Exbats.com ..... The Directory of Former Motorolans

Exbats moving to Facebook

exbats — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:08:59 +0000

This site is being shut down. Please join the Motorola Alumni Group on Facebook.

Ray Belmonte :(

exbats — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:06:56 +0000

Funeral services for Raymond A. Belmonte, 76, formerly of Cicero, will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, at Calvary Community Church, 1000 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine. Visitation is from 3 to 9 p.m. today, at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, 330 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg.

Mr. Belmonte retired from Motorola after 37 years of service.

Raymond was the beloved husband of Mary Ann (nee Marzec); loving father of Lora Ann (Michael) Marasco, Robert Anthony and John Paul (Alejandra); proud grandfather of Madison and Zachary Marasco, and Reno and Nico Belmonte; dear son of the late Mary and Frank Belmonte; and brother of Arthur (Judy) and Jeff (Mary) Belmonte. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be appreciated for the church for the youth and teen program. For information, 847-882-5580.
Published in the Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on 4/6/2008.

Eric Ross

exbats — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:17:34 +0000

I spent 21 years with Motorola, starting in LMPS in Schaumburg and then moving down to Plantation, with LMPS, PCS, and finally iDEN.

My career with Motorola kept me in a training role, from National Service Training (NST) to Worldwide Learning Services (WLS) to CT2 training and then to iDEN training for our service providers (Nextel, Southern Company (SOCO) and our international carriers.

I started up in Schaumburg back in 1977 at the Walden building on Algonquin Road. Having so much “fun” commuting in 24 “of snow, we decided to look for something in a warmer climate. Plantation sounded just fine, so I “traded” with another Motorolan who thought it would be nice to watch the snow fall from his front window and we moved on down to Plantation.

We spent many happy years at the plant down there, made many friends, saw the world and basically enjoyed my training and tech writing roles, especially with iDEN. Those parties we had at the Convention Center were terrific !!

Five years ago, I retired from Motorola, mainly because my son and daughter-in-law moved up to Jacksonville, as he transferred to JAX with Southwest Airlines.

I am now working for a military subcontractor, Logistic Services International (LSIJAX.com). We supply training and publications support for the Navy, Army, and Coast Guard. I am presently working on Chinook Helicopter Army Simulator Maintenance Manuals. I get to “fly” the simulator often (it’s got to be the biggest, most expensive video game ever created !!).

My son, daughter-in-law and grandson live near us in Jacksonville and we see them often.

All in all, I do miss the camaraderie we all shared at Motorola, and I definitely feel the company is going in the wrong direction, but that’s just my opinion.

Take care to all my ex Bats.

John Hand

exbats — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:27:32 +0000

“EX-bat”

Given the latest news today, will we be able to keep the “BAT” – or, better yet, will we want to? I had 37 years at Motorola, the last 10 or so in iDEN when went from being a significant cash drain to the company to jumping into the black and being a cash cow until Sprint bought Nextel and “killed” the cow. As many others, the majority of the people I worked with were fantastic people and I feel for those still around.

My son and daughter-in-law (who met at Motorola in iDEN) are still there so my heart is drawn back continuously. I’ve been away for a year, have spent all the time working with my wife’s company – advertising specialties – and for the last few months, being “Nanny” for my grandson in the afternoons. What a joy.

We’re still in the same house for the last 23 years in Coral Springs and see many of the current and ex-Bats regularly. Best wishes for good health and positive future for all.

Michael Combs

exbats — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:12:42 +0000

My 32 years at Motorola was almost a life time but even with that I found that I could indeed start over. I stated out with Motorola as an electrical engineer in Plantation, Florida, and on and off spent most of my time there. It was great working for a growing company which was the leader in their market place. I was lucky to see my division grow and spawn a number of other sectors as Motorola grew. Those were the days.

I worked with some of the best folks in the world from all over the world. I was very lucky to be able to work with folk from about every part of the Motorola world. It was a fantastic run and I have many great memories of my Motorola family.

Now living in Central Florida with my wife and we are enjoying the new experiences that we are gaining but we still miss our Motorola family.

If you worked for Comm./LMPS/CGISS…, we have probably bumped into each other at some point.

Mike

Michael Sitko

exbats — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:08:09 +0000

I worked for Motorola from May of 1989 to August of 2002. I started as a software developer in the Analog Base Site Cellular group in Arlington Heights Illinois and finished as a Program Manager in the Advanced Technology & Strategy organization in Schaumburg.

I am currently working as a Project Manager in an Infrastructure team for Allstate insurance.

