago, see Boston and Philadelphia during our 250th birthday as a unique experiment in Republican Democracy, and of course be in NYC for 9/11.”

Timothy Yee, of Alameda, Calif., notes that his wife, Rose Penelope, is running for Congress in California’s 2nd District on a People, Peace, and Planet platform. “Her campaign is anchored by the People’s Prosperity Act, a people-first economic vision that prioritizes Medicare for All, affordable housing, and climate-aligned public goods and infrastructure over war spending and corporate interests.”

Michael Lynch, of San Francisco, updates, “I was proud to mark my 25th anniversary at Merrill Lynch in December. Grateful for the colleagues, clients, and mentors along the way and for the experiences that have made the journey so rewarding.”

Sallie Smith, of San Francisco, says, “I studied and increased my IQ by 38 points after having medical visits and therapy. We enjoyed a nice luncheon in Central Minneapolis after going away and conducting business.”

Alan Lee, of San Francisco, shares, “In 2025, I started a new role at an AI data center infrastructure company. Continuing to contribute to the tech industry since starting off at the Big 4 (then Big 6) CPA firms and then at a few Bay Area tech companies since then. Will be great to connect via LinkedIn!”

Dan Regan, of Napa, Calif., writes, “I recently released Why Projects Fail: And How to Beat the Odds, building on themes from my previous book, Personal Prerogative: clearer thinking, better decisions, and taking ownership before problems compound. It reflects a shift toward questioning systems not just executing within them. Lately, I’ve been intentionally redesigning how I approach work and life—fewer defaults, more deliberate choices. That mindset runs through Personal Prerogative and continues in Why Projects Fail, both shaped by stepping back and seeing patterns more clearly.”

Stacy (Stebner) McAlpine, of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., notes, “This year marks five years since I took the leap from Big Four consulting to working directly with individuals, applying the same rigor I once used with organizations to help people create lives aligned with what matters most to them.”

Jessica Ross, of San Francisco, was recently appointed chief financial officer at GitLab, where she oversees its global finance, accounting, and investor relations functions as the company accelerates DevSecOps innovation for enterprises worldwide.

Royan Kamyar, of San Diego, updates, “Founded Owaves in 2013 and just spun out of five years on the NIH Precision Medicine Initiative. Launching BodyClock AI™, a new subscription service to help college students align daily activities—like sleep, exercise, and meals—with their circadian rhythms. Began a randomized clinical trial at UC San Diego to test mental health outcomes. Looking for mission-aligned investors, team members, partners, and collaborators.”

Yasaman (Yasi) Baiani, of Lafayette, Calif., shares, “I started a new company called Raya Advisory, providing leadership and executive recruiting for product, engineering, and design roles at high-growth technology companies. I was also invited multiple times to return to the UC Berkeley campus to present at conferences (including Product Con in November) and to speak in the Advanced Product Management class at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology. It’s been incredibly refreshing to be back on campus and interact with the students.

“Multiple immediate family members suffered from major health issues, which made it a tough year in that regard. At the same time, it was a powerful reminder that life is always a mix of experiences; you just have to learn how to navigate them.” Shown: Yasi and Devansh Pathak, MBA 26, at the Haas Product Con.

Peggy Liu, of Fremont, Calif., writes, “After a decade at MightyHive—where I joined as the first finance hire, scaled the accounting team to 150+ across 40+ entities, and helped execute an acquisition by a U.K. firm—I’m excited to be back building from the ground up. I’ve joined the Silicon Valley fintech startup Mudflap, working alongside two founders who are also Cal alumni.

“We welcomed our daughter back in 2023 and managed to take her to see 15 countries before she turned 2, which was a huge accomplishment for anyone who has traveled with a baby. Looking forward to taking her to see even more of the world in 2026.” Shown: Peggy and Hailey Xing in Bali.

Cliff Tsang, of San Francisco, writes, “My company, Willowmar Real Estate, continues to grow and expand our reach. We are grateful to add fellow Haas alumnae Heather Yan and Caley Zheng, BS 17, covering Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively. If you know someone who’s considering a move in 2026, we’d be glad to connect and be a resource! Shown: Heather Yan, Cliff Tsang, Connie Chung, Bran Bunnag, Kenny Gong, and Caley Zheng.

James Dong, formerly of San Francisco, says, “After 10 years and a long-delayed COVID casualty, I closed my small downtown business, Last Minute Gear. My 2026 will be a career break to explore Latin America. On the one hand, it’s terrifying because the job market isn’t great, and I don’t have laurels to rest on! But then I realized…failed founders probably need a break even more, because we never had any winds of success to propel us forward. I will most likely spend a lot of time in Colombia exploring my creative side in the arts and music. Please reach out if you’re a Haasie in the area.”

Rosalie Ennes, of New York City, announces, “I’ve hit one of my book milestones—I’ve received 100 reviews on Amazon! After independently publishing my business book in February 2025, I wasn’t sure I would be able to get many reviews or win awards. I’ve since won two awards, and now I’ve hit 100 reviews. Especially as an indie author, it’s not an easy feat, and I’m proud of the impact the book has had so far. I look forward to continuing to get Build a Beautiful Business con Confianza into the hands of entrepreneurs, leaders, and corporate professionals. Grab your copy today and write a review with your favorite part. Next milestone, 150 reviews. Go Bears!”

