Robert Oakes, Penn State '70, Finds His Passion in Writing

Oakes dressed as a Hogwarts Professor.

By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11

There’s an art to storytelling, one that could be learned over time, but the lucky few are born with a proclivity to the tall tale. For Robert Oakes, Penn State ’70, the realization that he could spin a yarn began in the TV room of the Omicron house on Penn States Campus. Oakes describes the event, “In the TV room, a group of us were watching a western movie with a complicated plot and it was right at the climax near the end of the movie when a brother walked in and asked, ‘What's this about?’ Several brothers said it was too complicated to explain, and all of a sudden, I launched into an impromptu synopsis of the movie that had my brothers shouting with amazement.” Upon reflection, he realized this was an early moment in his storytelling career, but Oakes’s creativity wouldn’t fully flourish for many years after this event. 

The Black Scarlet Saga.

Following his graduation from Penn State, Oakes felt the need for variety in his life. Not willing to settle on just one career, he immersed himself in many; Oakes did stints as a youth director for the YMCA, a wood-burning stove installer, insulated homes, painted houses, sold insurance, worked as a security guard at a nuclear-power station, and then found a home as an account manager for Dominion Energy (previously named Virginia Power). While working at Dominion Energy and living in Fairfax, Virginia, Oakes and his wife, Annie, yearned for a more secluded and nature filled life. The couple moved to the Shenandoah Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains—it was there that his creativity was unlocked once again. Inspired by a friend who was a third-degree black belt in tae kwon do, The Black Scarlet Saga was born. This series of novels focuses on strong-willed warrior women in their battle against evil. The series currently has four novels: Black Crystal, Black Scarlet, White Angel, and Raven Quest, focusing heavily on the themes of willpower, courage, and personal sacrifice.  

Oakes and his wife, Annie.

Of all Oakes’s experiences and accomplishments, he stated that the most rewarding is the decades spent with Annie. The couple will celebrate their 50th anniversary on September 20th of this year. Oakes expressed his love and appreciation for Annie endlessly, and even immortalized it within his pen name for the Black Scarlet Saga—R. A. Oakes—the “A” standing for Annie. 

To follow the works of Robert “R. A.” Oakes click the link here.  

Phi Kappa Tech: Laurel STEM Edition Mini-Feature

By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11

Bill Newhouse and his family.

We are going to go back in time for just a moment, not too far, only about twenty years. The year is 2002, you’ve just woken up for work and are still reeling from what happened on Survivor last night. Headed off to work, you grab your brand spanking new iPod, so you can jam out to all the tunes you’ve downloaded from LimeWire (you’ll salvage what’s left of your virus ridden desktop some other day). Huddled around the coffee pot in the morning, one of your co-workers predicts that in just twenty years you’ll all be walking around with supercomputers, working from home and holding meetings via video calls (and could oh-so-cleverly make it seem like the Eiffel Tower was just outside the window behind you), and finally that there was a forthcoming virtual world called the Metaverse. As you sit down at your desk, you might find yourself thinking, “What’s gotten into this guy? He must be on some weird AOL sci-fi chat rooms.” 

When thinking about the leaps and bounds that technology has taken over the last twenty years, it can be staggering to comprehend. Now more than ever, it is the driving force behind our daily lives and continuously expanding its reach on the global economy. With boundless advancements in technology, it comes as no surprise that careers and education in this field are also booming. More and more members of our organization are pursuing careers in the tech industry, and those who were ahead of the curve are flourishing in their respective roles. We were fortunate enough to speak to three of our alumni who are doing just that. Bill Newhouse, Georgia Tech ’86, is a Cybersecurity Engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce; Shawn Brown, PhD, Bethany ’94, is the Director of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center; and Brian Smith, Cal Poly-Pomona '91, is the President of the Haven Agency.  

Brian Smith and his family.

