Alumni & Friends
Alumni in the Spotlight
Paul Spindler is President of Paul Spindler Company, a strategic communications firm, headquartered in Los Angeles. Previously, Spindler served as Executive Vice President of two international public relations firms, GCI Group and Manning, Selvage & Lee. He has also counseled a range of corporations, including IBM, Microsoft, Amgen, Nissan, Hyundai, Sensormatic Electronics and Catalina Marketing. Prior to entering the consulting field, Mr. Spindler was Director of Public Affairs at Litton Industries, Inc. and Director of Corporate Communications at International Industries, Inc. Earlier, he served on the editorial staffs of the San Francisco Examiner and the Akron Beacon Journal and subsequently was Editor and Publisher of the Santa Clara (CA) Daily Journal.
Shirley Powell is senior vice president of corporate communications for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. In this capacity, Powell oversees the public relations groups supporting the CNN News Group, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, truTV, Boomerang and GameTap, as well as Turner Sports. In addition, Powell heads advertising sales and cable sales media relations; government affairs, corporate contributions and community relations; and all internal communications. She previously served as senior vice president of media relations for NBC Entertainment and as vice president of media relations for the Disney Channel and Toon Disney.
Paul Gluck, ’76, Gluck is the president and executive producer of LiveUpdate MultiMedia, a comprehensive media production and consulting company. He currently serves as executive director of the Kal & Lucille Rudman Institute for Entertainment Industry Studies at Drexel University. Before joining Drexel, Paul Gluck was Vice President and Station Manager of WHYY, the original and leading public broadcasting station in the Greater Philadelphia region. He previously held positions at KYW-TV and WCAU-TV in Philadelphia and WJZ in Baltimore. A multiple Emmy-award winner, Gluck has recently completed his second term as President of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Jason George is an actor known for his role as J.T. Hunter, the onscreen boyfriend of rap-star Eve on her self-titled sitcom, Eve. George and Eve’s onscreen chemistry had already struck a chord with audiences in the MGM comedy Barbershop, also starring Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer. George got his start on Aaron Spellings’ Sunset Beach, for which he received a Daytime Emmy Nomination. Since then, he’s worked steadily as a series regular on shows such as Off Centre, What about Brian and Platinum. Between series George has played roles in films such as The Climb, Clockstoppers, Broken Windows as well as the upcoming 3 Can Play That Game with Vivicca Fox. Later this season, George returns to television in the legal dramedy Eli Stone.
Merrill Reese, '64, is the play-by-play “Voice of the Philadelphia Eagles,” a title he has held for 25 years. Reese has also handled play-by-play for Big 5 basketball games, tennis matches on Madison Square Garden Television (alongside Billie Jean King), and was the on-camera host and play-by-play voice of ESPN’s award-winning series NFL Dream Season in 1990. In addition, he is part owner and General Manager of WBCB radio in Levittown and spent 14 years as Sports Director as WIP in Philadelphia. During the course of his prestigious career he has won many accolades, including being named the Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the Year by the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters.
2007 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award Winner
Marc Rayfield, '85, is the senior vice president and market manager of the CBS radio stations in the Philadelphia market including; KYW Newsradio, 1210 The Big Talker, 94 WYSP, 98.1 WOGL and 610 WIP Sportsradio where he also serves as general manager. Rayfield started out at WIP in 1990, and in 1992 became the sales manager at KYW Newsradio. He worked his way up to general sales manager and station manager before being promoted to vice president of sales for all five CBS Philadelphia radio stations, a position he held until he returned to CBS-owned WIP as vice president and general manager in 2003. He has been credited with the station's financial and operational turnaround, and today WIP is one of the most visible and highly successful sports radio stations in the nation. Rayfield was inducted into the School’s Hall of Fame in October of 2007.
2007 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award Winner
Bob Pantano, '71, is the creator and host of the Saturday Night Dance Party on Philadelphia's 98.1 WOGL; it is the first and longest-running radio dance party in the nation, now celebrating 30 years. Pantano also keeps the concert circuit hopping with his well-known Sounds of Philly show, which features some of the best local and national recording artists. In addition, he is active in community service initiatives, including playing a crucial role in the promotion and success of the Frank Sinatra mural on the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia.
2007 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award Winner
Linda Munich, '75, is vice president of public affairs at Philadelphia's 6abc, a job she has held since 1991. She first came to the station in 1983 as the producer of various public affairs programs, including the once-a-year special Best of the Class series. She also previously served as producer of the award-winning Visions program, and was the producer and host of Good Morning and Perspective.
2007 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award Winner
John Dotson, Jr., '58, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper publisher and a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Post Company. During his prestigious career, he became the first African-American correspondent and senior editor for Newsweek. Later, he served as Knight Ridder's first African-American publisher when he was appointed to run Boulder's Daily Camera. Under his leadership, The Akron Beacon Journal won a Pulitzer Gold Medal for Meritorious Public Service for its series on race relations and the launch of Coming Together, a community organization whose mission is to foster better race relations in Akron.
