TWO BUSINESS PATHS NAVIGATED BY PHI PSI VALUES
By Micah Kleid F&M ’00
Starting a business takes more than a clever idea or a good product. It demands vision, courage, resilience, and a sense of purpose that extends beyond oneself. For two Phi Kappa Psi brothers, Owen Sutter Oregon State ’17 and Nathan Green LSU ’03, entrepreneurship became a professional pursuit as well as an extension of the Fraternity’s enduring motto — The Great Joy of Serving Others.
Building with Purpose
When Sutter graduated from Oregon State University in 2020, he was ready to start a career and explore the world. Armed with degrees in business and design innovation, Sutter took a job in Asia to better understand the global supply chain. Working in Vietnam and China for a major manufacturing company, he learned firsthand how most of the products Americans buy are made, and at what human cost.
“I wanted to understand not just how products are sold, but how they’re made and who makes them,” Sutter said.
That curiosity became the foundation for Xoai Packs, a sustainable backpack company Sutter launched in 2024. The name — Xoài means mango in Vietnamese — reflects the country where his idea took shape and his personal connection to it.
“I want to make the gap between where stuff is made and where it’s consumed more transparent,” he explained. “I want customers to know how things are made, what they cost to produce, and that the people behind them are treated fairly.”
Sutter’s designs go through multiple rounds of prototypes, all tested during his travels across Asia, on motorcycles and in airports alike. But beyond fabric and zippers, his business is built on fairness.
“Treat people at both ends of the supply chain well,” he said. “Don’t overcharge customers, and don’t underpay workers. Business should benefit everyone involved.”
That philosophy, he said, traces directly back to Phi Psi. As chapter president and later District VI Archon, Sutter learned to lead by example, inspire through service, and create a culture where people thrive together.
“Phi Psi gave me real leadership experience,” he said. “It taught me to build culture, lead through inspiration, and serve others. That’s exactly what I want to do with my company.”
For Sutter, entrepreneurship is as much about building up people as building out products.
“You leave every situation better than you found it,” he said. “You take care of people. You don’t step on anyone to succeed.”
Style with Substance
In a 100-year-old men’s store in Birmingham, Alabama, Green spends his days surrounded by finely tailored suits and silk ties. But after hours, often well after his children are asleep, he’s building something of his own. Secret Society Neckwear is a boutique neckwear brand, made in America, born from his love of clothing and design.
For Green, fashion is storytelling.
“I’ve been into clothing for as long as I can remember,” he said. “It’s how I express myself. But it wasn’t until I joined the Fraternity that I learned how you dress conveys a message and shows respect for others. Dressing well isn’t vanity; it’s courtesy.”
That belief in respect, decorum, and community has shaped Green’s brand as much as his personal life. Secret Society traces its roots to Green’s days at Louisiana State University, where a professor inspired him to start wearing bow ties, then eventually to make them.
“The name Secret Society comes partly from my fascination with Greek life and the brotherhood we built in Phi Psi,” Green said.
“When you wear a tie these days, it feels like you’re a part of a quiet little club, a brotherhood of people who appreciate tradition and respect.”
In an era when few wear ties daily, Green sees each piece as an opportunity for personal expression and renewed confidence.
“When you dress up, you stand taller,” he said. “You think more clearly, act more respectfully. It’s not about formality. It’s about care for the people around you.”
Like Sutter, Green’s venture also rests on service. His experience as Phi Psi’s vice president taught him to lead, manage, and navigate challenges.
“Running a fraternity chapter is running a business,” he said with a laugh. “Budgets, events, people management — it was all there. But more importantly, it taught me to serve, to give back to something bigger than myself.”
He also credits Phi Psi for shaping his professionalism and character.
“Fraternities get a bad rap sometimes, but for me, it was the most educational experience I had in college,” Green reflected. “It showed me what leadership looks like and what it means to hold yourself to a higher standard.”
Tying and Packing It All Together
Though they come from different generations and industries — Sutter’s technical packs and Green’s timeless neckwear — their paths share a commitment to integrity, creativity, and service. Both ventures embody the Phi Psi ideal that success is most meaningful when it uplifts others.
Both also credit the Fraternity with giving them the confidence to lead and the conviction to stay true to their values.
“In Phi Psi, you learn to build something that lasts,” Sutter said. “You learn that leadership isn’t about control — it’s about care. That’s how you build culture, whether it’s in a chapter or a company.”
Green agreed with those sentiments, saying, “It’s easy to start something for yourself. But if you want it to last, it has to serve a purpose bigger than you.”
In a world driven by fast profits and fleeting trends, both brothers are slowing things down, crafting businesses that are ethical, thoughtful, and human. For Sutter, that means transparency and fair labor. For Green, it’s quality and respect. For both, it’s about service.
The Great Joy of Serving Others isn’t limited to philanthropy or volunteerism. It can live in how we treat our employees, honor our craft, and connect what we build to the betterment of others.
Whether it’s a handcrafted tie or a durable backpack, these products are extensions of the values that Phi Kappa Psi has instilled for generations: integrity, humility, and a deep and abiding joy in serving others.
In December 2025, Owen was able to watch mass production underway for the XOÀI Packs, which began distribution in March 2026. Are you an entrepreneur with a story to tell? Let us know: marketing@phikappapsi.com.