Engage Theta Chi

Zack Brown (Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky 2014)
Senior Director of Growth
Theta Chi Fraternity International Headquarters

Zack Brown rejoined the International Headquarters Staff as the Director of Volunteer Development in March of 2017 and was promoted to Senior Director of Training and Development in August 2019, after serving the Fraternity as a Field Executive. Zack worked with more than 40 chapters across the Northeast and Southeast during his time as a Field Executive.

Zack now serves as the Senior Director of Growth. He is responsible for developing and implementing the Fraternity’s growth initiatives. Zack manages the Growth Specialists and oversees the recruitment success of our chapters, colonies, and interest groups. Please connect with him for anything pertaining to recruitment.

As a collegian, Zack served the Eta Beta Chapter as Vice President, Recruitment Chairman, Social Chairman, Marketing Chairman, and Alumni Relations Chairman. He graduated in December of 2014 from Eastern Kentucky University, with a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies. Zack is a recipient of the DeVol Award, Citation of Honor, and the Park Valentine Perkins Award. Zack holds seven honorary memberships to Theta Chi chapters across the nation.

Zack enjoys watching Kentucky basketball and football, betting at the horse track, country and rock concerts, and traveling.

Mitch Nolan (Delta Psi/University of Kansas 2017)
Director of Health of Safety
Services Theta Chi Fraternity

Mitch Nolan first served the International Headquarters as a Field Executive for two years following his graduation, and has most recently worked as Director of Chapter Development since August 2019. During his time as a Field Executive, he visited over 50 chapters and colonies and led the effort to colonize and reinstall Kappa Nu/Colorado and Zeta Alpha/Slippery Rock. After his tenure in that role expired, he was promoted to Director of Chapter Development, in which he managed the Field Executive program and oversaw Theta Chi’s Chapter Assessment. In his current role as Director of Health and Safety, he assists the Collegiate Services Department in overseeing the Sacred Purpose initiative, as well as supporting chapters in need of health and safety resources and education.

Mitch graduated from the University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS) with a Bachelor’s of Science in business management and leadership with a concentration in entrepreneurship. He served the Delta Psi Chapter as Social Chairman, Homecoming Chairman, Rock Chalk Revenue Director, and two terms as Chapter President. He was also a member of the University of Kansas Student Senate as representative to the IFC and Campus Outreach Chairman on the Homecoming Steering Committee. Mitch won the Morris New Venture Business Plan competition at Kansas, and was recognized as a Resolute Man during the spring 2017 semester.

Ray Vanlanot (Alpha Iota/Indiana 2008)
Chief Operating Officer
Services Theta Chi Fraternity

As COO, Ray oversees the entire Collegiate Services Department—including chapter/colony support, the Field Staff program (including recruiting and hiring Field Executives), standards and discipline, recruitment and expansion, volunteer development, and educational programming. Ray also manages campus and chapter university administration relations and emergency/crisis management.

Ray is responsible for communicating and assessing chapter, colony, and interest group compliance with the standards and policies of the Fraternity. He manages chapter situations and works with chapters on probation.

As a collegian, Ray was a Rechartering Member and the first Chapter President of the reinstalled Alpha Iota Chapter at Indiana University. Ray has undergraduate and graduate degrees (BS and MS, respectively) in psychology, neuroscience, and motor learning/control. He is presently a candidate for Ph.D.s in both neuroscience and motor learning/control. His research focuses on the manipulation, retraining and regulation of neuro-spinal pathways in patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. He worked for three years as IU President Dr. Michael McRobbie’s Graduate Fellow and as Assistant Director of Special Events for the Indiana University Office of the President.

Ray served for three years as the Graduate Adviser and two as the Chairman of the Chapter Advisory Board for our Alpha Iota Chapter. Ray has received numerous honors from the Fraternity and Indiana University. Among these, Ray has been a consistent recipient of the Sherwood & Janet Blue Memorial Scholarship, was named the 2007 Indiana University Student of the Year, received the 2007 Active Chapter Service Award, was the 2008 first runner-up for the Colley Award, received a DeVol Award at the 2012 Convention, was presented an Alumni Award from Alpha Iota in 2012, and was presented the George T. Kilavos Alumni Award from the Grand Chapter in 2016. Ray holds over thirty honorary memberships to Theta Chi chapters across the nation.

Ray is active interfraternally, serving on committees for the Fraternal Executives Association (FEA) as well as chairing the Indiana University Alumni Interfraternity Council.

