BRAVES BROADCAST Dean Ruggiero ’76 is a leading local freelance photographer whose work has been shown in the Napa Valley Register and even in this issue of Avanti! Steve Maloney ’80 has spent over 25 years selling analytics software. He was awarded Seller of the Year at Salesforce/HLS, IBM Analytics, Oracle Analytics, HPE, and Hyperion. He attributes his success to being educated in a small liberal arts environment where debate, collaboration, and thoughtful consideration are tenants. Fondly recalling JSHS, he hopes to be involved in alumni engagement with students, especially in the area of career development and living with purpose.
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Rich Salvestrin ’82 - Salvestrin Winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Dr. Crane Vineyards was listed as the #9 wine in the world by Wine Spectator. Vince D’Adamo ’91 covered football games throughout the valley during the 2021 High School season for the Napa Valley Register. Vince no longer works full time as a sports writer, but does periodic work for the Register and other local papers. Kevin Kress ’91 was recently featured in the Sonoma Valley Sun magazine in an article about his restaurant, Reel & Brand in Sonoma. Kevin bought the restaurant in 2018 and has worked to slowly turn it into his own. Olivia O’Brien (A) performed at the most recent Bottlerock Music Festival in Napa.
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Jaret Paulson ’92, a California Highway Patrol Officer, continues to give back to the community as a central part of our “Smart Start” parent and teen driving program. His son Wyatt is in the class of 2024. Diego Garcia ’94 has returned to the Napa Valley and is now working for the law firm of Dickenson, Peatman, and Fogarty as an attorney. Diego specializes in General Business Litigation, Bad Faith and Insurance Coverage, and Property Insurance. Diego has stayed in contact with Justin-Siena as a member of the Alumni Council. Ian MacMillan ’97 led the St. Helena Saints varsity football team to an NCL-I Championship and the #2 seed in the Division VII section playoffs. The team made it all the way to the championship game. Also coaching with MacMillan is fellow alum Steve Shifflett ’75.
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Brandon LaRocco ’98, Head Coach of the Braves Varsity Football team,
led the team to a 7-6 record this past season, including a trip to the Division VI NCS Championship game, which the Braves lost 28-26. Coaching with Brandon are fellow alumni Tyler Streblow ’04, Spencer Joske ’10, Diano Pachote ’14, and Tyler Brazil ’19. LaRocco is married to Miranda (Welsh) LaRocco ’01, and they live in Vacaville with their 3 children, Payton, Jordyn, and Anthony. Jeff Dodd ’00 was named in the North Bay Business Journal’s top Forty Under 40. Jeff is a partner at Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP. Brad Stromdahl and Justin Aspegren ’02 (B) are both coaching baseball at the collegiate level and recently competed against each other. Aspegren coaches at Appalachian State and Stromdahl is currently coaching at Georgia State. Ryan Harrison ’02 was honored as the “Attorney of the Year” by the Wiley Manuel Bar Association of Sacramento County. Ryan works for Jackson Lewis P.C. in the Sacramento area in Labor and Employment Law. As a member of our Alumni Council, Ryan stays connected with his alma mater. He participated in our Social Justice alumni panel this past spring. Tim ’03 and Raquel ’03 (Paniagua) Gatto expanded their branding studio to a Downtown Napa location in 2021. They run Gatto Rivera Branding with their business partner, Antonio Rivera. Specializing in package design for the wine, beer, and spirits industries, they work collaboratively with their clients to develop meaningful brand stories that resonate and sell. Aileen Savage ’04 (C) was voted Best of the North Bay for Photo Services (2020), and runner up for Napa Valley’s Finest Photographer (2021) for her work capturing the precious moments of newborns within their first nine days. She has had the pleasure of doing this for many alums! Kyle Dunkle ’07 is living in New Zealand where he is the owner and inspiration for “Uncle Dunkle’s” wood-fired chili and chili bbq sauces. Kyleigh (McAhren) Greely ’08 and Becky Lohwasser ’07 returned to Justin-Siena as the junior varsity volleyball coaches. Alison (Bassett) Nitzsche ’09, (D) was married to Craig Nitzsche on August 14, 2021, in a private ceremony held in the Napa Valley.
