1. July22, 2015
To Whom It May Concern:
It isa pleasure andprivilegetorecommendZacharyPanostoyour organizationasa youngleaderwith
well-developedtalentsandskillswhowouldbe anoutstandingcredittoa workenvironmentneeding
energyand dynamismina businesssetting.
My exposure toZachdatesto 2013 whenIhad the occasion to meethimforthe firsttime inhisrole as
RushChair forour fraternityat PennState.Iwas immediatelystruckbyhisambitiousandgregarious
personalitywhile alsoseeinghimprojectconfidence andauthenticityinbeingreal andstraightforward
duringthe Rush process – and doingsoas a sophomore.Hiswell thought-outstrategyforrecruitment
yieldedanetnewmembershipgroupof 19 brothersinthe fall semester,all of whomwere highly
motivatedtoimprove the fraternityandcarve anew possibilityandenergytowardsastronger
brotherhood.Zachdidthiswhile strivingtoimprove himselfandhisbrotherswithacommitmentto
service andcharacter development. Hiseffortsalsomateriallycontributedtoasignificantimprovement
inour alumni corporation’sfinancesthroughZach’sdiligence incontainingexpenseswhile helpingto
improve the overall fundingbase.
Zach’s abilitytounderstandhisenvironmentandhow tocraft communicationtechniquesandexecute a
masterplanwere putto a heftytestthe followingschool year. Whensome poordecisionmakingby
otherchapterleaderspresentedadifficultleadershipchallenge andseriesof consequential obstaclesto
overcome inthe fall of 2014, Zach’sstraightforwardapproachtothe challengesandclear
communicationhelpedplayamajorrole inexecutingamasterplanthat returnedthe chapterto
restoredcredibility.Amonghiskeyactionswasworkingwiththe local law enforcementcommunityto
arrange fire andsafetyeducationseminarsforthe brotherhoodaswell asthe restof the Greek
CommunityatPennState.These effortshelpeddrive awarenessandnew engagementlevelsinthe
InterfraternityCouncil’srelationshipwithlaw enforcementinState College.
In all,Zach hasusedhisengagingpersonalityasa tool to fosterchange andhas demonstrated
consistentlythathe hasthe rightleadershipqualitiestoexecute ambitiousplans.He hasalsolearned
the value of recognizingkeystakeholdersaspartnerstoaccomplishhisplansandgoals.He doesitall
withan inclusive approachtobuildingteamsandbuy-infromall participantsandhisresultshave been
impressive.Zachhasclearlydemonstratedgreatacademicperformance inhisstudies,andoutstanding
applicationof whathe has learnedtoleave amark witha recordhe can be proudof achieving.Inmy
mind,ithas beena joyto see Zach growintoa confidentandsuccessful leader,andhe iswell suitedto
take on great challengesanddeliverstrongresultsinanyendeavorhe engages.He standsoutas a
shiningexample of the positive experiencesandleadershipdevelopmentthatare possible withinthe
GreekCommunity.
Verytrulyyours,
KevinMcCarroll,MBA
Treasurer
Beta Gamma Companyof Phi KappaTheta