Alumni Spotlight

Explore the remarkable journeys and achievements of our Sigma Nu Brothers. From impressive careers to inspiring military experiences and heartwarming family stories, our Alumni Spotlight celebrates the best of Sigma Nu. Join us in honoring their success and the lasting impact of our fraternity.

Constructing His Own Path the Success

Patrick Leewens ’82 Credits Sigma Nu for Keeping Him on Track at UW

With an aptitude for math and science, Patrick Leewens ’82 came to UW with a plan to apply to the college of engineering—until he learned that obtaining a college degree was only the first step; students must also work for five years under someone who has already achieved their professional engineer (P.E.) status before becoming a P.E. themselves. He decided that would not work for him and became disheartened in his path to earning a college degree. Fortunately, he had the support of the Sigma Nu brotherhood to help him through college and, in turn, went on to enjoy success in his chosen profession of working for his family’s business.

“I was disillusioned and under a lot of stress due to working several jobs to pay my own way through college. I ended up partying for two quarters and had a pretty good time, but I was on my way to dropping out of college,” he said. “I credit my Sigma Nu pledge class brothers, brothers two classes ahead of me, and my little sister through Sigma Nu’s little sister program for straightening me out.”

Through UW’s Individualized Studies program, Patrick was able to design his own degree by combining his desired classes from the construction management program with classes from Foster’s School of Business. From there, he had to convince a panel of 12 professors to let him follow his own path to earning a degree. Despite one professor flatly saying he would never get a job with his selected coursework, Patrick knew he was on the right track to work for his family’s business, Leewens Corporation. After three years of monitored classes, writing a thesis, and receiving the panel’s approval, Patrick earned a degree in what he called business contracting.

At Leewens Corporation, a professional industrial contracting company that repairs, strengthens, and coats concrete started by his parents in 1976, Patrick serves as vice president of operations. In his position, he acquires customers from the industry and supervises all estimating and field operations as well as supervises safety, quality, and productivity. His experience with Sigma Nu undoubtedly set him up for success in his role at Leewens Corporation and prepared him to be a respected, supportive leader and a team player.

“Through Sigma Nu, I learned to support a team. I have employees who have been with us for well over 30 years,” he shared. “I’m most proud of the work my team has accomplished in addition to being the preferred installing contractor for Boeing and other large customers.”

While at Gamma Chi Chapter, Patrick realized that taking advantage of opportunities with hard work, calculated risk, determination, and sticking with it are what leads to success. He also learned that respect and friendship are incredibly important, especially in a large yet tight-knit group, and that getting past disappointments are a must in order to succeed. Learning how to socialize was another important aspect of his Sigma Nu experience and led to lifelong friendships and lasting memories.

“The road trips we used to take for social functions are among my best memories, along with dances and celebrations,” he said. “I regularly keep in touch with and meet with a dozen fraternity brothers for Christmas dinners, Husky games, hunting, sailing, and skiing trips.”

Patrick lives in Kirkland, Washington. To find out more about Leewens Corporation, visit www. leewens.com.

A Solid Foundation from Sigma Nu

Growth at Gamma Chi Leads to Successful Career for Tom Merry ’99

When Tom Merry ’99 founded Rainier Asphalt and Concrete during the summer between his sophomore and junior years at the University of Washington, he never intended it to become a career. After testing out a few side businesses the next few years, Tom decided to go all in with Rainier Asphalt and Concrete in the spring of 2006. The decision has paid off in a big way, as the company has grown from about $500,000 at that time to more than $13 million today with 75 employees at two locations in North Bend and Tacoma.

As Tom built a foundation for Rainier Asphalt and Concrete, he focused on the values of Sigma Nu. Tom also credits Mark Machinski ’01 for much of the company’s success for the past two decades. Mark was the first person Tom hired and he still serves as the general manager.

“I was certainly shaped by a few key friendships that were formed during those years. That was such a key time in experimenting with things and discovering who you really are while being away from your parents and family for the first time,” Tom said of his Gamma Chi undergraduate experience. “There were ways that I behaved like a knucklehead during those years, too. I’m probably equally shaped by the positive and negative things that I did during those years. I suppose it’s all a part of growing up.”

In Gamma Chi, Tom found a place where he was comfortable with being himself and a brotherhood that had a good balance of academics, social activities, and intramural sports. He also liked the allure of joining the oldest fraternity at UW and being part of its rebirth and rebuilding after a recent recolonization.

“It seemed like the corner of 17th and 47th was the epicenter of all the activity, and I thought it would be an exciting place to spend my next four years. The fall of 1998 was a lot of fun,” Tom said. “We had an 18-person class and it was the biggest class since the chapter had been recolonized. There was a lot of energy and momentum about what was happening at the house.”

