Leadership

Archon President

Don Herman

(Calgary 1985)

Brother Herman was elected Archon President by the 178th Ekklesia in 2026. He was previously elected Archon Treasurer by the 172nd Ekklesia, serving from 2020-24. Prior to his election, Don served on the Phi Gamma Delta Foundation of Canada Board of Directors since 2009 and was its President from 2016-18. He has also served on the US Foundation Board from 2012-2020 and as a member of its Investment Committee, in addition to representing Phi Gamma Delta as Vice-President and Treasurer of THE Fraternity Captive since its inception in 2024. Professionally, Don is a Director & Portfolio Manager at Jarislowsky Fraser Limited, one of Canada’s leading investment firms. Don is involved in the Calgary community having served as a board member for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Society and served as a director for the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise at the University of Alberta and as a 35-year veteran basketball official at the high school and collegiate levels.

Archon Vice President

Michael Bass

(Louisiana State 1983)

Brother Bass was elected Archon Councilor by the 176th Ekklesia in 2024 and Vice-President by the 178th Ekklesia in 2026. He has served the Fraternity as a Section Leader and on the Board of Conduct, and he was a member of Oklahoma State’s BCA and House Corporation. Michael also served his chapter as Chapter President and Recording Secretary as an undergraduate. Professionally, Michael retired from an Associate General Counsel for Verizon, where he provided legal services to the wholesale services division. Additionally, Michael has served on the board of directors for Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, and he currently serves as the Chair of the Tulsa Police Foundation.

Archon Treasurer

Kevin Haga

(Jacksonville 1992)

Brother Haga was elected Archon Treasurer by the 176th Ekklesia in August 2024. Prior to his election, Kevin served on the Fraternity’s Financial Advisory Board, and he served nine years on the Educational Foundation Board of Directors, most recently as Finance Chairman from 2019-23. Kevin earned his Bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Jacksonville University (JU), where he served his chapter as Chapter President and Chapter Treasurer. He also earned his MBA in finance from Johns Hopkins University. Professionally, Kevin has worked in finance for over 20 years and currently works as a Director of Asset Liability Management for National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation. He also sat on the JU Alumni Board of Governors from 2012-19.

Archon Secretary

Dan Ownby

(Oklahoma State 1991)

Brother Ownby was elected Archon Secretary by the 178th Ekklesia in 2026. Brother Ownby was awarded the 2023 Distinguished Fiji Award. As an undergraduate Dan was Chapter Historian and President and was a founding father in the reestablishment of his Sigma Omicron chapter. Professionally, Dan is President of West Shore Pipe Line Company and serves on several joint venture boards affiliated with Buckeye Partners. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston, where he teaches MBA students in Midstream Energy Finance. Dan has dedicated much of his life to the Scouting movement. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Boy Scouts of America from 2020 to 2023 and was the 40th person to serve as President/Chairman of the Board in the organization’s history, four of whom have been brothers of Phi Gamma Delta. During his tenure, he helped lead the organization through one of the most complex bankruptcies in U.S. history. He previously served two terms on the World Scout Committee, including his second term as Vice Chair, and currently serves as Treasurer of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Archon Councilor

Ken Jessell

(Florida State 1977)

Brother Jessell was elected Archon Councilor by the 178th Ekklesia in 2026. Prior to his election, brother Jessell served in various BCA roles, as House Corporation President for his chapter, and been a speaker at numerous Pig Dinners for Florida State University, Florida international University, and the Southwest Florida Graduate Chapter. Ken was also the keynote speaker for the 2024 Academy and was awarded the Distinguished Fiji Award. As an Undergraduate Ken was Chapter Historian and President. Professionally Ken has had a career of over 40 years in Florida’s Public Higher Education system, being appointed Florida International University’s President in 2022 by the FIU Board of Trustees. In 2025 he assumed his current position of Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.

