Page 1 - Gamma Mu News - Summer 2017

Gamma Mu Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity | University of Illinois | Summer 2017
Alumni Relations Office | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366

From the Alumni Alumni Spotlight: Pete Solvik ’81

President Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining the Spotlight on Pete

Solvik ’81. When we last spoke with Pete, he was working as senior vice president
and chief information officer at Cisco Systems. Today, Pete is managing director at
“PLUS ONE” San Francisco-based Jackson Square Ventures, with offices in San Francisco. He is
also a managing director of Sigma Partners in funds 6, 7, and 8. He is chairman of
the board of the nonprofit WildAid, and previously served as chair of the board of the
So many things Athenian School. He has been a board director of 20 public and private companies,
have happened at our and has experience chairing audit, compensation, nominating, and governance
committees. Pete was named to the CIO 100 four times by CIO Magazine, and
house since our last was chosen as one of “the 25 most powerful executives in networking.” He has been
update thats it’s hard quoted in articles in Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, the Economist,
to know where to start. the New York Times, and CIO Magazine, and has been keynote speaker at over
Most important has to 50 industry conferences on the internet. An active alumni member, Pete served as
be our ownership of the commencement speaker at the Illinois College of Business in 2012. He is also on the advisory board of the University of
Illinois Round Table. We are proud to Spotlight Pete and to share more about him with you.
house is PLUS ONE!
One more ownership
share has been donated back to the house, I was born in Ohio, and my parents both Sigma Nu house, and hosted a lot of parties. I was
making Gamma Mu of Sigma Nu a two- moved to the U.S. from Norway, so I’m a first a deejay, and had the help of a friend from another
thirds owner! Our chapter is firmly in control born American. I’m from a middle-of-the-road fraternity who, along with a few others, including
of our property. Additionally, we are internally upbringing, typical family. I grew up in Ohio, that’s Brad Rahn ’80—still a friend of mine—helped out
refinancing the mortgage, substantially why I went to the university. The University of with the business.
lowering the operating costs. This will allow Illinois is a great public school. I didn’t know what I wanted to major in, so I
us more control over the operating budget and Sigma Nu had a very diverse group of people— chose business, majoring in information systems.
daily operations. some were into sports, or other activities, they I quickly gravitated toward computer science. I
Equally important has to be the upgrades welcomed everyone. Gamma Mu didn’t require that was the one of the first graduates from Illinois in
to our kitchen. New ceiling, windows, and everyone be from the same mold, or be cut from the this field. I went into the IT field for my career
hand sink were completed to comply with ever same cloth. The university was huge, and I pledged as it evolved. This was before the PC came out.
more strict health codes. Also added were two alone as a freshman, without any of my friends from You could check your credit card statement on a
new (refurbished) refrigerators, new freezer, high school. Everyone sort of went their own way. computer, and checking account balance—but that
serving buffet, and ice serving machine, all was about it at the time.
to comply with new health serving codes. There weren’t a lot of job opportunities because
We also improved the food service by adding my type of degree was unique. I moved to Dallas
another hot meal and improved the menu. for a job working as a systems analyst at Texas
Another plus: new deluxe Pella windows Instruments. I stayed there for about a year before
in the “moose” room. These were moved up coming to the realization that I didn’t want to
on the priority list when two of them literally work for a giant company. An opportunity became
fell apart. On tap for this summer are more available for a position with Apple Computers.
new windows. The house desperately needs I moved out to California, and worked with the
over 30—yes, 30—windows replaced. Some company as it grew for 11 years.
are barely functional and more are falling Pete was interviewed by Cromwell Schubarth for After I moved to Silicon Valley, I was recruited by
apart, so we are starting an annual program to Silicon Valley Business Journal in an article about Cisco. My first job title was director of information
address this need. This year we can only afford the creation of Sigma West. technology. At this point, everyone had a personal
nine new replacements. See our “needs” list computer, but email was just becoming common.
and consider adopting your room’s window! I moved into the house as a sophomore and lived We were one of the first companies that had
More pluses: code requirements necessitate there for two years. We were a thriving fraternity. email addresses for everyone at the company. The
a complete repaint of the fire escape, so we They encouraged everyone to do their own thing. internet was moving from government-only use to
have taken the opportunity to change the fire I ran a business—a mobile disco—as a student. We something that anyone could access. The first web
engine red color to a more pleasing brick shade played at homecoming, and at different fraternities browser, Mosaic, was invented at the University of
around campus. We used our equipment at the
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