Alumni SNAP shots

1980's
Herminia S. Damo ('85, BA sociology and behavioral science) is self-employed as a notary public and income tax specialist in Bakersfield. She also works for the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) providing services for seniors, and serves on the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) for seniors and adults. She earned a psychology/social work diploma from the Stratford Career Institute in Washington, D.C. She also is into poetry. "I am registered at poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry," she said, adding that she is writing a book titled "Promising Progress of Healing and Medicinal Health Care."

Cheryl Scott ('88, BA communications) has joined the Kern Economic Development Corp. as vice president, after 17 years at Golden Empire Transit in Bakersfield. She replaced Danielle McKinney ('92, BS business administration), who returned to Kaiser Permanente as area marketing director, where she spent the early years of her career.

1990's
Barney A. Oliver ('90, BA sociology, '96 MS counseling) recently founded a non-profit organization "Forever Learning Academy," targeting at-risk youth/families. He also works as a mental health therapist for Kern County in Bakersfield.

Chris Harrison ('92, BA communications) has been promoted to director of communications at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She previously was the associate director.

Adam Gross ('93, BA psychology) lives in San Diego and has been working for more than 10 years in the mental health field. He has two children and says he "loves the surfing in San Diego."

Bayardo "Tony" Hernandez ('94, BS marketing) has earned a master's in business administration from Pepperdine University. He now is the regional manager for the American Heart Association for Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

Vincent van Laar ('95, BA criminal justice) earned a law degree at Rutgers University in 1999, and has been a lawyer for six years at the Philadelphia law firm of Bochetto & Lentz, P.C. He lives across the Delaware River in Collingswood, N.J., with his wife, Annemiek, whom he married in 2001, and his daughters Eva, 3; and Maia, 1.

Corene (Vieira) Tague ('98, BA psychology) married another CSUB graduate and athlete in 1999, Cory Tague ('98, BS biology). "Cory and I met while swimming at CSUB," she said. Corene earned a master's degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a practice in Huntington Beach. Cory is a teacher at Orange County High School of the Arts. The couple lives in Huntington Beach with their 4-year-old son Cole and 1-year-old daughter Chloe.

2000's
Bryan Burrow ('00, MBA) has joined Bank of America's Bakersfield Commercial Banking Group as senior client manager and vice president. He is serving as president of the CSUB Alumni Association for 2005-06.

Kristien (Blumenthal) Bennett ('02, BS business administration) is chief financial officer of Immanuel Christian School in Ridgecrest. She is also co-owner of Bennett Business Services offering accounting services to local businesses.

Tasha Jones ('02, BA sociology) is a social worker assistant at Chateau Home Day Health Care Center. She previously worked as a recovery specialist at Kern Linkage. She also worked the Kern County Department of Human Services as a social worker and caseworker.

Jaclyn Loveless ('03, BA communications) is the new public affairs specialist in CSUB's Public Affairs Department. In her new position, she works closely with CSUB Public Affairs Director Mike Stepanovich ('03, MPA). Jaclyn came to CSUB from her previous position as a news producer at KBAK Channel 29.

Nicholas J. Dachtler ('04, BS business finance) has become heavily involved in the lending and mortgage industry in Sacramento since graduating. "Sacramento is a great place to get your feet wet with how the lending process works," he said.