Alpha Tau Omega - Iowa State University

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY PAGE 3 Why did you decide to join Alpha Tau Omega? It was never my intent to join a fraternity! My original plan was to room with my good friend from high school. Through a clerical er- ror at the university (which I have come to see as a blessing), he and I ended up in different buildings with- out the possibility of that changing until halfway through our freshman year. That, coupled with my summer realization that I was going from be- ing really involved in high school to not even knowing my roommate, opened my mind to other options. A couple of older guys I knew (Jeremy White '03 and Jake Grindberg '04) had joined ATW at Iowa State. We had lunch, toured the house, and the rest is a history for which I am extremely grateful! How did your experience with ATW make you into the person you are today? When I first joined ATW, the people I looked up to said, "You will get back so much more than you put into this brotherhood." And it was true! I gained loyal friends, had new experiences, learned about being a lead- er, discovered the value in serving others, and so many other things that have shaped who I am today. Most importantly, the experience with ATW showed me that "getting more back than you put in" is true of many of the things in life that are worth doing! What advice would you give to undergraduates or young- er alumni who are early in their careers? There are a few important things that have benefited me in the 10 years since living in the ATW house: 1) Worry less about your role, station, title, or comparisons to others. Are you learning and challenged? Are you bringing something unique to your role? Are you contributing to the goals of your organization? If the answers to those questions are yes, then the outcomes will follow. 2) When I graduated, the wisdom was that staying in one place too long was career limiting, but people take that too literally. The notion and outcomes of a gig economy are real and the message I heard then is even louder now. But don't assume the grass is greener. Running from something will not fix what you're missing. Treat each role like you're an entrepreneur and it's your company. Look for ways to participate in projects. You can be a part of the gig economy without buying into the buzz and running away from things that are tough! 3) Aspire to more than work/life balance. We live from one finite bucket of time; to compartmentalize that intentionally is settling. It's accepting mediocrity. Strive for something that allows you to bring your whole self to it. What is your vision for the future of Alpha Tau Omega at Iowa State? The climate surrounding Greek life is different, even than it was 10 years ago, but ATW is unique in foundation of ideals and leadership. So I wouldn't call it a vision so much as remembering those eternal and immu- table principles—especially as alumni who have many ways to contribute! The Gamma Upsilon Chapter was recently renovated, has been recruiting large classes, and continues making strides to stand out on campus and nationally. A lot to be excited about and want to get involved in. Ray is vice president at Businessolver, a technology company filled with real people, solving real problems, every day. Delivering market-changing benefits administration technology supported by an intrinsic responsive- ness to client needs is their one and only focus. Ray's career has been filled with more opportunity and incredible colleagues than one person deserves. Some of his career highlights include helping build two startups within the public sector, being featured in the book The Culture Project—a guide to building awesome and sustainable company cultures, as well as in print and video series for Leadership Excellence magazine, and serving as a speaker at numerous conferences including LEAD (hr.com) and HR West. When he's not working, Ray loves to travel and is nearing the finish line of a quest to visit all 50 states. Other than that, he and his girlfriend, Kai- ley (a fellow ISU Greek alum), recently moved into an 80-year-old home which has become their main hobby. You can reach Ray at rodonnell@ businessolver.com. Catching Up with Gamma Upsilon Alumnus Ray O'Donnell '05 Nathaniel Allen Inver Grove Heights, Minn. Ben Baca Lake Zurich, Ill. Jake Baffa Lake Zurich, Ill. Max Berger Saint Paul, Minn. Daniel Boehm Eden Prairie, Minn. Brandon Bulat Arlington Heights, Ill. Ryan Clancy Johnston, Iowa Tyler Cooney Grimes, Iowa Caden Flodstrom Rochester, Minn. Jake Haas Bartlett, Ill. Aaron Havens Grundy Center, Iowa Josh Hock Green Bay, Wis. Matthew Hopkinson Saint Paul, Minn. Trent Jean Libertyville, Ill. Sam Jennings Lee's Summit, Mo. Ryan Jirik Lemont, Ill. Seth Johnson Kansas City, Mo. Brandon Juarez Perry, Iowa Griffin Kelly Batavia, Ill. Harrison Kivlahan Dubuque, Iowa Max McFadden* Batavia, Ill. (Father Andrew Mc- Fadden '91) Lorenzo Melone Chicago, Ill. Will Mitchell Highlands Ranch, Colo. Zach Nugent Ellsworth, Wis. Andrew Oppong Oswego, Ill. Brett Peterson Vernon Hills, Ill. Zane Sheetz Gilberts, Ill. Jacob Splitt McHenry, Ill. Alex Weisshaar Lombard, Ill. Justin Zirzow* Vernon Hills, Ill. (Father Bryan Zirzow, Purdue '83) *Legacy; relative in parentheses WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS

• Cover