CTaylorYank@taylorroof.com

Catherine received her BS degree from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL and a MBA from St. Louis University. Catherine began her career in construction by working while attending college in her father’s roofing business, Jim Taylor, Inc. She was promoted to President in 1989. Jim Taylor, Inc. was selected as the “Family Business of the Year” in 1998 by the Southern Illinois University Family Business Forum. Upon her father’s death in October, 2000, Catherine became owner/manager of the family roofing business along with her sisters. Catherine, now the owner of Jim Taylor, Inc. along with Julia Yank, President plan to continue the tradition of quality and service long established by her father, W. James Taylor, a former Rotarian in the Rotary Club of Belleville.
Catherine began her career in construction working for her father’s roofing business while attending college. Catherine earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Southern Illinois University @ Edwardsville and an MBA from St. Louis University. She was the first woman selected for the American Society of Professional Estimators Halls of Fame and later promoted to president of Jim Taylor, Inc in 1989.Catherine has been an active Rotarian since 1987 in the Rotary Club of O’Fallon, IL and is a Charter Member in the Rotary Club of O’Fallon Sunrise since its chartering on November 15, 2002. While serving as the President of the Rotary Club of O’Fallon, the club was recognized with the Governor’s Trophy and a Presidential Citation. Catherine was named the Carl Schweinfurth District Rotarian of the Year in 1999-2000. Her greatest accomplishments during her 2005-06 District Governor year was shipping 60,000 new/slightly used books to Belize and involving every single club in District 6510 and starting the District 6510 Paul Harris Society. Catherine is currently serving as the General Chair of the 2020 Zones 30-31 Summit to be held in Norman, Oklahoma in October.
Catherine was recognized as a Certified Professional Estimator in 1978, “Estimator of Year” and “Fellow” in 1994 by the American Society of Professional Estimators. She was the first woman selected for “The Estimator’s Hall of Fame”, a joint effort by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and the “Walker’s Estimating and Construction Journal.” In 1983, she was presented with the “WIC of the Year” award by the Greater Belleville Illinois Chapter of NAWIC. In 1990, Arizona State University and NAWIC selected her as the first “Outstanding Woman in Construction”. Catherine was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the Most Influential Business Women in 2018.
Catherine serves on the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation Board of Directors and is currently serving on the HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Foundation Board, O’Fallon, IL. Catherine received the 2016 Spirit of Philanthropy Award and belongs to the “Miracle of the Roses Society” which is recognition for lifetime giving from the HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Foundation. Catherine is a Sustaining Member of the Rotary Foundation, a member of the Paul Harris Society, a Charter Member of the Bequest Society, Major Donor and Arch C. Klumpf Society – Trustees Circle.
Catherine met her husband Greg at the Rotary Club of O’Fallon and they have been married since 2000. Gregory F. Yank served Rotary District 6510 as Governor 2001-02 and 2010-11 and has served as Rotary International Director 2017-19 representing Zones 30-31. Catherine enjoys watching St. Louis Cardinal Baseball, gourmet cooking and watching HGTV.

floyd.rotary@gmail.com

Floyd Lancia began his professional life in education, first as a secondary school teacher and band director, and later as a school superintendent. He spent the second part of his career on his real estate development and construction business, which he has since sold. He has served on the boards of several organizations, including the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne and the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society.
Lancia joined Rotary in 1970 and has been a member of his current club since 1992. He has spearheaded Rotary Foundation grant projects that have provided free eye surgeries in Nicaragua and clean water for communities in Mexico, among many others. He has served as president’s representative five times and as a training leader at the International Assembly.
Lancia has received the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award, and the Service Above Self Award. He and his wife, Betty Lou, are members of the Arch Klumph Society and the Bequest Society and sponsors of Rotary Peace Fellows.

edgarcruz.com@aol.com

Edgar Cruz is an independent classical and fingerstyle guitarist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Having recorded over sixteen CDs in styles ranging from classical to flamenco to pop to jazz, Cruz is perhaps best known for his fingerstyle arrangement of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". Additionally, Cruz was featured in an OETA (Oklahoma's PBS affiliate) documentary entitled "Spanish Blood - The Guitar of Edgar Cruz". Cruz took second place in the 1991 Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas in the fingerstyle competition as did his brother Mark Anthony Cruz in 1993 & 2001. Cruz's career began when he followed in his father Manuel Cruz' footsteps playing for restaurant customers as a strolling guitarist. His marketing strategy was taken from his father who said, "play what your audience wants and they'll pay you well".
Each year Edgar Cruz performs over 200 concerts and has played throughout America, Europe and South America. He has been a headliner at The Chet Atkins Festival in Nashville, TN since 1995 and is a strong icon at most festivals in Oklahoma including Festival of the Arts, Paseo Festival, Sunfest, Global Oklahoma and more. Cruz offers an incredible live repertoire of “The Greatest Hits of the Guitar”. Malagueña, Classical Gas, Bohemian Rhapsody, In the Mood, Dueling Banjos, Hotel California, A Classical Medley, Latin favorites and Medleys On the Fly are just a few examples. Audience participation, clapping, singing, dancing, snapping, “oles and yee-haws” are all encouraged. Sixteen CDs and 2 DVDs are currently available. They cover moods from Latin, Classical, International, Rock, Jazz, Mariachi, Romantic, Christmas and originals. Future works include a Live Video and more of the aforementioned.
Edgar has been named the Oklahoma's Top Performing Artist and/or Acoustic Guitarist for over ten years by the Oklahoma Gazette. He has received numerous civic acknowledgments for his contributions to various charitable events. He also performs for a wide variety of bookings including Concerts, Festivals, Weddings, Receptions, Banquets, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Schools, Churches, Conventions, Fiestas, Memorials, Masterclasses, Lessons, Restaurants or any special occasion. Edgar holds a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance from Oklahoma City University, the first person to do so. Complete and up to date information can be found at www.edgarcruz.com

ridshekhar@gmail.com

Shekhar Mehta is only the 4th Indian in 115 years to be nominated as the President of Rotary International for the year 2021-22.
Shekhar Mehta was born in 1959 in Kolkata India. A keen academician, he graduated from St. Xavier’s College, and has the unique combination of Masters in Commerce, a qualified Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant and Company Secretary.
He heads the Skyline Group engaged in Real Estate Development in different parts of India, including the largest group housing in the state of Rajasthan.
He is member of many professional, cultural and charitable organizations.
He is a serving trustee of

1. Shelter Box (UK)
2. Operation Eyesight India, a Canada based organization.

Shekhar Mehta joined Rotary in 1985 and has been Chairman of

• Strategic Planning Committee of Rotary International,
• Rotary India Literacy Mission.
• Rotary Foundation India.
• Rotary India Centennial Celebrations.
• Rotary India Humanity Foundation

He served as District Governor in 1999-2000 and was elevated to the Board of Directors of Rotary International for 2011-2013.
While serving as Rotary International Director, he helped Rotary add 2 countries to its fold – Bhutan & Maldives.
Keenly dedicated to service, Shekhar Mehta has led many major service initiatives in India. Some significant initiatives are:

• Constructing 500 homes for Tsunami survivors at Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Starting the Shelter Kit program in India which has served about 20 disasters distributing more than 15,000 Shelter Kits helping about 75,000 disaster victims.
• He started the Healing Little Hearts program – through this he has got done more than 2500 heart surgeries for children from across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal & African Countries. He also facilitated for the program to now become a National Program.
• Conceptualizing nationwide T-E-A-C-H a literacy program in India having reached out to more than 50,000 Schools and 15 million children. T-E-A-C-H is a holistic program on literacy. Rotary is working on the T-E-A-C-H Program with the Central Government and many State Governments.
• He has been Instrumental in setting up 15 Eye Hospitals across India serving nearly 50,000 eye operations each year.
• He started a scholarship program called UDAAN for marginalized children over last 10 years. 1000 scholarships have been given.
• Responding to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national call – He has helped set up 6000 rural toilets benefitting 30,000 people.

