Career Center

FOR ALUMNI CAREER CENTER F or some, the thought of swimming in open ocean water is a dream come true. For others, especially those unfamiliar with the ocean, like Shea Geist ’10, ’11 MBA, it sounded terrifying. That is why she and her husband, Geoff, invented Shark OFF shark repellent jewelry. From Idea to Reality: Meet the Inventor of Shark OFF

The idea was born when the couple was watching a PBS documentary called “How to Repel a Shark Attack: Hunting the Elements.”

“They were interviewing one of the scientists who discovered the technology we use in Shark OFF,” said Geist. “We couldn’t understand why this idea wasn’t being sold in every beach shop as a consumer product. At that point, it was only used in research to reduce shark bycatch in commercial fishing.”

Geist instantly had a connection to the technology. “We had recently returned from Kauai where it took me two days to find the courage to swim in an enclosed ocean area,” she said. “I want to teach my son to be strong and brave – maybe some kind of repellent would put my mind at ease?”

The couple filed their idea away until going through the Kauffman FastTrac program.

“That was it,” she said. “Everyone was interested. We set up our LLC right after that.”

From there came years of research and product development, including testing five different alloys with the Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation in the Bahamas.

“The first four did not work,” said Geist. “We had little hope in the fifth one because it had slightly less voltage, but sure enough it worked.” Shea,’10, ’11 MBA, Max and Geoff Geist

“Sharks can actually sense five one-billionths of a volt,” she said. “We put the alloy into a seven-shark feeding frenzy in open water and, sure enough, every single shark did a 180-degree turn away from the bait. It’s a moment we’ll never forget.”

Geist attributes some of her success to her RU education.

“I absolutely feel like that played a role in this. The finance, business analysis and accounting classes definitely gave me a leg-up. The commitment to service also guides our business practices. We want to use this opportunity to make the world a better place. We’re saving sharks, one human at a time. ”

In addition to helping fearful ocean goers, the Geists’ invention also aids sustainability efforts, with 10 percent of proceeds going to the Ocean Voyage Institute, which redirects existing commercial fishing resources to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

ROCKHURST.EDU 29 Voltage? Yes. The alloy in Shark OFF bracelets creates about 1.5-volts in a one-meter-wide electrical field – a voltage humans cannot sense but sharks can. “We couldn’t understand why this idea wasn’t being sold

in every beach shop as a consumer product. At that point, it was only used in research to reduce shark bycatch in commercial fishing.” —Shea Geist ’10, ’11 MBA

MARCH 5 KANSAS CITY RU Leadership Series Carly Fiorina speaks on “Leading for Good, Empowering People and Driving Innovation in the World Today.” APRIL 4 KANSAS CITY Alumni Medical Network Alumni medical professionals return to campus to meet and mentor current pre-health students. APRIL 5 ST. LOUIS Palm Sunday Mass and Brunch Rockhurst President the Rev. Thomas. B. Curran, S.J., celebrates Mass at this popular annual tradition. JUNE 29 KANSAS CITY Fr. Joseph M. Freeman, S.J., Rockhurst Cup Support Rockhurst University athletes while enjoying a round of golf. UPCOMING EVENTS

For more information, visit rockhurst.edu/alumni››››››››››››››››››››››››››

Doug Lindsay was featured in local and nationwide news coverage, including on CNN and Good News Network, focused on his long journey to diagnose and develop a cure for a mysterious illness that postponed the completion of his bachelor’s degree.

’17 EMBA Paul Twenter was hired as the chief analytics officer at Joined Life Unlimited, Inc.

’18 Vanessa Beltran was named Rookie Nurse of the Year at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

’16, ’17 MBA Michael Meier, ’17 MBA, married Chelsea Zacharias, ’17 OT, on Sept. 21, 2019. A number of Rockhurst alumni and staff attended the wedding.

’17 Garret Loehr recently had his second book published, Love Stories From College.

