Poly Alumni E-Newsletter
Cal Poly Pomona
Poly @lumni E-Newsletter OCTOBER 2011
Pumpkin Festival, Matt’s Run and the Insect Fair are beloved fall traditions because they bring together family, friends and colleagues. The Alumni Association’s Golf Tournament is also becoming an important tradition as it marks its sixth year of connecting alumni and raising money for scholarships. Finally, mark your calendar for the Fall Career Fair and the Engineering/High-Tech Job Fair this month. This issue of Poly Alumni spotlights Gary Yamamoto (’72, data processing), who started in the technology field but eventually pursued his passion for fishing and built a successful company around it.
Upcoming Events
Resumaniac at the Career Center
October 6 Resumaniac gives alumni an opportunity to have resumes reviewed by employer representatives. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Career Center.

Kayaking Excursion
October 8 – All alumni and friends are invited to a kayaking adventure with the Latino Professional Alumni Chapter at Huntington Harbor in Seal Beach, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The cost is $10 for two hours of kayaking. After the adventure, stay and have lunch with the group. A carpool is being organized at Cal Poly Pomona. RSVP to cpalumni@csupomona.edu or call (909) 869-2963.

Persian Visions Exhibit
October 11-December 3 – The W. Keith & Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery will showcase the work of 20 contemporary Iranian photographers. For details, call (909) 869-4302.

Fall Career Fair
October 11 Fall Career Fair will be held in the University Quad from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Parking is $5. For more information, contact the Career Center.

Engineering/High Tech Job Fair
October 12 – The Engineering/High Tech Job Fair will be held in the University Quad from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Parking is $5. For more information contact the Career Center.

Exclusive Pumpkin Festival Preview for Alumni
October 13 – Alumni Association members are invited to a free exclusive Pumpkin Festival preview at 5:30 p.m., hosted by the College of Business Administration Alumni Chapter. For more information and to RSVP, contact the Office of Alumni Affairs at (866) 277-2586 or cpalumni@csupomona.edu.

Matt's Run
October 15 – The 6th Annual Matthews Myers 5k Run/Walk begins at 8 a.m. at the Arabian Horse Center. This event supports the Matthew Myers Memorial Fund, which provides student scholarships. Check-in is at 7:30 a.m., and day-of registration begins at 6:30 a.m.

Pumpkin Festival
October 15-16 – Pick your own pumpkins, play fair games and taste a variety of specialty foods at the 19th Annual Pumpkin Festival, hosted by the College of Agriculture. The festival, which is free, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Farm Store. For more information, call the festival hotline at (909) 869-2215.

Insect Fair
October 15-16 – Hundreds of thousands of creepy crawlies, live and preserved, will be on display at the Insect Fair, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Bronco Student Center. Visitors can try edible insects, buy jewelry, watch roach races and visit the petting zoo. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 students and children 3-12 years, and children under 2 are free.

Supporting Students with Disabilities Workshop
October 22 – Alumni, teachers and students are invited to attend a workshop on Supporting Students with Disabilities in the General Education Classroom, hosted by the Education Alumni Group and CEIS Council. Guest speaker Trena Spurlock will conduct an interactive session from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bronco Student Center. Parking and lunch are included in the $35 registration fee.

Alumni Association's Golf Tournament
October 24 – Join the Alumni Association for a round of golf at the annual Alumni Association Golf Tournament. This year's tournament will be held at the private South Hills Country Club in West Covina. Shotgun start is at 8 a.m. For more information, call the Office of Alumni Affairs at (909) 869-2963.

Executive Speaker Series – Social Media In Business
November 3 – Beverly Macy, author and social media marketing expert, will kick off the 2011-12 Executive Speaker Series. Macy will speak on "Social Media in Business: Create Buzz and Strengthen your Brand." All alumni, community members and friends are invited. RSVP to the Office of Alumni Affairs at cpalumni@csupomona.edu or call (909) 869-2963.

Southern California Visitor Industry Outlook Conference
November 10 – Just when the economy seemed to be stabilizing and growing, the economic roller coaster screeched around a sharp curve. Will we be headed down into a big dip, coast along, or find ourselves facing another steep climb? Where will the travel industry be in the fall and what is expected in 2012? The 23rd Annual Southern California Visitor Industry Outlook Conference, hosted by The Collins College, will feature noted experts representing a range of travel sectors offer their best assessment of the economic situation and how it may affect your business.

4th Annual New York Alumni Reception
November 14 – The annual NYC Alumni Mixer returns this November. All alumni are invited to the free reception with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, New York City. The event is hosted by Dean Andy Feinstein of The Collins College and Dean Richard Lapidus of the College of Business Administration. RSVP by Nov. 7 to Lisa McPheron at lcmcpheron@csupomona.edu or (909) 896-3151.

International Education Week
November 14-18 – Join the International Center in promoting global awareness and diversity at a variety of campus activities and events.  

Alumni Spotlight
Gary Yamamoto
’72, Data Processing

Gary YamamotoGary Yamamoto may seem like a quiet-natured man nearing his 70s, but in the world of sport bass fishing he's an undeniable rock star.

Yamamoto, one of the world's best bass fishermen for more than a quarter-century, has attracted a large following of fans who line up to get his autograph and to take a photo with him. In Japan, where he was one of the first Westerners to share his bass fishing skills and techniques, his celebrity status is on another level.

Yamamoto is more than a celebrity fisherman. The Hawaiian native has leveraged his popularity into creating a lucrative business selling lures and other fishing tackle for his company, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Inc. When he started his business in the 1980s, Yamamoto was an innovator in the fishing industry because his lures closely resembled live bait such as worms, crawdads and lizards that fish want to bite.

Continue reading about Gary Yamamoto...

