Alumni Spotlight: Jeff Silverman

Which years were you an undergrad at Alpha Pi?

I pledged in 1982 and graduated in 1988 (I took 2 years off between my sophomore and junior years.)

Which positions did you hold in the chapter?

Pledge President, Social Chairman, Sentinel

One funny AEPi story from your time at college:

We were going to the U.R.I. chapter for our pledge weekend (1982). We had stopped for pizza somewhere along the way. As we are ready to leave, the Master at the time whispers for us to walk quickly out the door. Once we get out side he yells "RUN...we didn't pay...hurry before they call the cops!!" All of us pledges sprint to the van, diving in, piling on top of each other, elbows & knees tangled, breathless, ducking down so no one can see us. We all thought we got away with dinner for free, a bunch of fresh faced felonious Temple students on the lam from a pizza shop. I didn't find out until almost 20 years later that the chapter didn't really blow off the dinner bill...the brothers just wanted to see us pledges falling over each other...scared of being arrested...ducking down, nervous. Too funny! It probably sets the record for the longest running gag in chapter history.

One piece of advice for undergraduate brothers:

FROM A FRATERNITY PERSPECTIVE: Enjoy everything the fraternity has to offer, experience everything you can. Get as involved as you can in the fraternity activities. Become a chapter officer. Join a chapter committee. College life passes quickly and you will look back and cherish the experiences and the friends you make in AEPi. Take it from someone who is living it: the friends you make in AEPi will be your closest friends for the rest of your life...they will unquestioningly be there to celebrate with you during great times and will support you and your family during life's rough moment. FROM A BASIC LIFE PERSPECTIVE: Protect your reputation while in college and beyond- if you are known by your friends and peers in as someone reliable and trustworthy, that will carry you throughout adulthood.

How has AEPi helped you since graduating?

Early in my career...close to 20 years ago...one of my closest AEPi friends (Scott Solomon) referred me to a position that became - in hindsight - a key catalyst to much of the professional achievement that, thank G-d, I am experiencing now. Aside from that situation, I have not proactively leveraged my AEPi experience for other business purposes, though opportunities do and can present themselves if you stay in touch with each other. What my AEPi brothers DO provide is a vital respite from the business world. Around my brothers, we can let our guard down, can be open and honest with worrying about the business ramifications. We can be who we are. We can also tease...relentlessly at times...each other. We judge each other on who we are, not what we have. As we all know, the business world is intensely competitive. One has to be "on their game" to maintain a high level of success. Every time I am with my brothers however, it's like a vacation...even if only for a few hours...from that arena. To me, that's significantly more important than the possible financial awards.

What do you do now professionally?

I am a Senior Solutions Consultant with Reynolds & Reynolds Company; a CRM, IT & eBusiness solutions company specializing in the automotive industry.

Are you married? Kids?

Married with two children

Which brothers have you most stayed in touch with?

Frequently throughout the the past 26 years: Robert Schiller (who passed away last year), Scott Solomon (Class of 1986), Mike Kelman (Class of 1983), Jeff Graber (Class of 1982), Paul Stein (Class of 1987), Mark Pokedoff (Class of 1984), Dan Grossman (Class of 1984) & Ken Katz (Class of 1986). I have recently been privilege to have reconnected with Eric Weiss (Class of 1983) and Jack Weinstein (Class of 1984) as well.

If brothers want to contact you, how can they?

Email- jeffsilverman@optononline.net or cell: (516) 232-0596

Pictures: Top right- (L-R) Jack Weinstein (Class of 1984) and Jeff today. Top left-Jeff in Spring 1983 at the fraternity alumni dinner. For more pictures of Jeff, visit the alumni photo webpage.

Next alumni spotlight: Jonathan Alexander (Class of 2007)