Beta Theta Pi - University of Minnesota

the betA Piper PAge 2 PAge 3 Alumnus Takes Beta Experience to Thrilling Places B rian Howe '86 came to the Beta Pi Chapter as a legacy member. His grandfather was an alumnus and helped orchestrate Brian's membership by writing a letter requesting the active members reach out to him. Through that initial communication, Brian decided to join and, as a result, he made lifelong friends, many of whom he says are still some of the best men he knows. Brian graduated with a B.A. in economics. He works as chief strategy officer and co-founder of Thrill On, a social media outlet for outdoor enthusiasts to share their adventures and connect with other thrill-seekers. "I met another entrepreneur who had the idea. At the time, I wasn't looking for an e-commerce opportunity and told him he should think about something more social. He did it and blew me away. That seed of an idea has grown into a few million monthly users and millions of videos, pictures, and gear." His initial interest in entrepreneurship took hold as a Beta. Along with another brother, Brian started a business selling book bags. "It was a great idea, but we didn't really know what we were doing. It was an awesome experience that left me with a taste for being on my own." The desire to start his own business might not have come about had he not been a part of Beta Theta Pi. Brian maintains a network of brothers who keep in touch on a regular basis and considers those friendships to be lifelong. "Beta Pi is a brotherhood. We care about each other and genuinely root for each other. We always looked after one another, and we're always thrilled when we hear of successes of one another. It's hard to find those types of friends." Brian and his wife, Brenda, live in Greenfield, Minnesota, and have four children. In addition to his busy work schedule, Brian also serves as chairman is his church, Riverwood, and as founder and chairman of Riverworks, a non-profit organization that feeds one in seven unique people in the Rockford/Greenfield community annually through a food shelf. The organization also operates a thrift store, provides services for kids and families, and runs a number of community events. You can contact Brian at brian.howe@thrillon.com, and be sure to visit www.thrillon.com to discover the world's most thrilling photos and videos. cAtching uP with olyMPiAn John benton '92 I nterested in a Beta alumni curling club? We have a natural candidate for head coach and player in John Benton '92. John participated in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, for Team USA. He recently made a return trip to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, as a broadcaster for NBC. John has made curling a central part of his career and life. While working primarily in IT for Fairview Services since his days at the U of M, he regularly competed in state and national competitions. He was close to retirement when an Olympic opportunity arrived. "I was about two weeks away from retiring in 2009 when I received a call from U.S. Olympic curler skip John Shuster. He made a strong case for me to play. I told him I would give it one more shot, and I'm so glad I did." Recently, John played a key role in one of the newest clubs, the Four Seasons Curling Club, at Fogarty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota. He is director of curling operations and enjoys leading the facility, growing the game, and coaching at various levels. John met his wife, Carrie Maciej, through the sport and they were married in 1997. The couple lives in Saint Michael, Minnesota. John is a Beta Pi legacy, his father, George Robert Benton '43, and grandfather, George Bosley Benton 1912, were alumni. Both have passed. "One of my best Beta memories is having my dad come back to the house for a Homecoming game. It was one of the most special times that I can remember to have him share the history and his stories." John started reconnecting with Beta brothers a few years ago and welcomes anyone to e-mail him at jbcurler@gmail.com. Find him on Facebook and you'll enjoy many curling photos and insights. You can also connect with him on Twitter or LinkedIn. BQP CHAPTER OFFICERS President Nate Wong '15 Moorhead, Minn. (701) 212-7017 betapi1814@gmail.com Vice President Brotherhood Lucas Smith '15 Minneapolis, Minn. Vice President Risk Management Nahom Tsegaye '15 Minneapolis, Minn. Vice President Finance Michael Biskupski '16 Hastings, Minn. Vice President Recruitment Ryan Siewert '16 Fargo, N.D. (701) 412-7998 betapi1840@gmail.com Vice President Pledge Education David Rokke '16 Minneapolis, Minn. Vice President Member Development Mike Swenson '16 Lino Lakes, Minn. Vice President Programming Michael Klein '15 Hastings, Minn. Vice President Communication Alex Skoglund '16 Cambridge, Minn.

• Cover