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Doug Resh – Class of ’98 40 under 40 Award Winner

Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Woodspur Farms, LLC: Coachella, CA

Age: 38

Personal Information: Married; One daughter

Hobbies: Home gardening; hiking and beach with family and dogs; traveling; Board Member – California Date Commission; Board Member – California Date Administrative Committee; Southwest Marketing Network – Farm to School Program – Regional Advisory Committee; Coach – Miracle League of San Diego; Coach – Special Olympics

Motto in life: Always try something twice because the first time might have been a mistake.

Work History: Resh started his career with Food Export USA-Northeast, helping small to midsize companies facilitate export marketing programs. He then owned an import/export company, as well as a food brokerage. After selling the businesses, he worked in sales, helping a company develop food systems into school districts on the West Coast. After taking a pair of sales manager jobs at Inabata (LaJolla, CA) and Roquette (Geneva, IL), he was recruited to work for Woodspur as director of ingredient sales. He was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing and has since led the entire sales team, R&D, and procurement. He was nominated in 2017 as TurningPoint Executive – Southern California Sales & Marketing Leader Award – Semifinalist. He has a masters degree in Food Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and a bachelor’s degree in International Business/International Studies from Millersville (PA) University.

Jonathan Bieber (2014) has golden finish

Exeter grad Jonathan Bieber wins his third straight Middle Atlantic Conference 110 hurdles title earlier this month.

Jonathan Bieber’s times had slowed and his body was breaking down. It didn’t look like he was ready to claim another gold medal.

Something happened at the Middle Atlantic Conference Track and Field Championships earlier this month. Something clicked.

“All of a sudden I wake up and I was feeling great and my mind was in the right place,” Bieber said. “I was ready to take on the meet.”

Albright’s senior won the 110 hurdles in 15.36, his personal best, and captured his third consecutive conference title in that event.

It was an out-of-nowhere triumph for the Exeter grad, who hadn’t broken 16 seconds all season.

It was, more importantly, another tribute to his mom.

Bieber dedicated his final two college seasons to Peri, who died of cancer in 2016 shortly after her son earned his first two MAC golds.

Whenever Bieber’s results didn’t match his expectations and he felt like quitting, he thought about his mom. He knew she would want him to continue.

“She was the kindest woman I’ve ever known,” Bieber said. “She always supported me in whatever I did. She did anything for me. If I forgot something at home, she’d run it over. Her and my dad would make almost every track meet.”

Bieber arrived at his first practice at Exeter as a sophomore in search of an event. He ran cross country, like his father, Exeter Hall of Famer Roy Bieber, when he was younger.

Jonathan realized distance running didn’t suit him. He found his way to the hurdles.

Progress was gradual. He was voted the team’s most improved athlete as a junior and named the MVP as a senior.

“He didn’t have a niche,” Exeter coach Kevan Schaeffer said. “He didn’t really know what was going on in track. We got him into the hurdles and started working with him. He had a great work ethic and that took him where he needed to go.”

Bieber’s college rise came as a surprise because his best high school result was a sixthplace finish in the Firing Meet as a senior.

He kept working at it. He kept improving.

“He’s super self-motivated,” Schaeffer said. “He really enjoys it. That definitely helps him out. I knew he was driven. I didn’t think it would go to this level. I’m just really proud of him.”

Bieber’s breakthrough came at the MAC Championships when he was a sophomore. He swept the 110 and 400 hurdles.

His mom was there.

“She was in tears the whole time,” he said. “She couldn’t believe it herself how much I improved.”

Bieber finished his Albright career as a four-time conference champ. He was voted the school’s outstanding track athlete three times and won the Eugene Shirk Award for high scholastic standards. He’ll graduate this week.

After being seeded first in the 110 hurdles as a sophomore and junior, Bieber wasn’t in the top three this year. He fought nagging injuries all spring and feared a possible stress fracture.

That made the victory even sweeter.

“I had all the odds stacked against me,” he said. “I was kind of in shock. I started yelling. I couldn’t believe that I actually won again.”

Taylor Bertolet signs with NY Jets

Former Exeter placekicker Taylor Bertolet has signed with the New York Jets.

The former Texas A&M kicker spent last offseason with the Los Angeles Rams after being undrafted.

At A&M in 2015, he made 22-of-31 field goals and was a second-team all-league pick. He kicked for the Aggies for four seasons, hitting on 66 percent of his field-goal attempts. He had 13 career field goals at Exeter, including a school-record 48-yarder in 2010, and was a two-time All-Berks pick.

Bertolet signed with the Denver Broncos March 23. He was signed by the Jets after taking part in a rookie minicamp last weekend.

Nick Hilton (Class of 2007) wins Disney marathon

Nicholas Hilton didn’t need a magic carpet Sunday, as he won the 25th Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando, Florida, with a time of two hours, 17 minutes and 52 seconds.

Matt Trezza of Fox 35 Orlando shared video of the victor crossing the finish line and noted Hilton was the first American to win the race since 2004.

Felix Carr Class of ’86, Chief of Laureldale PD

I GREW UP IN: Exeter Township, but I was born in Reading.

I NOW LIVE IN: Exeter Township.

FAMILY: Wife, Kelly; sons, Felix Jr., 17; and Ian, 10.