Brandon Curran, of Los Angeles, updates, “After working at a large boutique sports agency throughout my 20s, in 2021, I launched my own athlete marketing agency, Player’s Punch, to focus on everything athletes do off the court. I work with athletes like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden, and more on their marketing opportunities and have recently done partnerships with brands like Capital One, Kia, Sony, Disney, Mars-Wrigley, and more. In my free time, I enjoy biking across the beautiful and expansive Malibu canyons in Los Angeles.”

Annie (Tam) Ngai, of Austin, Texas, writes, “This past year held both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I got married, stepping into a new chapter filled with love, partnership, and joy.

I also experienced profound loss when my baby sister passed away from a rare form of cancer called mucinous ovarian cancer. Amid the grief, I helped create The Wendy Tam MOC Research Fund in her honor—an effort that mobilized an incredible community and raised over $125,000 in its first month toward advancing treatment and hope. If you’d like to learn more, you can visit hope4moc.org/WendyTam.” Shown: Annie and Wendy.

Felicia Lee, of Los Angeles, continues her work in advancing the energy industry. At GM Energy, she is engaged in the EV transition as regional sales manager, where she champions the dealer network in the West, covering EV, home energy infrastructure, and V2X business opportunities. Felicia also launched a passion project to translate and self-publish her grandmother’s memoir, 不会忘却 [Never Forgotten]. She invites you to follow along at rlinepress.com. Shown: Felicia (age 9) with her grandmother in 2002.

Carolline (Holanda) Fogel, of Los Angeles, updates that she and Steven Fogel, BS 19, got married in Palm Beach, Florida. They met while attending Haas. The Fogels are grateful to Berkeley for bringing them together and are excited to begin their next chapter as lifelong teammates.

Neel Somani, of San Francisco, shares, “I independently developed a machine learning project using mathematically rigorous verification techniques. The project has attracted interest from its target audience, with multiple groups exploring opportunities to scale it.

“I had a great vacation in San Diego visiting my brother, who recently moved there!”

Kashish Juneja, of San Jose, Calif., writes, “I’m currently preparing to open Kash Café, a new cafe and creative studio on Bancroft Way near UC Berkeley, building on the entrepreneurial journey that began with Aura Tea in downtown S.F. Alongside this, I continue to lead workplace hospitality and experience programs, designing ritual-based coffee, chai, and matcha experiences for companies and communities. Together, these projects reflect an ongoing focus on building businesses that blend culture, learning, and connection while exploring what it means to scale thoughtfully and with intention.”

Ari Fomalont updates, “My startup’s new app just reached 16,000 first-time downloads! I am working with the co-founder of Venmo on building ‘anti-brain rot social media.’ One click to post with automatic summaries and captions. No AI content. No over-editing or filters. Just real people. Also, we are integrating cryptocurrency, bringing decentralized monetization to social media. We’re integrating new technology with an old-school vibe. If you’re curious, check us out on the App Store at JellyJelly: Video Chats. We are still in beta testing, so use invite code A007 for early access.

“I moved to Verona, Wisconsin, for work. I learned that I am definitely compatible with a Midwest winter!”

Ralph Bruce Ricks, see BS 1956.

David Zweig, of La Jolla, Calif., writes, “I still have a tax and legal practice, primarily focused on clients with cross-border concerns.“Priscilla Ann Gin, MBA 69, a brilliant Beta Alpha Psi president at Berkeley, a Harvard Law graduate, an NYU LLM in taxation, and later an administrative judge, died. She was my first wife and one of the most brilliant people I have ever known.”

Michael Dove, of Salinas, Calif., shares, “I just had my sixth book published. All golf-related mystery novels set on the Monterey Peninsula. Fun, romance, intrigue.”

William Halal, see PhD 1971.

Verlie Sligh, of Ukiah, Calif., updates, “Assumed part ownership of a manufacturing company after I retired from my CPA practice in 2015.

“I was a Rotarian in the South Ukiah Club for 30 years and president in 2007–08. My club won every award we applied for and was declared
the best small club in District 5130.”

Alan Sopelak, of New Hampshire, submits, “Retired. I continue to compose original instrumental songs, 18 in 2025. Check them out on Soundcloud at haas.org/AlanSopelak.”

Michael O’Donnell, of Littleton, Colo., was ranked the No. 1 Top Scholar in the U.S. and No. 3 in the world for 2025 by ScholarGPS in the area of health promotion (the science of health-related lifestyle change), based on his publications over his lifetime. Highly Ranked Scholars are the most productive authors (by number of publications) whose works demonstrate exceptional impact (citations) and outstanding quality (h-index). These scholars hold a ScholarGPS® Rank within the top 0.05% in any given field, discipline, or specialty. An MBA, MPH, and PhD, O’Donnell co-authored Health Promotion in the Workplace, the first reference text in the field, in 1983, now translated into four languages, updated in five editions, and still in publication. He launched American Journal of Health Promotion, the first peer-reviewed journal in the field, in 1986 and sold it to Sage in 2016.

David Southern, of San Francisco, writes, “Following publication of my book Business Apocalypse and the Evolution of Today’s Organizations, I have turned my attention toward investigating how colleges can best prepare students for today’s rapidly changing work world. Observing how Haas MBA programs are changing has been one useful source of information. But more directly, I’ve been elected a trustee of Antioch College, where I plan to apply my expertise to help promote an undergraduate education model designed to help students navigate today’s uncertain work environment. I welcome input and ideas from any Haas alumni who have a similar interest in the future of higher education ([email protected]).

