Theta Chi Fraternity - Eta Mu Chapter - Alumni Association
Speakers Bureau Event - Level Up 2026, February 11, 2026
Findlay, Ohio — The Theta Chi Fraternity, Eta Mu Chapter Alumni Association at the University of Findlay is strengthening its commitment to give back through the continued growth of its Alumni Speakers Bureau, an initiative designed to connect students and faculty with real-world professional experience.
The Speakers Bureau was created, several years ago, with a clear goal: to leverage not only alumni financial support, but also the rich and diverse career expertise of our fraternities' alumni. By sharing practical insights, leadership lessons, and industry knowledge, alumni speakers help prepare students for professional success beyond the classroom.
“Our alumni represent decades of experience across business, leadership, education, environmental safety, and more,” said a representative of the Eta Mu Alumni Association. “This program allows us to turn that experience into meaningful engagement that directly benefits University of Findlay students.”
The University of Findlays’ - second annual Level Up 2026 event is designed to give students exposure to professionals and real world experience. These speakers are asked to share their career journey while indicating where development strategies and associated examples support those strategies presented - giving the attending students a “level up”.
The Theta Chi Fraternity - Alumni Association has been invited to speak at this event, in the Finance slot. The follow is the event information - please know that all are invited to attend:
Collegiate and Alumni Reception, University of Findlay Campus, Winebrenner Building - Room: WTS253, February 10, 2026, 4pm-6pm. We will do introductions and discuss highlights of career planning.
Dinner & Brotherhood Celebration Gathering, The Fern Cafe - Findlay, OH - February 10, 2026, 6pm-??
College of Business, Arts, and Humanities – Level Up 2026 Symposium (2nd annual event) - February 11, 2026 from 8:30am-1pm at the University of Findlay / Winebrenner Center: Finance Career Advancement Absolutes, to be presented from 11am-12pm by Mr. Ben Vonderhaar, to all students of the College of Business and the College of Arts and Humanities, requested by Dr. Joon Young Song, Associate Professor of Finance.
Mr. Ben Vonderhaar, University of Findlay - Class of 1981, Theta Chi Fraternity
Speakers Career Overview - Mr. Ben Vonderhaar (LinkedIn Profile) is an accomplished finance leader with 30+ years of experience in multiple areas of advanced capital financing.
University of Findlay, BS Accounting / Finance, Ashland University, MBA, Economics, University of Texas, Adjunct Professor
Experienced in leveraging long-standing financial industry relationships and deep business development and product development skills to effectively capture alternative investment opportunities and develop lucrative Greenfield alternative fund offerings.
Including the following:
• Playing a pivotal role in enabling Highland Capital Management to grow AUM from $6B to $45B while growing hedge fund assets from $150M to $9B, delivering >$150M in revenue to the firm, all in only five years.
• Recently positioned another institutional investment firm for a projected AUM expansion from $2B to $25B. Expanding its offerings to preferred equity, mezzanine, and programmatic capital.
• Founding a private capital-raising advisory practice that raised >$100M in capital for a diversified client roster.
• Developing and implementing an institutional capital raising platform for a tax-advantaged 1031/ DST and Opportunity Zone real estate firm.
A Model for Alumni Engagement
The Theta Chi Eta Mu Alumni Speakers and Engagement Bureau reflects the fraternity’s broader mission of lifelong brotherhood, service, and leadership. By partnering with the University of Findlay, Eta Mu alumni are helping bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice—one classroom at a time. We thank the university organizers for the Level Up event. And, we thank Mr. Ben Vonderhaar for speaking at this event.