For his lifelong dedication and commitment to Phi Delta Theta, the Fraternity honored Brother Michael J. Fimiani with the Legion of Merit at the 2023 General Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Legion of Merit Award honors those outstanding members of our Fraternity who have made a lifelong commitment to the service of Phi Delta Theta. The recipients of this award are not only living testimony that Phi Delta Theta is a Fraternity for Life, but they are also the men who give this phrase meaning for so many Phis.
“Mike Fimiani has been a longtime and loyal volunteer including serving as a province president and on the Phi Delta Theta Educational Foundation. His lifelong dedication to Phi Delta Theta is admirable. Thanks to his leadership and contributions, generations of Phis will benefit for years to come. I can think of no one more deserving to be recognized with one of our Fraternity’s highest honors,” Phi Delta Theta General Council President, J. David Almacy said.
Brother Fimiani was initiated into Phi Delta Theta by the Florida Epsilon Chapter at the University of South Florida on November 23, 1985. As an undergraduate, he served as chapter president and held various officer positions and chairmanships. He also served as IFC treasurer and received the Chester H. Ferguson Award for the Outstanding Senior Phi in the State of Florida.
After years of involvement as r the Chi South Province President, he became a member of the Phi Delta Theta Foundation Board of Trustees, a position he devoted himself to for nine years. More recently, in 2019, he joined the Campaign 2030 Committee and is the vice chairman today. During his time as Campaign chair, it has led to Phi Delta Theta’s most significant fundraising and granting years, providing a million dollars in impact.
Mike formed the Southernmost Alumni Club in the Florida Keys. He also has been a member of Phi Delta Theta’s West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale Alumni Clubs. He has served as chapter adviser for his chapter, Florida Epsilon, and is the president of the Florida Epsilon Alumni Association. He serves as voluntary president of Arete Housing Corp., the 501(c) entity that owns, maintains, and manages the Florida Epsilon Chapter House. He also serves as director of the 100 Club of South Palm Beach County, supporting law enforcement and firefighters and their families in times of need.
Mike played an integral role in the alumni association of his alma mater, Saint John Paul II Academy in Boca Raton, where he spearheaded its reconstitution in 2005. His passion for the school helped build the enthusiasm and support needed for the successful fundraising and development which the school enjoys today. Having also served on the advisory committee of the academy and established the Alumni Scholarship fund, he was inducted into the Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame.
Professionally, he is president of his own development corporation where he develops shopping centers in the Southeast. Before forming the company in 2007, Mike was a founder and partner of Woolbright Development. During his tenure at Woolbright, the company was among the ten largest developers in Florida and was listed among the top 100 developers in the United States.
During his career, our recipient also owned and operated units of the Blimpie Subs and Salads franchise. He owned these stores in partnership with one of his Phi Delta Theta pledge brothers. He has also been a partner in Cannon Entertainment Group with his Fraternity big brother. Mike served as executive producer of an off-broadway play entitled Sealed For Freshness produced by the company.
Mike has always been an avid supporter of the Fraternity and a generous supporter of the Phi Delta Theta Foundation. In 2010, he achieved Iron Phi status, raising funds to benefit the fight against ALS, and has funded a Whole Man Scholarship for the Florida Epsilon chapter.
He and his wife, Cristy, are the proud parents of recent University of Virginia graduate Vincent, and rising senior Joseph, who is a Phi Delt at the Alabama Beta Chapter at Auburn University.
