Page 1 - The Rhomer - Spring 2015

Spring 2015 | Sigma Alpha Mu, University of Illinois | Alumni Relations Offce | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | 770-903-3987 From the President Alumni Spotlight “The fraternity has enriched my life in ways I could have never imagined.” – Gary Kash A Sammy Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining Day in the Spotlight on Gary Kash ’75. Champaign From the hometown of Chicago, Gary came to Illinois as a legacy – September 12, 2015 of SAM in pursuit of his degree in advertising. As an active member of Rho, Gary served the chapter as Calling All Alumni! Rush Chairman, and later on, just as his older brother, Arvin “Rick” Gary G. Kash ’75 ho Corporation and the Kash ’63, he served as Prior. After RChapter are planning a full graduation, a short career in sales day of activities in Champaign led Gary back to school for his for all alumni and their families. MBA in marketing at the University of Chicago. He then went on to work with companies such as General Below is a tentative working Foods, Kellogg’s, Kraft, and the Maxwell House brand before eventually becoming Founder & President schedule for the day; we are Emeritus of Insights in Marketing. Gary, freshly retired from active management of IIM, now lectures on key still in the planning stages and marketing topics, most recently at Morgan Stanley and Medill/Northwestern School of Journalism. Gary welcome all input and ideas. serves as Trustee and is Capital Fundraising Chairman of The Center for Enriched Living, a charity he co- founded in 1984 focused on enriching lives of people with developmental disabilities. He is also a Board 10:00 am - 12:00 Noon: Director for a large charitable foundation and advisor to many. Outside of work, Gary enjoys spending time Small group meetings between with his wife of seven years, Lori, and his daughter Marlene, his son-in-law Alex, and granddaughter Riley. members and alumni regarding Gary just started taking yoga and blues harmonica lessons; he enjoys bike riding, and volunteers within the a number of important topics – community on two additional charity boards. Last summer he and Lori hiked the Swiss Alps, hiked and biked pledgeship, respect for the house, in the Canadian Rockies, and are planning a hiking trip to Glacier National Park in Montana. managing the house budget, etc. with bagels, coffee, etc. This is alumni and members only. These What led you to join Sigma Alpha Mu? After graduation, what did working in sales meetings are intended to provide Several factors led me to join Sammys. First, teach you? the current members access to my older brother Rick (Arvin) was Prior of the I sold electrical conduit right out of college and, alumni with knowledge, stories house when I was in grade school and I had great on a professional basis, it taught me the critical and information to make them memories visiting for Mom’s and Dad’s Day importance of understanding customers’ needs and better Rho Sammies. weekends with my parents. Then, my freshman superior customer service. On a more personal 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm: Outside year I was living in the dorms and though I made basis, it informed me about me. Specifcally, (weather permitting) family- great friends, they were from southern Illinois my job entailed being personable and, in those friendly BBQ lunch at the house and I wanted to expand my group of friends back days it meant bringing customers doughnuts for (hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie home. The House obviously attracted men from breakfast, a drinking “lunch” and telling a lot burgers, etc.) the Chicago of jokes. I learned I needed more intellectual The ping pong table area. Then, stimulation. So, in spite of early successes in 1:45 pm - 4:45 pm: was in the basement there was the sales, including promotions, I chose to go back to leading to the • 3-on-3 basketball tournament dining room… opportunity school for an MBA at The University of Chicago. to have a at the Sammy court Gary with a great social How did you get a job with General Foods • Horse tournament at the different kind of experience (which later merged with Kraft) and what did Sammy court Sammy paddle and sports life you do? • Round Robin Sammy in 1974. along with Attending the University of Chicago was key as academics. football tournament featuring F i n a l l y , GF only recruited for marketing/brand management eras vs. eras h a v i n g positions from 6 MBA programs across the country. I was also lucky as I was chosen to be in one of • Explore the campus with rushed other the frst classes in the country giving students your family (yes, families houses, I hands-on marketing experience as “new product are invited if you wanted to clicked with consultants” for an actual client (Kraft). I still bring the Mrs. and the kids – the Sammys recall the GF recruiter taking notes as I told him let them see where you used and when how my class experience could parlay to success to live) I put it all in brand management. I worked in the Maxwell together it felt House Division and responsibilities included sales President (Continued on Page 4) like home. Kash (Continued on Page 4)