Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Texas

p. 2 A fter graduating from Austin High School, Otto Swingler '12 jumped at the chance to join UT's conditional summer admit program to start taking classes early. He didn't know anyone in the program, but throughout the summer, he met many people and enjoyed attending the events held each week at a different fraternity house. He met Robbie Reynolds '12 and Brad Vinzant '12 in his classes, and they went through recruitment together. The three became friends with many other incoming freshmen who often ended up at the SigEp house, and while they met great men at every house, they were confident in their choice to join SigEp. Otto's SigEp brothers are some of his closest friends today. In business, the fraternity has been a network and resource to him. Since graduating, he is grateful for the many brothers who have volunteered their time to help him, and he wanted to pay it forward. When Greg Barra '03 and Jerry Smith '79 asked Otto to join the Texas Alpha Housing Corporation Board, he thought it would be worthwhile and fun. It has been, and he is excited to continue giving back. Otto is also a connector within his era, though he doesn't view himself as any more of one than his SigEp friends. "We really had a special group of guys," he shared. "I think back often about how unique it is to find a group of quite literally a few hundred people in the same organization that are all so incredibly talented." In his career, Otto is the co-founder of Balcones Real Estate Group, which took a leap of faith. "In July 2021, I gave up my salary. It was a bit daunting to 'go out on my own' so to speak because, candidly, I only had so much 'runway' to spend on both pursuit [of development projects] and personal living costs. There is a very fine line between starting your own company and, quite bluntly, becoming unemployed." Otto and his business partner feel fortunate to have recently hired their first two employees and are grateful to be in a good market like Central Texas. They have worked hard during an ever-changing time in capital markets and feel lucky to be at the doorstep of substantial completion of 300,000 square feet of "shallow bay" industrial buildings, having broken ground in September 2022. When he's not working, Otto loves skiing, fly fishing at the coast and in Colorado in the summer, bow hunting, and traveling. He and his wife are trying to travel internationally as much as possible before starting a family. Otto's biological brother, John Henry Swingler '15, is his "best friend and the absolute man!" You can connect with Otto at otto@balconesre.com. Alex Adney Austin, Texas Zidane Allen Houston, Texas Zachary Allen Houston, Texas Oliver Ayala California Brandon Bertch Dallas, Texas Jacob Bronicki Houston, Texas Wiley Burton Houston, Texas Jacob Castillo Houston, Texas Lincoln Colter Houston, Texas Max Dagley Houston, Texas Tyler Dean Houston, Texas Charlie Estess Dallas, Texas Kade Fleck Austin, Texas Dylan Gibbons Dallas, Texas Jesse Gonzales Houston, Texas Mark Greenberg Austin, Texas Cade Hanlen Houston, Texas Phillip Heckendorf Dallas, Texas Nelson Heinrich San Antonio, Texas Preston Herleth Houston, Texas Charlie Hoffer Houston, Texas John Houston Austin, Texas George Hudgins Houston, Texas Luke Janek* Austin, Texas Henry Kinzel Houston, Texas Neil Lancaster Dallas, Texas Sebastian Lechin Houston, Texas Jack Mabley Austin, Texas JP Maney Dallas, Texas Cam Martin Dallas, Texas Brian McAllister California Mason Montague Austin, Texas Ian Moudy Dallas, Texas Cole Norman Dallas, Texas Joseph Obert Dallas, Texas Connor Obrien Houston, Texas Whitley O'Donnell Houston, Texas Nick Olitzball Miami, Texas Andrew Parkes* Houston, Texas Walker Petri Austin, Texas Erikson Pittman* Houston, Texas Luke Post Dallas, Texas Jackson Price Austin, Texas Alek Ross* Dallas, Texas Charlie Rueben El Paso, Texas Sam Saman Houston, Texas Luke Selner Dallas, Texas Jack Sheppard* Houston, Texas Austin Simpson* Houston, Texas Andrew Thomas Houston, Texas Harris Timmerick Houston, Texas Niko Triant Austin, Texas August Zachar San Antonio, Texas Kenny Zhao Dallas, Texas *Legacy Our amazing recruitment assistants! From left: Sergio Otero '26, Amine Yacob '26, Jack Bradley '26, Luke Brackbill '26, Bennett Broaddus '26, Reid Cordell '26, and Grayson Gates '26. Paying It Forward Otto Swingler '12 Is Grateful for SigEp Brotherhood What's a favorite memory from your time in Texas Alpha? "Living in the 'horseshoe' my senior year! I would strongly encourage anyone considering not living at the house to reconsider; it was an absolute blast." WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS Thanks to persistent recruitment efforts over the summer, we are welcoming a group of 54 new members to our chapter. We continue to lead them by example and can't wait to see how SigEp positively impacts the lives of these young men.

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