Western State Alumni Stories...
Graduating from Western isn’t just the end of a great college experience – it’s also the beginning of embarking on your own journey.
Looking at the stories of these alumni, you’ll discover how the unique opportunities and atmosphere of Western, in addition to hard work, have changed lives. See what fellow alumni are up to, and consider sending us your own story. We’ll do our best to feature you on our website, along with other success stories.
Stories of SUCCESS
Mark Junge ('67) - Imagine riding accross America on your bike. Now imagine this trek with the help of portable oxygen. It's crazy, but Mark did it! New Story
Mindy Blake (‘83) – Mindy’s inviting news personality for KOLD-TV is welcoming in the rugged desert of Tucson, Arizona.
Janie Chermak (‘79) – How does one choose between economics, geology and engineering, when all are passionate interests? Simple. Don’t choose - combine them all. Janie shows us how she’s fulfilled her dream job by blending her interests together.
Dave Gorsuch and Johnnie Stevens (’64 and ’68) – Like the majority of past, present and future Western students, these men know all about the outdoors – and how to sell you the perfect gear for your trip. The adventure never stops!
Gudie Gaskill (‘48) – Think you’re tired? Try climbing all 54 fourteeners, and chairing a committee to create the Colorado Trail. This outdoorswoman has done it all.
Paul Goldberg (’93) – Helping Colorado’s own Avalanche hockey team is this grad’s task - what avid sports enthusiast wouldn’t want this job?
Lisa Lyden (‘82) – Colorado Springs has enjoyed the presence of Lisa Lyden not only as their news anchor, but also as an active community member for the past 20 years – and it doesn’t look like she’s leaving any time soon!
Sean Plumb (‘82) – “Music makes the world go ‘round,” so the familiar saying goes. Playing bass guitar for the Aimee Bushong band, as well as writing and promotions certainly keeps Sean on the go, as they perform 1 – 4 times during the month in different regions of Colorado. There’s no stopping him.
Jesse Rickert (‘95) – Imagine standing at the top of Mount Everest after battling 400 other adventurers just to take the trip. Now imagine that your adventure is being televised around the world. Sounds exhausting? Maybe so – but Jesse managed to pull this off, and is still hunting for more adventures.
Peter Rodriguez (’64) – Behind the top athletes are their agents, those who battle to find the best place for their talent. This means hard work and strategy, especially when you have a passion about the sport.
Mark Junge
Historian, Photographer, Author
Nothing stops Mark Junge from making history - not even blood clots that developed in the Winter of 2002. Permanent damage resulted in Junge having to use oxygen for everything from sleeping to excercising. But Junge refused to give into the supposed limitations of his conditions.
On June 12, Junge began a 3,400-mile trek along the first transcontinental roadway designed for the automobile - all the way from San Francisco to New York City. With the help of his wife, Ardath, he successfully became the first man requiring liquid oxygen to ride across America. On October 5, Junge finished his trek at Times Square in New York City. Before his trip, Junge was quoted as saying, "By going forward with this trip, I hope to inspire those who, like me, want to live their lives as they envision they should be lived,” Junge says.
Along with his amazing journey across the U.S., Junge has also written a number of books including: Wyoming: A Guide to Historic Sites (1976), J.E. Stimson: Photographer of the West (1985), Wyoming: A Pictorial History (1989), The Wind is My Witness: A Wyoming Album, (1997), and A View From Center Street (2003). He is an accomplished photographer as well. Junge and his wife currently live in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and have two sons, Dan and Andrew. For more information visit: http://www.heliosfreedomtour.com/index.aspx
Blake is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Mindy Blake
News Anchor
For many, getting home from work or a break from watching the kids means relaxation. Often this is spent curled up on the couch in front of the TV catching up on the latest news.
News anchor and 1983 Western graduate takes part in helping her community members of Tucson, AZ do just that – become aware of happenings around the world. Co-anchoring the news for KOLD-TV News 13 at noon and five, Mindy loves reporting, “issues that help people and touch them in a positive way.”
She began her broadcasting career in Grand Junction at KREX-TV shortly after graduation. Within a year, she had worked her way up to weekend anchor and reporter at KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs. In 1988, Mindy came to Tucson and joined the KOLD-TV News team.
