Working in a wonderland

Matt Ouimet '80, a 14-year Disney veteran and president of the Disney Cruise Line, has been promoted to president of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, according to an Oct. 14 press release. "Matt's deep understanding of the brand, focus on the quality of the guest experience and demonstrated ability to manage complex operations will be a tremendous asset in driving the continued growth of the Disneyland Resort," said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts president, Jay Rasulo. "In addition to his exceptional leadership skills, Matt has a proven track record of success, having built the Disney Cruise Line into one of our strongest businesses."

"Disneyland has been a symbol of magic and imagination since Walt Disney first opened the gates nearly 50 years ago," said Ouimet in a company press release. "It is truly an honor for me to join the cast of this very special place. I look forward to working with the team to showcase the legacy of Disneyland as we approach the Golden 50th Anniversary in 2005."

Ouimet joined The Walt Disney Company in 1989 and has held leadership positions in real estate development, finance and business development. His executive positions included senior vice president and chief financial officer at the Disney Development Company (now part of Walt Disney Imagineering), senior vice president of Finance and Business Development at the Walt Disney World Resort, and executive general manager of Disney Vacation Club and Disney's Wide World of Sports.

A champion of corporate cooperation

Michael Lane '89, director of TIAA-CREF's Advisor Services division, appeared on the cover of the October 2003 issue of Financial Planning magazine. He was featured in a story by Suzanne McGee, "Michael Lane's Post-Modern Education." The story focuses on the "wary relationship" financial advisors have had with the pension giant for decades. "Now a small but influential group inside TIAA-CREF is determined to change that," notes the article. Michael Lane is at the forefront of that "small but influential group."

Get organized with GarageGrids

Jeff Kahn '82, a former member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, was featured in an article in the Boston Business Journal, Oct. 27, 2003: "Racking Up Customers: GarageGrids aims to take up space in the garage storage market," by Linda Goodspeed. The article details how Kahn and his business partner invested in Kahn's idea for taking an existing product and adapting it to make better garage storage racks. The result? A successful business that grossed $1.5 million in its first year.

Holding elective office "seems a natural"

Michelle C. Berry '88 was elected to a four-year term as Alderman for the Second Ward on the City of Ithaca's Common Council Nov. 4. She responded to the following questions in a recent phone interview:

Q. Why did you decide to run for this office?

Berry: It seemed a natural progression from being the director of community relations for the City of Binghamton. I really enjoyed helping individuals negotiate the sometimes difficult terrain of how to resolve conflicts and access city programs and services. I've worked behind the scenes on several political campaigns, and had some reluctance about being the front person, one of the ones who makes decisions. Then I started being really active in the peace movement against the war in Iraq. I strongly disagree with President Bush, who said you can't simultaneously support our troops and be against the war. I saw the encroachment on our civil rights with the passage of the Patriot Act, and decided I wanted to be part of the system, in order to pass legislation that would protect our rights. After the City of Ithaca's Common Council unanimously passed a resolution against the Patriot Act, I felt this was a legislative body I would like to be a part of and work with. Also, both my mother and father are active in politics. I remember that my mother went to Democratic party meetings when I was a child, and came home and talked about that. So it seemed natural.

Q. What do you hope to accomplish in your newly-elected position? What are some of your goals for your neighborhood and for the City of Ithaca?

Berry: I'm going to represent the Second Ward, and there's an increasing desire in that ward to create more affordable housing. Not everyone in Ithaca is wealthy, but our housing prices would seem to assume that they are. I'm interested in creating a more balanced and strategic plan for economic development. . . . I'd also like to increase citizens' access to government, and make sure people know what resources they have. One goal is to put in place a full-time public information officer.

Providing medical services to rural areas

Marianne Soden Serjanej '87, DO, gave her take on how to improve rural health care in a Press & Sun-Bulletin article about the Upstate New York Development's annual conference, which was held Nov. 7 in conjunction with the Binghamton Health Care Symposium. "Dr. Marianne Soden Serjanej said government agencies should encourage physicians to practice in rural areas by paying off their medical school loans and should send medical students out to staff small-town clinics," noted the article. Last year, Serjanej opened her own private practice, Maine Medical, which provides services to rural clients.