PRESIDENT

LAURA MALLEY-SCHMITT (Zeta Phi-MIT)
Bedminster, N.J.

Alumnae Chapter: Central New Jersey

Fraternity History: IEB president (2006-present); alumnae membership strategy committee (2006-present); NPC delegation (2000-present), NPC recruitment committee (2002-05); NPC strategic planning committee (2001-2006); extension committee (1998-2004), vice president (1994-98); CMSC chair (1998-2004); Oklahoma (Phi) advisory committee (2005-06); Central New Jersey alumnae chapter founding member (2003); elections process task force (2002); NYC Metro alumnae chapter founding member (2000); IEB (1994-00); committee on leadership (1998-00); technology committee (1998-00); structure task force (1996-98); district governor (1992-94); colony supervisor (1992-94); recruitment adviser (1989-90); field consultant (1987-89).

Professional/Volunteer: sales and marketing for technology-based companies.

How Laura defines success: I have always believed that success is not just about whether goals are reached; success is also about how the goals are achieved. Our Founders call upon us to work hard toward our objectives with dignity and mutual respect. For true success in our lives, we must always proceed with integrity as we pursue our goals and dreams. For true success in Alpha Phi, we must always remember that while our organization is a business, Alpha Phi is a sisterhood first and foremost. In all that we do, we must always act with honor and with sincere concern for our collegiate members, alumnae, staff members and volunteers.

BOARD DIRECTORS

JANE KIRBY ARKES (Omicron-Missouri)
Portland, Ore.

Alumnae Chapter: Portland, Ore.

Fraternity History: IEB (2006-present); housing strategy committee co-chair (2006-present); Leadership Initiative chapter-based instruction facilitator (2006-present), Emerging Leaders Institute application reader (2007); Portland alumnae chapter secretary, treasurer, vice president, president; Portland Alumnae Panhellenic delegate (1971-present); Oregon (Tau) chapter operations adviser (2000-06), house corporation board president (2000-present); Foundation Board (1984-88); area adviser (1981-84); National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) alternate delegate (1978-84); nominations committee (1982); district governor (1971-77); Foundation Forget-Me-Not Fund chairman, graduate scholarship chairman, continuing education grant chairman, marketing committee chairman, vice chairman (1986-88); state reference chairman (1974); state alumnae chairman (1973); Portland State (Gamma Chi) standards adviser (1971); Des Moines, Iowa, alumnae chapter secretary, treasurer, vice president and chair (1961-70). 

Professional/Volunteer: literacy consultant.

Jane defines her idea of success in Alpha Phi: Webster defines success as, “a favorable or satisfactory outcome or result.” My personal definition would tack on “which improves the quality of life for future generations.” My volunteer career has been devoted to helping ensure that future members will have an enriching Alpha Phi experience, which will help shape, enrich and fulfill both their personal and professional lives. It is my feeling that this can be be successfully achieved with IEB members who come to the Board with different educational, professional and volunteer experiences. These talents must be blended together to support and drive both the short- and long-term needs of the Fraternity.

BILLIE COSKEY BATTIATO (Phi-Oklahoma)
Tulsa, Okla.

Alumnae Chapter: Greater Tulsa Area, Okla.

Fraternity History: IEB (2002-present); finance standing committee (2002-present); Oklahoma (Phi) Team Sooner (2006-present); constitution committee (2000-02, 2004-08); Colorado (Beta Gamma) house corporation board (2003-present), finance adviser (2003-06); collegiate extension committee (2000-03); Denver Area Panhellenic (DAP) executive board (1995-2000), president (1998-99), DAP Woman of the Year (2003); district alumnae chairman (1988-94); Colorado State (Zeta Mu) house corporation board treasurer (1980-84); Denver alumnae chapter, president (1983-85), vice president of programming (1985-86).

Professional/Volunteer: vice president of investments, Citi Smith Barney.

What Billie values most about Alpha Phi: Alpha Phi has been a lifetime membership for me, and the friendships have been the reason I have continued my volunteer service. I believe that working with the collegiate members has been the most rewarding experience. Coaching and mentoring is very valuable to me. To have former officers contact me as young alumnae to thank me or bring me up to date on their new Alpha Phi volunteer experiences has made the long hours worthwhile. I believe it is each of our duties to bring the young members along and to help them transition into alumnae activities that will be beneficial to them and to the Fraternity as a whole.

DEANA KOONSMAN GAGE (Gamma Iota-Texas Tech)
Stephenville, Texas

Alumnae Chapter: Dallas, Texas

Fraternity History: IEB (2004-present); National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) delegation (1996-present), College Panhellenics committee (2002-present), NPC centennial committee (2002-03); Oklahoma (Phi) Team Sooner housing and finance committee (2006-present); collegiate membership strategy committee (CMSC) (2004-present); Alumnae Panhellenics committee (1996-02), Alumnae Panhellenic delegate (1978-80); Texas Tech (Gamma Iota) special governor (2001-present); Foundation director of finance (1994-98); district governor (1988-94); Texas/Arlington (Epsilon Lambda) chapter adviser (1975-76); Southwest Texas State (Zeta Kappa) chapter adviser (1987-88), recruitment adviser (1987); district reference chair (1984-86); Convention committee chair (1984); Arlington Mid-Cities alumnae chapter, president (1982-83).

Professional/Volunteer: retired faculty/instructor, Tarleton State University.

