Theta Chi - University of Florida

PAGE 2 TAU TOPICS T he culture of Theta Chi brotherhood shapes so many aspects of life beyond college. From career experiences to ongoing connections, Kyle Cohan '87 still appreciates the bonds he made on Fraternity Row while owning and operating his own business. FRATERNAL GROWTH Pledging in Spring 1987, Kyle's pride as a Tau Chapter member grew as the years went on. He has fond memories of winning Tau Chapter's first President's Cup as well as riding in the OX float during the 1989 Homecoming parade. "We got a little rowdy—the television coverage edited us out of the broadcast!" Amidst the fun of fraternity life, Kyle gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of brothers from different backgrounds. During his term as pledge marshal, he gained teambuilding experience that he still applies as a small business owner today. ENTERING THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY In 2003, Kyle had his first venture into restaurant ownership, which lasted until 2010. He spent the next eight years working with a friend's company until the opportunity arose to purchase Leonardo's Pizza of Millhopper in Gainesville. "Once you've been your own boss, it's hard to go back to having a job," Kyle said. Much like building a positive culture in the Tau Chapter House, Kyle is responsible for keeping his work team in high spirits so they can keep striving for success. STAYING DEDICATED Just last year, Leonardo's had its most lucrative sales year in the restaurant's 47-year history. "2024 is already ahead of that pace," Kyle shared. "We have become a force in the Gainesville business community, and our Pizza Plate Project with Alachua County Schools has been an outstanding success." Kyle urges today's undergraduates to approach their future careers with the same consistent dedication that drives him. He recognizes the time and financial challenges involved with running a business, but as Kyle says, "The best ability is availability." In his spare time, Kyle enjoys keeping up with Tau brothers regularly. He even recently hosted 10 brothers and their families for a gathering at Leonardo's before the Arkansas game in November. You can connect with Kyle at leonardosmillhopper@outlook.com. A CAREER IN CUISINE Kyle Cohan '87 on Fraternal Passion and Work Ethic "The incredibly positive impact our brotherhood has made on me cannot be overstated. I could not imagine my life without Theta Chi." Carlos Pérez-Abreu | Miami, Fla. Jacob Albert | Miami, Fla. Caleb Archelus | Naples, Fla. Alex Arroyo | Lakeland, Fla. Brayden Badua | Orlando, Fla. Will Bahl | Vero Beach, Fla. Alessio Di Bari | Cedar Key, Fla. Nathan Bauman | Jacksonville, Fla. Jack Boyer | Tampa, Fla. Tristan Carrasquilla | Tallahassee, Fla. Dean Cullen | Gaithersburg, Md. Mikey Domke | Chicago, Ill. Thomas Fitzpatrick | Chicago, Ill. Lucas Flick | Chicago, Ill. Colin Gilbert | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Joseph Gonzalez | Miami, Fla. Brennan Hartmann | Orlando, Fla. Kristian Hirak | Franklin Lakes, N.J. Lucas Hunt | Hamilton, Mass. Rio Hutcheson | Winter Park, Fla. Chasden Johns | Stuart, Fla. Chris Karateew | St. Louis, Ill. Jack LaBarbera | Tampa, Fla. Hamilton Lee | Tampa, Fla. Luke Levy | Wyckoff, N.J. Timmy McCarthy | Long Island, N.Y. Patrick McGagh | Little Silver, N.J. Kiernan McTighe | Shrewsbury, N.J. Jacob Meyerer | Apopka, Fla. Eric Mullins | Sarasota, Fla. Luke Paiva | Boca Raton, Fla. Nick Penza | Montvale, N.J. David Pfeil | Sarasota, Fla. Liam Prather | Winter Park, Fla. JP Pruett | Radnor, Pa. Jake Rogers | Tallahassee, Fla. Emiro Rotundo | Boca Raton, Fla. Andrew Sabadash | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dominic Saraceni | Long Island, N.Y. Pablo Schumann | Miami, Fla. Alex Shah | Detroit, Mich. Malakai Stears | Sarasota, Fla. Ryan Sullivan | Medfield, Mass. James Valvano | Montclair, N.J. Luke Vincent | Key West, Fla. Noah Weinsweig | Proctorville, Ohio Welcome, Fall 2023 New Members! Congratulations to the members of the Fall 2023 pledge class on their initiation!

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