The Corp Appoints New Exec Board

Mike West (COL '13), Vidur Khatri (MSB '14), and Stephanie Wolfram (MSB '13) were appointed CEO, CFO, and COO, respectively, of Students of Georgetown, Inc., on Monday.

All will take the helm of Corp operations beginning March 1.

West, the rising chief executive officer, joined The Corp in the fall of his sophomore year as a way to get more involved on campus.

"Freshmen year, I wasn't involved that much, and I wanted to change that coming into sophomore year. So I joined The Corp in the accounting department working with The Midnight MUG," he said.

Chief Financial Officer Khatri's rise through the ranks began in the accounting department as well, where he was later promoted to director of accounts payable. His experience both managing the books and working shifts at More Uncommon Grounds paved the way for his new position.

For new Chief Operating Officer Wolfram, The Corp has been an integral part of her life at college.

"I got hired the spring of my freshmen year, and ever since, it's been one of my favorite things about Georgetown," she said. "It has come to define my experience here."

As the new leadership team prepares to take over the reigns of the university's largest student organization, the outgoing executives looked back on their term.

"Two years ago, we were $180,000 in the hole. Although the annual report is not out yet, I think I'm allowed to say that we are $240,000 in the black," said current CFO R. Scott Munro (COL '12).

Munro credited this turnaround to the tough decisions made by top leadership, including the controversial raising of soft drink prices.

"My opinion has always been that when The Corp is stable, we have the opportunity to give back in ways we never have before," he said.

Current CEO Alexander Pon (COL '12) was proud of expanding philanthropy at The Corp, which plans to give back over $60,000 this year. Additionally, Pon stepped up security policies in the wake of two thefts at Vital Vittles last semester.

"We hadn't taken a really hard look at our security policies, and now was the right time to do it. We've made some big steps and we're on the right track now," he said.

As he steps into the chief executive role during the spring hiring season, West said he will balance the exclusivity of the organization — receiving an offer of employment from The Corp is statistically more difficult than gaining admission to Georgetown University — in order to maintain a positive public perception of The Corp.

"I think to be The Corp that we want to be, we have to be somewhat exclusive. We have to pick the right people for the job. But I think portraying how we are is one way that we can show we are one Corp, one Georgetown," he said. "I think it's really important to not become a clique. It's important to always give back and show that we are part of the community as well."

As The Corp continues to improve its financial bottom line, Khatri hopes to expand philanthropic efforts focused on entrepreneurship.

"We're in a fantastic financial position. With this great position comes the opportunity to give back more to the community. We're really looking into investing in different student ventures and investing in student leadership," he said.

Preparing to pass the baton, Munro spelled out the challenges facing the incoming leadership.

"The Corp is really more than coffee and groceries," he said. "That is something that the community needs to start realizing and that we need to start displaying more, and these are the three to do just that."