NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY - FARGO, N D



DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

ALUMNI NEWS: 1995 - 1997



Paul Chasco (1995) is a Project Gologist at Westech Environmental Solutions in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.

In 1998, Paul completed his M.S. degree in industrial geology at the University of Toledo, with his thesis focusing on recycled cement and its use in making highways.
He has also been making beer and wine, including a Scottish ale, a red ale, a Yorkshire ale, an English ale, a pilsner, and a kolsch, and three types of wine - gewürztraminer, chardonnay, and a Riesling. He also made hard cider.
Paul and Amy McClusky were married in September, 1999.


Dean Grier (1995) earned a M.S. in Soil Science at NDSU in 2000. Dean was a research associate and faculty lecturer in the Chemistry Department of NDSU, director of the Materials Characterization Laboratory, and eventually rose to the position of Assistant Director of the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at NDSU.
Dean and his wife Kris enjoy raising their daughters, and occasionally hunting for ammonites. Dean and the family are now living in the Warroad, MN area, where Dean is a pastor after pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.


Paula Sunde (1995) is a Natural Resource Specialist for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation near Loveland, Colorado. Her office, located in the foothills of the Rockies, is often visited by elk, deer, geese, and bunny rabbits. When not observing the wildlife, Paula reports that she deals with environmental issues relating to the sale of federal water and water storage. She is also involved with recreation and wildlife management of Reclamation facilities. She works with irrigation districts, municipalities, and other water users in developing water conservation programs, such as coop and grant agreements. Locally, she is involved with outreach programs in water conservation.
Paula resides in Fort Collins. In her spare time, Paula lifts weights, rides her mountain bike, and hikes. W: (970) 962-4367.


After graduating from NDSU, Asuka (Tsuru) Forest (1995) earned her M.S. degree in 1997 at the University of Maryland. Her research there centered on characterizing the Os isotopic composition of the upper oceanic mantle, in an attempt to better understand the chemical evolution of the mantle through time.
Asuka contintued graduate study at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, completing her Ph.D. degree on the weathering of granitic rocks by glacial processes. This indirectly relates to atmospheric chemistry and climate. To accomplish this, Asuka analyzed Sr isotopes in glacial meltwaters and host rocks. In 1999, she completed field work in Greenland.
Asuka was employed for a number of years with Komex International Ltd. in Calgary, serving as their hydrogeologist/geochemist.
Asuka and Dave were married in May, 2000, at their house in Edmonton by their best friend Ben. In 2002, they had a traditional wedding in Japan (photo). Dave worked at Komex part time as a technical writer, and now writes a successful newsletter on energy and mining stocks from home. Asuka and Dave are big into biking and hiking, and Asuka is now involved with playing hockey. Asuka and Dave are proud parents of a lovely daughter, Erika. They also enjoy their cats, Suomi and Norge, and to a dog, Iceland.
Asuka and Dave's "love castle" is at: 146 Ranch Glen Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T3G 1E8 Canada. H: (403) 289-0589.


Holly (Torpen) Kreft (1996) is Community Development Director and City Planner for Belle Plaine, MN. She oversees planning, economic development, and the daily operations of the city. After graduating from NDSU, Holly attended graduate school at the University of Iowa for a year. She then became Environmental/Zoning Technician with McLeod County in Glencoe and later worked for the Planning Department Hutchinson, MN. Holly and James Kreft (1993) are parents to Alexus Cille, their daughter born in 1999. They are also loving parents to "Hero," their dog. Hero is a Shitz-tsu, who loves to eat sawdust, spends the day in the shop with Jim, and sleeps with Jim and Holly at night. They report that he's not spoiled, just overloved.
If you feel compelled to contact Jim or Holly or Hero -- or order the best custom cabinetry made --, you can reach them at: 407 E. Clinton, Arlington, MN 55307. H: (507) 964-2680. Or you can reach Jim at Kreft Cabinets, 139 W. Main St., Arlington, MN 55307. W: (Kreft Cabinets) (507) 964-5359.


Mike Liljegren (1996) is working as a hydrogeologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in St. Paul. Mike works on water quantity issues throughout the state, such as studying the trends and analyses of data dating back from the early 1900's to the recent, running aquifer tests to calculate the parameters of such aquifers. Mike's work is especially importnat in the Twin Cities metro area, where the population keeps expanding. These studies will help with permitting issues in the future.
Mike and Karen were married in October, 2000. They just built a home: 5740 Newberry Circle N., Stillwater, MN 55082. H: (651) 351-2742. Home e-mail: MWLilj@cs.com. Mike's work address is: MN DNR Waters, 500 Lafayette Road, St.Paul, MN 55155. (O): (651)296-0442.


