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Monday, December 16, 2002

By Patricia Sheridan, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Friday the 13th didn't scare the Pittsburgh Young Professionals (PYP). Though it may have put off other party planners, PYP's event chair Jennifer McPeak (with her husband Ken Kaczmarek) looked past superstition to a super soiree. The annual Esprit De Corps benefit threw caution to the wind and even made the daring move to a new venue.

	Movin' and groovin' to Smokin' Section at Pittsburgh Young Professionals' Esprit De Corps. (Lake Fong, Post-Gazette)

After years at the Carnegie Science Center, the seasonal festivities were transferred to the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center. It was probably more the bad weather than bad luck that lowered attendance from the usual 1,000 plus. But the nearly 600 who completed their appointed task to party were undeterred by sleet, snow or dark of night. Once inside, women in slinky gowns and their suitors meandered through the exhibits pretending to study the artifacts, as they checked out each other. The Common Plea passed hors d'oeuvres to the sounds of Smokin' Section, as sponsors, including president of the Hill Group Chris Brussalis and PA Mortgage Network's Susan Duffy, socialized to benefit PYP's Scholarship Fund, Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

For those who didn't find Mr. or Ms. Right under the mistletoe (or the trolley), a chance to take home some raffle prizes or win the four-day, three-night cruise kept smiles bright.

Among those posturing in the past were the always lovely Karen Walters, Aldene Lacara, Julie Beck, Heather Hilliard, Clement George with Dawn Gant, Martin Easley, Kris Petsche, Ron Hudak, Alyson and Dave Cole, Tish Cravener, Sandy Zagel, John Mahood, Matt Stanczak with Heidi Freund, Susan Sobrasky with Donny Cameron, Dan DeMarco, Michelle Simon, Angie Smith and Shawn Williams, Tom Martin, Dana and Michelle Jarvis, Christy Lynn, Melissa and Dave Evans, Jill Spayer, Jack Brice, Dan Oshop, Sandy Shimko, Gail Gross, Jill Kuhn, Tim Bugin, Kelly Stiles, Lynn McCurry, Zaf Mohsin, Elizabeth McPeak, Sandee Connors and Patrick Rowe, Sean Winters, Jeff Lawrence, Kim Shriver, Christine Bedillion, Jessica Black, Deborah Wall, Helen Wylie, Linda Yazvac, Rob Sabol, Jim Heneghan, Ashley Totedo, Kelly Yoder and John Jones, Tom McManus and Sarah Orschied and the ever-charming Dave Himbaugh.