26 minute read
Alumni News
Alumni Weekend
FALL 2021
After more than a year of virtual alumni events, we were so excited to welcome back to campus alumni celebrating milestone reunions on three glorious fall weekends in October and November. Because of pandemic-related rescheduling, the fall Alumni Weekend celebrations brought back 20 classes (those ending in 0s, 5s, 1s, and 6s), as well as a few select post-50th reunion classes. In all, hundreds of alumni and their partners, spouses, and guests toured the grounds, took in a football game, sipped cocktails on the terrace, and enjoyed a tasty meal together. Funny Gilman stories and lasting memories abounded, and the phrase “Remember when…” could be overheard time and time again.
SPRING 2022 Alumni Weekend
Over three days in late April, nearly 600 alumni and guests from near and far (as in Sao Paulo, Brazil far!) descended upon campus to participate in 32 different events. It was a fun and moving testament to the remarkable relationships that make Gilman so special.
The festivities kicked off on Friday with a campus tour, including a stroll through the halls that were filled with amazing student artwork. Then came the fifth annual Gilman Forever Luncheon followed by the Senior Panel Discussion. The Class of 1972 started their 50th reunion celebration in a meetup with their third grade pen pals followed by a festive cocktail party that evening. Friday culminated with the first-ever Taste of Baltimore in which alumni of all ages mingled with faculty and staff and delighted in the culinary options of five Gilman alumni restaurateurs.
On Saturday morning, alumni lacrosse players from 1976‑2017 filed onto campus to learn about the current Greyhounds lacrosse program with head coach Tony Incontrera. Another campus tour and art walk — this one led by history teacher Bill Gamper ʼ71 — followed the morning’s exploratory activities and concluded at a tent on Harris Terrace, where hundreds of alumni and guests gathered for the All-Reunion Class Cocktail Reception.
Despite the festive evening, many were up early on Sunday morning to gather in the Alumni Auditorium to celebrate the life and impact of longtime faculty member and coach Anton Vishio, Sr.
The Alumni Association Board of Governors, in conjunction with the Gilman Black Alumni Society, tilled soil and planted crops at the Afya Community Garden in Park Heights as part of the Gilman Gives Back service day.
Careers In…
One positive outcome of the pandemic was the concept of the virtual visit. What used to take logistical coordination and, often, travel and accommodations, now can be handled with minimal scheduling and a Zoom room. We were delighted to welcome the following alumni who took time to meet with current Gilman students or other alumni to talk about their careers.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The Gilman Entrepreneurs Network featured a compelling pitch from Zach Ranen ʼ14 on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, who introduced his new business, RAIZE, to the group. RAIZE is an online bakery that is crafting no-sugar-added, low-carb, gluten-free desserts, such as cookies and brownies. Best yet, all of their treats are fresh-baked and delivered to you! After explaining his idea, introducing his team, and assessing the market and competitive landscape, Ranen took questions and comments from the group. Learn more and follow Ranen’s journey at eatraize.com.
LAW
Michael Brown ʼ00, assistant attorney general at the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Stephen Demos ʼ09, transactional attorney at Bowie & Jensen, and Singleton Mathews ʼ02, partner at Client First, joined a group of students via Zoom on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, for a student-alumni networking event.
Brown talked about the lawyer’s “survival skill,” which involves accepting the fact that you will never know everything about the law and need to be able to point a judge in the right direction when you don’t know the answer immediately.
Demos reminded the boys that what we don’t see in Hollywood portrayals of the law is that lawyers are really problem-solvers. “You may not have every answer,” he said. “But you do have the skills to find them.”
And, Mathews expressed surprise at the amount of logistics and relationship-building his role has demanded (even more so than legal knowledge) and warned that practicing law can consume a lot more of your life than you expect it to.
SERVICE
The Veterans Day observance at Gilman featured a special treat. Colonel Matthew Bartlett ʼ95 joined the assembly via Zoom from Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, where he commands the Air Force’s 449th Air Expeditionary Group. This group is composed of approximately 700 airmen who provide armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as airlift, base support, personnel rescue, and expeditionary response throughout East Africa.
