Class News: August 2023

Welcome to the August 2023 edition of Class News, our monthly snapshot of the personal and professional milestones and adventures of your fellow Tars.

Each month we’ll share a collection of the most recent submissions, so don’t forget to keep us up to date on your latest news.

Across the Arts

Trevor Clendenin ’95 has opened Savannah Guitar Lutherie & Mercantile in Savannah, Georgia. With the purpose of being a hub for guitar and stringed-instrument enthusiasts, the shop offers top-tier luthier services, features premium brands, and hosts an open forum for musicianship and learning. Clendenin states he’s “grateful for the strong foundation that Rollins provided, helping to shape the course of my career and personal passions.”

Gatherings & Milestones

Norma Cruz ’15 received her law degree this past May from Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.

Kami Spaulding Perkins ’15 married her best friend, AJ Perkins, in Sewanee, Tennessee, on May 20, 2023. It was a wonderful reunion of Rollins theatre alumni.

Onward & Upward

Alan Gassman ’80 P’07 released his new book, The Advisor’s Guide to Charitable Giving, Organizations, and Creative Structuring. Gassman is a board-certified trust and estates lawyer in Clearwater, Florida, and founder of the law firm Gassman, Crotty and Denicolo, P.A.

After a 27-year career in sales and leadership, Christopher Mader ’92 recently launched MTA Consultancy in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for executive and leadership-level coaching. The name of his company is in honor of the late Rollins baseball coach, Boyd Coffie, and his well-known phrase, “Make the adjustment.” Mader’s approach focuses on emotional intelligence, corporate strategy, and behavior to help clients create a more engaged workplace.

Stacy Pierson ’92 has been elected to the Baylor College of Medicine Faculty Senate as a senator for the department of pediatrics. Pierson was also recently named associate program director for the Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric Residency Program in Houston, Texas.

C.J. Maier ’11MBA was reappointed to the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) by Gov. Ron DeSantis and subsequently confirmed by the Florida Senate in May 2023. Maier was also elected to the CFX executive committee as treasurer for 2023. 

Honor Roll

Winning the 2022 New Women’s Voices Chapbook Competition, Illuminated Creatures by Angela Sucich ’96 will be published this fall by Finishing Line Press. Sucich’s book of poetry was also shortlisted for the 2022 Saguaro Poetry Prize and the 2022 CutBank Chapbook Contest. She holds a PhD in medieval literature from the University of Washington.

Each year, the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards recognize travel agencies and advisors who make an impact on the industry and community. Described as a powerful voice in the travel advisor community, Theresa Chu-Bermudez ’11 was honored with the 2023 Trendsetter Award for “Upward Bound, Rock Star Advisor Under 40.”