As I write these class notes, winter is ending. By the time you read this, the Class of 2022 will have graduated, which includes my younger son, Turner Goodenough ’22 in the school of business. And how amazing is it to acknowledge this class will be the first normal graduation in two years?! My older son, Bryant Goodenough ’20, was part of a graduation ceremony which was anecdotally labeled “Corona-mencement” and the informal event took place in the Memorial Union with several hundred students. Here’s to all the families that have endured so much over the past two years and to a healthy spring/summer, which we all look forward to!
Scott Dunning (electrical engineering) and his wife, Holly Flewelling Dunning ’87, recently relocated from Hampden, ME, to Blacksburg, VA, with their son Zachary. After serving on the UMaine engineering faculty for 28 years, he is currently the director of the undergraduate electrical and computer engineering program at Virginia Tech. Holly relocated through Walmart and is a pharmacist at Walmart in Christiansburg, VA. Their oldest son currently works as an inventory specialist for Virginia Tech. Their daughter, Mackenzie Dunning, graduated from UMaine with the Class of 2017, earning a degree in engineering physics, and resides in Maine. Their youngest son is currently a student at UMaine working towards his degree in biological engineering and hopes to graduate with the Class of 2024. They love to keep in touch with their UMaine classmates and encourage friends to reach them on Facebook or LinkedIn.
Dolly McPherson (computer science) reports that having grown up in Presque Isle reminds her of all the friends she made during her campus days at UMaine. She is approaching 20 years in the institutional advancement office at Phillips Exeter Academy as a reporting specialist and has experienced the oddly satisfying world of working remotely for over two years now. Also, two years ago, she became a first-time homeowner when she and her fiancé, Paul, purchased his mother’s home in Brentwood, NH. She was looking forward to doing some work in the many flower gardens on the property. For now, she enjoys watching Maine hockey games on her computer and Bruins hockey on TV. She says she misses standing along the railing at the Alfond arena and cheering on all her hockey pals. Those were the days! She reports she did attend the 2018 class reunion and saw some old friends!
Michelle Johnson Pyle (business administration) reports she heard from her best friend, Catherine DeWick Johnson (education) about sending in updates for class news. Michelle started out in public accounting after graduation and earned her CPA certification. She left public accounting in 1996 after the birth of her oldest son. She has held higher level finance positions since departing from public accounting and now is the director of finance at Johnny’s Selected Seeds — which is a Maine-based 100 percent employee-owned company celebrating its 48th year and 10th year of employee ownership. She and her husband live in Monmouth, ME, and enjoy summers in Fayette, ME, in what she calls their “renovation project” summer home, boating with their two Labrador Retrievers, and spending time with their two sons.
Eric Andrews (business administration) has several news announcements which are that he earned the CFP (certified financial planner) professional designation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having recently passed the SIE (securities industry essentials), he is now studying for the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Series 7 exam. His second announcement is that his jazz quartet is busy performing at Nikanos in Ogunquit again this summer. Also, the ICBA (International Cooperative Banking Association) magazine, apparently lacking for better material, did an “Out of Office” article on Eric’s musical hobby in the April 2022 edition! During the pandemic, Eric started a jazz quartet. At first, the group played at outdoor concerts in his neighborhood, but now also performs in Ogunquit and at private functions and nonprofit fundraisers. Eric is the chief credit officer at Gorham Savings Bank. Thanks, Eric — all your banker friends will appreciate that article for sure!
Jim Beaulier (business administration) writes that for the last 16 years he has been the business manager at a general contracting firm in northern Maine. He and his wife, Michelle, are now empty nesting and find themselves spending much of their free time at their cottage in Bar Harbor and enjoying all that Acadia National Park has to offer. Great to hear from you, Jim!