“Beyond that, I am continuing my Berkeley connection by providing consulting services to two biopharma startups springing forth from campus labs.”

Michaela Rodeno, of Napa, Calif., shares “In spite of the dedication and effort required to earn a Haas MBA, all work and no play is not a Berkeley Haas core value. Last fall, MBA candidate and social chair for Oski Cohort Maggie De Moraes, MBA 28, organized a day trip to visit wineries owned or managed by Haasies. I welcomed fifteen enthusiastic Haasies to our family winery, Villa Ragazzi, in Oakville. The tasting of Sangiovese and Cabernet wines provoked excellent questions on industry trends, farming wine grapes, producing fine wine, and—always challenging—selling it. At Oxbow Market in Napa, they tasted a bit of everything, discussing the complexities of running a premium wine business, from sustainable farming practices to the intricacies of distribution in a competitive market. The group ended their day at Black Stallion winery. They left Napa Valley with a deeper appreciation for the wine industry and strengthened bonds with their classmates.

45th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Tim Kingsbury, of Concord, Calif., became VP of finance for K2 Pure Solutions in Contra Costa County. “K2’s facilities produce more than 400 tons of products each day, servicing 25 million to 30 million people. State-of-the-art facilities using inherently safe technologies produce exceptionally pure bleach, caustic soda, and other chlor-alkali-related products in an environmentally friendly and economically viable manner. K2’s products eliminate the need to transport chlorine for water purification and disinfection, mitigating potential environmental, security, and operational risks. We recently expanded our bleach production capacity, along with a new low-carbon facility that recycles leftover hydrogen from K2’s bleach-making systems to produce gaseous hydrogen fuel for the Northern California market. Moved from Livermore to Concord, and my wife and I are enjoying the area.”

Peter Schakow, of Albany, Calif., writes, “After arriving from Denmark and earning my Haas MBA, I enjoyed an exciting career in technology. I retired after more than 16 years at Sun Microsystems, where I held a variety of leadership roles during a period of extraordinary innovation and growth. I then chose to give back through volunteer service and joined the board of Aldersly, a Danish retirement community founded in San Rafael in 1921 and rooted in Danish values of care, dignity, and community. I joined the Aldersly Board of Directors in 2007 and have served as president and CEO since 2013. During my tenure, I led the planning and construction of a $75 million expansion that was completed in September 2025, representing the most significant investment in Aldersly’s history. Throughout this work, our defining leadership principles guided both strategic decision-making and the stewardship of a mission-driven organization serving older adults.

“I’m a lifelong volunteer in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts (39 years), president of the Danish-American Chamber of Commerce in NorCal, and more. I now look forward to spending more time with my son and daughter-in-law and their two sons (7 and 4) but will still be active leading other organizations.”

40th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Jennifer Eccles, of Fairfax, Va., says, “I continue to enjoy retirement. My days include training with my horses, learning history and languages, and traveling. Last year, I visited seven continents. Sadly, I rarely get to the West Coast, and I will miss reunion because I will be on a Cal alumni trip.”

Bill Murphy, of Oakland, Calif., writes, “Capping off a long career in real estate consulting, I finally landed that government job in real estate! My daily gig the past five years has been walking an 8-mile-long USPS mail route in Emeryville and West Oakland.

“Long overdue update: have raised two great kids, taken tons of cool vacations, and led fundraising for my kids’ school (the same moxie that got me on stage at the ’87 and ’88 MBA talent shows!).”

Vitit Laovoravit, of Bangkok, shares, “I stepped up to handle the pig farming business along with the feed milling business before COVID. Then, African swine fever broke out in Thailand. Half of the pig farms in Thailand, including one of ours, closed. We are renovating that farm to turn it into a model pig farm. With excess feed milling capacity, we entered the Vietnamese market, importing our feed. We beat every competitor we came across in trials but still need to win the trust of Vietnamese farmers.

“My wife (and CFO) volunteers as lay judge at the juvenile and family court. One of our sons is digitizing our process, while the other is buying us soybeans from the U.S. We are building a house next door for our parents, who are in their 90s.”

Steven Terusaki, of Albany, Calif., shared details of the holiday festivities of the East Bay Haas Alumni Network Board at its annual party, hosted by Monique Baylocq, MBA 96. “Great food, drink, piano playing by Steven and David Saltzer, BS 77, and raffle prizes by Dean Suzuki, MBA 69.” Shown: First row: Christina Piña, Haas senior associate director, alumni communities; Steven; Monique; standing: Peter McIntyre, MBA 11; David; Breck Baird, MBA 18; Dean; Aziz Khatri, BS 80; Pinky Khatri; Donna Wood; Steve Wood, MBA 67; Jan Rohde, BA 73 (history); Doug Rohde, BS 72; and Robin Yang (Executive Education).

Patricia (Karcher) Kirkish, of Healdsburg, Calif., shares, “I left the tech world 22 years ago to start a fine woodworking gallery in Healdsburg based on the premise of supporting quality craftsmanship, local artists, and an economic flow to local creative communities. Years later, our furniture artists are thriving, clients are thrilled with the quality and artistry, and Dovetail Collection continues to grow. Starting a small business with MBA skills proved to work extremely well—marketing, project management, finance, accounting, common sense, inclusion, kindness…every skill is needed here.

