Class Notes

Jacob Elyachar (Jour) is celebrating the ninth anniversary of his entertainment news website, jakes-take.com. He has interviewed several Epic Records artists and alumni from reality TV shows, including America's Got Talent, Big Brother, The Challenge and Survivor. He covered the New York Comedy Festival, New York Comic-Con and the Wolfpack Ninjas’ visit to the New York Open. He also launched the Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar podcast.

Andrew Woodruff (Advert, Mktg) is vice president in account management for TBWA WorldHealth, which specializes in pharmaceutical advertising. He has worked in telecom, cable and internet, health care, and new business. Andrew married his wife, Melissa, in September 2018. They live in Chicago and love to travel, golf, cook and take ski trips back to Colorado.

In August 2019, Kerstin Ulf (Advert) was named brand and marketing director for Protect Our Winters, a nonprofit based in Boulder that works with athletes, thought pioneers and forward-thinking business leaders to affect systemic political solutions to climate change. Kerstin previously worked at Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Levi Strauss. She is a passionate backcountry skier and mountain biker.

Allie Sandza (Jour) is a senior producer for NBC News’ Meet the Press, where she has worked since 2017. She lives in Washington, D.C.

In July 2019, Jackson Lansing (StratComm'18) started as a production assistant at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., where he assisted in covering the Washington Nationals’ 2019 World Series championship, the impeachment inquiries and COVID-19 developments. He is training to become a newscast director and hopes to continue to travel, write and enjoy the great outdoors as his career progresses.

After a 34-year career, Richard Spiegel (MJour) retired from the U.S. Army in October 2019. He and his wife, Polly (PolSci’90), then took a five-month road trip and tour throughout the United States. In March 2020, Rich joined the Veterans Administration as the chief for stakeholder engagement with the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection. He and Polly live in Bethesda, Maryland.

After serving as the station’s news director since 2013, Cara Pallone (Jour) became executive director of KOTO Community Radio in Telluride in September 2019.

Darrin Chiaverini (Comm) is an offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for CU Boulder’s football team. Darrin and his wife, Shannon, have two children: Curtis, a junior in CMCI's Department of Communication, and Kaylie, a first-year student.

Pat Allen (Comm) founded UNI/FORM, a menswear company committed to creating high-quality basics made in the USA. UNI/FORM sells a shirt in memory of Ben Weible (Phil’06), with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Harmony Project, which gives instruments and music lessons to underprivileged children. When he’s not working on his company, Pat can be found behind the turntables as DJ Boo Bear. He is based in Los Angeles.

Brent McHenry (Comm, Bus) is a director and producer based in Los Angeles. Since earning his MFA in cinematic arts at USC, Brent has helped produce numerous commercials, PSAs, music videos, and short and feature-length films. His most recent production, 40 Minutes Over Maui, was an official selection of the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and over 40 other national and international film festivals. Most recently, he directed an ad campaign and brand anthem video for the clothing company UNI/FORM, founded by his longtime friend and fellow Buff Pat Allen (Comm’05).

Rachael (Shapiro) Lipton (MJour) is the copy chief of features and entertainment at the New York Post, where she has worked since 2004. Rachael edits famous gossip columnist Cindy Adams and contributes celebrity items to Page Six. She's hired a staff of copy editors and reports directly to the managing editors.

Dan Hyatt (Jour) hosted and produced a number of radio shows in Denver and St. Louis between 2004 and 2008 before being hired as the production manager and associate director for Fox Sports Midwest’s broadcast
of St. Louis Cardinals games in 2007. In addition to his work with the Cardinals, he is a researcher and statistician for many other MLB and NBA broadcasts, including the Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers. He is based in Denver.

Patrick Gleason (Comm) is the Baltimore Ravens’ vice president of public relations. He has spent 15 seasons with the organization, including its 2012 Super Bowl- winning campaign. Patrick has also assisted with NFL communications at multiple Super Bowls and served as the AFC’s PR director at five Pro Bowls. He began his career as a student assistant in CU’s Sports Information Department.

Tucker Gilmore (Comm) is a vice president with CPA Global, a leading IP management, technology and services company. He lives in San Diego with his wife and 2-year-old son. They carve out time to watch the Buffs on TV as much as possible.

Natalia Zea (Jour) is the district director of communications for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where she oversees media relations, citizens’ information and translation services. She spent 14 years as a television reporter and anchor covering everything from politics to crime to hurricanes. In 2019, she received the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Businesswoman of the Year award for public service. Natalia has a 7-year-old daughter, 6-year-old son and 8-year-old rescue pup.

Danielle Praeger (Advert) is the vice president of R&D at Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods. She has devoted her professional career to helping to grow the company her father founded in 1994. She develops new nutritious products, including veggie-forward, plant-based, and kid- friendly frozen foods. During non-COVID-19 times, you’ll find her pursuing adventures like hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, exploring Southeast Asia or seeing the sites of Italy.

Mike DePaolo (Comm) is the senior manager of digital marketing at Titleist, makers of the No. 1 ball in golf and one of the leading brands in the game. He lives in Ashland, Massachusetts, with his wife, Ashley, and two sons.

Justin George (Jour) joined The Washington Post last September as a transportation reporter focusing on national transit and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Before that he was the D.C. correspondent for The Marshall Project. Although he has spent over 15 years on the East Coast, he remains a diehard Broncos and Buffs fan.

In 2018, Beth DeFalco (Jour) joined Mercury Public Affairs, a global public strategy firm, where she specializes in media relations in the political realm. She previously worked as a spokeswoman for Bloomberg Philanthropies, the New York City subway system, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker. She started her career as a journalist with The Denver Post, where she covered the shooting at Columbine High School before covering government with The Associated Press, Arizona Republic and New York Post. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.