Page 1 - Eta Survey - Fall 2015

ETA SURVEY Eta Chapter Of Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity | The University Of Illinois | Fall 2015 | P.O. Box 80828 | Atlanta, Georgia 30366 A Letter from the Alumni Spotlight: Mark Paradies ’85 Alumni President Dear Brother, Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining the Spotlight on Brother Mark Paradies. Mark is currently working as President, System Improvements, with his company The TapRooT ® he Eta Building Root Cause Analysis Folks. In his work, Mark is a speaker on Association has root cause analysis, human performance, process/nuclear Tbeen busy since safety, and high reliability systems at a variety of professional the last edition of the Eta society meetings & senior executive gatherings. From the hometown of Piper City, IL, Mark lived in the Eta house for Survey. Over the summer fve years as an active chapter member. He served the chapter we had new carpet installed in the second as Senior Tribune, Social Chair, Pledge Master, Commissar, and third foor halls. We also had these and Custodian. After earning his degree in electrical same halls repainted. The results looked engineering he served in the Navy for fve years before really nice when the guys and their parents returning to school where he earned his master’s degree in arrived to move in. Finally, new furniture nuclear engineering. It was around this time that Mark served will arrive shortly for room 23 (formerly the as the House Corporation President for Eta. Before starting chapter room) in the basement. SI, Mark was a manager at DuPont & an offcer in Admiral In addition to house upgrades, we started Rickover’s Nuclear Navy. Today, he enjoys spending time with Mark and his wife, Linda, have traveled endowing a new (4th) scholarship with his wife Linda and their kids Amy, Josh, Anne, and Alex. extensively (here they are in Italy). the Kappa Delta Rho Foundation. We also paid the fees for the chapter to send an extra delegate to the Williams’ Leadership What did you enjoy most about being an to return to the U of I to be an Assistant Professor Academy in Pittsburgh in August. I am pleased to share that things continue active KDR? of Naval Science. While doing this full-time job I also was a full-time student getting a masters to go well with the chapter. They returned The people! We had a great bunch of brothers. degree in nuclear engineering. with about 60 men to start the fall and I lived in the house for 5 years and enjoyed initiated 21 men on Homecoming weekend. every minute. These new members seem to be a great Why did you go back to school addition to our brotherhood. After graduation, what did you do? for your Master’s Degree? Every now and then a brother will ask, why I was in Navy ROTC while at Illinois and It was a great opportunity provided do we always ask for Annual Fund support? was commissioned after graduating. I by the Navy. As long as I could juggle Why does it matter? I always share that it was accepted into the Admiral Rickover’s my schedule, I could do two full time comes down to the active brothers in the Nuclear Power Program and spent six things at once. The only problem I chapter and the experience and opportunity months at Nuclear Power School in had was once that the Navy said that I we want to help provide for them. With Orlando, and then six months at Nuclear A picture of Mark in could teach at the U of I, I only had two alumni support, we are able to offer good Prototype in Idaho Falls getting qualifed the old days when he weeks to be accepted into a graduate was frst starting his scholarships. This is something we want to run a reactor. I then served aboard USS company (and had an degree program. I frst thought about to continue to grow. While our house was Arkansas and USS Long Beach (both impressive mustache). an MBA, but the business department beautifully renovated, it does take a lot of nuclear powered cruisers). This was all said there was NO WAY they could President (Continued on Page 3) very challenging work with lots of 12-18 hour days even consider an application (lot’s of red tape and little time off. Finally, I had the opportunity involved). But my boss at the time suggested nuclear engineering. I called the department head, explained my qualifcations and time limits, and in a week, I had approval to join the 2015 Active Chapter. Nuclear Engineering Masters Degree program. How did you discover a passion for human factors? I was fying back to Illinois to do a house- hunting tour and picked up a copy of Science to read on the plane. In it there was an article called “Death Sentences” about some research that was done on pilot’s last words (and actions) just before fatal crashes. The article mentioned human factors. Then, I thought I’d Paradies (Continued on Page 4)