Tau Kappa Epsilon
Kappa Tau Chapter // The University of Arizona
Phillip Gutt’s journey with Tau Kappa Epsilon began in 1974 when he joined the Kappa Tau Chapter at the University of Arizona. During his undergraduate years, Phillip pursued a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering with distinction, while immersing himself in campus life as a Baird Scholar, Bobcat, President of the Student Union Activities Board, and member of Sophos and Chain Gang honoraries. His involvement also extended to campus cultural events and the U.S. Bicentennial Committee. Within TKE, Phillip was an active contributor in athletics, chapter life, and as a tutor to his fellow fraters.
After graduating in 1977, Phillip launched a pioneering career in association management. He co-founded Arizona’s first association management firm and went on to lead multiple companies, including Association Managers, Inc., Professional Property Managers, Inc., and Superior Associations, Inc., where he serves as owner today. Widely recognized as a leader in his field, Phillip became a Certified Association Executive in 1989, co-founded AEGIS (an international consortium of association management companies), and served as president of both the Arizona Society of Association Executives and Skal International Tucson. He was also the principal author of the global code of ethics for the association management industry and contributed internationally as a director of the Institute of Association Management Companies.
Phillip’s contributions extended far beyond his profession. A dedicated community leader, he founded Tucson Junto, served as president of one of the world’s largest Rotary Clubs, was honored as a four-time Paul Harris Fellow, and engaged deeply with civic and educational organizations including Pima Community College, Davis-Monthan AFB, Pro Neighborhoods, and Imagine Greater Tucson. His legacy reflects a lifelong commitment to civil discourse, education, and public service.
As an alumnus, Phillip has remained one of the most active supporters of the Kappa Tau Chapter. He was instrumental in recovering stolen chapter funds, served as Executive Director of both the KT-TKE Alumni House Association and The 1322 Founders, and helped establish the KT-TKE Alumni Association. His leadership has ensured the chapter’s stability and growth, and his guidance continues to inspire generations of Tekes.
For Phillip, TKE was a transformative force: “The chapter experience was instrumental in my development from high school graduate to college graduate. The friendships I made have lasted a lifetime—most of my best friends are fraternity brothers from college.” His advice to today’s undergraduates is clear: “Graduate, make friends, have fun, embrace new experiences, take reasonable risks, and never reject new fraters for petty reasons.”
Phillip resides in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife, Nancy. They have one daughter, Tori.