One of Tom’s favorite pastimes has been cheering on the Husky football team with his brothers. He’ll never forget cramming 13 people into an eight-person RV to go to the 2001 Rose Bowl, where Marques Tuiasosopo led the Huskies to a 34-24 win over Drew Brees and Purdue.

Along with being hopeful for the return of UW football this fall, Tom is excited about the immediate future of Workman’s Dashboard, a software startup which he’s co-founded with his brother recently.

“Our next step in the business is to ramp up our growth and sales strategy beyond our current customers,” Tom said. “While we’ve done a lot of work in developing a great product, I’ve discovered it’s pretty tough to run two businesses at once.”

Tom knows both of his businesses wouldn’t be nearly as successful without the support he’s received from his wife and three children, ages 8, 6 and 4.

Building Bonds through Brotherhood

Bruce Kroon ’81 Relishes Relationships with Gamma Chi Brothers, Fellow Firefighters

Few men understand the true meaning of brotherhood better than Bruce Kroon ’81. Bruce has befriended hundreds of fellow firefighters in the line of duty for nearly three decades, and now serves as the fire chief for the city of Bothell.

However, brotherhoods were something that Bruce was well-accustomed to before he began his career as a firefighter. When Bruce went to the University of Washington on a football scholarship, he knew he’d be joining one brotherhood with his teammates. Little did Bruce know that a few of his high school friends and the Sigma Nu rush chairmen would help lead him to another brotherhood at UW, as he went on to pledge Gamma Chi.

“I gained an appreciation for tradition and how that helps shape a group’s culture,” Bruce said. “I also learned what it was to be a team member (brotherhood) outside of sports.”

While earning his master’s, Bruce had to interview the fire chief of the Edmonds Fire Department for a paper that he was writing. After being urged to consider becoming a firefighter, Bruce felt it would be a fantastic opportunity because he could fulfill his passion of helping others.

Prior to accepting the role of Bothell’s fire chief, Bruce spent 20 years at the nearby Bellevue Fire Department. His transition from being a deputy chief to a fire chief has been full of challenges, but it’s been made much easier because of his peers.

“I know all of the other fire chiefs in the area, which really helps. I have a great city manager and supportive council,” Bruce said. “We have done a lot in my time here, including having our citizens vote to approve both a levy to hire six new firefighter positions and a bond to rebuild two of our aging fire stations.”

Bruce also showed off his leadership skills at Gamma Chi. He served as the Little Sister chairman, social chairman, and pledge trainer as an undergraduate, and then helped introduce the LEAD program to the incoming freshmen. Bruce has stayed connected with his Gamma Chi brothers between attending different alumni events and attending home and some away Husky football games.

“It’s hard to express my appreciation for all that Sigma Nu has done for me. The time spent in the house goes by so quickly and you really don’t stop to consider the future impacts it will have on your life,” Bruce said. “I had an absolute blast in Gamma Chi. When I run into brothers at different events, even if I haven’t seen them for years, it seems like we’ve been in contact the whole time.”

Bruce’s Sigma Nu brothers have been by his side for some of his fondest moments. He has four children with his wife, Therese, who he has been married to for 33 years. They still remember day 1 of their marriage like it was yesterday.

Putting In the Work

Gamma Chi According to Andrew Johnson ’05

Andrew Johnson ’05 is grateful for this Sigma Nu lesson, which he’s prioritized throughout his life and career.

Andy began his freshman recruitment in the winter, realizing in the first quarter how easily he could get lost on the large campus. He came to know some Gamma Chi brothers through events and intramurals, immediately falling in love with the chapter house and its history. The brotherhood size was perfect for Andy, surrounding him with grounded students to connect with.

“They didn’t take themselves too seriously while exploring large personal or professional questions,” he said. “They went out on campus and into the world with a smile on their faces the entire time.”

From the chapter house gymnasium to a basketball court that neighbored the sidewalk, there was always something to do in the brothers’ free time. Andy fondly remembers games of touch football or foursquare on a whim; sometimes alumni even visited and joined in! Best of all, other students and athletes would come to hang out on the basketball court on a warm Seattle day. “Seemingly every time we played, it turned into an event; that’s something I think about all the time,” Andy shared.

A TRUE TEAM EFFORT

Andy joined his longtime employer, Lydig Construction, for the same reasons he chose Sigma Nu: it was large enough to be resourceful, but small and laid back enough that he knew everyone’s name and enjoyed their company. That size and camaraderie also allowed for major innovation and professional growth. “Like in Sigma Nu, fresh ideas traveled fast and didn’t get lost in the system.”

