Spotlights

Collaborating for Success

Ron Lewis ’88 on the Lifelong Impact of Sigma Chi

Why did you join Beta Rho? For Ron Lewis ’88, he remembers the respect he held for Sigma Chi members and wanting to join such an admirable brotherhood. As a successful businessman today, Ron is grateful for the fraternal experience that prepared him well for life beyond college.

A Fraternal Foundation

“In business, you rarely can do something by yourself,” Ron said. During his undergraduate years, Beta Rho was Ron’s first exposure to a collaborative effort beyond high school sports. Sigma Chi gave Ron a better understanding of how like-minded individuals can achieve shared goals through a common vision.

Ron’s Sigma Chi influence went beyond just his chapter, attending conferences that showcased the national scale of the brotherhood. He encourages today’s Sigma Chi undergraduates to take advantage of the greater opportunities presented to them in today’s fraternal landscape.

Career Endeavors
While pursuing a master’s degree in business at Northwestern, Ron stayed involved with Sigma Chi for five years, working for the international fraternity in Illinois. He would go on to work in the agricultural industry for Cargill, relating back to his younger years growing up on a farm.

“I’ve always wanted to be a bit of a global citizen,” Ron said. While he maintains a drive to work for global companies, Ron always remembers his hometown roots. “My grandmother gave me a picture of the family farm with a clipping from our newspaper in Lewistown, which said: ‘No one ever gets very far in life without remembering where they come from.’”

Ron spent several years as an executive for Coca Cola in Europe, and he is currently the chief operating officer of Ball Corporation. Throughout his career, Ron has been honored to lead teams and manage their collaborative efforts. In each job he’s held for the past 15 years, Ron had the privilege to develop a team member to be his eventual successor.

Beta Rho Bonds
Back in 2017, Ron had the chance to rekindle fraternal bonds at the Beta Rho centennial celebration. He was glad to see fellow alumni have gone on to do great things in their lives, and they should be proud of the men they became through Sigma Chi.

“The anniversary was another one of my fondest fraternity memories, of which there are many,” Ron added. He urges today’s undergraduates to enjoy shared Sigma Chi experiences while following the fraternal values that give brothers meaning throughout their lives.

You can connect with Ron at ronald_lewis@hotmail.com.