ALL IN THE FAMILY

He Keeps Running and Running…

This year Valparaiso resident, Andrew Colee (’67) reached a milestone and then, like most things, he ran right past it. An FSU engineering science graduate, Colee is a 500-time marathon runner who 2% he has run more than 35,000 (training and competitive) miles in the last 25 years. With such an incredible track record, you would never know his hardest run was his first four-mile trek.

You may wonder what started Colee down a road that would span more than 18,000 marathon miles. A better question may be who. “The credit belongs to my wife,” reveals Colee. “Without Jane, I would have never made it this far.”

Patricia “Jane” Curry and Andrew Colee met on the sailing team at FSU and were married just after their graduation in 1967. Jane, who graduated with a degree in mathematics, was a casual runner. “She ran for fun and finally got me interested,” says Colee. “In 1985, I started running. At first running around the block was hard. After I made it to four miles, I finally enjoyed it.”

In 1988, Colee ran his first marathon. “It was terrible,” he confides. “I was sure it would be my first and last.” Two years later, Colee was asked to run in a marathon by friends. “Since it had been so long, I forgot how terrible it had felt and said yes.” Needless to say, it was a success.

Since then, Colee has participated in traditional marathons that are 26.2 miles and competed in ultra-marathons, which range from 31-100 miles and are often on trails. “I have run three 100-mile marathons, but they are not my favorite.”

Running has also helped Colee grieve. In 1998, Colee lost the love of his life, Jane. “Running was a lifesaver for me,” says Colee. “When Jane was ill, I gave up running distances. Just over a year after she died, I ran 45 marathons in a year. Some weekends I would run in one on Saturday and one on Sunday. It was a very difficult time. I just had to run.” Today, Colee averages 20 marathons a year.

On May 22, Colee lined up at the Scenic City Trail Marathon outside Chattanooga and began his 500th race. It was a beautiful day, and once again he thought of Jane while putting one foot in front of the other. And he ran. -Lynne Adams Takacs

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Communications Pro

When it came to choosing a university, Alia Faraj-Johnson (’88), had a tough decision to make. Accepted into numerous schools in Florida meant she had her pick, but choosing one while living overseas was a challenge. She knew that she wanted to eventually get into politics so decided on Florida State University in the capital city. Only time would tell what a wise decision she had made.

Although, graduating with a double major in Political Science and Psychology, Faraj-Johnson chose a career path in broadcast news. “After graduating I chose to use my political science degree to cover politics and was offered a job as a news producer/reporter for Capitol News Service (CNS) in Tallahassee.” She went on to work there for 13 years, rising through the ranks to achieve the title of vice president for news operations.

In 2003, Faraj-Johnson made a career change and accepted a position as public affairs director at the Florida Department of Community Affairs under then Governor Jeb Bush. In 2004 she was named Gov. Bush’s Communications Director and continued serving the Governor as his primary spokesperon until the end of his term in 2007. Although always prepared to respond to media inquiries, Faraj-Johnson was totally unprepared in 2006 when Gov. Bush decided to hold an impromptu news conference to announce that his communications director had finally slowed down enough to start dating. Shaking her head, Faraj-Johnson said, “He called me later that day to warn me that he had just made an announcement in Tampa that would embarrass me—he was right !”

She ended up marrying that man who was then cabinet aide to Governor Bush and a fellow Florida State graduate, Rob Johnson. They married in 2007, the same year she was offered a position with Ron Sachs Communications. Among her favorite projects since joining the firm is Governor Crist’s Explore Adoption campaign. In 2009, the firm received an Emmy for their work, which encourages families to open their homes and hearts to children in foster care.

In 2009, Faraj-Johnson was also appointed to the Florida Elections Commission, a distinguished body of nine charged with the task of enforcing Florida’s campaign finance laws. With so much success, it is not difficult to see why Faraj-Johnson was promoted to partner this year. As a communications veteran of almost 20 years, it is a title she is proud to have achieved. However, there is one title she loves even more: mother.

Last year, Alia and Rob Johnson welcomed a new addition to their Seminole family, their daughter Peyton. “Come game day she wears Seminole colors and will not wear anything else,” she says laughing. “Florida State shaped my life and I am proud to introduce her to the tradition.” -Lynne Adams Takacs

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Social Media Strategist, Google Fellow

What does the world’s largest search engine and Florida State University have in common? The answer is Jordan Raynor (’08). Raynor, a public relations graduate, caught Google’s eye this year and was named a Google Fellow. But that’s not all he achieved in 2010. He also launched an online, communications consulting firm— Direct Media Strategies.

“Receiving a Google fellowship was not only incredible,” says Raynor, “It was humbling.” Google Fellows are a select group of professionals who work at the intersection of politics and technology that Google sponsors to attend the Personal Democracy Forum and share their ideas.

Just one of 20 in the world to receive this honor, Raynor remembers the shock of

learning he was chosen, followed by the awe he felt when meeting the other Fellows. “I listened to a Kenyan woman share how she wanted to shape democracy in her country and felt so small,” he says. “Each Fellow is doing such amazing work and I am proud to have been given the opportunity to learn from them.”

Of course, Raynor would not have been chosen if he didn’t have some ideas of his own. As someone who uses Twitter as a business tool and Facebook as a boardroom, Raynor has made harnessing the power of social media his business—personally, professionally and politically.

One of Raynor’s greatest passions is helping people make their voices heard. This passion has fueled a mission to create an “I Voted” badge for users of Foursquare, a location-based social media website. “Just picture it. You head into work after going to the polls and your friends see your “I voted” badge on Facebook before they see your sticker. It could be a powerful tool to help get out the vote.”

However, social media and politics are not the only interests Raynor is passionate about. He also loves Florida State and fellow FSU graduate Kara Goskie Raynor (’08). Married in 2009, the two met while watching a football game together their freshman year. This year, they bought a house and put down roots in their hometown of Tampa.

“Florida State has a special place in our heart and house,” he says laughing. “We have a garnet and gold room with black and white photos of campus. That’s commitment!” Well said in 140 characters or less. -Lynne Adams Takacs