As I write this we are in the final days of 2013, an eventful and transformative year in many ways. Can’t wait to see what 2014 brings, but first congratulations to our classmates on a birth, a wedding and a big company sale. Let’s get to the news.


Jen Merzon Evans and husband Chris welcomed son Cameron Matthew to the world on October 29, 2013, at 8 pounds and 20.47 inches. Jen is a labor and employment lawyer at O’Melveny & Myers in New York City and Chris works in investment banking.


On December 15 Marisa (Bassett) de la Garza married Kate de la Garza in Seattle. Marisa is a clinical social worker in Seattle and she and Kate are the parents of daughter Camila.


Social media marketing company Brand Networks recently acquired social ad optimization platform Optimal from founder and CEO Rob Leathern. Rob will serve as the new chief product officer at Brand Networks. Founded in 2008, Optimal’s advertisers include Gucci, Sephora and Gilt Groupe. The company was recognized in 2013 as Facebook’s most innovative partner with an award for its Open Signals product, and was profiled by Forrester Research as one of the best vendors in its “social advertising wave.” Rob, who lives in San Francisco with wife Amanda (Stanford ’98) and their two young daughters, reports that he will continue to help aspiring entrepreneurs in the Dartmouth community.


Please keep sending your updates.


—Jason Casell, 10106 Balmforth Lane, Houston, TX 77096; jhcasell@gmail.com