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Chapter Advisor Profile: Dave Eck

Advisor to Zeta Iota Chapter (Old Dominion)

At this year’s International Convention, Dave Eck (Toledo, Epsilon Epsilon ‘04), chapter advisor to Zeta Iota Chapter at Old Dominion University, was the recipient of the 2007-2008 Chapter Advisor of the Year Award. Eck moved from Toledo to Virginia in 1990 to pursue his MBA at Virginia Tech and has been involved as an advisor to Zeta Iota since their rechartering in 1994. He became their chapter advisor in 2005. Eck currently works as a national sales manager for Glass Baron in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He and his wife, Kristie, enjoy spending time with their two sons, Dillan and Trevor.

The Shield & Diamond had a conversation with Eck about his success as an advisor, what it means to him, and what advice he has for Pike alumni who would consider serving as an advisor with the Fraternity.

Why is the advisor role important to the long term success of our undergraduate chapters?

From a Fraternity standpoint, the advisor is able to educate the undergraduates on what has worked in the past and what has failed with year-to-year operations. He’s able to preserve the successful ideas, programs, and traditions that can easily become lost over time. An advisor also provides support by simply being there year to year. It keeps the men enthusiastic and energized knowing there are alumni who will support the men through good times and bad. The advisor also has the ability to offer undergraduates valuable knowledge, advice, and resources to better prepare them for life after college.

What is the biggest role you play with Zeta Iota on a week-to-week basis?

I’m able to help the men see the big picture and long term goals as a chapter of this Fraternity. When the men get side tracked, I help readjust their priorities and put them back on track to focus on the bigger picture. Instead of devoting their attention all semester towards spending thousands of dollars on a formal, I ask the men, why not focus on organizing a philanthropy event on campus that will have a longer lasting impact?

At the end of the day, the great thing about these men is that they do not depend on me. Instead they look to me, as an advisor, for stability and guidance. As their advisor, I help bring them back down to earth and the reality we face being a Fraternity.

It can be difficult to keep the focus on the bigger picture and long term goals from time to time. How do you handle overcoming difficult times with the chapter?

When things are not going well with the chapter, I have always been a firm believer in looking to your fellow Pike chapters for advice on improving your internal operations. We have so many excellent chapters all across this country – why not take advantage of the great programs that make them consistently excellent chapters?

What advice would you give to an alumnus who is considering serving a chapter in an advisory role?

Quit second guessing yourself! Get in touch with the local chapter and other alumni and make it happen. Even if you don’t want to be an advisor, go to at least one or two events each year and show your support for the undergraduates. It will not only reconnect you with the Fraternity, but it can reconnect you with the University and the campus pride on a local level. It will continue to keep you young.

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One can only be so humble when being asked to speak about his accomplishments as an advisor to a group of undergraduates. After speaking with Eck, the Shield & Diamond also spoke with Matthew Harrell ’06, president of Zeta Iota Chapter, about Eck’s impact on the chapter.

Since Dave became your chapter advisor four years ago, what kind of impact has he had on the chapter?

He is incredible! He’s always there to talk with you one on one, he’s present at chapter meetings, executive board meetings each week, and he’s always there to listen. I know that I can call on him at the end of the meeting to address the chapter as an advisor, someone that every man in the chapter respects and will listen to. Yet when he speaks, the men know that he doesn’t try to control what we do, tell us how we have to do something, or try to run the chapter.

Zeta Iota went through some tough times five years ago. How has Dave helped get Zeta Iota through those difficult times?

He led by example. Dave Eck’s leadership is why Zeta Iota is where it is today. We took an Orians Chapter Excellence Award at this summer’s Convention! When I was a freshman in 2005, we were $12,000 in debt, members were quitting, and Zeta Iota was truly at a low point in our chapter history. Dave guided us through those dark days and was the catalyst that focused our efforts on rebuilding the chapter. He advised us on how to pay off the chapter debt, recruit more quality men, and regain our image and reputation on campus. I think the results speak for themselves. None of that would be possible without Dave.

 

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