Friday, July 31
5:30 – 6 p.m. MT // 7:30  – 8 p.m. ET: part 1
7 – 8:30 p.m. MT // 9 – 10:30 p.m. ET: part 2

Masters of Ceremonies

Chris Bittman, Colorado ’85

Brother Chris Bittman is a 1985 graduate of the University of Colorado, where he joined the Colorado Alpha chapter. He served on SigEp’s Headquarters staff as a regional director, started 21 new chapters as expansion director, and managed the traveling staff as the director of chapter services.

After spending time on Wall Street with Merrill Lynch, he was named the western regional manager for the firm’s business financial services group — the youngest regional manager in the group’s history. Chris retired in the early 2000s to devote more time to his family and volunteer work after selling his San Francisco Bay area investment firm to a public company.

Chris “left the beach” in 2004 when his alma mater asked him to become its first chief investment officer. In that role, his distinguished performance was recognized by Institutional Investor magazine when Colorado was named Foundation of the Year. Currently CEO and chief investment officer of a $14 billion asset management firm, it’s clear that he isn’t particularly good at the retirement thing.

A SigEp Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, Chris was elected to the National Board of Directors at our centennial Conclave in 2001. He was first elected Grand Treasurer in 2003 – a position to which he was re-elected at seven consecutive Conclaves until being elected Grand President in 2017.

Chris and his wife, Kenda, have five children and live in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.

 

Garry Kief, Southern California ’70

Brother Garry Kief joined the California Beta chapter at the University of Southern California in 1966. In the midst of the turbulent ’60s, Garry was one of the college leaders of Ronald Reagan’s successful campaign for governor. On campus, he was a member of Knights, honored as a member of Skull & Dagger and graduated as president of the class of 1970. He went on to work for Bank of America, serve on the staff of President Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign and join the Kaiser Companies as national director of communications. At 27, he was a general manager at ABC, the youngest in its history.

Three years later, he left ABC to form his own company to manage and market recording artists. In the past 40 years, he has represented everyone from Paula Abdul to Rod Stewart, Straight No Chaser, Stevie Wonder, John Mellencamp, Barry Manilow, Fleetwood Mac and Donna Summer. He has produced countless hours of television for ABC, CBS, HBO, Showtime, PBS and the BBC. His first Broadway production opens in February 2022. His first major film production begins shooting in spring 2022.

He serves as a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, National Association of Recording Artists, board of directors of the McCallum Theatre, board of directors of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, board of directors of The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower Hospital, and as a trustee of The Annenberg Theater.

Garry was reunited with Sigma Phi Epsilon at Conclave in 1991. Since that time, he served as a trustee of the SigEp Educational Foundation for 19 years and as its president for eight years. In 1999, he was elected to the National Board of Directors. He received the SigEp Citation in 2005. In 2009, Garry was elected to serve as Grand President, and two years later, he was bestowed with SigEp’s highest honor as he became a member of the Order of the Golden Heart. In 2013, Garry was re-elected to the National Board of Directors. In 2018, Kief House, headquarters of the SigEp Educational Foundation, was dedicated on SigEp’s Richmond Leadership Campus.

Order of Events

• Part 1
  • Introductions
  • Conclave Stand Down
  • Larkin Bailey / Babe Fly Loyalty Cup
  • Loyalty Sweetheart Award
  • C. Maynard Turner Award
  • Paul B. Slater Award
  • Installation of the National Board of Directors, SigEp Educational Foundation Trustees and SigEp National Housing Board of Directors
  • Invocation
  • Dinner
• Part 2
  • Conclave Chorus performance
  • Conclave banner auction
  • Order of the Golden Heart
    • Sigma Phi Epsilon confers its highest honor on those alumni who give conspicuously outstanding service to the Fraternity. These brothers have given their time and talents with great personal sacrifice, making a difference in Sigma Phi Epsilon and the Fraternity experience. Initially awarded in 1959, the first Order of the Golden Heart was given posthumously to William L. “Uncle Billy” Phillips. Since this first presentation, only 163 of our more than 338,000 brothers have been so honored. The announcement of the Order of the Golden Heart recipients is one of the most anticipated moments of Conclave, as these lifelong volunteers are not aware that they have been selected for this award.
  • Grand President's inaugural remarks
  • Adjournment
    

The SigEp Anthem

Dear old Fraternity
All my life through
I'll love and cherish the mem'ry of you
Should harm betide me,
Thou e'er will guide me,
Sigma, Dear
Sigma Phi Epsilon
True.