Bartlett spoke to the boys about why he chose a life of military service (“I serve because of all of the guys here and the responsibility to one another.”), the value of character over competency (“You can train people to be better at their job. You can’t train them to be more moral.”), and three questions he asks before embarking on any task: Can we? Should we? Who can help?
Asking these questions before taking action, be it in military or civilian life, helps to make sure you are doing the right things for the right reasons with the best possible team and the highest probability for success, he argued. Clearly moved, the students’ applause at the conclusion of his talk could be heard up and down Roland Avenue, if not all the way in Djibouti!
TECH
Brendan Aronson ’08 and Adam Belzberg ’10 shared their experiences and insights with students on Wednesday, January 19.
Aronson, who previously served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, co-founded Paintru with several Gilman alumni. Their company takes the photos you send them and turns them into oneof-a-kind works of art by way of a crew of talented painters around the globe. When the students logged on, he reminded them that growth — be it of a business or a career — isn’t always linear: “It’s often two steps forward, one step back.” He continued, “I feel like I’ve got some really good networks I’m a part of, but Gilman is at the top of that list.” He concluded by encouraging the boys to cherish their current experiences. “Enjoy your time at Gilman,” he said. “It’s a special place. I really value the connections I made there. Enjoy your time with your classmates, and be kind to one another.”
Belzberg works as an engineer at Netflix, which he jokingly called “an up-and-coming streaming service,” in the San Francisco Bay area. He talked to the students about how surprised he was to learn about all the different types of jobs out there. He said, “It’s incredibly insightful to be able to speak with them and find out what they are doing. Just even knowing that an opportunity exists can help you align your interests.”
MEDICINE
Everyone knows what a doctor and nurse do, at least on a fundamental level, but we figured not many current students know much about pharmaceutical drug development or how to found and develop a medical startup. So, for April’s student-alumni networking event focused on the medical industry, we invited Jake Beverage ʼ94, vice president of alliance management at AbCellera, and Dr. Manan Shah ʼ02, founder of Windly, to speak to students. After explaining the basics of drug discovery, development, and commercialization, Beverage encouraged the boys to “understand a certain aspect of the industry, get skills, and get competent” and reminded them to always keep learning. Shah was quick to point out to the students that they shouldn’t always feel like they have to follow the set path. He said, “I didn’t like the way allergy care was being done and thought we could do it a better way. Look for problems you think can be solved and go work on them!”
THE ARTS
Sam Bank ’02, Jack Mitchell ’09, and Rob Marbury ’89 joined nearly 20 students on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, to discuss careers in the arts. Bank, who is founder and producer at Braintrust, talked about how his failure to make it as a TV writer allowed him to instead become a multimedia producer. He encouraged the boys to keep an open mind about career paths, to not be afraid to change those paths, and to never feel like it’s too late to switch gears.
Mitchell, lead composer and vocal director for “The Story Pirates” podcast, reminded the boys that worlds are small and so many people know each other. He said, “The connections you make in your first project will build and build and build. You never know how the connections you make when you are just starting out will snowball and evolve. Don’t wait till someone gives you a job to start working in the arts. Don’t be afraid to create your own art. Plus, you’ll get better at what you do by doing it!”
And Marbury, imre’s vice president of creative, admitted that selling pretzels for 10 years allowed him to pursue art before finding a field — advertising — that allowed him to put his film production and writing skills to good use. He encouraged the boys to cultivate the ability to flow with change, which he has found to be critical to success. “Trust in your peculiarity,” he said. “We learn a lot about how to take tests and produce results, but in order to do that, we must stay curious!”
FINANCE
More than 20 students joined Yale Hoffberg ʼ11, Kevin Robbins ʼ94, and Andrew Schwab ʼ10 on Friday, December 3, 2021, to talk about careers in finance. Hoffberg, who is a financial advisor at RBC Wealth Management in Baltimore, informed the boys that there are a multitude of areas on which one can focus in the financial industry, encouraged them to always be open to new ideas, and urged them to “be open and willing to go above and beyond. Have a problem-solving mentality.”