Andy began at Lydig as a college intern, worked out of state for several years, then returned to Seattle as the regional president. Since then, he’s proud of the company’s focus on public works projects like libraries, hospitals, and civic centers. “When we use public community funds, it’s important to embrace the community’s needs and how we can respond.” Recent local projects include revitalizing Seattle schools, mass transit upgrades, and helping CLT plants reach their sustainability goals.

WHY IT’S ALL WORTH IT

“Joining Sigma Nu was easily one of the most influential decisions of my life,” Andy declared. He encourages today’s brothers to treat college as a full-time job and use their spare time for exploration. “You should have fun; you should doubt yourself; you should have the time of your life; you should make mistakes and grow from them.”

About half of Andy’s wedding party was from Gamma Chi, and he keeps up with several brothers in group texts. When he’s not at work, he serves on several nonprofit education and construction boards; he also enjoys spending time with his two young sons, taking them to museums, and (occasionally) working on his golf game.

The Gamma Chi Impact

Lance Basler ’06 on Sigma Nu and Sports Management

For a transfer student like Lance Basler ’06, fraternities offer a great way to find a social circle on campus. Lance found a home at Gamma Chi, but he didn’t know at the time just how impactful Sigma Nu would be. From career opportunities to lifelong bonds, the fraternal experience has meant the world to him.

THE PERFECT FRATERNAL FIT

“It was a pretty easy decision once I had seen and been to a few places—just good people and good core values,” Lance said of meeting young men in Gamma Chi with similar interests and a positive atmosphere. Lance quickly adopted the role of initiate trainer, following in the footsteps of his big brother.

Lance enjoyed Gamma Chi’s pairing with Alpha Chi Omega for intramural softball and flag football, staying competitive while making memories and growing bonds. He maintains that competitive spirit in his sports industry career that started through Chris Cassaday ’06 suggesting a sports management MBA program at San Diego State.

WORKING IN SPORTS

Prior to the MBA program, Lance moved throughout the United States and even to Ireland and the Netherlands for a technical consulting job. Once he arrived in San Diego in 2011, Lance began a season-long internship with the university’s football team that opened new doors for his career.

From Mizzou football to a New England Patriots internship to becoming the director of player personnel at Middle Tennessee State University, Lance worked his way toward a goal of becoming a director of football operations. He accomplished this dream at age 28, earning the role at Louisiana Tech.

While Lance loved the work, he found it tough to manage the lifestyle that accompanied his position. Finding an opportunity to work in lacrosse, Lance joined USA Lacrosse operations prior to a management role with the NLL’s New York Riptide. Today, Lance is proud to work as the lacrosse operations and experience manager for the Premier Lacrosse League.

“I don’t just have one team that I work for—I have eight teams and I have to essentially elevate them all,” Lance said about his current position. “I know many players in the league and have previous relationships with them, so I can go to them for feedback and insight.”

STAYING CONNECTED Lance’s career has kept him on the move, but he is glad to maintain fraternal connections whenever possible. The recent Founder’s Day celebration provided a great opportunity to meet with 150 brothers from various generations, including one pledge class brother on the alumni board.

Lance has been married to his wife for eight years, and he was proud to have Chris Cassaday as the best man at his wedding while Matt Schultz ’06 officiated the ceremony. Lance’s wife is also in professional sports, working for the XFL. The two recently moved to Denver, and they enjoy traveling whenever possible. You can connect with Lance at lancebasler@gmail.com.

The Benefits of Brotherhood

Mark Cairns ’87 Thankful for Sigma Nu

When Mark Cairns ’87 thinks of Sigma Nu, the first thing that comes to mind is the many great brothers he got to know. From his pledge brothers (under the guidance of Recruitment Chairmen Steve Jarvis ’85 and Jeff Underwood ’85) to the others living in the chapter house, everyone he met at Gamma Chi left a strong first impression that evolved into lasting friendships and memories.

“I think it helped me grow and mature, learning to live and relate with different people and respecting differences,” Mark said. “I was already pretty good about that going in, but the fraternity experience reinforced those values.” Mark remains a strong believer in the Greek system’s friendships and networks. When his son enrolled at UW, Mark encouraged him to take a look and find the right fit for him.

Though he never held a leadership role at Gamma Chi, Mark was an eager participant in recruitment and other chapter functions as well as a proud member of the Washington Huskies men’s soccer team. Some of his favorite college memories come from those chapter house parties and social events, and others from just sharing meals in the kitchen and hanging out in the TV room. “College was one of the best times of my life, and a lot of that had to do with the fraternity.”

Mark went into the carpet/flooring field after graduating, and in 1996, he became the co-owner of a contractor called Superfloors. The company serviced the residential new construction market in Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. By the time they sold the company in 2005, it had grown from one location with 13 employees and $5 million in revenue to 15 locations with 250 employees and $100 million in revenue.