Shekhar Mehta is a motivational speaker. He has spoken at hundreds of events nationally and internationally.
His motivation skills are par excellence which has helped raise millions of dollars for The Rotary Foundation.
Shekhar.Mehta is recipient of the highest awards of Rotary International & The Rotary Foundation,

1. “Service Above Self Award”
2. “The Meritorious Service Award”
3. “Distinguished Service Award”

He will serve as the world leader of 1.2 million Rotarians in 200 countries and geographical areas in the year 2021-2022.
Texas is very close his heart as the annual convention of Rotary International in the year 2022 when he would be serving as Rotary International President is scheduled to be held at Houston.
Shekhar Mehta is married to Rashi Mehta. She is a social worker and is a stage artist having performed in socially relevant plays across India.
His guiding mantra in life is “Service is the rent that we pay for the space we occupy on this earth”.

Trustee, The Rotary Foundation

ian.riseley@rotary.org

While RI president in 2017-18, Ian H.S. Riseley challenged every Rotary club to plant one tree per member as a way to increase Rotarian involvement in environmental issues. He estimates at least three times that many were planted, likely more than 3 million trees. “I was really thrilled at the way in which the Rotary world embraced my request,” he says. “Everywhere we went, they were planting trees.”
Born and raised in Melbourne, Riseley holds a Masters degree in Income Tax Law and Graduate Diplomas in both accounting and income tax. He is a chartered accountant and principal of Ian Riseley and Co., a firm with an emphasis on advice for small and medium businesses which he established in 1976. His honors include the AusAID Peacebuilder Award from the Australian government in recognition of his work in East Timor, the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Australian community, the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award, and the Service Award for a Polio-Free World.
He was a Charter member of the Rotary Club of Sandringham in 1978, and its third President in 1981-82. He’s led a Group Study Exchange team to Massachusetts in 1997, served as District Governor of District 9810 in 1999-2000, as Assistant Chief Sergeant-of-Arms at Brisbane convention 2003, as a Director of Rotary International from 2006-08, as the Treasurer of Rotary International in 2007-08, as a Member of RI Finance committee 2008-11, as a Trustee of The Rotary Foundation and member of the PolioPlus committee 2011-15and as Co-Chair of the 2016 Seoul convention committee.
Riseley and his wife, Juliet, a past district governor, are Rotary Foundation Major Donors and Bequest Society members. They live on seven hectares at Moorooduc, where they practice their personal philosophy of sustainable and organic living.

larrylunsford@bradv.com

A certified public accountant, Larry is SVP/CFO of Bernstein-Rein Advertising, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. Larry and his wife Jill have two children, Trent and Cara. He enjoys blue and yellow M&Ms, all sports, travel, and collecting sports memorabilia, and waits patiently for the day when the Kansas City Chiefs will win the Super Bowl.
Larry’s passion for Rotary and his invitation into the family of Rotary began during his college years when in 1982 he was selected as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar to Australia. Larry joined Rotary in 1991, served as President of the Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza, Missouri in 1997-98, served as District Governor of Missouri D6040 in 2001-02, and served as Rotary International Director in 2013-15. He continues to serve in numerous roles, and as a speaker, at the district, zone, and international levels in Rotary. In 2017, he chaired his district’s TRF Centennial Legacy Committee (Million Dollar Dinner Committee)
Larry and his wife Jill have been appointed to serve as Aides to RI President Mark Daniel Maloney, and his wife Gay, for the 2019-2020 Rotary year. Larry will also serve for the next three years on the Rotary Peace Centers Committee of the Rotary Foundation.
As District Governor, Larry helped lead the “Missouri Rotarians for New York” statewide service project that raised over $100,000 in 2001 for those affected by the events of 9/11. For the past 18 years, Larry has served as the Shoes Cheerleader for his District resulting in efforts which have collected nearly 340,000 pairs of new shoes through the Shoes for Orphan Souls project. The Shoes project has taken him to Russia, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic to deliver new shoes to orphan children in those countries.
Larry is a Major Donor, a Benefactor, a Charter Member of the Bequest Society and the D6040 Paul Harris Society, and has been awarded the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and the RI Service Above Self Award.
He earned his bachelors and masters degrees in accounting from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and has served his alma mater on its National Alumni Association Board and its Foundation Board. He has served his church as Finance Chair and Capital Campaign Co-Chair, and enjoyed time in youth baseball and basketball coaching activities.

Coordinator, Rotary International Zone 30

bcjr@callahanmail.com

Bob Callahan has been active in the Rotary Club of Fairhope for 30+ years. He served as president of the Fairhope club in 2008 and as District Governor of 6880 in 2013-14. Following service as district governor Bob continued to serve Rotary Zone 30 as the end Polio Now coordinator 2016-2018 and now as Zone 30 Coordinator 2018-202. In 2011 Rotary International recognized his efforts to bring clean water to villages in Central America with Rotary’s highest individual honor, the Service Above Self Award. Bob is a Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation.

Public Image Coordinator, Rotary International Zone 30

chuckbarnett@gmail.com

A native of Sumner County, Chuck Barnett is a member of the Gallatin Rotary Club in Gallatin, TN. He was born in Nashville and raised in northern Sumner County where he went Westmoreland High School. He attended the University of Tennessee at Martin where he majored in Computer Science. He started his IT career while still in high school working for Sumner County Board of Education after school as an information technology consultant.
While at UTM Chuck worked in the university's IT department and the Center of Excellence for Science and Math Education. After college, he worked at an internet service provider based out of Nashville designing web sites and was their network administrator.
He then became the local IT manager for an international shipping company. After two years there, the entrepreneurial bug bit and Chuck started doing IT consulting for small and medium size businesses. Chuck started Sumner Technology Group in 2013 to build a business in his hometown of Gallatin.
Chuck joined Rotary in 2002 and was put to work quickly in the club by taking over as the bulletin editor. He has served as a board member, past president, vice president, secretary and youth exchange officer in his club. Chuck served three years as an Assistant Governor and serves as the Technology Support chair for the district. Chuck has served on the district level as an Assistant Governor, Technology Support chair, webmaster, Grant Allocation Committee, and the Finance Committee. During the 2016 - 2017 Rotary year, Chuck served as District Governor for District 6760. He has also served on the Grant Allocation Committee and the Finance Committee.
Outside of Rotary, Chuck enjoys ATV riding, kayaking and target shooting. Chuck is married to Amy; they have three children: Abigail (PHF), Chet & Amelia. You will find Abigail at many Rotary meetings with Chuck. She attended her first RI convention in Chicago when she was 3 months old.
Chuck is a member of the Gallatin Rotary Club, where he has served in many roles, including: Club President, Club Vice President & Secretary. Currently he is the Public Image Coordinator for Zone 30.