“Within my town, I work closely with the arts and culture community to expand public art, education, community inclusion, and more. Art has a true impact on happiness and engagement.”

35th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Lou Pelosi, of Palo Alto, Calif., comments, “Many Bay Area MBA 1991 classmates look forward to our 35th reunion in April—we’re planning a fun weekend and hope you’ll be able to join!” Shown: Lou, Clark Newby, and Greg Stanger.

Donna (Wills) Colson, of Burlingame, Calif., shares, “Won and began a third and final term for city council.”

Kassim Chaudry, of Metuchen, N.J., writes, “After a couple stints on two very different startups, I’m now somewhat employed. Mainly, I have been a K–12 substitute teacher, and secondarily, I’ve been a sort of brand ambassador for various grown-up beverages like wine and whiskey. Teaching elementary and middle school children has been especially rewarding, though pouring some nice wines and premium scotches has been fun, too.

“In early December, I suffered a stroke, which damaged at least four parts of my brain’s right hemisphere. Fortunately, I wasn’t paralyzed, though the right side has been numb for a while. Thankfully, sensation is gradually returning, starting from the top of the head, but I’m far from fully healed. Weekly therapy, gym workouts, crossword puzzles, and rest have been helping, as have my weekly mentoring interactions with Cal/Haas and Rutgers undergraduates. Young people are an inspiration and talking to them has been a real encouragement to me, as I’m hoping that I have been for them. I would highly recommend it.” Shown: Kassim with Arno Hesse, Marcy Porus-Gottlieb, Bahram Motamedian, and Laura Flores Herrera at the 2025 Haas Reunion.

Terry Goode, of Richmond, Calif., updates “After a rewarding career in portfolio management, credit research, and risk management, I’ve decided to transition into governance and seek board opportunities. I recently started a board readiness program to refine my skills.” Shown: Terry, Latondra (spouse), and daughters Lauren and Leiah.

Konstantina Papadopoulou, of London, is now co-president of the U.K. Haas Alumni Network. She joins Julien Brain, MBA 14, who has been leading the chapter, and together they’ll work to strengthen the Haas community and create meaningful opportunities for connection across the U.K. Konstantina brings extensive experience in strategy, M&A, and business transformation from global services firms, including CBRE and Clifford Chance, to the role. Currently an investor and board advisor, she started her post-Haas career at SoftBank in California, followed by technology investment banking in London, where she’s been based for more than two decades.  

Michael Yang, of La Cañada Flintridge, Calif., informs, “My new book, Coming Alive on the Ride: A Memoir of Motorcycle Travel, Self-Discovery, and Korean Heritage, was released on March 10. Available wherever books are sold, including Amazon, it’s a story of a Korean American tech founder who discovers meaning and purpose on the open road.”

30th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Mark Beckford, of Folsom, Calif., shares, “Just started offering my web, AI, and automation practice for NetBridge Communities for nonprofits. Know a good cause that needs help?

“Just remodeled my home office/man cave/home theater and recently launched a new website, areyounotentertained.net. If you’re a movie buff who leans toward sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, we should talk.

“Was thrilled to hang out with one of my best friends, Alan Snodgrass, MBA 94.” Shown: Mark, Alan, and Alan’s wife, Cindy.

Jennifer “Jen” (Nichols) Lyons, of Berkeley, Calif., updates, “My most recent UC Berkeley project was to develop the online Quantitative Readiness Course (“math camp”) for all incoming applicants and admits to Haas, and to continue as its instructor. It has been a big success and keeps me in touch with teaching, with Haas faculty and admissions staff, and with young aspiring Haasies! I also work on various projects with Student Services, including the Financial Wellness Center (helping to found an Advisory Board—I may come knocking!) and advocating for Oski and spirit more broadly. I also serve on the board of Cal Performances and love attending performances, particularly dance. In my free time, I do woodworking and art, ride my motorcycle in Marin, and spend time outdoors with our wonderful dog, Winston.

“Probably the biggest news is Rich, BS 82, becoming chancellor and our move to University House on the UC Berkeley campus. Our kids are grown and doing well, with Nicole (22) recently moving to L.A. for a job in music management, and our son, Jake (26), living in Berkeley and becoming one of the world’s best players and content creators for the online geography game GeoGuessr.” Shown: (L-R) Jake, Jen, Rich, and Nicole.

Alex Sutton, of Seattle, retired from Microsoft after over 29 years. He started his second career as a photographer and artist. View his work at alexexploring.com.

Geir Erik Gabrielsen, of Oslo, Norway, writes, “I have sad news. As you may know, Katie Coughlin had been battling cancer for a while. She passed on peacefully in March. The Haas community and the friends she made there, and still had now, were deeply important and meaningful to her. Katie was brave and strong, and she managed to make a difference for many people she touched in private and through her work for children here in Oslo. I am eternally grateful to her for the three daughters we got together, and Katie lives on through them. The girls and I hope she now plays with her dog Cassie again. Thank you to everyone for your friendship with Katie.”

