Decade: 1980-89
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
Randy Picht, BJ ’80
Randy Picht, BJ ’80, newspaper product manager for The Associated Press, has been named chief of bureau for a new Midwest territory that includes Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Picht will be responsible for leading business development and account management in the area, ensuring AP meets the market needs of members and customers. … Continued
Jerry Jacob, BJ ’88
Jerry Jacob, BJ ’88, a former anchor and reporter at KYTV-3-NBC in Springfield, Mo., (Market #75), who left the station five years ago to join the Army, will rejoin KY3 News on Feb. 20. Sgt. Jacob served tours in Iraq, Haiti and Afghanistan.
Paul Keep, MA ’83
Paul Keep, MA ’83, has been named to the MLive Media Group leadership team for journalism, reader engagement and news presentation throughout Michigan. As the executive editor for print, he will oversee a statewide copy desk in Grand Rapids that produces The Grand Rapids Press, AnnArbor.com, The Bay City Times, The Flint Journal, Jackson Citizen … Continued