While there are few similarities in the day-to-day functions of these positions, each of these brothers shares a common link (see what I did there) in the journey to their roles. For Brown and Smith, there was a deviation from their original plans. Brown planned to become a high school teacher, but soon realized a passion for computers and began the journey to his current position—working the heft of his career performing research in public health. Following the completion of his bachelor’s degree in communication, Smith was struggling to find employment opportunities in this field. With great foresight he and another former member of the Delta Tau chapter enrolled in website development classes at a local community college, eventually finding employment in this field and working his way to the Haven Agency. Taking a more traditional path, Newhouse, a graduate of the cooperative education program at Georgia Tech, found employment with the National Security Agency (NSA) in their telecommunications (TCOM) directorate. Spending 23 years with the NSA, Newhouse went on to become their representative within other agencies and at the Pentagon. In the spring of 2010, Newhouse left the NSA and began his career with the NIST—continuing to serve his country and working with colleagues at the very peak of his industry.   

The second connective thread between these three distinguished careers, and throughout most of our lives, is brotherhood. With his start at the Haven Agency, Smith had gone into business with the company’s founder and life-long friend, Chris Wheeler, who was an associate member of the Delta Tau chapter while Smith was serving as the Membership Orientation Officer. Brown and Newhouse may not have been directly hired by another Phi Tau brother, but they attribute the opportunities given and skills learned within the fraternity to many of the successes throughout their careers. Leadership, teamwork, and problem solving are highly valuable skills in the fields of all three brothers, and each of them detailed how the fraternity helped nourish and grow these attributes at an early age. The impact of these opportunities stretches far beyond the years as an undergraduate. When you’ve been in an organization that offers the chance to develop such skills and knowledge, it becomes easy to undervalue them and think them common.  

Shawn Brown.

The accomplishments of these three men, in both personal and professional life, is something to behold. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown was working with WHO, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation to transform vaccine supply chain in Benin, ensuring that more children in the country received lifesaving vaccines. With the experience of being imbedded in U.S. Government during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemics, helping them with computer modeling to advise the CDC, Brown and the PSC team were able to make the Bridges-1 supercomputing platform available to the national community during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Brown was working to curb a country and world in distress, Smith and the Haven Agency were becoming a beacon for companies in distress. Gaining the reputation of the “fixers” in the website development community, they were able to land video game juggernaut, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as a client—completing the design and development of the website in just six weeks. This led to partnerships with Riot Games, Live Nation, Ticketmaster, Tech Deck, Coachella Music Festival, and countless other big-name organizations. Sometimes the greatest accomplishments can be as simple as safely getting together with old friends. Following his COVID-19 vaccines, Newhouse was happy to once again get together with brothers of the Alpha Ro chapter at John Cochran’s, Georgia Tech ’89, lake house. 

Now that we have reflected on past and present, a brief glimpse into the future is only fitting. With the ever-expanding world that falls under the blanket term of “tech” and the inevitably growing number of our undergraduate members looking to enter a career in it, each of our three alumni reflected on how to help our younger brothers in their journey. There was a general consensus among Brown, Newhouse, and Smith—it's all about knowledge and experience. Taking the time to learn everything you can possibly know about your respective field of study, practicing and perfecting, and gaining all the experience possible—be it from internships, jobs, or any other conduit. Take it from three men who have gone far in their careers, and you’ll find yourself on the road to equal success.      

This is a sample from our most recent edition of The Laurel featuring members in STEM. To read the full issue or see past issues and sign up for distribution head to phikappatau.org/laurel.

Leadership Academy 2022 FAQ

Use this handy guide for an overview of frequently asked questions regarding this year’s Leadership Academy! Click here to register for the event.

Can we send more than 2 people?  

• Yes, but your free registration would only apply to at most 2 people from your chapter. Any additional registrants would be charged $500 per registrant. 

Can my travel expenses be reimbursed? 

• Yes. Your expenses accrued as a result of travel are 100% reimbursable via your chapter’s CEG. 

If I am flying, which airport should I fly into? 

• We recommend flying into Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). That is where the shuttle will be going to and from. 

If I am driving, will there be parking made available? 

• Yes. Parking will be made available, but you will need to register your vehicle with the campus to ensure you are not ticketed. 

What time should I arrive on site on Thursday July 21st? 

• Please plan to arrive no later than 1PM on Thursday. The program will begin at 2PM.

• If you are flying, we recommend scheduling your flight to land at 11 AM or earlier. 

What time should I depart on Sunday July 24th? 

• The program is slated to end at 1PM on Sunday. You may depart after this. 

• If you are flying, we recommend scheduling your flight to depart at 4PM or later. 