Mario Álvarez Fernández, of Madrid, writes, “Summer 2025 was again teaching time for me at Haas Summer Sessions. Beyond the academic experience, it was great to reconnect with good friends (the picture shows some of them—in much better shape than me!).” Shown: (L-R) Mario, Maryam Ghazi, Kathy Oneto, Elizabeth Herrick, Sebas Feldman, Georgios Paparrizos, Anders Kamperin, and Andrés Franklin.

Steve Peletz, of San Francisco, shares, “I am working on two films on shark research, one locally in the San Francisco Bay and one in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (largely in the Pacific around islands 300 miles off the coasts of Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico, respectively). Learning to tag sharks, film 120 feet below the ocean surface, and especially edit a film about these research expeditions has captured my undivided attention. Luckily for me, City College of San Francisco has great film production and broadcast media and electronic arts departments!

“Also, we became grandparents a year ago!”

Edgard Capdevielle, of Danville, Calif., updates, “My company, Nozomi Networks, was acquired by Mitsubishi Electric for almost $1 billion in 2025. I joined Nozomi as CEO almost a decade ago when the company was just seven people united by a conviction that cybersecurity would become foundational to critical infrastructure. Over the years, that belief carried us through growing into a global team of more than 330 people and surpassing $100 million in revenue along the way.

“What made that journey possible was not just strategy or timing, but a leadership mindset deeply shaped by my time at Haas. The emphasis on questioning assumptions, leading beyond oneself, and building with confidence and humility guided many of the decisions that mattered most. I see the acquisition less as an endpoint and more as a part of our journey and as proof that principled leadership and long-term thinking can compound in meaningful ways.” Shown: The executive leadership team of Nozomi Networks.

Carlos Sandrea, of San Mateo, Calif., writes, “This year, I pivoted to founding Lunabeam, an AI-native app supporting neurodivergent young adults like my daughter, Natalia. As she approached high school graduation, I saw a critical need for tools that bridge the gap to independence. Lunabeam transforms everyday goals into guided steps that truly adapt to the user’s rhythm and abilities. We are seeing inspiring results from our initial pilot cohort, confirming a significant unmet need in the market for adaptive assistive technology. I’m launching a public beta in February and am eager to connect with the Haas network for potential partnerships or co-founder conversations as we scale.”

25th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Daniel (Pine) Firepine, of Boulder, Colo., shares, “I have a rewarding, sometimes amazing, sometimes grueling job where I put in 100 hours one week a month near Lake Tahoe and simultaneously am involved in multiple house renovations.”

Todd Wehmann, of Alameda, Calif., says, “After marketing roles at Schwab and Touch of Modern through the pandemic, I joined BHN as a VP/GM in late 2024 to run their global e-commerce business selling gift cards.

“2025 was a year of transition. Older son graduated from college in L.A. and started his first ‘big boy’ job in San Diego. Younger son started college at Skidmore in upstate New York where he’s learning about winter (among other things). Which makes me an empty nester! Emily Miller and I traveled all over in 2025 and kicked off 2026 in London.”

Devan Cross, of Pleasant Hill, Calif., writes, “Bi-Bett, the nonprofit where I serve as CEO, recently held a red-carpet premiere event for a documentary series, Empowered Hosted by Meg Ryan, featuring our organization. I am honored and humbled to lead this fabulous mission-driven company, and I invite everyone to watch the video on our website, bibett.org.”

Masanobu “Eddie” Idehara died on Jan. 31. He was a dedicated leader who headed Jichodo Co., Ltd., a prominent apparel company in Japan.

Philip Guindi, of Mountain View, Calif., says, “I am still with Geomagical Labs (now an IKEA company), shaping new ways for consumers to imagine their homes with AI and 3D experiences. If you or your kids have used IKEA Kreativ and have feedback, please reach out!

“Our son, Nico, started college at UCSD in the fall. He’s planning to double major in history and econ. It has been fun getting exposure to another UC and amazing to see him chase his own dreams. My wife and I are getting used to being empty nesters, and it’s giving me more time to focus on my latest fitness challenge: CrossFit. Always happy to compare notes with others doing the same or to host Haas friends for a throwdown in the garage gym.” Shown: Philip, Nico Guindi, and Christi Opitz.

Vivek Sanghi, of San Jose, Calif., updates, “Since mid-2025, I’ve been busy with my team, building EaseGTM (easegtm.com), an enterprise-grade AI product built to help founders and growth leaders transform the velocity and productivity of their go-to-market execution! Though still early days, we’re seeing positive traction for the problems we have set out to address and our approach to address them.” Shown: Vivek with family.

Ben Allen, of Piedmont, Calif., writes, “Still working at Parnassus Investments. Only job I’ve had since Haas!”

20th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Gurpreet Ratra has been appointed chief business officer at March Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing CAR-T therapies for hematologic cancers. Bringing over 25 years of experience in the life sciences industry, he’s helping guide the company as it advances its lead program MB-105 through Phase 2 studies for T-cell lymphoma.

Chris Wilson, of Los Altos, Calif., writes, “For the past year and a half, I’ve been CEO of Grasp Technologies.”

Deepak Goel, of San Jose, Calif., launched POOLit.org, “a new product bringing verified professionals into one shared community to support everyday needs and major life transitions. By removing anonymity through professional verification, POOLit turns unfamiliar users into trusted community members—so professionals can move, settle, and adapt with confidence.”

