Page 1 - Marching Along Winter 2015-16

P. 1

MARCHING ALONG

PresidentFrom the Alumni Association SpoAtlliugmhnt:i Ben Artis ’05

Idaho Legacy by Fred Wallrapp ’79

reetings to all en Artis ’05 always knew he would be Gamma Xi have helped him professionally
a Beta. His dad had been a member of since leaving Gainesville.
Gmy Beta brothers Beta Theta Pi in Moscow – Moscow
Idaho, that is, at the University of Idaho. The Upon graduation, Ben accepted a position
from Gainesville! Gamma Gamma chapter there, founded in with Whirlpool Corporation in Houston, TX.
1914, is actually older than our Gamma Xi He was then promoted to a role in Chicago
BYou will be happy to chapter at UF; Beta didn’t arrive at UF until where he lives today. During his time at
1930. Ben is one of our younger alumni Whirlpool he has held a number of interesting
know that the men of spotlights. He is the first who started at UF roles. One allowed him to develop the go-to-
the Gamma Xi chapter in this millennium. He grew up in Tampa. As market strategy for the then newly formed
are working hard a freshman, Ben was living in Beaty Towers Proctor & Gamble/Whirlpool joint venture.
and doing well. The when he rushed Beta. While he was inclined In this role he secured two critical marketing
chapter was honored to pledge Beta, he was very impressed by the launch partners for the joint venture’s first
to earn their first-ever John Riley friendly and well-rounded guys he met there. product launch, Swash. Swash is an in-home
Knox Chapter Excellence Award at Ben and all three of his roommates pledged. device that allows you to refresh clothes in 10
the General Convention last summer He has many great memories from his time minutes. Whirlpool designed the Swash device
in Orlando. On the UF campus, Beta in Beta as an undergrad. Some of his favorites and P&G developed the consumable pods used
men rank high in academics and include pickup basketball games behind the in the machine. Part of Ben’s responsibilities
athletics, and are prominent in Student fraternity house, floating Ginnie Springs in included overseeing the development of the
Government and the Florida Blue Key the summer, and Beta road trips to see the product website and executing the channel
leadership honorary. Gators take on Auburn, Tennessee, and South marketing efforts within Bloomingdale’s and
They also have a very successful Carolina in football. Best Buy.
annual philanthropy event, Beta Bring As a brother, Ben served the chapter as
It On. Their GPA is 3.387, 7th highest both pledge trainer and social chair. One Ben is currently a Senior Manager for
among the 25 IFC fraternities. You know fun tradition he started as social chair was Strategic Partnerships within Whirlpool’s
they are smart when they are carrying Beta Ski Lodge. An idea borrowed from the newly formed Smart Home division. In
their GPA out to three decimal places! Betas at Auburn, Ski Lodge is now an annual his current job, he oversees all partnership
Beta is one of the largest and most event that involves bringing snow indoors strategy for Whirlpool’s WiFi-enabled
respected houses on campus, with 35 and dressing for fun on the slopes. Ben kitchen and laundry appliances. His
new brothers being initiated during the graduated with a degree in marketing, but work includes product integrations with
fall semester. They currently have 14 he also studied and performed improvised Google’s Nest Thermostat and an upcoming
spring pledges. What, you may ask, is theater while at UF. To this day he enjoys integration with Amazon in which Whirlpool
their secret to success rushing? Some performing improvised theater and has washers, dryers, and dishwashers will be
found the ability to “improvise” is a valuable able to automatically order more supplies
Bpeople think it is due to the practice of skill to have in business and in life. During like detergent and dryer sheets when the
Θ Πserving Chick-fil-A every night during our recent conversation he spoke of his time appliances detect you are running low. Ben’s
efforts in this role landed him in the June
rush week. Yes, they do that, and no one
ever complains. While that makes rush
fun, the real reason they have been able
to attract large numbers of new members
is that they have created a culture of

President (Continued on Page 6) in Gainesville. “I was lucky to have been at
UF when I was.
Two football and
two basketball
national
championships
made it a very
special time for
me.” Seeing
Heisman
Trophy winner
Tim Tebow zip
around campus
on his scooter is
another lasting
memory. He
feels the lessons
The Brothers of Gamma Xi proudly stand with our first John Riley Knox award, he learned at
Artis (Continued on Page 6)
received at the 176th convention in Orlando.

1 2 3 4 5 6