Today, Mark is a partner at the private lender, Intrust Funding in Bellevue, Washington. He keeps in touch with several brothers regularly and sees more at football games, tailgates, and other alumni events. Mark hasn’t lost his love for soccer and tries to play twice a week; he also enjoys hiking, fishing, paddle boarding, and spending time with his wife and two sons—both grown and productive members of society.

Mark’s Advice to Today’s Brothers “If I could give my past self advice, it would be to enjoy the moment. I was always so focused on what’s next and seeking the end goal. That’s one reason we were successful in business, but it can also take the fun out of things. Remember to enjoy the journey each day and live in the moment.”

We’re a Family that Works as a Team

David Shim ’99 Discusses How Sigma Nu Prepared Him for Success

“We’re a team, not a family,” is a saying across some professional sports teams and technology companies that highlights that a group, brought together to complete a mission, can change when the mission changes.

To David Shim ’99, Sigma Nu is the opposite: “We’re a family that works as a team.” He recalls that it was the times when he and his brothers were scrambling to get ready for a philanthropic event, a party, or a big remodel that they all came together to deliver against a singular mission.

“What we were able to do, bringing together a wide set of personalities to achieve what any adult would think is impossible, is what made Gamma Chi so great,” he said.

Sigma Nu’s strong sense of community and its values, including diversity, friendliness, and openness, are what initially attracted David to the fraternity, and the brothers he met during his first visit remain some of his closest friends more than 20 years later.

“Despite not being the largest fraternity, it had immense potential and taught me the importance of surrounding myself with like-minded individuals who share the same values and goals,” David shared. “These lessons have served me well in my entrepreneurial journey and continue to shape who I am today.”

In his career, David has founded and led several innovative companies. He is the founder of Placed, a leading location attribution company, which sold to Snapchat in 2017 and was later spun out to Foursquare, where he served as CEO. Under his leadership, Foursquare grew into the largest location data platform in the world with over $100 million in revenue.

He is also the co-founder of Read AI, a company focused on making meetings more effective using AI and analytics to create automated meeting summaries and metrics. “I’ve been blessed to have the ability to choose what I do next, and building Read AI is one of my most ambitious and exciting efforts yet.”

Making a Difference

Gamma Chi Thanks Gordy Richards Jr. ’53 and His Late Wife, Carol

The selfless giving of Gordy Richards Jr. ’53 and his late wife, Carol, made our updated kitchen at Sigma Nu possible. The couple donated the largest gift in Gamma Chi history in January 2020.

Gordy was born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1935. He was the all-city golf champion in 1952 and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1953. While at UW, he played varsity golf and graduated in 1957. After college, he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Ord, commissioned as a 2nd Lt. Commander. In 1959, he married Carol Summers, and the next year, Gordy started his 42-year career as a stockbroker for Dean Whittier/Morgan Stanley.

Golf continued to be a well-loved activity for Gordy, who enjoyed membership at the Overlake Golf Club for over 50 years. Gordy and Carol were married for 61 years until Carol sadly passed away in 2020. Gordy is currently 86 years old and living in Bellevue, Washington.

Sigma Nu runs in his family with his brothers Dave ’56 and Bruce ’62. Gordy has stayed in touch with Corky Lewis ’54, John Lister ’54, Finn Lepsoe ’54, Chuck Mertel ’54, Lefty Burke ’56, and Gerry Alexander ’55.

Because of Gordy and Carol’s generosity, Sigma Nu has a fully updated kitchen. These updates wouldn’t have been possible at this time without such a gift. We are beyond grateful for their investment in Gamma Chi Chapter. Gordy and Carol saw how Gordy benefited from his Sigma Nu membership experience and wanted to give back to the chapter that helped launch him beyond his college years.

Thank you again, Gordy and Carol. Gamma Chi will be forever grateful for your generosity.

The Golden Years

Brian Allen ’75 Reflects on His Time as an Active Member of Gamma Chi Chapter

For Brian Allen ’75, going through the fraternity recruitment process was an easy choice. Brian comes from Anacortes, Washington, a small city on Fidalgo Island, and was sold on the idea of joining a fraternity by some of his older friends. “They told me this was a great way to transition to the big-city lifestyle,” Brian said. “They were right; my first class in Kane Hall had more people in it than my entire high school graduating class!” After meeting with brothers Mark Funk ’74 and Tom James ’74, he was sold on Sigma Nu. “Mark helped connect me to a network of Sigma Nu alumni in my hometown,” Brian said. “Tom was the Recruitment Chairman at the time, and we developed an instant bond given his intellect, humor, and leadership skills.”

