With heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for his over 27 years of service to the greater fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi announces the planned retirement of CEO Mark E. Timmes on July 31, 2022.
Timmes succeeded long-serving and beloved Executive Director Durward Owen in 1994 as only the 8th Executive Director of Pi Kappa Phi. He became the CEO in 1996.
“Together, between Owen’s thirty-five years of service and Timmes’ tenure, we have enjoyed over sixty years of consistent and impactful leadership”, observed National President William Sigmon. “Building on Owen’s legacy Timmes has propelled Pi Kappa Phi into a top ten fraternity through aggressive growth in number of campuses, undergraduates, and average chapter size. More importantly, he has enhanced our chapter quality and reputation as a leading fraternity.”
Timmes has led many strategic initiatives including the four-year member development Journey Project, America’s Leading Fraternity Initiative, Second Century Vision, and Uncommon Leadership strategic plans. In addition, he accomplished a refresh of our branding, communications, and volunteer strategies. All of these provided unparalleled depth and breadth in our educational, leadership, and service programming, as well as volunteer opportunities, which enhanced the overall value of the member experience.
Another hallmark has been his work in the prevention and accountability space. These efforts established industry-leading, award-winning, and shared educational initiatives.
Highlights include the Ladder of Risk, ASTP, and Dignity and Respect workshops, which significantly advanced the entire interfraternal community in one of the industry’s most challenging areas.
He transformed the fraternity team into a diverse staff to better serve the greater fraternity’s needs including administrative and operational functions. He consolidated shared functions in accounting, technology, and communications. He spearheaded a move to a new headquarters in 2007, the Kelley A. Bergstrom Leadership Center, creating a leadership, community, and heritage museum space in addition to meeting our administrative function needs.
He has supported the work of the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation in doubling its assets and increasing scholarship and fraternity educational grant support through a Headquarters, Common Loyalty, and planned giving “Make Your Mark” campaigns. He guided Pi Kappa Phi Properties in an increased role in meeting the housing needs of our student chapters. And, he collaborated with the Ability Experience to continue to promote service-learning as a core value for our members.
In addition to his work for Pi Kappa Phi, he is an admired and respected interfraternal leader. He has been active in the leadership of the Fraternity Executives Association, including serving as President in 2010-2011. As Vice Chairman for 17 years, he assisted in the transition of FRMT as an insurance captive. Recently, he helped reboot the North-American Interfraternity Conference as an officer and governing council member into a more effective trade association.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the fraternity these many years and assist in the journey of our members as we strive to be the ideal fraternity,” said Timmes. “Of most joys are the people and the relationships. Durward taught me Pi Kappa Phi is a personal experience and a personal fraternity. His wisdom has never been truer.”
“Mark’s monumental impact on Pi Kappa Phi and the greater interfraternal world directly reflect his embodiment of our values and our creed. It is only appropriate that we all share in the celebration of his accomplishments and dedication to our brotherhood over the coming months, ultimately culminating at the 57th Supreme Chapter in Tampa, Florida,” Sigmon said. “In the meantime, the National Council is committed to finding Pi Kappa Phi’s next visionary leader while ensuring a smooth leadership transition.”
Additional details about the CEO search process and
the timeline will be shared in the coming weeks.