What do a senior analyst, registered nurse, global lead solutions engineer, former CEO/executive director, senior account manager, firm administrator and business development manager have in common? Besides all being brothers, they all served Delta Sigma Pi as an educational and leadership consultant (ELC).
Historically, ELCs spent the majority of their time visiting and offering guidance and training to our collegiate chapters. While the visiting has become mostly virtual this year, the sharing of information and advice remains central to the role. Other duties include corresponding to collegiate and alumni members, regalia inventory/repair, conducting
reviews of the Pledge Education Program/chapter bylaws/policies, giving office tours, helping manage conferences, maintaining and updating informational resources and handouts and assisting other Central Office staff members.
Rich Garber (1983-1985)
Rich Garber, Indiana, lives in Broadview Heights, Ohio, with wife Becca. His son, Harrison, is an initiate of Gamma Psi Chapter at Arizona. He looks back at his time on staff with fond memories. “As an ELC, you never know when some small idea you throw out might be the one nugget of information utilized to create lasting positive change. That is very gratifying.” He also learned valuable life lessons. “Almost every chapter will say they have problems with recruiting, fundraising, participation, etc. While every chapter will have these issues to some extent, the chapters that succeed are those open to outside input and willing to challenge their existing norms in pursuit of improvement.” And those whose members are clear on their roles! “At a chapter that will remain unnamed, I started the Executive Committee meeting by asking those present to go around the table giving me their names and position. As one individual introduced themself as the chapter’s senior vice president, I heard a voice from the other end of the room exclaim, ‘You’re the SVP? I thought I was the SVP!’ At that moment, I realized it would be a long meeting.”
Rich is now retired, but says his years as a consultant prepared him for his most recent job as a business development manager with Avery Dennison. “As an ELC, I was required, on a daily basis, to go into a situation where I knew no one, quickly establish rapport, understand the existing issues, determine which ones were most critical, and then speak for 30-60 minutes offering my recommendations, with the intent of leaving the chapter with a recipe for positive change. Throughout my professional career, I was required to do much of the same.”
(Fun fact: In 2015, due to a vacancy on staff, Garber was given the opportunity to temporarily return to the ELC role! “It was gratifying to see firsthand the impact of Deltasig’s educational programs over the past 30 years. Our chapters are now much better prepared to compete against other business organizations on their campus and better equipped to be of service to their communities and provide benefits to our members,” says Garber.)
Delta Sigma Pi is always looking for qualified alumni to serve as ELCs! If you’re looking for a fun way to give back to the Fraternity, travel the United States, and gain great professional experience, this program is for you! For more details, or to apply, contact Associate Director of Chapter Services Tyler Havens (
havens@dsp.org or 513-523-1907 x221).
By: Stacy Heyderhoff,
Cincinnati Alumni