The chapter house had been shut down a few years before Brian pledged in 1974 due to complicated circumstances. The 13 returning brothers ran a remarkable recruitment effort, however, that led to Brian’s pledge class of 31 being welcomed into the brotherhood. “By the time I graduated, we had the house up to nearly 70 members,” Brian said. “I have always had a sense of pride that we helped bring something good back from the brink. I think that sense of building something that has lasted stuck with me throughout my life.”

As an active member of Gamma Chi Chapter, Brian enjoyed living in the chapter house with his brothers and having Tom as his first roommate. Throughout his time at the university, he enjoyed Husky football games, recruitment functions, exchanges, meals, and the limitless hangout sessions with his brothers. It wasn’t all fun and games, however, as Brian was elected by his peers to become the chapter’s pledge trainer. He also ran the chapter house for two summers and served as a weekend cook. “Those are some meals brothers are still trying to forget,” Brian joked. All in all, Brian is grateful to Sigma Nu and his brothers for helping him become the man he is today.

“I think about being part of Sigma Nu as one of those really lucky things in my life,” Brian said. “I believe that two of the most important things influencing who you will become include the people you surround yourself with and the ability to seize opportunities when they present themselves. Sigma Nu put me around great people and gave me countless opportunities to grow and accept responsibility early.”

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Brian began working for a mid-size American company in Seattle where he engineered controls systems for buildings. Five acquisitions later, he found himself running the Northwest U.S. offices for Siemens Building Technologies Group, having never actually changed companies. After 20 years, Brian left to buy one of Siemens smallest competitors in 1998. His company, ATS Automation, now has offices in many western states with clients across the country. As CEO, Brian uses many of the lessons he learned as a Sigma Nu. “It’s hard to overstate the impact of quickly acquiring a supportive living environment, close friends, and a fun environment at a time in your life when everything is new and changing,” Brian said. “Sigma Nu gave me a stable base and an opportunity to grow when it really mattered.”

Brian’s support for Sigma Nu has not waivered since his college years, as he has returned several times to speak at the chapter house about his business experiences. He has also taught a number of interviewing classes to undergraduate brothers. “Walking the halls of the chapter house is always a memory-jogging experience,” Brian said. As an employer, he has had the fortunate position to hire and work with several Sigma Nu alumni over the years.

Today, Brian lives in Kirkland, Washington, and still loves getting together with his Gamma Chi brothers. “It’s an amazing thing to come together with people I lived with 40 years ago and feel a strong bond as if no time had passed since our last meeting,” Brian said. “There are a number of alumni brothers who I still count among my closest friends, including Tom, who stood with me at my wedding.

Building Lifelong Bonds

Paul Ellingson ’66 Reflects on His Time with Sigma Nu and Evolving Friendships with Brothers

Paul Ellingson ’66 was first introduced to Sigma Nu by Steve Bramwell ’63, a three-year letterman who played halfback for the Huskies and excelled as a kick and punt returner. “Initially I was going to be a Phi Delt,” Paul said, “but Steve convinced me that I’d be happier with Gamma Chi Chapter.” Paul was impressed by Steve’s sales pitch and decided to join the pledge class of around 30 members.

During Paul’s time as an active member, his Gamma Chi brothers came from a variety of backgrounds. “We had a lot of jocks and smart guys but were different in terms of interests,” Paul said. “I remember having to help a lot of my brothers with their studies by making sure they didn’t fall asleep while doing schoolwork.” Through learning about his brothers, he developed many profound, lifelong friendships.

Sigma Nu became like an extended family to Paul. “These friendships can’t be replaced because they came from such an interesting time during our lives, when you need one another to keep your compass straight,” Paul said. “We could only talk to our families once a week over the phone, so we often had to go to each other for advice.” One of the most important moments in his life came when an upperclassman invited him to an exchange with a sorority. “I had just gone through a breakup coming into the event and I ended up meeting my wife there,” Paul said. “We are getting ready to celebrate our 50th anniversary together.”

Paul is glad he joined Gamma Chi as he gained a group of friends, he would have never met otherwise who have enriched his life. “I remember Bill Oldenburg ’66 spending Thanksgivings with my family in Washington instead of flying back to California,” Paul said. “Today Bill serves on my company’s board. These friendships evolve into something bigger and special, so I would advise the active members to get to know your brothers. You never know what will come of these connections in the future.” For example, Paul and Dave Huguenin ’66 started a bank together years after their time with Sigma Nu.

After graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Paul had plans to go to law school but was drafted into the Army. “My draft number was 63,” Paul said. “I became and air traffic controller, which I enjoyed, and lost interest in being a lawyer after my service.” After his time with the Army, Paul and his father came to an agreement that he would try working for the family business. After a couple of years, he got serious and loved working with the clients he dealt with. Paul’s father named him president when he was 30 years old. Today, Paul is CEO and chairman of the board for Bargreen-Ellingson. The company specializes in foodservice supply and design with locations across the country. Paul’s son, David, has served as president for the last six years.