Archon Councilor

Vijay Sekhara

(Connecticut 2012)

Brother Sekhara was elected Archon Councilor by the 178th Ekklesia in 2026. Prior to his election, Vijay served the Fraternity as President of the Xi Graduate Chapter in New York City, Section Leader in Texas and on the Section Leader Executive Committee, member of the Fraternity’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, BCA Chairman for Sam Houston State, and President of the Houston Graduate Chapter. As an undergraduate, he was a founding member of his chapter, serving as its first Corresponding Secretary. Professionally, Vijay works with startups, investors, and government offices across the United States and Europe within the defense sector, serving as Director of Partnerships at Resilience Media today. He also volunteers for The Bowery Mission in New York and serves on the Board of Advisors for Defence Builder, a defense accelerator and fund based out of Ukraine.

Archon Councilor

Dave Willmer

(Akron 1992)

Brother Willmer was elected Archon Councilor by the 178th Ekklesia in 2026. Prior to his election, brother Willmer served the Fraternity in a variety of roles including Field Secretary, Director of Programs, is a Haynes Award Winning Section Leader, and Chairman of the Committee on Expansion at the 176th Ekklesia. As an undergraduate Dave was the Chapter Recording Secretary and President. Professionally, Dave has had a 28-year career at Robert Half International, a $5 Billion global staffing and consulting firm, where he is a Senior District President. Personally, Dave is a 20-year member of the Knights of Columbus, served as the chairman of the New Albany Special Olympics and Buddy Up Golf Outings, and has had a 10-year career as a High School Football Referee. 

Curator of Archives

Joe Weist

(Rose-Hulman 1987)

Joe preserves and catalogs all Phi Gamma Delta memorabilia and historical records. He oversees the museum at the International Headquarters and Archives Weekend.

The Curator of Archives can be a resource to your chapter if you are interested in preserving archives and other important historical records.

Director of Inclusion & Belonging

DeVere Kutscher

(Davidson 1997)

As Director of Inclusion & Belonging, DeVere advises the Archons and staff on matters related to inclusion and the implementation of the Fraternity’s belonging initiatives. He also works with the staff in the development of undergraduate chapter and graduate volunteer-focused belonging resources, partnerships and educational opportunities.

Director of Housing

John Ziza

(Ohio 1978)

John advises the Archons and staff on issues related to housing. He serves as Chairman of the Housing Advisory, leading efforts to provide guidance and resources to the formation of new house corporations, and he helps chapter without a house chapters acquire housing.

Director of Volunteer Advancement & Engagement

Daniel Mossop

(Akron 1989)

Daniel advises the Archons and staff on development and implementation of volunteer recruitment, support and training initiatives. He provides updates on the status and needs of volunteer Section Leaders and chapter-level advisors for the Fraternity, and he coordinates efforts to implement initiatives with the Section Leader Executive Committee.

Educational Director

Amelious Whyte

(Minnesota Faculty)

Amelious advises the Archons and the Ekklesia in matters relating to the scholarship and educational programming at each chapter. He obtains the scholastic standing of each undergraduate chapter on its campus and certifies to the Archons all instances when chapters are delinquent in scholarship.

The Educational Director is a resource to undergraduate chapters wishing to improve their academic and/or educational programming.

General Counsel

Jim Boyers

(Hanover 1994)

Jim is an attorney who advises the Archons and the Ekklesia in matters relating to the formulation and interpretation of the Constitution, Bylaws of the Fraternity and other legal matters affecting the Fraternity.

Historian

Towner Blackstock

(Davidson 1994)

Towner collects, records and perpetuates all statistics and facts of interest pertaining to the Fraternity, its chapters and its members. During this process, he is encouraged to revise or add to the volumes of our Fraternity history books.

The Historian can serve as a resource to chapters wanting to document and preserve their own chapter history.

PR Director

Mike Sacks

(James Madison 2004)

As Public Relations (PR) Director, Mike protects and promotes the good name of Phi Gamma Delta by playing a leadership role in publicizing good works of the Fraternity and its chapters and handling crisis situations.

The PR Director can be a resource to chapters on public relations matters.

Ritualist

Josh Laufenberg

(Illinois 2008)

Josh is fully versed in every phase of the Fraternity’s ritualistic ceremonies. It is his duty to answer all communications regarding the Ritual, to prescribe their use and to interpret their meaning. He is also responsible for enforcing uniformity among all chapters in their observance of the ceremonies.

The Ritualist can be a resource for chapters wanting to improve their performance of the Ritual.