Why volunteer? Three alumni give you their reasons.

You graduate Stetson, get a terrific job and your career takes off. But soon, all those hours of hard work take a toll, and your work-life balance is, well, not balanced at all. That’s what happened to alumni Jason Maddox, Ryan Rapolti and Dereck Williams. All three turned to volunteer work to help create harmony between their work and personal lives.

Jason Maddox

Jason Maddox, who graduated Stetson with a bachelor’s in history in 1991, worked his way up at DHL to global account director, Customer IT Solutions. “My job is interesting, and it is fulfilling, but it comes down to being able to shut the laptop and go do something positive,” Maddox explained.

One day while walking Fort Lauderdale beach, Maddox and his girlfriend met a volunteer with the Sea Turtle Oversight Protection program. Inspired by what they learned, they decided to trade in the couch and watching Netflix movies for a pitch-black sandy beach and the opportunity to safeguard mama sea turtles coming ashore to nest and hatchlings en route to the Atlantic Ocean.

From Nest to Nest

A certified diver, Maddox had seen his share of sea turtles and was fully aware that they are an endangered species. “If people don’t take a step and get involved, they aren’t going to be around,” he said of the leatherbacks, loggerheads and green turtles he helps save.

The couple volunteers three nights a week during season — July to October — to watch nests from 8 p.m. to midnight. Maddox says it’s rewarding, but also exhausting, especially when there are seven to eight active nests.

“We are running from one nest to the next, to the next, then repeat,” he explained. “If we see a drop or a head, we take note — and where there’s active disorientation, we intervene — sometimes hatch outs can take 10 minutes and sometimes it’s two hours.”

When there is a hatch out, usually 100-plus turtles, they grab buckets and gather up the baby reptiles that are rapidly scurrying, often disoriented by commercial lighting from beach hotels and condos in the wrong direction, as they search for ocean waters before night herons and raccoons can pick them off.

Last season, Maddox logged 228 hours of monitoring nests, during which time he witnessed 424 hatchlings make their way unassisted to the water and helped recover 199 disoriented turtles.

“Those 199 probably would not have made it, had we not been present,” he said, noting that a turtle’s chances of making it to adulthood are anywhere from one in 1,000 to one in 10,000. “The odds are so stacked against them for surviving. I think whatever we can do to help is a good thing.”

Ryan Rapolti

Ryan Rapolti graduated Stetson in 2009 with a bachelor’s in Business Management. Upon graduation, he immersed himself full speed ahead into the Orlando business world. He started and managed several successful business ventures, including Reception 24/7, a professional answering service designed to support businesses that need reliable receptionist solutions.

The alumnus also is an active real estate professional. All his efforts earned him impressive awards and accolades: Orlando Weekly’s 2024 Best Real Estate Agent, Orlando Regional Realtor Association’s Top 20 Under-40 Rising Stars in Real Estate, Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under-40 (two-time winner) and 30 Under-30 awards.

“During my 20s, I dedicated much of my time to building a successful career, ultimately becoming the president of an international telecommunications company at just 27 years old,” he said. “While the professional achievements and financial success were gratifying, I found myself longing for something more — a way to make a meaningful impact beyond the corporate world. Despite the company’s success, I realized that it didn’t fully fulfill my social needs or my desire to give back to the community.”

Finding Guys With Ties

In 2015 he was introduced to Guys With Ties Philanthropy, a group of professional men who may wear ties to work but like to don wild Hawaiian shirts or sleek all-white suits to raise money for local charities at their fun and entertaining events. Joining Guys With Ties was a turning point for Rapolti.

“It provided the perfect opportunity to combine my professional skills with my passion for helping others,” he said. “Volunteering with the organization not only allowed me to contribute to important causes, but also helped me find balance and purpose outside of work,” he explained.

The alumnus has met thousands of inspiring individuals and learned about the missions of countless nonprofits through the organization where he now serves as chairman of the board of directors. Volunteer work has taught him the importance of setting aside time for what truly matters and finding ways to connect with others.

“It’s helped me master work-life balance by reminding me that success isn’t just measured by professional achievements, but also by the positive impact we leave on the world and the lives we touch along the way,” he emphasized.

Dereck Williams  

Dereck Williams, who graduated Stetson in 2017 with a bachelor of arts in Communication and Media Studies, was attending a leadership Stetson event when he met Rapolti. The two hit it off, and Rapolti invited him to a Guys With Ties event.

Williams, who is the director of executive recruiting at TruVirtue, did a lot of philanthropic work during his years at Stetson, including charity events with his fraternity Delta Sigma Phi. He also volunteered in high school to tutor kids.

“I always wanted to give back because I had that instilled in me. It just made sense to continue with it as soon as I was able to with Guys With Ties,” said Williams, who serves as vice president for the organization.

As for work-life balance, Williams says volunteering helps him appreciate his life and the things he gets to do, pointing out that many of the people who benefit from the funds they raise don’t get the chance to participate or be involved in the things he does.

Guys With Ties holds three annual fund-raisers; including a themed event in April, a White Party in September and Hope for the Holidays in December. This year’s April event was a prohibition-themed party that benefited Easterseals Florida.

– Patricia Letakis