Paul has enjoyed returning to the chapter house for alumni events. He is also helping with some much-needed work on kitchen renovations and has endowed a scholarship. “Whenever I get back, I love seeing my brothers and reminiscing about stories from 50 years ago,” Paul said. “I’m glad that the active brothers are interested in our tales. It’s always fun to walk through those doors again.”

Paul and his wife live in Federal Way, Washington, and have two sons and three grandchildren. Their oldest was a Sigma Nu at Stanford, and their youngest went to a university that didn’t have a strong Greek

life presence.

From Sigma Nu to Nintendo

Donald James ’76 Shares How Gamma Chi Prepared Him for Success

Sigma Nu has the potential to change a young man’s life, providing a social circle in college and creating new opportunities for members to succeed academically. Donald James ’76 was encouraged to join by a relative who was in the fraternity, and he appreciated the chance to gain dozens of new friends sharing the common bond of brotherhood.

“The reason I declared my major was directly related to a conversation with the person who rushed me,” Don shared about his decision to study industrial design. “It changed my life because it wasn’t something I even knew about, and he convinced me to do it. I have been unbelievably successful with that major in my career.”

From Gamma Chi to the Gaming Industry

As an undergraduate, Don had the opportunity to design the internal workings and documentation of a video game cabinet for coin-operated Nintendo games. Once he earned his degree, he was offered a job and became Nintendo of America’s third employee.

Don remained committed to his career path as he worked his way up to Executive Vice President of Operations. Over the past 40 years, Don has played a crucial role in many of Nintendo’s business ventures, such as launching the Nintendo Entertainment System in New York in 1995.

“I was also fortunate to work with LucasArts and got to hang out with everybody from Lucasfilm and LucasArts. In the process, I was involved in making three games with the Star Wars franchise. That was really fun—I got to go into the warehouse where all the artifacts from Episode One were housed from the film, and we were able to build a full-sized pod racer and used it at a trade show.”

Up until two years ago, Don oversaw all the company’s trade show endeavors. Managing projects, meeting celebrities, and doing design work are just a few aspects of the amazing ride Don has had so far with Nintendo of America.

Maturing Through Brotherhood
“One of the things that was very impactful coming out of high school and going into college was being able to learn and observe how the upperclassmen behaved,” Don recalled. Being exposed to older Gamma Chi brothers, Don recognized the importance of carrying himself as a responsible adult.

Don’s confidence in his career path has led to decades of success, and he advises today’s undergraduates to take whatever chances they may come across. “Seize those opportunities, because if you don’t, you may have just lost out on the opportunity that may take you someplace great.”

A Brother at Heart
Don is proud to keep contact with several brothers from his era, and he cherishes the memories of living in the house and always having something to do with brothers on the weekend. He has personally remained involved with Gamma Chi, working on new ways to raise money for chapter house improvements.

Nowadays, Don spends most of his spare time helping his two daughters reach their goals, like working on a private pilot’s license with his younger daughter and helping his older daughter compete in equestrian horseback riding, which proved to be a great way to teach responsibility.

Building a Strong Brotherhood

Ed Chin ’87 Shares Lessons Learned at Gamma Chi

As a freshman, Ed Chin ’87 decided to go through recruitment since his cousins, Stan ’83 and Sandy Chin ’80, enjoyed their time at Sigma Nu so much. He credits the Recruitment Chairmen at the time, Steve Jarvis ’85 and Jeff Underwood ’85, with making him feel the most welcome compared to the other houses he visited. Ed feels that his years in Gamma Chi helped him grow out of his shell, both socially and professionally. “Living with a rotating 50 to 60 different personalities under one roof was eye-opening and helped in dealing with the personalities you run into in your work life,” he said.

His Sigma Nu brothers also directly helped him advance in his career more than once. In Ed’s undergraduate years, Brian Allen ’74 gave him a warehouse/ parts delivery driver and data entry job with an HVAC contracting company, which gave him professional experience for his mechanical engineering degree. Then in 1990, he received a job offer at Sverdrup Corporation (now Jacobs Engineering) before he graduated thanks to a referral from Paul Riemann ’87.

Ed’s current business, Earthbound Corporation, began as a side job with a friend of his, in which they formed a start-up to research and develop a new construction fastener to protect multifamily and commercial mid-rise (up to six stories) wood-framed buildings during earthquakes. Today, the patented SlackJackTM device and Earthbound System is one of the three nationally recognized seismic and wind tie down systems in the U.S. and Canada. Earthbound has been Ed’s full-time job since 1997 with 40 employees in Monroe, Washington, as well as 25 civil engineers and software developers in Mexico. Ed is also listed as a co-inventor of a patented online software tool for engineers to design the Earthbound System.

