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ΠΚΦΠΚΦΠΚΦΠΚΦ BETA KAPPA

hockey with some young and very talented players. After participating in some team meetings and stretch sessions, Maday realized the quality of players he would be competing with on the ice was no extra-curricular men’s league. This would be rein-forced later on game day when Maday was in the goal for warm ups. During one brief feud be-tween Caruso and a Gladiators player, Maday faced the reality that he might get some time in the net. Nothing came of it, but Maday was ready regardless. After the game ended he was able to see his friends and fam-ily in attendance for such a mo-mentous occasion. Mike Maday is one of many Beta Kappa alums to go on after college and represent Pi Kappa Phi honorably. His dedi-cation to hockey has obviously paid off, and is one of the great recent stories in our chapter.

Maday played some club hockey at the University of Geor-gia and men’s leagues, but they looked to be the extent of his hockey career. David Caruso, a one-time backup to Maday, went on to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes where he eventually transitioned to the ECHL Gwin-nett Gladiators and Trenton Dev-ils. In March, Caruso’s Tren-ton Devils were in need of a backup for their game in Atlanta. Caruso sent Maday a message telling him that the Devils were in need of an emergency backup. Maday couldn’t pass up the chance to be a part of competitive

Mike Maday, All the Way! By: Cody Heermans INS IDE THE

I S SUE

Alumni

Spotlight

2

Operation

Home Front

3

Young

Entrepreneurs

X3

4

Announcements 5

Important Dates 5

Historian

Report

5

Contact Info

Editor’s Letter

6

Starlighter S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

Beta Kappa alum Mike Maday is not in the National Hockey League, but as a boy his time on the ice paid off when he was offered the chance of a lifetime. Maday grew up in St. Catherines, Ontario where hockey reigns as most young men’s dream profession. Maday played hockey through-out his early childhood, with teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens feeding his love for the sport. As a teenager Maday moved to Atlanta. He figured that his hockey playing was coming to a close, but was pleasantly surprised to find a decent number of his peers in-terested in the sport. He played in a junior hockey league for the Junior Knights up until it was time for college. Instead of pursuing a possible college scholarship, Maday opted to attend Georgia State University, where he eventually joined the Pi Kappa Phi family as a mem-ber of the Beta Kappa chapter.

Greetings Alumni and Family,

It is my sincere honor and pleasure to write to you for the first time as Archon of Beta Kappa Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. I'm excited for the year of Pi Kappa Phi ahead of us and hope to strengthen our alumni and family relations into it. I would like to take this chance to say thank you to all alumni and family who have continued your support in so many generous ways; without your support, our frater-nity could not continue to thrive as we have. Your alumni support proves that you have chosen to be Brothers for Life, instead of Four Year Brothers. Thank you again and I look forward to meeting you

all at our alumni and family events this Spring.

Yours in Pi Kappa Phi,

Paul Marmol

Letter From the Archon By: Paul Marmol

Mike Maday BK 466 Spring 1998

Matt: Things were

much different in 1954 when

you joined Pi Kappa Phi—

NBC’s “The Tonight Show”

first aired on television, gas

was 22 cents per gallon and

Swanson delivered the gift of

TV dinners to America– What

was it like on campus at that

time?

JWB: ROTC had been installed on campus for the first time. The campus was notable in that we did a lot of walking. Walking the ramp ways of the parking deck which was converted to class-rooms was an interesting adven-ture. You walked up the ramps to some classes and down the ramps to others. We walked out-side to a park in front of the At-lanta Auditorium for fresh air. We were “making do” and we knew it, but an education was to be had. Most of the student population worked either full or part time. Many of the professors also had second jobs. Matt: As a founding member

of Zeta Chi Delta, what made

you choose Pi Kappa Phi as the

national fraternity to replace

your charter on Georgia

State’s campus?

