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YEAR OF INITIATION: Spring 1981 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Iota Delta Charter Member of Lambda Theta, Southwest Texas State Who is Reginald Hilliard? A Christian under construction Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas Graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a BBA in Management/Marketing Worked for Boehringer Mannheim Diagnostics as a Sales Manager to Hospitals and Private Laboratories Two years later, Reggie switched Diagnostic Companies and started working for Johnson & Johnson, Ortho Diagnostic Division as Sales Manager Hospitals and Private Laboratories. Reggie is married to Sylvia (affectionately known as SLY) for 32 years as of July 2020. Reggie started his Entrepreneurial Career as a Branding Solutionist for SWAG24/7 (www.swag247.world) Within SWAG247 two other companies have been formed: Ginald Fine Jewelry (Designer and Creator of Bridal and Anniversary Heirlooms) REGG2200.com (Business Development Consultant for startups and growing businesses) Highlight of Reggie's Four Businesses 1st Business: SWAG 24/7 Branding Solutions (imprinted promotional products supplier) 2nd Business: Ginald Fine Jewelry (custom bridal, anniversary and bespoke jewelry creations) 3rd Business: REGG2200.com Business Development Consulting (assisting startups and growing businesses incline) 4th Business (release date July 2020): BeSpoke4U (custom crafted clothiers focusing in men & women Suits, Tuxedos, Ascots, Blouses, Jackets and Skirts)

YEAR OF INITIATION: Spring 1986 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Beta Omega (University of Southern California) PROVINCE OF INITIATION: Western EDUCATION: BS, Computer Science; MS, Computer Science; MBA COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY: USC; Stanford University; Emory University - respectively Brother Frank has over 30 years of experience in the technology arena having served in executive capacities at AT&T Bell Laboratories, BellSouth, Alcatel-Lucent and a number of venture and private-equity backed private companies. He currently serves as the CEO of Turning Technologies – an educational technology software company. He has spent the last decade responsible for private equity transformations with Vista Equity Partners and Centre Lane Partners – typically serving as CEO. He recently relocated back from Paris, France and Mumbai, India after having spent 5 years in those markets working with Alcatel-Lucent and Reliance Industries. Brother Frank was recently elected to the American Tower Corporation Board of Directors, see the press release. Brother Frank has remained involved with his undergraduate chapter (Beta Omega) and is a proud life member of our Grand Fraternity. Brother Frank also serves on the boards of the University of Southern California Business School (Board of Leaders), Youngstown Business Incubator, as well as a number of other private boards. He is married to his wife of 30 years and have three children. He has maintained a household in the Frisco, Texas area since 2005 (even during his overseas assignments).

YEAR OF INITIATION: Fall 1993 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Iota Xi (Duke University) PROVINCE OF INITIATION: Middle Eastern Province EDUCATION: Bachelor of Applied Science in Biology, Doctor of Science; Executive MBA COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY: Duke University; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Baylor University - respectively Dr. Charles E. Toulson is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in joint replacement and revision surgery from the No. 1 hospital in the U.S. for orthopedics. He has a wealth of experience helping patients live their life to the fullest by restoring their beautiful legs to function at the best level possible. He is well-versed in the latest advancements in orthopedic surgery, including robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement. Dr. Toulson is sought after for his excellent patient outcomes. In fact, when it comes to hip replacements, Dr. Toulson is the only surgeon in the Dallas area who combines the minimally invasive direct anterior hip replacement surgical technique with the precision accuracy of robotic assistance. Dr. Toulson received his bachelor of applied science in biology from Duke University, and his doctor of medicine degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his executive MBA from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Dr. Toulson trained at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital and completed his subspecialty training at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, which has the top orthopedic program in the country. Over the years, Dr. Toulson has paved the way for two major hospitals in North Texas to achieve the elite status of being accredited as Joint Replacement Centers of Excellence. Dr. Toulson founded Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine to provide the very best orthopedic care possible for patients with all stages of arthritis. The business has grown and now serves patients at two locations: in McKinney and Sherman, Texas. Dr. Toulson has been voted Best Orthopedic Surgeon by D Magazine 12 times. He was awarded Best Orthopedic Surgeon in McKinney/Allen by Living Magazine for the first time in 2014 and has subsequently won it 7 years in a row since then. He has also been awarded Best Orthopedic Surgeon by Living Well Magazine for the past three years. Dr. Toulson is among those extraordinarily rare individuals whose medical skills are only outmatched by his compassion and kindness. He is married to the lovely Deryn Toulson who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and works at Medical City McKinney Hospital. The happy couple have three adorable children: Cameron, Brooklyn, and Blade.

