Beta Network News

Paul DeRoche `91 was featured in the Fall 2007 edition of Exchange, a magazine published by the CMU College of Business Administration. Click Here to view the article. (pdf format)

Jim Mottern `91 writes: Kathryn and Jim (EG81) would like to announce the birth of Andrew James Mottern.  Born Oct. 9, 7.7 lbs, 19.5’ long. It was my first “all-nighter” since college. 

Bil Boyd`90 writes: Here's something to make the ol' guys feel older... My son Colin started college in August. He's currently a freshman at Michigan State University. He says he's going to major in Advertising, but I'm sure that will change several times over the next few years. Just thought I'd let ya'll know.

Dave Fouchea`00 writes: My wife Mandy (CMU `98, Delta Zeta) and I (CMU `00, EG 227) welcomed our second girl into the world on August 14, 2008. Claire Elisabeth was 5 lb. 10 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. Everyone is doing well including big sister Olivia.

Dave Deighton`90 writes: As many of the older Beta's know, after CMU I went on to become a licensed funeral director and purchased a closed funeral home, turned it around and then sold it off. Since then I have been a consultant to the death-care industry and a funeral home business broker. After completing several deals for others and then helping them operate them, I have decided there is more money in owning and operating them myself.

I am in the process of forming a private equity fund to purchase and operate funeral homes across the United States. As one of only a few funeral home brokers in the US, I often come across deals way below value before anyone else. I plan to buy them, operate them for a few years and then sell them at full market value. If any of the brothers want to invest contact me.

Ben Reedy `08 writes: So guys...Jamie delivered our little boy just the other day, 5/15/07 at 4:33 pm and he's basically the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I just wanted to let you all know that I have pictures up on the Internet now so you all can see him. He's was born at just 29 weeks so that will explain the incubator and what not, however he is doing very well. Little Christian Michael will be coming home with us toward the end of July so he has a little ways to go but not too long! Anyway...the link to to his pictures is http://picasaweb.google.com/chrstnmchl/ChristianMichaelReedy
I will be updating the album as I get more pictures so be patient and keep checking back.
Thank all of you being a special part of my life, I hope you can share in this joy with us.
Babies truly are a miracle.
Yours truly,  Ben Reedy

Todd Finnin `96 writes: I would like to congratulate Mr. Todd DeVito and Janet McMahon on their engagement. It seems it took the unheard of altitude of 1979 ft to bring you to your knee to pop the question. If Janet knew that this was all it would take, she would have taken you to Mt. Arvon (which is most likely a converted landfill) back in the early 90's. Just a thought. Again congrats. I was able to hold out for 4 years, DeVito, you're my idol!! Erin Koehler my fiancée and I get married on May 5th, 2007 at the Phoenix Zoo. Erin and I live in North Phoenix with the coyotes, snakes and lizards. My daughter is now 8 years old and as wonderful as can be. She told me the other day that she was a Verve Pipe fan after she listened to one of my CDs. Does this mean that we are getting old?? Anyway, I would also like to congratulate the colony on initiating another group of leaders.

EG SPOTLIGHT - BETAS IN THE MILITARY
We salute the men who are serving our country and protecting our freedom.

Cpt. Andrew Arthur Theume
Engineer Operations Officer
2nd Infantry Division (ARMY)
EG 271
 tuome@hotmail.com

 

March 24, 2008 - I just want to let everyone know what's up. I deployed back to Iraq in the beginning of March for what they're telling us is a 15 Month rotation. I'm working as an advisor to an Iraqi Army Brigade in the southern part of Baghdad for right now. I should be taking command of a combat engineer company sometime in the rotation.
yours in -kai-
Andy

If you can read this thank a teacher,
if you're reading this in English thank a soldier.

Matt Mularoni
MAJ, MP 89th MP BDE S1

CMU `95 - EG 182 matt.mularoni@us.army.mil

 

October 3, 2007

Hope all is well. About one more month until I get to go home. Then it will be time to pack the family and the pets, make a trip through Michigan for the holidays, and fly off to my new assignment near Tokyo. I guess I have something about not being the States for too long a period. But, I only have about 5 years to go before I am retired.