Where can I check in on Thursday July 21st?  

• Check in on Thursday will be at the residence hall, Han Hall.  

• You will check in with one of the staff representatives from Miami to obtain your room key and check in with one of the Executive Office Staff members to obtain your leadership academy items. 

What time do I need to checkout on Sunday July 24th? 

• Check out on Sunday will be communicated at the program, but the program is slated to end on Sunday, July 24th at 12PM.

Will there be a shuttle service to Oxford? 

• There will be a shuttle that takes people to and from the airport to our event site in Oxford. 

Will lodging be provided? 

• Yes, you will be staying in a dormitory on Miami University’s campus. 

Are meals going to be provided?  

• Yes, we will be utilizing the dining hall located on campus. 

What does the time commitment look like for each day?   

• The schedule each day, except for Thursday as the start day, has events starting at 9 AM and ending at 10PM. There are breaks worked in to avoid overload and allow time to decompress.  

Will there be a virtual component to Leadership Academy? 

• There will not be any virtual components associated with leadership academy due to the in-person presence needed for the curriculum.  

What do I need to bring?  

• Please be prepared to bring a laptop just in case you need it.  

• Other items needed will be provided for you. 

What is the attire for the program? 

• Attire for the program is casual. Shorts and t-shirts work just fine!

• Please bring tennis shoes as there are some activities that will require you to wear closed-toed shoes. 

Will we be able to leave site at all? 

• We do not recommend leaving Miami’s campus but should you need to leave site, please contact the event coordinator, Drake Berlin at dberlin@phikappatau.org 

What if I need to leave early or cannot stay for the entire program? 

• We would prefer you stick around for the entirety of the program, which is why we recommend if you need to leave early, please inform the event coordinator Drake Berlin at dberlin@phikappatau.org.

What other information should I know? 

• We are excited to be bringing back Leadership Academy, this will be our first academy since 2019. 

• If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Drake Berlin at dberlin@phikappatau.org.

How Do You Strengthen a Flourishing Organization?

This is a part of the Strategic Plan 2025 series, zooming in on each of the pillars of the plan and going into further detail on their importance. For the full Strategic Plan click here. 

Zeta Omicron Graduate at Arizona State

Strategic Plan Pillar: Establish a Best-in-Industry Operational and Financial Model 

Why: An organization can only run as thoroughly as its processes and operations allow. No matter the strength of our leadership and members, it is crucial that we develop methods to ensure their success. By following the OKR-walkthroughs listed below, we as an organization can fortify our finances and operations to sustain our success long into the future.   

How: Organization: we will work to implement improvements to staff and volunteer organization design, roles, and processes based on a Comprehensive Organizational Development Review. Execution: the goal is to achieve 80%+ of the Strategic Plan targets by 2025 and publish a progress scorecard to the membership each quarter. Housing: we can strengthen our organization by increasing the total housing equity (across all housing corporations and national entities) by 20% and increasing the number of members housed in fraternity facilities by 20%. Technology: the final step is to increase connectivity and communication by creating and implementing a Digital and Technology Strategic Plan.  

Nebraska Wesleyan Brothers at Growth Summit in Fort Worth, TX.

What can you do? Develop and maintain a vibrant, growing, and safe chapter – everything else relies on this! Review the Strategic Plan with your chapter and discuss how to incorporate its goals into your chapter goal setting and planning. Fully participate in the new and enhanced programs and resources that will emerge from the Strategic Plan’s initiatives. Provide your input and feedback, and keep track of www.phikappatau.org/strategicplan! This is a living plan. For any thoughts on this pillar or the Strategic Plan contact mlummus@phikappatau.org.  

Bill Carmel, Baldwin Wallace '48, Honored with New Business School

By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11

Carmel (left) and George T. Boyer (right) thank the crowd at the naming of the BW Carmel Boyer School of Business.

Bill Carmel, Baldwin Wallace ’48, is once again giving back to his alma mater. Following his graduation from Baldwin Wallace University in 1952, Carmel led a long and illustrious career, and he continues to display his affection for the university by utilizing his success and savvy to improve upon it decade after decade. Starting his career with Field, Richards & Company, earning the title of Vice President at the age of 27, eventually becoming a partner and President of the Cleveland based brokerage firm, McDonald & Company. Carmel assisted in growing the firm into one of the largest in the country.