Class Notes

What have you been doing lately? Keep us posted by submitting your class notes, which are also posted online. Take a moment and let your classmates learn about you by clicking here!

News

Amberleigh CappHands-on Summer Experiences
For many students, summer is a time to gain real-world experience, network with professionals, expand their skills and travel. PolyCentric asked a few Cal Poly Pomona students to share about their jobs and internships from the past few months.

Matt's RunHonoring Matt's Legacy by Walking the Course
Matt’s Run, a celebratory 5K run/walk that unites hundreds of participants, has become a fall tradition on campus. But three people who will walk the course on Saturday, Oct. 15 come with a special purpose. Kevin and Chris Myers and their daughter, Jenna, are there for Matt. Matt Myers, a communications major, died tragically in 2005 after a car struck him on campus. His family started Matt’s Run a year later to honor his memory, raise money for scholarships and inspire recipients to do what Matt had set out to accomplish.

President Michael OrtizOrtiz Calls for Progressive Action at Fall Conference
President Michael Ortiz called for the campus community to take charge of the future in the face of an uncertain economy, changing technologies and unidentified expectations of future generations of students. “We have our choice of creating our own destiny or become irrelevant,” Ortiz said during his convocation message at Fall Conference Monday. “Now, more than ever, we have to ask ourselves what will higher education look like in the coming decades. And are we ready for that challenge?”

A student picking tomatoes at the Hydroponics LabCal Poly Pomona Receives High Rankings from U.S. News & World Report
Cal Poly Pomona has again placed highly in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of public universities, tying for sixth among non-doctorate-granting institutions in the West. The university also drew high marks for its College of Engineering and its commitment to diversity on campus. Among both public and private regional universities, Cal Poly Pomona ranked 33rd in the West, a region that comprises 15 states from California to Texas and Alaska to Hawaii.

To keep up with Cal Poly Pomona news and events, visit PolyCentric.

College Roundup

Agriculture
Participants in Cholesterol Study Will Receive Free Avocados

Athletics
Luis Gonzalez Earns CCAA Player of the Week Honor
Men's Basketball to Play Home Opener on Nov. 19

Business Administration
CIS Emeritus to Receive Hall of Fame Honor

Collins College of Hospitality Management
Arabian Horse Library, Collins College Highlighted on Cable News
Collins Alumni/Student Speed Networking
College Updates

Education & Integrative Studies
New Approach to Student Teaching Yields Results
Students Travel to Ghana During the Summer
Successful Summer Clinical Practice in Savanna School District

Engineering
Engineering Professor Named Co-Editor of Journal

Environmental Design
Getty Grant Highlights Modern Architecture in SoCal

Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
Music Department Newsletter

Science
New Name for Department of Physics & Astronomy
Professor Emeritus Presents at Conference

Alumni In The News

"Santa Paula writer draws from his own life" – Ventura County Star (9/7)
Alfonso Guilin (’61, food marketing & agribusiness management) has written a self-published book, “The Lemon Thorn.” It’s a novel that chronicles an immigrant doctor from Mexico who comes north to work in the fields of Ventura County while trying to establish a medical practice. Guilin worked for Limoneira for 30 years, retiring in 1996. He later became a consultant and taught management classes at Ventura College.

"Central School District appoints new board member Allan Morales" – Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (9/4)
Allan Morales joins the board of the Rancho Cucamonga Central School District. He earned his administrative credential from Cal Poly Pomona.

"Finding recognition a sweet thing" – Santa Ynez Valley News (9/6)
Bent Pedersen (’73, industrial engineering) and his wife, Inge-Lisa, have been named grand marshals of Solvang’s upcoming Danish Days Festival parade.

Announcements

Kellogg Gym Seating/Renovation Campaign
Support Bronco Athletics by providing a personal legacy and recognizing a special person in your life. The Kellogg Gym Seating/Renovation Campaign will bring fans closer to the action, while providing a modern and comfortable seating experience. Leave your mark in Kellogg Gym by sponsoring a seat.

Annual Membership Special – Buy a Year, Get One Free
It’s a great time to be a Bronco! Join the Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association today and start enjoying all of the great benefits of being a member. One way the university is nationally ranked is by the percentage of active members in the Alumni Association. Sign up today.

What are you paying for your insurance?
Your alumni benefits include a special discounted rate on auto insurance and home insurance from Liberty Mutual. We're proud to provide our members with a great benefit from a Fortune 100 company that protects millions of people in the country. (Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify.)

Stay in Touch
Have you moved, changed careers, updated your e-mail address? Stay informed on what your alma mater is accomplishing. Keep us posted on all of your information changes through the Alumni Connection website. Updating is a cinch.

Be A Mentor!Become an Alumni Mentor Today!
The e-mentoring program allows students to receive practical career advice. Students can search for mentors by major, occupation or special interest. Start mentoring today.

Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association on LinkedIn
Join the official Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Association Group and get linked to a network of more than 15,000 alumni.

E-MailAlumni Email Account For Life Now Available
You've ask, we've listened! You now have access to a totally free Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Email Account for Life hosted by Microsoft. Register today!

Support Cal Poly Pomona

Cal Poly Pomona is an exceptional university. From its outstanding faculty and staff, and a well-prepared student body, to a large base of successful alumni, there is much we have to be thankful for. Beyond these assets that have helped us earn an international reputation for excellence and enterprise, this university is particularly thankful for a strong foundation of supporters that are so essential for building excellence. Click here to support Cal Poly Pomona.

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Looking for past issues of Poly @lumni? You can access them by visiting our archives at www.csupomona.edu/alumni/polyalumni_archives.html.

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We invite you to send comments or submit story ideas to Poly @lumni. For more information or to contact us, call (866) CPP-ALUM, e-mail cpalumni@csupomona.edu or visit our web site at www.calpolypomonaalumni.com.

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