Cal Delta Spotlight

USC House Corporation of Phi Delta Theta | Spring 2014 | University of Southern Alumni Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | www.phideltatheta-caldelta.com

Alumni From the Editor: For this edition of the newsletter, USC House Spotlight: we’re shining the Cal Delta Spotlight on our brother Michael McDonald ’87. From the hometown of Fullerton in Orange Corporation County, CA, Mike has made a career in acting, and as a comedian with specialties in sketch and stand-up comedy. He A Word From Our President: is also an accomplished writer, director, and producer. Mike’s A Message of Thanks resume includes projects such as MADtv, Scrubs, , and 2013’s second-highest-grossing hy do we comedy, The Heat. A one-time loan officer, W feel such a Mike found his calling after visiting L.A.’s connection to Phi Groundling Theater with a friend. Starting Delta Theta? Is off with the Groundling Improv Program it the memories from 1992 to 1997, Mike has gone on to of the best years work with some of the biggest names in of our youth? the business. Read on to find out more! The life-long friendships? The top-grade young men in the House today? Michael J. McDonald ’87 These days I’m focused on another evidence of your work. A script may just be reason: the generosity of so many What was being a part of Cal Delta like for you back in school? gathering dust on a shelf, but you can dust it off who care about the house. Since the anytime and send it to people anytime. I had an Securing Our Legacy fundraising Hazy - due to the fact that it was a million years ago and I drank a lot of beer. instance where something I wrote ten years earlier campaign began a year ago, it has got made. It was a drama that didn’t get been humbling to see so many alumni picked up, but now I have a DVD as evidence... step up to pay down the mortgage What experience in improv convinced you that you had made the right career move? so there. With acting, you could have the most debt on the house. To these brothers, amazing moment on stage and it evaporates into we sincerely say that everyone who Probably the time I got to improvise with . I joined (an improv the ether the minute the lights go out. Another cares about the house owes you our good thing about writing is you can do it on your gratitude and admiration. troupe in ) where Phil had been a member several years before. I was asked to do own, anytime, anywhere, whereas acting requires It was a wise man who said, “One other actors, a venue and an audience willing man gives freely, yet gains even a fundraiser with Phil and some other amazing Groundlings - Tim Stack, , Mindy to pay to see you. more.” Abundance has a way of flowing to the generous giver, and Sterling. Dennis Miller (not a Groundling) we certainly wish a full measure of performed too. I got to do scenes with all of Is it difficult this sublime result for our generous these comedy idols of mine and, after the show, to work in a alumni. Phil Hartman said I was funny. To be validated creative group by a hero... it was just the best. environment? The campaign is scheduled to I prefer end soon, and we promise a strong How do you prepare for a role? i m p r o v i s i n g closing push to bring every alum an with a group to opportunity to pay down our debt I n t h e beginning, I’d go all out to study people in real life, even if I didn’t have a role to any other form and put the house on a sustainable of creativity. financial path over the long term. prepare for. It was just in case I’d have to prepare for a role. It was a real slow start for me, so I had It’s the most There is good news as well about collaborative other aspects of our chapter. Spring lots of spare time to walk around Venice Beach and observe people. I had a fascination with thing there is. rush concluded in January with When you are an outstanding pledge class of 15 freaks and weirdos. Nowadays, I still prepare... but I wait for the job offer to come first. working with a Phikeia. Going into this school year, group you can we knew that the house would have trust, there is no a large graduating class of seniors. Are your parts often meant to be scene stealers, or is that all you? better feeling. But thanks to the success of fall and But improvising spring rush, the chapter will start next I’ve never set out to “steal a scene.” I (like most actors) look for the part that strikes me as most on stage pays year with more members than the 112 zero dollars. it had going into this year. And for interesting, or the one that I relate to the most. Whenever an actor does that, they tend to give So I have to a look at the quality of the actives, s u p p l e m e n t read the Chapter Spotlight article their best performance. that with TV on page two about Will Jameson, and Film work. Mike and his co-star Sandra Bullock who is running his own company What aspect of writing do you enjoy in headed into a meeting in LA for their Those are also movie The Heat. comparison to acting? USC House (Continued on Page 4) A great thing about writing is, you always have McDonald (Continued on Page 4)