When not furthering his career, Carmel worked to further the success of Baldwin Wallace. Beginning in the late 1980’s, Carmel served as the co-chair of a capital campaign that raised $19.2 million dollars, exceeding the initial goal of 15 million. Carmel would serve as a co-chair again in the mid-90's raising $55 million, then in 2011 raising $97.2 million. Each time the fundraising efforts went to major capital renovation and new construction, student scholarships, endowed chairs and other prominent initiatives. Along with his fundraising efforts, Carmel has served as a mentor to countless students.  

Carmel Boyer School of Business, located in Kamm Hall.

First immortalized in October of 2000 with The Willard and Donna Carmel Living Learning Center, a residence hall named in honor of the generous Bay Village, Ohio, couple who provided the lead gift, Carmel will now have a second building bearing his name. Announced on April 29th, 2022, the Carmel Boyer School of Business honors two of the university’s most prestigious alumni. This program gives students the opportunity to earn bachelor's and master's degrees in a variety of fields. Housed in the school’s Kamm Hall, it’ll serve as a constant reminder of the successful alumnus.  

Spotlighting Pride: Q and A with Two Brothers in the LGBTQ+ Community

Avery Welna, Coe ’21 (AW) 

Domenic Mularo, Mount Union ’19 (DM) 

Avery Welna, Coe ’21

Q: Tell me about your time as an undergraduate member of Phi Kappa Tau.   

AW: I am currently serving as the brotherhood chair, and previously served as the Secretary and Social Chair of the Iota Chapter of Phi Kappa Tau. I never actually planned to attend the recruitment event being put on by my chapter, but as I was passing by, I was welcomed and ended up having some amazing conversations with members of the chapter who would go on to be some of my closest friends. I'm incredibly active on campus, serving as the Interfraternal Council President, as well as President of our schools LGBTQ+ alliance, and a few others. I’m a double major in Political Science and International Studies with a Minor in Anthropology. Our Chapter is filled with motivated, dedicated, men of distinction who serve as huge leaders on campus, which helps us all strive to be our best and encourage each other in the process.  

DM: I rushed Phi Kappa Tau Fall 2019, and I wasn't sure if fraternity life was going to be the right pick for me, but a few of my friends in marching band (while I was in it for that short semester) were in sororities and they encouraged me to rush. After the first recruitment event, I knew that these guys were going to be my best friends for life. I was able to hold the Philanthropy Chair position for Spring and Fall 2020, as well as Membership Orientation Officer for Spring and Fall 2021. Besides that, I was also able to be on the Interfraternity Council as the Community Service and Philanthropy Chairman in tandem with Membership Orientation Officer for my chapter. Other than that, I was a boring Psychology major with a Criminal Justice minor. 

Q: What was your experience like as a member of the LGBTQ+ community going through recruitment?  

AW: If you had asked me before college if I intended on joining a fraternity, I would've probably given you a strong "No", however that quickly changed when I met the brothers. Our chapter genuinely felt like a place for me to be myself and be seen by the men around me as equals, whereas in other spaces throughout life there were always times I felt looked down on or discriminated against for being a Trans man. 

Domenic Mularo, Mount Union ’19

DM: As a member of the LGBTQ+ community going through recruitment, I was honestly quite scared. I had so many pre-conceived notions on how fraternities treated people like me, and I wasn't sure if I would be able to be myself around everyone. Luckily, the community at Mount Union has been, and I hope will continue to be, accepting and open to anyone who wants to join a Greek organization. 

Q: What do you believe our organization could improve upon to be more inclusive to members of the LGBTQ+ community?  

AW: In 2021, I attended a ΦΚΤ Leadership Conference and clearly remember the DEI workshop that was put on, expressing the importance of embracing ALL brothers. This only solidified for me that this community is strong and is always willing to grow, even in a world that can seem retrogressive at times.  Continuing to remain outspoken and supportive of our brothers of all backgrounds is a foundational piece in continuing inclusivity, and ΦΚΤ does an amazing job of this.  