Overall, Ed’s favorite Sigma Nu memories stem from the camaraderie he formed with the brothers and the powerful friendships that have lasted to this day. “I feel like I can pick up the phone and call anybody I knew in the house and at least have a drink with any of them.” He encourages undergraduate brothers to consistently better themselves in life and establish a good balance between work and relationships early on. “You are in your learning years; the earning years will come.”

“Given the chance, I would do it all over again and wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “Sigma Nu was extremely important and beneficial in teaching me life lessons you would never get anywhere else.”

Today, Ed is most proud of graduating from UW (“Go Huskies!”), the career choices that helped him to where he is now, and his 14-year-old daughter, Cassie, who is a straight-A student. In his spare time, he does IT network consulting, Karate martial arts training, and loves tinkering with UTVs, motorcycles, jet skis, and more.

Flying High Because of Gamma Chi

Steve Jarvis ’85 Shares What Sigma Nu Means to Him

When Steve Jarvis ’85 arrived at the

University of Washington, he was seeking an environment where he was surrounded by people who believed they could achieve anything they set their minds to, all while supporting each other. That’s exactly what Steve found when he met the men of Sigma Nu during recruitment. The decision to join set the tone for Steve’s successful career and has led to many accomplishments.

“There was friendship, brotherhood, laughter, and inclusion that I hadn’t seen elsewhere,” Steve said. “The athlete, goofball, calendar guy, and bookworm were all equally respected and included. And these guys were smart, holding the highest cumulative GPA in the Greek system. It was study hard, play hard culture that I wanted to be my college experience.”

Steve’s life continued to be shaped by his brothers even after his Sigma Nu undergraduate experience. Before Steve’s career took off at Alaska Airlines, he worked for Todd Tarbert ’81 at an early Internet startup. Todd’s teachings prepared Steve to thrive as Alaska Airlines’ youngest vice president in the 70-year history at that time and secured him the interviews to lead the airline’s new e-commerce division.

“We were the first domestic airline to book tickets over the internet. We invented web check-in and wireless check-in, rebuilt the airport experience with kiosks and self-baggage check, and generally led the industry in customer innovations,” Steve said. “I was proud to be named to the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. When I departed, I was leading all of marketing, sales, and customer experience with about 16,000 employees in my group.”

After a one-year layover with Concur Technologies, Steve landed at Expedia, which was an awesome final chapter of his corporate life. Dara Khosrowshahi, who is now the CEO of Uber, recruited Steve to Expedia to “fix the air business.”

“We increased the market capitalization of the company from $4 billion to $19 billion in my time there,” Steve said. “A highlight for me was managing an international business that took me all over the world along the way.”

When Steve left Expedia at the age of 50, he still had no intentions of retiring. He created a personal mantra of learning and giving. On the learning side, he wanted to do something outside of the travel business. One the giving side, Steve wanted to spend his time on activities that tangibly made people’s lives better. Serving as a limited partner at Unlock Venture Partners and as CEO of CredHub have fit that bill perfectly.

“At Unlock, we’re investing in technology founders seed and pre-seed. We’ve invested in 23 companies so far, founding 12 of them. These startups cross a wide variety of verticals, each disruptive in their own way and all growing like crazy. All are making people’s lives better through technology,” Steve said. “CredHub is a credit reporting and ID theft protection business that I founded with three partners. We’re helping those that need it most with their financial health. We have almost 150,000 clients and are growing fast.”

The growth of CredHub and Unlock have allowed Steve to reflect on how much he’s grown personally because of Sigma Nu. He’s had the pleasure of passing down what he’s learned from Gamma Chi to his son, Ben, and stepson, Matthew. Steve and his wife, Andrea, are incredibly proud of them both.

Business and Marketing Guru Gary Shansby ’57 Mastered Focus at Sigma Nu

Gamma Chi Instilled Lessons for Lifelong Success

While wandering the grocery aisles with his mother as a child, Gary Shansby ’57 always wondered how products were made, and as he grew older that curiosity transformed into an interest in business and marketing. The summer after he graduated from high school, he had an early opportunity to meet several University of Washington fraternity representatives who came to his house to recruit him. During those recruitment visits, the men of Sigma Nu impressed him the most, and once he became a member, he was officially on a path to lifelong success.

“The most important thing of becoming an active member of Gamma Chi was that I had to maintain good grades,” he said. “The fact that they were focused on study hours made sure you did well in college and taught me how to focus.”Although Gary knew he wanted to study business and marketing when he started college, he admits he wouldn’t have focused as much on education so early on at UW if not for Sigma Nu. His commitment to upholding the brotherhood values of academic excellence and teamwork helped him succeed as an undergraduate and prepared him for his professional endeavors.