Chapter News President’s Message comfortably above the been incredibly successful in finding new Greek male average as ways to bring us together as a house while s Spring break is upon us, we all begin well as the all-school raising morale. This includes our brotherhood A to look forward: to finals, to summer average. retreat to Big Bear for a weekend of skiing internships, to graduation and to the jobs that We started a new at the start of the semester as well as many lie beyond. I find Spring the best time to look philanthropy this semester, casual days enjoying the volleyball and at where we have been and examine where Phi Delt Puppies. We basketball courts in the backyard. we are headed next. were lucky enough to As graduation becomes clearer and clearer I have been lucky enough in my first months have the humane society on the horizon, we find ourselves facing many as president of California Delta to witness the donate ten puppies for an afternoon in which bittersweet moments. With every award our momentum those before worked so hard to members of every sorority came over for seniors win, such as Brenton Caldwell being create, continue. We could not be prouder of brunch and great photo ops with the dogs. Not named Mr. USC, and every amazing job the 19 members of the Pi pledge class who only was it a great opportunity to continue our opportunity those graduating earn, such as joined us as active brothers last November. longstanding commitment to raising money in John Rising being hired to work on Virgin’s Four members of the pledge class immediately the fight against ALS, it also allowed us to show domestic space shuttle, we know they are one stepped into roles as officers in the house. off our house, which continues to be the nicest step closer to leaving us. As excited as we are Jack Ellis, Alex Budde, Will Jameson and fraternity house on the row. for all the success our seniors are finding in Kyle McAllister took over as chairmen of Our social calendar has never been fuller. the post-grad world, we are never quite ready Risk Management, Philanthropy, House Ranging from casual dinners at the house for them to leave our ranks as active brothers Management and Athletics, respectively. with nearly every sorority to Hermosa Beach and join yours as alumni. With a current Phikeia class of fifteen, we are days to a large-scale country themed party Thankfully, we know they have left a excited to maintain our status as one of the larger off campus coming at the end of March, we legacy and foundation that will allow us to fraternities on the row. However, with larger have had quite the start of the semester. All continue to grow as a chapter both in number numbers come greater chances for members of this is possible thanks to the outstanding and brotherhood. to slip through the cracks academically. As a work and commitment put in by our social Yours in the Bond, result, I couldn’t be prouder to announceΦΔΘ that chairmen, Tay Vaughn and Zak Kolkey. our chapter GPA is the highest it has been since On top of social events with sororities, our I joined the house at 3.28. Our GPA places us brotherhood chairman, Ryan Bernstein, has Calum Hayes

Chapter Spotlight: William Jameson, Jr.

Editor’s Note: Representing our chapter as Spotlight is Will Jameson Jr. A little about Will…he is our current House Manager, he is working towards his degree in Business Administration, and he is bilingual in Spanish. With six years of experience in landscaping, he is already ahead of the game as founder of his own company, WJ Landscape Maintenance, Inc. While home in Pasadena, CA, Will enjoys wake boarding at the lake with and family. And with a trip to Australia coming up soon with his class, he is sure to have a productive freshman year. Read on to find out more!

What has your experience as a new our sand volleyball court, we look forward to I attribute most of my success to support from member of Cal Delta been like this year? redesigning the Egyptian room to a casual, my first customers as well as commitment After being initiated, I was immediately relaxing lounge for brothers, as well as from the men that work for me. By taking taken in with open arms by the brothers, adding new exercise equipment and possibly the time to get to know all of my clients on entering a close-knit family that made a a flagpole in the front yard. However, a lack a personal level, I gained their trust to take large university feel smaller. From attending of finances and knowledge limits our chapter charge of managing their property, proving basketball games to weekend trips to the from implementing great ideas like these. We to them that my age had no relation to my beach or mountains, I have had some of look to our alumni for support in these areas. company’s capabilities. Similarly, the close the greatest experiences with my brothers bond I have with my team allows me to be both on and off campus. One of my favorite How did your landscaping business a full time student, as they work on the front qualities of Cal Delta is the fact that everyone become so successful? lines daily, continuing to perform at the level effortlessly switches gears from playing hard From growing a one-man, weekend I expect of them. to studying hard, and I find great motivation operation into a fulltime crew of eight, Jameson (Continued on Page 4) surrounding myself with such exciting, driven people. I can’t wait for the next three years in Cal Delta.

As our current House Manager, what needs does the chapter house typically have that alumni should know about? There are a lot of opportunities to make the house better than when I began here. As a chapter, we have some pretty amazing ideas to put our mark on the house. After completing Will and the WJ Landscape Maintenance, Inc. crew. Alumni News Securing Our Legacy

(From left to right) Brothers Brandon Kisch, Bruce Buettell ’82, and Bill Lieberg ’80 enjoying the Homecoming booth.

Initiation Party - Spring 1981 ince our last Cal Delta reached our $500,000 goal. SSpotlight, the Securing If you are a Brother who has Our Future campaign has seen yet to make a commitment, a good number of Brothers we still need your support! make the commitment to take Please consider joining the part in ensuring that we will other dedicated Brothers who always have a home on USC’s have already done so. We campus! know you too are invested in Long-term chapter financial the future of Cal Delta. security is no easy feat, On a final note, we must and we are thankful for the also express gratitude to our Brothers, and parents, that Brothers who have served have stepped forward to as campaign volunteers over (From left to right) Brothers Blain Skinner ’82, Lance Jensen ’82 and Mike Gundell ’84, at the Homecoming booth in November. We had a terrific turnout of over 80 support this endeavor. As a the past year. They have been alumni who visited the booth before our epic, upset win over Stanford that day. House Corporation Board, we an integral part of campaign work tirelessly to guarantee outreach and the giving of the safety and security of the their time and talents deserves Andy Fong ’82 - I was able to Nice to hear that the house is House for our undergraduate to be acknowledged. visit the house before last fall’s doing so well in all areas. USC-UCLA game. Upon arrival members. By supporting Jeff Griffith ’91 - 2012 Sales the Securing Our Future I was treated like royalty! I was given a tour by one of the current Manager of the year at Baxter campaign, you too have taken BioScience. 2012 Philanthropic part in these efforts. Rush Chairman, Kevin Fohrer. The house looked great, and it Volunteer of the Year - San That being said, with Diego. Congrats Jeff! $390,000 raised, we have not ΦΔΘ brought back many memories. We want to hear from you! Send your personal updates, accomplishments, adventures, and photos to our Account Have Alumni Manager Kasey Breedlove at [email protected], or simply fill out the tear-away form at the bottom of News? your cover letter and return it in the mail. We want to share it in the next issue of The Cal Delta Spotlight!

