Beta Theta Pi - University of Oklahoma

E ver since meeting at a Beta recruitment party in 2005, Lane Gibbs '09 and Matt Whitaker '09 have grown their fraternal bond far beyond college. From oil and gas to hard seltzer, Lane and Matt have explored various industries through business partnerships. THE BETA NETWORK Over the years, Lane and Matt have furthered their connections with many Beta brothers. Theo Coleman '08, Matt Hogg '09, John Richert '09, and Jeff Vestring '09 are just a few who have collaborated with Lane and Matt in the professional world. Lane and Matt founded Native Oil and Gas in 2013, and by 2014, a fellow alumnus joined them to found Native-Legacy Partners to begin building a STACK and SCOOP mineral asset. "It felt rewarding, fun, and sometimes like we were taking pretty big risks that were very nerve- wrecking and exciting at the same time," Matt mentioned. "We were young, having founded Native in late 2013, only about four-and-a-half years after graduating OU." Over the years, the brothers have continued working on mineral assets and carry on Native's operations to this day. Aside from raising private capital, Lane and Matt found another unique business opportunity in an unlikely place—the golf course. NEW ENDEAVORS "I came back from playing golf one day in 2018 after having a few missiles (vodka and grape G2 Gatorade) with the idea of canning it," Lane shared, recognizing the growth in hard seltzer popularity at the time. Matt responded to the idea with the thought of canning the club special, a drink made with vodka, limeade, and Sprite, and the brothers put the wheels in motion for their next business project. With the help of a beverage consultant, the drink formulas were prepared for production, and Clubby Seltzers was launched in April 2021. Lane, Matt, and former Native employee Thomas Moratto share the title of Clubby's co-founders. "One of the biggest challenges overall has been learning a new industry as we try to start and grow a business I knew nothing about and had no experience in," Matt added. "We have learned by trial and error and have come a long way in our learning curve, but we also recognize there's a lot more to learn to keep Clubby moving in the direction we want it to get to one day." MARKET GROWTH Lane and Matt are heavily involved with Clubby, as Lane manages operations and finance while Matt controls sales and brand events. In the first two years, production grew from just 200 cases to over 60,000 for the Texas and Oklahoma markets. While fluctuations in the alcohol industry are challenging to predict, the brothers are confident in their ability to market their product. Through their Beta bond and professional opportunities with fellow alumni, Lane and Matt have continued to develop together as entrepreneurs. Utilizing communication and management skills built on a foundation of Gamma Phi brotherhood, they look forward to growing their businesses and finding market success in various ventures. You can connect with Lane at lane@nativeoilandgas.com and Matt at matt@nativeoilandgas.com. Beta theta Pi CorPoration of oklahoma P.o. Box 442100 lawrenCe, kS 66044-2100 Address Service Requested BΘΠ WooGliN oN Chautauqua House Corporation Trustees Beta Theta Pi Corporation of Oklahoma Gamma Phi Chapter Advisors Chapter Counselor Matthew R. Clouse '01 Financial Advisor Steve Sinos '04 Member Education Advisor Jack R. Norman '19 Chapter Archivist Chris Moon '97 Recruitment Advisor William F. Johnston '15 Faculty Advisor Keith Gaddie (Phi Kappa Tau FL State '87) Advisor Team Member Tim Strange (SMU '76) While we're fortunate to have a great roster of house corporation and advisory volunteers, we can always use a few more good hands. See the full list of volunteer opportunities on page 1 inside! Clubby Season BETA BROTHERS IN THE SELTZER BUSINESS President Zach Allen '85 Vice President Curtis McCarty '92 Treasurer Robert Beall '80 Secretary Matt Allen '02 Trustees Matt Brown '09 Fred Turner '72 Todd Lisle '84 Rob Robertson '84 Charles Dobbs '85 John Nash '96 Chan Klingensmith '98 Matt Clouse '01 Steve Sinos '04 Joe Kokojan '06 Koby Harrington '09 Jackson Lisle '15 Matt Whitaker '09 (left) and Lane Gibbs '09 promoting Clubby Seltzers.

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