Fifteen years after graduating from Southwestern, Mike Lade just might be more active on campus as an alumnus than he was as a student.

He is vice president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors; a member of the Alumni Self Study Implementation Steering Committee (ISC) after serving on the Self Study Commission; an ISC liaison to the Local Associations Task Force; and a member of the Houston Alumni Leadership Committee. Last year, he chaired the University's first-ever Houston Candlelight Service.

"I am involved because of the impact Southwestern has had on my life, the alignment of the institution's core values to my personal beliefs, and because Southwestern offers me the chance to remain involved in meaningful ways."

Lade's family history at Southwestern dates back to the late 1950s, when his father, Bobby Lade '60, mother, Bettie Scott Lade Lehman '61, and aunt Margie Scott '59 all attended. His classmate, Paul Franz '88, married his sister, Marla '91. This year, his family endowed a scholarship to honor his father and aunt. With the help of friends, they raised more than $50,000, and the initial award was granted this fall to a first-year student. "Southwestern is a special place," he says. "In my experience, it provides students with the opportunity to grow into their own skin. Southwestern does not 'turn out alumni' from a standard mold; it nurtures students in a highly personalized way."

Lade has fond memories of his days in Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and remains in close contact with current and former members. "As a Pike, I often heard that 'these are the men that will be there throughout your life; from your wedding, to the birth of your children, through business, and even through death.' It sounded like a line from a great speech, but in my experience, it has proven to be completely true."

He graduated with a degree in accounting and a minor in economics. He immediately secured work as an auditor for Arthur Andersen & Co., where he stayed for five years. He went on to lead the mergers and acquisitions departments as a divisional officer at IKON Office Solutions and a corporate officer at Carriage Services.

In 1999, he helped found Everest Funeral Package, LLC. "At Everest, we align ourselves with the consumer, as funeral experts working directly for the consumer and not the funeral home. We assist consumers with funeral planning, funeral insurance and by serving a client's family at the time of their death." Everest commenced operations across Canada in 2003 and will be introduced in the United States in 2004.

Lade is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Texas State Society of CPAs. He counts cooking and traveling among his greatest interests. And while the majority of his time is spent with spouse, Karen, and sons, Andrew and Sean, he still finds ways to give back to his alma mater. "Southwestern's gift is the unique way the institution helps maturing adults find and define themselves through the educational experience. This results in alumni who often contribute to our society in extraordinary ways."