Blake and her husband have two children. They enjoy camping, fishing and hiking. Their dogs Sasha and Sophie often tag along on family outings. Mindy is actively involved with the community, volunteering at her children's school and her church. She says: "When we give our viewers news that has meaning in their lives, then we are doing our jobs."
Blake is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Janie Chermak
Geologist
It was a family tradition that led Janie Chermak to Western State College. When she came in the mid-70s, fresh from Hotchkiss High School, she was treading familiar territory. Upon her graduation with a degree in geology in 1979, she worked with the Homestake Mining Company, followed by working in Denver for oil and gas industries. After attending Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Chermak found a master’s program that combined economics, geology and engineering, which was her particular interest. She received her master’s in mineral economics from Mines in 1988, and a Ph. D. in 1991.
Working with the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey, California, Janie 
traveled extensively throughout the world, conducting two-week short courses on a variety of subjects for U.S. operatives. Her travels took her from Sri Lanka to Eastern Bloc countries and many points in between.
In 1995, Chermak found her dream job as an associate professor of economics at the University of New Mexico. She loves the opportunity to combine economics with the resource and environmental fields, teaching, research and the great outdoors.
Janie and several others are involved with a research project with the National Science Foundation through the University of Arizona’s Science and Technology Center. This center combines the physical sciences of groundwater, surface water, snow morphology and the social sciences of economics to come up with models that allow them to assess policy. The project name is SAHRA or “Sustainability of Semi-arid Hydrology and Riparian areas.”
In her free time, Janie enjoys reading, gardening, and is currently in the process of revamping her front and back yards with xeriscape. She also enjoys traveling and is an avid runner.
Chermak says of Western: “Some of my best memories are of the college’s size, its openness and my professors.” She specifically recalled Bruce Bartleson, John Prather, and Duane Vandenbusche as being excellent teachers.
Chermak is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Gudy Gaskill
Outdoorswoman
She’s known as “The Mother of the Colorado Trail” but she doesn’t want to talk about herself. Gaskill would rather talk about the Colorado Trail Foundation, a summer outdoor classroom series near Lake City. Gudy is there for every week-long session, and drives back to Gunnison to stock up on provisions for the next group in between.
Gudy fell in love with the Rocky Mountains in the 1930s. In the early ‘40s Gudy and her twin sister Ingeborg enrolled at Western State College. Gudy got her WSC degree in 1948. Since then, she’s earned two more degrees. After college Gudy married Dave, a WSC graduate, and moved to Kansas where they ran up to 10,000 sheep before being wiped out in a blizzard in the early 1950s.
Dave and Gudy joined the Colorado Mountain Club after moving back to Denver. By the ‘70s, Gudy was leading trips throughout the world and chairing committees. She was named the first woman president of the CMC club in 1977. During this time Gudy became the executive director of a committee tackling th task of raising funds for a trail from Denver to Durango to be known as “The Colorado Trail.” In 1988, after 15 years of nearly full time effort on Gudy’s part, the final section of the trail was dedicated.
She also helped form the Colorado Trail Foundation which oversees the maintenance and management of the trail. Her efforts have included the recruitment and overseeing of some 10,000 volunteers from all fifty states and many foreign countries.
While Gudy has been “retired” since 1998, she continues to be a driving force behind the foundation. Throughout the years she has climbed all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks and a host of others up to 23,000 feet! Gudy has won numerous awards and appeared on The Today Show in 2002, she was named to the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. She says the trail is much more than just a trail. “It’s a lifestyle. It builds character. It changes people’s lives.”
Gaskill is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Paul Goldberg
Strength & Conditioning Coach
“… and Peter Forsberg SCORES another for the Colorado Avalanche!” A sea of fans cheer and high-five each other at the Pepsi Center as they anticipate a win for their team.
What many outside of the sporting community don’t realize is the time-intensive work of staff members, such as Paul Goldberg.
Paul, a Western graduate, supervises the Av’s conditioning program throughout the year. He also works with team medical staff to determine rehabilitation needs for players. As the Strength & Conditioning Coach he constructs summer workout routines for all the players, focusing on programs matching individual needs of players. Goldberg joined the organization in the summer of 1999.
