Page 3 - The Tech Teke

Alumni Spotlight
John Carter ’69
Editors Note: Since 1999, John has served
as the President and Chief Operating Officer
of the Georgia Tech Foundation. The
Foundation has assets of $1.65 billion and he
oversees a staff of 29. John graduated with
a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and
served six years in Navy following graduation.
He owner his own executive search firm before
joining the Georgia Tech Alumni Association
and ultimately the Foundation. Read more . . .
Q: What brought you to the TKE house back
in college?
Coming to Georgia Tech was a big thing for
a boy from Charleston, South Carolina and
being part of fraternity life seemed like the
thing to do. Glen Geiger ’68, who was a
brother at Beta-Pi and was from Charleston,
reached out to me during the summer before
fall quarter and invited me drop by the TKE
house. The rest is history.
Q: How were you involved with the chapter
over the duration of school?
My primary role was that of pledge trainer
during my sophomore year. I also represented
Beta-Pi at the annual conclave the year Beta-
Pi won the Top TKE Chapter Award.
Q: Do you have any fond memories and do
you stay in touch with any Fraters from your
era?
I have many fond memories, mostly of the
times spent with chapter activities including
rush, homecoming, and social events. I also
have memories that weren't so fond but those
were all in the classroom. The friendships I
established with my Teke brothers have only
gotten stronger over the past 45 plus years.
I stay in touch with at least 25 of them on
a routine basis. What is so great about the
friendships is the respect we have for each
other. It seems the longer we have been
"out" of Georgia Tech, the closer we are. The
Internet has made it so much easier to stay in Endowed Scholarship Fund that will provide
touch especially when there is an opportunity
to poke fun at somebody. Somehow this group
of Tekes hasn't lost its sense of humor.
Q: How did being a part of the chapter help
your leadership skills?
Being a Beta-Pi brother taught me the meaning
of teamwork. It seemed that everything we
did was for the greater good of the chapter
and not any individual brother. We took great
pride in what we could accomplish as a team
and were extremely successful in whatever we
undertook whether it was a focus on campus
or community activities or competing with
other Teke chapters on a national basis.
Q: After graduation, what path led you to
working for the GA Tech Foundation?
The genesis of my coming back to Georgia Tech
to work was my passion for the place and that
passion started with the fraternity. My campus
life began with fraternity rush and evolved
over the next five years: yes, five years, much
to the chagrin of my NROTC Commander.
After "getting out", there were six years in
the Navy, seven years in the executive search
business and that passion for Georgia Tech
jumped up and grabbed me. Before I knew
it, I was back on the Flats of North Avenue
working at the Alumni Association. From
there, I joined the Georgia Tech Foundation in
my current position and am having the time
of my life. It is really a great feeling to wake and I have pledged to provide an endowed
up in the morning without the assistance of an
alarm clock knowing that your day at work is
going to be a rewarding one.
Q: How do the Beta-Pi Tekes benefit from
the GA Tech Foundation?
The Foundation has a John A. Reagan ’71
an annual scholarship in excess of $1000
to a Beta-Pi brother. This
scholarship was totally funded
by John’s Beta-Pi brothers in
recognition of his 30 plus years
of service to the Tekes. Beta-
Pi brothers may donate to this
existing fund or create one of
their own by contacting the
Georgia Tech Foundation. Also,
the Foundation is working with
the Beta-Pi House Corporation
to establish a means by which
alumni can contribute to the
Foundation to support the
funding for the new house
construction. John, his wife Susan, with their favorite mascot. “One day
Q: What drives you to take on I’ll wear that suit!”
so much responsibility?
To quote my mentor, Shirley Mewborn,
EE56 and first women to be President of the
GT Alumni Association, "For those to whom
much has been given, much is expected". By
any measure, I have been given my fair share
of opportunities and it is now time for me to
do my part.
Q: What role do you see the “A Vision of
Tomorrow Campaign” playing in the future
for Beta-Pi?
It is important for the brothers of the
undergraduate Beta-Pi chapter to experience
the best that Georgia Tech has to offer and
a major part of that experience is the day to
day living environment the fraternity offers.
“The Vision of Tomorrow Campaign” will
help provide the brothers with a modern, up to
date fraternity house for many years to come,
and will enable the chapter to continue to be
a leader on the Tech campus in what it offers
the brothers . . . and it won't hurt during rush
either!
Q: How were you inspired to financially
support the current needs of Beta-Pi?
Having grown up with modest means, I would
not have been able to attend Georgia Tech
and become a Beta-Pi brother if it were not
for a scholarship. I want to provide that same
opportunity for others to attend Tech and join
our fraternity. Therefore, my wife, Susan,
scholarship that will go to a Beta-Pi brother
who has financial need. In my opinion, it is
important to give back and stay involved so
other young men have the same opportunity
to experience the Beta-Pi family and Tech life
as I did.
SEE CARTER, continued on page 6
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