Meet Our Leadership

Michael J. Corelli

Eminent Supreme Archon

Corelli was initiated into the Northern Illinois University chapter (Illinois Gamma) as part of its phoenix colony in 1998. He held many roles in the chapter, most notably three-term Eminent Archon. Corelli served the Fraternity on the national level as a Leadership School Staff Member, an undergraduate representative on the Permanent Committee on the Fraternity Laws, and undergraduate liaison of the Province Mu Council.

Corelli received his bachelor’s degree in health administration from Northern Illinois University in 2001 and, in 2009, he earned his master’s degree in education with a focus on college student personnel from Western Carolina University. Currently, Corelli serves as the Chief Operating Officer/Manager of Business Development for Eagle Environmental Solutions where he oversees the day-to-day business operations and growth of the company.

Corelli previously worked in Higher Education for over twelve years, where he worked with fraternity and sorority life student leaders, student clubs and organizations, student government, and oversaw an academic leadership minor and leadership development programs. In addition, Corelli has been recognized as a student organization advisor of the year, an outstanding university staff member in the division of student affairs, and has served as a member of a university strategic planning committee and chairperson for a quality enhancement plan, where he guided the implementation of an initiative to enhance the learning and involvement opportunities for students and campus community members.

In 2001, Corelli joined the Fraternity Service Center staff and aided in the growth of the organization and in chapter development for six years. As the Director of Extension and Chapter Development, he oversaw the addition of 54 new and phoenix colonies across the Realm as well as the overall chapter development, recruitment, risk management, and expansion of the brotherhood. As an alumnus, Corelli served in various roles, including both Illinois Gamma and North Carolina Omega Chapter Adviser, a faculty member for both province and regional Leadership Schools, and a faculty member for the John O. Moseley Leadership School since 2001. He also served as Province Omicron Archon, member of the National Education Advisory Council, and chairman of the National Recruitment Committee.

Since joining the Fraternity, Corelli has been awarded the Outstanding Eminent Archon Award and is a recipient of both the Order of the Lion and Order of Minerva Awards and, in 2013, was awarded the Merit Key Award.

Corelli resides in Southern Maryland with his wife, Kimberly, and their two daughters, Kaitlyn and Khloe.

Michael S. Rodgers

Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon

Rodgers joined the chapter at The College of William & Mary (Virginia Kappa) in 1990. He served his chapter in several roles, including Eminent Deputy Archon and Special Events Chairman. He graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, in public policy. In 1996, he graduated from Emory University's School of Law with a Juris doctorate.

Rodgers is a retired real estate attorney, formerly with DLA Piper LLP, one of the world's largest law firms. He represented companies that develop, build and invest in commercial, mixed-use, and residential real estate projects throughout the United States and abroad. His practice also included corporate law, with a focus on charitable and non-profit organizations.

Rodgers's alumnus service to the Fraternity spans 29 years. In 2019, Rodgers was re-elected to the Supreme Council and presently serves as its Eminent Supreme Warden. Past positions include President and Director for SAE Financial & Housing Corporation, Province Epsilon-Alpha Archon, Province Epsilon Archon, Virginia Kappa Alumni Association President, Greater Atlanta Alumni Association Director, and Georgia Phi Chapter Advisor. He has served as a Faculty Member at numerous national, regional, and province leadership schools, including the John O. Moseley Leadership School, the DeVotie Ritual Institute, and the Executives Academy.

Rodgers is the recipient of the Merit Key, Order of Minerva, and Order of the Lion Awards, and has been recognized by the Supreme Council as Province Archon of the Year. He is also the recipient of the Bob Cousins Zeal Award for his sustained contributions to the Greater Atlanta Alumni Association.

Rodgers originally hails from Staunton, Virginia, and he now resides in Atlanta, Georgia. He has an 11-year-old daughter, Harper, and their beloved dog, Dixie Belle.

