Q: What made you decide to join ATO?
A: Gamma Omega was at the very beginning of its refounding when I joined. I looked into other fraternities but found that the brothers at ATO had different energy; it felt like they were on a mission. I liked the idea of being able to build our own traditions rather than follow someone else’s.
Q: What influence did Gamma Omega have on your life?
A: In January of 1987, right after Penn State beat Miami 14-10 in the Fiesta Bowl, I was home for winter break during my junior year when a fire demolished my parent’s home. It was a challenging time both personally and financially, and as a result, I had to take a semester off to earn money. Upon returning to PSU that fall, the brothers allowed me to forgo some of my financial burdens to live in the house, which allowed me to continue with the school as a member of ATO. You never know how small acts of kindness can affect people’s lives.
Q: Where do you work now?
A: I’m the VP of North America Application Sales at Oracle. I work with a team focusing on supply chain management, transportation planning, and warehouse management software applications for large companies. My career has taken me around the world to Europe, India, Australia, and South America. Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with companies covering every industry and people from all walks of life.
Q: What motivated you to support the scholarship campaign?
A: It’s important to reward those who take on added responsibility, show leadership, and go the extra mile. This scholarship campaign shows tangible backing to what ATO represents and the values we claim. As a parent saving for my children’s college and all of the expenses that go with it, I would look at any organization my child would want to join and evaluate what it stands for. Twenty-five years from now, I hope the brotherhood of today can enjoy the same type of camaraderie that we all felt at our 25th reunion. I want to thank everyone who participated in the Domski Challenge this fall. It was great to see everyone come out and support these scholarships.
Q: Why do you think it’s important for others to support the campaign?
A: With a job that has me traveling three to four days a week and then coming home to help raise my three children, I have found that incorporating some sort of service into my life helps take me out of my own world and into the world of others. In doing so, I have gotten to know some of the most amazing people, people that I would have never gotten to meet otherwise. I’ve found it to be very rewarding. Spending time and money to support ATO brings this home to an organization where I personally benefited.
Eric and his wife of 16 years, Susan, reside in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and have three children: Jason (12) and twins Zach and Paige (10). He can be reached at [email protected].