Alpha Tau Omega - Georgia Institute of Technology

The Glazebrook Gazette C hris Johnson '04 was a lifelong Georgia Tech fan, but it was Alpha Tau Omega that convinced him to enroll there. When he started going to football and basketball games, Chris hung out with ATΩ brothers he met through family friends and admired the camaraderie and friendships they shared. "It just seemed like a really good group of people to surround myself with." There were no strangers in the Beta Iota chapter house; Chris made strong friendships in his pledge class as well as with the older and younger members. Soon after graduating, he became chairman of the Board of Trustees and tapped into an even larger alumni network. "The brotherhood shaped me as a human and gave me a supportive community here in the Atlanta area who I can call anytime for many reasons," Chris said. Those connections helped him land a marketing job at the Waffle House corporate office, where many Beta Iota brothers had gone on to work. Righting Our Ship Chris took a hiatus from the board in 2011 to focus on graduate school. After finishing, he visited the chapter house for a philanthropy event, where he learned the active chapter had largely lost touch with the alumni base. "I thought, 'that's not right,'" Chris recalled. "These guys needed mentorship and access to our great alumni network that features many successful individuals." He returned as chairman for another seven years, bringing on alumni from his era who shared his aim to mentor the next generation. "We've helped brothers find jobs and grow in their careers, and I still keep in touch with several," he said. "It's been rewarding on both ends of the table for me." In Good Hands Chris's first time as chairman followed his 35-year predecessor, John Robertson '63, a longtime alumni advisor who continues to do great work with the national fraternity. Recently, Chris stepped down to co-found a consumer finance startup that offers customers convenient loans in the home improvement and healthcare industries. He leaves the BOT in the capable hands of a new Chairman Andrew Jacon '15. As Beta Iota's first winner of the Thomas Arkle Clark Award, Andrew was a natural fit for the job in Chris's eyes. "I've comfortably stepped away, and I look forward to seeing how Andrew, too, leaves the position better than he found it—and so on and so forth." As the BOT's work continues, you can find Chris with alumni at any Georgia Tech football game—or write him at cjohnson.gt@gmail.com. "I look forward to many Homecomings and getting together with people who I haven't seen in a long time." Preserving Our Connections Chris Johnson '04 Shares His Vision of Brotherhood What advice would you offer to undergraduate Brothers? "It seems like they get smarter every year! Many already know on day one where they want to go in their careers. I think this can be both fantastic and detrimental. Go for those goals, for sure, but remember that other opportunities are out there—that you won't always do what you studied originally. Enjoy the time you have in college and remember that it's okay to be curious about other things." Our brotherhood has been busier than ever! FALL 2022 We kicked off the fall semester by earning our second-consecutive National True Merit Award! Next came Wet Friday, featuring DJs Masto and Blacklung. We then enjoyed our annual fall break and mountain weekend trips to PCB and Gatlinburg, respectively. We concluded the fall with a Semi-Formal at Steady Hand Brewery. SPRING 2023 We began the spring semester with our Ski Weekend at Sugar Mountain. The ski-in/ski- out is something anyone can appreciate, even if it means starting on a blue! Our comedy show took place on March 3 and was, as usual, a hit! Our brothers then hit the road and drove down to New Orleans for our Spring Formal. Congratulations to our new Sweetheart, Annabelle Pike! We ended the school year with our beloved Hawaiian Weekend, which was a great success for our very own DJ Vick, who opened for DJ Back2Back and DJ Epic on Friday. The weekend included a slide on Saturday. SUMMER 2023 This summer, on top of getting an early start on recruitment plans, we are also having some exciting interior renovations done with RPG. The renovations include restaining the first-floor hardwoods, replacing the carpet in the second and third deck with a vinyl LVT, repainting the second and third deck hallways, and completely overhauling the second and third deck bathrooms, which now have new countertops, faucets, mirrors, floors, stalls, and toilets. The brothers are loving the renovation so far and feel this is just the beginning of improving the house for future generations. SHOUTOUTS Thanks to alum Patrick O'Malley '19 for performing at our semesterly comedy show this spring. We raised more than $1,000 for charitable causes this year thanks to our philanthropy events. One of our brothers also demonstrated ATΩ's athletic prowess by placing first in the Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon. Congratulations to senior Sean Rager '19! Fraternally, Carter Hale '20, Chapter President president.gtato@gmail.com GIVING BACK AND LOOKING AHEAD Reflecting on a Successful Year During the Spring Formal in New Orleans, brothers take a commemorative photo with Sweetheart Annabelle Pike.

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