Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of California, Berkeley

Rodger with his son. Page 3 SIGEP GROWS SELF-STARTERS SIGEP GROWS SELF-STARTERS Rodger Morris '05 Reflects on Building a Brotherhood and Business F rom rechartering California Alpha to starting a company, Rodger Morris '05 knows how it feels to be a trailblazer. Today, the co-founder of Pop Oats appreciates his SigEp experience and hopes to see similar success as the University of California-Berkeley chapter restarts. BUILDING THE BROTHERHOOD Rodger initially joined another fraternity as a freshman, though found the overall experience lacking after he became a resident assistant. When the opportunity arose as a sophomore to help SigEp return, he jumped on the chance to have a more unique Greek experience and do so with a smaller band of brothers. "It was something I felt could give back to the university and organization for years to come," he shared. Serving as treasurer helped Rodger develop as he went into business school; he enjoyed the opportunity to contribute while learning to cooperate with a small group. "I was here to go above and beyond, helping others while putting my skills to work." Without a house or official meeting place, starting fresh was a challenge for California Alpha. There were many aspects of the fraternity experience to figure out, though Rodger looks back fondly on the experience two decades later and recognizes the natural connection that led to the brothers' success. LIFE AFTER COLLEGE Following graduation, Rodger ventured into investment banking and real estate. He spent a rewarding 16 years with one company in various roles involving investments, asset management, credit, and corporate strategy before ultimately finishing up as the company's head of ESG. "Many aspects of my SigEp experience were absolutely great building blocks for learning two valuable life skills, adaptiveness and resourcefulness," Rodger added. Rodger recently launched Pop Oats, a healthy snack company inspired by his young son, and his experience at the forefront of California Alpha's restart equipped him with the right mindset for success. RECHARTERING TODAY Rodger is excited to follow the chapter's current restart after years of conversation. It takes effort to build the culture of the chapter, and Rodger's perspective as both a business owner and parent helps him understand why it's so crucial to select bright young men who want to grow SigEp for the right reasons. "This is Cal Alpha, after all—the first in California and one with a rich history. Many great young men built and led this group over the years, and it'll be exciting to see more young men step up to etch their name in the history books." You can connect with Rodger and talk more about the restart at rodger@popoats.com. In the meantime, he encourages everyone to snack awesomely, and "GO BEARS!" "For anybody who'd like to one day have their own business, being at the start of something like this is fertile ground for learning that process."

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