Public Image Coordinator, Rotary International Zone 31

6080DG1617@bixlercorp.com

David Bixler served as District 6080’s Governor in 2016-17. Bixler has been a Rotarian for 12 years, first as a member of the Springfield Southeast club and then as an organizer and charter member of the Springfield Metro club where he served as president in 2010-11 and also as the Communications Officer of District 6080 in which he coordinated the establishment of DACdb as the district’s informational database. He was named Rotarian of the year by the district in 2011. Bixler is a major donor to the Rotary Foundation, a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Paul Harris Society.
Professionally, David serves as president of Bixler Corporation, a cleaning and restoration company with more than fifty employees in southwest Missouri. He describes Bixler Corp. as a seven-digit revenue company with as many as 50 employees doing residential and commercial cleaning and restoration. Beyond the custodial services, Bixler Corp. offers water, fire, smoke, mold and construction site cleanup to clients including Harry Cooper Supply Co., Steak ’n Shake and JMark Business Solutions Inc.
Over the past five years Bixler has made six trips to Tlaquepaque Mexico for Rotary service projects, and he has encouraged a number of Tlaquepaque residents to come to Springfield to assist with Springfield Rotary’s Rock ‘N Ribs celebration and fundraiser. David’s wife, Julie Bixler, is also a member of the Springfield Metro Rotary Club and is also a Paul Harris Fellow.

Foundation Coordinator, Rotary International Zone 31

nowobilski@midam-inc.com

Mike and his wife, Mary Jo, are members of the Rotary Club of O’Fallon Sunrise.
Mike’s Rotary service includes Zone 31’s Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (Current); Heart of America’s 2019 Summit Program Chair; HOA’s 2021 Summit General Chair; HOA’s Treasurer; Land of Lincoln PETS’ Chair and District Governor (2013-14).
Mike was awarded the Rotary Foundation’s Citation For Meritorious Service (2012). He is passionate about Polio Eradication and international service, including leading multiple humanitarian trips to Malawi, Africa. Mike and Mary Jo are Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation and members of its’ Bequest Society.
In addition to his Rotary service, Mike has served as a volunteer and board member for multiple not for profit organizations. Mike is president of Mid-America Energy & Mining Services, Inc.

Foundation Coordinator, Rotary International Zone 30

danryan.rotary@gmail.com

A member of the DeMotte-Kankakee Valley Rotary Club since 1988, Dan has served on the Board of Directors for several years and as Club President twice, 1994-1995 and 2000-2001. Since 1988, he has served as Scholarship Chair. He has received the Distinguished Service Award from his club.

• 2002-2003 to 2005-2006 Assistant Governor (eight Clubs year one, five Clubs thereafter)
• 2002-2003 to 2005-2006 Polio Area Coordinator (Ten Clubs)
• 2003-2004 Co-chair District Foundation
• 2004-2005 to 2012-2013 District Foundation Chair
• 2013-2014 to 2015-2016 District Membership Chair
• 2013-Present District New Club Chair: New clubs in Lowell; Summit City South of Fort Wayne; Portage (restart) and Frontier.
• 2016-2017 District Conference Co-Chair
• 2013-2017 Zone 30 PHS Coordinator

Dan is a Major Donor, Level 2, and along with his wife, both Bequest Society Members, Level 2, and Paul Harris Society Members.
Dan and Kathy have been married for 46 years, have three daughters and ten grandchildren. He has been at DeMotte State Bank for 34 years and serves as Executive Vice-President and Loan Administrator.
Dan has been honored by District 6540 with the District Foundation Service Award and by The Rotary Foundation with The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, and the Distinguished Service Award. He has also been honored within District 6540 with the Rich Angle Lifetime Achievement Award, the Cable Award, and the Jack and Kay Kissinger Award.

Endowment/Major Gift Advisor, Rotary International Zone 30

tbabbmd@gmail.com

Tamie is proud to be a charter member of the Rotary Club of Nashville Sunset, Tennessee. Previously, she was active in two other Rotary clubs, The Rotary Club of Cushing, Oklahoma, where she was the first female member, and the Rotary Club of Hendersonville, Tennessee. She served as a Rotary District Governor in District 5750 in 2009-2010. Tamie is a physician specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is in private practice in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
In Rotary, she has served as a Training Leader at the Rotary International Assembly for two terms, RI President’s Representative for many Rotary District Conferences, Assistant Rotary Coordinator in Zone 27 and Zone 30, 2018 Institute Chair for Zone 30/31, Training Leader at several Zone Institutes, Program Chair for Zone 21a, 21b and 27 combined Rotary Institute, Program Chair for Zone 30/31 Rotary Institute, Training Chair for Zone 30/31 Rotary Institute and featured speaker and trainer for various Zone and District training events. Additionally, she had the opportunity to serve on the Rotary International Promotion Committee for the Convention in Hamburg, Germany in 2019. Currently, Tamie is serving as the Endowment Major Gift Advisor for Rotary Zone 30 from 2019 – 2022.
Tamie’s husband, Michael Babb, is a fellow Rotarian who is also very active in Rotary and has been selected to serve as the District Governor for District 6760 in 2021-2022. He has served two terms as a Partner Training Leader at the Rotary International Assembly and as a trainer at several Rotary Institutes and District events. He served several years as an Assistant Governor for District 6760 and previously for District 5750. Michael has also served as the District Polio Chair as well as the District Extension Chair. Michael is a Family Physician who is currently working as a Hospitalist in the Nashville area.
As strong believers in The Rotary Foundation, they support The Rotary Foundation as Major Donors, Paul Harris Society members and Bequest Society members.
Tamie and Michael have eight children and fifteen grandchildren and enjoy their time with family and friends. They love to travel and look forward to traveling to Rotary events where they share their passion for Rotary with others.

Endowment/Major Gift Advisor, Rotary International Zone 31

pamela@pastewart.com

Pamela was raised in Ruston, Louisiana and attended Ruston High School. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Louisiana Tech University in 1989 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management with a Pre-law Option. In 1990, Pamela joined Paul M. Davison Petroleum Products accounting department where she remained until 1993 when she enrolled in LSU Law School. After graduating law school in 1996, she returned to Davison Transport, Inc. as In-House Counsel. She also served as Assistant District Attorney for the Third Judicial District Court from 2003-2006.
In 2007, she joined Genesis Energy as Senior Attorney after Genesis acquired the various Davison companies.
Pamela joined the Rotary Club of Ruston in 2002 where she served in various roles, including as President from 2006-2007. After her year as Club President, she was involved in a club extension project and served as a charter member and charter Club President of the Rotary Club of Lincoln from 2009-2010. She served as Assistant District Governor from 2008-2011, as District Governor from 2013-2014, and as an Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator from 2014-2018. She is currently The Rotary Foundation’s Endowment and Major Gifts Advisor for Zone 31.
She is a facilitator for Rotary Leadership Institute, Facilitation/Curriculum Co-Chair and Secretary of Ole Man River President-Elect Training Seminar, and District Trainer for District 6190 and has served as a Co-Trainer of the Zones 30-31 District Governors Nominee at the 2016 and 2017 Zone Institute and is to serve in as Lead Trainer for the District Governors at the 2018 Zone Institute. She served as President’s Representative to District 7950 in 2016 for President Ravi Ravindran and to District 5610 in 2017 for President Ian Riseley.
Pamela is a Major Donor-Level 3, Bequest Society Member-Level 5, a sustaining member of the Rotary Foundation, a recipient of the Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service, and currently serves as the Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser for Zone 31.
Her community involvement includes serving as President of the Lincoln Parish Bar Association for three (3) terms: 2005-2006, 2009-2010, and 2015-2016. She has also supported the Boys and Girls Club of North Central LA SMART Girls Program, served on a Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Hearing Committee, and served on the Board of Directors of the Grambling High Foundation. She is a recipient of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Citizen Lawyer Award. She is a Louisiana Bar Foundation Fellow, is a member of the Judge Fred Fudickar, Jr. American Inns of Court, serves as Chair of the Northern Louisiana Medical Center Board of Trustees, and is President and a co-founder of Goodwill Lunching, Inc.

