Alumnus Spotlight - Charlie Morton ’93
I remembered my Mom driving me thru the U District when I was 11 to show me where my Dad (Lee Morton ’56) lived during college, but little did I know then that the SigEp house would play such an important role in my life. Growing up in Eastern Washington amongst too many Cougars, I was always a Husky fan. So it felt natural to head to the UW upon graduation from Richland High School in 1988. Although I was little intimidated by the comical stories (mostly embellished) about fraternity life that my Dad told my brothers and me growing up, the benefits of friendship and camaraderie made joining a fraternity a no-brainer.
I rushed several houses during the Fall of 1988 but chose WA Beta because of the overwhelming sincerity and inspiration I felt when socializing with the members. It didn’t hurt that they had better parties with better looking girls hanging around either (you all should still remember that these are strong motivating factors for an 18 year old). For those who recall, the house was in dire need of renovation at this time, but the benefits of joining with guys I admired outweighed the rough shape of the house (plus we all lucked out when they renovated in 1989).
L to R: Jeff Pahukoa, Londo Moore, Kevin Schenck, Tracy Thomas and Charlie in 1988. I have fond and amusing memories of life in the house, whether it was my pride in having one of the last bunks standing after sleeping porch wars between Twilights and Bogeys or introducing my brothers to fun times during the hydroplane races back home in the Tri-Cities each summer. We should all take pride in the fact that none of us were ever arrested.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Economics in 1993 while living 4 full years in the house. My life has been blessed since my undergraduate days with me being happily married to my wife, Shelby, for 11 years. We live in Issaquah with our 3 children: Chaz-10, Avery-8, and Tyler-5. Weeks are busy with coaching football, soccer, basketball, and baseball. I’m even fortunate to run into a few SigEp brothers and their kids at sporting events. It’s funny how quickly and easily the crap-talking starts up again.
Work-wise, I founded a project management consulting firm, Integrated Project Solutions in 1996 and built it into a successful and profitable company until our acquisition by MWH Global in 2005. I returned to the UW to earn an MBA in 2005 and remained as an executive vice president at MWH Global until 2007 when I decided to take a year off to travel, spend time with my family, get back in shape, and clean my garage. With my entrepreneurial juices still flowing, I founded a new company, Ascend Project Management, in 2008. Based in Bellevue, our new company is thriving by providing program/project management services to numerous utility, construction, engineering, and technology clients.
I attribute much of my personal and professional success to the experiences and values I gained as a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Undoubtedly, the fraternity had a positive influence on my life. As such, I feel it is important to give back to the organization that has given so much to me. It’s been quite some time since I have made it back to an alumni function (and I know I’ve missed Steve’s cooking over the years) but in lieu of my active participation in alumni activities, I have made numerous financial gifts to WA Beta to support the needs of the current chapter members and to ensure an ongoing legacy of Sigma Phi Epsilon at the University of Washington.
Looking back, it turns out that becoming a SigEp was one of the wisest decisions I have ever made. The majority of my strongest friendships and fondest memories as a young adult come from the relationships that were built with my SigEp brothers. From their participation in my wedding to their attendance at the birth of my children, these fraternity brothers have been a part of the most important moments in my life. It’s funny but reassuring that I can run into a fraternity brother that I have not seen in 10 years and within minutes, the smiles and stories come pouring out. To a certain extent I feel that when I make a contribution to SigEp, I am enabling another generation of brothers to build and experience those bonds. I encourage each of you to consider doing the same.
I’m looking forward to attending WA Beta’s 90th birthday celebration in January 2012 and reconnecting with old friends. In the meantime, I’ll simmer in the satisfaction of another Apple Cup victory. Go Dawgs!
HFF,
Charlie Morton ‘93
