Page 1 - Gamma Tauk - Fall 2015

Georgia Institute of Technology | Gamma Tau Fiji Graduates Association | Alumni Offce | P.O. Box 80828 | Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | www.GTFijiGrads.com | Fall 2015 alumni From the Graduates Spotlight Marc D. Perla ’92 association Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re Dear Gamma shining the Spotlight on House Corporation President, Marc Perla ’92. Marc was instrumental as House Tau Brothers, Corporation President in providing funding for the feasibility study and the capital campaign effort. From he chapter is having the hometown of Moorestown, NJ, Marc not only earned another outstanding year his degree in mechanical engineering after coming to Tand they deserve our Tech, but has contributed to the Chapter ever since graduate support. They have being an active and has never stopped. He served as established several new and unique programs Graduate Relations Chairman for two years, Recording this year. They invited a number of successful Secretary, and has continued to serve as a member of the younger and older graduates to hold a series of Board of Chapter Advisors member after graduation. He was eventually elected as Chairman of the Board sessions on Sunday evenings to discuss how to and then became President of the House Corporation. be successful in life after Ga Tech. They also are Additionally, he is the founder and owner of Sorbent starting a mentoring program where graduates Technologies, Inc., a specialty chemicals company are paired with undergrads to provide a resource located in Norcross, GA. Marc and his wife Corinne are for good advice as they progress through Ga the proud parents of their four year old daughter, Mia. Corinne, Mia, and Marc. Tech and prepare to go out into the world. If you are interested in participating in either of Why have you remained so involved with having a plethora of mechanical engineering jobs, these programs, please let me know and I can put the fraternity after all these years? so it was diffcult to fnd something that matched you in touch with the chapter. Now that most of us my background. I temporarily worked for my have fulflled our capital campaign pledge, we now I was always an active brother in the fraternity. brother-in-law who owned seven retail stores as have the opportunity to support the chapter through as an undergraduate I served as Graduate I continued my job search. our annual Fund. as they say, there is strength in relations chairman for two years. Then I was numbers. If a signifcant number of us participate elected as recording Secretary. Throughout How did you transition into the specialty in the annual Fund, it will quickly become a those years I attended Bca meetings where I chemicals industry? substantial fnancial resource to the chapter. enjoyed interacting with graduate brothers, so It just so happened that one of the store’s You can make a one-time contribution or a it was easy for me to continue doing so after customers owned a small specialty chemical recurring monthly gift to the annual Fund. The graduating. Shortly thereafter I became Bca company. In talking with him I learned that recurring monthly gifts can be in any amount but chairman and helped guide the chapter through he was looking to hire an engineer to help with we are suggesting $20.26, $18.48, or $8.41. The the 1996 Olympics years. In 2000 I was asked the development of novel catalysts. He agreed amount of $20.26 is in recognition of the 100th to become president of the House corporation, to bring me in for an interview and he later anniversary of the chapter in 2026 which will be which is what I’ve been doing ever since. made me a job offer. Isn’t it funny how things here before you know it! annual Fund gifts can be After graduation, what did you do? occur in life? I worked for this new company made through the Phi Gamma Delta educational for six years and played a key role in helping it Foundation as tax-deductible gifts to the Georgia I rejected a job opportunity in Philadelphia because grow from fve to ffty people at which time in Tech cHeF. Instructions and more information I didn’t want to leave atlanta. I really liked 2000 I left to start my own company. may be found on our GTFijiGrads.com web living here. My older sister was living here and site. Please join me and other loyal brothers I enjoyed spending time with her and her family. What inspired you to start your own who are supporting the chapter fnancially - and as many of you know, atlanta is not known for company? remember, every gift counts! I’ve always had an entrepreneurial We have identifed april 16, 2016 as the date spirit. I think I inherited it from my of our annual Norris Pig Dinner. This year we parents and grandparents who were are honored to have Brother Dick Wells ’67 as small business owners as well. In my our keynote speaker. Dick has had a varied and situation, the company was hiring new fascinating career after graduating from Ga Tech as executive-level personnel and they had an aerospace engineer and is currently a successful implemented a management style which and popular leadership consultant. Find out more I felt was unfavorable for growing about Dick at his web site: Hard-lessons.com. the company. I decided to leave and and, please mark april 16, 2016 on your calendar. formed a company called Sorbent Fraternally, Technologies, Inc. with a colleague. We are now in our sixteenth year. about a year after having resigned, I Marc and Corinne found out that the old company fled for Greg robbins ’68 enjoying a sunny chapter 7 bankruptcy. I guess you can chairman day at Antibes, say I left at the right time. France. Gamma Tau Fiji Graduates association Perla (continued on Page 4)