Membership Chair, Rotary International District 6690

rotaryhappy13@gmail.com

Jenny Stotts currently serves as the Membership Chair in Rotary District 6690. She is a member of the Paul Harris Society and the Bequest Society. She is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Athens Sunrise. Her favorite Rotary activities include RYLA and Paddle for Polio Plus, an annual event featuring kayaks. She developed and is leading a large scale service event called “The Big Project” which benefits her hometown by bringing together more than a dozen Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and Civitan Clubs, which she describes as her “dream project.”
Stotts is the Executive Director of the Athens CASA/GAL Program and the Regional Coordinator of Southeast Ohio CASA. She is a licensed social worker, a trauma specialist and a trained forensic interviewer. She has devoted her career to serving foster children. This work is near to her heart as she was adopted from the Ohio child welfare system as a child and grew up in a working foster home. She and her husband, also a Rotarian, continued the tradition, building their family through adoption, as well.
Stotts was recently recognized in her community and region as the Young Professional of the Year, Community Leader of Year, and Ohio University’s 5 Under 35 Featured Alumni. She serves as the Chair of the federally mandated Child Welfare Review Panel on Permanency and was elected to the National Leadership Council for CASA. In addition to Rotary, Stotts volunteers her time with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Child Conservation League.
She describes herself simply as: Mother, Wife, Friend, Social Worker, Rotarian and Trouble-Making Millennial.

Past District Governor, Rotary International District 6670

sigrid_solomon@wilmington.edu

Sigrid Solomon was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY until she was fortunate enough to attend boarding school at the age of 15. She holds a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and her M.Ed. from East Carolina University and currently working on her Doctorate with Ashland University. Sigrid has been working in higher education since 1993 at various colleges and universities; North Carolina State University, North Carolina Wesleyan University, Emory and Henry College, Southern Vermont College and now at Wilmington College where she has served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students/ Title IX Coordinator over the past thirteen years.
In her professional capacity, she has had the opportunity to have a long-lasting impact on the community and county. Quite a few of Wilmington College’s students come from Wilmington and Clinton County. Sigrid takes a personal interest in all students and makes it her mission to get to know as many of them as possible. Not only that, Sigrid helps students from outside the county feel welcome and at home. She has been known to take in students who do not live close enough to go home for short holiday breaks. She has also invited students into her home for a home cooked meal and some “down home, old fashioned lovin’”.
In her role as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator, Sigrid has to set the example for her colleagues, employees and students on campus. She just completed her year as District Governor, formerly District Governor Elect, District Trainer and past Assistant District Governor of Rotary District 6670, through these positions she also represents the Wilmington Am Rotary Club. She was the president of the Wilmington A.M. Rotary Club from 2011 through 2012. Through her affiliation with the Rotary Club she directs, plans and participates in such community services as the Cardboard City endeavor to raise monies for the Clinton County Homeless Shelter, the Four Way Speech Contest, the AM Rotary Vocational Scholarship and the Banana Split Festival.
She was a board member for the Clinton County Leadership Institute. Through her affiliation with this group she participates in a variety of activities like Dinner in the Fields. Leadership Clinton provides leadership training and education for future Clinton County Leaders. She also co-chaired Dinner in the Fields in the past when it was on the farm at Wilmington College. Sigrid has coordinated the Leadership Clinton class activities and assignments for future leaders. Sigrid was also the President of the Clinton County Free Clinic Board. There she coordinated services for residents of Clinton County who are without health insurance and/or adequate health care.
Sigrid is an active member of Cornerstone Baptist Church. She is known as the voice of Cornerstone not only for her wonderful speaking voice, but she greets their guests and acknowledges them and generally promotes Cornerstone Baptist in her unique, pleasant, and friendly way. She is a people person and never meets a stranger. A testament of these accomplishments was recognized in 2016 as she was awarded one of the Outstanding Women of Clinton County. When you think of her, involvement and involving others comes to mind.
She has two sons 32 and 23-year-old and a host of former foster children. Family and friends are extremely important to her.

Director-Elect, Rotary International Zones 30-31

eusovicz@kc.rr.com

Elizabeth Usovicz is a 20-year Rotarian and Past President of the Kansas City Plaza Rotary Club. She served as the 2008-2009 District Governor for Rotary International District 6040, Missouri. She currently serves as the Rotary Public Image Coordinator of Zone 31. She is a facilitator, trainer and speaker for Rotary programs and districts throughout the United States. She has served as a trainer for the Rotary International Assembly, and has served on the Training teams for several Zones 30 and 31 Institutes, including as Training Chair for the 2013 Zones 30 and 31 Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. She served as General Chair for the 2016 Zones 30 and 31 Institute in Cincinnati in 2016, was Program Chair for the 2015 Institute in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has also served on the Zones 30 and 31 Nominating Committee, as well as an RI President’s representative.
Elizabeth served as Rotary District 6040 Grants Chair for six years, and is a recipient of The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service. In October 2014, Elizabeth was recognized at the White House as a Rotary Women of Action honoree, and is a 2011 and 2012 recipient of the United States President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Elizabeth’s personal tagline is, “The Power of We is Within Us All.” Her passions in Rotary are supporting AIDs orphans and at-risk children in Malawi, Africa, and she has written eight Foundation grants in support of Malawi Children’s Village, and in helping Rotarians and clubs to develop and promote successful service projects. In 2015, she was instrumental in forming the D6040 Waldo Brookside Rotary Club, which was chartered with 50 members. She supports the Rotary Foundation as a member of the Paul Harris Society, a Major Donor and a member of the Bequest Society. She has especially enjoyed opportunities to meet Rotarians from around the world at International Conventions, as has been a presenter at the Rotary Conventions in Montreal, New Orleans, Lisbon, Seoul, Atlanta and Toronto. In April 2016, Elizabeth led a Vocational Training Team to Malawi as part of a Rotary Foundation Global Grant project to encourage students, especially girls, to stay in school and complete their primary and secondary educations. Her youth service also includes 8 years as a Missouri RYLA counselor.
Professionally, Elizabeth is principal of her consulting practice, WhiteSpace Consulting, focused on sales coaching, business strategy, planning retreat facilitation and qualitative research. Prior to establishing Whitespace Consulting, Elizabeth worked for organizations such as Deloitte, Kellogg’s, DST Systems and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She is fluent in Spanish and French, and spent nearly 10 years working, living and doing business in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
She is a frequent motivational speaker on service leadership, volunteer leadership and business development. She is active on social media platforms and writes for three online business magazines. She also publishes her own blog on business topics, as well as a blog on service leadership for Rotarians, called the Thought Spot. She publishes on LinkedIn, where her profile has been one of the top 10% most viewed profiles, as well as on Twitter and Facebook.
Elizabeth grew up in Salem Massachusetts and has a strong appreciation for American history and for her Lithuanian heritage. She and her husband, Dean Mathewson, live in Westwood, Kansas.