15th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Gurjeev Chadha, of Union City, Calif., updates, “Started at Simpplr as VP of Products in July. We are rethinking traditional intranet with integrated LLM-powered search and agentic actions driving enterprise productivity.”

Anil Jindia, of Alameda, Calif., says, “I recently wrapped up a challenging and rewarding run as head of product at Snappr, a Series B startup where I launched multiple new AI imaging and video products. I then chose to step back and intentionally invest time in learning how to ‘vibe code’ and deeply integrate AI into my everyday work and life.

“Today, I’m working as a fractional product leader and app developer, partnering with multiple AI startups on growth, 0-to-1 product development, and applied AI strategy. Along the way, I also built and launched SipPal, an AI-powered hydration coach now live on the App Store, born from a personal challenge and now helping others live well through better hydration.

“We took an unforgettable 12-day trip to Guatemala, visiting Lake Atitlán, Antigua, and the Tikal jungle. Highlights included traversing volcanoes, riding horses through coffee plantations, and hiking at 4 a.m. to watch the jungle wake up. A truly special experience and one I’d highly recommend.” Shown: Kara and Anil Jindia.

Kate Morris, of Greenbrae, Calif., writes that she, Ben, and Miles (4) welcomed Ruby Elizabeth in April 2025! They are enjoying life as a family of four in Marin, and Kate continues to work as a senior director on the People team at Gong.

Ryan Schultheis, of Alameda, Calif., updates, “Started a new role at ServiceNow!”

Javed Shah, of Naperville, Ill., started a PhD program in computer science at the University of Illinois Chicago. “My research sits at the intersection of AI, game theory, and cognitive sociology. Building on my work as a VP of Product in IAM, I’m developing formal models and large-scale datasets to study how organizations encode trust, risk, and ‘insider threat’ into their identity systems. The goal is to bridge industry practice and academic research to design security protocols that are technically robust but also transparent, fair, and accountable in how they govern people.”

Arvind Balakumar, of Seattle, writes, “After a five-year stint leading infrastructure software and services at Amazon Web Services, I’ve joined AMD as corporate vice president of engineering to lead cluster-scale AI infrastructure solutions for Helios, AMD’s full-stack data center AI platform. I’m excited to work with AMD’s leadership and engineering teams to help scale these platforms and tackle some of the industry’s most complex AI infrastructure challenges. I remain grateful for the foundation Berkeley provided and look forward to staying connected with the alumni community. Go Bears.”

10th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Renata Bell, of El Dorado Hills, Calif., co-founded Your360 AI, a voice-based AI feedback platform reimagining how organizations run 360s. The company makes executive-coaching quality feedback more accessible by combining short peer interviews, reflective voice coaching, and AI synthesis to deliver deeper, more actionable insights—without the cost or friction of traditional programs. Renata leads go-to-market and growth, drawing on her Haas experience and background in marketing, leadership development, and entrepreneurship. Shown: Renata with her fellow Your360AI co-founders.

Patrick Lam, of Los Angeles, was recently appointed as a principal at Delve Underground, a tunnel design and civil engineering firm that aims to build thriving communities through sustainable solutions. With more than 24 years of experience in AEC consulting, he has managed technical services for over 800 environmental projects and currently oversees complex underground and geotechnical work for transportation, water, wastewater, and energy clients at Delve. He continues to lecture at UCLA’s Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, where he teaches engineering and environmental geology.

Yvener Petit, of Los Angeles, was promoted to vice president of strategic initiatives and operations at Live Nation Entertainment. “In this role, I partner with the chief strategy officer and senior leadership to drive global strategy, operational excellence, and long-term growth across the company’s concert, ticketing, and sponsorship and media businesses. I also continue to serve on the board of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles, supporting programs that provide one-on-one case management for nearly 1,000 at-risk LAUSD students.”

Melanie Davidson, of San Diego, is the director of decarbonization strategy with Pacific Gas & Electric, where she will guide the country’s largest utility to a net zero energy system by 2040—five years ahead of California’s current carbon neutrality goal. She was looking forward to relocating from San Diego to the Bay Area with her daughter.

Christopher Johnson, of Midlothian, Texas, crossed the Atlantic in December with his good friends Doug and Kim, sailing in a 52-foot catamaran named Pura Vida from Cape Town, South Africa, to Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. “We caught a dorado (mahi mahi) on the way.”

Juliana (Pugliese) Pierce, of Austin, Texas, welcomed Brooks Sterling Pierce to the family on Nov. 11. Shown: Juliana, Brooks, Caleb, and Erik Pierce.

5th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Zhan (Jenna) Zhang, of Hillsborough, Calif., writes, “Stepping back from formal management roles and reinvesting in my own learning by rebuilding my technical foundation. 2025 became a deeply hands-on year, during which I worked directly with large language models to understand and improve Instagram Reels quality, translating technical insight into meaningful product and business impact. This experience reinforced my belief that effective leadership in times of transformation requires both strategic vision and the willingness to learn alongside one’s team.

“With a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, life has been delightfully chaotic, high energy, low sleep, and definitely not restful. I’m incredibly grateful for a stretch of grandparent support that kept us all standing. As the kids grow a bit more self-sufficient, I’m optimistically looking ahead to a year of fewer logistics, more outings, and adventures that don’t require quite so much planning (or stamina).”