Robbins, general partner at Blue Delta Capital Partners and co-founder of Wolf Den Associates outside of Washington, stressed the value of finding great mentors throughout your career and challenged the students to chart their own paths. He said, “Don’t be afraid to hop off the ‘treadmill,’ take stock, and run your own race. As a high achiever, the easier path is often to just continue doing what you’re doing.”
Schwab, a vice president (leveraged finance) for Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been surprised by how much people move around within the industry, and he underscored the value of informational interviews. “Do a bunch of one-on-one coffee chats,” he said. “It really helps narrow down what you want to do.”
FOURTH GRADERS CONNECT WITH MARYLAND LEADERS
NFL linebacker Brandon Copeland ’09 and Maryland Legal Aid Chief Counsel Stuart Simms ’68 were among the group of Marylanders interviewed by fourth grade students as part of their African American Leadership Project (AALP).
Culminating with a written paper and visual aid, this project was designed to teach the boys how to consult primary sources, take notes, and organize their thoughts in a clear and coherent manner. The boys asked Copeland and Simms about their upbringing, professional achievements, and which of the Gilman Five most resonated with them. Stuart enjoyed the conversation so much that he encouraged the boys to interview David Cahn ’86, a Baltimore-based attorney whom Stuart had mentored early in his career.
GEN GOES CRYPTO
Nearly 20 members of the Gilman Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) focused on cryptocurrency during their quarterly discussion on February 2. Panelists Alex Benfield ’10, Bill Miller IV ’99, and Sam Winter ’09 shared their experiences and fielded questions from attendees.
Benfield, a crypto analyst at Weiss Ratings, talked participants through the use cases of cryptocurrencies, the risk of future government regulation, and the viability of personal Bitcoin mining explorations.
Miller, a longtime investor in cryptocurrencies and digital assets, explained the relative merits of Bitcoin versus other cryptocurrencies (including stablecoins), the distinction between a currency’s volatility and its risk, and how institutions might approach investments in crypto.
And Winter, a senior software engineer at Coinbase, highlighted the value of decentralized financial networks (aka, defi), encouraged potential investors to consider diversifying across cryptocurrencies, and reminded everyone to look at advances in technology as opportunities for investment. In wrapping up the call, Benfield put everyone at ease by saying, “Nobody on this call is too late. The best thing to do is start learning and, if possible, start investing. Explore what is interesting to you.”
GBAS PLAYS JEOPARDY
A dozen members of the Gilman Black Alumni Society (GBAS) Mentoring Program gathered via Zoom on Saturday, February 26 for a fun and informative customized game of Jeopardy, prepared by host extraordinaire, Justin Adams ’13. In honor of Black History Month, the questions focused on the ABCs of Black history, trailblazers, famous quotes, and more. Said Tyrone Crosby ’96, “The game was very competitive with the little brothers [i.e., mentees] showing their vast knowledge of Black history.”
Dr. Rodney Glasgow ’97 returned to Gilman to present during Upper School assembly during the School’s Week of Dialogue on Thursday, April 7. Glasgow spoke about his time at Gilman as a Black, gay student. He said though it was often challenging, he also experienced enormous love through the friends he made and under the mentorship of adults like Coach Johnnie Foreman. Since graduating from Gilman, Glasgow has become a trailblazing leader of diversity, equity, and social justice work in schools and communities nationally. Read more and watch his talk at gilman.edu/weekofdialogue.
Life-Saving Progress
LGBTQ+ ALUMNI SPEAK WITH STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AT GILMAN
Matt Cahill ‘03 formed Gilman’s GSA — then referring to the GayStraight Alliance and now standing for Gender and Sexuality Alliance — when he was a senior. He returned to School on Wednesday, May 4 to speak to Upper School students about the importance of introspection and empathy. He called Gilman’s progress related to LGBTQ+ support “life-saving” for students, and he challenged the boys to work to continue to improve the culture of belonging at School for their peers and future Greyhounds. Read more and watch his talk at gilman.edu/cahill.