Past District Governor, Rotary International District 7780

annlee001@yahoo.com

Ann Lee Hussey has made the eradication of polio and the alleviation of suffering by polio survivors her life’s work. In the past 12 years she has actively participated in 25 volunteer NID (National Immunization Days) teams organizing and leading the last 18 teams herself, choosing to take those NIDs to places that do not often see westerners – Chad, Mali, Bangladesh, Niger, Nigeria as well as less “touristy” destinations in Egypt and India – where the need is greatest and where the publicity and goodwill surrounding the trip are as critical as the immunizations themselves to help communicate the need for eradication. She has shared her story and passion hundreds of times carrying the message of PolioPlus around the Rotary world and beyond, raising money and creating new converts to the fight. She is determined that no child will needlessly have to suffer what she herself, a polio survivor, has been through. But for all the immunizations Ann Lee has herself made possible through NIDs, she considers fundraising and public awareness her most critical accomplishments. Ann Lee’s work has earned her the International Service Award for a Polio-Free World and the Rotary Service Above Self Award. Outside Rotary, Ann Lee served as a trustee of York Hospital and currently serves on the board of Port Resources, an organization that supports developmentally challenged adults in Portland, Maine.
Ann Lee Hussey joined Rotary in April 2002 and immediately became involved. She has traveled twice to Venezuela on Rotaplast trips to assist children receiving surgeries for cleft lip and cleft palate. But her real mark has been her travel to India, Egypt, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Bangladesh to work on Rotary National Immunization Volunteer teams. She has participated in 16 NID campaigns immunizing children against polio. For the last 4 years she has organized and led NID polio immunizing teams.
As a polio survivor, Ann Lee has a passion for the polio eradication program and shares Rotary International’s vision for a polio free world. She strongly believes one person can make a difference and that it is a privilege and a gift to do the work of Rotary.
At the Club level Ann Lee served in many capacities and as Club President for 2005-2006. For District 7780 she has served as District Conference Committee Chair, District PolioPlus Chair and as World Community Service Chair. Ann Lee is a member of the Casco Bay Rotary Club in the Portland area and is enjoying her fifth year as a Trustee on the Board of York Hospital. She also serves on the Board of Port Resources in Portland.
In May 2005 she received Rotary’s highest honor for individual Rotarians, the Service Above Self award and in June 2006 she received the Rotary Foundation International Service Award for a Polio Free World.
Ann Lee has shared her story and passion for polio eradication throughout the United States and around the world, at numerous District Conferences, Zone Institutes, PETS, Foundation Seminars and club meetings, including the RIBI Conference in 2010, International Institute in Salt Lake City in 2007, the Presidential Peace Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in Sept. 2007 and for Health and Hunger at the LA Convention 2008. She is a Major Donor of the Rotary Foundation.
Ann Lee currently Chairs the Polio Survivors and Associates, Rotarian Action Group and serves on the Reach Out to Africa Service Associates Subcommittee as a Functional Coordinator for Health Initiatives. She served as Zone 32 Coordinator for Health and Hunger for 2009-2010.
Ann Lee served as District 7780 Governor for the Rotary year 2010-2011.
Ann Lee is a Veterinary Technician who with her Rotarian husband, Michael Nazemetz, DVM own Village Veterinary Clinic in Rollinsford, NH. They reside in South Berwick, Maine.

Rotaract Club of Market Harborough, England

surrealmeal@gmail.com

At the 2019 Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany, Chris Wells won over a general session audience with a combination of high-energy showmanship and a serious message about mental health, drawn from his experience. A few years after graduating from college in 2011, Wells found himself depressed. “I’d felt a bit crap for months and months and months,” remembers Wells, now 29. “I was bored, negative all the time, stuck, not really doing anything. It was getting scary.”
Then two things happened that would change his life. First, a friend persuaded him to see a psychiatrist. Second, another friend introduced him to Jim Davies, a member of the Rotary Club of Market Harborough, who encouraged Wells to get involved with Rotary and suggested starting a Rotaract club. “I had no idea what to expect, but I was willing to try anything to not feel like this anymore,” Wells says.
Wells dived right into Rotary, helping found the Rotaract Club of Market Harborough in 2015. Soon the new Market Harborough Rotaractors were participating in a canned-food drive for local food banks, holding regular pub quiz fundraisers, and creating a support group for young stroke patients.
The club also held a night of comedy and music to raise money for a young man who had been accepted to a prestigious course at the National Youth Theatre in London but who couldn’t afford the fees. “I was like, ‘Right, we’ll have a Christmas concert in the middle of June, just to confuse everyone,’” Wells says cheerfully. “We raised more than enough money.”
The Market Harborough Rotaractors’ enthusiasm has proved contagious: Several new Rotaract clubs have been formed in the district.
Meanwhile, with continuing professional help, Wells’ mental health has improved. “As soon as I had a purpose that wasn’t my own, life was a bit easier,” he says. As he said in his speech at the convention: “Rotary isn’t the cure for depression, and people suffering from it shouldn’t feel shy about seeking out medical and professional help. … But for me, Rotaract truly aided in filling in some of those dark and empty spaces inside.”

CEO, Team Rubicon

joy.moh@teamrubiconusa.org

Jake Wood is cofounder and CEO of Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization that utilizes the skills of military veterans to deploy disaster response teams. Under Wood’s leadership, Team Rubicon has launched over 700 operations in response to disasters and humanitarian crises since the 2010 Haiti earthquake and grown from eight to 132,000 members. Wood is a leading veterans’ advocate who has briefed President Obama on veterans’ issues, met with former Presidents Bush and Clinton on disaster response and testified before the Senate. He is frequently sought after by news media to speak on issues of disaster response, military and national security, and veterans. He has appeared on The Today Show, 60 Minutes, CNN, MSNBC, Fox & Friends, Mornings With Maria, World News Tonight, among others. His opinion pieces have appeared in The New York Times and TIME Magazine. As a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Wood deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a Scout Sniper after graduating at the top of his class at Boot Camp, the School of Infantry, and Marine Scout-Sniper School. Jake resides in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.

Executive Director, Food & Shelter

aheiple@foodandshelterinc.org

April Heiple has been the Executive Director of Food and Shelter, Norman, Oklahoma’s soup kitchen and homeless services center, for more than 10 years. Throughout her 20 years in human services, April has developed a great passion for helping people overcome struggles related to poverty and victimization.
April graduated from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 2002 with a bachelor of science in Psychology. April moved to Norman for graduate school in 2002 and completed a Master of Human Relations in 2005 and subsequently a Master of Public Administration in 2010 both from the University of Oklahoma.
April has worked with many different state and local organizations on programs and policies related to victim services and social services. She traveled the state in 2007 interviewing hundreds of victims of crime and authored a state-wide assessment of victims services resulting in better, more research based services in Oklahoma. She was appointed by Governor Brad Henry to serve on the state task force to end sexual violence and has been honored by multiple organizations for her activism and leadership.
April is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Norman and in the same year was honored by her alma mater, USAO, as Distinguished Alumni. She is very proud to be an active member of the Cleveland County Continuum of Care; a group working collaboratively to end homelessness in Norman. This past year, April was recognized by the Oklahoma Human Rights Alliance for her years of Human Service and also was recognized by the City of Norman as the Human Rights Activist of 2019.
April and her husband Greg have 4 amazing children; Kaetlyn, Zach, Alexander and Mia. Her favorite color is yellow.

Past District Governor, Rotary International District 6600

debcheneyrotary6600@gmail.com

Deborah Cheney has been a member of the Waterville Rotary Club since 2004 and served as District 6600 Governor in the Rotary year 2017-2018.
A native of Van Buren, Ohio, she received her degree in Elementary Education at the University of Findlay and her Masters’ Degree in Elementary Administration at the University of Dayton. Deb was an elementary teacher for over 20 years. She was the Principal of the Waterville Primary School in the Anthony Wayne District for seven years before retiring in 2011. She currently supervises Student Teachers for BGSU and the University of Toledo.
Deb is very dedicated to Rotary and Interact. She served as the president of her club during 2012-2013 and was instrumental in forming the Interact Club at the Anthony Wayne High School. For three years, she served as an Assistant District Governor, serving the clubs of Maumee, Swanton, Reynolds Corners, Holland-Springfield and Waterville. In addition, she chaired the Pancake Supper, the Student of the Month program, the social committee and is currently on the Rotary Foundation and Public Relations Committees of the Club.
Deb is also committed to her family and involvement with Waterville United Methodist Church. She and her wonderful husband Chris live in Waterville but spend a lot of time traveling to Michigan to see their daughter, son-in-law and two favorite grandsons, Blake and Landon. They also travel to Charleston, San Francisco, and Indianapolis visiting their other four children. She enjoys baking, reading, traveling, and gardening.

