DELTA ALPHA ALUMNI REPORT
March 2013
Delta Alpha Pi Kappa Phi Alumni Report
March 2013 Dj
IN THIS ISSUE
Letter from the Archon by Steven Gethard
Hello! My name is Steven Gethard and I am the newly elected Archon for the 2013 calendar year. Currently a junior, I am studying Industrial Design with a minor in Packaging Science. After pledging in the fall of my sophomore year, I went on to serve as our Warden for a semester, leading into my term as Archon. It is safe to say that joining this fraternity has been the best decision I have made in college, and I look forward to the year ahead. On behalf of our entire Exec board, we are excited to assume larger roles in our chapter. We are all passionate about our fraternity and our respective positions. Our
chapter is in a great place right now, and we look to continue to grow and expand on our successes in the coming year.
Sudflood XXIII Learn everything you need to know about this upcoming Sudflood Concert taking place this April.
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I would love to hear from you with any questions, comments, or advice for our chapter going forward. Fraternally Yours, Steven Gethard sgethard@vt.edu Journey of Hope Reflection
Hear from Brother Joeseph Ciurlino about his JOH Experience.
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Alumni Look In: Aaron Herrington by Kevin Korn
Pi Kappa Phi alumnus Aaron Herrington has had great success co-founding his own digital advertising firm, Modea, in Blacksburg, Va., but it was not easy doing so. Aaron Herrington came to Virginia Tech in 1996 and pledged Pi Kappa Phi that fall in the Beta Upsilon pledge class. Before coming to Tech, Herrington’s first choice of major was to be an engineer. But, the summer before school started, he met an investment banker who influenced him to get into the business of investing and technology. Aaron went on to be IFC Treasurer in 1998 and then served as Archon in 1999 and as chapter adviser. After his graduation in 2000, he went to work for Exemplum during the economic boom and raised capital. Business was booming and everything was on the upturn. However, in 2001 the bubble burst and 9/11 shook everything up. The company then burned through a $1 million in six months. Things were looking grim, but Aaron and some others stayed with the goal of turning the company around and creating something that lived on. They were successful in their transition and made a niche advertising firm. In 2005, due to investor control of the company, Aaron left because he felt he didn’t have control of his business. Aaron was without a job for a whole year due to a non-compete contract he signed. In 2006, Herrington co-founded Modea, a digital advertising firm. With the leadership skills he gained from the fraternity, Aaron was able to turn his small firm into one of the fastest growing companies, landing Modea on the Inc. 500 list. Blacksburg was not
originally where Herrington had planned to start his company, but when the southwestern region of Virginia was lending money to businesses to help the economy, one of the provisions was that they had to stay in the southwestern Virginia area. Today, Aaron loves Blacksburg and even though he travels a lot, he considers it his “home base.” One big positive of being located in Blacksburg is that it’s in an ideal spot to recruit young graduates, who are eager to work and spend oneto-three years and move on. The location also allows for older couples who are looking to start a family come join the Modea family. Aaron even appointed his own employee, Bryce Cannon, to be our new chapter adviser. Modea has had its ups and downs as well. In the beginning of 2011, Modea lost its Largest client, Verizon Wireless. It was the first tough time the young company faced; Aaron had to let some people go or else his company would be lost. Reflecting on the tough time, Aaron says it made his company stronger and a closer group. Modea’s commitment was rewarded; in the fall of 2011, Verizon Wireless returned, along with several other companies. Some current companies include Disney, HTC, TMobile, and Hasbro. Aaron promotes a fun work environment and his company plays several sports in community leagues. His company has a monthly happy hour on Fridays, along with “Not so casual Friday”. In 2010, a group from work started the “Tequila
Challenge” at Cabo Fish Taco, a restaurant across the street from the Modea offices. The challenge: drink every tequila the bar owns. And despite the fact that Aaron doesn’t even like tequila — his drink of choice is a bourbon and ginger — his team finished first. Aaron went on to finish the challenge two more times and is working on his fourth title. He now has his name on a plaque on the wall and a permanent seat at the bar for his accomplishments. The only downside is that it is expensive. At the prime age of 34, Aaron is taking good care of himself. He regularly wakes up at 5:30 to work out and drinks plenty of water when he hits the bars. If you were to look at his composite photo and see him now he has not aged one bit. Aaron is looking forward to Sudflood this spring and is ready to reconnect with old friends. If you would like to contact Aaron you can do so at the following: Email: aaron.herrington@modea.com Mobile: 540-557-7340 Desk: 540-443-5009 Twitter: @aaronherrington
