Decade: 1980-89
Brian Peterson, BJ ’89
Brian Peterson, BJ ’89, became head of communications for Esri, the world’s leader in geographic information systems, mapping software, and location analytics in February 2012. Prior to his new position at Esri, Peterson had been vice president of corporation communications for Fox Cable Networks for three years.
Jill (Branson) Hammergren, BJ ’88
Jill (Branson) Hammergren, BJ ’88, has been named the 2012-13 Professional Woman of the Year, a prestigious distinction awarded by the National Association of Professional Women. NAPW is an organization of 400,000 members, who join together to develop innovative business and social relationships. Hammergren also added three new international Telly Awards for excellence in video … Continued
Sonja Steptoe, AB ’82, BJ ’82
Sonja Steptoe, AB ’82, BJ ’82, will serve on the University of Missouri Jefferson Club Board of Trustees. Her term will run from 2012-15. Steptoe is the deputy director of public affairs for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from MU.
Lauren (Brannan) Yarger, BJ ’80
Lauren (Brannan) Yarger, BJ ’80, received three 2012 awards from the Connecticut Press Club: first place for editing of website (The Connecticut Arts Connection), first prize theater reviews (Spider-man Turn Off the Dark and A Bengal Tiger in the Baghdad Zoo) and second prize feature writing for the Web (Playwright’s Real-Life Drama and Journey of … Continued
Randy Picht, BJ ’80
Randy Picht, BJ ’80, has been named the second executive director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism. During his 29 years with The Associated Press, he has worked on both the news and business sides of journalism at a national level. [More]
Sonja Steptoe, BJ ’82
Sonja Steptoe, BJ ’82, will serve as deputy director of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce, effective April 16. She most recently was director of global communications at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
Beth Pike, BJ ’86
Beth Pike, BJ ’86, is a co-director of an upcoming film about The Joplin (Mo.) Globe’s response to a devastating EF-5 tornado that hit the city on May 22, 2011. “Deadline in Disaster,” an hour-long film produced by the Missouri Press Foundation, will premiere on Thursday, May 3, at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia.
Leah (Reiter) Oberjuerge, BJ ’86
Leah (Reiter) Oberjuerge, BJ ’86, is a senior editor at The National, a daily newspaper in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Michelle (Ferrell) Burke, BJ ’86
Michelle (Ferrell) Burke, BJ ’86, is the communications and public relations strategist at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis, Mo. She also is a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Movement. She lives in St. Louis with her husband of 23 years and her three children. Her son Landon has … Continued
Randy Kammerdiener, BJ ’88
Randy Kammerdiener, BJ ’88, of Jacksonville, Fla., is the CEO and co-owner of Majority Strategies, the largest Republican political direct mail firm. Majority Strategies’ current and former clients make up a “Who’s Who” of national Republican politics, including George W. Bush for President, Mitt Romney for President, the Republican National Committee, six sitting governors, eight … Continued