Ryan Mann (1996) is an exploration geologist for Amerada-Hess Corporation in Houston. In 1998, Ryan completed his M.S. degree at the University of Texas-Austin, where he worked on numerical modeling of salt tectonic processes. Ryan then joined Hess, and was part of a team that drilled 31 successful new wells in the Gulf of Mexico offshore. He also has assisted in evaluating many of the basins along the South Atlantic and Equatorial Margins. His work along offshore Brazil, where he worked to identify frontier hydrocarbon trends and extend discovered trends, inspired Amerada Hess to invest in a new area of the world. Currently, Mann is a mentor and leader within the International Exploration Group.
In 1995, Ryan was presented the prestigious Horizon Award by the NDSU Alumni Association.
Ryan and Amy reside with their two children, Colby and Kylie, in the Houston area.


Derek Felber (1997) is a Senior Staff Geologist for Ninyo & Moore Consultants in Las Vegas, Nevada. Currently, the company is involved with the expansion of the McCarren International Airport and a new monorail system being built from Bally's Casino/Hotel to the Sahara Casino/Hotel on the Strip.
Prior to assuming that position, Derek was a geologic technician for Midwest Testing Laboratory in Fargo and Grand Forks.
Away from work, Derek likes to hike the surrounding mountains and take night photographs of the Strip --- staying away from the heat as much as possible.
Derek's employment address is company address is: Ninyo & Moore Consultants, 3155 E. Patrick Lane Suite #12, Las Vegas, NV 89012. (W): (702) 433-0330.


Casey Freise (1997) is employed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for in Buffalo, WY as a Natural Resource Specialist. He works on permitting and compliance of oil and gas projects, primarily coal bed natural gas. He writes that permitting consists of technical reviews, onsites, and the writing of an environmental assessment for plan of developments, and that compliance consists of verifying the project was developed according to the plan, and ensuring there is interim and final reclamation.
Previously, Casey was in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, working on mine site cleanup projects, specifically removal of tailings, stream restoration, and site revegetation. He was also involved with abandoned mine inventory.
He and Michelle (née Grundstrom, 1999 NDSU alum) enjoy spending time outdoors with their children, Barrett and Elsa. Casey promises to send in an updated picture! The Freises' address is: 511 High St., Buffalo, WY 82834.


Brad Harris (1997) Brad Harris is a financial advisor for Waddell & Reed in Duluth, MN. After graduating from NDSU, Brad was a graduate student at Large Lakes Observatory at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Brad worked on the chemistry of the sediments around the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Brad and Laura reside at 1314 E. 6th Street, Duluth, MN 55805. H: (218) 728-6727.


Michelle (Taylor) Heizelman (1997) obtained her teaching certificate at Minot State University and is currently teaching 7th and 8th grade Life and Earth Sciences at The Circle of Nations School, Wahpeton, ND.


Chris Lein (1997) is a geographer and project leader at Navigation Technologies in Fargo. Chris is in charge of a team of 12 working on Italian databases, as well as databases for the U.S., Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. His work has involved travel to Italy, the Netherlands, as well as several U.S. cities.
Chris and Christy have three children: Nick, Alexis, and Travis. The Leins reside at 3526 Kelly Street, Fargo, ND 58102. H: (701) 293-7234. Chris' address at NavTech is: 102 Broadway, Fargo ND 58102. W: (701) 271-0400.


Amy (Lantto) Mann (1997) and Ryanreside with their family in the Houston area..


Kevin Ploof (1997) has opened an insurance agency in Minot, ND.
Kevin and Natalie have two daughters and a son. They reside at 5011 County Rd 19 S, Minot, ND 58701. H: (701) 838-3965.


Jason Ruen (1997) is a Project Leader at Navigation Technologies' Fargo production facility. Jason is responsible for a team of 10 to 14 digitizers, building projects for European and North American digital map databases with Arc/Info creation tools. Jason's work has taken him to Austria, Hungary, and the San Francisco Bay area of California.
After graduation, Jason worked as a wellsite geologist in the Williston Basin of North Dakota and Montana for a bit over a year.
Jason and Shannon were married in September 2000. They reside at 3037 10th St N #102 Fargo, ND 58102. H: (701)298-0876. Jason can be reached at work at (701):476-6025 or jruen@navtech.com.


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