DM: If there was anything that our organization could do to improve upon being more inclusive to members of the LGBTQ+ community, I would say being open to having conversations around issues the community faces. A lot of potential new members that may identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community can be terrified to join a Greek organization because they aren't sure where the national organization stands on LGBTQ+ issues. If we could open the opportunity to have brothers come forward and discuss these issues at a national level, I think that could improve our inclusivity efforts. I also think that just being open to LGBTQ+ members throughout recruitment and having LGBTQ+ brothers on the ground, actively recruiting these people can bring about unprecedented, positive change to the many Greek communities around the country. 
 

Q: What was the greatest challenge you faced as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in a fraternal organization?  

AW: Due to the historical stigma behind fraternities, there is still progress to be made. I was the first trans man to join my chapter, which was incredible, but I will always advocate for inclusivity to ensure that trans men and other men of various backgrounds feel like they can join fraternities and find a safe and supportive space. I know that this change doesn't happen overnight though, which has been hard for me at times to work through especially as someone who isn't always patient. As they always say, all good things take time. 

Domenic Mularo and fellow members of Epsilon Chapter.

DM: The greatest challenge I faced as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in a fraternal organization was during my final semester as an Executive Board member on my campus' Interfraternity Council. We had an issue the semester prior with another fraternity's chapter on campus using homophobic slurs during recruitment towards our chapter to discourage potential new members from rushing our organization. It was extremely difficult to not only maintain my composure in the meetings to follow that discussed the issue at hand, but it was difficult to have faith and trust the disciplinary process. I was worried that this would get swept under the rug and forgotten about, which is not only heartbreaking to see as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, but it was also discouraging to potential new members who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Issues like homophobia reflect poorly on a Greek community, and at Mount Union, our community is extremely open and accepting to anyone who wants to become a part of it. Luckily, we were able to work out these issues, the correct members of the chapter causing issues were reprimanded, and from what I saw as I was exiting my position, and graduating from Mount Union, interfraternal relationships have been better than they have been for years. 

Q: What are some of your proudest moments? This could be personal, career, etc.   

AW: ΦΚΤ has helped me continue my discovery into our Identity. Identities dig deep, they're deeper than the color of your skin, your sexuality, or your gender; things such as leader, motivator, go-getter, friend, brother, mentor, and the ways that someone interacts with the world around them and the people around them. My brothers are my friends, my rocks, and they also hold me accountable. They push me to be my best every day. I'm a straight A student, with heavy involvement in student government, athletics, research, advocacy on campus, and have been awarded for my leadership throughout the community. I know that this wouldn't be possible without my chapter, which continues to be one of the most positive forces in my life. 

DM: Since becoming a graduate member of Phi Kappa Tau, some of my proudest moments have obviously been graduating from college and attaining a degree, as well as being able to work for Phi Kappa Tau as a recruiter. But specifically, I was able to help spearhead two of the first ever large-scale LGBTQ+ focused event on campus at Mount Union, Drag Cabaret and Drag Bingo. These events brought in local drag entertainers from the area to perform for students on campus and show important pieces of LGBTQ+ culture that are often misunderstood by the outside world. These events have been extremely successful, and I hope they will continue to grow and become an established tradition at Mount Union in the future. 
 

Q: Do you have any parting words that you feel are important for our fellow brothers and readership to see?  

Avery Welna and fellow members of the Iota chapter.

AW: One of the most important things in this world is community. The networks, connections, friendships, and journey you travel throughout your life. Entering college is a hard time for a lot of people, and I can't stress enough the importance of finding a group early on to be part of your support system as you work to figure out who you're going to be in the professional world. Generally, I believe this to be true in most spaces; you won't find happiness or fulfillment in a job that isn't a positive and uplifting space, you won't find fulfillment in a friendship that isn't positive or uplifting, and so on. Build these strong connections early on, it's a small investment into a lifetime of social and mental gains. 

DM: If I had any parting words for our fellow brothers and readership to see, it would be that the first step to learning is asking a question. Never be afraid to ask if you don't understand something or have never heard about something. Being open to learning about someone's identity or community helps build acceptance and understanding over time, even if it is something small like asking what someone's pronouns are. These small steps can make a huge impact in the future, and you never know how much something small like that can mean to someone else. 

