After a nineteen-year run, Steve Good, Iowa State ’04, will move into a new role with the General Headquarters launching the Iron Phi Foundation as its Executive Director. The Iron Phi Foundation was developed with one goal in mind – to continue to expand the success of the Fraternity’s Iron Phi initiative, challenging members to become philanthropists through athletic and fundraising pursuits that support the Live Like Lou Foundation and Phi Delta Theta. In his role, Steve will also continue to lead the growing impact of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.
“Steve’s varied and significant contributions over the years have helped both define who we are and tell our story. As we move forward to provide value both inside and outside of Phi Delta Theta, it will be assessed by the difference we make in our members’ lives and those around us. We look forward to Steve’s leadership to further expand the size and scope of the program, one Iron Phi at a time, enhancing the member journey and the work we do to battle ALS,” said Sean Wagner, Chief Executive Officer.
Most recently, Steve served as the Fraternity’s senior vice president of engagement and philanthropy, where he oversaw the communications and engagement strategies of the Phi Delta Theta strategic plan, Phi Delt 2030, as well as the Iron Phi program and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. During his career with Phi Delta Theta, Steve has held many roles within GHQ, including leadership consultant, expansion consultant, director of expansion, director of education and technology, director of communications and Iron Phi, senior director of engagement, and vice president of growth and communications.
It was through his MBA program at Xavier University, that Steve came up with the idea of Iron Phi.
“In 2008, I decided that it was time to check running a marathon off my bucket list. After months of training alone, and serendipitously pacing alongside charity athletes during the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, I immediately wished that I would have supported a cause along my own marathon journey. This personal disappointment was eventually channeled into my MBA capstone project, in the form of a concept and plan that would bring charity athletics to Phi Delta Theta and fuel the Fraternity’s fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).”
Iron Phi was approved by the General Council and introduced in 2010 as a way to strengthen both Phi Delta Theta and its impact on the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease. Participants are challenged to raise a minimum of $1,000 and complete a personal athletic goal. Upon achieving both things, individuals are given the Iron Phi status. Since its introduction, more than 8,500 individuals have registered to become Iron Phis and 1,750 have earned Iron Phi status, raising more than $3.69 million along the way and helping to power the development of the Live Like Lou Foundation and Phi Delta Theta’s leadership programming.
“Like Brother Gehrig, I consider myself very lucky. Lucky to have signed a Phi Delta Theta bid card, lucky to have been empowered throughout my Phi Delt career by so many people, and lucky to now be able to focus my time on this important cause and those who engage with it. We have only scratched the surface with what Phi Delta Theta is doing to support the ALS community, and I look forward to being a champion for those who realize their own personal abilities and success through Iron Phi.”
Steve lives in Ames, Iowa with his wife Tillie, children Calvin and Tessa, and dog Leena. He is an avid traveler, runner, blogger, Iowa State Cyclone fan, personal finance coach, and dog boarder.