Hima Bindu Alwal, of Sunnyvale, Calif., shares, “Started a new role at a late-stage startup, and it got acquired by Softbank.”

Ryan Gibo, of San Francisco, says, “As a traditional reservist (part time) in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, I recently assumed command of the 50th Intelligence Squadron at Beale AFB (shown). I lead an operational intelligence unit at one of the Air Force’s Distributed Common Ground System sites that delivers timely analysis in support of global combatant command missions. Responsible for preparing over 100 airmen to mobilize in high-demand environments, I focus on readiness, teamwork, and mission impact and credit. My UC Berkeley Haas experience—particularly its emphasis on principled leadership, adaptability, and leading through uncertainty—shaped my leadership approach and commitment to service. I also continue to work full time at Cisco, where I lead strategy and operations as chief of staff for the Social Impact and Inclusion Office.”

Darren Lim, of Union City, Calif., shares, “I started Canovo Partners, a fractional COO service firm, about a year ago to support early-stage climate tech startups with operations, finance, execution, and scale. Since then, I’ve worked across a growing portfolio of promising startups—helping them build structure, fundraise, tighten their processes, and scale faster. As the work has expanded, I’m planning to grow a small team in 2026 to support the demand and continue building out the platform. Looking forward to what’s to come!”

Janani Sankaran, of Sunnyvale, Calif., says, “I joined Kaiser Permanente as a primary care physician during my final semester at Haas. Since graduation, I’ve taken on several additional roles—regional depression care management lead, eating disorder physician champion, module tech consultant for physicians. I serve on our DEI committee and UBT team, where I help drive operational changes to enhance patient care. Above all, I love connecting with my patients and providing cutting-edge care.

“We welcomed our son, Ram, last June. Our daughter, Shri, attended my MBA graduation when she was 17 days old.”

Bob Wang, of Roseville, Calif., says, “I recently started my fractional CFO firm, Tee Up Advisors. It matches my mission almost perfectly—helping executive teams achieve their goals. I learned how to light a fireplace without smoking up the whole house!” Shown: Eleanor, Bob, Teddy, Anne, and Ellie Wang.

1st Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Kinshuk Verma, of San Jose, Calif., began her Haas journey with a newborn and fittingly closed it by welcoming her second child just months after graduation—“bookends that capture the intensity, humor, and meaning of the past three years,” she writes. “Balancing business school, a full-time career, and motherhood with both a toddler and a newborn proved challenging and deeply transformative.” Kinshuk pivoted to a new industry—battery energy storage systems—after a decade in industrial gases and hydrogen. “Drawn to Haas for its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and responsible leadership, I credit the program with sharpening my ability to lead with intention, resilience, and purpose. Grateful for the support of family and the Haas community.” Shown: Kinshuk and family.

20th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Bhavik Joshi died unexpectedly in January of a heart attack. At the time of his death, he was the senior director of product and growth operations at Circle, a company aiming to make financial transactions as easy as sending an email. Joshi was responsible for helping build and grow the company’s Circle Payments Network, a platform for seamless money management worldwide.

15th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Carter Reue, of Austin, Texas, became a customer success product director with Salesforce in January. “I’ve been looking for an opportunity to transition to a customer success team to supplement my prior experiences in consulting and supporting sales/GTM, and this is an amazing fit! Folks looking for new roles, if you need any help with referrals, connections, information, interview prep, a resume review, or just want someone to talk to about your job search, please reach out to me at any time. The Haas network is amazing—don’t forget to use it!”

10th Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Naresh Vemparala, of Fairfield, Calif., writes, “Earlier in my career, I spent years inside large organizations where talented people were often slowed down by fragmented systems and endless handoffs. Watching how easily good judgment could get lost in complexity stayed with me. During my time in the EMBA program, many classroom discussions reinforced a simple idea for me that leadership is about clarity, accountability, and questioning the status quo. Those moments shaped how I think about technology today. I co-founded Brightcone.ai to build secure, governed AI that supports, not replaces, human judgment. I believe AI works best when it reduces noise, restores clarity, and helps people act more responsibly, especially in high-stakes environments.”

Vikas Tomar, of West Lafayette, Ind., shares, “I founded BizTechFund based on nonequilibrium finance methods that combine my MBA and PhD learnings to analyze markets. Recently launched kpiventure.ai to define a new way to fund early-stage startups and integrate startup funding with college education and consultant jobs. Took the same concept to co-launch Primordis Defense Cluster with my co-founders, Marcus Rossi and Amlendu Choubey, to engage college and veteran workforce in defense- focused startups in a gig economy manner.”

Lee Helms is now vice president for production at the New York Philharmonic.

Sumitran Raghunathan, of Sunnyvale, Calif., updates, “Started Zoofi.ai with my classmate Sohel Dadia in June 2025 to solve the mid-office and back-office toil using AI.”

1st Reunion
April 23–26, 2026

Ralph Bruce Ricks, see BS 1956.

William Halal, of Washington, D.C., writes, “In my eighth book, One World?, the title’s question mark admits doubt: Social evolution is moving the world beyond the Knowledge Age into the next logical stage—an Age of Consciousness and global maturity. But climate change, autocrats, wars, and other threats reduce the odds of a unified world emerging about 2033 to a modest 65% probability.”