Bryan Alig
(Alpha Iota/Indiana 1999)
Director of Education
Theta Chi Fraternity

As Director of Education, Bryan leads the Fraternity’s collegiate educational program (The Resolute Man) and the Fraternity’s pledge education program (The Resolute Journey). He oversees the execution and updates for international leadership events and collaborates with collegians and Theta Chi staff to keep our educational programs current and relevant. Prior to joining the International Headquarters, Bryan taught 14 years and was an assistant principal for 7 years. He served the Alpha Iota as Marshal, Social Chairman, and received the Active Chapter Service Award. Bryan has a Bachelor of Science in education from Indiana University and a Master of Science in leadership education from Butler University.

Nick Hoke
(Alpha Iota/Indiana 2014)
Senior Director of Business Services
Theta Chi Fraternity

Nick Hoke first joined the headquarters staff in June 2015 as a Field Executive, where he served for a year and a half and worked with over 40 chapters and colonies across the East Coast and Midwest. After a brief hiatus, he rejoined the headquarters staff in April 2017 as the Director of Communication and Assistant Editor of The Rattle. In July 2021, he was promoted to Senior Director of Business Services. In this role, he oversees the Alumni Corporation Recognition Program, accounts receivables, Form 990 completion by chapters, and provides other support to the business/finance department.

Jim Durkin
(Alpha Delta/Purdue 1982)
Founding Partner
The Martec Group, Inc.

Jim is a Founding Partner of The Martec Group and has more than 35 years of global market research and consulting experience. His project work has included new product development research, market size and segment analysis, price/value mapping assessments, brand positioning/message testing and post launch product adoption/utilization and satisfaction/loyalty tracking.

Jim has served a wide variety of Fortune 1000 companies and Private Equity firms during his tenure. Mr. Durkin has also been integral in the development of The Martec Group’s Emotion Intelligence offering, which is comprised of a set of tools and algorithms that identify, characterize and quantify the emotional connections that individuals have with brands, products and decision processes.
He is an alumnus of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) and is involved as an investor and advisory board member in businesses ranging from banking and private equity investing to food/beverage production and wholesale distribution.
Jim is currently an alumni board member and past President of the Board of Directors at CommunityHealth, recognized since 2015 as the largest free clinic in the United States. He is also a board member and past President of the Chicago 502, an organization that supports active soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division, US Army, and their families.
Jim received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University in 1982. Jim is a member of the Alpha Delta chapter of Theta Chi fraternity and served as its President in 1980-81.
Jim and his wife Laura have twin daughters, Gabi and Stefi, and live in Evanston, IL.

Cory Loveless
(Phi/North Dakota State 2012)
Former Theta Chi Leadership and Education Consultant
High School Math Teacher at West Fargo High School

Cory is originally from Grand Forks, ND. While a collegian, he served as Chapter Treasurer, President, and Marshal. He was the 2011 recipient of Theta Chi Fraternity’s Colley Award, the highest honor for a collegiate member. After graduation, Cory served on the International Headquarters staff as a Leadership and Education Consultant. Cory has also served on Phi Chapter’s alumni council, as well as its centennial capital campaign committee. Currently, Cory is a math teacher at West Fargo High School in West Fargo, ND. He enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and playing guitar in a cover band.

Zack Brown (Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky 2014)
Senior Director of Growth
Theta Chi Fraternity International Headquarters

Zack Brown rejoined the International Headquarters Staff as the Director of Volunteer Development in March of 2017 and was promoted to Senior Director of Training and Development in August 2019, after serving the Fraternity as a Field Executive. Zack worked with more than 40 chapters across the Northeast and Southeast during his time as a Field Executive.

Zack now serves as the Senior Director of Growth. He is responsible for developing and implementing the Fraternity’s growth initiatives. Zack manages the Growth Specialists and oversees the recruitment success of our chapters, colonies, and interest groups. Please connect with him for anything pertaining to recruitment.

As a collegian, Zack served the Eta Beta Chapter as Vice President, Recruitment Chairman, Social Chairman, Marketing Chairman, and Alumni Relations Chairman. He graduated in December of 2014 from Eastern Kentucky University, with a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies. Zack is a recipient of the DeVol Award, Citation of Honor, and the Park Valentine Perkins Award. Zack holds seven honorary memberships to Theta Chi chapters across the nation.

Zack enjoys watching Kentucky basketball and football, betting at the horse track, country and rock concerts, and traveling.

