Decade: 1980-89
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
Brian Smith, BJ ’81
A new book photographed by Brian Smith, BJ ’81, features celebrities from film, music and television as a way to raise awareness of the arts in America. “ART & SOUL: Stars Unite to Celebrate and Support the Arts” includes 123 portraits accompanied by inspiring handwritten stories from the world’s most beloved and legendary actors, actresses, … Continued
Susan Mays, BJ ’83
Susan Mays, BJ ’83, has been named vice president of marketing and strategic initiatives for CH2M HILL in Denver. She joined the company in 1996 and previously served as director of marketing and communications.
Sandi Straetker, BJ ’89
Sandi Straetker, BJ ’89, is the owner and principal of PRiority Public Relations LLC in Coralville, Iowa.
Sandi Straetker
Sandi Straetker, BJ ’89, is owner and principal of PRiority Public Relations LLC. She is also an award winner, a mother, a counselor for Fortune 100 companies, a community leader, a volunteer, but most of all she’s a proud Missouri School of Journalism alumna. Marked at Birth Growing up in Moline, Ill., Straetker developed an … Continued
Vince Patton
What do you do? I spent 27 years in commercial TV news covering education, consumer, investigative, statehouse and environmental beats. During my final eight years I switched to public broadcasting for long-form TV news magazine reporting for Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Field Guide. At OPB I also reported for radio and the website. Nowhere else … Continued
Ellie Grossman, BJ ’86
Ellie Grossman, BJ ’86, has published “Mishegas of Motherhood. Raising Children To Leave The Nest…As Long As They Come Home For Dinner.” The book is written in the tradition of humorist Erma Bombeck with a Jewish twist. Chapters include “Everything I Need To Know I Learned From My Dog,” “Chocolate Makes Everyday Sweeter” and “Answering … Continued
John Duban, BJ ’87
John Duban, BJ ’87, is the executive vice president and global managing director for Starcom MediaVest Group in New York, N.Y.