New Arch Chapter Members Elected

Jim Garboden (University of Pittsburgh, 1988) was elected the 53rd international president of the Fraternity at the Orlando Karnea in 2016 and took office on August 15, 2016. Previously, he served as vice president and second vice president and served two terms as treasurer.

He was first elected to the Arch Chapter in 1999 as the Eastern Division president and re-elected in 2001. He also served as chairman of the Committee on Chapters during that period. Following a two-year hiatus, Garboden was elected to a third term as Eastern Division president in 2005 and served until his election as the Fraternity’s secretary at the 2006 Indianapolis Karnea.

As a Delta Tau Delta alumnus Garboden has served as a division vice president for the Eastern Division as well as house corporation treasurer and president for two different corporations at the same time. He was a recipient of the W. J. Fraering Award in 1996.

Professionally, Garboden is the owner of the Whitfield Group in Pittsburgh where he assists his clients in talent acquisition and human resources issues.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa., Garboden received his B.A. in political science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1988. He currently resides outside of Pittsburgh.

Other officers elected to the Arch Chapter at the Orlando Karnea include:

Steve Paquette (Syracuse University, 1977) as international vice president. Previously he served as second vice president, treasurer and secretary to the Fraternity. He also served as president of the Eastern Division from 1981-1985. Professionally, he is a senior litigation partner at Bousquet Holstein PLLC in Syracuse, New York where he lives with Cindy, his wife of 32 years, and his three daughters.

John Hancock (Whitman College, 1987) was elected second vice president at the Orlando Karnea in 2016. He was first elected to the Arch Chapter in 2012 as secretary and then served as treasurer from 2014-2016. Additionally, he served as a chapter consultant and the Fraternity’s first director of leadership development in the early 1990s, where he helped launch the Fraternity’s Leadership Academy and Adopt-a-School programs. He also served as director of membership before leaving the Central Office after seven years. Professionally, he is the president of Junior Achievement of Oregon and resides in Portland with his wife, Roodi.

Bruce Peterson (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1975) was elected treasurer at the Orlando Karnea in 2016. He previously served on the Arch Chapter from 2007-2011 as Northern Division president and chairman of the Committee on Chapters and was elected secretary at the New Orleans Karnea in 2014. Professionally, Peterson retired from SBC in November 2000 with 28 years of service. He is serving as CIO for Uline Shipping Supply Specialist in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Peterson resides in Crystal Lake Illinois and is married and has two sons.

Rosario Palmieri (American University, 1999) was elected secretary of the Fraternity at the Orlando Karnea in 2016. Previously he served as the Chairman of the Arch Chapter’s Corporate Governance Committee and as a division vice president for the Washington, D.C. chapters. He served as Southern Division president from 2007 to 2011. Prior to his election to the Arch Chapter, he served as chapter advisor, assistant advisor, and phonarch. Professionally, Palmieri serves as the vice president for labor, legal and regulatory policy at the National Association of Manufacturers in Washington, DC.

Scott A. Heydt (Moravian College, 2002) was elected director of academic affairs in 2008 and re-elected at the 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 Karneas. He previously served the Fraternity as a chapter leadership consultant, Eastern Division vice president of academics, summer consultant trainer, and conference/Karnea facilitator. Professionally, he is the founder and owner of RefinED Character, an educational consulting company specializing in social emotional learning for K-12 and collegiate communities.

These six officers join the ranks of the five ongoing division presidents, which include:

  • Eastern Division President, Bryan S. Adams (Gamma Nu, Maine, 2007)
  • Northern Division President, Mark R. Starr (Zeta, Case Western Reserve, 1995)
  • Southern Division President, Charles D. “Tiger” Edwards (Epsilon Phi, Southeastern Louisiana, 1973)
  • Western Pacific Division President, Michael R. Tankersley, Jr. (Theta Psi, College of Idaho, 2005)
  • Western Plains Division President, T. Dan Loving (Delta Chi, Oklahoma State, 1972)