Pathways

Ben Patton was invited to campus by the Senior Class this past Sunday as one of 9 alumni presenters at PATHWAYS.  The program, which was created by the Alumni Association in 2001, shows how a Deerfield education might prepare you (or not) for the road ahead. Other presenters were Asha Echeverria '96, Josh Greenhill '96, Rob Hale '84 P15, Leslie Hotchkiss '06, Sean Keller '86, Stephanie Lazar '94, Adam Lubinsky '89 and Rafi Mottahedeh '02.  Presenter Bios can be found here.

Ben spoke of his average academic record, his perceived pressure to join the family business and his desire to tell stories...and how they have all come together in his current work with veterans suffering from PTSD.  It was a conversation with journalist and brain injury survivor Bob Woodruff that set him on his current path.  Ben learned from Bob that to cope with the jumbled memories that come from severe injury, it helps to unpack them and order them in a way that makes sense.  Ben recognized immediately that the process mirrors film editing and the work he had been doing with Fred* film workshops. Ben began making movies with PTSD veterans to help them tell their stories.  Clearly the process is therapeutic for the veteran and helpful to their families as a way to understand the issues. Learn more at pattonveteransproject.org.

Thanks for making the time to talk to the students Ben, and for being available to them along their pathway...

Advertising moves...

If you can beleive it, after 16 years at BBDO NY and 14 of them on the Gillette business, I'm heading to mcgarrybowen in NY to lead the United Airlines and P&G Aussie accounts as a Managing Director. Now that Ryan is 14 and Charlotte is 11, time was right professionally and personally to make a move. Hoping to get to reunions this June.
Cheers,
Peter (Geary)

CONGRATS from the class on your professional move, Peter!

On an unrelated note, Hank Lemieux announced on Facebook today "Okay, big news. I'm moving to Manhattan. Next week.

This has been in the works for months, to alleviate this East Coast & UK travel I'm doing. I have a cool apartment in West Village/Meat Packing, near Chelsea Market and Google. Yes there is a sofabed and yes, you can visit (but book in advance, there's already a rush on that sofabed and it's not even Spring yet).

I was born in NY, so in a way this is "full circle" after 7 cities in between. But it's only a 6-12 month assignment, and I'll be returning to CA about once a month, so I'm keeping my San Fran apartment and, like Ahnold, "Ah'll be back."

Thanks to everyone who helped me choose and settle there, especially  Douglas Schmidt.

Big Apple, steel yourself.