“Award/Recognition” Class Notes

Virginia Frischkorn (Col ’06 CM) was recently named one of the top 10 innovators in the event tech industry by Bizbash, for her work on Partytrick, a web-based platform that provides anyone with the tools and confidence to host exceptional experiences.

Alex Rothenberg (Col ’04 CM) is this year’s recipient of The Daniel Patrick Moynihan Award For Teaching and Research, the highest honor given to untenured faculty at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. An assistant professor of economics, Rothenberg is senior research associate in the Center for Policy Research. His research focuses on the effects of urban transport policies on commuting outcomes in Jakarta, Indonesia; long-term growth and development outcomes in Indonesia’s outer islands; the impacts of rural migration programs on diversity and identity; and how transport improvements affect firm entry and employment. 

Rothenberg joined Maxwell in 2018 after serving as an economist at the RAND Corporation in Washington, D.C., as well as a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He and his wife, Sarah King, live with their two children in Manlius, New York.

Ryan McEnroe (Arch ’09) has been elevated to the American Institute of Institute’s (AIA) College of Fellows. The honor recognizes architects who have “achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.”

McEnroe’s work at Quinn Evans includes designing several renewal projects at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoological Park, the new National Native American Veterans Memorial at the National Museum of the American Indian and the U.S. Botanic Garden Production Facility for the Architect of the Capitol. 

McEnroe has been active with the AIA’s Young Architects Forum, where he served as national chair in 2020. He’s also previously served as the knowledge director and regional director. 

McEnroe holds a Masters in Architecture and a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia.

Anwar Allen (Col ’08) and Laura Allen (Col ’06) have recently been recognized as a Virginia Wine & Country Life Artisan for their baking business, Allens Scottish Shortbread. The magazine shared Anwar and Laura’s new flavor announcement and the details of their exciting collaboration across the pond with Harney & Sons Fine Teas to create unique tea-infused shortbread flavors. 

Warren McCarty (Law ’13) of Dallas-based Caldwell Cassady & Curry has been recognized on the 2023 Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list of the state’s top young lawyers based on his work in intellectual property. You can read more about McCarty in this announcement: https://caldwellcc.com/2023/03/attorneys-from-dallas-caldwell-cassady-curry-named-among-best-in-texas-4/

Lettie J. Bien (Batten ’19 CM) has received the 2023 Military Hero award from the American Red Cross, Central Virginia Chapter. The “Military Hero” has been awarded to individuals, veterans, and civilians whose body of work to support active-duty military members, their families and veterans in our community and has made a significant impact. 

The award will be presented to Colonel Bien at the 2023 Help Can’t Wait-Celebration of Heroes breakfast April 20.

Megan Sirna (Col ’99 CM) was recently named senior vice president of Human Resources for Georgia-Pacific. She focuses on advancing the company’s culture and helping supervisors empower employees to achieve their full potential. Sirna has devoted her professional career to advising businesses on leadership, talent and culture matters. 

Sirna joined Georgia-Pacific in 2006 as an attorney in the company’s law department and moved to Human Resources in 2014. She has held various leadership positions supporting HR across several departments, including manufacturing, sales, supply chain and finance. 

Born in Washington, D.C., she has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Patrick O. Gottschalk (Law ’83 CM) was awarded a life membership in the Virginia Economic Developers Association at the December 2022 annual membership meeting. Gottschalk has served as pro bono legal counsel for the organization for over 20 years, and he has been a member of VEDA since 1989. Gottschalk is the seventh person to receive the award in the 40 year history of the Association.

Charley Johnson (Com ’69 CM), chief executive officer, OptiCat, LLC, received the Triangle Award from the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association.

The Triangle Award is given periodically to a person or organization to honor selfless contributions to the vehicle supplier industry. Johnson was presented the award in September at his office in Maryland.

“Charley’s decades of exceptional leadership and dedication to the supplier industry embody the spirit of the Triangle Award,” said Bill Long, president and CEO of MEMA.

From its inception, the Triangle Award was not intended as an annual award.  It is presented when truly deserving candidates are found — those who have worked tirelessly, behind the scenes, out of the spotlight and whose contributions have advanced the supplier industry. 

David Meredith (Com ’03) was named on Comparably’s Best CEO 2022 list in the largest company category for his work at Boomi. The annual ranking derives from 15 million anonymous ratings from employees across 70,000 companies. 

In 2022, Comparably also awarded Meredith Best CEO for Diversity, and recognized Boomi for Best Company Culture, Best Company Career Growth and Best Company Happiness. 

Meredith previously ranked in the Top 50 for Best CEO 2020 also in the largest company category during his tenure as a NASDAQ public company CEO in the Russell 1000 Index.   

Casey King (Engr ’89) recently concluded the 16th annual HGTC Addiction and Recovery lecture series at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway, South Carolina. Casey created the series in 2008, two-and-a-half years into his own recovery from addiction, as a way to reduce the stigma associated with addiction and to show recovery in a positive light. This year’s keynote speaker was actor/producer Todd Bridges, who spoke about his own recovery. 

In 2019, Casey was awarded HGTC Professor of the Year and FAVOR Community Advocate of the year for his dedication and work with the series. 

Brian C. Drummond (Col ’80 CM) has been elected to the board of trustees of the George Mason University Foundation for a three year term. Brian is currently serving his second three year term on Virginia Bar Council. He continues to practice law in Northern Virginia, and he divides his time between his homes in West Falls Church and Cocoa, FL. 

Frank Sica (Arch ’78) was honored with two awards from the American Institute of Architects. Sica received AIA New York State’s prestigious Henry Hobson Richardson Award,  which recognizes AIA members practicing in the private sector who have made significant and transformative contributions to the quality of New York public architecture. He also received this year’s Robert and Louise Bethune award from the Buffalo/WNY AIA in recognition of a lifetime of notable contributions to the profession of architecture through practice, mentorship, and community leadership.

Ed Coleman (Col ’04) was selected to the 2023 “Legal Elite” list by Business North Carolina magazine for his litigation law practice. Inclusion is based entirely on peer review and fewer than 4 percent of the lawyers in North Carolina are recognized on this list. Coleman is a partner at Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, North Carolina and practices in civil litigation defense.

Alison Deich (Col ’10) has been named to Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PPLC’s partnership. Deich is a partner in the law firm’s antitrust practice, where she represents a wide range of plaintiffs in antitrust, civil rights and environmental litigation. She is currently working on a number of high profile antitrust cases such as Jien v. Perdue Farms, where the firm represents a proposed class of poultry plant workers.