Coordinated by FEA and FFE

(with programming from FHA)

fraternal industry

Executive Think-In

Fraternity Executives Association and Foundation for Fraternal Excellence are partnering to host an Executive Think-In retreat in October in Indianapolis. This event will be the first of its kind to connect leaders from the fraternity, foundation and housing arms in one space — and the first to connect a broad range of chief staff officers in person in over a year.

• Who: Chief staff officers of fraternity/sorority membership organizations, foundations and/or national housing corporations.
• When: Monday, October 25 and Tuesday, October 26, 2021.
• Where: Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
• Cost: $250 per attendee.

Registration is now closed. Please contact FFE Executive Director Ashley VanDewark with questions regarding registration.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Dave Rodriguez

CEO and Founder, Destinyworks, LLC

Executive Leadership, The Reset

Kevin Kruger

CEO, NASPA

2021-2022 Trends in Higher Education

Heather Matthews Kirk

Chief Communications Officer, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

Fraternities & Sororities Matter: Prove It.

Niya Blair Hackworth

Director of Inclusion, NCAA

Solid Foundation: Leading in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

EVENT DETAILS

Hotel Information

Join us in Indianapolis for executive leadership and collaborative education and crucial peer networking.

• Block room rate: $165 per night.
• Address: Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, 350 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis, IN 46225 (Map)
• Parking: $47 per day in the Marriott self-park garage. Additional options available nearby.

DEADLINE

Event registration and the hotel room block close October 1.

Schedule and Sessions

This is an incredible and unique new opportunity for fraternal leaders to come together after a long hiatus. Read more on what’s included in the program below and register.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 25

1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

COHORT SESSIONS

• Fraternity/Sorority — Topic: FEA Business Meeting
• Foundation
• Housing

3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Break

3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

GENERAL SESSION

Executive Leadership, The Reset: Emerging from a tough year stronger and more confident

Dave Rodriguez, CEO and Founder, Destinyworks, LLC

To move from a year of chaos and discomfort to one of renewed confidence and anticipation will require some significant processing. During this session we will ponder the good but hard questions that will lead us to resetting our lives, our leadership and our teams.

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

RECEPTION

Dinner on your own

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26

Breakfast on your own

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

GENERAL SESSION

2021-2022 Trends in Higher Education

Kevin Kruger, CEO, NASPA

Prior to the global pandemic, there were already macro forces that were affecting the future work of student affairs. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated many of these changes and will have a lasting impact on the delivery of student affairs and the resources and issues that center the work on college campuses. Dr. Kruger will review these issues and provide his thoughts on the critical changes all student affairs professionals should consider in the coming years.

10:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m. | Break

10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

GENERAL SESSION

Fraternities & Sororities Matter: Prove It.

Heather Matthews Kirk, Chief Communications Officer, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

We know the experience our organizations provide is life-changing and has a positive impact on our communities. Yet, amidst polarizing campus protests, our collegians struggle to answer tough questions from their peers. Our volunteers are navigating increasingly complex dynamics, and some question if their time is worth it. And our donors are deterred by negative media headlines, asking more and more often, "Is this still relevant?" We have a good story to tell, and too often, we simply don't share it. In the last 18 months, more research than ever has proven the value of fraternities and sororities, from how we boost members' success to our impact on positive mental health, and from the connections membership furthers to the advantages members see in their careers. This interactive session will explore how to use our own "story" to advocate for the experience, and reinforce the clear value of fraternities and sororities with our most important stakeholders -- our members. It's time.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

LUNCH

12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

GENERAL SESSION

Solid Foundation: Leading in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Niya Blair Hackworth, Director of Inclusion, NCAA

During this interactive and engaging session, we will discuss how to take your DEI strategy from good to great and explore how other collegiate student organizations foster cultures of belonging within their communities. Attendees have been asked to bring their organization's DEI policies to this session.

2:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Break

2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

COHORT BREAKOUTS

• Fraternity
• Sorority
• Foundation
• Housing

5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

RECEPTION AND DINNER

At Chef JJ's, 42 W. South St., Indianapolis, IN 46225 (Map)
Sponsored by Herff Jones

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m an executive of one or more of our organization’s entities. Am only I invited or can I bring others from my team?

Who is FEA?

Who is FFE?

Who is FHA?

What are the health and safety/COVID-19 protocols?

I’m a vendor/partner. Can I attend the event?

For additional questions or help, your contacts are:

It’s up to each organization to make this decision based on what’s right for its leadership. Organizers encourage attendance from each/all chief staff officers who lead the respective entities. This may mean one organization sends up to three representatives (i.e. President and CEO, Foundation Director and Housing Director). Registration deadline is October 1.

The Fraternity Executives Association is the professional association of men’s and women’s fraternity executives. FEA provides for the professional development of its members while promoting the values and success of the fraternal movement. Learn more at fea-inc.org.

Foundation for Fraternal Excellence’s membership consists of more than 65 fraternity and sorority foundations, including their professionals and volunteers. FFE offers critical and pointed services to the representatives of our member foundations and the industry. Learn more at foundationfe.org.

Fraternal Housing Association, Inc. provides education and support for fraternal housing professionals. Learn more at fraternalhousing.org.

Organizers will follow CDC and Indianapolis Marriott Downtown guidelines which encourage mask wearing in public, indoor settings. Organizers will continue to carefully monitor CDC and local guidelines and will keep attendees updated.

This event is intended to be intimate and will therefore have a limited guest list for non-executives. Contact Ashley VanDewark for more information about your eligibility to attend.

For help with registration, contact FFE Executive Director Ashley VanDewark.
For questions about curriculum, contact FEA Executive Director Nicki Meneley.
For hotel questions, contact either executive director.