Kent Karosen ’88

Q: Tell us about your favorite memory of the Fraternity.

A: There is not one memory that really stands out, but I certainly remember the Lodge parties, working on the Lodge, and the Christmas Formal.

Q: What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?

A: I haven’t really relied on the alumni. I would say that I gained two strong friends. Also, being part of the Fraternity taught me a lot; the concept of team work has really served me well. You can work alone, but together you get more done, more efficiently.

Q: With who have you stayed in contact? Who would you most like to find?

A: John Nogay and Mark Allison. I would love to come back for a reunion.

Q: Tell us about your family, are you married?

A: Just having fun in New York.

Q: What other organizations and activities were you involved in during your college days?

A: Student Council Treasurer, Scuba Club assistant instructor, and the golf team during my freshman year.

Q: Did you live in the house and if so, with whom?

A: I lived in Division sophomore through senior year, no roommates.

Q: Did you hold any positions while you were an active?

A: Elected as sophomore to assistant treasurer, and became treasurer during that year and I remained in that position through first semester of senior year.

Q: What do you do for a living?

A: Run my own business doing special situation consulting and lobbying the Federal Government. I am also still Managing Director and Partner at Cantor Fitzgerald.

Q: What affiliations do you currently have and/or public service do you participate in?

A: I am on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Intrepid Museum. I am also on the Board of the Mike Stern Parkinson Foundation – our head researcher for the foundation, Doctor Paul Greenguard won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2000.

Q: What hobbies do you enjoy?

A: Golf, Scuba diving, and running. I used to be chunky in school, but that turned around when I made a bet with a friend who said I wouldn’t be able to run in the New York marathon in 1996, so I got in shape and proved him wrong.

Q: What are your goals for the next few years?

A: Help Cantor Fitzgerald grow. Also I’d like to continue to grow my own business. As part of my work at the Intrepid museum, I help with the Heroes Fund which takes care of soldiers and marines that are injured in the line of duty. I’d like to make sure they have funds after retirement

Q: What was the impetus for starting your own company?

A: While working at Cantor Fitzgerald (12 years) and after helping the firm rebuild after 9/11, I realized that I needed to take a step back.

Q: Tell us about your role in assisting families affected by 9/11.

A: Immediately after 9/11 I was in contact with Howard Lechnik and I helped to set up a make-shift center at his house. Everyone in the office passed away in the 9/11 attacks. I helped to set up a family crisis center by 11:15 a.m. the next day and I ran the center for 7 days, all day long getting counselors and religious advisors, post-traumatic counselors. Howard decided to donate to 25% of profits that year to the families which exceeded $180 million.

Q: What advice can you offer the current actives?

A: Work Hard, play hard and remain friends.

Q: Being that the 125th Anniversary of Chi Chapter is coming this January, what is one hope/dream/ideal that you would like the chapter to carry-on/ fulfill in the next 125 years?

A: Maintain its strength on campus. Continue to provide students the opportunity to learn team work.

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