Q: Why did you join PDT Purdue in the first place?
A: The truth of the matter is, I played on the golf team my freshman year, so I did not rush fraternities until my sophomore year at Purdue. Since I was from a small town (Rensselaer) I did not have people from my hometown involved with Greek life who could give me advice. So, I asked the hot girls in my classes for their advice and recommendations on which fraternities they liked. A couple of girls I was friends with were Pi Phis, so they really pushed me towards rushing Phi Delta Theta. Then, I ran into Dan Elisha at a rush function, we had played golf against each other in high school, so seeing a friendly face made me feel comfortable with choosing PDT.
Q: What’s your favorite memory from your time in the chapter?
A: Hmmm, it’s tough to choose just one, but meeting my football buddy from Chi Omega my junior year was pretty special. As social chairman, I was in charge of matching up brothers with corresponding sisters at Chi Omega, along with their social directors. I remember telling Susan Arvesen-Jensen that I wanted a single girl who was a lot of fun and pretty as my football buddy. Without hesitation she said “Oh, you want Whitey. She would be perfect!” I said, “Show me her composite picture…perfect!” Karen Whiteman and I became very good FRIENDS that football season, as she had a boyfriend and I had a girlfriend at the time. But, we were in the same major and would sit next to each other in classes for the remaining time spent at Purdue. Approximately one year after graduation, I had moved to Chicago. Karen reached out to my parents to find out where I was living at the time, she was also living in Chicago as chances had it, so we met up one night at Yakzies in Wrigleyville. From that point forward, we were inseparable. This September will mark our 24th wedding anniversary. It was all started through PDT.
Q: Do you still keep in touch with any of your brothers?
A: Unfortunately, not as much as I would like to. Recently Karen (Chi O) and I did go to a Cubs game with PDT pledge brother Brian Bieniek, his wife Jeralyn (Phi Mu), Mark Monaco (Phi Psi) and his wife Tricia (Phi Mu).
Q: Tell us about the company for which you are President.
A: I started a company called Midwest Power Products & Controls, Inc. in 1992. We are a distributor of electrical and mechanical power transmission equipment. We specialize in electric motors, gear reducers, gear motors and related equipment for industrial automation use. It has been a very rewarding part of my life, similar to watching a child transform and mature. The company has its niche’ market, which allows us to sell our products all over the world. I’ll never forget my father telling me to find something that I liked to do, and become the best at it. Though strong words, we strive to be the best supplier of our niche’ products on a daily basis.
Q: How did your time in PDT help to prepare you for that role?
A: Coming from a small town, I was overwhelmed by the vast size of Purdue and the amount of students on campus. Being a part of the brotherhood at Phi Delta Theta broke down campus into a smaller, more manageable social circle. At that point, I had over 100 brothers walking campus, who had my back at all points in time. This comfort level allowed me to grow as a person and take on leadership roles within the house. Those leadership skills are in use every day as President of Midwest Power Products.
 |
| Mike and wife, Karen |
Q: What have you been up to since graduation?
A: It seems like every four to five years is a new chapter. My wife, Karen, and I have two children, Ryan (22—senior at Purdue) and Emily (freshman at University of Arizona). My late ‘20s were spent starting Midwest Power. The ‘30s were spent raising our children, coaching youth sports and trying to squeeze in some golf. The ‘40s finally allowed for some relaxation time of enjoying the kids’ activities, making new friends, multiple trips to South Beach and Cancun, enjoying our Pittsburgh Steelers season tickets and spending weekends at our condo in Chicago’s River North area. This August we will become empty nesters, and plan on living in Chicago on more of a full time basis.
Q: What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?
A: Without a doubt, having and raising two children. Although a big assist goes to my wife, as she has been a great partner in our parenting journey. Today’s society is very hard to raise children with an “old school” mentality. I always felt like my parents did a good job of raising myself and my two brothers the right way, so that gave me a role model to emulate. I have tried to keep my kids grounded and on the right path to becoming productive members of society. It’s not easy to raise millennials with a hard work ethic, and to value a dollar. It takes a lot of saying “NO” and remembering they are your kids and it is our job to teach them the right way to do things. With our daughter going off to college this August, our job will start to wind down a little.
Q: What advice would you give to future generations of PDT members?
A: Value the time you have in the fraternity house, make as many friends on campus as possible, remember you are at college to receive an education, and have fun!! We had a saying back in the late ‘80s, “you can always re-take a class, but you can never relive a party!” I laugh at that today, and I’m not sure I would give that advice to my children, but we made being a Phi, cool on campus…