pecial thanks to Dan Niemann ’81 for to cover the construction bid they had S helping us with the construction our from a contractor. Then Dan got involved. new sand volleyball court completed in the He is a very successful house’s backyard at the beginning of the fall developer who knows semester. The court is beautiful and puts the construction and led Phi Delt House among only three fraternities a team of actives at USC that have a volleyball court. Sorority that built the court girls love to come by and play, and it has themselves for half of been a nice rush tool as well. Dan made a the contractor’s bid. huge contribution in constructing the court, There is no doubt giving generously of his time and expertise. that the without Dan The project had languished for years as the the court wouldn’t be Phi Delta Theta Brothers maintaining up-keep of volley ball court. active chapter tried to raise enough money there today. McDonald (Continued from Page 1) make your point, and then shut up. banking friends who seemed sad for me. Worried I made a mistake. Hung in for years. What do you enjoy doing for fun outside In the end it worked out. If you know in your of work? gut that you want a different life from the one Food, travel, wine. Preferably combining all you’re living...make the change early because three. In a word...Italy. it might take a while.

How do you define success? Finding love, making your parents laugh, maintaining as many old friendships as Mike McDonald ’87 joined the MADtv cast during its fourth season possible, and avoiding debt and tattoos. in 1998, and became the longest-tenured cast member until the end of the thirteenth and penultimate season. He was also a contributing writer and director. What advice can you give our alumni and young actives about making a creative group environments, and they drastic career change and following their can be very frustrating - usually due to the dreams? interference of the network or studio folks. I went to school for business. Got a degree. Luckily, they pay. Got a job as a banker. Hated it. Realized I wanted to work in comedy and switched. Mike (standing) with Phi Delt Brothers back in school at a house How do you push through to be heard? Then had to work as a waiter and serve pasta rented with three Delta Gammas (pictured). Photo provided by Make what you say count. Find your moment, to many former business schoolmates and Gary Paskwietz ’88 (right, red sweatshirt).

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while pursuing his degree at USC. It’s a needs and knows who the quality people remarkable story. are. He had a roofer at the house within Another big step forward comes in three days to fix the leak, which is much the person of Kevin Sweeney, our Phi faster than we could have lined up the Delt brother from DePauw University in repair on our own. Indiana, who is the new property manager The cost for this service will be the of our chapter house. With over 10,000 same as we were previously paying Greek square feet and 40 men living in, it’s a Bill (an online site where live-ins could huge job keeping up with rent payments, pay their rent) for far less value. maintenance, repairs and move-out room If you have any questions or comments Will at a Phi Delt tailgate for the game against Utah State with inspections, just for starters. It had about the house or its finances, I’m always pledge brother Paul Samaha, and friend Sharada Rayan. become clear to the House Corporation fired up to talk Phi Delt. Please contact that professional property management me at [email protected] or Why does real estate development appeal to was a key to taking care of the house in 714-686-7186. you as a career choice? the most organized manner, and Kevin’s After working in the landscape construction firm has a stellar 20 year track record as a industry for five years, I have witnessed how property manager in Southern California. enhancing a property both physically and As an example of the benefits we have Bruce Buettell ’82 aesthetically not only transforms the space, but already seen, after a recent rain we had President also the entire culture that surrounds it. While the a roof leak in a second-floor bathroom. USC Phi Delt House Corporation landscape industry has been incredibly rewarding, House Corporation on its own would I see my next step to be real estate development, have been scrambling trying to get this as it incorporates many of the same principles fixed since we had no relationship with of landscape construction, but on a much larger a roofer. But Kevin’s company routinely scale. Knowing my enjoyment of working with a deals with every type of vendor a property ΦΔΘ client to create or improve a space, I believe that real estate development will offer me an exciting and satisfying career.

What are you looking forward to during your Save-the-Date! trip to Australia? Chapter Grand After both learning and experiencing business We are saddened to learn of the passing 2014 Blue Chip Dinner operations in the U.S., I am excited to see firsthand of the following Cal Delta brothers. how it compares to commerce in Australia. Specifically, I will be interested to see how the Thomas Wickstrom ’53 Australian government is involved in business, if at all. In my opinion, it seems as though I never Gayle Post ’53 hear much about Australia in the media, so I’m excited to see and experience a culture I do not Victor Matloff ’50 Friday evening, September 12, 2014 know that much about. An added bonus will be Location: TBD seeing kangaroos and koalas up close!

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