’17 Andrea and Paul Dean, ’17, ’19 MBA, were married Dec. 1, 2018, in St. Louis, Missouri. The couple now lives in Overland Park, Kansas. Andrea is a pediatric oncology nurse at Children’s Mercy Hospital and Paul is working at UMB. Anna Lister was featured in Missouri Meetings and Events for having recently joined the Destination St. Louis team. ’19 Maria Montgomery was named HR coordinator at Lever1.

1980 RETRO ROCKHURST

The Hawks fan section at Bourke Field celebrates with cheers and confetti during a soccer game.

FOR ALUMNI HAWK HANGOUT After you leave the Rockhurst University campus, you remain a Hawk for life. Connect with Hawks in your hometown by checking the calendar at rockhurst.edu/alumni. Looking to organize a Rockhurst gathering where you live? Contact Brent Blazek at brent.blazek@rockhurst.edu.

Class of 2009 Reunion Members of the class of 2009 and friends got reacquainted at a class reunion during Family and Alumni Weekend in September 2019.

Networking Night at the Chamber of Commerce Alumni and friends gathered at Kansas City’s historic Union Station in January for a networking night with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Yogendra (Yogi) Gupta, ’17 MBA, visits with Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D., president and CEO of Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences.

Wine Down Yoga Attendees at one of the very first events held in the new Magis Activity Center (The MAC), enjoyed a relaxing evening of wellness and wine, featuring a yoga class led by Carissa Healy, ’92, and a mindfulness exercise led by Gina Behm, ’15.

Networking Night at MRIGlobal The alumni networking series headed to MRIGlobal in November 2019 to highlight the Alumni Medical Network. (From left) Amanda Crocker, ’21; Faye Smith; and Marta Kaufmann, ’85

Do you get together with fellow Hawks for fun, fellowship or service? WE WANT TO SEE YOUR PHOTOS! Send them to brent.blazek@rockhurst.edu.

With the late August 2019 announcement that Major League Soccer would award an expansion team to St. Louis, excitement over the sport reached new heights. That made the Rockhurst University Leadership Series in St. Louis a hot ticket Nov. 5, with the appearance of Carolyn Kindle Betz, a majority owner in the new team. St. Louis Leadership Series Scores Timely Soccer Theme

(From left) Carolyn Kindle Betz, Rockhurst President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., Bill McDermott Betz, president of Enterprise Holdings Foundation, sat down for a keynote conversation with St. Louis’ “Mr. Soccer,” Bill McDermott, and Rockhurst University President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., about leadership, achieving goals, and empowering communities.

Many former Rockhurst soccer players were in attendance and Peter Baker, goalkeeper for the Hawks, was the student speaker. Baker, a sophomore from Fenton, Missouri, shared how he learned about leadership from legendary Rockhurst men’s soccer coach Tony Tocco.

During the luncheon, the University recognized the recipients of the 2019 Magis Award, Steve and Margie West, who were highlighted in the summer 2019 issue of RU magazine. In addition, the Faber Young Alumni Award was presented to Kristin, ’11, and Fred, ’12, Grossman (see below).

Awards Honor Alumni Leaders R ockhurst University honored four alumni leaders this fall for their outstanding achievement and contributions to the University community. Jeff Goering, ’91, was awarded the St. Ignatius Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in his field as part of Family and Alumni Weekend. Joining the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens in 1999, Goering is the current senior vice president and CFO for the team. Goering visited campus to accept the award and talk to a class in the College of Business, Influence and Information Analysis about his career.

During September’s Bravo event in appreciation of University supporters, Rockhurst honored Kerm, ’68, and Ellen Fendler with the Xavier Medal of Honor recognizing their outstanding contributions to not only the Rockhurst University community, but the greater Kansas City community as well. They accepted the award with their family.

At the Rockhurst University Leadership Series in St. Louis, two St. Louis-area alumni were honored with the Faber Young Alumni Medal. Kristin, ’11, and Fred, ’12, Grossman exemplify commitment to Rockhurst University and its mission, leadership and dedication to the Rockhurst St. Louis Alumni Council, and commitment to the service of others.