Alpha Sigma Phi - University of Washington

11 T he Greek recruitment experience at any college can be daunting; for Mark Kroese '81, it was exciting. "You meet a lot of guys when you go through recruitment," he shared. "I really liked the spirit and intention of the men of Alpha Sigma Phi." What made Mu Chapter most enticing was that the brothers knew how to have a good time, while still prioritizing their academics. Mark was attracted to this, especially because he had no plans to merely party during his time at the University of Washington. He desired balance between fun and studies, and he found this in AΣΦ. After pledging as a sophomore, Mark became a member of Mu and began to enjoy the perks that come with brotherhood. "The chapter helped me realize my full potential," he recalled. "Before joining, I was always okay with 'good enough.' Through my chapter brothers, I learned the importance of striving to reach new heights." Mark's roommate, Gregory Hanson '81, was a model for academics and test-taking acumen. "He taught me how to be a better student and how to excel," Mark revealed. "He studied like it was a sport." Robert "Bob" Strecker '78 demonstrated selfless commitment to a cause, while Theodore "Ted" Davis '79 introduced Mark to a non-authoritarian style of leadership. As an undergraduate, Mark enjoyed Husky games, Greek Week, and recruitment events. "Recruitment was fun, especial- ly in my second and third years of membership," he said. "It's interesting how you go from wanting to be included to wanting to include others." Mark definitely looked forward to exchanges with the sororities too, finding that the opportunities to engage with smart, beautiful young ladies was generally a great way to blow off some steam. "I'm probably in the minority on this, but I really liked chapter," stated Mark. "I learned a lot about self-gov- ernance. In retrospect, it was really the first of thousands of busi- ness meetings I would attend throughout my life." Those weekly Mu meetings helped him to understand due process, advocating for others, and working cooperatively in a group setting. The cumulative experience of managing brotherhood, fraternity commitments, and collegiate responsibilities became fundamental to Mark's development into who he is today. For this reason, he lends his support to the Securing the Future of Mu Chapter capital campaign. "I think all brothers have a responsi- bility to acknowledge those experiences we had as undergradu- ates—those were pivotal years, which were augmented by living in the chapter house," Mark emphasized. "It may be hard to quantify, but I think all alumni owe a good piece of our success to the connections, maturity, and knowledge we gained from being in the fraternity." Mark encourages members who haven't seen the chapter house in recent years to visit it in person or view photos. "It is shocking the level of disrepair the house is in," he stressed. "It's gone from distasteful to dangerous. Imagine if Securing the Fu- ture of Mu Chapter is unsuccessful; it will most certainly have a negative effect on the chapter." Mark further unpacks his senti- ments, expressing that the campaign should be looked at by Mu brothers as an overdue infrastructure tax all alumni should feel a duty to pay. Although he is now semiretired, Mark enjoyed a 20-year career with Microsoft, as well as two startups. "All my work has been at the intersection of technology and business," he remarked. "I've been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to travel with Bill Gates as his product demonstration represen- tative. We would launch various versions of Microsoft Office. It was a great honor to work alongside him." Another honor Mark had was a one-year fellowship at Harvard University, in a program called the Advance Leadership Initiates. "The program was a cohort of 40 accomplished professionals who congregate to discuss what Harvard believes is the world problem agenda," he explained. Today, Mark continues to do consulting for hedge funds and larger investors who want to understand certain tech- nology companies. Facebook and AΣΦ events help Mark stay in contact with several of his fraternity brothers. He last reconnected with fellow alumni at a reunion in Seattle. "One of the great gifts I've had in my life," Mark said, "is having been in a fraternity." Mark recently purchased a new home with his fiancé, whom he will marry in February of 2018. He is father to 29-year-old son, Daniel, and daughter, Nicole, who is 26. "My son is the youngest chief of staff on Capitol Hill right now," Mark revealed, proudly. "And Nicole runs marketing and customer acquisition programs for WeWork." Mark is a passionate outdoor athlete and enjoys mountaineering, climbing, and backcountry skiing. For nearly a decade, he was involved in competitive sports. "Now, I'm trying to figure out how to play tennis." You can connect with Mark at markkroese@gmail.com. Mark Kroese '81 Why supporting Mu Chapter has never faded even during his busy and stellar career

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