Mark W. McDonough

Eminent Supreme Warden

McDonough was initiated at the Youngstown University Chapter (Ohio Alpha) in January of 1993. During his time as an undergraduate, he served in multiple roles within the chapter and university organizations. McDonough earned his BE in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Youngstown State University in 1998. After working in his industry for some time, he earned his MBA in 2008.

Operating out of Ohio, McDonough is a Geographic Discipline Leader for the firm Colliers Engineering & Design. He has spent his time dedicated to the telecommunication aspect of Civil Engineering during his career, deploying America's most extensive wireless networks and safety systems. In his community, he volunteers as a coach for his children and serves on a team with his wife Jennifer in their church's pre-marriage program, helping guide engaged couples. He is also a proud Eagle Scout.

McDonough's volunteer work in SAE started with his home chapter, serving Ohio Alpha in multiple alumni roles. In 2006, McDonough began an eleven-year period volunteering at the Province level, culminating with a term as Chairman of the Council of Province Archons. McDonough was elected to the Supreme Council in 2017 and as Herald in 2019 at the Louisville Convention. He was proud to initiate his father, Ralph, in 2014. He has been recognized with the Order of the Lion and Minerva and most recently the Merit Key in 2015.

McDonough resides in the Cleveland, OH area with his wife Jennifer, daughter Coraline, son Conor and their dog Ruby.

Ben Johnson II

Eminent Supreme Herald

As a founding father of the UC-Irvine chapter (California Psi), Johnson was elected to serve as its Eminent Deputy Archon, leading the colony's development to its successful chartering. He remained involved as a young alumnus serving as a chapter advisor for his home chapter and neighboring UC-Riverside (California Omicron). Johnson also founded the Southern California Area Alumni Association and the Cal Psi Chapter Alumni Association. 

In addition to serving as Alumni Association President for 12 years, he was elected as Province Chi-Alpha Deputy Archon and mentored all chapters in Southern California for seven years. He has been honored to serve the realm in numerous additional leadership roles as a faculty member of the John O. Moseley Leadership School and the Levere Leadership Institute; and as a member of the True Gentleman Task Force, the Eminent Supreme Recorder Search Committee, the Strategic Plan Committee, and most proudly as the Chairman of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. 

Johnson has been awarded the Order of the Lion, the Order of Minerva, and The Merit Key. He is the first African American National Board Member, elected to the Council as the Eminent Supreme Chronicler at the 163rd Anniversary Convention in Louisville, KY (2019). He currently serves as chair of the Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Committee and Liaison to the Governance Committee. 

In addition to his service to the Fraternity, Johnson has created a legacy of community service in Southern California. He was elected to the Alvord Unified School District Board of Education to an unprecedented five consecutive terms, serving for a total of twenty-one years. In addition to his service as a school board member, he has also served in a variety of not-for-profit and professional leadership and service roles, including as a member of the Board of Directors for Big Brothers & Big Sisters, a member of the Riverside Community Health Foundation, a member of the board of directors for the Youth Service Center and Director of Homeless Outreach, and Vice-Chairman of both the Human Relations Committee and the City of Riverside Charter Review.

He currently resides in Riverside, California, with Stacy, his wife of 30 years. Together they have raised four daughters: Rebekah, Anastacia, Rachel, and Abigail.

Jim L. Skaggs

Eminent Supreme Chronicler

Skaggs currently serves as the Secretary of the SAE Financial & Housing Corporation Board, is the Founder & President of the OKC/OKMU Alumni Association, and is a Vice-President of the OKMU House Corporation Board. Since becoming a member over 40 years ago, Jim has faithfully and consistently served the Fraternity. He previously served as the Province Archon and Deputy Archon of Province Sigma, a member of several national committees such as the Expansion Advisory and Health & Safety committees, faculty of the John O. Moseley, and Province Sigma Leadership Schools. He also had the honor of being the Marshall of the 2019 National Convention.

