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.
Mike Walsh (1978-1980 – ELC) (1980-1990 – Assistant Executive Director)
Mike Walsh, Miami-Ohio, lives in Suwanee, Ga. with wife Carolyn, South Florida, and younger son, Kevin – their eldest son, Patrick lives in Little Rock. He has served as a DD and on several Deltasig committees, including the Pandemic Long-Term Planning Task Force. Walsh has several fond memories of his years as a consultant, including being offered a gin and tonic by the dean of the San Francisco business school while attempting to contact chapter officers; a tour of waterfalls, caves and a volcano while visiting the colony that would become the Hawaii-Hilo chapter; and showing up to a Babson chapter business meeting in a suit while the chapters members conducted their meeting from the foosball table. The role taught him the importance of planning, preparation and understanding that you must always be flexible in your planning when something, inevitably, changes. Walsh’s favorite part of the job was meeting people from all across the country, some of who are lifelong friends. “Certainly, being afforded the opportunity to travel to many different states and cities was attractive. I’ve visited 47 states and all the larger cities in the U.S., as well as many small or remotely located towns and cities such as Portales, NM; Wayne, Neb; Clinton, MS; Kingsville, Texas; and Troy, Ala, all of which I would have otherwise never visited.”
Currently “semi-retired”, Walsh provides volunteer consulting to several associations. Over the past 25 years, he’s served as the CEO/executive director to several non-profit associations. Walsh’s years as a consultant provided him with a good understanding of the various types of non-profit associations and foundations, their structures and the relationships among staff, leadership, individuals and chapters. “Strategic goals of increased membership, education, communication and networking, leadership development and advocacy are, to some degree, part of every association and Delta Sigma Pi is no different.”
After completing his role as chapter consultant in 1980, Walsh became Assistant Executive Director. Brother Walsh was responsible for communications including the former Manual for Pledge Education (now The Crown & Delta), creating new recruitment material, serving as the managing editor of The Deltasig, assisting with chapter expansion efforts, and more. While he was on staff, he was directly involved with the installation of 13 of 40 Fraternity chapters installed and attended six Grand Chapter Congresses and over 25 regional/leadership conferences—often presenting training and orientation programs there. Walsh also represented the Fraternity on the Board of Directors (with ED Bill Schilling) of what is now called the Fraternity Communications Association (FCA).
According to Walsh, “My time on staff provided me with a much greater understanding of the scope of the Fraternity’s programs and operations. This understanding and experience provided me with a strong foundation later in my non-profit association management career as executive director/CEO of four different professional and trade associations.”
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