Spring 2011 - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Alumni

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GIVING TO EMBRY-RIDDLEPersonal investmentDave Brown takes the personal approach when supporting Embry-RiddleLeft: Dave Brown withEmbry-Riddle studentSaul Meza, Procter &Gamble Scholarshiprecipient.Below: In 2002, DaveBrown and his son,Chris, welcome Rashadto the family for hisfirst Thanksgiving.Above: DaveBrown (right) andKen Robinson(left), a Procter &Gamble pilot andadjunct professorat Embry-RiddleWorldwide, sharesome time in aGulfstream G550with intern SaulMeza (fourth fromleft) and his family.Right: As a Procter& Gamble intern,Saul Meza helpsdistribute lifesavingtechnologythat provides cleandrinking water toTanzanian childrenin East Africa.When Dave Brown (’89, WW), a corporatepilot for Procter & Gamble (P&G), talksabout his 20-plus years of working withand supporting the students, alumni andstaff of Embry-Riddle, one thing becomesabundantly clear: Spending his time andenergy with Embry-Riddle feels like a family affair.“My entire experience with Embry-Riddle is verypersonal,” Brown says.The names of students, student-athletes, interns,coaches and staff roll easily off Brown’s tongue.Whether talking about Coach Steve Ridder, formerstudent-athletes or the many students and interns hehas mentored at P&G who have gone on to becomepilots in P&G’s flight department, Brown sounds likea proud parent in an overachieving family.And if the past 20 years are any indication, he hasa lot to be proud of. During his two decades workingwith Embry-Riddle, he has launched a summerprogram to introduce students to the world of corporateaviation and helped establish an internshipprogram to recruit, hire and mentor the “best of thebest” pilots for P&G. He also has volunteered andcontributed to various fundraising projects for capitalimprovements, the athletics program and scholarships.“I saw the difference that investing in a universitycan make,” Brown says. “And I see the way studentsat Embry-Riddle are committed to making a difference.They are incredible and are great ambassadorsfor the university.”JOINING THE TEAMWhile Brown can now look back on his 20 yearsof supporting Embry-Riddle and see all the goodthings that have resulted, none of it likely wouldhave happened if he hadn’t met Athletic DirectorSteve Ridder, who was just getting started atEmbry-Riddle back then.18LIFT SPRING 2011 GIVINGTO.ERAU.EDU
“Basically, he recruited me,” Brown recalls.“Steve hooked me in, and through him I got tosee the quality of the students. I was inspired andinfluenced not only to help grow the athletic programat the time but also to be involved with theacademic side.”After meeting with Coach Ridder and hearinghis vision for what was then abrand-new intercollegiate athleticsprogram, Brown got involved ina number of ways. In addition toestablishing a summer program tointroduce students to corporate aviationat P&G, he also helped raisefunds for capital improvements andthe athletics program.It was during that time of supportingathletics that Brown realizedthe difference that smaller giftscould make in the lives of students.When Coach Ridder had asked himto help organize a fundraising effortto equip the new basketball lockerroom, Brown was surprised at thelevel of support they received fromathletics alumni.“I think we raised $30,000, but the thing was,every bit of that money came from the formerplayers. These are guys out there starting theircareers and not making a lot of money, workingentry-level jobs and starting new families. And90 percent of the guys I knew gave back,” Brownrecalls. “The thing I learned from that is that if youhave enough people who have a connection, thenthey don’t have to have a lot of money individuallyto make a difference.”MAKING A DIFFERENCEInspired by his discovery, Brown continued tomake a difference in many ways. He helped launchand manage an internship program at P&G,creating more opportunities for Embry-Riddlestudents. Today, six Embry-Riddle graduates workat P&G Global Flight Operations, two of whomwere once interns in his program (with two otherinterns in the pipeline), and three others arecompleting their degrees with Embry-Riddle’sWorldwide Campus.The surprising quality of those students assuredBrown he was on the right track. “The studentswe’ve had in the program have such a high level ofknowledge and experience that they can participatein what we are doing at P&G with clear understanding.Their abilities, performance, passion and“I SAW THE DIFFERENCETHAT INVESTING INA UNIVERSITY CANMAKE. AND I SEE THEWAY STUDENTS ATEMBRY-RIDDLE ARECOMMITTED TO MAKINGA DIFFERENCE.”professionalism have led to the continued successand continuation of our programs with Embry-Riddle,” Brown says.Seeing that level of commitment and expertiseinspired Brown to contribute more to scholarships.“As my relationship with Embry-Riddle has grown,I’ve become more focused on scholarships,” he says.“There are so many students whoneed help, and it’s great to be ableto contribute to a scholarship andsay, ‘Hey, I love the idea of whatthat scholarship is all about and thestudents who receive it.’ When yousupport a scholarship, you are makinga difference in the lives of thosewho represent what the universityis all about.”ALL IN THE FAMILYAside from the many typicalbenefits that Brown enjoys fromsupporting Embry-Riddle—enhancing the value of his degreewhile employing fellow alumniand supporting what is now anincredibly successful athletics program—he enjoysan even more personal benefit that stems from hisrelationship with Steve Ridder.Brown credits Coach Ridder and his wife, Vicky,for helping him take on the challenge of adoptingand raising his two sons, Chris and Rashad, bothof whom Brown adopted when they were 13. Now,Chris is 29 and Rashad is 22.“As a single parent, when I was trying to figureout how to deal with things, both Steve and hiswife were a key part of the success of me adoptingthose two boys,” says Brown. “I can say withoutexaggeration that Coach Ridder is the reason thatI am still involved with Embry-Riddle, doing whatI’m doing.”A PERFECT MATCHDid you know that you can often double or triple the impactof your gift through your employer’s matching gift program?Many employers like Dave Brown’s Procter & Gamble willmatch any charitable contributions made by their employeesand retirees. To find out more about matching gifts, or tosee if your company participates in such a program, go togivingto.erau.edu/giftmatch.html.GIVINGTO.ERAU.EDU SPRING 2011 LIFT19
Page 1: SPRING 2011LIFTThe alumni magazine
Page 4 and 5: Unmanned aerial systems(UAS) play a
Page 6 and 7: CHATTERNEWS & NOTESEmbry-Riddle stu
Page 8 and 9: WINGS OF LEGACYJACK HUNTCOLLAGEINST
Page 10 and 11: FLIGHT PATHASHLEE ILG (’03, DB)TH
Page 12 and 13: BY CHARLES MCNAIRPHOTOGRAPHY BY BRA
Page 14 and 15: STRAIN SHOWS ONYOUNG FACES NOWSTRUG
Page 16 and 17: PILOT INCOMMANDCOL. MARK TILLMAN(
Page 18 and 19: “ WORKING HARDIS THE KEY TOEVERYT
Page 22 and 23: ALUMNI IN ACTIONBY JAKE POINIERform
Page 24 and 25: ALUMNI NEWSMessage from the Executi
Page 26 and 27: ALUMNI NEWSALUMNI AWARDSAN ALUMNI
Page 28 and 29: ALUMNI NEWSSTRENGTHIN NUMBERSImport
Page 30 and 31: CLASS NOTESLloyd TerryDaniel Pradel
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Spring 2011 - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Alumni

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