Goldberg earned his B.S. in Physiology in 1993, and went on to get his masters degree in nutrition and exercise at Colorado State University. Goldberg previously served as assistant strength coach at Colorado State for four years & head strength coach at Eastern Michigan University for one year. He is certified by the American Dietetics Association as a registered dietician, the National Strength & Conditioning Association, and the USA Weightlifting - Level I.
When Paul isn’t working he heads off to mountain climb, battle rivers, traverse vast fields and run. His wife, Teri, is a member of the 2000 USA Olympic softball squad, and competes with the USA National team. The Goldberg’s have settled in Evergreen, Colo. with their three dogs, Denali, Sami and Sebastian.
Goldberg is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Dave Gorsuch and Johnnie Stevens
Entrepreneurs
For Dave Gorsuch and Johnnie Stevens, skiing and the ski industry has been their world.
Stevens graduated from Western as Chief Operating Officer of Telluride Ski and Golf Co. Gorsuch skied in the Olympics and has built a highly successful sportswear business in Vail – Gorsuch, Ltd.
Gorsuch, who grew up in Climax, a small mining town, won the Junior National Championships in 1954 and 1956. In 
1958 he was a member of the World Championship Ski Team. He was also and a member of the 1960 Olympic Alpine Ski Team. In 2002 he was inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. He met his wife, Renie (Cox) at the Junior Nationals in 1954, and they were married in June of 1960, just before the Olympics.
Stevens was a bachelor until he was 40, when wife Dorothy snagged him. Like Gorsuch, he grew up working the mines (near Telluride). When he came to Western he had never skied anything but a rope tow. After college he did some time in the military, working in the Pentagon and then a friend convinced him to “come home” and help build a ski resort. He became only the second employee at Telluride, earning $2.75 per hour. After 33 years on the job, with a short hiatus to work for the San Miguel Valley Corp., Stevens retired from Telluride in July of 2003.
Now he is busy finding time to do things he has put off for years – motorcycling, camping, being a wildlife photographer, writing a book about the history of Telluride and minding his 40 acres near Norwood.
Gorsuch continues to work in his business. In the summers Gorsuch turns rancher, working with a son on the ranch they own 25 miles south of the Blue Mesa bridge toward Lake City. It was fun back in the ‘60s when he became the Mountain Manager at Crested Butte and later a collegiate NCAA champion at Western. He won the NCAA downhill championship, a silver medal in slalom and finished second in alpine combined. He and Renie founded Gorsuch Ltd, a special ski and retail shop in Gunnison in ’62.
In 1966 they moved to the Vail Valley. In addition to managing one of the most successful retail outlets in the state they helped build a hospital, Vail Mountain School, and Ski Club Vail. Likewise, Stevens has worked hard to “give back” to the Telluride community. Both men are admittedly “passionate” about their work, their sport and about making a contribution to their communities.
In 1966 Gorsuch and and his wife sold their Gunnison business and moved to Vail, where Gorsuch had hunted and fished as a youth.
Neither man admits to imagining the kind of resorts that Vail and Telluride have become. Stevens points to a changing mind set about recreation. The youth are interested in mountain biking, skateboards and snowboards. In fact, about 17% of ski mountain users these days, they agree, are snowboarders. They also agree that their product (skiing) is better than it used to be and that, while lift ticket prices seem high, with inflation figured in, the cost may not be far above what it was years ago.
Neither man is ready to slow down. There are new challenges to meet, new goals to set and more of the world to see.
Gorsuch and Stevens are just two of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Lisa Lyden
News Anchor
6 and 10 p.m. Anchor
If you’re in Colorado Springs, tune into the news at 6 or 10 p.m. – and you may see a familiar face.
Majoring in Western’s Journalism and Business program landed 1982 grad Lisa Lyden a position in the spotlight. For the past 20 years, Lisa has been a news anchor for KOAA-TV New 5 & 30 for the Pueblo/Colorado Springs area.
Lyden actively supports Colorado Springs in the fight against Breast Cancer in Southern Colorado. She has been selected as the Colorado Broadcasters' "Citizen of the Year" for her community service. As honorary co-chair for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and a Master of Ceremonies at the race, Lisa keeps a demanding but rewarding schedule.
She is also heavily involved with the Local Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Colorado Springs Women's Chamber and the American Cancer Society. Lyden received the "Sword of Hope" award in 2003 from the American Cancer Society. In her free time she enjoys skiing, biking, roller-blading and singing.
