Local entrepreneur wins prestigious award

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Local Entrepreneur Wins Prestigious Award

Malinda Berry Fischer has received Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women’s prestigious Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Award in honor of her professional achievements. Malinda’s organizational expertise has made her a valuable leader for many community organizations, including the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Foundation. 

The Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Award is presented annually to distinguished alumnae of Pi Beta Phi who exhibit excellence and outstanding leadership in their career or volunteer service to their communities. The award is named for past Pi Beta Phi Grand President Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg, who was instrumental in forming Pi Beta Phi Foundation during her term from 1985 to 1991. Crucial Fraternity initiatives, like leadership development programs and academic scholarships, are supported through the stewardship of the Foundation.

Malinda’s wide range of interests comes from the influence of her parents. Her father was a businessman, a founder and past president of Thomas N. Berry & Company, a family-owned oil and gas business. Her mother’s true passion was the arts. After graduating from OSU with her bachelor’s degree, Malinda attended the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration. She worked as an organizational management and development consultant for more than 30 years, and became president and CEO of Thomas N. Berry & Company in 1995. Malinda dedicates much of her time to her alma mater and has served on the OSU Foundation board of trustees as well as a leader for the University Club at OSU. Because of her continued service to her community, Malinda has been named an OSU Leadership Legacy in 2002; a gallery in the new OSU Foundation building was named in Malinda’s honor in 2005; and OSU listed her as a Distinguished Alumna in 2006.

“It is with great pride and joy we honor Malinda for her vast professional expertise,” said Pi Beta Phi President Mary Tatum. “Malinda’s strong leadership has benefitted not only her business enterprises, but also many worthy philanthropic causes. She is a true model for everything that is outstanding about Oklahoma State University, and she also lives the core values of Pi Beta Phi in all that she does.”

About Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women: Founded at Monmouth College in Illinois in 1867, Pi Beta Phi has 136 chapters and more than 300 alumnae organizations worldwide. The Fraternity leads the way to a more literate society through its Read. Lead. Achieve. literacy initiatives, including its reading enrichment program Champions are Readers®, its Canadian philanthropy Arrow in the Arctic and its partnership with First Book®. Pi Beta Phi promotes friendship, develops women of intellect and integrity, cultivates leadership potential and enriches the lives of members and their communities. For more information, visit www.pibetaphi.org or follow Pi Phi on Twitter and Facebook.