Brian G. Clarke, Columbus Indiana, ‘76 Initiate
Name: Brian G. Clarke
Initiation Year: Columbus Indiana, ‘76
Degree: BS of Human Resources & Labor Relations – O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Went on to earn an MBA from Northwestern University.
What made you want to join Phi Psi? At the time I was heading off to school it was upon the recommendation of one of my next door neighbors and best friends – David Rau. David began speaking to me about Indiana Beta while I was a senior in high school – the quality of the house and its brothers, Chapter activities and its rich history. After attending a Spring rush event, I was offered a bid to move directly into the house. I hit Bloomington in the Fall of 1975 with several close friends at my side and I was off and running!
What are some of your cherished Phi Psi memories? Honestly, there are so many it’s tough to list just a few. That said, what was so great about that time was just how active and vibrant Greek life was on campus and then (as all alums remember), the position Phi Psi enjoyed on campus. The memories – everything from our nightly dinners, to our biannual Dance of The Arabian Nights. In-between, there were multiple IU Sings, serenades at sorority houses, our pledge class singing at the Bryan House at a pregame reception held by then President John Ryan. There were the keggers, the National Championship in ‘76 and of course, our Little 500 win in 1978. I would also be remiss if I did not mention that I’ll never forget that brother who was instrumental in my getting my first internship and how supportive the entire Chapter was in my run for Student Body President.
How are you currently involved with Phi Psi? I have been actively engaged with Indiana Beta – since our recolonization in 2017. Today, I serve as an Advisor to the Chapter under the leadership of Ed Hawes ’76 and play a lead role in philanthropy on behalf of the Chapter. In addition to this on-going work, I am also happily engaged with a group of active alumni to begin thinking about and planning for what lies ahead for the house and the Chapter overall. This work will include conducting a formal feasibility study with alumni to make sure that the Chapter (both the physical building as well as programmatic offerings) maintain its leading edge. Believe it or not, the house is coming up on 10 years of age and we want to make sure we plan on maintaining and improving on this exceptional house from an infrastructure standpoint. In addition – we need to be thinking about how we continue to attract and develop our undergraduates as leaders – both in the house and on campus (all of which prepares them for life after IU). With this in mind, and with the help of Phi Psi’s Foundation we will be having in-depth conversations with interested alumni over the next several months on the extent to which the alumni of Indiana Beta will support the case for a capital campaign.
Since graduating, what kind of work have you done? Industries, roles, etc., and where are you now? Thanks to Brother Jim Shook, I began my career as a labor relations consultant in Chicago. From there I moved into a Labor and Employee Relations Manager role with The Quaker Oats Company. It was at Quaker I met my wife, gained some recruiting experience (which would benefit me later) and then made the jump to First Chicago. After two years with First Chicago, I was asked to essentially change careers and to move into Treasure/Cash Management Sales for the bank. I spent about four years or so working through three roles and earning my master’s degree from Northwestern. A gent in my cohort at Northwestern talked me into joining three others and him to start a search firm – we did that in 1989 – establishing what is now Kensington International, Inc.
In 1990, the founding partners started an employee outplacement firm and then established an executive development business in 1998. While we sold the outplacement and executive development businesses to private equity in 2019, two of the founding partners (myself and one other) stayed with the search business. While I retired in 2021, our junior partners are running the firm, and business continues to thrive – very satisfying!
Today and as I always have – I am active in a variety of non-profit activities. Outside of my work with Indiana Beta, I serve on the board of IU Foundations Well House Society, am engaged with the O’Neill School’s Distinguished Alumni Council, am a Trustee (past Board Chair) of the Chicago Theological Seminary and am currently working with a group of individuals to stand up a not-for-profit looking to create internship/ apprenticeship opportunities for at-risk junior and seniors attending inner-city high schools.