Albert (Al) Hu, of Hong Kong, is CEO at CiDi Inc., an autonomous driving technology company focused on mining and logistics. “The firm just successfully completed its IPO debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange—the world’s first IPO listing in autonomous mining! We use robotics, AI perception, and self-driving technology to improve the safety and efficiency of heavy commercial vehicles.” Shown: Al; Founder | Zexiang Li, PhD 89 (EECS); and Co-founder Wei Ma.

Sabbir Nasir, of Lutz, Fla., shares, “I founded a consulting and private equity platform, Novastra Global Partners, focused on long-term value creation and business transformation. Relocated to the United States as a permanent resident.

Vipin Kumar, of Bengaluru, India, writes, “I am incubating a new global business segment within the cutting tools division at Ceratizit, a Luxembourg-based multinational company and part of the Plansee Group. I have been on the move ever since completing the Berkeley Executive Education program. In 2022, I took on a business head role at Norgren in Delhi, where I scaled a new venture in work-holding devices from the ground up. In 2023, I moved to Bengaluru to take on a larger challenge at Ceratizit.”

Carol Azevedo, of California, updates, “Big pivot from tech consulting to sports industry.”

Serpis Fàbrega is an executive director at MTM, an automotive tech pioneer in Chile. “My grandchild, Ciro, is 3 years old, and I am so close to my 50s, probably the most important adaptative challenge ever to me. I spent his first two years with him, and it was probably like an MBA for me!”

Alexis Lopez, of Hazlet, N.J., shares, “Became a technical architect for OmnicomGroup as we transitioned to the No. 1 advertising company in the world!”

Yashodhan Dhore, of Minneapolis, writes, “And here I am. After three years, four clients, and five employees, running a small consulting firm in analytics and AI. When someone closes a door for you, God opens several windows!

“I have started two scholarships for high school for building a website or an app using analytics and AI.”

Carlos Mattos, of Mexico City, shares, “In May, after five years in Germany, I relocated to Mexico City at the invitation of my company to take on a new role as CTO for Latin America. The move marks a shift from regional delivery leadership in Europe to a broader responsibility across diverse markets, cultures, and business realities in the Americas. It is a different scale of complexity—and a deliberate one.

“The move to Mexico brought us closer to family in Brazil, including my sons and my granddaughter, which has added a new kind of presence to our lives. At the same time, one of my sons remained in Germany to complete his studies, keeping distance very much part of the equation. Balance remains imperfect. Still, my wife and I are happy building our life in Mexico City, with all the contradictions that come with it.”

Scott McDowell, of Atlanta, says, “In 2025, I focused on building leverage with intention. I continued developing PetConnect, a Berkeley Executive Education capstone focused on a canine wellness platform using noninvasive EEG and AI to surface early emotional and neurological signals in dogs. The work has been driven by a small, self-funded, high-impact team alongside me, proving that focus and systems can outperform scale when aligned around a clear mission.

“In parallel, I founded and built Call or Put, an autonomous, multiagent AI trading system designed to fund PetConnect without external capital. Rather than rely on a single generalized model, I built an ensemble of nine specialized AI agents, each with a narrowly defined role, coordinated by an orchestration layer that synthesizes disagreement, enforces discipline, and manages risk. The system now operates largely hands-off, generating over 100,000 predictions a quarter, processing tens of millions of data points, and producing consistent cash flow that is reinvested directly into PetConnect.

“Last year, I also brought the Call or Put platform into an immersive VR trading room, where all nine agents come to life as interactive analysts, allowing users to walk through market scenarios, visualize data spatially, and collaborate with AI the way a real trading desk would. Most of the year was pushing the boundaries on what small teams can deliver.”

Frederico Batista Emidio, of São Paulo, Brazil, has been promoted to partner CIO of his company’s investment business and invited to speak at AWS re:Invent in Las Vegas “about all the transformation we are driving in the Brazilian financial sector with customer-facing generative AI solutions.”

Matthias Fritschi, of Bern, Switzerland, writes, “Looking forward to applying the skills and perspective gained by graduating from the CTO Program in June!”

Leonel Gallardo, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, shares, “I am in the process of changing my job to CEO of a U.S.-based organization. Had an amazing vacation in December with my family.”

Jeffrey Jaime writes, “I’m excited to share that I’ve officially published my book, From Glow to Glue: An Inspired Leadership Strategy That Sticks. This book was born out of years of observing a common problem in leadership: Inspiration is everywhere, but lasting change is rare. From Glow to Glue explores why many leadership ideas create a momentary ‘spark’ but fail to take hold—and what leaders can do differently to build trust, alignment, and cultures that truly endure. Blending practical frameworks, real-world experience, and reflective insight, the book provides a clear path for leaders who want their influence to move beyond motivation and become something that actually sticks. Publishing this book represents a meaningful milestone in my ongoing work to help leaders lead with purpose, consistency, and impact.”

Kumaraguru Vijayakumar, of Dublin, Calif., comments, “The Berkeley Haas CTO program deepened my understanding of leading technology strategy and driving digital transformation within organizations. Inspired by my learnings, I eagerly sought opportunities to make a meaningful impact in my work. This journey led me to an exciting new role as the lead director of software engineering at CVS Health. I am looking forward to new opportunities and challenges.”

Humberto Villarreal, of Mexico, updates, “I am working on a project of AI in sales and recruitment.” Humberto traveled to Istanbul and Greece in March.