Paul Harris Society Coordinator, Rotary International Zone 31

paul_bucurel@yahoo.com

Paul Bucurel served as District 6820’s Governor for the 2014-2015 Rotary year. As governor, Bucurel coordinated community and international service projects for the 44 clubs in the Central Mississippi area. He has been a member of the Rotary Club of East Mississippi for 21 years. He currently serves as his District’s Visioning Chairperson and as Zone 31’s Rotary Foundation Coordinator Team as an Assistant Rotary Foundation Coordinator.
Paul is a Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society member, and a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation.
Bucurel has served on a variety of community organization boards including the Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of America, Diabetes Association, and Easter Seals.

Past President, Rotary International

barry.rassin@rotary.org

Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, served as President of Rotary International in 2018-19.
“Those who know what good Rotary clubs do will want to be a part of it, and we must find new models for membership that allow all interested in our mission to participate,” he says. “With Rotary more in the public eye, we will attract more individuals who want to be part of and support a membership organization that accomplishes so much good around the world.”
Rassin earned an MBA in health and hospital administration from the University of Florida and is the first fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives in the Bahamas. He recently retired after 37 years as president of Doctors Hospital Health System, where he continues to serve as an adviser. He is a lifetime member of the American Hospital Association and has served on several boards, including the Quality Council of the Bahamas, Health Education Council, and Employer’s Confederation.
A Rotarian since 1980, Rassin has served Rotary as director and as vice chair of The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. He was an RI training leader and the aide to 2015-16 RI President K.R. Ravindran.
Rassin received Rotary's highest honor, the Service Above Self Award, as well as other humanitarian awards for his work leading Rotary’s relief efforts in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake there. He and his wife, Esther, are Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation.

Past President, Rotary International

mark.maloney@rotary.org

Mark is a member of the law firm of Blackburn, Maloney, and Schuppert LLC in Decatur, Alabama, practicing in the areas of taxation, estate planning, and agricultural law. A Rotarian since 1980, Mark is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Decatur and served as Governor of District 6860 in 1989-90. Mark also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Rotary International in 1999-2001 and as the Aide to Jonathan Majiyagbe of Nigeria, the President of Rotary International for 2003-04. Mark was Vice Chairman of the 2004 Council on Legislation, Chairman of the 2010 Council on Legislation, and Parliamentarian and Trainer for the 2016 Council on Legislation. He served as a Trustee of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in 2004-08 and was the Vice Chairman of the Trustees in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Mark served four terms as Chairman of Rotary International’s Operations Review Committee and was the Chairman of the 2014 Sydney Convention Committee and Vice Chairman of The Rotary Foundation’s Future Vision Committee. Mark will serve as President of Rotary International in 2019-20. He is a recipient of the Citation for Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service Award presented by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation.
Mark's wife, Gay, is an attorney at the same firm and a charter member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Decatur Daybreak, Alabama. Both Mark and Gay are Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors, and Major Donors of The Rotary Foundation and members of its Bequest Society. They have two daughters, one goddaughter, and two grandsons.

Past District Governor, Rotary International District 6580

cornelia.wright@att.net

In August 2010, Sue became a member of the Rotary Club of Clarksville, IN. she has served as Secretary, Foundation Chair, Board Member, club President 2014-2015, and currently serving as club Secretary 2020-2021. At the District level, Sue has served as Assistant District Governor 2015-2017, District Governor 2018-2019, and currently serving as District Finance Chair 2020-2023 and district facilitator for Rotary Leadership Institute and Rotary Visioning. Sue is a Paul Harris Fellow +4 and she received Rotarian of the Year Award in 2012-2013. She is a retired AT&T manager with an MS in Business Mangement.
Sue grew up in Indiana but lived and worked in San Diego, CA. over 20 years. She has one son who lives in Jacksonville, FL.
2011-2013 - Worked diligently to complete a Boat Project for the fishermen in Chipwa, a small village in Zambia located on the banks of Lake Tanganyika. The project received funding from New Albany, Corydon, and Columbus Sunrise Rotary Clubs and private resources to complete the project. We partnered with an NGO to make the building of a fishing boat a reality so people could eat and earn money.
2013 - Traveled with a team of volunteers to Cap Haitien, Haiti to assist with the installation of 2 water treatment systems.
2020 - Board member for the Jeffersonville Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity Clark/Floyd Indiana.
Her two most enjoyable hobbies are reading and traveling because she enjoys meeting and learning about people of different cultures. She has attended the 2014 Rotary International Convention in Sydney, Australia. After the convention, she spent a week with fellow Rotarians from the U.S traveling from Sydney along the coast to Brisbane staying with fellow Rotarians as a friendship exchange where she attended several local Rotary meetings; 2017 Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, GA; 2018 Rotary International Convention in Toronto, Canada; 2019 Rotary International Convention in Hamburg Germany.

Deputy Governor-Rotaract, Rotary International District 6840

allysonrotary@gmail.com

Allyson Barnes is originally from Tampa, Florida but currently resides in New Orleans, Louisiana with her husband, Justin. She is a physical therapist who specializes in neurological rehabilitation. She is a dual member of the Rotaract Club of NOLA and the Rotary Club of Mid-City New Orleans. Allyson has been a member of the Rotary family since 2006 and has served as Interact and Rotaract President. She currently serves as Rotaract Chair in Rotary District 6840. Allyson is the co-founder and Executive Director Elect of Ascension Rotaract Network MDIO which is an informational organization about Rotaract to Rotary Zones 28-34. Her goal is to increase collaboration between Rotary and Rotaract Clubs to better serve our communities. Outside of Rotary, Allyson loves to cook, play disc golf, and cheer on her LSU tigers!
Currently, she serves as Deputy Governor for Rotaract in District 6840.

Rotaract Co-Chair, Rotary International District 6600

TBD

District Governor-Elect, Rotary International District 6460

byersrd@gmail.com

Ryan Byers joined Rotary in 2008, when he was inducted into the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Illinois. He was elected to the Club's board of directors in 2010 and served as club president in 2013-2014. Following his term as a club president, Ryan took on several leadership positions in Rotary District 6460, including Club Grant Chair (2014-2017), District Conference Co-Chair (2016), District Trainer (2016-2019), and Assistant Governor (2018-2020). Ryan is also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute.
When not working with Rotary, Ryan is a lawyer with a practice focused on civil litigation. Ryan joined Rammelkamp Bradney, P.C. in Jacksonville as an associate attorney in 2008 and became a partner in the firm in 2014. During his career, Ryan has presented at seminars for the National Business Institute and been published in the Illinois State Bar Journal in addition to receiving the 2016 Joseph R. Bartylak Award for pro bono work from Land of Lincoln Legal Aid and being named "Favorite Lawyer in the Jacksonville Area" by the readers of the Jacksonville Journal-Courier in 2015.
Ryan maintains memberships in several professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Morgan County Bar Association, where he is a past president.
Outside of Rotary, Ryan has received several honors recognizing his community involvement, as he was named the 2010 Volunteer of the Year by Jacksonville Main Street, received the Jacksonville Kiwanis Club's A. Wadsworth Applebee Community Service Award in 2013, and was included in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier's inaugural class of "20 Under 40" honorees in 2010.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004, graduating with high departmental distinction and then graduated magna cum laude with Juris Doctor degree from the Michigan State University College of Law in 2007. Ryan lives in Chatham, Illinois with his wife Amy, who is the director of the Chatham Area Public Library District. For the past ten years, Ryan and Amy have collaborated to produce an annual murder mystery dinner theater fundraiser for the library, for which Ryan always writes an original script.

