AlumNotes

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Spring 2025 AlumNotes

The following were featured in the Spring 2025 issue of Florida Tech Magazine

1970s

Glenn Andrew ’74 has been named one of 2024’s top real estate agents by BestAgents.us, which recognizes the top real estate professionals across the nation to help buyers, sellers and investors match with the most qualified agents in their area.

1980s

Thomas Bell ’86 MBA was selected for The Virginia Power 50 List. Bell is CEO at Leidos and previously served as chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America.

Don Woodruff ’86 (left) was awarded the Build Iowa Award at the Master Builders of Iowa Winter Conference. This award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the construction industry and celebrates his decadeslong dedication to innovation, safety, workforce development and community service.

Thomas Hatfield ’87 has been included in Marquis Who's Who, which spotlights the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment.

1990s

Andrew Callahan ’94 MBA has been named an operating advisor with Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (CD&R). Before joining CD&R, Callahan was the president, CEO and executive director at Hostess Brands Inc. from 2018 to 2023.

Guadalupe “Wally” Gonzalez Jr. ’94 M.S. released the book John 3:16.5 The Rest of The Story, a practical guide to reading the Bible and understanding Christianity.

Cora Richardson Hodge ’95 has been elected Anguilla’s first female premier. In a stunning political shift, the Anguilla United Front (AUF) has unseated the ruling Anguilla Progressive Movement (APM) in a decisive victory.

Sean McGeough ’95, ’05 M.S., who is executive vice president of Jet Support Services Inc., has been selected by the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) board of directors as IADA Foundation Board chair.

2000s

Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson ’04 Ph.D. has been promoted to provost and vice president at Virginia Wesleyan University. Gonsalves-Jackson received the Florida Tech Alumni Association’s Alumna Legacy Award in 2022.

Matthew Hill ’07 was awarded the “10 Day Dream” experience with the Atlanta Hawks, created in partnership with Michelob ULTRA, the global beer sponsor of the NBA. He gained access to pro-level coaching, traveled with the team and connected with Hawks players and staff—all while experiencing the lifestyle of an NBA pro. Hill played for Florida Tech's men's basketball team from 2003 to 2007.

2010s

Steve Belton ’10, Laura Canham ’08 and Darren L’Appanna ’11, ’13 MSA, were recognized as 2024 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40 aviation professionals. Belton is the airport operations superintendent at Philadelphia International Airport; Canham, a licensed pilot and airport planner, is McFarland Johnson’s New England aviation planning lead; and L’Appanna serves as the manager of air service and business development at Orlando International Airport.

Keith Wiltfong ’10 M.S., ’12 MBA, recently published Make Life Happen: Your Guide to The Better Retirement Journey, a book now available on Amazon.

William “Zack” Beldon ’12 and Melissa Beldon ’16, ’17 M.S., welcomed their future Panther cub, Billy, in August 2024.

Tiziano Bernard ’15, ’16 M.S., ’18 Ph.D., was named Best Flight Instructor in the United States by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Bernard is an experimental flight test engineer with Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Georgia.

Pablo Cuervo ’16, ’19 M.S., (left), Florida Tech director of government affairs and strategic partnerships Rob Salonen ’19 MPA (right) and university board of trustees member Frank DiBello (middle) delved into the demad for aerospace technology funding at Space Foundation’s Innovate Space: Finance Forum in January in Coral Gables.

Harry Hobbs ’17 DBA was appointed to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in February 2025.

Alexandra Wood ’18 has been named senior marketing manager at the Hilton West Palm Beach, which is a AAA Four Diamond hotel. She will lead the planning and execution of all marketing strategies, brand positioning and annual strategic planning and will manage social media strategy and performance.

Mary (Vestgard) Trujillo ’16 and her husband, Robert Trujillo ’12, welcomed their son, Austin, Oct. 25, 2024. He is pictured with his big sister, Emily, age 5.

Julianna (Fischer) Walsh ’17 M.S., ’19 Ph.D., upon graduating from Florida Tech, moved to London, where she worked in consulting and technology before launching her business, LeadHerself. The business’s mission is to start a movement of women owning their careers with courage and confidence.

2020s

Livia Martinez ’22 A.S. is a network administrator for cybersecurity for a K-12 private school. As the only female in her department, she strives to inspire students to pursue careers in technology and cybersecurity.

Hadassah Etienne ’23 has been named executive director of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. She has served as executive assistant with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra since August 2023.

Trenton "Trent" Wright ’23, ’24 M.S., has been featured as a contestant on the newest season of “American Idol” on ABC Network.

Victoria Ramos ’24 has accepted a position with The Haskell Co. as an assistant project manager, working on large commercial and industrial projects. She is grateful to professor Bleakley and the construction management professors at Florida Tech for their guidance, which prepared her for this opportunity.

Josselyn Slagle ’20, ’23 MSA, has been nominated for the 2025 FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year award and will receive the honor at the Oshkosh air show in July. Since graduating from Florida Tech, she has used her master’s degree in many ways throughout her career.

Krystalynn Doria ’23 M.A.became a board-certified behavior analyst after graduating from Florida Tech. She and her husband have started a wildlife park, where she is the director of animal behavior and welfare. They take in exotic animals from unfortunate circumstances and give them the appropriate care, diets and enrichment.