Kenton Ray Barber
CPT, Field Artillery - 2/319th AFAR 82nd Airborne Divsion
CMU `02 - EG 261
 clark136@hotmail.com

March 10, 2007 - Currently I am in Adhimiya, Baghdad - Iraq. All of which is public knowledge. Adhimiya is just west of Sadr City. After graduating from the Captains Career Course in July of 06 I went (back) again to Ft. Bragg and back to 2-319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment. I did have the opportunity to make it back to Michigan for a summer wedding of a friend of mine in Petoskey - it was an amazing wedding and a really good time.

Morgan came to live with me this past year and has been doing awesome - unfortunately I had to leave and the timing couldn't have been worse - but the time together was great while it lasted. Morgan will be 9 years old this June and just earned his yellow high or 4th belt in Tae Kwan Do. He loves soccer and baseball - and he loves woman (already) I know.

Either way - I have been here since January 2nd and things are going as well as can be expected. Unfortunately we have already lost two paratroopers and may your prayers bring the rest of these kids home safely. Their sacrifices however haven't been in vain. The 82nd moved off of the huge FOBS that most of the military seem to live on and we live in Combat Out Posts - we work daily with Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army and other Iraqi Security Forces.

I went through my email list and sent this to everyone that I haven't kept in touch with for many years - so we'll see who replies.

Take Care.

Respectfully,

Kenton

Todd Brandon Wood
EG 340
wood1tb@cmich.edu

 

November 3, 2006 - Since the Betas in the Military section has been a little
bare, I suppose I should let the brothers know that I was
promoted to Private First Class last month.

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David Partaka
E-4 Specialist
Army Reserves
CMU `03 - EG 308
djprtk78@aol.com

November 13, 2005 - My wife (Nicole) and I had our first child Friday 11NOV05 at 3:17, a beautiful baby girl. Very sleepy. We thank you for all the emails and hope everyone can meet her soon. I haven't slept in 3 days and this is the best time of my life. Thank You, David & Nicole Partaka EG308 Congratulations can be sent to: David and Nicole Partaka djprtk78@aol.com. 

June 19, 2005 -  I haven't wrote much but I thought I would drop a line to all the Betas. Most important I got married to Nicole Owens (now Partaka) last June and we are expecting or first child in December. We are both very excited and can't wait for all the sleepless nights. I am a member of the army reserve (NBC - chemical operations) and luckily enuff haven't been deployed yet (heard Iraq isn't a dream vacation spot). Well I hope I can make it to an outing one of these days and see some of the guys again. Until then take it easy and please be safe.

Catch Ya Later
David Partaka
EG 308

SPC Jason Siewert
46MPCMD
MIARNG
CMU `05 - EG299
siewe2jr@cmich.edu 
 

September 12, 2005 - Hello brothers, I saw this section and thought I should share with you what I do and where I am. I am currently attending Central again after a couple of state side deployments. As of right now I am an E-4 specialist in the Michigan Army National Guard. I was deployed to the pentagon for six months and then to Fort Jackson South Carolina for six months. I currently work for the 46th Military police Command in Lansing Michigan. I have had a few Iraq activations within my unit as well as a few scares myself. I'm glad to be back in school and am contracting with ROTC in October. Good to see that we are keeping tabs on the brothers in theater. Yours in __KAI__ EG299 SPC Jason Siewert 46MPCMD MIARNG

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Joshua Weakland
US Army
CMU `03 - EG 276
 joshua.weakland@us.army.mil

 

March 5, 2005 - Hey guys, I figured that I would send some pictures so you would be able to see how I am doing. It is a power point presentation so it should be pretty easy to use. Take care, Joshua (Note: I have extracted the slides from the power point so they are easier to see on the web. -SN)

Joe Alexander
US Army
EG 238
joseph.c.alexander@us.army.mil 
 

November 23, 2004 - Hello from cold and rainy Germany! Well, after reading November's newsletter, I was inspired to write in and give my latest and greatest Army update! It is hard to believe I have been back from the desert for 10 months now after spending the previous year in Iraq. Time really does fly when you are having fun!