Lyden is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Sean Plumb
Musician and Artist
Music, whether it’s a rock concert, piano recital or cd of your favorite artist, one thing is for sure – music is an significant aspect in almost all of our lives.
Western grad and professional musician Sean Plumb is a classically trained musician. He received a BA in both Art and Music in Gunnison (1982) and then went on to complete a MA in Music Theory and Composition. While Sean is adept at playing many instruments, he prefers to play Bass and Guitar.
As well as being classically trained, Sean has been trained in jazz theory and improvisation. He has composed a symphony, several large ensemble works and many original works and arrangements for large jazz ensembles. After completing his Master's Sean held a 'day-job' in the financial services business, while he played in various music groups, one of which performed weekly at what was the Baywolf.
Now playing for the Aimmee Bushong Band, he has helped with writing songs, and has also been active in building the band’s brand and promotion success. For more information about his band, visit Http://www.aimeebushong.com/
Plumb is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Jesse Rickert
Outdoorsman
Five grueling months after the adventure began, Jesse Rickert stood atop Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak, and held up his daughter Brianna’s photo.
Jesse, a ski fanatic, found Western State after looking for the best location
that combined skiing and college. Studying outdoor recreation, he fell in love with Western’s breathtaking beauty and ability for outdoor adventures.
In 2003, the opportunity to join the ultimate outdoor recreation adventure presented itself and Rickert decided to give it a try. The opportunity was “The Global Extremes,” a five-month competitive adventure that would give five “survivors” a chance at summitting Mt. Everest. Chronicled in five hour-long broadcasts on OLN, the Outdoor Network, the event would span several continents and severely test physical and mental toughness of the participants. More than 400 would-be adventurers applied. Only 50 were invited to the first test in Moab, Utah.
After surviving back-country traversing, rock climbing, desert racing, mountain biking and ice climbing, Jesse was one of only 12 contestants left. They would continue their global challenge in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. Later, the team would battle leeches, snakes and torrential rains in the wilderness of Costa Rico. Remaining individuals moved onto one of the harshest climates on the planet in Iceland, pioneering a route among the frozen mountain passes and valleys of the Icelandic Ice Caps.
After all that, five people remained. Jesse was among them. The next and final challenge? Everest itself. Rickert was among three Coloradoans who would attempt Everest. Bad weather, a delay while participating in a rescue of other climbers and smaller problems meant possibily missing a chance to summit the peak. Nonetheless, the team left and eventually stood on the roof of the world as the camera crew transmitted live video of the achievement back to base camp.
Rickert has wonderful memories of pushing himself to extreme limits and of joining the ranks of those who have stood at the top of the world, descended safely and returned to their families. Jesse’s wife Holly, a Gunnison native, and daughter Brianna were with him in spirit. He called Holly’s support “amazing” and gave her much of the credit for his success. Jesse and Holly are looking forward to family-oriented adventures, as well as making time to keep their lives simple.
Rickert is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Pete Rodriguez
Special-Teams Coordinator
Professional football. What probably comes to mind are defensive linebackers, touchdowns, fans, cleats, referees, quarterbacks, cheerleaders, broadcasters and tackling. This is what football is about – part of it, anyway.
Behind the scenes, but equally important, are the staff, those who train, coordinate and work out logistics for the team. Western graduate, Pete Rodriguez knows how to help produce successful teams and is considered a top special-team coach in the NFL He joined the Seattle Seahawks before the 1998 season as coach Dennis Erickson's assistant head coach and special-teams coach. In 1999, Rodriguez began working as the team’s special-teams coordinator. He was later hired by the Jacsonville Jaguars as their special teams coach, and currently works in helping the Jaguars in their accomplishments. Prior to working with the Seahawks and Jaguars, Rodriguez worked with the Arizona Cardinals; he has been recognized by the American Football Monthly as a notable component to the NFL.
Rodriguez graduated from Western in 1964 with a social studies major. He currently resides in Kirkland, WA with his wife Sherry.
Rodriguez is just one of many successful graduates at Western. Share with us how your experience at Western has led to your success, so we can share your story with others!
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Give us a call at 970-943-2493 or email us at alumni@western.edu if you're interested in joining the Colorado Springs Chapter