JWB: The original members of Zeta Chi Delta were a group of young men who had gravitated together from first meeting in classes and in ROTC training. Our purpose was to put together a local fraternity group to hold us together and to promote increas-

ing our membership as the original group graduated and went off to the military. Our focus was social and philanthropic, and in the be-ginning we had no particular plans to attempt to join a national frater-nity. As we grew, several members expressed interest in researching a national fraternity that would fit our members. We learned that Pi Kappa Phi was a well respected national fraternity with interest in our campus and an excellent repu-tation. A committee of members met with Pi Kappa Phi and pre-sented to us their recommendations regarding initiation into the frater-nity. I was very honored to be the first initiate.

Matt: What were your best

memories as an active brother in

Pi Kappa Phi?

JWB: My best memories of being a part of the Beta Kappa Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi are the many so-cial events which were very enjoy-able for all of us. We had barbe-

ques, proms, dances and other gatherings. Matt: As a founding member of

the Beta Kappa Chapter, what

lessons and skills did you come

away with from the fraternal

experience?

JWB: As a founding member of Beta Kappa Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, I look back and appreciate the leadership skills, friendships, and supportive qualities which I devel-oped during those years. The train-ing has benefited me greatly in my endeavors both in business and in family and social life.

Matt: Tell us a little about your

family.

JWB: My lovely wife of 43 years and I have a son John and his wife, who have three daughters and twin daughters Betsy and Jenny with two sons. All live near us and we have the pleasure of having contact with all our children and grandchil-dren often.

Matt: What advice do you have

for all of the active brothers of Pi

Kappa Phi?

JWB: Enjoy all the benefits of active fraternity life, and maintain your friends after college which will be a pleasure to you during your whole life.

John W. Barber

BK-1

Alumnus Spotlight: John W. Barber ‘54 By: Matt Kahn

P A G E 2 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

J.Gregory Howard, BK314,

accepting a check from Verizon at

the December 28, 2010 Falcon’s

Halftime Presentation

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

man of the Board for Georgia for all but t hree months of my association. Operation Homefront was started by three wives of ser-vice men, that wanted to deal with the ‘Murphy’s Law’ of military family life; the moment a service member deploys, the car will break down, the roof will leak, the plumbing will burst, or a catastrophic medical event will occur. Most military families and their chil-dren are not prepared financially or logistically to deal with these crises. They needed help.

Chad: How long has Operation Home Front been in operation?

J.G. Howard: The Georgia Chapter was founded in 2005. Nationally, Operation Home-front, Inc. began in 2002, in the wake of Sep-tember 11, 2001 and the military deployments that followed, when military wives and veter-ans found the growing need to ‘fill the gaps’ and provide the emergency assistance to the military families they were stationed with. This was their answer.

Chad: Since then approximately how much have you raised for the wounded soldiers

and families of those soldiers?

J.G. Howard: In 2009 alone we met 160,536 needs requests for military families, including active duty, Guard and Reserve members from all branches of service. Since its inception, Operation Homefront has pro-

vided more than $92 million dollars of aid and funding to programs that benefit mili-tary families. OpHF does not solicit funds, nor are we governed by the United States Government or any agency therein. We’re proud to have earned the earn the highest rating – four stars – for the fourth straight year from Charity Navigator, the nation’s top independent evaluator of nonprofit organiza-tions. $0.95 of every dollar in total reve-nue donated to Operation Homefront goes to our programs. Very few charities can say this.

Chad: How can others get involved and help this great cause?

J.G.Howard: Check out our local chapter, Operation Homefront – Georgia at www.Homefrontga.org. Volunteer opportunities arise constantly. The Geor-gia Chapter office is located at 1220 Old Canton Road, Marietta, GA 30062 and can be reached at p) 770-973-0014. Ex-ecutive Director, Kim Scofi.

Chad: When is the next event you have planned for Operation Home Front?

J.G. Howard:Our events link is: http://www.operationhomefront.net/georgia/events.aspx .

“Operation Hollywood” Airsoft tournament to benefit Operation Home-front Georgia March 19, 2011 – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Location: Area 13 Airsoft Field-Area 13 located at 640 Kelly Farm Road Newnan, GA 30265 Contact: Greg at p) 770-815-4728 after 3:30 during the week

3rd Annual “Operation Yellow

Ribbon Run” April 09, 2011, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM Location: Mt. Bethel UMC, Marietta Contact: Col. Mike Patellis p) 770-973-0014 Volunteers Needed.