Address: 12315 N. Lakeview Drive, Huntley, IL 60142

Phone: 847-669-6923

email: msitko2503@msn.com

Jim LaPorta

exbats — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:27:23 +0000

I started my Motorola career in 1982 in Milford, Connecticut as pre- and post-sales at Codex. I moved to ISG in Albany, New York in 1987. I took early retirement from Motorola in May 1998 to change career fields to Fiber Optics. 17 years at Motorola with Information Systems Group (Codex) was the most exciting and empowering experience of my career in Telecommunications. The Motorola experience was… priceless! Moving from a then $100M company, General DataComm, to Codex started a learning and performance experience that has helped me long beyond my intentional early departure from Motorola in 1998 to switch careers from Wireline to Fiber Optics. I wanted to stay at Motorola and move into Wireless, however, there was “no room at the Inn”.

Since leaving Motorola, I become qualified as an Optical Network Designer, first with Pirelli Optical Systems, and acquired by Cisco Systems in 2000. The Telecommunications meltdown in 2001 caught me when Service Provider Sales and Marketing was discontinued at Cisco. I moved into Training and become a Subject Matter Expert and Course Developer at Fujitsu Network Communications until 2004. My lost job in Telecommunications was with Verizon Communications as a Fiber Solutions Analyst in FiOS until spring 2005. Verizon was an unpleasant experience to say the least.

I am now an Independent Insurance Agent (Life and Health) licensed in AR, CA, LA, OK, OR, TX, and WA. I work in a Management Insurance Organization (MIO) called “National Agents Alliance”. I am looking for another full-time position in the telecommunications industry, if it ever starts to grow again.

Now Retired from the U.S. Army, Motorola, and Pirelli Optical I continue contact with many Motorolans networking and sharing experiences and job opportunities. My hobbies of fishing and Ham Radio keep me busy.

My Personal web links are:

Amateur Radio: http://www.jlaporta.com/N1CC

Genealogy: http://www.jlaporta.com/laportafamily

Business Status: http://www.jlaporta.com/jimlaporta

I can be reached at 903-451-4684 or via email at jimlaporta@jlaporta.com

Ron Macha

exbats — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:42:28 +0000

In 1977 I was an accountant for the State of Texas in Austin. I was convinced by a friend that worked for Motorola that talking a pay cut and working longer hours would be the thing to do. I was young and impressionable. However, my decision to do just that provided me with an amazing and satisfying 25 year career.

I was with C&E from 1977-1984. I moved to the Paging division in mid 1984 and left in 2002. I lived in Austin, Texas, for my entire career. Fortunately, I was with Motorola when it was a fun and exciting company to work for. I’m not a good retired person so I’m ready to start a new challenge. Under promise and over perform…Exceed expectations! That’s what we lived by, and that’s what made the Motorola we worked for successful.

My wife Marcia and I still live in Austin. She plays golf (12 handicap) and I work part time with the University of Texas Sports Department to pay for her addiction. We do not have any children so we are spending their college tuitions.

John Keister

exbats — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:16:49 +0000

I was a mechanical engineer with the Automotive and Industrial Electronics Group in Shaumburg until departing in 1987 to establish my executive search practice – The Stanton Group, Inc. My experience with Motorola proved to be invaluable preparation for starting and managing a small business.

My wife, Beth, is a former statistician and is my business partner. Our areas of search expertise include Six Sigma, Engineering Leadership, Change Management & Process Improvement. We are always happy to provide advice or assistance, so don’t hesitate to contact us!

Our website is www.stantongp.com

My LinkedIn profile is http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkeister

Norm Gunther

exbats — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:35:45 +0000

Thirty-eight years in one corporation is almost unheard of today. Looking back I do not regret any of the time. I worked in many divisions including Consumers, Automotive and Corporate in Franklin Park, National Parts in Elk Grove Village, Communications Sector in Schaumburg, Cellular in Arlington Heights and Libertyville.

As the International Senior Director of Information Technology, I visited many facilities around the world. I will never forget all the people I have met, the good times I have had, the lives I have touched, the people I have worked with, and great friends I have made all around the world. If I have any regrets , it’s that I will not be able to work with them anymore.

In the years I have been at Motorola I witnessed many changes within the business and within the Information Technology organizations. I have seen the Quasar television, the 2-way radio, cash-cow business in the Communications Division, the CB radio, AM Stereo, the data radio network, the paging explosion, Marty Cooper’s birth of cellular, the cordless, and Iridium just to name a few. Our products, management, direction, and employees have all changed time and time again but the dedication I have seen over the years was second to none.Since leaving Motorola, I have worked as a consultant part time and am enjoying the freedom of semi retirement.

I currently reside in Northern Illinois. I am always willing to assist colleagues where I can