Leadership Summit

Successful Join Strategic Plan Meeting Held at 2024 Phi Kappa Theta Leadership Summit

The 2024 Phi Kappa Theta Leadership Summit brought together Phi Kaps from all over the country to take an important step forward in the Joint Strategic Planning (JSP) process and focused on strategic planning, visioning, and setting ambitious goals for the future of the organization. Throughout the weekend, several key themes and action items emerged, reflecting the organization’s commitment to addressing weaknesses, leveraging strengths, and engaging stakeholders in the strategic planning process.

One of the central elements of the summit was the identification of Key Result Areas (KRAs) that would guide the organization’s strategic direction. These KRAs included stewardship, growth, operations, member development, and communication. The document highlights the importance of these KRAs in aligning the organization’s efforts with its strategic objectives. Stewardship was emphasized as a critical area, reflecting the Fraternity’s commitment to responsible and ethical management of resources, including financial, human, and environmental resources.

The focus on growth as a KRA underscored the organization’s ambition to expand its reach, membership, and impact. This included discussions on strategies for attracting external resources, reducing barriers to entry for the Fraternity, and exploring educational grants and non-profit organizations for funding. The summit also emphasized the need to prioritize focus areas and allocate funding for chapter houses, reflecting the Phi Kappa Theta’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for its members.

Operations emerged as another key area of focus, with discussions centered on improving chapter operations, expanding chapter house capacity, and implementing programs to enhance older chapter houses. The emphasis on operations highlighted the Phi Kappa Thetas emphasis on ensuring efficient and effective management of its chapters and resources.

Member development was identified as a critical KRA, reflecting the organization’s focus on nurturing and empowering its members. The document outlines discussions on the Phi Kap Lifelong Member Experience, which aimed to design and implement programs that incorporate servant leadership precepts and training. The emphasis on member development underscored the organization’s commitment to providing ongoing support and opportunities for growth to its members.

Communication was another key area of focus, with the summit highlighting the importance of transparency in communications and the need to improve communication within the organization. The document outlines strategies for re-engaging inactive alumni and improving communication channels to ensure that all stakeholders are informed and engaged in the organization’s activities and initiatives.

In addition to these KRAs, the JSP session at the Leadership Summit also highlighted the organization’s commitment to addressing weaknesses, supporting strengths, and engaging alumni in the strategic planning process. It also aimed to prioritize addressing weaknesses such as the decline curve and the lack of natural presence and communication, which could significantly impact the organization’s future.

The SWOT analysis identified several key strengths of the organization, including its rich heritage, a dedicated network of alumni, and a commitment to servant leadership. These strengths underscored the organization’s solid foundation and the potential for leveraging its heritage and alumni network to drive future growth and impact. Additionally, the analysis highlighted the organization’s strong values and mission, which provided a framework for its strategic planning and decision-making processes.

Conversely, the SWOT analysis also revealed critical weaknesses that required attention. These weaknesses included a decline curve in certain areas, a lack of natural presence and communication, and the need to balance a wide variety of divergent religious & spiritual viewpoints amongst the Fraternity’s membership. The document emphasizes the organization’s commitment to addressing these weaknesses, recognizing their potential impact on the organization’s future and the need for strategic interventions to mitigate them effectively.

Furthermore, the SWOT analysis identified opportunities for the organization, such as increased support for local charities and veteran groups, the potential for partnerships with external organizations, and the opportunity to rekindle certain programs. These opportunities provided a roadmap for the organization to explore new avenues for growth, engagement, and impact, aligning with its strategic objectives and vision for the future.

In addition to opportunities, the SWOT analysis also highlighted potential threats that the organization needed to address. These threats included the risk of becoming an heirloom due to the status quo, as well as external factors that could impact the organization’s operations and growth. The document underscores the importance of developing contingency plans to address these threats and mitigate their potential impact on the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Overall, the work completed by the Joint Strategic Planning Committee at the 2024 Phi Kappa Theta Leadership Summit was a tremendous success. It has set up the JSP well for the next phase of work to move from the assessment phase into the planning phase. As always, you can find the latest information about the JSP Committee’s work on the Fraternity’s website at https://www.phikaps.org/jsp-committee.

A Recap of the 2022 Leadership Summit

Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity held its 2022 Leadership Summit in San Antonio, Texas, from July 15th - 17th.

The weekend consisted of leadership meetings, breakout sessions, an exemplification of our ritual, and much more at the Hilton Palacio del Rio!

A special reception was hosted by the PKT Alamo Alumni Association at the Tower of Americas in downtown San Antonio to honor Manny González (Texas A&I University, ’82), who was honored as the 2022 Man of Achievement at our Saturday evening banquet.