Past Director, Rotary International Zones 30-31

greg@gregyank.com

Greg Yank has had three different career paths so far in his life:

• Nine years in the Catholic seminary – he was never ordained
• Twenty-five years in health care executive management/leadership serving twice as a hospital CEO and as President and CEO of a Catholic Health System
• Eleven years owning a business coaching/peer advisory board franchise called The Alternative Board.

  He continues to be a business coach on a part time basis mentoring and working with 7 business owners on a monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly basis. As a business coach, Greg believes he is making a difference in his client’s life.
  He is the principal in GY Consulting & Facilitation Services specializing in business coaching, strategy, facilitation, strategic governance and board development/education. For 3 years, Greg facilitated “Men are from Mars Women are from Venus” communication seminars based on the writings of author Dr. John Gray.
  Greg is actively involved in his community. He is a Board Member of the O’Fallon Shiloh Chamber of Commerce and Chairperson of its strategic planning committee. He facilitates quarterly meetings of BEST (Building Educational Success Together) bringing together the four School district Superintendents and Board chairs in the O’Fallon area. He recently ended 8 years on the board of the Metro East Park & Recreation District.
  A Rotarian since 1978, Greg is a member of the Rotary Club of O’Fallon, IL where he served as Club President in 1992-93, and then as Governor of District 6510 in 2001-2002 and again in 2010-11. District 6510 is comprised of 48 clubs and 1500 members in Southern Illinois. Greg completed a two-year term serving on the 17 member Rotary International Board of Directors (2017-19). He was chairperson of RI’s Strategic Planning Committee last year and currently is a member of the Partnership committee.
  Catherine is the owner of Jim Taylor Inc. a roofing contracting company located in Belleville, IL. The Yanks have three grown children and three grandchildren. They are avid St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fans and love to travel. Greg has been a proud Green Bay Packer fan since 1957 and owns one share of the team. Greg has performed in 70 stage musicals, dramas and comedies, and each year for the last twenty, he plays the narrator in A Christmas Carole at the Looking Glass Playhouse.
  Education: BA Philosophy, St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL.

  • MBA, Xavier University
  • Certificate in Gerontology, University of Michigan
  • Graduate, Stanford Executive Program

Toastmasters and Rotary

scottbrown9631@gmail.com

Where do you go when you need to reinvent yourself? Where do you go to find a laboratory for failure and growth? Who do you call when you need to find your voice? Toastmasters!
On a beautiful May morning in 2012, Scott walked into his first Toastmasters meeting in Altamonte Springs, Florida, not knowing what to expect. He certainly wasn’t expecting to find his tribe, but that is exactly what he found! Three districts, five divisions, eight areas, eleven clubs, and seven years later, Scott has learned the true power of Toastmasters lies not in what we get from others, but what we give to others.
Last year, Scott delivered eight different education sessions at the Rotary Zone Leadership Summit in Fort Wayne. This year, he is again speaking to us from Fort Wayne … Scott is proud to follow up his introduction to Toastmasters with a deeper dive into how Toastmasters can help you, as Rotarians, hone your leadership voice. Scott is the Program Quality Director for Toastmasters District 11, comprised of all clubs in Indiana and northern Kentucky. He earned his Distinguished Toastmaster award in June, the highest educational award in Toastmasters. Outside of Toastmasters, Scott runs Hardie Leadership Consulting, and is set to publish the 3rd edition of his book.
Please join us at the District Conference on Saturday, October 10 as Scott entertains, inspires, and helps you take the next step in your leadership journey. It’s time to “Play a Different Game”.

sharalsondg1819@gmail.com

So far, Susan has taken the opportunity of living through two working careers. Susan hosted a 3 hour classical music show, then a few years later created a 30 minute news program, while working at College of the Ozarks and obtaining her degree. Following graduation from C of O with a Media degree, Susan worked at KWTO radio station as a news reporter, then moved to weekend anchor and producer at the local ABC affiliate. In 1992, Susan and her partner bought a struggling homecare agency that has now blossomed into 12 offices across the state of Missouri.
In December of 2008, Susan decided to stop traveling and give back to her community and joined Rotary. Following a trip to the Rotary International Convention in New Orleans, she decided that Rotary leadership would now be a possibility and a future for her. Susan became President of her Springfield Sunrise Rotary Club in 2013-14. She accepted the position of Assistant District Governor in 2014-15. The following year, Susan joined the District Governor Line and became DG in 2018-19. In the latter part of 2019, Susan accepted the role of Assistant Rotary Coordinator at the Zone level. Then in 2020, Susan decided to change course and accepted the role of Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator for Zone 31.

Global Inclusion Trainer

rotariantodd@gmail.com

Dr. Todd Jenkins currently serves as the Senior Diversity, Inclusion, and Innovation Leader in Corporate America at a Fortune 400 company and as a Global Inclusion Trainer, Strategist, and Consultant with Bowtie Leadership, Inc. As a consultant, he has worked with several companies such as Walmart, Google, Facebook, American Airlines, Deloitte, etc., oil and gas companies, small and large non-profits, and entrepreneurs. He graduated with honors from the University of South Carolina with two degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology, obtained a Master of Science from Illinois State University, and Doctorate from the University of Arkansas. His research area focused on minority professionals; retention and perception of their supervisor within the workplace. Currently, he is enrolled at Harvard University, completing post-doctorate studies as Harvard Fellow. In addition, Dr. Jenkins serve as faculty member for Executive Institute on Inclusion and on the Diversity Business Journal Review Board.
Dr. Jenkins is a proud Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Club of Fayetteville, Arkansas; he has served as the former Rotaract Advisor, Interact Sponsor, RYLA presenter, Youth Services Chair, two terms on Club Board of Directors, and graduated from his District and Zone Leadership Academy. Dr. Jenkins is currently one of the youngest Youth Exchange District Chairs in Rotary International. He has had the honor to speak at various Rotary districts, zones, and international conventions. Dr. Jenkins continues to serve on various boards locally and internationally in education, business, and inclusion initiatives.
Today he is known as Dr. "Bowtie Todd" who has given inspirational talks and education to audiences of all sizes and backgrounds throughout North America, Asia, South America, and Europe. Dr. Todd Jenkins is a proud husband, author, servant leader, and conversationalist who believes in his philosophy "bowtie" it all together, serve and simply be a gift unto the world!
Feel free to connect with Dr. Jenkins on social media outlets Instagram/Facebook @dr.bowtietodd, www.bowtieleadership.com, or email bowtietietodd@bowtieleadership.com!