James A. Black, PhD
(Gamma Rho/Florida State 2008)
Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives and Grad Life / Georgia Tech Office of Graduate Studies

Dr. James Black is a faculty member at Georgia Tech in Atlanta and serves as Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives and Grad Life in the Office of Graduate Studies. His work focuses on supporting Georgia Tech’s more than 7,000 on-campus graduate students through orientation, onboarding, and professional development programming. He is the creator and lead instructor for GT6000, an extended-orientation course enrolling hundreds of graduate students each year. Before joining the Office of Graduate Studies, he completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Florida State University. Outside of his professional career, he is also co-owner of Southside Fitness & Bootcamp, an outdoor group fitness and personal training company in Atlanta.

Brother Black is a re-chartering member of Gamma Rho/Florida State and served as Chapter President leading them to their first Alter Award since re-chartering. He has consistently stayed involved with Theta Chi in various capacities since graduating from Florida State in 2008, serving as a Regional Counselor, a four-term member of the International Standards Committee, and a faculty member for numerous regional and international leadership conferences. He is a recipient of Theta Chi’s David E. Devol and Georgia T. Kilavos Awards for service to the Fraternity.

Douglas Allen, (Delta Beta/Georgia, 1990)
Energy Supply, Sustainability & Business Problem Solver
Kinect Energy Group

Brother Allen joined the Delta Beta Chapter at the University of Georgia in 1990, in which he would go on to serve as President. After graduating, he joined Theta Chi IHQ as a Leadership and Education Consultant (now Field Executive) and later as Director of Chapter Operations. As a volunteer, he has advised several chapters and served on numerous committees for the Fraternity. Doug was elected to the Grand Chapter in 2006, where he would serve as International President from 2008-2012. He’s been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award, the Earl D. Rhodes Theta Chi for Life Award, and currently serves as Treasurer of the Norwich Housing Corporation.

Professionally, Brother Allen has been involved in the energy supply and energy management consulting business since 1995 and is currently a Business Development Executive at World Kinect Energy. He has an MBA with a concentration in change management from Hamline University (MN).

Doug developed an interest in student academic performance since serving on the Grand Chapter. He has presented on chapter and individual grade point average performance at many Theta Chi events and chapters. He recently formed a new company, Akademia Performance Solutions, that has developed software and solutions to help fraternities, sororities, and other student-based organizations improve their academic performance.

He lives in Chanhassen, MN, with his wife Ann, a volunteer with Chi Omega.

Alpha Phi/Alabama 1979

Wes counts more than thirty years of experience in higher education and development, and nine years as a non-profit consultant. Wicker began his career in Admissions, and then in Alumni Affairs at Georgia Southwestern State University. He also worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia, and as Vice President of Advancement at Kennesaw State University, and concurrently as Executive Director of the KSU Foundation. He also served as Vice President of Major Gifts for United Way of Metro Atlanta and held a similar position with United Way of Central Indiana. Wicker has served on the boards of the Fulton County Schools Foundation, the Georgia Planned Giving Council, United Community Bank of Marietta, and the Georgia Education Advancement Conference.

Brother Wicker started with Theta Chi’s Headquarters in 1979 as a Field Representative and would later go on to serve in a Senior Director role. As a volunteer, he has served as a Regional Counselor, as President of the Foundation Chapter, and currently as the President of the Norwich Housing Corporation. Wes has received the Distinguished Service Award, the Earl D. Rhodes Theta Chi for Life Award, and was instrumental in the purchase of the former executive offices of Theta Chi in College Park, and numerous archival displays at the International Headquarters.

Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg 1978

Allan Calarco provides program design, team and group facilitation, and Executive Coaching, primarily in the Health Sector vertical for the Center for Creative Leadership. He has worked with CCL clients throughout the world, including The World Bank, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Irish Public Health Institute, Habitat for Humanity, Deloitte, The World Food Program, Cone Health, The University of Stellenbosch, The United States Postal Service, and SC Johnson. He is a certified CCL Executive Coach and has represented CCL at a variety of keynote addresses, workshops, and institutes in over 30 countries.

Brother Calarco is an alumnus member of the Eta Pi Chapter at East Stroudsburg University. He has served the Fraternity as a Chapter Adviser, a Regional Counselor, and chaired the Leadership and Education Committee for 10 years. Al was elected to the Grand Chapter in 1990 where he served for 8 years, 6 of them as International Vice President. He was also the President, and a board member, of the Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi, was Chairman of the 150th Anniversary Convention, and has received both the Theta Chi for Life Award and the Distinguished Service Award.