Spotlighting Pride: Pedro von Simson, Colorado '16

Originally from Olathe, KS, Pedro von Simson, Colorado ’16, grew up in a Kansas City suburb as an immigrant from Brazil. “With a name like Pedro, you’re not really looking for another way to stand out,” von Simson recalled. 

“I chose to go out of state to CU Boulder for undergrad because I felt as if I had already experienced the University of Kansas after growing up 20 minutes from it. Once I got to CU, I realized I was going to need to put myself out there to meet new people so I decided to rush in the fall of my freshmen year. Phi Tau quickly became my top choice given the diversity and openness of the chapter,” von Simson said. “I was open with the brothers about my sexuality and they offered me a bid anyway - that was surprising to me given what I thought I knew about fraternities.” 

During his four years at CU as a member of the Psi Chapter, Pedro held positions as Secretary and Vice President. “Feeling accepted is one thing, but when your brothers vote for you to help lead them, it really shows their respect for all walks of life”.  

After graduation, Pedro took a job at a tech startup in Denver. He began on the sales team and has since progressed into a marketing manager role.  

In 2021, Pedro joined the Phi Kappa Tau national Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility committee. “When the committee chair asked me to join, I was humbled and energized by the strides we are making to be a sustainable organization in the 21st century”, von Simson acknowledged. “Study after study has shown that diverse groups of people are more likely to come to better decisions. There’s a reason you see most public companies investing in diversity and inclusion efforts - it is good for your bottom line”. 

Pedro still lives in Denver and is part of his LGBTQ+ community at work and in his neighborhood. “My experience with Phi Tau helped me develop the confidence to put myself out there in other communities I once thought to be daunting”.  

“This month is about being proud of who we are as individuals and as an organization that accepts, includes, and supports the LGBTQ+ community”. 

Phi Kappa Tau Launches Oral History Project

What do we take away from our fraternity experience? Lifelong friends, leadership skills, and most importantly - stories. The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and Foundation has partnered with Publishing Concepts (PCI) to undergo an incredible Oral History Project. This project is intended to both help us hear the unique experience from members across the country, but also help update information and ensure your connection to Phi Kappa Tau never fades.

The stories will be packaged in a book that is available for purchase and will live on forever in the history of our organization. Can you attribute your success to Phi Kappa Tau? Did a brother leave a lasting impact on you? What about that intramural championship that brought the chapter together? All of these moments make up Phi Kappa Tau, and we want to hear them.

We understand that it’s not everyday that you receive a post card or an email asking you to call a number to verify your information and share your Phi Tau story - so to put you at ease, we’ve compiled some frequently asked questions that should help to clarify the process.

To call and share your story use this toll free number: 1-877-561-6329.

To learn more about PCI click here.

Golf's Fastest Men

Smith surfing.

By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11

There’s a quote from the 1966 classic film, The Endless Summer, that states, “With enough time and enough money, you could spend the rest of your life following summer around the world.” Garlin Smith, Miami ’83, began chasing summer following his graduation from Miami University in 1986. Accompanying a friend on their way to Los Angeles for a job interview, Smith found every mile ventured West to be a unique, eye-opening experience. As they made their way across the country, the duo found rest bits at ten Phi Tau houses along the way. Arriving in Los Angeles, Smith had decided to stay within 24 hours, and is still there 36 years later. Despite a love for Ohio, Smith was drawn to the lifestyle, weather, and outdoors afforded to citizens of Los Angeles. Deciding to embrace the culture, he bartended for the first year of living in LA, keeping the days open to surf and enjoy the sunshine. Carrying that passion for surfing for over thirty years, Smith has ventured to Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, and Bali searching for great waves and a little extra hint of summer.  

Smith playing a round of speedgolf.

