'The World of Retail'
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27852_GeDunk.qxp:2-27.qxd 9/15/09 10:10 PM Page 1 ÀÛi ÌÞ i}i Õ >}>âi U > Óää FOCUS ON ‘THE WORLD OF RETAIL’: John Stanton ’55 relishes the challenges and rewards of running a small-town gift shop. 11 20 36 44 Yvonne English '97 sells Shawn Filby '89 opens Todd '64 and Greg '91 Husband and wife music style through online Pennsylvania Chick-fil-A, Alexander pair up for faculty duo spins yarns at salvage business teams up with alums sporting goods game Grove City knitting shop 27852_GeDunk.qxp:2-27.qxd 9/15/09 10:10 PM Page 2 Dear Alumni and Friends, mission and at the same time having a great time doing it! As we look forward to another academic year, it allows me to I hope that this year, you’ll plan to join us at Homecoming take a moment and think about what really matters in the work 2009 – Building Lasting Memories Brick that we do at Grove City College. by Brick, October 2-4, 2009. We’ll dedicate Recently, the staff talked about the purpose and mission of our our alumni center that weekend and we have Alumni Relations Office. We talked about how rewarding it is to a full schedule of events. Check out the web be able to connect or, in some cases, reconnect alumni to their at www.gcc.edu/homecoming for all the alma mater. details. I retold a story of an alum who after 40 years began a new This magazine is another fun one for us. In relationship with the College of visiting the campus, talking with light of our economy and the challenges students, speaking in classes, and giving of time, talent and his facing each of us, we thought that a great feature would be on treasure. He told me that he was having a blast. This to me was a those in retail. I think we’ve found a few of the many who are wonderful illustration of what matters about my work. weathering the storm and weathering it well. Better yet, look for As I meet with more and more alumni, I find such joy in seeing the scissors coupon icon throughout this magazine to find a great what passion they have for their alma mater, the friendships deal for an alumni business online at www.gcc.edu/coupons. they’ve maintained and campus groups to which they still feel a I hope you enjoy reading their stories. So, grab a cup of coffee, connection. So many are helping Grove City College fulfill our sit on your couch and enjoy! Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations Dear Alumni and Friends, In fact, as folks have reined in their spending given the last This edition of the GeDUNK Alumni Magazine has as its theme year’s market turmoil, it has been most felt in the retail sector. “retail.” The stories highlight alumni whose life’s work has been And when that sector revives and begins its more recent growth in this area of our nation’s and world’s economy. patterns, it will be a bellwether of economic I recall years ago when our daughter, Jessica, was about 7 recovery. Please enjoy reading about our years old, she operated a lemonade stand. As you might surmise, fellow Grovers who work on the economic I was one of her key customers. One hot day I had not one but front line of retail. two satisfying drinks and then went over to shop at Wal-Mart. I close with a brief but heartfelt thank you, Those were the two retail operations I visited that day and both plus an invitation. First, I want to thank all of seemed to be doing well. Although at the complete opposite end our alumni and friends who donated to this of the retail spectrum as to size, they had a lot in common, i.e., past fiscal year’s annual Full Circle campaign making a product and producing service on demand, with (ended June 30, 2009). Because of your generosity, we had the attention to customer satisfaction. And while our daughter was in second best year of giving in our College’s history. That’s saying the first stages of being an entrepreneur, many years before a something, given recent economic conditions, and it’s a really fellow named Sam Walton had also started small and then grew great, much-needed and appreciated outcome! and grew and grew his Wal-Mart idea. Next an invitation – please come home the weekend of In the stories in this issue, you will read that some of our October 2-4 for a fantastic Homecoming. See all the changes alumni are in small “mom and pop” operations and others much on campus and renew great friendships. I like to say, “If you larger. All enterprises, whether big or small, carry the challenges haven’t been to Homecoming in the past six years, you haven’t of identifying and fulfilling customer needs, but always come with been to Homecoming!” Thousands now come – there is so much the risks of the commercial marketplace. The majority of our to see, do and experience. nation’s economy is small business and much of it is retail. We hope to see you here! Richard G. Jewell ’67 President Cert. No.: BV-SFICOC-US07000166 2 Grove City College Alumni Magazine 27852_GeDunk.qxp:2-27.qxd 9/15/09 10:10 PM Page 3 GROVE CITY COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL 2009 The GeDUNK Editorial Board COVER STORY 4 Jeffrey D. Prokovich ’89 John Stanton ’55 relishes the challenges and rewards Vice President for Advancement of running a small-town gift shop in Duxbury, Mass. Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations FOCUS ON RETAIL 7 Jeanne (Elliott ‘65) Pisor follows the sea to a shell shop. 7 Managing Editor Alumni shine through in the jewelry industry . 8 Amy Clingensmith Mongiovi ’96 Nancy (Ferguson ‘83) Notaro is at the service of her clients . 10 Clingensmith Communications Yvonne English ‘97 goes green with stylish salvage site . 11 22 Associate Editors Trendy alums find careers in the world of fashion. 12 Janice (Zinsner ’87) Inman Alumni hit the mark with retail giant Target . 14 Communications Project Coordinator Reneé (Wachstetter ’89) Ramfos brightens days with gift baskets . 15 Rebecca Miller ’04 Christian Fyke ‘96 builds family of Pittsburgh restaurants . 16 Communications Associate David Johnson ‘89 takes pie production to a new level. 17 Contributing Editors Graduates run businesses close to their alma mater. 18 Ryan Briggs ’01 Shawn Filby ‘89 rallies alumni for his Chick-fil-A venture . 20 Tricia Corey Linda (Crum ‘71) Caldwell realizes retail dream in Turkey . 22 Melinda Miller Butler Farm Market offers customers fresh and local flavor . 24 Kelsey (Pollock ’06) Rhea ALUMNI NEWS & EVENTS 26 29 Charlene (Griffin ’83) Shaw PastEvents.................................................26 Cover Photo Freshman Sendoff Picnics . 30 Jim Judkis, Pittsburgh, Pa. AlumniNews ...............................................32 On the Cover... SPORTS 36 John Stanton ’55 relishes the challenges Sports Feature: Father-and-son team pair up in sporting goods game . 36 and rewards of running a small-town gift FallPreview.................................................38 shop. Read more on page 4. SportsNews................................................41 Design FACULTY 44 40 Amy Clingensmith Mongiovi ’96 Faculty Feature: Konzens spin yarns at knitting shop. 44 SWP | www.swpagency.com FacultyNews................................................46 Printer Printing Concepts, Inc., Erie, Pa. CAMPUS NEWS 48 Alumni Association Officers 2009-10 CLASS NOTES 51 Douglas E. Knable ’79 President IN MEMORY 62 Allyson (Baird ’88) Sveda Vice President Melissa (Trifaro ’96) MacLeod ALUMNI BABIES 65 Executive Secretary 48 Roger K.Towle ’68 Treasurer In this special ‘retail’ issue, Donald L. Balla ’93 Annual Giving Chair Find a coupon Gerald Bullock ’92 Alumni Trustee look for the scissors icon online for... Laura (Ritchey ’87) Havrilla AlumniTrustee throughout the following Andrew J. Kozusko ’96 Alumni Trustee pages and go online for Alumni Retailers Grove City College printable coupons from the 100 Campus Drive featured alumni merchants. www.gcc.edu/coupons Grove City, PA 16127 (724) 458-2300 (888) GCC-GRAD www.gcc.edu [email protected] The GeDUNK is a magazine published three times a year for alumni and friends of Grove City College and highlights campus news, student features and alumni achievements. Gedunk is a word that resonates with Grove City College alumni and friends. Named after the on-campus gathering place/snack bar for students since the early 1950s, the word Gedunk made its way into the Grove City College vernacular when World War II Navy veterans returned to campus, bringing with them the word that defined the place where snacks could be purchased aboard ships or the snack items themselves, everything from potato chips and candy to ice cream and sodas.The name stuck. For decades, the Grove City College Gedunk has been the place to come together to share news and ideas, and this magazine strives to do the same. 27852_GeDunk.qxp:2-27.qxd 9/15/09 10:10 PM Page 4 coverstory AA LLaabboorr ooff LLoovvee John Stanton ‘55 and wife Marcy enjoy the rewards that come with the risks after 28 years at the helm of a small-town gift shop he risks are apparent 28 they do – and that love would giftware, with merchandise like have 18 part-time employees. years later, but so are the prove to be a key motivator in Mariposa metalware from “Every day is different,” Trewards. the beginning years, when Mexico, Simon Pearce John said. “I get up in the John Stanton ’55 and his they put everything into glassware, Juliska tableware, morning, I have a place to go.