Alumni in the Spotlight: Derek Sutta

Current Occupation: Microsoft, Xbox Business Development & Strategy

Academy at Coral Reef High School: Business

Favorite Memory/Activity about the Reef:

Top 3

1.     Cory Kronhiem selling hot dogs during lunch in the back of his pick-up truck & staying in business by bribing security guards with free food (esp. that fat one)

2.     The Spanish translation of substitute teachers name: “Marty Cone”

3.     Coach K’s smile (you either completely know what I am talking about or have no clue, it’s not something you forget)

After Graduation:

Moved to Chicago to attend undergrad at Northwestern – turns out it is crazy cold there. Managed to stay in Chicago and become a strategy consultant at Accenture (during this time I lived with Chris Bennett). I hated that job, a lot. So I left to start be #2 at a start-up. Wasn’t sure if it would ever make it big, much less survive, so I left for my MBA at the Wharton School in Philadelphia. While in Philly, I started working for Electronic Arts in San Francisco (I’d fly back and forth a lot), where I did Strategy & Analytics. Graduated from Wharton and felt like XBOX was a better fit for me long-term. XBOX is part of Microsoft, so I live in Seattle now. In my role at XBOX I primarily focus on international strategy & business development.

Couple years ago I wrote a book about card counting with a friend and one of the infamous MIT card counters that was published (http://openairpub.com/book/blackjack-domination). Needless to say, I got pretty into blackjack for a while. Now I am pretty much not allowed to play blackjack anywhere in Las Vegas.

I’m married, have a dog, and am incredibly glad I don’t have to wake up to go anywhere at 7:30am anymore. I believe I was tardy 45 times my senior year.

Hey, reader, what have you been up to since 2003? Check out how you can submit your profile just like Derek! Click Here.

Reunite with a Purpose! Registration is OPEN. BUY NOW! Remaining proceeds from our class reunion will be donated to Coral Reef Senior High School. Questions? Contact the committee via email Barracuda@classof2003reunion.com. See you in 2013!

Alumna in the Spotlight: Brittney Taylor

Current Occupation: Registered Nurse

Your Academy at Coral Reef High School: 

Leisure Medicine

Your Favorite Memory/Activity about the Reef: I always enjoyed doing videos for the many various English classes we had where I could truly be the clown that I was (and still am). My favorite memories would have to be all of the HOSA competitions but definitely the state competitions in Jacksonville.

After graduation:  After graduation I continued my profession as a phlebotomist (modern day vampire) for eight years and FINALLY completed my studies to become a registered nurse in 2012. Now I'm pursuing my bachelors/ masters so that I can come back to the Reef and teach in my academy (half joking- half serious).

Hey, reader, what have you been up to since 2003? Check out how you can submit your profile just like Brittney! Click Here.

Reunite with a Purpose! Registration is OPEN. BUY NOW! Remaining proceeds from our class reunion will be donated to Coral Reef Senior High School. Questions? Contact the committee via email Barracuda@classof2003reunion.com. See you in 2013!

Less than 2 Months!

 

We have less than 56 days! Our classmates have been very anxious and excited to reunite in 2013 and for good reason. For years we have thought back fondly on our experience.

The best years from freshman to senior, the food, the teachers, the events, the class ring-- all memories we have because of the excellent time we made of our years at Coral Reef High School.

Little did we know we were among the first to attend the best high school in the state and in the country. Not only are we proud to have attended such an excellent school but we are even more proud to say we were part of the foundation of Coral Reef.

Our class made history and we continue to do so with our contributions in our communities and industries. Our first reunion, 10 years after influencing the quality of one of the nations top high schools, will be a new frontier. The Reunion-- this is our next adventure every 10 years. It's your time to shine again, '03 Cudas. Let's show South Florida what you got! Share a comment with your memories of good times at The Reef below this post or visit our class group on Facebook. Some of our classmates have already posted some fun pics, videos, and comments. We look forward to seeing more!

Reunite with a Purpose! Registration is OPEN. BUY NOW! Remaining proceeds from our class reunion will be donated to Coral Reef Senior High School. Questions? Contact the committee via email Barracuda@classof2003reunion.com. See you in 2013!

Alumna in the Spotlight: Glenda Suarez

Current Occupation: Publicity Coordinator at Discovery Communications

Academy at Coral Reef: Medical

Your Favorite Memory/Activity about the Reef: I have bad memory, but I am grateful for the friends I made - specially my best friends Marina and Jenny.  Going on field trips was always fun!  

After graduation:  Went straight to FIU that summer.  Finished in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Communications, specializing in Public Relations, and 2 Minors: Marketing and Photography.  

During my last year at FIU I interned with the official NBA photographer of the Miami Heat (2006-2007 season).  After that fun internship, I interned at a public relations agency where I was eventually hired and worked for about 3 years -- most of that time my main client was the Mexico Tourism Board. 

I got to travel to 6 different places around the country taking journalists on tours to promote travel & tourism - best time of my life! Check out pics on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/x_angel_x93/collections/72157622669395350/ 

In the summer of 2010 I landed a job at Discovery Communications (yes, the one that owns Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, etc.) working for the Latin America/US Hispanic division.  Some of my most memorable moments working there include a trip to NYC to see Mike Tyson in person at our press conference for his pigeon show; talking over the phone to many other cool TV talents such as Animal Planet's Dave Salmoni (hottie with no shirt and tigers by his side), the Dual Survivor guys from Discovery Channel (crazy barefoot dude and military companion) and just recently I spoke with Honey Boo Boo's mom (not that I like that show, shhh!); and traveling to London this past January 2013 for Discovery's annual Global Communications Summit where I had some time to enjoy the sites and meet my colleagues from far far away like Taiwan, Moscow, Poland, etc. 