“My mind and my heart are still trying to process what occurred that weekend. I have been blessed with my wonderful Lucinda, my loving daughters, friends, and my career, but I honestly underestimated what fraternal brotherhood has meant to my life. It is my core, it is my compass, and it is who I am. To be recognized as “Man of Achievement” by these wonderful men I call my brothers was exceptionally meaningful and truly validated the pillars of our brotherhood, which we proudly call Phi Kappa Theta.”
— 2022 Man of Achievement, Manny González (Texas A&I University, '82)

Current and former National Fraternity presidents proudly stand next to Brother González (center).

In addition to honoring Brother González, attendees recognized the efforts of our collegiate chapters with awards for the 2021 - 2022 academic year during a luncheon.

We interviewed Pritish Mishra (Case Western Reserve University, ‘23) and Alexander Laitinen (Bridgewater State University, ‘23) to highlight the attendee experience from a collegiate perspective.

What was your overall impression of the Leadership Summit? 

Pritish Mishra:
Since this was my first time going, I did not have any set expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. I think of my chapter as a group of close and honest brothers. All the events we had during the summit reflected that aspect of our brotherhood.  

Regarding the event, I liked the discussions on why we exist as an organization. I think it is essential to have those conversations. We also had an honest and open-minded conversation about what diversity means to us as a national organization, fraternity, and brotherhood. That conversation was also highly appropriate because it revealed the brother’s feelings and what they thought was important. 

It was nice meeting all the new people from all different walks of life. 

The biggest and the best experience I had, was conversing with other brothers and their families. I did not expect everyone to be so forthcoming, honest, and friendly. When you talk at a chapter level, you know everything. But at a national level, it is different. Before, I was intimidated by the board and national staff. But when attending the summit, I talked to the current and past presidents and realized they are brothers first, and we are all on the same level. It humanizes them a lot, and I think that is very important.

Alexander Laitinen:
Being from a Massachusetts chapter, I had never ventured out to San Antonio. I didn’t know what to expect regarding how those at nationals would receive me. Once I got there, I realized that even though my other brothers were older than me, we still had mutual respect for everyone, and we all enjoyed getting to know one another. 

What was your biggest takeaway? 

Pritish Mishra:
I would split this into three parts. First, It is essential to remember where we come from and never forget our roots. The second is always to be open-minded when working in a team. You have the potential to learn something new from everyone. The third piece is to be kind to everyone. You don’t know where they come from regarding why they do what they do. When you are kind, sometimes the best of someone comes out, which you will always cherish. 

Alexander Laitinen:  
It can feel like those at nationals are distant, and we don’t always know if our beliefs are the same as theirs. After attending the Summit, I could see how much those at nationals do care. Seeing how they spoke and carried themselves showed that we are on the same page, and at the end of the day, we are all Phi Kaps. Everyone up top cares the same as everyone below. 

What advice would you give to someone if you knew that they were contemplating going to a national event next year? 

Pritish Mishra:
My honest advice is to go for it. I was the only one from my chapter attending.

Surprisingly, I found out that one of the former [National Fraternity] presidents [Robert Stalder from Case Western Reserve University, ‘94] was from my chapter, and I would not have found that out if I had not gone. I met so many new people and made so many new friends. I still am in regular contact with many of the people I met. We only interacted in the span of two days. If I can form that bond with brothers so different from me in two days, it shows the benefit of attending. Just do it! 

It was something I will cherish for the rest of my life, and I will plan to attend the next national event. I think for my chapter, this will be highly beneficial, and it will help us grow and have more conversations about who we are and help us continue growing a stronger bond. I will always be grateful for having this opportunity, and I will encourage future leaders to come to this in the future.

Alexander Laitinen: 
Find why you love Phi kappa Theta and take that with you. 

Figure out what you want from Phi Kappa Theta and choose to attend the Summit [or any other upcoming national event] for that reason. It will help you get the most out of your Fraternity experience. 

“I always enjoy attending Phi Kappa Theta’s annual summer meeting - this Leadership Summit included - as it’s one of the few times a year we’re able to gather and experience what it means to be part of a nationally shared Phi Kap brotherhood. Our discussions over the weekend, both business and society alike, were energized, thoughtful, and inclusive. The  Summit was a fantastic reminder of how blessed our Fraternity is to have many alumni volunteers who consistently dedicate themselves to enriching the next generation of brothers in the Phi, the Kappa, and the Theta. That is why it was so fitting that the culmination of the weekend was honoring brother Manny González, one of the most humble, kind, and generous members of our order, with the Fraternity’s highest honor: the Man of Achievement award!” 
— National Fraternity President, Matthew Runkle (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, '11)

If you attended this year’s Leadership Summit, you know how beneficial it is to connect with brothers from around the country and contribute to discussions that are guiding the Fraternity into the future.

The connection between alumni and collegiate members is always important, and we encourage you to continue making those connections whenever possible.

For those who couldn’t make it to the Summit – we hope to see you at our Biennial Convention in 2023!