YEAR OF INITIATION: Fall 2003 CHAPTER OF INITIATION: Eta Chi (University of Alabama) PROVINCE OF INITIATION: Southwestern Province EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in Marketing COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY: University of Alabama In a world where regulations prevent anything truly new from being released within the cigar industry, what does the term “innovation” even mean today? For George James, the owner and founder of Vorieo Cigars, innovation is not experienced in a product but rather in a process. There are two sides of innovation, he says. There’s an idea, and then there’s a vision. Businesses must begin with an idea before they can proceed to turn that idea into a manufactured process. This is how James built his unique premium cigar brand. “I started with the idea,” he explains. “The idea was, ‘Hey, I can start my own company because I’m very intuitive.’ I understood the flow of business, but I also knew how to build relationships as well. When it comes to communicating with people from all over the world, I can communicate with anyone. I just took that vision and explored opportunities. That’s what I did with Vorieo Cigars—I came up with the idea, saw the vision and executed it.” Part of the execution involves keeping his focus on his own company rather than concerning himself with what others are doing. James focuses all of his efforts on perfecting Vorieo to the best of his abilities. This is done by monitoring the feedback he receives from retailers and consumers and making that his primary concern. Sometimes even the small things—such as changing the shape of his boxes to stand out more in the humidor or updating the hinges on the boxes—lead to better traction in the market. Taking Care of Business: James grew up in a small town located outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2006 with a degree in marketing, James went on to work for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company as a trade marketing representative. In this position, James was responsible for developing territories, leading the company’s go-to-market strategy and consumer engagement. This job gave James a good understanding of how the tobacco industry really operated and how a company as big as R.J. Reynolds gained and maintained market dominance, something that would help him later in life when he launched his own company. In 2010, James started working for a smaller tobacco company that produced cigarillos and premium cigars. Here he assisted with territory management, go-to-market strategy and training, and he also oversaw the development and advancement of distributors and wholesalers. In 2014, James made another occupational change when he left that company to start his own premium cigar brand, Vorieo, which was inspired by his love for premium cigars as well as his childhood. “Vorieo is a childhood name which means ‘King of the Sun.’ Anything involving the sun causes things to grow, and if the sun is not there, or if it’s not available, then things won’t grow,” he says. “So when I was looking at the tobacco industry, I thought, ‘Tobacco requires sunlight and requires good sunlight.’ So that’s where the name ‘Vorieo’ came from.” James runs his company based on his experiences of working within corporate America. This includes understanding the metrics that many corporations use to manage their business, such as the flow between domestic and international businesses. He also had a vision for what success looked like. “I was reading about Robert L. Johnson. He started BET and various companies with a holding company. He was a billionaire—a Black guy that started his own business. He was my inspiration,” says James. From the start, James’ main business objective was to establish a good working relationship with distributors and wholesalers alike. His past work experience had taught him the importance of figuring out and establishing good pricing, distribution and logistics early on. The early days of Vorieo involved him doing his due diligence and collecting all of the necessary information before releasing a single product. His biggest task at launch was establishing Vorieo’s brand equity, which is defined as the perceived worth or value of the brand name, not just the value of the actual product. “When it’s a new company, people are very skeptical about bringing the product into the humidor. Plus, that humidor is already kind of at its maximum, says James. “So what I had to do was formulate a SWOT analysis—that stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. When I had that SWOT analysis, it gave me a clearer vision of focusing on quality over quantity.” Every retailer is different and has to be viewed as a new opportunity. Understanding this and the importance of communicating the value of your brand to retailers is crucial for every company, especially those that are newer to the market. “You have to reestablish the relationship or rapport with those individuals, and you have to sell them on your brand equity,” he says. Once he had some samples in hand, he had a panel smoke through them and provide him with feedback. That