Chad Cox BK 605, interviews J. Gregory How-ard, BK 314, about his in-volvement with Operation Home Front.

Chad:Tell us a little about your-self as a man of Pi Kappa Phi and

as the Chairman of the Board of

Operation Home Front?

J.G. Howard: I take the ‘fifth’ on my days as a man of Pi Kappa Phi. Women and children may read this and I still want to hold public office. All joking aside, the frater-nity was quite involved in the com-munity for a commuter college. We were an older chapter then; by this I mean the average age of the Broth-erhood when I pledged was 24, and most were working full-time while going to school. The fact that we participated at all and so success-fully with P.U.S.H. and St. Vincent DePaul was amazing. For the rest of the stories you will have to ask me at the next event. As for Operation Home-front, our Mission is to provide emergency financial and other assis-tance to the families of our service members and wounded warri-ors. We believe those who wear our country's uniform do so with a sense of duty, knowing they support the causes of freedom. We serve by serving them and their fami-lies. Operation Homefront also op-erates several other programs as well: ‘Wounded Warrior Wives” and ‘Operation Homefront Villages’ just to name a couple.

Chad: What motivated you to

start Operation Home Front?

J.G. Howard: I did not start Op-eration Homefront; although, I have been a part of the organization for a little over six years now and Chair-

Operation Home Front By: Chad Cox

cards”. Plumbed, constructed, and built by the openers.

Q: What obstacles have you faced in your business?

Donovan: Staffing is the number one issue. Staff must be able to deliver top notch customer ser-vice and must strive to deliver the highest possible levels of customer service. Must have a well-trained and motivated sales team. Keeping a good staff trained. Mike: Trying to improve the product constantly and not be-coming complacent with what you have now; continuously try-ing to grow. Keeping the big pic-ture in mind

Q: How many hours a day do

you put into your business

and how is this time spent?

Donovan: There are no set hours really; the question is whether or not you have accom-plished what you need to. It cer-tainly is more than a nine to five, but doesn’t necessarily feel like work all the time because you’re doing what you love to do. You just have to make sure that things get done. Q: What was the best advice

you received along with way

as far as your business goes?

Donovan: Biggest thing that we

have learned is to stay focused

on your goals, and you must

base your decisions on the goals

that you have.

Continued on Page 6

An interview with Donovan

Panone, BK 388 and Mike Lit-

trel, BK441

Q: Tell the readers a bit

about what you do?

Donovan: X3 is a training center for people with fitness goals or competitive goals in MMA. For fitness goals we offer high energy classes that make training fun. We have an indoor track, astro-turf field, and full gym. Peo-ple want people to push them. We have the best fight team in the Southeast with a 90 percent win rate. 75% of business is on the fitness side. Train football players. We also offer yoga classes and have an on-site nutrition-ist Q: Where did you come up

with the idea for your busi-

ness?

Mike: Basically when I

graduated college I started

boxing competitively and

started a boxing gym to-

gether with some friends.

Within a few years we were

doing well, and I sold the

gym and started working with

NFL players and training

them in MMA and strength

and conditioning, as well as

kickboxing and martial arts. I

also just love working out

and working with people

Q: How many employees

do you have?

Donovan: We have two locations and are continuing to grow and look for new locations. We have about 40 employees in all. Q: When did you start your busi-

ness?

Donovan: The first gym started in

January 2007 and was located in

Marietta. The second opened in

May 2008

Scott Luchkowec BK386, Mike

Littrel BK441, Donovan Panone

BK 388

Q: What type of training or edu-

cation did you get before you

started your business?

Donovan: Marketing background. Started off doing sales and market-ing for a small web development company. Mike was a competitive fighter. Donovan also wrestled in high school. Mike parlayed wres-tling experience into kickboxing. Mike: Business degree from GSU helped and growing up in sports

Q: What start up costs did you encounter?

