October 2019 Newsletter
The Monthly ROR (Return on Relationship)
Welcome to the full and complete monthly newsletter! Get plugged into recent activities and upcoming ones. Get to know your community, and so much more!
Contents:
- Welcome Note
- Call for Volunteers, Members, Sponsors
- Upcoming Events
- Recent Events
- Five Questions With….
Welcome!
Interesting fact: the Wharton Community of the National Capital Region has about 4300 alumni, out of which 309 are members of the Wharton Club of the National Capital Region. WCNCR's current membership represents 7% of all alumni in the region -- making it one of the largest Wharton alumni clubs in the world (as a percent of alumni). Not a bad start for our first year! The DC region is the fourth largest region for Wharton alumni (after New York, Philadelphia and Northern California). In larger regions, it is sometimes more difficult to keep a high participation rate, but we have not seen this in DC.
Our club is privileged to cater to this fantastic community. Alumni in DC clearly see the value of a club that aims to address their professional and social needs. We aim to continue growing the club and participation, so that Wharton alumni in DC feel well represented and see value. Everyone is welcome to join, participate, and lead. This is our club, and the more we invest in it, the more we get out of it. This is what Return on Relationship is all about...
Get Involved
Many of you have suggested event ideas. We need more folks to take the lead in coordinating these events. If you are interested in putting together an event or a series, please click here to our volunteer page to submit your ideas.
We especially need a Volunteer Coordinator. If you are enthusiastic about corralling interested volunteers, we have a job for you!
Upcoming Events
Thur., Oct. 10 - Fundrise CEO Ben Miller
Fundrise is the leading online real estate investment platform. Founded in 2012 in Washington DC, Fundrise is a pioneer in making high-tech, low-cost commercial real estate investing available to everyone.
Learn how the company now has over 100,000 active individual investors and a real estate portfolio of more than $3 billion.
Thur., Oct. 17 - Monthly Pub Happy Hour
Meets monthly at the Crown & Crow
Join us for a monthly happy hour on the third Thursday of every month! It is a wonderful opportunity to relax and visit with fellow alumni in a stress-free environment! Cash bar.
Thur., Oct. 24 - Mastering Leading and Managing Simultaneously
Join Alan Berson, WG'78, for an informative discussion on leading and managing. He specializes in educating large company executives on means of achieving productivity and efficiency through value adding consulting.
Mon., Oct. 28 - Discussion with SEC Commissioner Robert J. Jackson, Jr.
Join U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner – and former Columbia Law School Professor – Robert J. Jackson, Jr. on the 90th anniversary of the Stock Market Crash of 1929, for a discussion of U.S. financial crashes and the role of the financial regulation in preventing and responding to these downturns.
Wed., Nov. 6 - Fireside Chat with Erik Bethel of the World Bank Board of Governors
Mr. Bethel, WG'99, has 25 years of financial experience as an investment banker and private equity professional focused on Emerging Markets.
Recent Events
Sun., Sept. 8 - African American History and Culture
A group of forty Wharton alumni along with friends and family visited the The National Museum of African American History and Culture on Sunday September 8th. For many it was the first time stepping into a comprehensive story about the African American experience in the United States from the slave trade through the modern era and everything in-between. While the History Galleries that provided extensive, heart-wrenching information the early African American experience, the Culture Galleries on the top floor were filled with hope by emphasizing the success stories of building community through churches, education, and military service (to name a few). Many participants emphasized the need to return as one day was simply not enough to absorb the powerful images and narratives depicted throughout the museum.
Thur., Sept. 26 - Business Up Top, Party on the Bottom: The Fifth Annual Walnut Walk is a Winner!
On Thursday, September 26th, over fifty Wharton alumni and guests came out to celebrate our Wharton tradition of the Walnut Walk. The weather, which had been rainy, cleared out beautifully, which allowed us to enjoy the outdoor patios and rooftop bars of the DC Shaw neighborhood.
Appetizers and cocktails began in the courtyard of Calico, followed by the run of the back bar at Lost and Found. The group enjoyed great views and more snacks at the Delegate Rooftop Lounge, before finishing off the evening with fabulous desserts (by Butter Creme) and conversation at Tiger Fork.
Alumni from Wharton graduate and undergraduate years ranging from the 1970’s to 2019 mingled and shared business cards and tales of past Philadelphia Walnut Walks. And awards for the best representation of the dress code were given -- not surprisingly, Bryan Bloom took top honors.
Incredible awe and gratitude to our party planners and hosts: Maura Fox WG95 WEMBA XIX, Elisa Joseph Anders WG85, and Tania Rorke from the Wharton School.
Five Questions with...Board of Director members Denise and Geoff
Denise Aranoff
Wharton Affiliation and Class Year: WG92
Current Job and Role: Marketing and branding consultant, but mostly looking for a new full-time gig
Where do you live in the National Capital Region? Gaithersburg - or North Potomac - or Darnestown in Montgomery County, since the zip code covers all three neighborhoods!
What is your favorite activity in the National Capital Region? Can I say "sleep"? If not sleep, then doing fun and different activities with my friends and kids. Lately, bike-riding and cooking classes.
Why are you volunteering to support the WCNCR? Wharton networking has always been great for both my business and my personal relationships. Building a strong club in the region that promotes our connections and our community helps share that "special sauce" with more Wharton alumni.
Favorite Wharton Club? Follies and Wine Club. Fun fact: There's a glass/cup of "adult beverage" in every candid yearbook picture of me.
Favorite Wharton Memory? A classmate and I would spend intro Finance class doing the NYT and Philly Inquirer crossword puzzles. Halfway through each lecture, we'd switch puzzles. There may or may not have been SweetTarts involved.
Humble Brag (tell us something about yourself that you are proud of): I think we all are bragging on our kids. Instead, I'll share that I have a bizarre ability to remember what, where, and with whom I've shared meals. It freaks people out that I can remember what they ordered too.
Geoff Hart
Wharton Affiliation and Class Year: WG’02
Current Job and Role: Executive Director at J.P. Morgan
Where do you live in the National Capital Region? Clarendon area of Arlington
What is your favorite activity in the National Capital Region? Heading out with my family to the area’s outstanding parks, neighborhoods, and museums...
Why are you volunteering to support the WCNCR? Having grown up with two parents in the public sector, attending Wharton was an incredible eye opener and catalyst for my personal network and a career in finance. These benefits continue because of the active efforts across the alumni base to build on the collective experience and connections from attending Wharton. I really enjoy helping locally with the Club to ensure fellow alums hopefully enjoy a similar experience.
Favorite Wharton Club? Sailing Club
Favorite Wharton Memory? Forging friendships that continue nearly 20 years and counting ... over many late nights.
Humble Brag (tell us something about yourself that you are proud of): at this point in life, my most proud achievements are those of my two kids
We Need SPACE!
One of our biggest challenges is finding donated meeting spaces where we can have large events. If you have access to a centrally located space that we can use for a nominal fee, please let us know the details! Click here to send us a message.
Sponsorships
WCNCR is planning to make sponsorships available for the upcoming 2019-2020 year. If you are interested in increasing your company’s brand awareness, or want to align with a specific venue, program, or affinity club, please contact Ellis Rosenberg for more information at [email protected].