Beta Theta Pi - MIT

W herever Phil LaFond '98 was on campus, he knew there was a Beta Brother looking out for him. By joining Beta Upsilon, he not only found a place to live at MIT—but Phil also found a path of personal development with Brothers sharing fraternal values he still holds dearly today. GROWING THROUGH BETA From bonding with pledge Brothers to serving the Chapter, Phil felt deeply connected to Beta as an undergraduate. Even after an underwhelming term as summer treasurer, Phil's lesson in failure taught him how to bounce back and learn from mistakes. "One memory that stands out after all these years is the time about 15 of us picked up a car that was blocking someone in front of the house," Phil shared. "It has always resonated after all these years that when enough people are working together, the impossible becomes possible and the tedious jobs become fun." LIFE BEYOND MIT Phil's path after college started with a job working for another Beta in Seattle before returning home to get married. He pivoted to working in nuclear power operations, then spent 11 years at a startup focusing on combined heat and power systems for homes. Seven years ago, Phil began working in program management for his local gas company. Today, Phil manages a resource planning group and oversees investment planning. He credits the pace of MIT for preparing him to tackle daily operations, and Phil encourages today's undergraduates to take advantage of all available opportunities. STAYING LOYAL Phil is glad to keep close contact with some Beta Brothers from his era, and he enjoyed attending his 25th reunion last spring with Ned Patterson '98 and both their wives. "I'd encourage all alumni to attend a reunion at MIT, even if it's not one of your milestones." Phil currently lives with his wife and four children in Massachusetts, homeschooling three of the children. The LaFonds enjoy exercising their talents with a local theater arts company, and Phil currently serves as president of the parish council for their church. Almost 30 years after college, Phil is still grateful for the rewarding friendships he made through Beta Theta Pi. Phil encourages fellow alumni to reconnect with Brothers and organize a Beta gathering. You can connect with Phil at phil@lafonds.net. 3 What Lifelong Brotherhood Means to Phil LaFond '98 EMBODYING BETA VALUES W e appreciate everyone who has financially supported Beta Upsilon throughout 2023 and in early 2024. Your contributions are helping us continue to evolve the Beta experience at MIT, and we are grateful for your ongoing devotion to Beta Theta Pi. If you would like to get your name on our list for 2024, check the back page for donation instructions. If there is an error in your listing, we sincerely apologize. Please contact our communications coordinator at hneth@penningtonco.com to submit any corrections. PHIL'S ADVICE FOR UNDERGRADUATES? "Seek out what makes you happy outside of classes and don't be afraid to try new things. That's what college is for. The career advice I wish someone had given me many years ago is to recognize when you're stagnating and move on. Go for interviews every year, even if you like your job. It keeps your skills sharp, and you never know what might come of it." "Being a Beta at MIT gave me a place to belong." Phil with his wife and children. Frederick W. Weitz '51 David L. Vogel '54 John T. Sutton '55 R. Gordon Black '56 Robert C. Brigham '56 Harry B. Lee Jr. '56 Robert L. Malster '56 In memory of Al Wechsler '55 Guy L. Schmidt '56 Lawrence R. Hoover '57 Robert E. Kersey '57 Dick Oeler '60 In memory of Booker Allan J. MacLaren '60 Philip J. Robinson '61 Dr. James S. Draper '62 In memory of Booker T. Stanfield Kent L. Groninger '63 Jon E. Burkhardt '64 Fred L. Luconi '64 Michael J. Monsler '64 Peter B. Dinsdale '67 William T. Stewart '69 Bruce A. Lautenschlager '70 Wilford D. Gardner '72 Paul R. Hochfeld '72 Jeffrey C. Murray '72 In memory of Ken Gerber '71 Stevan B. Jovanovich '73 Simeon Chow, Ph.D. '77 Jerry Cole '78 Thomas A. Hauer '79 In memory of Beth Barrett Hauer Mike Feinstein '82 In memory of Dave Bedrosian '81 Seth M. Davis '83 Mark P. Bouchard '84 Kenneth J. Shine '85 Anthony P. DiPesa Jr. '86 In memory of Chris Morgen '87 James S. Cureton '89 Michael P. McGovern '89 In memory of Christopher Morgen '87 Ben Silverman '89 David DellaGrotte '90 Ken Chay '91 In memory of Ray Brunsberg '86 Frank J. Leibly III '93 Chet Reshamwala '01 Christian F. Briere '19 Thank You, 2023 Donors

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