IN ENTREPRENEUR CLASS
Nathaniel Badder ’94 is a self-described “recovering entrepreneur.” He is also the Director of Alumni Relations at Gilman, and his previous experience running his own business is what inspired him to teach the Entrepreneurship class this spring.
The challenge presented to the boys when the class began was to identify a real-world problem and then to develop a viable business solution to address it. To assist them along the way, Badder brought in alumni experts from a variety of fields — most entrepreneurs themselves — to share their knowledge and experiences. Class sessions included topics on fundamental business practices like product development, marketing and branding, and sales.
To conclude the semester, on Tuesday, May 10, they held “Demo Day” — a Shark-Tank-style competition, which brought three alumni/sharks back to Roland Avenue: Josh Levinson ’89, owner of Charm City Run, Sebastian Seiguer ’90, CEO of emocha Mobile Health Inc., and Frederick “Beau” Smith ’99, senior risk manager at the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System. The sharks asked challenging and probing questions of the two teams after their presentations, which included creative videos, industry research, survey data, business plans, and financial projections.
Up first was Parrot, whose idea was a platform for high school students to showcase their artwork and where interested customers can browse and make purchases. They ambitiously projected that in three years using a commission-based model, Parrot could be making $5 million!
Next up was Hot Golf, a company that seeks to solve a problem for golfers who lose golf balls (aka, all golfers!). The team’s products: 1) a golf ball pouch heater, which heats golf balls using the same technology as baby bottle insulated pouch warmers, and would be paired with a thermal scope, and 2) 3D-printed glasses with high contrast that would allow golfers to better distinguish golf balls from the rough. Though the products are still in the research-anddevelopment phase, their financial graphs project more than half a million dollars in profit down the line!
The sharks convened privately and returned with their decision. “Both teams did a really nice job,” said Seiguer. He commented that Hot Golf’s team was clever to isolate the savings customers would experience from no longer losing golf balls should they purchase the product. They liked how Parrot’s idea involved a real product that exists right now. “Both teams showed how they pivoted through challenges,” he said.
Ultimately, Parrot came out on top. “It’s a real idea. If you don’t do it, someone will.”
ALUMNI ADVISORS
Alex Benfield ’10, Crypto Analyst at Weiss Ratings Kevin Buerger ’87, CEO at Incubeta US Jonathan Cooper ’98, Vice President of Engineering at Versapay Haftan Eckholdt ’83, Chief Science Officer at Understood Jason Finkelstein ’94, CMO at Gladly Jason Griswold ’93, Co-Founder & CRO at REIN Harris Jones ’80, Managing Partner at Swallow Point Ventures JD Kameen ’10, Co-Founder & CEO at Paintru Jack King ’10, Software Investor at JMI Equity Nick Owsley ’93, Co-Founder at TipHero Zach Ranen ’14, Founder & CEO at RAIZE Garrett Weinstein ’14, Founder at CareFull John Wise ’96, Growth Strategy Consultant at Material
Yoon Shin I’ve enjoyed using drones to capture imagery, and it’s been fun learning about what goes on in the fairly new drone industry.
Yoon Shin Mentor: Eno Umoh ’04 Global Air Drone Academy
Senior Encounter
Senior Encounter, the capstone experience of the senior year, enables each senior to explore a field of interest with an adult who works in that area. During Encounter, seniors spend two weeks engaged in a full-time internship of their choosing under the supervision of a mentor. In the past, students have participated in internships in a wide range of fields including medicine, business, education, technology, engineering, architecture, film, and environmental sustainability. The connection with the mentor is at the heart of Encounter. This close working relationship is intended to provide the student with insight into the mentor’s job and the broader field in which they work. In turn, seniors are eager to learn and to contribute their own talents and skills. Interested in getting involved next year as a mentor in your field? Reach out to Director of Alumni Relations Nathaniel Badder ’94 at nbadder@gilman.edu or Associate Director of College Counseling Anna Follensbee at afollensbee@gilman.edu.
