The Maverick magazine is a great way to stay in touch with current events at your alma mater, old classmates and the bright future of Colorado Mesa University.
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31 FALL 2018 • VOLUME 8.1 COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY Riley Slonecker, '16 Riley graduated with a degree in sociology and is currently working in a female community correctional facility as a case manager. She would eventually like to work as a juvenile probation officer. During her time at Mesa, Riley was a part of the Sociology Club, and enjoyed getting to know her classmates in the small program. Riley gets back to Grand Junction as much as she can to spend time with old friends and visit her old stomping grounds. She is living in Broomfield, Colorado, and loves to go camping and play Frisbee golf. Riley hopes to travel the world someday. Kaitlin 'Kricket' Adleman, '17 In January 2018, she began teaching social studies for 6-8th graders and is the advisor for the student council at Independence Academy in Grand Junction. She is working towards her master's degree in history from Grand Canyon University and expects to graduate in August 2019. Cullen Easter, '17 Cullen is a registered nurse in Colorado and currently racing his bike professionally for The 303 Project. He had the opportunity to race this year in the Tour of Utah and the Colorado Classic. Cullen said he was honored to participate in these difficult races and was able to learn a lot. Cullen remembers his time in the nursing program fondly and would recommend it to anyone curious about medicine. He said the nursing department was like family and they looked out for him throughout his time at Mesa. Spencer Adleman, '18 Spencer started working for Dalby, Wendland & Co., P.C., the largest regional accounting firm in western Colorado, as an auditor in January 2018. He gets to work with clients from various industries ranging from nonprofit clients to some of the largest privately held companies in Grand Junction and the surrounding areas. In addition to working full time as an auditor, Spencer has taken and passed three of the four exams required to become a Certified Public Accountant, with one of the scores being a 96 out of 100! Spencer on regulatory and policy changes and how they may affect the industry. Ridgway said her professors appreciated the practical experience she was getting during her internship. "I was organizing coal trading workshops in Singapore and London and had to miss weeks of class," she said. "My business professors simply said, 'have a good time and tell me about it when you get back.' They understood what I was doing was directly applicable to my classes." Ridgway now lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with her husband and three kids. A series of ACL injuries forced her to give up soccer, but she remains active in competitive beach volleyball. • INTERN TO VICE PRESIDENT Diana Ridgway, '04 By Josh McDaniel Diana Ridgway doesn't back down from a challenge. She said the lessons she learned in the classroom and on the soccer field as a member of Mesa's varsity soccer team helped her become a leader in the male- dominated field of energy analysis. Ridgway, a coal analyst, is now the vice president for research with Doyle Trading Consultants, an energy market research company. She was also recently elected as the first female president of the New York Coal Trade Association. Ridgway said she originally came to Mesa from her home in Cupertino, California, to study business and to earn a culinary certificate — with the dream of opening her own restaurant. A senior internship with a Grand Junction company the summer before her senior year put her on a different path. "The internship coordinator told me about a guy who'd moved to Grand Junction from Manhattan to start a company," said Ridgway. "I interviewed with Steve Doyle and he hired me as his first employee. I've been with the company ever since." Ridgway joked that when she got her first promotion, she went from intern to vice president. In her current role, she analyzes the market dynamics of supply and demand for coal as well as related industries, such as steel and transportation. She also advises clients Haelin Steward, '18 After graduating with a degree in kinesiology, Haelin teamed up with her mother, Sonja, in the fitness industry. Haelin and Sonja co-own and run a group fitness studio, 5280Fit, in Highlands Ranch. They provide the community with group fitness classes, small group training and personal said, that "In addition to working hard, it was the wonderful education that I received as an accounting and business honors student that has allowed me to not only be successful in taking the exams, but as I work with clients from all around Colorado."