Brother Rich Klopfstein (74-F) read about brothers Sergio Ilic (87-F) and T.A. Heckel (82-F) and the lobster and wine fest in our December 2025 alumni newsletter. He noted the following, “I read with interest of your Maine Lobster dinner spectacular. I just had a “lazy lobster” on New Year’s Day (warm “lobstah” in drawn “buttah”).

Rich and his brother Daniel’s (80-S) parents have a long and interesting history in Fresno in the culinary arts. In 1970, the owner of the Swiss Bavarian House in Fresno was a restaurateur known as Rene. His full name was Rene Klopfstein, who had immigrated with family from Switzerland in 1959.

Rene Klopfstein had previously worked as an Executive Chef for the Perry Boys Smorgasbord group from 1964 before he “struck out on his own” to open the 600+ seat Swiss Bavarian House in 1970. The restaurant was at the corner of Blackstone and Olive.

Next, Rene Klopfstein with his wife, Marcelle, went on to open two acclaimed fine-dining establishments named Rene’s. The first Rene’s was on Palm near McKinley, and later the second Rene’s was at the corner of West and Bullard, where The Manhattan is today.

More from Rich: “The Sigma Chi Rho Rho Chapter House at the University of Maine (Orono), 50 miles from our home in Bar Harbor and of which my wife Susan is a graduate of UMaine, was recently reoccupied last fall 2025 after being dormant for 27 years. We were one of many donors to the Chapter’s fund raising campaign ($1.2M for repurchasing the House from the University and renovations). We attended the Homecoming game and House Rededication Ceremony in October 2025. I have met many Sigs from this chapter, which brings back fond memories of Sigma Chi Epsilon Eta (A Sig I am). Pictures below are the UMaine Sigma Chi House (built in 1935) and with Tom Murphy, Steering Committee member.”

After qualifying for platinum level Bell Chapter status which qualifies us for leadership training for the entire undergraduate chapter, the first trainer came to Fresno on December 6, 2025.  Brother Joe Cruz who is an active member of the US military, presented to 22 of our active brothers.

Consul Julian Narvaez (23-F) was a participant and said this about the session, “It was really good, actually the facilitator helped us work on problems we are having within the active chapter. I liked how he was able to relate to us and it made the lesson more enjoyable.”

The course was called “Navigating Conflict”  Upon successful completion, a cumulative score of 70% or higher, each brother will be able to claim his Navigating Conflict digital certificate and badge.  These demonstrate the competencies that mastered during this training and can be featured on their Linked-in profile or on other social media sites.  The test was taken that afternoon on the Sigma Chi website.

CNBC 11/29/2025

AI is taking jobs — here’s Coursera CEO’s No. 1 tip for grads to stay competitive

“Greg Hart, former technical advisor to Jeff Bezos at Amazon, became president and CEO of online learning platform Coursera in February 2025. He told CNBC Make It that in the age of AI, it’s important for young people to pursue additional learning alongside a degree.

“The advice that I give to my sons… is one of the best things that you can do is to augment your university degree with micro credentials specifically,” he said in the interview.

Micro credentials are short courses that provide a certification for a specific skill or knowledge and they take less time to complete than a traditional degree or diploma. It’s become increasingly important to supplement degrees with additional certifications, as graduate jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI, Hart said.”

This article is a confirmation of the importance of the Sigma Chi Learning Institute and its leadership training modules.  In March 2025 Epsilon Eta qualified as a Bell Chapter at a level that entitles all undergraduate brothers to obtain this training brought to Fresno annually. The certificates earned will add to their résumés and give our brothers a critical edge in gaining employment.

From the Fresno Business Journal 10/2/2025: It’s a time of transition for the Central Valley’s largest accounting companies following a merger that has created the sixth-largest CPA firm in the U.S.

In April, accounting, consulting and wealth management firm Moss Adams and advisory, tax and assurance firm Baker Tilly announced plans to combine. The merger closed in June, strengthening the firms’ industry specialization, expanding geographic reach and enhancing capabilities across advisory, tax and assurance services, according to a news release.

The combined company will operate under the Baker Tilly name, positioning the firm to help middle-market businesses navigate an increasingly complex environment. Such businesses typically generate annual revenues of $10 million to $1 billion.

Moss Adams entered the Fresno market in 2016 when it combined with accounting firm Morse Wittwer Sampson LLP. That same year, it absorbed professionals from a local Deloitte office. In 2018, Moss Adams acquired Fresno-based Baker Peterson & Franklin.

Moss Adams was ranked No. 1 on The Business Journal’s list of Accounting Firms for 2024, with 34 local CPAs as of November 2023.

Jeff Ferro, CEO of London-based Baker Tilly, will continue leading the combined firm until his retirement. Eric Miles, currently CEO of Seattle-based Moss Adams, has been named CEO-elect and will assume the Baker Tilly role on Jan. 1, 2026. Ferro will remain a director.

“Moss Adams is a great strategic fit with Baker Tilly. We’ve long respected the firm, its people and its industry-focused approach,” Ferro said. “By bringing together our strengths, we are expanding our ability to serve middle-market businesses with greater expertise, resources and insights.”

Chris Morse (83-F), principal at Baker Tilly and longtime head of the Fresno branch, said there have been no significant personnel or structural changes. The team continues to grow to serve new and existing clients.

Morse said the most common question from clients is whether their service providers will change. He emphasized that clients would continue to be served by the same teams as before the merger.

Moss Adams will co-brand with Baker Tilly over the next year, with a gradual transition to the Baker Tilly name. “We will be able to bring a broader range of professional services and industry experts to Fresno and the surrounding market. We will be heavily investing in technology and our people on the most recent advances and tools,” Morse said.

Past Active Chapter Scholarship Chairman Carson Fusi (24-F) helped coordinate the banquet which was held at The Old Spaghetti Factory on September 22, 2025.  The banquet was dual-purpose serving as Preference Night and the Scholarship Banquet.  Attendees included thirty-four undergraduate brothers, 11 of the 13 pledges and 5 alumni including House Corporation president John Ballinger (65-S), Endowment President Mike Patton (63-S), Chapter Advisor Gio Primavera (17-F), House Corporation co-treasurer Julian Ramos (09-S) and Warden of Epsilon Eta’s Monuments and Memorials Commission Steve Smith (80-F).  During the presentation, the Active Chapter brothers receiving scholarships were given Certificates of Academic Excellence, and each will receive $4,000 for the 2025/2026 school year for a total of $40,000.  The average CGPA for the seventeen recipients is 3.28.