Class notes

By the Decade

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1960s

Neil Grossman, BA 1969, was honored with lifetime membership in the New Jersey Dental Association. A full-time dentist for more than 41 years, Grossman continues to practice part time. He lives in Cherry Hill, N.J.

1970s

Jeffery Palumbo, BS 1977, was elected to Damon Morey LLP’s management committee. As partner, Palumbo specializes in environment and real estate issues. He resides in Clarence, N.Y.

Jeffrey Seitelman, MD 1977, was elected president of the New Center for Psychoanalysis. He lives in Long Beach, Calif.

1980s

Christopher Tirabassi, BS 1980, was appointed practice administrator at Eye Care & Vision Associates. He resides in Williamsville, N.Y.

Linda Walsh, MD 1980, was awarded the 2014 Humanitarian Award by the Person American Academy of Family Physicians for her work as medical director of the Dominican Republic Medical Mission. Walsh is a physician at Jarretsville Family Care. She lives in Glen Arm, Md.

Mehdi Ahmadian, MS 1982 & BS 1980, received the 2014 Society of Automotive Engineers’ International L. Ray Buckendale Lecture Award. Ahmadian is professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech University. He resides in Blacksburg, Va.

Shane Farolino, BA 1985, a partner at Roetzel & Andress LPA, was named one of Ohio’s top attorneys in the field of environmental law for 2015 by Ohio’s Super Lawyers. He lives in Canton, Ohio.

Thomas Ostrowski, BA 1989, was selected as one of Ohio’s top attorneys for 2015 by Ohio’s Super Lawyers. Ostrowski is a partner at Tucker Ellis LLP. He resides in Strongsville, Ohio.

1990s

Adam Edelson, BA 1993, was named executive director of Doylestown Health Physicians. He lives in Marlton, N.J.

Edward McClenathan, BA 1993, joined Tully Rinckey PLLC as partner. He will practice in the firm’s Rochester office. He resides in Rochester, N.Y.

Darren Swetz, BA 1993, joined Tully Rinckey PLLC as a partner in the firm’s Buffalo office. He lives in Clarence Center, N.Y.

Stephen Hadjiyane, BS 1994, received the New York Water Environment Association’s Long Island Chapter Achievement Award. Vice president of Gannett Fleming’s Woodbury, N.Y., office, Hadjiyane resides in Syosset, N.Y.

Michael Olfano, MBA 1994 & BS 1992, was promoted to chief executive officer of PCA Technology Group. Olfano previously served as chief financial officer and operations manager. He lives in Lewiston, N.Y.

George Chamoun, BA 1997, has joined the board of directors for LaunchNY, a nonprofit venture development corporation. Chamoun is president of sales and marketing for Synacor. He resides in Williamsville, N.Y.

Lisa Felix, EdM 1998, joined Klasko Immigration Law Partners LLP as senior associate. Before practicing as an attorney, Felix worked in higher education, providing immigration services to students, faculty, researchers and administrators. She lives in Philadelphia, Pa.

2000s

Maria Angelova, BA 2000, joined Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP as human resources director. She resides in North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Jennifer Insalaco, BS 2000, was promoted to principal at Brock, Schechter & Polakoff LLP. She resides in Amherst, N.Y.

Megan Herstek Wolfinger, JD 2000, was promoted from counsel to vice president of legal at Health Care REIT Inc. She lives in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Meghan Fay Zahniser, BA 2000, was promoted from director of programs to executive director of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. She lives in Philadelphia, Pa.

Jason Harshman, BA 2001, an assistant professor in the College of Education at the University of Iowa, graduated from The Ohio State University with a PhD in social studies and global education. He resides in Iowa City, Iowa.

Rebecca Dalpe, JD 2002, was recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers of Massachusetts for 2014 by Massachusetts Super Lawyers. Dalpe is a partner at Foster & Eldridge LLP. She lives in Nahant, Mass.

Michael Klanac Jr., BS 2004, CEO and co-founder of GripeO, closed a $200,000 fundraising round of seed capital for the company. GripeO is a website and mobile application that gathers consumer complaints for feedback. Klanac resides in League City, Texas.

Anthony Kurdziel, MUP 2004, joined Hodgson Russ as business development analyst for the firm’s Buffalo office. He lives in East Aurora, N.Y.

Ryan Lucinski, JD 2005 & BA 2002, was elected partner at Hodgson Russ. He resides in Clarence Center, N.Y.

Jonathan Moscato, MS 2005 & BS 1994, founder of Programmable Equipment Company LLC, received $250,000 from 43North, the world’s largest business idea competition. Moscato’s company is housed in UB’s technology incubator. He resides in Alden, N.Y.

Drew Celestino, BA 2006, joined Quinlan and Company as senior Web developer. He lives in Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Jessica Teichs Black, BA 2007, was promoted to manager of studio services at Eric Mower and Associates. She resides in Buffalo, N.Y.

Jamie Prisco, BA 2007, accepted a position at Goldberg Segalla as an associate. She lives in Syracuse, N.Y.

Atasha James, EdM 2008, EdM 2002 & BA 2000, received the 2014 Rubenstein Award for School Leaders. James is the principal of Leckie Elementary School. She resides in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Monica Merritt, BA 2009, was promoted to dealer support representative at Rapid Response Monitoring Services. She lives in Liverpool, N.Y. 

2010s

Joseph Kessler, PMBA 2010, ME 2000 & BS 1993, received the 2014 Professional Engineer in Government Award from the New York State Society of Professional Engineers. Kessler is senior vice president of power generation at the New York Power Authority. He resides in West Seneca, N.Y. 

Kellie Barbato Cliver, MLS 2011, accepted a position at the University of Memphis as library assistant for the music library. She lives in Memphis, Tenn. 

Katelynn Padowski Brigham, BA 2012, is communications assistant for the University at Buffalo Office of Donor and Alumni Communications. She resides in Buffalo, N.Y. 

Colin Karnes, BA 2014, accepted a one-year position with WorldTeach on the American Samoa island of Ta’u. He currently lives in Faleasao, American Samoa. 

Rebecca Rake, BA 2014, joined EFP Rotenberg LLP as human resources assistant for the Rochester office. She resides in Marcellus, N.Y. 

Ariana Young, PhD 2014 & MA 2008, was appointed assistant professor of psychology at California Lutheran University. She lives in Thousand Oaks, Calif. 

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