feedback helped him make adjustments to the blends that weren’t considered ready for market until the entire panel gave their approval. The Vorieo 1KVI:XXIX Gold maduro stands out as James’ personal favorite from his company’s portfolio. This particular blend was inspired by the Bible verse 1 Kings 6:29 that reads, “And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.” Vorieo 1KVI:XXIX Gold maduro has a dark and oily wrapper leaf grown in Indonesia and long filler tobaccos that deliver a smooth, bold array of flavors meant to stimulate the entire palate. A popular Vorieo cigar in retail is the Junkanoo, which is named after a holiday and festival created by enslaved African American and Native American descendants. “Junkanoo is very popular amongst retail,” says James. “It’s a barber-stripe pole Habano and Connecticut wrapper that has been combined together. I think it’s a middle ground for the novice smoker; that’s why it does well. On the other side, it does very well because you have connoisseurs who are looking for something that’s a little bit bolder but smoother at the same time." Rounding out Vorieo’s premium cigar portfolio is the Duck & Sun and the Vorieo 1KVI:XXIX Platinum. Each blend can stand on its own, and together all of Vorieo’s products are priced to allow the retailers to make money. Part of James’ initial research was centered around pricing in the premium cigar industry. What he realized was that a lot of products were, in his opinion, overpriced and left the retailer with little opportunity to make money. That’s something he wanted to change with Vorieo. “I just basically went around and did some due diligence, looking at what everyone was pricing their stuff at retail,” he says. “I decided that since [the retailers] are going to be the brand ambassadors, I want them to have something that they can make money from. A majority of the retailers make about 50 percent gross margin on my product, and 50 percent gross margin is pretty good in the industry, because on average, when they actually receive the product, it’s already like 40-50 percent, and then they have to tack on another 20 percent. It’s not like that with my cigars. They’re making a huge amount of money.” Vorieo is also going to stand out in humidors because of its distinct branding. James grew up around Moundville Archaeological Park, which is located along the Black Warrior River in Alabama. Native American imagery could be seen throughout this area, and James wanted to bring some of those images into his cigar brand. He also was inspired by what he read in the Bible and what he saw during his travels to Egypt. To bring all of these designs and inspirations together into a cohesive design that would have an impact among cigar smokers, James turned to Humberto Areas, founder of Cigar Package Design, for help. “It wasn’t easy at first, but he listened to what I wanted,” says James. “We established that I wanted to create a luxury but modern brand. I wanted something that would touch the heart of people but at the same time tell a story.” Creating a strong brand that retailers and consumers would get behind was only part of James’ go-to-market plan for Vorieo. He knew that in order for it to be successful, he had to make sure the right processes were in place to support Vorieo’s growth. Positioned for Growth: James is very selective when it comes to which retailers he decides to partner with. Before bringing on new accounts, James interviews each retailer to make sure his vision aligns with theirs. This is key, he explains, because if you don’t establish a good relationship with a retailer and don’t define how you want your product to be presented and merchandised, it’ll easily get lost once it’s brought into a store. In addition to setting some clear goals and expectations at the start of any business partnership, James has also created different tools and resources for the retailers to use that will help them become more familiar with his products and will assist them in selling Vorieo in their stores. Part of this is accomplished through enhancing shelf talkers with the addition of QR codes. Anticipating customers’ needs is how James stays competitive, and it’s also what adds value to his brand’s name. Social media and swag are additional tools James uses to create brand equity. Whether it’s connecting with consumers online or offering them a chance to represent the brand by purchasing and wearing a Duck & Sun hat, these actions all build awareness and make Vorieo an easier sell for both retailers and consumers. “Brand equity” may not be a term heard often in the cigar world, but it’s how many of the industry’s biggest players have built their businesses. James understands the importance of building awareness around a brand and has put in place a strategic plan to make the world well aware of Vorieo and what it has to offer. From its distinct backstory rooted in Native American and Egyptian culture to its keystone pricing that offers retailers generous profit margins, Vorieo is established and positioned for growth. This story first appeared in the May/June 2022 issue of Tobacco Business magazine.

Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter Diamond Achievers Scholarship Gala – June 18, 2022 The Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated hosted our first annual Diamond Achievers Scholarship Gala on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the Hilton Granite Hotel in Frisco, Texas. The Nupes and guests "Partied with a Purpose" while raising more than $19,500 dollars (and counting) for our Diamond Achievers foundation through “text-me-now” donations. The money raised will be used to provide scholarships and assistance to deserving students as well as those in need in the Frisco community. Proceeds from the event's Ad booklet and ticket sales will also go to the foundation. Upon arrival at the gala, the more than 300 attendees were greeted to a lively social hour where they enjoyed a variety of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, mingled with old friends, and made new ones while professional photographers snapped candid photos to commemorate the evening. After the social hour, everyone adjourned to the ballroom where the evening's festivities were preceded by a brief formal presentation by Brother Keith Maddox, Polemarch of the Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter, along with several other members and city dignitaries. The presentation concluded with a rousing rendition of the Kappa Alpha Psi Hymn sung by the more than 150 brothers in attendance. To cap off the evening, everyone enjoyed dinner and danced the night away to the music of a live band and DJ. Cedric Robinson Reporter, Frisco, (TX) Alumni Chapter

Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter Chartering Ceremony – March 12, 2022 The Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated held its chartering ceremony on March 12, 2022, at the Eventi Venue in Frisco, Texas. Frisco Alumni Polemarch Keith Maddox accepted the charter on behalf of the chapter’s 112 members. Brother Rhen C. Bass, Grand Keeper of Records & Exchequer, and William Puder, Southwest Province Polemarch were on hand to formally present and welcome the Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter to Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. Other attendees included representatives from the Grand Chapter, Southwestern Province, local chapters throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, and Brother Montel Jordan, recording artist/actor. A reception at the Event Venue immediately followed the Chartering Ceremony. Below is a comprehensive list of dignitaries in attendance: Grand Chapter: Rhen C. Bass, Grand Keeper of Records & Exchequer Kevin Burnett, National Guide Right Chairman Southwestern Province: William Puder, Southwestern Province Polemarch Timothy F. Albert, 25th Southwestern Province Polemarch Stanley Sims, Southwestern Province Keeper of Exchequer Harold Trey Young, Southwestern Province Jr. Vice Polemarch Keith Campbell, Executive Operating Assistant to Province Polemarch Eric Walker, Chief of Staff to the Province Polemarch Karey Barnett, North Texas Administrative Assistant Kevin Wilson, Co-chair Province Life Membership Greg Davis, Province Expansion, Southwestern Province Cedric Hill, Texas-New Mexico Kappa Caucus Chair Other Dignitaries: Robert Duckworth, former Grand Junior Vice Polemarch Montell Jordan, Entertainer Harold Flowers, Delta Zeta 1956 (Central State University), Life Member Dallas Alumni Emerson Lattimore, Elder Watson Diggs Awardee (2005), Polemarch Delta Sigma Chapter, Polemarch Dallas Alumni Chapter, & Polemarch Southwestern Province. Currently a 61-year member in the bond and a life member on all three levels (Local, Province, & Grand) Written by Cedric Robinson Reporter, Frisco (TX) Alumni Chapter