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My Journey of Hope Experience By Joseph Ciurlino Since returning from Journey of Hope, the off-handed question “how was your summer?” has become impossible for me to answer in the small-talk manner that it was posed. I’ve tried in vain but “good,” and “fun,” definitely don’t get to the heart of it. “Relaxing,” doesn’t even describe it. “Lifechanging,” is probably the best short-handed description, but even this falls shy of communicating the experience that this journey was. It doesn’t tell someone what my life was before or how it is now. It doesn’t convey the experience and emotion that brought about this change, or why I feel so inclined now to attempt to share it. When my team left Seattle on May 31, of this year, I didn’t quite know what to expect. Without a clue of what experiences lay ahead of me, among 28 brothers, most of whom I had met four days prior, and with the nagging feeling that I made a big mistake in the back of my mind. The ride commenced, fittingly, in the rain on Seattle’s Waterfront. What seemed almost a triumphal physical feat to me that first day, riding our bicycles 40 miles to Enumclaw, was dwarfed in comparison the next when we rode 125 miles over the Cascades. Over the entire trip, the team averaged 80 miles a day, five days a week, with a friendship visit just about every day as well. By the time we pulled into Washington D.C., we had cycled 4,500 miles over 70 days; I had become extremely close with every man on my team, already cherished the memories we had made together, and hadn’t a doubt in my mind that Journey of Hope was one of the greatest decisions I had ever made. Journey of Hope is amazing for two reasons. It has a hands-on service aspect that differentiates it from other cross-country bicycling trips and charity endurance events, and it has embedded the ideals of brotherhood and rituals of our fraternity into the men who do it. As members of Pi Kappa Phi, I believe the cyclists and crew members who sign up to do this event have the essential context on which to build a great
group of service leaders. “Building leaders of tomorrow by helping people with disabilities today” isn’t just a slogan here; it is really put into practice. Each group of Pi Alpha’s who come from this voyage experience the same thing. They are drawn together in the crucible that is getting on a bicycle saddle at 5 a.m., every day, riding until after noon in 100plus degree heat through the brown deserts of Wyoming or endless rows of corn in Kansas. Though, it is not because they sacrifice, but because they sacrifice together for the men and women of this country who would give anything in the world to be able to ride a bike across the country. It is reinforced each day, when you rack the bicycles and visit an organization that helps people with disabilities every day. It is in places like The Arc of Kings County, Ashley House in Enumclaw, Peddles for Pennies in Denver, Noble in Indianapolis, and countless others that your perceived “suffering” on the bicycle is really nothing. It’s funny to think that early in that day, you complained that it was too hot, or the hills were too steep because the people you serve climb mountains every day that make the Rockies look like mole hills. You realize that when you ride into Wichita, Kansas and are greeted with the yells and applause of all the children at Rainbows United like you are some sort of hero, that they are the real heroes — just by keeping on and wearing a smile on their face. The volunteers that have devoted their lives to people with disabilities, they are heroes too. In their midst, you are so humbled and thankful that they are there, because the people you meet riding across
the country did far more for you than you could ever do for them. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to, I hope, bring a little joy into their lives. This started to become evident to me in Denver, at the friendship visit with the Special Olympics athletes there. I met a man in line for food named John. A middle-aged man, he had just finished giving a karate demonstration with some of the other athletes and ended up directly behind me, so I congratulated him on a job well done and proceeded with usual small-talk I had become accustomed too on our visits. We grabbed food and then decided to sit down together. We sat and ate and talked some more when the conversation took a more serious turn. It had come up that John’s mother had passed away recently. I apologized sincerely, but he stopped me and assured that it was okay. He told me that before she died, his mother told him to keep excelling in the sports that he did at Special Olympics. John said sometimes it was hard because he had to work extra shifts at the Target sometimes, but it was important to him because he needed to keep challenging
PI KAPPA PHI ALUMNI REPORT | Issue 1 himself. He said if we stopped trying to improve ourselves because something bad happens, we have given up; his mom didn’t want him to do that. When I finally said goodbye to John, I walked away and wept a little. I was so touched, so humbled. A man who society deems “disabled” had taught me of an important lesson of life. It was something that I needed to hear, as I was trying to deal with a loss of my own. It also made me realize that people with disabilities can surprise you with their abilities. Sometimes when we see someone who has a physical or mental handicap, it can be hard to see past it, but if you are willing to look you would be surprised at what you will find.
4 yourself. I say without a doubt in my mind that Journey of Hope is the greatest achievement of Pi Kappa Phi and Push America. and it is a cause worth the time invested, the money donated, and the people served. I am honored to say that I was a small part of it.
During Journey of Hope, you put yourself aside; you learn to see the abilities in people. You learn that the term service-leadership is redundant because service is leadership. You witness brotherhood on a deep level with the men you ride with, and you realize that it is possible to be part of something bigger than
Alumni Updates: Chase Hughes ΔA 41: Is enjoying retirement by playing golf, officiating high school track meets and is USATF Certified and enjoys sleeping in late.