What Deanna values most about Alpha Phi: I truly value the friendships I have shared as a member of Alpha Phi. I believe that it is always important in a leadership role to make decisions based on the identified values of an organization. Therefore, it is important to me to be involved with organizations and employers where I share and support their values. Fortunately Alpha Phi has a core set of values that closely align to my personal ones. I strongly value respect for other people and organizations and honesty in all dealings. As an IEB member I have tried to respect and value both volunteers and staff members in my decision-making.  

JULIE KING GOMEZ (Gamma Xi-Wichita State)
Saratoga, Calif.

Alumnae Chapter: Silicon Valley, Calif.

Fraternity History: CMSC (2008-present); Washington State (Beta Rho) team lead (2006-present); strategic planning evaluation committee (2001-02); Santa Clara (Zeta Gamma) recruitment adviser (2001-07); district governor (1994-97); Alpha Phi 2000 task force (1993-94); district alumnae chair (1993-94); Wichita State (Gamma Xi) chapter adviser (1990-93), advisory board (1987-90).

Professional/Volunteer: director of corporate development, Granite Construction, Inc.

Julie on what she values about Alpha Phi: For me, Alpha Phi is an ideal that is hopeful and virtuous. It’s like a family member who you’ve known all your life, you love them despite their warts, tantrums and shortcomings, and they love you back despite your own warts, tantrums and shortcomings. What Alpha Phi stands for keeps me committed to helping despite any setbacks or disappointments. There aren’t many things in life you can say that about. In the end, what I have valued most is looking into the eyes of a close Alpha Phi friend and knowing that we feel the same way.

SUSAN BRINK SHERRATT (Beta Beta-Michigan State)
Alameda, Calif.

Alumnae Chapter: East Bay, Calif.

Fraternity History: IEB (2004-present), vice president (2006-present), marketing task force (2007-present), communications committee (2004-present); Oklahoma (Phi) Team Sooner (2006); extension committee (2004-08); elections committee (2004-06); Foundation Board (1995-2004), chair (2000-04), vice chair (1998-2000); Foundation nominations commission (2004); assistant to the vice president of program development (1994-95); constitution committee (1992 and 2002); collegiate department administrator of MAP and recruitment (1990-94); district governor (1986-1991); field consultant (1980-81).

Professional/Volunteer: self-employed.

Susan on what she cherishes most about Alpha Phi and how the Fraternity’s values guide her:
I value the friendships I have made in more than 20 years of volunteering for Alpha Phi. The women I have met have improved the quality of my life; I have been extraordinarily fortunate. I have made lasting friendships with women of all ages, with varying interests and from various cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. I treat everyone I work with with respect and seek her best qualities. Every member of Alpha Phi has something of value to contribute to the Fraternity. The women who encouraged me to take on new leadership roles expected two things of me: that I do my best in the job and that I mentor someone else. To me, that is the “ivy vine of friendship” – something I pass on at every opportunity.

AMY JORDAN TVRDIK (Omicron-Missouri)
St. Louis, Mo.

Alumnae Chapter: St. Louis Gateway, Mo.

Fraternity History: Foundation Board (2004-08), vice chair (2006-08); Missouri (Omicron) special governor (2003-present); chapter revitalization, team lead (1998-03), centennial celebration planning committee, programs chair (2005-present), house corporation board (1998-present), recruitment adviser (1995-03); Oklahoma (Phi) Team Sooner philanthropy/Foundation co-chair (2006); extension committee (2003-present); South Central region collegiate membership coordinator (2001-04), alumnae membership coordinator (2000-01); St. Louis Alumnae Panhellenic alternate delegate (2007-present); Columbia At-Large alumnae chapter, president (1998-00); Washington University (Zeta Upsilon) recruitment adviser (1993-94).

Professional/Volunteer: retired shoe designer, Brown Shoe Company; Junior League of St. Louis.

What Amy values most about Alpha Phi: Our greatest assets in Alpha Phi are the people, and what I value most are the relationships that I have formed through my membership. As a volunteer leader, I have learned to set expectations with others rather than impose my own ideas. I try to be realistic and have learned to be forgiving with volunteers because everyone has different priorities in life. I benefit from people being tough with me and recognize being a good leader means also holding others accountable. I respect other points of view, because without challenge there is no progress. We should all cherish the cheerleaders who are there to provide extra support during good and bad times. I believe in coaching future generations of volunteers so they share in the growth experience.

RENEE SMITH ZIMMERMAN ZAINER (Beta Epsilon-Arizona)
Centennial, Colo.

Alumnae Chapter: Denver, Colo.

Fraternity History: Oklahoma (Phi) Team Sooner (2004-06), lead (2006- present); Colorado (Beta Gamma) Team Boulder lead (2001-present), chapter adviser (2003-present), colonization team (1989-90); CMSC (2002-04), chair (2004-06); special district governor (1995-97); International recruitment administrator (1989-90), (1994-97); Alpha Phi 2000 (93-94); International vice president of program development (1994); field consultant (1988-89).

Professional/Volunteer: retired sales recruiter and trainer.

Renee on what she values most about Alpha Phi: My experiences, whether as a collegiate member or a member of the CMSC, led me to value Alpha Phi and its members’ endless desire for continued improvement. We are an organization that strives to achieve more and more. The effort our organization spends on improving our members’ experiences and increasing our competitive abilities is endless.