Donor Profiles

Leadership Roles Provide Confidence for a Brother's Career Success

Joseph E. Scerbo (Stevens Institute of Technology), a long time Sigma Nu donor and volunteer, joined the Fraternity in the early fifties. He continues to have fond memories of leadership positions he held in the chapter and looks on those days with great appreciation. "That experience gave me the confidence and motivation to build a successful career in engineering and business," he says.

Joe's initial engineering years were spent in Connecticut and Pennsylvania in the manufacturing industry. He spun off a division of AMF, Inc., a major company, which led to the formation of York Industries, Inc. For several years, Joe served as President of York Industries, which supplies engineered products with specialty applications for use in the military, industrial, and aerospace industries.

In 1991, his career took an alternate path when he founded a company in the balloon and party goods industry, an endeavor he shared with his wife Barbara. They eventually sold the business in 2001. Joe and Barbara have since moved to Ft. Lauderdale, and he now works in real estate development. Although he maintains contacts in Central Pennsylvania and continues to develop property there, Joe spends most of his time managing industrial and office properties in York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Through the years, Joe has always maintained a connection with his Sigma Nu brothers and, for the past decade, has coordinated the Florida Gold Coast monthly luncheons. These luncheons attract Sigma Nus who gather for social and networking purposes. They share stories and opportunities and specifically reach out to the younger generation of recent graduates in an effort to provide support and guidance where needed.

A continuing dialogue among the group members encourages brothers to give back to Sigma Nu. Joe says he contributes to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation because of the leadership opportunities afforded to him as an undergraduate.

He recalls being selected as Commander in his senior year and says that it was the affirmation he needed to venture out with confidence into the business world. In his first job out of college he became the youngest section manager in his company and developed seven patents all related to the aerospace and military industries.

Joe served as President and Chairman of Boards of various companies at different times in his career. He is proud to say that for forty years he was able to put food on the table for the families of his 300-plus-employee companies.

"As I reflect, I realize Sigma Nu gave me the starting point, and I shall never forget where it all began. It is important to consider the legacy one will leave behind and, as a result, I am seriously considering a planned gift to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation," says Joe.

In addition to his involvement with Sigma Nu, Joe is a lifetime member of ASME, past president of the Rotary Club of Ft. Lauderdale South, Grand Knight of his Knights of Columbus Council, and he spearheads the beautification of his Church, St. Pius X in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He and his wife Barbara enjoy their life in the sunny south as well as domestic and international travel. This June they'll visit Montreal, Canada, for the Rotary International Convention and Rome, Italy, to celebrate the Pallium Mass with the newly appointed Archbishop of Miami. Plus, whenever they can, they share their free time among five children and twelve grandchildren who are spread out across the Eastern Seaboard.