John Lucy ΔA 105: Both children are grown. One son is an attorney in Portland, OR and youngest just went back to UNC Law. My sister Dawn (a DA Little Sister) and her husband Hamid live in Blacksburg. She works for Montgomery County Schools and he runs SubStationII on Turner Street, which is a family business.
Chris Wolstenholme ΔA 465: Life is good!
Ed Dieterle ΔA 348: Jenny, Ward (first grade), Wyatt (preK), and I are doing well and currently living in downtown Washington, DC.
Lanie Finlayson ΔA 505: If any brothers are considering an MBA then I would love to speak with you about my experience.
Coston Dorsey ΔA 279: I am now working as an IT project manager for Strategy Cafe in Richmond, VA.
Brothers (left to right): Tyler Earley, Joe Ciurlino, Dow Marchesini
Can You Name These Brothers?
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SUDFLOOD XXIII
SUDFLOOD RELATED
by Chris Menzel
Mark your calendars for April 6, as Sudflood makes a triumphant return for its 23rd edition. The brothers are happy to host another day-long music festival at Top of the Stairs in downtown Blacksburg. It’s a great way for Delta Alpha members of present and past to get together and raise money for Push America, all while enjoying great music. Log onto www.sudflood.com or contact an active brother to reserve your ticket. Tickets this year are $15 and 100% of proceeds will go towards Push America. This year’s goal is to raise more money for Push than ever before; help us achieve this by bringing out your friends and family to enjoy the festivities! Carbon Leaf returns to the spotlight as the headlining band another year. Their fantastic stage performances, coupled with a unique style of music, truly embody Sudflood’s energetic and upbeat atmosphere. The John King Band, coming all the way from Georgia, will make their first appearance in Blacksburg to offer a southern twang style of music. In their own words, they are a “unique mix of Southern Rock and Country that is guaranteed to keep the crowd on the dance floor”. From Pittsburgh, Revolution Radio offers a change of pace with their laid back reggae style music. Compared to the likes of O.A.R and Sublime, the band is sure to fit right in with the day-festival atmosphere of Sudflood. Local bands Faraday and Merchants of Seven bring a taste of
Virginia Tech’s own musical talent. Although still composed of students, both bands have extreme talent and promise to play popular covers all can sing along to. Delta Alpha’s own fraternity band returns for another Sudflood performance! Last year, 6 active brothers came together with the intent of having a one time performance. The band was later dubbed “Seductive Flux” from a random band-name generator. Composed entirely of Delta Alpha initiates, the band returns excited to play for its brotherhood again. Brothers Kyle Pacque and Michael Marchio will end the night with a dual themed DJ set. Their creative talents are sure to play off each other as they battle it out and pack the dance floor with their unique tunes. Looking forward to both seeing familiar and meeting new returning alumni April 6th!
Fraternally Yours, Chris Menzel, ΔΑ 738
The John King Band
DELTA ALPHA ALUMNI REPORT
March 2013 there are a lot of expenses for a fraternity, and we would like to make several house improvements and host more alumni events in the future.
A message from the Historian:
I encourage all of you to come to Sudflood this year April 6. If you cannot make the event but want to contribute, you can still purchase a ticket online. Every ticket we sell the proceeds go to Push America.
Brothers, I would like to inform you on the progress we are making. We have finished Spring Rush and currently have a new Associate Member class of 22 fine gentleman. Tyler Earley, our external archon, did a fantastic job with rush, and the quantity and quality of the Associate members we have is a reflection of that. We just finished Delta Gamma’s Anchorsplash philanthropy and had a memorable performance in the talent show that all of the girls loved. As historian, I am looking to make your past experiences be a part of ours. In this issue, I tried to focus more on our alumni. I ask you that if you have anything you would like to share with the chapter, please do. You can contact me at the addresses below.
I look forward to any feedback you have on how I can make communication with you easier. I also enjoy hearing all the stories and seeing the pictures you post in the alumni group on Facebook. If you have not joined the Delta Alpha alumni page you can do so at https://www.facebook.com/groups/471086756255030/ I post updates along with old pictures I find around the house. Joining Pi Kappa Phi has been one of the best decisions I have made. It is a true brotherhood and I am blessed to be a part of it. I look forward to hearing from you.
ΟΥΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΣΠΑΣΕΙ ΗΜΑΣ
I plan on setting up a Pay Pal account in the next couple of weeks if you choose to donate to our chapter. As you know,
Delta Alpha
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Pi Kappa Phi Alumni Report
Special Purpose Housing-P Blacksburg, VA, 24060
Kevin Korn Pi Kappa Phi Historian 2013 kkorn@vt.edu pikappdeltaalpha@gmail.com (410) 979-1998