I'll pass on talking about the ridiculous amount of paper I push in my new job and move on to the more exciting part of Germany. I am still stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany (just west of Frankfurt) and taking full advantage of what Europe has to offer. Since returning in Feb of this year I have managed to travel virtually all over Europe. I first found myself in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, shortly later down to Rome, Venice, Munich and then to Paris. These are all excellent cities with soooo much to see and do! I pulled off one ski trip to the Alps, but hope to get back this winter for several more.

The summer found me hanging out in Prague, Stockholm, a weekend to see Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France and then a final fall trip to Munich and Oktoberfest! I can't even describe the atmosphere in Munich during Oktoberfest!!! If you've never been there before, it should be part of your life's goals!! Somehow I found myself walking out of a club in downtown Munich at 830am on Sunday morning, this after nearly 48 hours of no sleep and consistent drinking, I don't know how I survived it! Incredible weekend, a MUST do!

Oh yea, I almost forgot about my trip back to the states where I hung out with Kenton Barber. Us Army types have to meet up and trade stories every once in awhile. Kenton and I managed to tear up Raleigh, NC and then moved on to ravage Myrtle Beach. Madness, I tell you! Kenton, I look forward to the next get together!

This fall I also went to Poland and checked out Warsaw, Krakow and Auschwitz. What a great country with so much history and pride! I rounded out this fall with a trip a few weeks ago to London. Yet another incredible and historic city! During this trip we also ventured out to Stonehenge! What's up with those huge rocks in the middle of nowhere? England is no exception to the beauty that is seen throughout Europe!

I do actually do work when I'm not traveling if you can believe that. I'm not flying as much as I like, but I'm hoping to get out of my current staff job and back into the cockpit this coming spring. We'll see! I'm glad to have gotten the flight time in Iraq last year.

Well, I encourage you all to venture to Europe on a vacation sometime. Please let me know if you would like to come and visit. You've all got a place to stay and a tour guide. If you're just looking for some traveling tips, please let me know. If I haven't been there yet, I have friends who have!

Take care to all and Happy Holidays!

Yours in -kai-,
Joe Alexander
EG 238

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Hey, it's been a long time since CMU. I joined up with the Greatest Air Force in the world in December of 01'. Since then I've been across the world.  I hope everybody is doing well back home. Best of luck to everyone.
A1C Justin D. Warnack EG 269

Jeremiah J. Sherman
SPC. United States Army
Bravo 1/119 Field Artillery
Guanatnamo Bay, Cuba
EG 315
ShermanJJ@JTFGTMO.southcom.mil

March 16, 2004 - I had left active duty after serving 4 years in the 82nd Airborne Division as an Infantryman. I began college in August of 2000 and stayed in the National Guard while i was attending CMU, then on the 25th of October 2003, My unit, Bravo, 1st Battalion of the 119th Field Artillery Regiment, was ordered and deployed to Guananamo Bay Cuba to serve and support Operation Enduring Freedom.

December 1st we were sent to Ft. Dix NJ, to train as Military Police and Military Corrections Officers. We arrived in Guantanamo (GTMO) January the 7th, 2 weeks before my 25th B-day, JAN 20th, and the start of my final semester at central. Our mission is not as dangerous as the brothers in Iraq, but is important. All I can say is that they catch them over there, we go pick them up and put them in there new home. Its a gruelling job we have. Some says are worse than others. One week we could have 1 or maybee 2 days off, and then we can go 2 or 3 weeks in a row on 9-12 hour shifts. The Stress is hi and the Morale here is really low because they took a bunch of Artillerymen and turned them into MP's. Most of the guys here would rather be in Iraq, or so they say. I dont really care what we do, i just know it has to be done by someone, and we were chose to do this.

This mission will be completed to standard and we will return home safe.
Everone take care. V/R

If you are a member of our chapter and currently serving in the military - we'd love to hear from you.
Send your information to webmaster@epsilongamma.org.

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