Boston transplant Mike Martocci has been in South Carolina for only four years, but he’s already mastered the art of Southern hospitality. As president of the Myrtle Beach Chapter, Martocci ’88 Bus and his wife, Sabra, strive to speak to every attendee of the chapter’s football watch parties—which, at 175–200 people per game, is like hosting a large wedding. “Every single person who walks into one of our events, we’re gonna say hi to them, remember their names, meet their family,” says Martocci, who was invited to become president at his very first watch party.
Their hospitality is paying off: In the first year of his presidency, the chapter’s Facebook page grew from just under 300 followers to 660, and its watch party attendance swelled from 30 to 40 per game to almost 200 alumni, fans, and family.
“I love to give back to the university,” says Martocci, whose sons Christian ’23 Eng and Nicholas, a sophomore, are also Nittany Lions.