The first episode of Season 3 features Vincent Marsala, SAE alumnus and Superintendent for Turner Construction Company. Most recently, he oversaw the construction of LA’s brand new So-Fi Stadium. So-Fi Stadium is home to the LA Chargers and LA Rams and will host Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College Football Championship in 2023, and the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the Olympics in 2028.
Foundation CEO Steve Mitchell interviewed Vincent over Zoom earlier this year about his unique journey.
He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, enlisting shortly after graduating from high school. Following his service, he studied civil engineering at Cal State Poly-Pomona, where he became an SAE in his mid-twenties.
In addition to his work with Turner Construction, Vincent is active in several professional associations and his local community. He serves as a mentor for ACE Mentor Program of America, Inc., which supports high school students interested in architecture, construction, and engineering.
He is also the southern California liaison for Veterans Resource Group at Turner Construction, is a lecturer for USC’s Master of Business for Veterans program, and was the Keynote Speaker for Cal State Poly-Pomona’s Veteran Future Forward event.
Tune in today for this episode which focuses on the importance of goal setting, self-reflection, and getting out of your comfort zone. Vincent attributes his success to saying, “I want to be that guy,” and then finding a way to make it happen. Vincent also discusses the importance of his SAE membership, how it positively changed his life and encourages brothers to take advantage of their membership and all that it offers. We also asked him about all of the extraordinary aspects of So-Fi Stadium, from technology to infrastructure.
TG Talk is brought to you by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation and Fraternity and is an opportunity to engage with staff, volunteers, undergraduates, and notable alumni. Join us for discussions on all things SAE, including chapter operations, alumni engagement, university relations, ritual, and values. Additionally, TG Talk is a speaker series. We feature guest speakers focusing on leadership, professional development, and current events. As True Gentlemen, we must always strive to rise above. One of the ways we do that is by continuously learning.
If you have ideas for upcoming topics, questions, or if your chapter has exciting news to share with the Realm, connect with us at communications@sae.net. You can find the podcast by searching for TG Talk on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the Anchor app.
We look forward to connecting with you. Be sure to subscribe to receive notifications when new episodes are available.
Watch Episode 1 of Season 3 on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Anchor.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of a new national scholarship fund; The Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, which was built by the frontline workers who help keep our brothers and communities safe every day. This fund will benefit the children of SAE law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and brothers pursuing a career in law enforcement.
In 2018, SAE proudly unveiled the Law Enforcement and Officer Memorial statue at the Levere Memorial Temple.
The memorial was designed to honor brothers who have fallen since 2000. Province Chi Archon Matt Jones (Cal Poly-Pomona ’97) was present the day the memorial was revealed and is now going another step forward, leading the charge to start this new scholarship.
The San Diego native worked for the Los Angeles Police Department for 11 years before being medically retired after an accident working in the field. Today he works for the County of Riverside as the Safety and Threat Assessment Coordinator in Riverside, CA.
The memorial was inspired after Jones learned about many police officers who were in SAE. However, two fallen brothers stuck out to him.
“Come to find out, there’s a ton of cops in SAE,” Jones said. “I want to say it was 2015, I got a call from the Province Archon at the time, and he told me that a member of California Epsilon, who was a police officer in Bakersfield, had been killed in the line of duty.”
After those two deaths, Jones began the process of raising money for the memorial that was eventually revealed in 2018 at the Levere Memorial Temple.
Jones and many brothers he met along the way were able to partner with chapters across the Realm to host fundraising events. The brothers at Maine Alpha were the first to contribute to the cause.
“We fundraised, fundraised, and fundraised, and then the idea of a scholarship started to form because, at that point, we had more money than we knew what to do with. The statue was already covered, and so that’s when the scholarship started,” Jones said.
Jones started a Facebook page called the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Law Enforcement Memorial, where many police officers across the Realm share stories of fallen brothers.
“I started compiling more and more cops. They’re out there,” Jones said.
“This thing is never going to stop as long as I’m alive. I’m going to keep fundraising for this, and I’m going to do whatever I can to make that fund grow,” Jones said. “We have a lot of guys that are in law enforcement that I just wouldn’t have thought. It’s just amazing how many you find, and it’s just going to keep growing.”
This scholarship is available to members who are pursuing a career in law enforcement and children of brothers killed in the line of duty.
