SummEr/FAll 2011 - Nazareth College

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Nicholas Woyciesjes ’97, a studio art major, is the co-founder
and co-owner of Mirus Group Marketing Communications in
Rochester and designs the illustrations on Wegmans Italian
Classics sauce jars and pasta boxes. Says Woyciesjes, “Our first
employee, Carl Huber, graduated from Nazareth in 2002.
And our newest employee, Sherri Walker Baker, graduated
with me in ’97. I’m trying to re-create the Naz art department
in my office!”
Ockenden Wins SOM Alumni Award
Jim Ockenden ’83 has received
the first School of Management
Distinguished Alumni Award. He
graduated from Nazareth with a
bachelor’s in management and currently
serves as partner in the Visory
Group in Syracuse, which specializes
in network engineering, consulting,
security, and technology solutions.
According to the selection committee,
Ockenden was chosen for the award
based on his entrepreneurial and
business success, service to others, commitment to ethics and
social responsibility, and his long and unwavering support of
Nazareth College.
Martial Bednar ’88, Eng.
Writing, recently spoke at the
Olean Public Library about his
book Nine M’s and a Mother Like
No Other: Our Journey from
Messed to Blessed, which addresses
the bonds of family, the power
of perseverance and prayer, and
the sustaining gifts of faith, hope,
and love. He has also built a successful
career in communications
in Rochester.
Dolores Jablonski Johnson
’89, Bus. Dist. Edu., was awarded
the NYSTAA Emeritus Award at the
annual New York State Transfer
Articulation Association conference
in Syracuse in July 2010. She
worked at Nazareth for 20 years as
director of elderhostel and the
Center for Lifelong Learning and
more recently as senior assistant
director of transfer admissions
before retiring in 2010.
’90s
Marisa Favro Geitner ’92,
’95G, Spc., is a 2011 finalist for
the Athena Award, presented by
Athena International in Rochester
to exceptional leaders in the
Rochester area.
Scott Bradley ’94, Music Ed.,
accompanied Miché Fambro in a
New Year’s Eve performance at
Black-Eyed Susan Acoustic Café in
Angelica, N.Y. He is a jazz composer,
teacher, and a regular performer
with the Bill Tibero Band.
Christopher Murtha ’95, Bus.
Adm. and Pol. Sci., is entering his
third term on the board of directors
for the Financial Planning
Association—Conn. Valley
Chapter. He works as a financial
advisor for Howard Financial Corp.
in West Hartford, Conn.
Kimberly J. Bellavia ’96, Art, is
the education director at Granger
Homestead Museum and Carriage
House. She also teaches art history
at Genesee Community College.
Sherri Walker Baker ’97,
Studio Art, is a designer at the
Mirus Group in Rochester.
Nicholas Woyciesjes ’97,
Studio Art, works at the Mirus
Group and designs the illustrations
on Wegmans Italian Classics sauce
jars and pasta boxes.
Mary Ellen Brule Nixon ’98,
Env. Sci., began working with the
Humane Society at Rochester’s
Lollypop Farm in 2009. Since then,
she has worked to help the shelter
find new funding.
’00s
Jeffrey Biesiada ’00, Bus.
Adm., has been hired as vice president
of the M&T Insurance Agency
at M&T Bank.
Chris Amesbury ’02, Chem.,
teaches chemistry at Gates Chili
High School. He lives in Chili with
his wife and three children.
Carl Huber ’02, Studio Art, is
a designer at the Mirus Group in
Rochester.
Mary Sarah Kinner ’04, Pol.
Sci., has been appointed press
secretary for Governor Brian
Sandoval of Nevada. She had
previously served as Sandoval’s
communications director during
his election campaign.
Shevon Kuznezov ’04, Soc., a
special education teacher at Fisher
Elementary School in Walpole, MA,
was recognized for Excellence in
Education at the 20 th annual
Goldin Foundation Educators
Forum hosted by the Dover-
Sherborn Regional High School
District. The award honors educators
for making outstanding contributions
in their classrooms, their
schools, and their communities.
Kuznezov provides significantly
challenged upper elementary students
with curriculum taught in
thematic units to help integrate
concepts and skills.
50 CONNECTIONS | Summer/Fall 2011 www.naz.edu