Great Friends, Good Memories and Exciting Plans for Future
This Q&A interview is part of an ongoing series designed to help us get to know our members better. If you know a member whom you think would make a good profile candidate, please send his or her name and graduation year, along with your name and graduation year, to our alumni relations service at [email protected]. Make sure to mention it is for Alpha Zeta at Penn State.
Why did you join Alpha Zeta?
I enjoyed the sense of comraderie, and I highly respected some of the then-current brothers such as Doug Hershberger ’85, Bill Zollers ’85 and Tom Wurster ’85.
Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity.
It’s hard to pin down a specific one. I enjoyed serving as rush chair and going to classes with David Bratton ’87, Ingo Krause ’87, etc.
What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?
I work directly with two other AZ brothers and often have contact with other alumni during the course of my work.
With whom do you stay in contact? Who would you like to find?
I stay in contact with David Bratton and Nelson Rice ’87. They (and Dave’s wife, Alison) come to our house a couple times a year. I also run into Nancy Tallman Schlegel ’87 on a fairly frequent basis. It was great running into Emelie Seip Swackhamer ’86 at the 2003 Pennsylvania Farm Show. I would love to hear from David Southworth ’88 and John Magac ’87.
Tell us about your family.
My partner, Paul, and I have been together for over eight years. We own a house just outside Harrisburg. We spend a weekend every month back in my hometown and enjoy spending time with our diverse network of friends.
What other activities or organizations were you involved with during college?
I was involved with Ag Student Council and SIE, an honors society.
Did you live in the house? If so, who were your roommates?
Yes, with Doug Hershberger, Bill Seipt ’88, Greg Harding ’89, Puff, Dave Southworth, Dale Persing ’88, Charlie Brummer ’86, etc.
What do you do for a living?
I work for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture as a marketing specialist, with primary responsibility for aquaculture and starting up new programs.
What affiliations do you currently have and/or public service do you participate in?
I am a member of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, a director and past president of the National Association of State Aquaculture Coordinators, chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Invasive Species Workgroup and a member of the National Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. I volunteer as an agricultural adviser to the Milton Hershey School’s Agriculture and Environmental Education Program.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
Gardening, cooking, reading, antiquing and restoring our 1920 Craftsman bungalow.
What are your goals for the next few years?
To get through law school at Widener University and start my own practice. Maybe invest in a restaurant or retail candy shop. Having fun and enjoying life!