I've done a bit of traveling for personal amusement too, but I've yet to travel the world. I'm working on it!

And thanks to all my hard work I purchased my townhouse at the end of 2011 where I currently live with my boyfriend and our happy dog in Miami.

Any fellow PR peeps out there, feel free to connect http://www.linkedin.com/in/gasuarez. 

Hey, reader, what have you been up to since 2003? Check out how 

you can submit your profile!Click Here.

Reunite with a Purpose! Registration is OPEN. Early bird rates available. BUY NOW! Remaining proceeds from our class reunion will be donated to Coral Reef Senior High School. Questions? Contact the committee via email Barracuda@classof2003reunion.com. See you in 2013!

Alumna in the Spotlight: Kahlida N. Lloyd

Current Occupation: Attorney

Title:   Staff Attorney at Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Inc.

 Your Academy at Coral Reef High School:  Legal and Public Affairs Academy

Your Favorite Memory/Activity about the Reef:

Ohh so many memories! Hanging out with friends - Shout out to “Dem Get it Girls”; school trips: Disney Parks, college tour, FBLA trips, Grad Bash; lunch time, football games and being a member of the Student Government.

What did you do (in 500 words or less) after graduation?

After graduation, I attended Florida State University. Go Seminoles! I was actively involved on campus and I made many lifelong friends. I graduated with a double major in Communication Studies and Political Science. The next step was law school to fulfill “what I wanted to be when I grew up.” I moved to Durham, North Carolina and began law school at North Carolina Central University School of Law. I gained many memorable experiences as a “Legal Eagle” while in law school.  After three intense “But God” years, I graduated law school with honors.  Immediately after graduation, I sat for the North Carolina bar exam and passed. I began my new career in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, a place I call home among others. In St. Thomas, I am a practicing attorney for a non-profit law firm –Legal Services of the Virgin Islands. I have the opportunity to give back to my community where I spent many summers as a child visiting my grandparents and family. I sat for the Virgin Islands bar exam and passed. I hope to continue traveling and see what God will surprise me with next! “To God be the Glory; great things He has done!”

Looking forward to seeing you at the Reunion! Stay connected LinkedIn: Kahlida Lloyd; Instagram:kahlidanicole

Hey, reader, what have you been up to since 2003? Check out how 

you can submit your profile!Click Here.

Reunite with a Purpose! Registration is OPEN. Early bird rates available. BUY NOW! Remaining proceeds from our class reunion will be donated to Coral Reef Senior High School. Questions? Contact the committee via email Barracuda@classof2003reunion.com. See you in 2013!

Support Autism Speaks with Coral Reef Class of 2003 Alumna Vanessa Dorado

Every year in the United States supporters from across the country gather to walk for Autism Speaks, an organization focused on raising funds for autism research and programs to educate the public about autism.

Class of 2003 Alumna Vanessa Dorado has been passionate about raising awareness and support for Autism Speaks and needs your help.Visit her donation page  and submit as little as $20 for the cause online. That's it! You spend more than that on Starbucks and vending machines ;)  

Vanessa and her team are nearly at $1000.00 raised! 

From Vane's Donation Page: "By walking [donating], you are getting us one step closer to finding what causes autism, how to prevent and treat it, and ultimately a cure..."

Find a walk in your area to participate locally. Our walk in Miami-Dade County will be April 7, 2013. For more information visit http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org.

Follow Vanessa on Twitter! @vanSLPA



Reunite with a Purpose! Registration is OPEN. Early bird rates available. BUY NOW! Remaining proceeds from our class reunion will be donated to Coral Reef Senior High School. Questions? Contact the committee via email Barracuda@classof2003reunion.com. See you in 2013!

Alumnus in the Spotlight: George C. Freeman Jr.

Current Occupation/Title: Firefighter

My Academy at Coral Reef: The Legal & public Affairs Academy

Favorite Memory/ Activity: Partaking in America’s favorite pastime in which we know as Football, Conversing alongside friends and attending as many extra-curricular activities as possible, not limited to school dances and basketball games.

Life after Graduation:

I attended Alabama A&M University where I majored in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice. While at AAMU I pledged the greatest and most prestigious fraternity known to man: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Delta Gamma Chapter. I graduated from my beloved alma mater in the spring of 2008, with the heartfelt title of Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice.

Soon after graduating from college, I came home to Miami and worked at PRC for a few months and decided that I would follow my passion. With that being said, I prayed and asked God to lead my steps…a few long and hard fought months later, I earned the title of being a certified firefighter. Unfortunately finding a job with a fire department was no easy task, so I worked at Enterprise Rent- A-Car in the management trainee program for the next two years.

Over those two years I applied to numerous fire departments without success. By God’s timing and not mine at all, I finally received an opportunity to work with a fire department in May of 2011. The department that I was oh so blessed to work at is The East Point Fire Department which is actually located in East Point, Georgia; a small suburb of Atlanta Georgia where I currently reside.

Give George a shout-out in the comments! 

Hey, reader, what have you been up to since 2003? 

Check out how you can submit your profile just like George!

Click Here.

Reunite with a Purpose! Registration is OPEN. Early bird rates available. BUY NOW! Remaining proceeds from our class reunion will be donated to Coral Reef Senior High School. Questions? Contact the committee via email Barracuda@classof2003reunion.com. See you in 2013!