M O D E L I N G T H E WAY
Modeling the Way After twenty years as a leader at Pi Beta Phi Headquarters (HQ), Iowa Beta JULI HOLMES WILLEMAN officially retired from her role as Executive Director of the Fraternity and Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC) in May 2021. Juli likened her responsibility to Pi Phi to serving as its guardian, while leading our sisterhood through historic growth and change to a position of strength. Yet one of the greatest hallmarks of her legacy may be her commitment to modeling the way through servant leadership, using her gift for strategic vision, calling her team members to greatness and embodying Pi Phi’s core values. “I cannot imagine being on this journey without her,” said past Grand President MARLA NEELLY WULF, Kansas Beta. “Juli is present in every conversation, listening intently and always seeking to understand — asking incredible questions and considering the risk and the reward. She is a problem solver, a servant leader, envisioning and inspiring. She strives to turn challenges into opportunities and calls us to do that as well.” Juli began her career as a certified public accountant. She joined Pi Phi HQ as the Fraternity controller in 2001 and became Executive Director (ED) in 2006 — a position she described as her dream job. “Words will never fully express the deep appreciation and love I have for this organization and all the relationships I’ve been blessed to make along the way,” Juli said as she announced her retirement. “It’s been an amazing journey, and I know this is not an end but rather an ever-evolving path of lifelong
membership. It is my sincere hope I have served the organization, the people and ideals well.” Past Grand President EMILY RUSSELL TARR, Texas Beta, hired Juli for the ED role. “She was willing to accept the challenge head on,” Emily said. “To be a premier organization has always been at the forefront of her thinking. By raising the level of strategy among HQ leaders and staff members, Juli made it possible for HQ to take on more work. She trusted the team with her vision and Grand Council’s vision.” Emily said Juli’s knack for breaking huge projects into manageable pieces paved the way for Pi Phi’s success and advancement during Juli's tenure. In that time, the organization went from a volunteer-driven organization to a staff-driven one using a board governance model. The HQ staff more than tripled in size to better support members, chapters and alumnae clubs. Our signature member development program, Leading with Values®, was created and has since become a key part of Pi Phi’s identity. Pi Phi launched a longstanding literacy partnership with First Book®, sharing a lifelong love of reading with millions of children and offering Pi Phi members a way to make a personal impact in their communities. In addition, Juli’s foresight and expertise in financial management were critical in establishing FHC in 2008, which today provides a once-in-a-lifetime housing experience for the 4,300 collegians who live in Pi Phi facilities each year.
1992 SEPTEMBER 13, 1992
MAY 1996
Juli Holmes (Willeman) pledged
Graduated from Simpson
the Iowa Beta Chapter at
College with a degree in
Simpson College.
Accountancy.
JUNE 1995 Attended her first Pi Beta Phi Convention in Palm Desert, California.
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