Surfing is far from the only hobby that keeps Smith active and outdoors. As the founder of Speedgolf SoCal, Smith is helping to usher in a new era of a beloved sport. First hearing about the underground sport six years ago, Smith was intrigued by the prospect of adding more of a fitness aspect to the game of golf—having begun to lose his passion for the game due to how much time a round would take and how little physical output it required. Taking it upon himself, Smith contacted a local course and decided to try a round. For some, shooting an 84 in a normal round of golf would be quite the achievement, but Smith did it in about 75 minutes. His passion for the sport of speedgolf was born that day and has propelled him to community stardom. Featured in Fore Magazine, Inside Hook, and the LA Times, Smith’s now bustling Speedgolf SoCal club has grown from a few friends to upwards of 25 members—now with a second contingent in Orange County. This group of like-minded individuals relish in the opportunity to play a sport they love, while staying fit and active. Their season runs from April to September, working with local courses to ensure they’re the first group out of the day, in order to cause no disturbance to other golfers. Southern California is far from the only place to begin adopting the sport, there is growing fondness and communities in England, Australia, and Japan. Tournaments and elite players have begun to emerge, some of the best completing courses in forty minutes and shooting par along the way. For the average player, the fitness and time aspects of the sport are the biggest draw. Having the ability to knock out a workout and round of golf, all within two hours and prior to starting work for the day, is undeniably appealing. For those interested in trying speedgolf for themselves, Smith recommends dressing in more traditional running clothes and carrying lightweight bags. When selecting clubs, he recommends picking 4-6 that you hit the straightest and are most comfortable with, keeping the staples in mind: driver, hybrid, long iron, wedge, and putter.  

Smith with his wife, Kristen, and their two dogs.

Outside of speedgolf, surfing, and other activities, Smith has spent his career in corporate sales, doing stints for media companies such as Fox Sports, Yahoo, and Pluto TV. Now serving as the Senior Account Executive for Paramount, Smith sells ad space for some of the company's biggest networks—CBS, MTV, and VH1 being among them. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Redondo Beach and have two dogs: Smoky, a 5-year-old chihuahua, and Jed, a six-month-old terrier mix.  

To learn more about Speedgolf, check out the LA Times article here.  

Oh The Places You Will Grow

Inaugural Growth Summit breathes new life into proactive recruitment planning for Chapters.

By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11

Participants, volunteers, and staff at the Phi Tau Growth Summit.

For the first time in over two years, undergraduate and graduate brothers from all over the country joined together with a common goal in mind—continuing to grow our organization and sustaining excellence long into the future. Growth Summit was an in-person educational program, taking place May 26th through May 28th in Fort Worth, Texas, comprised of 81 undergraduate members, Executive Office staff members, graduate volunteers, and members of the National Council. All holding leadership positions within their chapters, the undergraduate brothers were provided valuable breakout sessions on recruitment, retention, and risk prevention.  

Gamma Alpha Brothers educating peers on recruitment.

With the primary focus of the event being to increase chapter size through real tactics, the Growth Summit attendees not only got presentations from graduate members who were successful during their time as undergraduates, but also from peers from our chapters who regularly recruit the largest associate classes. The Psi chapter at UC Boulder representing the large schools, the Gamma Alpha chapter at Michigan Tech representing medium sized schools, and the Epsilon chapter at Mount Union representing the smaller sized schools. Following the peer presentations, we were able to speak to men from these chapters. There was a resounding since of pride in sharing their accomplishments and helping fellow brothers take some of their most useful tactics back to their chapters. Alongside these presentations from their peers, the attendees received breakout sessions from National Vice President, Barry Mask, Auburn ’78, and National Recruitment Advisor, Taylor Johnson, Auburn ’14. Mask and Johnson were in agreement that the most important takeaway from their sessions and from this weekend is preparation and beginning recruitment process long before the semester starts.  

Mountz leading a session on hazing education.

Growth is not only about gaining new members but keeping existing ones. Foundation Development Officer, Alex Haller, Middle Tennessee State ’16, presented on Phi Kappa Tau’s Mark of Distinction Program and new member education; John Mountz, Penn State ’90, led a large group session surrounding hazing myths; and special guest presenters from the Beers Aren’t Bad program discussed proper alcohol use and breaking bad habits. Following the educational events on Friday night, a Foundation Reception was held for alumni in the surrounding area. With graduate and undergraduate brothers gathered in celebration, the reception was a joyous occasion that brought many generations of men together. Not only giving back with their willingness to learn, the undergraduate brothers also donated over $400 to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation throughout the weekend, each individual receiving a brotherhood pin for their donation. With all the successes over the course of these three days, it was a reminder of the benefits of in-person programming and all that we missed out on over these past couple of years. We look forward to many more programs in the future.