The National Weather Center (NWC), on the campus of the University of Oklahoma, is a confederation of federal, state, and academic organizations that work together to better understand events that take place in Earth's atmosphere over a wide range of time and space scales.[1] The NWC partners give equal attention to applying that understanding to the development of improved observation, analysis, assimilation, display, and prediction systems. The National Weather Center also has expertise in local and regional climate, numerical modeling, hydrology, and weather radar. Members of the NWC work with a wide range of federal, state, and local government agencies to help reduce loss of life and property to hazardous weather, ensure wise use of water resources, and enhance agricultural production. They also work with private sector partners to develop new applications of weather and regional climate information that provide competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Executive Director of Positive Tomorrows

sagel@positivetomorrows.org

Susan Agel is the executive director of the nonprofit, Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma's only elementary school and social services specifically for children and families experiencing homelessness.
In 2016 Susan received the The Journal Record’s 50 Making a Difference Woman of the Year award for her embodiment of the combination of business acumen and community-minded spirit the honor is meant to recognize.
Agel believes all individuals have a calling to make a difference. “This will look different from person to person, but everyone has some responsibility to stretch outside of themselves and make a difference outside of their own bubble,” Agel said.
Agel’s calling has been her work with nonprofits, most recently serving as president of Positive Tomorrows, a private, tuition-free elementary school that serves homeless children and their families. Under her leadership, the school has achieved accreditation through the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and has been recognized as an Oklahoma A+ School.
“It’s hard not to make an impact upon the community as we work to change the lives of homeless children and their families,” said Agel, who volunteers for church activities and other community organizations when she’s not working.
Prior to taking over the helm of Positive Tomorrows, Agel worked for Butterfield Memorial Foundation, City Rescue Mission, The Children’s Center, Deaconess Foundation and Heartspring School in Wichita, Kansas. Agel is a member of Leadership Oklahoma City’s Class XXIV and the national board of administration for the Free Methodist Church of North America. Recently she was appointed to the Governor’s Interagency Commission on Homelessness.

Assistant Rotary Coordinator, Rotary International Zone 31

jspietrusi@yahoo.com

Jill joined the Rotary Club of O’Fallon in 2005 to become more involved in her community. Jill served as her Club President in 2011-2012. Jill then served as District 6510 Governor 2017-2018 and currently serves Rotary Zone 31 as an ARC (Assistant Rotary Coordinator) for Districts 6060, 6460, 6490 and 6510. She also was chosen to serve Rotary Zone 31 as an Innovative New Club Advocate from 2020-2023.
Jill is a Benefactor and a Bequest Society Level 3 as well as a Major Donor and Paul Harris Society member. She serves on the District and Zone Visioning and RLI Committees as a facilitator. She is also a member of several fellowships. Jill was born in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and raised in Evansville, IN. She graduated from Nursing School at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY. As a military spouse Jill and her family lived in several locations finally settling in Southern, IL in 1992. Since 2001 Jill has been a financial advisor, district advisor and now financial advisor and principal with First Command Financial Services. She specializes in financial planning for military and federal employees as well as comprehensive financial planning services.
Jill and John reside in O’Fallon, IL and are very active in their community and their church. They enjoy travel and wine appreciation events as well as being loyal Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins fans.
Jill has two adult children Jenna Purdy (St. Clair County Sunset Rotary Club) and Sean Purdy.

Lauracarie6580@gmail.com

Laura joined Rotary in 2000 and is a proud member of the Vincennes Rotary Club and became passionate and engaged in everything Rotary. She has served as District 6580's District Governor in 2016-2017 and District Foundation Chair. Additionally, she has served as a co trainer for the District Governors at the Springfield Illinois Institute in 2017, the Operations Chair at the Montgomery Alabama Institute in 2018, the Engagement Committee on the Fort Wayne Summit in 2019, has been a trainer at several Zone and District events and Land of Lincoln PET's chair. Currently, Laura is serving as Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator, Innovative New Club Advocate, Zone Visioning Trainer, and DGE Trainer for the Norman Oklahoma Summit. Laura is a small business owner and lives in Vincennes Indiana with her husband, Jeff, their three children and four grandchildren.

ahw128@gmail.com

Tony Williams, is the Past President of the Jacksonville Noon Rotary Club and the Past District Trainer for District 6460. As a District Trainer, he has trained for PETS in a multitude of different roles including a member of the Multidistrict PETS Council and trainer for the Multidistrict PETS conference. In the Rotary year 2016-17, he was District Governor of District 6460. As a PDG he was involved in the district as the District Visioning Coordinator and the District Membership Chair. As a member of the Springfield Evening Rotary Club in Springfield, IL, Williams has held the position as the club Polio Plus Chair. He loves training others in all the benefits of Rotary to help others share Rotary tools to be successful members, healthy clubs, and active districts. Training for Rotary is a natural extension of his years of experience as a Correctional Trainer for the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Central Region of the National Institute of Corrections out of Longmont, CO, and the owner of Custom Training Consultants, a company that offers customized training for businesses, organizations, and schools. Williams has past experience including being elected as an alderman for Ward 2 in the city of Jacksonville for 15 years and the Assistant Dean of Jacksonville High School for 12 years. Williams moved to Springfield, IL last year with his wife of 24 years. They are the parents of four daughters and ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Norman is a city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma located 20 miles (32 km) south of downtown Oklahoma City. As the county seat of Cleveland County and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, its population was 110,925 at the 2010 census.[2] Norman's estimated population of 124,880 in 2019 makes it the third-largest city in Oklahoma.
Norman was settled during the Land Run of 1889, which opened the former Unassigned Lands of Indian Territory to American pioneer settlement. The city was named in honor of Abner Norman, the area's initial land surveyor, and was formally incorporated on May 13, 1891. Economically the city has prominent higher education and related research industries, as it is home to the University of Oklahoma, the largest university in the state, with nearly 32,000 students enrolled. The university is well known for its sporting events by teams under the banner of the nickname "Sooners", with over 85,000 people routinely attending football games. The university is home to several museums, including the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, which contains the largest collection of French Impressionist art ever given to an American university, as well as the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
The National Weather Center, located in Norman, houses a unique collection of university, state, federal, and private sector organizations that work together to improve the understanding of events related to the Earth's atmosphere. Norman lies within Tornado Alley, a geographic region where tornadic activity is particularly frequent and intense. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area, including Norman, is the most tornado-prone area in the world. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC), a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is located at the NWC. SPC forecasts severe storm and tornado outbreaks nationwide. Additionally, research is conducted at the co-located National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), which includes field research and operates various experimental weather radars.

President of the Jefferson City West Rotary Club

esterly.rotary6080@gmail.com

Rita Esterly has been a Rotarian for 20 years. She served as President of the Jefferson City West Rotary Club in 2006-07 and was the District Governor of 6080 in 2011-12. She served as an Assistant Rotary Coordinator from 2015-2018 before becoming the Rotary Coordinator for 2018-2021. She was a 2020 International Assembly Training Leader and is training the District Governor Nominees. She is the District 6080 Trainer. She serves as a curriculum consultant to the Show Me Rotary PETS Council. She is a member of the International Visioning Facilitation Council. She is a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation. She led a Team to write a Global Grant that will help one million Indigenous People on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines to develop work skills and establish economies in their tribes as well as provide education to children and their parents. Before her retirement, she was a psychologist in private practice. She volunteered in her community and in 2006 received the Zonta Woman of Achievement Award. Her husband, Chuck, and she have two children and three grandchildren.

CEO of Office Support Systems

rotarybrenda@gmail.com

Brenda Cressey is the former CEO of Office Support Systems, a telecommunications business in Maine. She has served in many volunteer capacities with civic organizations such as the American Cancer Society.
A Rotarian since 1989, Cressey served as the first female chair and vice chair of The Rotary Foundation. Before that, she held numerous positions in membership, the Foundation, and training. Cressey was a Future Vision RRFC Training Institute moderator, an endowment/major gifts adviser, Council on Legislation representative, RI president’s representative, 2012 International Assembly executive committee member and its partner moderator, district governor, and RI training leader.
Cressey is a recipient of Rotary International’s Service Above Self Award, the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, and the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award. Cressey and her husband, Dick, are Major Donors and members of the Paul Harris, Arch Klumph, and Legacy societies.