2007 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award Winner
Bill Daly, '77, is senior vice president of post production at Warner Bros. Pictures. Daly began his tenure at Warner Bros. in 1997 as director of post production. He became vice president in 2003 and senior vice president in 2006. During his time with the company, he has overseen hundreds of motion pictures, including The Matrix trilogy, Ocean's 11 and The Departed. He is currently supervising Get Smart and Batman: The Dark Knight. In 2007, he was inducted into SCT’s Hall of Fame.
2007 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award Winner
Barbara Attie, '96, has been producing and directing documentaries on women’s and social justice issues since 1990. In 2005, her collaborative work with Janet Goldwater was recognized when they were awarded the prestigious Pew Fellowship in the Arts. Attie and Goldwater recently completed What Harm Is It To Be A Woman?, a four-part series on the religious roots of violence against women produced for The Religious Consultation on Population, Reproductive Rights and Ethics. In 2007, she was inducted
into SCT’s Hall of Fame.
Amy Lemisch, '83, is executive director of the California Film Commission, a role she was appointed to by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2004. Lemisch has more than two decades of experience in the entertainment and film industry. She formerly served for ten years as a producer and production executive for Parkway Productions at Sony Studios and Universal Studios. Her career production credits include films such as The Preacher’s Wife, Riding in Cars with Boys, A League of Their Own, and Awakenings.
William K. Greenlee , '79, is an at-large member of the Philadelphia City Council, where he chairs the Law and Government Committee. In addition, he holds committee posts on education, ethics, financial, labor and civil services, public property and public works, public safety, rules, and transportation and public utilities. Greenlee previously served for 26 years as chief aide to former Councilman David Cohen. He is a member of the Fairmount Civic Association and is the Democratic Leader of Philadelphia’s 15th Ward.
Lorraine Branham, '76, is director of the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin, a post she assumed in 2002 after 25 years as a newspaper editor, editorial writer and reporter. Before joining the university, Branham served as assistant to the publisher of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She began her career at the Philadelphia Tribune and also held top positions at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun and Tallahassee Democrat. In addition, she was a John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University and served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes. On July 1, 2008, Lorraine will become dean of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Jonathan McGoran, '93, who writes under the name D.H. Dublin, is the author of Body Trace, published by Penguin Books. It is the first novel in a forensic crime series based in Philadelphia. The second novel in the series, Blood Poison, is scheduled for release in September 2007. In addition, McGoran is the author of the novels Slapdash and Pig Latin.
Miasha Coleman, '03, released her novel Mommy’s Angel in June of 2007. The book tells the story of a 15-year-old girl who is forced to take to the streets when her family life falls apart. Miasha is also the author of best-selling novels Secret Society and Diary of a Mistress. Publishers Weekly called her a “writer to watch,” and VIBE magazine dubbed her a “literary phenom in the making.” The West Philadelphia native now lives between Philly and the suburbs of Atlanta with her husband and son.
Pete Shellem, '83, is a 21-year veteran reporter with the Harrisburg Patriot-News. His series of investigative journalism pieces — which began in 1998 — helped free four people from jail who were wrongly convicted of homicide. He was featured in an American Journalism Review article title "The Sleuth," which noted that it was his reporting skills that landed former Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernie Preate behind bars. Shellem also contributed a chapter on wrongful convictions in the Crime Classification Manual, a law enforcement reference manual.
Alan Kosher, '69, is the company manager for Disney Theatrical Production’s The Lion King, a position he has held for the past five years. Kosher began his career as a company manager 27 years ago, and has traveled over a million miles managing more than 25 touring Broadway theater productions. He recently created the Alan Kosher Fund at SCT to enable a selected student to experience a one-week internship with a first-class theatrical touring company, such as Disney's production of The Lion King.
Dipti Patel , '99, is the news director for KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia. Formerly an editor at the station, she was instrumental in creating the Emmy-nominated TV newscast KYW This Morning on UPN 57 and served as the show’s senior producer until 2004. In addition, she was a writer for CBS3 Eyewitness News. Patel also enjoys acting, and has performed at numerous venues including the Bucks County Playhouse.
Vince Manze, '73, was promoted to president of program planning, scheduling, and strategy at NBC Entertainment, a role that was specifically developed for him. Manze formerly served as president and creative director of the NBC Agency. While in that position, he created widely recognized network marketing slogans including “Must-See TV” and “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World.”
Tascia M. Pregno, '92, manages effective integrated marketing programs for clients that include Visa, TV Guide, Jim Beam, and the New York Road Runners–ING New York City Marathon. She also produced promotional spots for HBO's The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and Sex and the City. Tascia is president of the School's alumni association and co-chair of the University’s New York Alumni Club. She was awarded a 2007 Certificate of Honor for professional accomplishments and contributions to Temple.
Diane Heery, '76, founder of Heery Casting, Inc., has acted in and directed more than 25 regional and touring shows and movies. Over the past 14 years, Diane has cast principal actors in several independent and studio films, including Jersey Girl, The Sixth Sense, and Rocky Balboa. In 2006, she was inducted into the Temple University Gallery of Success.
Jim Smith, '94, founded JIMPACT Enterprises, which focuses on leadership, personal and professional development, diversity, and development of professional trainers, speakers, and facilitators. Previously, Jim spent 16 years in corporate training and development positions. He is the author of From Average to Awesome: 41 Plus Gifts in 41 Plus Years. In 2006, he was inducted into the Temple University Gallery of Success.