Joshua Lee, Teddy Zois, and Jacob Muher Coppermine
Mac Nichols and Nate Perry Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Maragakis PP’21 Director, ALS Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Research and Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Max Chong Mentor: Yale Hoffberg ’11 RBC Wealth Ryan Joyce and Cal Tortolani Mentor: Brett Hollander ’03 Oriole Park at Camden Yards
JaCK GoldMan Working in a metal shop taught us to measure twice and cut once, how to be responsible and reliable, and how to weld.
BEnnETT MoSK My encounter has been truly transformative. Being able to watch important court cases while in constant discussion with the judges, clerks, and interns has allowed me a clear view of the world of law, and certainly piqued my interest in this arena for the future.
JaCK nUERMBERGER Working with the Oyster Recovery Partnership and the Shell Recycling Alliance, we are helping to restore the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay area. We are learning a lot about oyster conservation and population growth, and doing some manual labor collecting oyster shells to provide the baby oysters a substrate to grow on.
Jack Goldman and Aidan Feulner Mentor: David Hess ’82 Hess Industries
MaTT GRoSSMan Encounter has been an incredible experience getting a firsthand look into what it takes to run the Baltimore Museum of Art from the back-ofhouse operations. Through my work with the HR and PR teams, I helped with the museum’s ongoing diversity and equity work, sat in on press interviews and exhibition walk-throughs, helped to create content for the BMA socials, and met with the curatorial staff at the museum. I particularly enjoyed my time walking through new exhibitions with members of the local press.
MaX ChonG My daily routine consisted of reading about the market in the morning and catching any huge headlines that could affect the market. We then went on to call clients and talk about portfolio strategy and how to maximize their returns while maintaining a low-risk approach considering what’s going on in the market right now. Throughout the day, we looked at multiple portfolio managers and performed stock analysis to decide which managers will not only maximize the clients’ returns but also match their investment interests.
ManaV PaRiKh My encounter was in the pediatric operating rooms at Johns Hopkins Hospital. I was able to view live surgeries — including full liver transplants, suboccipital craniotomy, and lobotomy — up close in the operating room, interact with anesthesiologists, nurses, and surgeons, and learn about the intricacies of surgical operations. I also practiced simple surgery techniques, such as tying surgical knots, phlebotomy (administering needles for IV), and intubation.
Bennet Mosk Mentor: Hon. Audrey Carrion P’25 Administrative Judge and Chief Judge of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Jack Nuermberger and Daniel Griffin Mentor: Kramer Whitelaw, Shell Recycling Technician, Oyster Recovery Partnership
Matt Grossman Baltimore Museum of Art
Manav Parikh Mentor: Aileen Mendez PP’21 CRNA anesthetist at Johns Hopkins Hospital Some seniors weren’t quite ready to leave the halls of Gilman, and they chose their Encounters in various roles in the Lower School.
Liam Gwyther
Matt Carter and Kai Gathers
Patrick Bindjeme
What’s the Buzz?
BOOKER HEADED TO HOUSTON TO PLAY FOR TEXANS
Thomas Booker ’18, a defensive lineman for Stanford University, was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 150th overall pick. In an interview with Pressbox, Booker credits his time at Gilman for helping him develop his versatility. “My parents sent me to Gilman so I could become everything,” Booker said. "I could become the scholar, the athlete, the person in the community."
BOND, KING EARN ALL-IVY LEAGUE LACROSSE ACCOLADES
Piper Bond ’18 (left) and Sam King ’20 (right) earned All-Ivy League Lacrosse recognition this spring. Bond, a senior short-stick defensive midfielder at Penn, was a unanimous First Team selection, and King, a sophomore attackman at Harvard, earned Honorable Mention recognition. King was also named Harvard Male Rookie of the Year and profiled in The Crimson.
