Phi Kappa Psi - University of Iowa

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A SMALL GROUP That call came five years later: Goldfinch had earned a grant in Tennessee, and John asked Mike (who lived in Chicago at the time) if he knew anyone with a similar skill set who lived in the state. Miraculously, Mike and his wife had recently visited his sister (and Phi Psi brother-in-law, Aaron Parker '05) in Nashville and were now considering a move to the area. "Before I give you names," he told John, "maybe we should have a conversation!" Part of the reason Mike joined Goldfinch was the team: John and Brand believed so much in the company that he knew they would succeed together. "Like joining Phi Psi before, we wanted to be around smart, driven people and raise the ceiling together," Mike said. "Pair that with a mission like solving the most critical public health crisis of our lifetime, and the job was an absolute home run." The Impact _______________________ In a small company like Goldfinch, roles aren't always firmly defined; the members do whatever is needed (much like Iowa Alpha in its smaller days). Brand accepted the role of CEO due to his talent for the administrative and marketing sides of the company, among other needs. As COO, John focuses on innovation and strategy, examining how the company can improve and collaborating with the staff to put plans into action. Mike, Tennessee's Director of Provider Success, works with state hospitals on the company's Billion Pill Pledge program, an initiative to safely dispose of leftover opioid pills across the nation. "That's how I spend most of my time, but we all collaborate on how to expand the program to other states as well." The Brothers know their work is making an impact, and John views another family hospital experience as one of many success stories. His son needed multiple major cranial surgeries, but he was discharged from the hospital a week early and has never required one dose of narcotics. "Being able to advocate for him has helped all of us heal—physically, mentally, and spiritually," John said. "After working with thousands and thousands of patients, we have helped prevent hundreds and hundreds of addictions. We know from our own family experience that you cannot put a price tag on preventing that kind of suffering. One of my favorite quotes is that you should never underestimate a small group of people and their ability to impact the world, because that's the only thing that ever has." Why Phi Kappa Psi Matters ________ Knowing the difference Phi Psi made in their lives, all three Brothers currently serve on Iowa Alpha's House Corporation. Brand has been involved with the national Fraternity for most of his alumni years, and John (who lives in Iowa City) has worked with the Chapter for years. Their message to alumni reading The Hawkeye: find a way to give back to Iowa Alpha. One year, John led an undergraduate brainstorming session on how to be the world's greatest Fraternity. One idea was founding a Boys and Girls Club Chapter in Iowa City; the Brothers raised $10,000 themselves and asked John to help them. John became the Iowa City Chapter's founding president, and in 2025, Caitlin Clark chose it as one of her foundation's four charities. "The house might be different from when you were there, but the guys are not, and our Chapter still needs senior leadership and mentorship," John said. "The Brothers are a product of their environment, and we need to perpetually improve that environment as they become tomorrow's leaders." "When the board asks for support, it doesn't always need to be monetary," Mike said. "Giving your time, resources, or knowledge makes a difference too. Say you speak at a Chapter meeting about your role and how you got there and it inspires just one member to do something they didn't think they could—that can be the most impactful thing." All three agreed that were they the same age, they would've eagerly recruited one another to Phi Psi. While some may question the value of fraternities when watching the news, they believe that a Fraternity done right, as Iowa Alpha strives to be, has never been more needed. "It's exceptionally rewarding to know that the values that appealed to us, across different generations, are still relevant to Brothers today," Brand said. "I don't think it's a coincidence that Iowa Alpha has been continuously active for 130 years, and it doesn't hurt for us to take some pride in that—in knowing this isn't just any other Fraternity. We joined something special, and it's evident in that number alone." You can connect with John at johnfgreenwood@gmail.com, Brand at brandnewland@gmail.com, and Mike at michael.p.doty@gmail.com. the hawKeye page 4 Dr. H. Garland Hershey '61 Robert L. Gamrath '62 Rudolph S. Leytze '63 Steven K. McGuire '66 Kirk B. Stauss '66 George E. Hurt '69 John R. Caswell '70 James W. Mailander '76 Craig W. Kickbush '78 Matthew D. Wolf '78 Ross W. Dickinson '79 John M. Maxwell '85 *Mark R. Easler 86 David C. Theobald '98 Brand A. Newland '00 Charles E. Bartlett '04 *Aaron C. Parker '05 Stephen R. Pasdiora '08 *Peter Easler '17 * Indicates members of Club 363 W e appreciate everyone listed here who has recently contributed to Iowa Alpha Chapter. Your financial support helps us continue to provide for our youngest members at the University of Iowa, and we are incredibly grateful for your ongoing devotion to Phi Kappa Psi. We encourage you to join the members who have already joined our Club 363! Our new giving society is an excellent way for recurring donors to further their commitment to Phi Psi. THANK YOU, GENEROUS DONORS (Continued from page 1)

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