Name: Dave Huiett

Alma mater:

1966 Cleveland State University | BME (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering)

1971 Xavier University | MBA (Master of Business Administration)

1975 Northeastern University | Post-MBA Program Certification (Industrial Marketing)

Occupation: Account manager (Retired) | Computer Industry

Spouse: Sandy Huiett, Ohio Nu AVC member

Primary Volunteer Role: Vice President of Relations, Mentor for Recruitment and Balanced Man Scholarship | Ohio Nu AVC

How long have you volunteered for SigEp?
More than 20 years. Besides my current position as AVC vice president of relations, I have also served as Ohio Nu chapter counselor, and I’ve served on the AVC of Ohio Zeta at Baldwin Wallace and Ohio Sigma at Case Western Reserve. I am also a founding officer of the SPEGCAA, the former SPE Greater Cleveland Alumni Association; the founding president of the CSUGAC, the Cleveland State University Greek Alumni Council; and a past GAC representative on the CSU Alumni Association Board of Directors.

What has been your biggest accomplishment as a volunteer? What result did you achieve? 
I’m most proud of being involved in the establishment of two endowed scholarships within the Cleveland State University Foundation.

In the 1986-87 school year, I led a fund drive to ask alumni of Ohio Nu and our former local fraternity, Lambda Tau Delta (LTD), to establish an endowed scholarship for Ohio Nu undergraduates. This became the first Cleveland State endowment set up for a Greek organization, and we quickly reached $10,000 with 84 percent alumni participation. Ohio Nu was closed in 1990 and remained dormant for over 20 years. During that time our scholarship grew, and in 2012 the process began to bring Ohio Nu back to Cleveland State.

Today, the market value of our Sigma Phi Epsilon — Lambda Tau Delta Endowed Scholarship is over $80,000. This scholarship is used to fund Balanced Man Scholarships, to provide scholarships for our undergraduate brothers, and to help pay for those who attend SigEp leadership programs such as the Ruck Leadership Institute and Conclave … all thanks to the scholarship fundraising work we began over 25 years ago.

The second scholarship involved Cleveland State’s Dr. William A. “Doc” Patterson, a longtime advisor to the Lambda Tau Delta Fraternity and its successor, Sigma Phi Epsilon Ohio Nu. Dr. Patterson retired in 1971, as the first (and only) provost of Fenn College, and the first provost of Cleveland State. In 1964, he was instrumental in effecting a smooth transition from Fenn College to Cleveland State University. He was admired by every student; he was also a mentor and friend to me, and to many LTDs and Ohio Nu SigEps.

In 2002, a committee composed of LTDs, SigEps and friends, including Cleveland State president Dr. Michael Schwartz, was established to solicit funds from alumni to establish “Doc’s” scholarship in the School of Engineering. Today, the market value of the Dr. William A. Patterson Endowed Scholarship exceeds $100,000, and is used to fund scholarships for engineering and math students.

Tell us about a brother, university partner or another volunteer that has made a positive impact in your volunteer experience.
There are many who have been valued mentors to me and volunteers with me over the years, but the one who stands out is our current Ohio Nu AVC president, Brother William R. “Bill” Schutte, Cleveland State ’71.

When we began the process in 2012, to work towards eventually re-chartering Ohio Nu, Bill joined the Ohio Nu AVC and soon became president. Assisted by the rest of our AVC, the two of us have made a great team over the past five years. Bill met his wife Kathy at Cleveland State, where she was president of her sorority … like my wife Sandy, Kathy Schutte is also a volunteer for Ohio Nu. The four of us attended the 2015 Nashville and the 2013 Dallas Conclaves to represent our AVC. We all plan to attend the 2017 Orlando Conclave.

Brother Schutte gives freely of his time, talent and treasure to our AVC and undergraduates, as well as the Boy Scouts. He has hosted several retreats for the chapter at his Cleveland-area home and at his vacation home on Chautauqua Lake in upstate New York. It has been a pleasure volunteering for Sigma Phi Epsilon and Cleveland State University with Bill Schutte. Without his dedication, managerial skills and willingness to share the workload, the journey for our chapter (and myself) would have been very difficult, if not impossible.

What has been the most meaningful moment for you as a volunteer for SigEp?
On Sunday, September 20, 2015, Ohio Nu AVC President William R. Schutte, Cleveland State ’71, and I were honored to attend the inaugural Phillip A. Cox Volunteer Institute in Bloomington, Indiana, on the campus of Phil’s alma mater, Indiana University. The event was made extra special when Brother Cox was able to attend, in spite of his illness, and we were able to take a picture of the three of us together again for the last time.

My visit to Bloomington was even more special, as my previous visit there was over 50 years earlier. On August 22-26, 1964, I represented my chapter at the inaugural Sigma Phi Epsilon Academy, held at the Indiana University Bloomington campus … an event now known as our Carlson Leadership Academy. We were then SigEp’s Lambda Tau Delta Colony at Fenn College, the predecessor to Cleveland State University. Later that fall, I was honored to become Ohio Nu Chapter president, as 41 LTDs became SigEp Chapter #184 … installed on November 21, 1964.

I feel very fortunate and honored to have been present at two key inaugural events in the history of Sigma Phi Epsilon: the 1964 Carlson Leadership Academy and the 2015 Phillip A. Cox Volunteer Institute, held over 50 years apart on the same Indiana campus!

What piece of advice you would give someone who is considering volunteering for SigEp? 
Be confident about Sigma Phi Epsilon, be persistent, be patient … and get the right kind of help! Effective volunteering for Sigma Phi Epsilon is a team effort … you can’t do it all by yourself. Recruit and associate with the best volunteers and mentors you can find, who will share the vision and the workload, and work together to make your chapter and AVC the best. Ensure no one is overloaded or encountering burnout. Shared successes will make for the best experience, both for yourself and for other volunteers, and especially for your undergraduates.

In 1964, after researching over 50 national fraternities, our local Lambda Tau Delta became SigEp’s Ohio Nu Chapter. As Ohio Nu Chapter president, I said at our chartering event that we selected only the best for our national fraternity affiliation. I still believe the same today … and that gives this volunteer tremendous confidence going forward with SigEp!

Nominate a Volunteer Spotlight!
Do you know a volunteer who has give their time and talent to SigEp who you believe should be showcased in our Volunteer Spotlight Series? Fill out our Volunteer Spotlight Nomination form. The Volunteer Services team will promptly review your nomination. Thank you for taking the time to help us celebrate our SigEp volunteers.