To contribute to this fund, please click here and select Law Enforcement Memorial Fund from the dropdown menu.
And the Winners for 2017-2018 are…
John O. Moseley Award for Fraternity Zeal
California State University—San Marcos
The John O. Moseley Zeal Award recognizes the chapter that best exemplifies a model chapter in Sigma Alpha Epsilon. This chapter excels in its operations and brotherhood, fulfilling the vision of our Founding Fathers and its members and by living the life of a true gentleman. This chapter goes above and beyond expectations and demonstrates true zeal and excitement for the Fraternity, exhibiting a strong bond of brotherhood.
True Gentleman of the Year
Dustin Stewart, Armstrong State University
The True Gentleman of the Year Award is the highest honor the Fraternity can bestow on an undergraduate brother. The award, first given in 2000, is presented annually to an undergraduate who has been determined to be the most outstanding collegiate in Sigma Alpha Epsilon, considering scholastic achievement, fraternity involvement, university leadership and community service.
Most Improved Chapter
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Prescott
The Most Improved Chapter Award is the award that compares a then-and-now scenario and how the chapter took a less-than-optimal situation to turn its problems into progress.
Harry S. Bunting Outstanding Colony of the Year
Arizona State University
The Harry S. Bunting Colony Award recognizes the best colony in the Realm.
Chapter Achievement
California State Polytechnic University—Pomona
Carnegie Mellon University
Christian Brothers University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Prescott
Emory University
Florida Southern College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Kansas State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Millsaps College
Nicholls State University
North Dakota State University
Oklahoma State University
Oregon State University
Rhodes College
Rutgers University
Salisbury University
St. Louis University
Towson University
Union University
University of California—Riverside
University of Cinncinnati
University of Dayton
University of Evansville
University of New Haven
University of Tennessee—Knoxville
University of Toledo
Western Illinois University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Youngstown State University
Outstanding Chapter Alumni Relations
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Brandon Weghorst Outstanding Chapter Communication
Kansas State University
Outstanding Chapter Member Education
Nicholls State University
Outstanding Chapter Financial Managment
Simpson College
Outstanding Chapter Health & Safety
University of Evansville
Outstanding Chapter Housing
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Joseph A. Mancini Outstanding Chapter Service & Philanthropy
University of New Haven
Kimball-Phelps Award for Outstanding Chapter Singing
North Dakota State University
Robert C. Cousins Outstanding Chapter Recruitment
University of Cincinnati
Outstanding Chapter Scholarship
Gustavus Adolphus College
Smith-Huffman Outstanding Chapter Management
North Dakota State University
Outstanding University Relations
Nicholls State University
Bradley M. Cohen Eminent Archon of the Year Award & Scholarship
Joseph Shelton, University of Tennessee—Knoxville
M. Todd Buchanan Recruitment Chairman Award & Scholarship
Anthony Pantano, University of Dayton
Kenneth D. Tracey Award & Scholarship for Interfraternal Leadership
Dylan Che, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—Prescott
Outstanding Eminent Archons
Joseph Shelton, University of Tennessee—Knoxville
Grant Maris, North Dakota State University
Max Flick, Florida Southern College
Clayton Converse, Mississippi State University
Outstanding Eminent Treasurers
Joshua Kavanagh, Kansas State University
Andrew Mosteller, University of Tennessee—Knoxville
Brandon Riedemann, University of Wyoming
Dave Walker, St. Louis University
Outstanding Chapter Advisors
Beau Bateman, North Dakota State University
Bill Dowell, Birmingham Southern College
John Ellis, Central Oklahoma University
Daniel Gladding, University of Maryland-College Park
Nathan Schwiethale, Wichita State University
Jon Shay, University of Colorado—Boulder
Bill Fiscus Outstanding Area Alumni Association
Greater Atlanta Alumni Association
Outstanding Chapter Alumni Association
Kentucky Epsilon Alumni Association
Outstanding House Corporation
Tennessee Delta SAE Alumni Housing Corporation
Outstanding Alumni Association & House Corporation Communication
Oregon Alpha Alumni Association (Print)
San Diego Alumni Association (Electronic)
San Diego Alumni Association (Website)
Outstanding Alumni Association Special Event or Project
Florida Chi Alumni Association
Stuart Zoock Outstanding Advisory Board
Oregon Alpha Alumni Association