Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.


Santiago Lopez, who earned an M.B.A. after Dartmouth from the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, continues to reside and consult in Bogota. He recently published Value-based Marketing Strategy, which offers a new approach toward developing marketing strategies and setting optimal prices. The underlying thesis is that global competition requires managing value rather than individual products or brands, which fosters customer loyalty and provides a solid basis for relationship marketing.


Well known for his work with the Dartmouth Christian Fellowship in the 1970s, David Zelie is now the comptroller of Turbocam International in Barrington, New Hampshire. Turbocam, short for turbomachinery computer aided manufacturing, is a global turbomachinery and manufacturing company specializing in 5-axis machining of flowpath components. The company’s mission is to honor God, create wealth for its employees and support Christian service to God and people.


Anyone who watches Fox sports channels on a regular basis or who is a fan of auto racing undoubtedly has heard, and likely seen, Bob Varsha, broadcaster extraordinaire. He is leader of the FIA World Endurance Championship coverage, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Bob was the play-by-play announcer for the 2014 U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and is part of Focus on Racing Radio, a program that features interviews with top drivers from all forms of motorsports.


Benjamin Delancy is a shareholder in the Washington, D.C., office of Ogletree Deakins. His law practice focuses on executive compensation, disclosure requirements and corporate governance and he routinely advises clients on qualified retirement plans and health and welfare programs. Ben also has worked with officers and directors of companies engaged in corporate transactions regarding change-of-control agreements and excise tax mitigation strategies.


Last year President Hanlon created the Society of Fellows, an interdisciplinary community supporting the integration of research and teaching excellence. The society is composed of faculty fellows, postdoctoral fellows and visiting fellows. In April the first five scholars were named as the inaugural members; their three-year fellowships will begin September 1. Fellows are expected to pursue research, teach one course annually and contribute to monthly events such as colloquia, dinners and lectures. Faculty members were selected previously. More detail can be found at www.dartmouth.edu/~provost/societyfellows.html.


The last weekend of April the Ledyard Canoe Club sponsored “Dartmouth Explorers Symposium: Adventure, Learning and Leadership on the World’s Rivers and Oceans.” The symposium, held in conjunction with Ledyard RiverFest, the annual weekend kayaking festival featuring a class IV whitewater race on the Wells River and the Mascoma slalom race, showcased alumni who have been part of historic journeys, from the 1964 National Geographic 1,700-mile Danube expedition to the first descent of Tibet’s Tsangpo River in 2002. Recall that John Ledyard was an adventurer who inspired the Lewis and Clark expedition by suggesting to Thomas Jefferson that traversing the American continent by water was feasible.


Right now is a perfect time to jot down your news and send it off to your scribe for a future column.


—Val Armento, 227 Sylvan Ave., San Mateo, CA 94403; val.armento@dartmouth.edu