1998 Volume 121 No 1–4 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

heavily involved in other arenas.
Wilson serves on the board of trustees
at Duke University, the board of visitors
of the Fuqua School of Business at Duke,
and also the board of overseers of The
Wharton School at the University of
Pennsylvania. He is a member of the
board of the National Collegiate Athletic
Association Foundation, and the list goes
on and on.
"In my spare time I do other investing,
and I have a young son which consumes
a lot of time. I like to spend time exercising.
1 do a lot of biking trips, river rafting
and other outdoor activities," said
Wilson.
Similarly, Dasburg serves as a director
for a number of universities and corporations.
He is a member of the board of
the St. Paul Companies and Owens Corning.
He has two children and is active in
community affairs.
"What I've discovered during my professional
life is that you must balance
your family with your work. By the time
you dedicate the time and energy to your
children and your marriage and your
parents, there isn't much time left for
other interests," said Dasburg.
Dasburg also enjoys skiing and fishing.
"I thought 1 would take up golf in
my late fifties," he said, "but so far I've
only managed to buy the clubs and go to
the driving range a few times. Other than
that, both my wife, MaryLou, and I are
avid readers of biography and history
books."
Both Dasburg and Wilson are heavily
involved with education. Whether it's
serving as trustee for their alma maters,
or fielding students' questions on a USA
Today discussion panel, these gentiemen
are advising America's future business
leaders.
But what, according to our two experienced
experts, is the key to becoming
successful in today's corporate environment
What advice can they offer to the
current undergraduate brothers of Phi
Delta Theta.
"I think whether you enter the work
force out of undergraduate or graduate
school, you have to have a very high energy
level in whatever area you undertake.
You should try to work for a
company that is forward looking and
from which you can learn because the
learning process never ends. The learnhttp://www.phidelt-ghq.com
ing curve is particularly high as you begin
your career.
"It's also very important that you work
for a person who can act as a mentor and
help you be successful. I can tell you that
working for a great manager from whom
you can learn is probably equal to or better
than a business school degree. When
you are interviewing for a job, my advice
is that you interview your future employer
as much as that person interviews
you, because they are going to have a
great deal of influence on you as you
move into your business life," said Wilson.
Dasburg has additional suggestions.
He said, "My advice to someone entering
the work force is to keep your options
open. You never know what the future
will hold. There is serendipity in life,
therefore the more education and the
more experience you can accumulate, the
greater likelihood that you'll be prepared
for an unexpected opportimity. Often it is
the unexpected opportunity that produces
the most satisfaction and launches
us on a career path."
Could Gary Wilson or John Dasburg
have predicted their careers would be as
successful as they've been so far Would
Dasburg have guessed he'd be talking to
the President of the United States
In describing his meeting with President
Clinton, Dasburg said, "It's not uncommon
today for a CEO of a large
company to find himself meeting with
congressmen, senators, members of the
White House and even the President of
the United States. Recently, for example, 1
had a lengthy meeting with an Assistant
and Deputy Counsel to the President,
Bruce Lindsey, in the Roosevelt Room.
Later, we met with the President in the
Oval Office to discuss matters that were
very important to Northwest Airlines. If
someone had suggested to me when 1
was an undergraduate that 1 would be at
ease in a conversation, indeed, even in a
debate with the President of the United
States, 1 would have said, 'No way!'"
Both Dasburg and Wilson agree that
the learning and leadership experiences
provided by membership in Phi Delta
Theta were important in the development
of their careers. Together, they have overcome
the turbulence in the corporate
world to strengthen Northwest Airlines'
prominence on both sides of the Pacific
Ocean.
1961 Dasburg enrolls at the University
of Miami. He joins the Florida
Delta chapter, balancing academics and
three jobs.
1963 Transferring to the University of
Florida, Dasburg soon affiliates with
Florida Alpha. He still maintains several
part-time jobs.
1973 Having earned a B.S. in engineering,
his M.B.A. and a law degree at
Florida, he serves three years in the U.S.
Navy with one year in Vietnam.
1976 Dasburg becomes a partner at
KPMG Peat Marwick.
1980 Dasburg begins working for
Marriott alongside Gar)' Wilson.
1987 As president of Marriott's Lodging
Group, he oversees more than
100,000 employees. Dasburg also serves
as an executive vice president of
Marriott Corporation.
1989 Dasburg is recruited to Northwest
by its new owners to serve as executive
vice president. A year later, he is
named president and CEO.
1992 Northwest forms a worldwide
alliance with KLM. With strong Pacific
routes, Northwest strengthens routes
across the Atiantic.
1994 Moments from bankruptcy a
year earlier, Northwest is now the most
profitable airline in the United States.
1994 Dasburg earns "Man of die
Year" in the airline industry.
1997 Northwest is named "Airline of
die Year."
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