See what’s happening in your city, and get involved with the Columbia Alumni Association & Network!

Atlanta

Local alumni held a meet-up in the heart of Buckhead at The Bucket Shop Café. If you would like to help organize an Atlanta chapter, please contact Sarah Schroeder at sschroeder@colum.edu or Nisa Dalmas (BA ’93) at nisadalmas@hotmail.com.

Chicago

Marty Kane (BA ’06), chair of the Young Alumni Committee, and fellow committee members Kelsey Lindsey (BFA ’11) and Chelsea Middendorf (BA ’12) hosted a CAAN Chicago: Young Alumni Welcome Event for the 2014 graduates at Estelle’s in Wicker Park. If you are interested in volunteering for the YA Committee, or getting to know the Chicago Chapter volunteers, please email Margi Cole at caanchicagoprez@gmail.com.

Denver

CAAN Denver held a preview screening for alumni and the cast and crew of Sean J. S. Jourdan’s (MFA ’09) film Teddy Boy at the Denver Film Society. Other Columbia alums who worked on the film include Kuba Zelazek (BA ’03), Jeremy Long (’03), Caity Birmingham (MFA ’09) and Laura Klein (MFA ’10). For more info on future chapter events and chapter activity, please contact Pat Blum (BA ’84) at pbcaanden@aol.com.

Detroit

Alumni in the Detroit area hosted a wonderful evening of networking at the historic Kresge Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts. If you are an alum in the area, please contact Julie Atty (BA ’10) at julie.atty@gmail.com.

Los Angeles

Many thanks to Paul Broucek (BA ’74) for hosting a mentoring lunch with music business alumni in May. CAAN LA hosted its 7th Annual CAAN Connect and a sold-out Comedy Night with Northwestern University in June. Kyle Kinane (BA ’02) headlined and shared the stage with alumni Brian Billuni (’13), Sheila Chalakee (BA ’05), Drew Janda (BA ’11) and Sardia Robinson (BA ’99), while Jill Adams (BA ’11) directed the show. Alumni enjoyed a walk down memory lane on July 10 with a return to their first networking location, The Formosa Cafe. The summer ended with a bang on Aug. 1 when alumni cheered on the Cubs at Dodgers Stadium during a Friday night fireworks game. For more info on future chapter events and chapter activity, please contact Sarah Schroeder at sschroeder@colum.edu.

New York

CAAN NY has regularly scheduled networking meetings at Puck Fair in Manhattan and at Passenger Bar in Brooklyn, owned by alumna Melissa Aubert (BA ’98). For more info on future chapter events and chapter activity, please contact James “Woody” Woodward (MA ’03) at jameswoodward917@gmail.com.

If you live in a major city and would like to work with the Office of Alumni Relations on organizing and engaging alumni in your area, please contact Sarah Schroeder at sschroeder@colum.edu. Volunteer leaders should be prepared to host one to three events per year, regularly connect with local alumni via social media, and promote the Alumni Scholarship Fund.

Letter from the Director of Alumni Relations

Dear Alumni,
What can an incredibly busy professional do when they want to give back to their alma mater by mentoring young alumni, but time and travel obligations make it impossible to reach everyone? Meet the mentees all at once! That is just what Paul Broucek (BA ’74), the president of music at Warner Bros., did this past May. Paul hosted a luncheon in the executive dining room at Warner Bros. for seven music business alumni. He offered ad- vice, took questions and gave contact referrals to a music supervisor, a film executive, three composers and two artists. This is what being a part of the Chicago Alumni Association & Network (CAAN) is all about!

We know your energy is in demand, but take the time to connect with the members of the Columbia College Chicago alumni community, whether by attending Alumni Weekend, having coffee with an alum you just met on LinkedIn or hosting a lunch for young alumni who hold you in high regard. These are just a few of the ways you can be a meaningful part of CAAN.

The Office of Alumni Relations posts many opportunities on the alumni website at colum.edu/alumni, so be sure to spend some time there. Update your profile, opt-in to our newsletters, register for an event and click over to our social media pages. It’s all there!

Sarah Schroeder
Director of Alumni Relations, West Coast

 
 
 
At the 7th Annual CAAN Connect in Los Angeles in June, alumni networked with industry insiders and each other.

Jason Smith (BA ’06), Colleen Hart (BA ’08), Jessica Weiner (BA ’08) and Avelawance Phillips (BA ’08).

Ryan Thiel (BA ’04) and Scott Thiel (BA ’02)

Andy Coleman (BA ’04) and Meghan Mathes (BA ’09)

CAAN NATIONAL BOARD WELCOMES NINE NEW MEMBERS

This summer’s Columbia Alumni Association & Network (CAAN) National Board elections had nine of 12 seats up for re-election. Nearly 80 graduates applied for these seats, which made for some very keen competition. Board elections are held each summer, so if you’re interested in running, please check out Alumni News on the alumni website for details and the application. Both are posted late spring.
CAAN NATIONAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP FOR FISCAL YEAR ’15:
Regional Representatives

Midwest: Joan Hammel (BA ’86) Chicago, singer/songwriter

Southeast: Joanna DeJesus (BA ’10) Miami, freelance film/TV production

Southwest: Pat Blum (BA ’84) Denver, vice president of a mutual fund, broker-dealership and advisory firm

Great South: Casandra  McCottrell (BA ’07) St. Louis, freelance TV producer

Northwest: Howard Shapiro (BA ’53) Portland, Ore., retired PR professional

Northeast: Jim Woodward (MA ’03) New York, talent agent at Universal Attractions and Lateral Management

Member-At-Large Representatives

Marie Chaiart (BA ’05) Minneapolis, account executive facility solutions at Staples

Kim Chavarria (BA ’90) Los Angeles, Rose Bowl Stadium, marketing

Jodi Hardee (MA ’04) Denver, communications specialist for Commerce City

Marty Kane (BA ’06) Chicago, drummer for the band The Damn Choir

Joy Shanaberger (BA ’09) Washington, D.C., senior analyst to the under secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics

Jonathan Weber (BA ’03) Los Angeles, management and production coordinator at Key Creatives