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President of Integra Realty Evaluates the Importance of the Phi Psi Market
"Fraternity life was great," says Jeffrey Rogers, W&L ‘87, "but truthfully I received more from my membership after I graduated and began to see the enormous value in networking through Phi Psi. For me, it's been extremely beneficial."
Directly after earning his BA in Economics in 1991, Brother Rogers attended law school at Washington and Lee University. He wanted something "different" for his first job, and recalls discovering that one of the executives of a firm for whom he interviewed was a Phi Psi. "The whole networking thing started then, and I've made so many more friends since. Some of my best friends are Phi Psi brothers." |
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After meeting Brother Jerry Nelson, UCLA ‘47, Jeffrey says he learned something more. "Being successful doesn't mean a whole lot unless you have a passion for giving back. That's Jerry's whole story, and the thing that changed his life was the Fraternity." Since then, Brother Rogers has come to gain a particular appreciation for his fellow Phi Psi's hospitality in hosting undergraduate and alumni chapters at his vast estate property in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
"It's a lesson I try to live by. I can't do what Jerry has done, but in any little way, I try to foster that Phi Psi bond and keep it strong and give back."
Following his graduation from law school, Brother Rogers practiced corporate law with NationsBank Corporation before returning to the Darden School at the University of Virginia to pursue his MBA.
His career as a financial adviser advanced through several positions of increasing responsibility until he founded ReturnBuy, a corporation that assisted manufacturers and retailers in recapturing value on returned, overstock and end-of-life inventory. "In four years, we took it from the two of us to 175 employees. Then we sold it to a public company."
Today, Jeffrey Rogers is the President and COO of Integra Realty Resources, the largest real estate valuation and counseling firm in the U.S. His responsibilities include leadership of the corporation's 56 offices and 825 employees throughout the U.S. and Mexico. In his three year tenure with Integra, the company has seen a sales rise by more than two thirds, from $61 million to more than $100 million.
"I owe a lot to Phi Kappa Psi," he says. "Today's undergraduates are so fortunate to have the leadership conference opportunities we didn't have. These programs enable them to meet successful alumni - professional people who are out there and willing to teach them the basics . . . how to prepare for an interview, how to treat women and colleagues with respect and how to manage their time and finances.
"One component I'd like to see more of is networking. A lot of members go through their undergraduate years and then lose touch with the Fraternity. It is important to view the Fraternity as a conduit for networking. Simple things such as logging into the Foundation's website or updating your address assist in connecting brothers from across the country. Also, attending alumni ROADSHOW events which are hosted in a major cities is a phenomenal start for an alumnus who hasn't been connected for years."
Jeffrey Rogers works and lives in mid-town Manhattan between Times Square and Central Park. He and his fiancé plan to marry this August.
We want to be a part of your story! Tell us where you are, what you've been doing or a great story from your past. We are looking for undergraduates, alumni and donors to tell us their Phi Psi story. Whether you have a personal testimony or have a fellow brother in mind, the Foundation wants to hear from you - simply contact us at phipsifocus@pkpfoundation.org.
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