PLC Alumni Newsletter - Winter 2024

Stacy Baum (PLC ’85) serves as the Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement for Catholic Charities of Denver. She plays a crucial role in reaching and uplifting communities across Northern Colorado. She oversees brand, marketing, and community outreach efforts, working alongside parishes, local businesses, nonprofits, and volunteers. Catholic Charities provides essential services that shelter, feed, educate, and support tens of thousands of Coloradans annually. 

Reflecting on her journey, she credits the PLC as the foundation of her career. Her PLC walkabout at 9NEWS led to her first job in television broadcasting, and her network of PLC mentors opened doors that shaped her professional path. In one instance, a friend of PLC hired her for a corporate role, saying, 

“If you’re a PLCer, we’re hiring you.” 

PLC also prepared her for the fast-paced, high-stakes world of broadcasting by challenging her to articulate beliefs and navigate opposing viewpoints. These skills have become invaluable in her current role, where she emphasizes clear communication and compassion in leading her team. Her leadership philosophy centers on enabling others to shine. Inspired by the idea that,  “leaders eat last,” she strives to coach her team to find their passion and excel.

As a first-generation college graduate, she has built a life deeply rooted in family, faith, and a commitment to giving back. Her marriage to her husband, Michael—a fellow Buff—has been a cornerstone of her journey. Together, they have built a partnership grounded in mutual support and shared values, providing a strong foundation for her personal and professional achievements.

Her journey has been a testament to resilience, and her achievements are shared with the people she holds closest. Her daughter Julia, a proud PLC alum, has followed in her footsteps, carrying forward the values of leadership and service that PLC instilled. Her son, recently married, brings joy and a new chapter to their family, while her mother remains a central, guiding presence in her life.

Rick Wilhelm (PLC '00), Chief Financial Officer of DW Healthcare Partners—an organization that manages investments in private markets, has seen his approach to making a difference evolve over the years. Once convinced that big changes came from large group initiatives, he now believes real impact happens through daily personal interactions. Most of his work involves meaningful conversations with individual investors and his team. He has found that these day-to-day exchanges can be transformative in ways that he never expected.

Rick’s motivations are simple yet profound: he wakes up each day eager to learn something new, be a supportive husband and father, and continue the everlasting challenge of personal growth. His love for sports remains central to his life. Having grown up playing tennis, Rick believes in becoming more like tennis legend Michael Chang—whose grit and humility left a lasting impression on Rick and the larger tennis community. Chang often won, not with superior skill, but with relentless determination. Rick strives to bring Chang's tenacity and level-headed approach to his own life. Rick now enjoys skiing and finds joy in supporting his kids' athletic pursuits in soccer and gymnastics. Volunteering has also been a meaningful part of his life, especially through his prior work with Ability Experience, where he biked across the U.S., connecting and organizing events for caregivers and persons with disabilities.

A natural mentor, Rick encourages those around him to push their limits and embrace challenges. PLC played a significant role in shaping his approach to life. He found the program’s unconventional structure—diverse readings and discussions that weren’t linear or prescriptive—both challenging and transformative. These experiences taught him to embrace the unexpected, becoming a more thoughtful and compassionate leader. He believes that seeking out diversity and adversity enriches our knowledge and resilience.

Reflecting on his PLC experiences, Rick fondly remembers the experiential weekends that brought him closer to issues and people. One highlight was a session with Breckenridge’s City Council, where he and his fellow scholars learned about balancing community needs with the demands of tourism in a mountain town economy.

Rick’s commitment to lifelong learning, positive connections, and personal growth continues to shape his approach to life. He embodies the values of the PLC community, showing us all the power of curiosity, kindness, and a deep sense of purpose in everyday interactions.

Keri Hull Ungemah’s (PLC ‘92) journey through PLC not only shaped her career and values but introduced her to her husband, David Ungemah (PLC ‘91). The two met at a PLC alumni event at The Hornet, a local spot owned by a former PLC Board member. They quickly bonded over their shared love for CU and became lifelong partners. Twenty-five years later, Keri and David remain dedicated fans of their alma mater—even going as far as giving their two children the initials “CU” as a nod to the University of Colorado.

Currently, Keri serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). She leads the Marketing and Communications team, supporting OEDIT’s mission to promote economic growth by helping businesses succeed in Colorado. Keri and her team implement strategic marketing campaigns across various channels, including media relations, social media, and storytelling. Her department’s work helps recruit companies to Colorado and assists small businesses through numerous programs, from tax credits to no-cost training initiatives.

Keri credits PLC as a foundational influence on her leadership style and career. Her time as Co-Director of Recruitment and Selection on student staff provided invaluable experience in interviewing and recognizing talent—a skill that has benefited her throughout her professional journey.

Keri’s favorite piece of advice for her children—“It will be all right”—reflects a deeply personal journey marked by resilience, optimism, and an open-hearted commitment to helping others. For Keri, this isn’t a simple reassurance; it’s a philosophy forged through difficult experiences and triumphs including three miscarriages and a challenging pregnancy with her son, who arrived only after a period of complications. These moments, fraught with uncertainty and anxiety, taught Keri how to confront vulnerability head-on.

In navigating these painful experiences, Keri found herself searching for ways to make peace with emotions society often encourages us to hide. She saw that many people face similar struggles but feel pressured to remain silent. Recognizing this, Keri became passionate about normalizing these difficult emotions, determined to create spaces where people feel comfortable sharing their own stories of resilience and hope.

Keri’s approach to life, work, and family is guided by her unwavering commitment to joy, authenticity, and resilience. A futurist and avid problem-solver, she constantly looks ahead, striving to make meaningful changes and leave things better than she found them. Whether she’s exploring the scenic trails of Steamboat, Breckenridge, or Estes Park, traveling the world with her family, reminiscing about her transformative time studying abroad in Spain, or simply chasing the “Genius” level on the New York Times Spelling Bee, Keri brings a sense of purpose and curiosity to everything she does.

We’re thrilled to share the success of our inaugural “Bring a PLCer to Work Day” pilot program! This initiative connects current PLC scholars with local alumni leaders, creating a unique opportunity for networking, mentorship, and leadership growth.

Through 90-minute lunch-and-learn sessions, scholars get a firsthand glimpse into the professional lives of our outstanding PLC Board of Advocates members and their colleagues. From candid insights on leadership to practical advice on navigating the workforce, these sessions are filled with inspiration and wisdom to guide our next generation of leaders.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible hosts for making this program a reality:
Tiffany Anderson at the Boettcher Foundation
Keri Ungemah at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
David Ettinger at Bow River Capital

Your generosity, expertise, and mentorship left a lasting impression on all who participated.

To our scholars and alumni: this is just the beginning! We’re excited to watch this program grow and further strengthen the bonds within the PLC community. Keep an eye out for future opportunities to connect, learn, and lead!

The club is also asking alumni to join the LinkedIn Page. The program will be posting next steps for the graduating Class of 2024 and we’d love to see alumni welcome PLCers to their industries and cities.

PLC LinkedIn Group