EDUCATION: I graduated from the Exeter Township School District. After graduation, I enlisted in the U.S. Army and was active duty 1986-90, followed by serving in the Pennsylvania National Guard. I was hired by the Reading Police Department and graduated from the Reading Police Academy, and I attended and completed many law enforcement and criminal justice credit courses toward degree completion.

MY ROLE: My duties include crime prevention and deterrence, prosecution of criminal offenders, traffic safety and maintaining the quality of life the residents deserve. In addition, I am responsible for the supervision and administration of our department, which has 11 officers. This entails ensuring the officers receive the proper training and equipment and are cognizant of crime, traffic and resident concerns within the borough, as well as conducting and following up on all necessary investigations.

THE MOST REWARDING PART OF MY JOB: The opportunity to meet so many different people and have an impact on their lives.

SOMEONE WHO INSPIRED ME: My father, who inspired me the most. He taught me the value of treating people properly and honestly, as well as the meaning of hard work and that you make your own breaks in life. I remember him telling me, “If you do a job you love, you will never work a day in your life.” I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a police officer and I am grateful I have the opportunity.

MOST MEMORABLE CAREER MOMENT: While still working with the Reading Police Department, I participated in the candlelight vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Once you witness it, it will never be forgotten.

YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW: While on active duty with the U.S. Army, I participated in several rotations of guarding the East/West German border before taking part in the demolition of the Berlin Wall to re-unify Germany. Also, I enjoy spending time with my family, especially at the beach, as well as reading, working out and practicing karate with my sons.

Mike Shaffer ’66 Hooping it up in retirement

For years, Mike Shaffer traveled to different states and gave up his weekends to coach his sons’ youth teams to basketball success.

This summer, there was a role reversal of sorts as Shaffer’s two boys met up in Alabama to cheer on their dad’s three-on-three team at the National Senior Games.

Shaffer’s Atlanta Spartans didn’t take home a gold medal, (nor silver or bronze), with a 1-6 tournament record. But playing competitively in a division for 65- to 69-year-olds keeps Shaffer motivated; the participation certificate is just a bonus that now hangs beside his favorite sports memorabilia.

A lifelong player of basketball and lover of sports, Shaffer, 68, has now competed in two National Senior Games and aims to get back for a third in 2019, keeping in shape by training at his Oley Township barn and playing in local pickup games.

The 2017 games, held June 2-15 in Birmingham, were open to athletes age 50 and older in 19 sports. More than 10,500 athletes participated in 800-plus events, making it the largest multi-event sporting event for seniors in the U.S.

Pennsylvania sent 248 athletes to this year’s competition, with 153 medaling.

Mike and his wife, Lori, watched a few other events while there, finding inspiration in a 101-year-woman who competed in the 100-yard dash and intense play on the pickleball courts.

Shaffer first picked up a basketball at 4 or 5, and the sport has always remained a part of his life. Basketball was something he could play informally by himself, while in the Navy, attending community college or on pretty much any blacktop he could find during his truck-driving career.

Before playing in the Senior Games with a Mechanicsburgbased team in 2015, the highlight of his basketball career was an intramural stint at the University of Kentucky. Given the Wildcats’ status in the upper echelon of NCAA basketball, Shaffer likened it to playing varsity at most other schools.

While raising a family in California, he coached his sons’ teams and traveled to tournaments around the country.

But when he wanted to hit the court as a player again, options were scarce.

“It was really hard to find old people’s games,” he joked.

Once he moved back to Pennsylvania, however, Shaffer starting joining pickup leagues around the region. Until about 10 years ago, he played with similar-aged opponents at the Jewish Community Center. After that closed, he played a few games at Wilson High School before finding a weekly group at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Amity Township.

Once a week, he heads to the church’s fellowship hall to play in a 16-and-over group; the two other players closest to his age are 53.

But that doesn’t mean the young guys take it easy on Shaffer. At Amityville court, they call him “Kobe,” gentle ribbing in honor of the 38-yearold retired Los Angeles Laker. And younger teammates and opponents force him to play hard: He’s been taken out in midair and busted his head open, much to Lori’s chagrin.

“Most of the time when I fall, though, there’s about four hands offering to help me up,” Shaffer said.

All of that physical play was good preparation for the Senior Games, where Shaffer came away with a black eye and sore ribs from two separate elbowing incidents.

The half-court games were fiercely competitive, and most other teams knew each other well. As a member of an outof-state team, Shaffer had no real chance to practice plays or talk strategy.

The night before their first game in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, he finally met his teammates and shot around on an open court. But the guys never came up with an answer for teams with much taller players. Height, says Shaffer, becomes an additional advantage as mobility decreases with age.

As an observer, Lori Shaffer was more frank.

“If you can shoot, you can win,” she said.

Despite the loss, Shaffer has no plans to let up on his hoop dreams. He’s back to training with regular sessions of cardio and plyometric-style workouts inside his non-air-conditioned barn and shooting drills at the 10-foot hoop attached by twoby-fours to the outside.

“I guess I’ve always stayed with it because it’s the kind of sport you can do yourself,” Shaffer said.

Not to say he doesn’t rope his friends into a friendly game now and then.

Lori Shaffer said her husband has been known to start a game when he’s supposed to be grilling for guests.

To qualify for the next games, Shaffer will have to qualify through the 2018 state games. He’s played in both the Keystone and Delaware games before, and will look for a local team if there are enough players in his age range.

“It’s just fun, and very competitive at the same time,” he said. “Some guys, we’re still intense for old people.”