Maury Ford (Tennessee-Martin, Epsilon Sigma ’88) currently serves as the Executive Vice-President of Sales at Jessup & Associates, Inc. an organization that manages all domestic sales for W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company. A career that began in 1992 based on a relationship and recommendation from a fellow Pike. While in the chapter, Maury served as new member educator as well as chapter president. His experience, relationships and service to the Fraternity are among his most treasured memories. Ford currently serves as the chapter advisor for Zeta Chapter at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and enjoys working with the chapter and continuing the great legacy of Pi Kappa Alpha. Ford was recently recognized by the UTK Greek community as the 2025 IFC Chapter Advisor of the Year.
Learn more about him below:
How would you describe your experience as Chapter Advisor for Zeta Chapter?
Being Chapter Advisor at Zeta is extremely rewarding and fulfilling. Getting the chance to interact with the finest college men at UTK has given me an appreciation and honestly a better understanding of the challenges that our guys and our Fraternity faces. Fraternity men today face challenges that did not exist when I was in college. Social media and technology in general provide great opportunities and liabilities. Managing budgets, planning events, and complying with university policies are just a few of the daily tasks that our guys face. I truly enjoy seeing leaders emerge from the ranks and watching a group of 200 men ‘buy in’ to what it means to be a Pike, share a legacy, and strive to be the top fraternity in an SEC campus community that boasts nearly 9,000 Greek members.
What are your favorite memories from being in the chapter?
I have so many great PIKE memories. The lasting friendships and the memories made through my new member process all the way to being chapter president helped shape the man I am today. To this day, I am still in contact with a significant amount of my brothers and they remain my best friends. In service to the Fraternity, being the new member educator has to be a highlight. Getting to mentor and help develop great Pikes is something I took great pride in and is a significant reason that I serve as chapter advisor today.
What advice would you give to young Pikes today?
I always encourage young Pikes to ‘Go All In’. The Fraternity experience can be one of the most impactful and transformative experiences of your life. But like everything in life, you get out of it what you put into it. If you only want a social club, you will get that. But if that is all you get out of your experience, you have truly missed what Pi Kappa Alpha is all about. Invest your time and energies into the Fraternity and it will pay dividends for the rest of your life. I also encourage them to build relationships with alumni. These are brothers that can help with internships, career paths, and really life in general. Pikes have touched and influenced my life at every level and I am very thankful for that.
What does Courage to be More mean to you?
I love the charge ‘Courage to be More’. I think it exemplifies a legacy Pikes should aspire to achieve not only as undergraduates and within the Fraternity, but as a men, leaders, fathers, husbands, and friends. Give more than is expected and care more than is convenient. Hold yourself to a higher standard and you will lift and inspire those around you to also have the ‘Courage to be More’.