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8/2005:  Some note, comments and email chit chat over the last week or so ...

• We heard from Vic DePalo (remember the Nabisco eNewsletter?):  Vic attended an unofficial Nabisco reunion in East Hanover last month.  He mentioned he saw former associates that left the company a long long time ago - in their 80's now already!  Vic also mentioned he met up with his old boss Hank (former PR director) for drinks and visit with him again this fall in San Francisco along with some other Nabisco folks.
• Pam Summers sent us this! "When I left Kraft/Nabisco in early 2003, I felt like a lot of people-totally disenchanted with the corporate experience.  I knew I had some great skills, courtesy of my years at Nabisco, Ciba Geigy etc. and I decided I would try marketing and selling “ME”.  It was an interesting journey.  I quickly discovered that a hands-on technical background is a big advantage when setting up a small business.  I set up my home office, web site, eMail quickly at $0 labor cost.  Feeling powerful, I took independence to the next level and decided, “who needs an accountant, etc.”.  In the end, it turned out fine.  There were helpful web sites and books to get me on the road to set up my LLC, get a tax id number, do my books etc.  The process of setting up of the business took about 1 month.  In that time I managed to find my first client, a consulting firm working for one of my former Nabisco Clients.  They hired me for a short time to facilitate from the other side.  My next client also came from a familiar place, a former client from my pre-Nabisco days at Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis).  I did a 6-month project there, mostly from my home office and was really loving it.  A little while before I left Nabisco, I took over the NJ Chapter of WITI (women in Technology International). That created a great opportunity to meet colleagues as working from a home office can get isolating even if the dress code is fantastic.  I met my next client through WITI.  I loved that assignment and was a full time consultant for 18 months.   When a position opened up there, I decided to try to craft a role that would allow me some life balance.  They agreed and for the last year, I have been full time 4 days a week.  My fifth day is for non-pharma consulting, watercolors, visiting or sometimes even cooking and cleaning.  What a long strange trip it’s been - and I only ended up a half a mile down the road…doing the best bits and pieces of many of my previous jobs.  

  I want to thank the people from Nabisco who were so supportive during my segue especially Buddy Fiume, Joe Wisdo, Donna Dietz and Doreen Wright.   

  What did I learn - simply - no guts no glory.  We make our own opportunities and what an amazing trip it was.  The reality was truly better than the fantasy.  Anyone who is going the entrepreneur route - I’d love to live vicariously though you…drop me a line and let me know how your independent venture is going." ~ Pam

• Doug Gabel dropped in and said he was happy - and still sipping Plum wine!

• Trish (Ochal) Eosso got married (10/4/04) to former Nabisco buddy Mike Eosso and we'll be posting pictures soon!  Trish did send us this great group photo of the PDP (professional development program) team - see any familiar faces?? Click image for larger photo ...

• Lots of news, information and nostalgia can be found on the Virtual Bev site!  You can also learn more about Bev's post-Nabisco career as the owner of Play Dog Excellence ... a doggie training/boarding/activity center in Tennessee!

• Staceyann Smith had a baby, Stan Smyla went to England and Wales recently and I understand James Moore bought a new house in Hope.  Sandee bought a new car (but that's old news).

• Dave Long chimed in to inform me about the Nabisco ping ping'ing too many times. There must have been some residual GOP issues with his desktop - LOL.  Dave is at J&J and very very happy with both his career and family life.  The kids and wife - all healthy and loving life.  In addition to looking forward to an exciting Exchange 2003 upgrade, he's busy working around his house; finishing up a paver walkway and getting ready to start on a stone wall!

News, so far!