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Club Spotlight:
THE WHARTON CLUB OF
THE TRIANGLE: A NEW
CLUB TAKES FLIGHT
Raleigh, NC, and the surrounding
area have a thriving,
deep-rooted tradition
of collegiate sports—most
famously, ACC basketball.
Unfortunately, the technology
sector employers in
nearby Research Triangle
Park have not fared as well
as the college sports teams.
The resulting downsizing
and closings have made the
area a transient one, with
families coming and going
at a rapid pace. This turnover
had made it difficult
to establish a Club in the
so-called Triangle area. For
those who wanted to get
involved, the nearest Club
was over two hours away in
Charlotte.
Then in the spring of
2004, several Wharton
grads got together to discuss
starting a local Alumni
Club. It was obvious from
the first gathering that, although
the Triangle area was
a mid-tier metropolitan area
with only a few hundred
Wharton alumni, there was
plenty of interest and excitement
in establishing a Club.
So soon after a few planning
meetings and brainstorming,
the Wharton Club of
the Triangle was born.
Sanctioned in July 2004,
the Club has gotten off to
a fast start. Led by Kevin
Brimhall, WG'93, and a
steering committee of fellow
alumni, the Club has
put together a strong slate
of events. Social events have
included happy hours at
local establishments, including
a coffeehouse owned
by Gray Medlin, WG'80;
a cooking class at a classic
Italian eatery; and a wine
tasting and "Wine 101"
discussion at a wine shop
owned by Bill O'Neill,
WG'94. The summer was
highlighted by a discussion
with Jason Santamaria,
WG'01, about his book The
Marine Corps Way. In the
fall, Dr. David Hughes,
WG'60, a retired professor
of Marketing at Kenan-Flagler Business School,
UNC-Chapel Hill, led a fun
and interactive session on
a creative problem-solving
methodology that is applicable
to all aspects of one's
life, work, and family. In
December, Club members
gathered at the NC Food
Bank to sort food and help
fight hunger during the
holiday season.
The Club is also
building networks with
other alumni clubs. Jason
Santamaria and Aron
Lelental, WG'88, worked
with the clubs of Harvard,
Stanford, Duke's Fuqua,
UNC's Kenan-Flagler, Yale,
and NC State to form the
Triangle MBA Alumni
Association (TMBAAA).
While "Wharton Club
only" events will continue,
they will be augmented
by TMBAAA functions.
Recent events included a
dinner with a speaker on the
topic of Paying the Human
Costs of War, and a case
discussion on South African
breweries.
If you are moving to
or visiting the Raleigh
area, please drop a line to
trianglewhartonclub@hotmail.com for info
about the Club's upcoming
events. You can also
visit the Club online at
www.wharton.upenn.edu/alumniclubs/.
—Kevin Brimhall,
WG'93, President
Wharton Club of
the Triangle
illkevbrim@mindspring.com
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