Donovan: When the Marietta loca-tion opened it was opened with “blood, sweat, tears, and credit

X3: A Pi Kapp Enterprise By: Stephen Cole

P A G E 4 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

Historian Report By: Matt Kahn I have returned for an-other term as Historian for my final semesters of college, I hope you all don’t mind too much. It has been very exciting for me to see our chapter’s alumni relations grow to the point they are at today. Alumni involvement is at an all time high. Brian Childers has been helping brothers with summer jobs at Turner Field and Ryan Caruthers has offered his assis-tance in helping finding jobs for newly graduated accounting majors. It is great to see all of the alumni stay active in the

chapter and help brothers. Also, we have one of our biggest alumni events of the chapter’s history coming up in May, which we are all ex-cited about. In case you have not been keeping up with the emails, this May we will be honoring the re-chartering of our chapter by having a Brave’s game gathering on May14th including a pre-game tailgate. That evening we will gather together at a banquet hall still TBD and celebrate the history of our chapter with sev-eral activities we have planned.

I look forward to seeing a lot of old faces and many new this summer. I would also like to thank all of the alumni who provided their time and knowl-edge for this edition of the newsletter. Keep reading gen-tlemen.

Important Dates Announcements P A G E 5 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1

• This upcoming May 11th marks the 20th anniversary of Beta Kappa being re-chartered at Georgia State University

• Email any announcements to

me at: mkahn2@student.gsu

or matt.kahn2@gmail.com

• March 18th-20thMarch 18th-20thMarch 18th-20thMarch 18th-20th: Spring Retreat in Gainesville, GA

• March 28-April 2nd: March 28-April 2nd: March 28-April 2nd: March 28-April 2nd: War of the Roses

• April 17th: April 17th: April 17th: April 17th: Family Day @

585 Sherwood Ave

• May 3-7May 3-7May 3-7May 3-7: Summer Roseball in Panama City Beach

• May 13-14: May 13-14: May 13-14: May 13-14: Alumni Week-end in honor of 20 Year

Re-Chartering!!!!

Editors—Matt Kahn Writers— Chad Cox, Stephen Cole, Matt Kahn, Paul Marmol, Cody Heermans

Readers, This winter break I attended the Midyear Leader-ship Conference at Pi Kappa Phi’s national HQ in Charlotte, NC. On the historian track, I was congratulated for having one of the best portfolio of newsletters out of any active chapter, but one point to improve was more of a focus on Alumni-News. This edition I shifted the focus from us to you and I hope you enjoy this edition, because a lot of brothers worked very hard to get this one out! See y’all next time!

Matt Kahn BK 538

Mike: Make sure that you are doing what you love and be passionate about what you are trying to achieve. Q: What has been the key to success

in your business?

Donovan: Combination of staying fo-cused on our goals and having fun with the things that are thrown at you. Not letting the little things get you down and staying positive. Positive energy that we convey trickles down to the rest of the staff. Negativity and positivity are conta-gious. Focusing on the details and the little things can make a big difference. Mike: Perseverance and being able to fight through the ups and the downs of everyday life

Q: What types of marketing strategies do you employ?

Donovan: We do a lot of online work (search ads through google, facebook ads) and word of mouth/ customer refer-rals from existing members.

Q: What advice would you give to en-trepreneurs wanting to start a busi-ness?

Donovan: You have to have a well

thought out plan; most people fail be-

cause of a lack of a plan. Be prepared to

work hard on the details and be prepared

to work on the little things. Never settling

for less than your best and always look-

ing to move forward

Mike: Start a business because you

genuinely want to succeed at, and be-

cause it is something that you believe in whole heartedly.

Pi Kappa Phi—Beta Kappa

5235 Redfield Court

X3 Continued...

Visit them on the web at:

http://www.x3sports.com/index.html

Archon— Paul Marmol (marmol.paul@gmail.com)

Vice Archon— Daniel Cole (dcole4@student.gsu.edu)

Treasurer— Aaron Lugo

(agomezlugo1@student.gsu.edu)

Secretary— Andrew Langley

(alangley4@student.gsu.edu)

Warden— Michael Kahn (mkahn3@student.gsu.edu)

Historian—Matt Kahn ( mkahn2@student.gsu.edu)

Chaplain— Adam Sukenik (asukenik1@student.gsu.edu)

http://www.gsupikapps.com/

Blast from the Past P A G E 7 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1