REESE’S PRIVATE LIBRARY OF BOOKS AND ARTIFACTS TO BE AUCTIONED OFF
Christie’s began auctioning the personal Americana collection of acclaimed rare book dealer william Reese ’73 in May. The sale, performed in 700 lots, carries a total estimated value of $12 million to $18 million. “The grand irony,” said longtime friend and historian Ann Fabian, “is that Bill [who passed away in 2018] would be the best possible witness of the sale at Christie’s. He would be the one who would be really interested in the prices things got, their ultimate fate, the way their meaning as objects changed as they moved around.”
ROGERS NAMED BOARD CHAIR AT CHESAPEAKE BAY OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL
The Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School named Brett Rogers ’94 chair of its board of trustees. Rogers, who also serves as the chief counsel for Brown Advisory, succeeds fellow Gilman alumnus andy Brooks ’74 in this role. Says Rogers, “I’m excited to support the team that performs the important and impactful work of Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound, which serves our students and community by changing lives through challenge and selfdiscovery.”
MAHESHWARI WORKS ON FREE SPEECH STATEMENT AT DAVIDSON
Varun Maheshwari ’19, who just completed his junior year at Davidson College in North Carolina, worked with a group of students, faculty, and alumni there to draft a statement affirming Davidson’s commitment to free speech and inquiry. “This document ... is designed to help us find common ground so we can listen to one another,” said Maheshwari.
READ MORE AT GILMAN.EDU/BUZZWORTHY
BOZZUTO, HURLEY COLLABORATING ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Toby Bozzuto ʼ92 (left), president and CEO of The Bozzuto Group, and Cheo hurley ‘92 (right), president and CEO of THG Companies, are bringing their companies — Bozzuto Construction, a subsidiary of The Bozzuto Group, and THG — together for the development of the new Somerset II Apartments in downtown Baltimore. THG is providing subcontracting services for the drywall component of this residential development project.
daron hines ’96 was named president of Staples Promotional Products (SPP). “I couldn’t be more excited to join SPP,” says Hines. “SPP is an industry leader with an incredibly innovative team and an unparalleled global supplier network. I look forward to working alongside the team to build upon SPP’s successful track record of creating meaningful brand experiences for employees, consumers, and stakeholders.” Hines has previously held executive positions at Morton Salt, the J.M. Smucker Company, and General Mills.
DEMUTH AND MACFARLANE EARN FIRST TEAM ALLCENTENNIAL CONFERENCE LACROSSE HONORS
will deMuth ’18 (left), a senior midfielder at Franklin & Marshall College, and Teddy Macfarlane ’18 (right), a senior defenseman at Dickinson College, were named to the All-Centennial Conference Lacrosse First Team this spring. Macfarlane was also named the Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
HUDSON AND TRUE CHESAPEAKE OYSTER CO. TEAM UP WITH BEA GADDY TO SERVE THANKSGIVING DINNER
Each year, the Bea Gaddy Family Center provides a hearty and hot Thanksgiving dinner to nearly 2,000 people in need. In 2021, because of the pandemic, the nonprofit didn’t have the kitchen space to prepare the meal that it usually does, so they reached out to their community for help. In stepped Patrick hudson ’04 and his team at True Chesapeake Oyster Co. who gave their time slicing and dicing side dishes to fill out the feast. They also provided refrigerated trucks to assist with delivery and storage of the meals.
MARSHAK’S OTORO ENERGY AWARDED $4.14 MILLION FROM DOE FOR WORK ON BATTERIES
The U.S. Department of Energy selected OTORO Energy, a company founded by Michael Marshak ʼ02, for funding to manufacture flow battery technology for long-duration energy storage. The project will partner with Raytheon Technologies and the University of Colorado Boulder, where Marshak is also an assistant professor of chemistry focusing on batteries, catalysis, and renewable energy.
STANLEY NAMED DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AT COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
After a nationwide search, Collegiate School (Richmond, Virginia) announced that andrew Stanley ’91 was appointed director of athletics. Stanley has served as the school’s associate athletic director for the last 14 years.