“I was influenced by affiliation with a good pledge class and a good fraternity,” he stated. “The value of teamwork taught me to appreciate all different levels of importance within work and life.”

The lessons he learned from Sigma Nu paired with his education from UW, specifically the influence of his marketing professor, set Gary up for professional success. He’s the co-founder and chairman of TSG Consumer Partners, formerly known as The Shansby Group. TSG is a private equity partnership that invests in the acquisition of established middle market companies in consumer industries. It has taken an active role in the management of companies such as Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie Corporation, Terra Chips, Smart Balance, Glaceau Vitamin Water, and Muscle Milk.

Gary was also previously a partner of the management consulting firm of Booz Allen Hamilton and later the chairman of the board of directors and CEO of Shaklee Corporation, a NYSE, Fortune 500 Company, before founding The Shansby Group. After being recruited by Colgate as a senior at UW, Gary moved to California right after graduation, later relocating to Chicago and then New York before moving back to California where he’s lived and worked for most of his career.

Gary has more than 60 years of experience with consumer product companies, and his most recent business venture is Tequila Partida, LLC, of which he is the founder, chairman, and CEO. Partida is a multi-national Mexican produced ultra-premium tequila brand, named after a late agave farmer, Enrique Partida, whom he met in Mexico while developing the brand.

“It’s been a labor of love and took about four or five years to get through its development. Since I succeeded in the corporate world as well as private equity, I wanted to see if I could succeed with launching a product from scratch,” he said. “It’s been rewarding to know I could do it.”

While he admittedly hasn’t kept in constant contact with all of his Sigma Nu brothers, he keeps in touch with as many as possible. He was pleasantly surprised to see two brothers, Lefty Burke ’56 and Pinky Goodman ’56, in the front row at a conference in Seattle where he was a keynote speaker about a few years ago.

“They weren’t there to learn as much as just give me a hard time—professional hecklers,” he joked. “I hadn’t seen them in years, but we caught up after the Q&A portion. “Gary and his wife, OJ (Orinda Jane), a UCLA Tri Delta alumna, live in San Francisco.

Climbing to Success with Sigma Nu

Dee McGonigle ’80 Cherishes Gamma Chi Lessons, Brotherhood

For Dee J. McGonigle III ’80, his biggest takeaway from Gamma Chi was learning to interact with different personalities and form long-lasting relationships. He has carried those lessons with him into a successful property development career and life of athletic adventure. “We place a high premium on making sure our employees are well compensated, happy, empowered, and have potential for growth,” Dee said of his firm, of which he is a co-founder. “Sigma Nu was founded on honor, and I have strived to make that the foundation for our company and my life as well.”

After high school, Dee attended Regis College in Denver, subsequently taking two years off to “figure things out.” He was skeptical of fraternities when he came to UW, but needing a place to live, he followed a friend’s lead and looked into recruitment. “I was somewhat underwhelmed with the experience until I visited Sigma Nu,” he said. “There was a vibrancy and life that was not present in other houses.” Dee accepted the chapter’s offer immediately and to this day considers it one of the best decisions he ever made. “It was a warm welcome and learning communication skills with 65 other guys was almost a more valuable education than in the classroom.”

Dee remains close to many Gamma Chi brothers and tries to visit the chapter at least once a year. He has stayed in touch with Jeff Roberts ’81 and several others and has hosted some recruitment functions at his lake property in Idaho. Dee and several brothers from his days in the house also regularly tailgate at UW football games and hold an annual fishing derby (“It doesn’t include as much fishing anymore, but we still get together and have fun!”). One of his most memorable trips included two Sigma Nu brothers; after watching the Huskies in the Rose Bowl, they bused and hitchhiked through Mexico, returning to Seattle for the spring.

An avid traveler, Dee has lived a good life of mountain climbing, paragliding, skiing, and biking in various parts of the world. “At age 61 now, I think some of those are probably a younger man’s activity, but I still enjoy climbing and biking!” Dee is currently recovering from a broken neck sustained in a mountain biking accident. “I was very fortunate not to damage my spinal cord at all, but it’s been a difficult recovery.” He hopes to be back out on his bike by next spring.

Dee and his wife of 20 years, Mary, have two sons, Michael (20) and Sean (18). Both attend schools with no Greek system, so Dee encourages them to be as involved in extracurriculars as possible. “I do fear they’ll miss out without the fraternity experience, so I hope they can get a sense of working closely with people and learn those skills through other activities.” His advice to them and the active Gamma Chi Chapter? “Strive to do more than expected of you, be honest in everything you do, and work hard. Good things will come your way.”

Connect with Us!