He has been awarded the Order of the Lion, Order of Minerva, and was honored with the Merit Key in 2013. As a member of the OKMU House Corporation Board, Skaggs created and ran a health & safety program about the dangers of alcohol use for the entire Greek community at Oklahoma State. Held on the chapter’s front lawn for 13 years, more than 23,000 OSU students attended this important program. Jim also founded and was the chapter advisor for the Oklahoma Sigma chapter at the University of Central Oklahoma.  For his work there, he received an Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award in 2020.

Brother Skaggs founded and has successfully served as President of the Charter Financial Group, Inc. since 1994. His brokerage firm provides financial services to insurance professionals in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Colorado. Jim lives in Edmond, Ok. with his wife Sally, who shares his passion for SAE. She has received the Order of the Violet for her dedication to our fraternity. He has a daughter, Kelsey, from his previous marriage.

Gary L. Garnand

Trustee Emeritus

Garnand pledged and was initiated into Idaho Alpha at the University of Idaho in the fall of 1965. As an undergraduate he served as Eminent Chronicler, Eminent Recorder, and Eminent Deputy Archon. In addition, he was Pledge Educator, Alumni chairman, and chairman of the 50th Anniversary of Idaho Alpha. He served on the initiation team with then ESA Paul B. Jacob and introduced our guest Rudy Valle (Maine Alpha) at the gala celebration. On campus he was on the IFC communications team and the IFC recruiting team.

Garnand graduated in the spring of 1970 with a degree in Marketing Management and went to work for Chef Reddy Foods, a potato processor.

In 1971, he founded Garnand Marketing, a fresh produce brokerage firm and in 1981 founded The Northwest Connection, a national refrigerated trucking company. Today he is the managing partner of both firms and still active in the day to day operations of the business. In addition, he has founded a community bank and served as both its vice chairman and chairman. He has also been involved in real estate development.

On the National Fraternity level, Garnand was the official chapter delegate to both the 1968 Leadership School and the 1969 San Francisco Convention. He has attended six national conventions and was the chairman of the Alumni Services committee for four years for the National Fraternity and was charged with creating the program and bringing it to the convention for ratification. He served Province Phi as Archon three times and has served on the SAE Foundation Board as well. He is currently the secretary of the F&H Board. In addition, he is the president of Zeta Chi Alpha Trust Company that is the house corporation for Idaho Alpha. He is also on the leadership team for Idaho Alpha’s alumni commission.

He holds the Order of the Phoenix, the Order of the Lion, and the Merit Key as well as other certificates and recognitions and is a Rudolph member of the SAE Foundation. He was the first Founder member of Idaho Alpha. He was the creator and chief fundraiser for the Vietnam memorial in the Levere Memorial Temple. It was in honor of all the brothers that served in Viet Nam and was in the likeness of Past ESA Clark Houston.

Garnand has received awards for outstanding service from the local Vandal Boosters (University of Idaho’s Athletic fundraising program) and the National Vandal Boosters. He served on the University of Idaho’s College of Business Advisory Board for 19 years and was on one Dean’s search team for the College. He has a scholarship in the College of Business for brothers at Idaho Alpha. He is a member of the Silver and Gold Society for the University of Idaho Foundation. He’s been president of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club and the chairman of the Twin Falls Urban Renewal Agency. He is the chairman of the Bowers Foundation, a local scholarship program, for the local Masons.

Garnand lives in Twin Falls, Idaho with his wife Lori who is the department chair for IT at the College of Southern Idaho.

Larry Jones

President

Jones was initiated into the Mississippi Theta chapter at Mississippi State University in 1969. During his undergraduate tenure, he served as Recruitment Chairman & Philanthropy Chairman. Upon graduation, he enrolled at the University of Mississippi School of Law, from which he graduated cum laude in 1977.

Currently, Jones is senior counsel for Baker Donelson, where he specializes in health care litigation, commercial litigation, toxic tort litigation, general tort litigation and real estate litigation including annexation and eminent domain litigation. He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America every year since 2015.

Additionally, Jones is a recipient of the Order of the Lion, Order of Minerva, and the Merit Key.