Our Newest Members

Please introduce yourself to our newest Rotary members!

Terry Caskey

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Biotechnology—Gene Sequencing Technology

Terry Caskey grew up on a small farm in the Central Valley of California. As the first in his family to attend college, he was proud to complete his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UCSB, then his master’s and Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Massachusetts. He has spent 20+ years leading research and technology development organizations, starting with mobile device technologies, and later, microelectronics and biotech. In his current position as Director of Engineering for Illumina, he has lead their product development teams as they have been leading in the areas of pan-cancer screening, lifesaving gene therapies, targeted drug treatments and many other important discoveries.

He has always carved out time to include an element of service in his life. He has supported the Team in Training organization in collaboration with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation, the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering and is an active member of the Harbor Island Yacht Club and San Diego Outrigger Canoe Club.

Terry has 26 patents awarded and 14 pending. He and his wife Baily have lived in San Diego for over ten years.

He thanks his sponsors Glenn Younger, Duke Sobek and Gil Johnson.

Falon Leszczynski

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Associations-Home of Guiding Hands

Falon serves as the Vice President of Operations for Home of Guiding Hands, overseeing the functionality of 28 residential group homes and a 25,000-square-foot resource center located in El Cajon. Her responsibilities extend to managing the transportation department and supervising the entire IT network supporting over 800 employees across office, remote, and group home settings. In addition to her operational role, Falon spearheads HGH’s marketing initiatives, fosters company culture, and addresses risk management. She also leads special projects, including the implementation of the organization’s EOS framework.

She has a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College. Prior to her tenure at HGH, she served as the Special Programs Manager for the San Diego Housing Commission, where she played a pivotal role in planning, directing, and overseeing the City of San Diego’s Homelessness Response Center. Before her time at the San Diego Housing Commission, Falon held leadership positions at the YMCA, contributing to the successful opening and operations of various YMCA facilities.

Falon sits on the Foundation for Developmental Disabilities (FDD) board and currently chairs the California Disabilities Services Institute (CDSI) board.

Outside of her professional commitments, Falon, alongside her husband Lenny, have four school-aged daughters and three dogs. During their free time, the family can often be found at the softball field, hockey rink, or participating in diverse events at Balboa Park.

She thanks her sponsors Lenny Leszczynski, Michael Brunker and David Oates.

Veronica Perondi

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Education-State University-Program Manager

Veronica Perondi currently serves as the Assistant Director of A.S. Programs for Associated Students at San Diego State University. In this role, she’s dedicated to empowering students through leadership and engagement programs.

She earned an undergraduate degree in International Relations from San Francisco State University where she was was actively involved in the International Education Exchange Council. Driven by commitment to education and personal growth, Veronica earned a master’s degree in Post- Secondary Educational Leadership from San Diego State University.

Outside of her professional life she’s deeply committed to giving back to the community. She is passionate about environmental conservation and she often volunteers for beach clean-ups and trash pick-up initiatives. Additionally, she’s involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind and support events for the blind and visually impaired community, inspired by her husband’s work as an Orientation Mobility Specialist. Veronica’s journey in volunteering began at a young age when she assisted with a church Christmas toy distribution, leaving a lasting impression of the joy that comes from helping others. In her free time, she and her husband enjoy hiking and travel; particularly, they love to explore small communities. Veronica spends time expressing her creativity through various crafts, such as painting and crochet.

 

She thanks her sponsors Corey Polant, Jordan Harrison and Jordan Maharaj.

Tom Herman

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Education – Private University – Professor

Tom Herman is a teacher and journalist. He is the tax columnist for The Wall Street Journal’s wealth management section. After graduating from Yale, Tom joined the news staff of The Wall Street Journal in New York, where he was given the food beat. Tom wrote for The Wall Street Journal as a full-time staffer for more than 40 years, including 16 years as the Tax Report columnist. In 2014, he received the Elliott V. Bell Award from the New York Financial Writers Association. The award is given annually to “an outstanding journalist for significant long-term contribution to the profession of financial journalism.” He retired in May 2009 to devote more time to teaching, writing, travel and tennis. He has been teaching a seminar in the Communication Studies Department at the University of San Diego since 2012.
Tom was a regular weekly guest on NBC News at Sunrise for more than seven years from in the 1980s and 1990s. Before that, he was a regular weekly guest for more than a year on an NBC news program with The Wall Street Journal. called “Before Hours.”
His wife, Marilyn Lytle, was a lawyer in New York City for many years and now studies watercolor painting.

Tom thanks his sponsors Stan Hartman, Steve Treadgold and Michael Brunker.

Dale Gray

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Associations – Institute of Reproductive Grief Care

In February of 2023, Dale Gray took over the role of Director of Mission Advancement at the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care. Prior to joining the Institute, he served at the university level as the Director of Philanthropy, and has over 23 years experience before that driving sales and growth in the technology industry.

Dale and his wife have been married for 30 years, and they have two daughters, Leila, 20 and Adrienne, who is 23. They have moved several times over the years, making San Diego their 9th stop, and Dale hopes it is their final. He has always had a passion for sports. After pursuing football and baseball in college he had the opportunity to try out for several professional teams. His new passion is for surfing as he loves being in the ocean.  He recently retired as a college and high school basketball official, and plans to be involved in our Military Affairs and Youth Homelessness committees.

Dale thanks his sponsors David Oates, Michael LaCroix and Drew Moser.

Kristine Smith

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Social Services and Welfare – Neighborhood House Association

Kristine is the Senior Director of Nutrition Services for the Neighborhood House Association where she has worked for sixteen years. Originally from Seattle, WA, Kristine joined the Navy right out of college, then received her BS in dietetics from Kansas State University, and later her Master of Science in Environmental Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama. ROLL TIDE!

For the past several years Kristine has also worked as an educational consultant, teaching USDA governmental regulations, operations and nutrition classes to more than 300 early childhood educators annually, while also working as a professor at Point Loma Nazarene University teaching 3rd and 4th year college-level courses related to finance, business management and nutrition.

She is the former vice president of San Diego Hunger Coalition, and has been an active member of Child and Adult Care Food Program Board of Directors, CA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and SD County Childhood Obesity Initiative. Kristine is very much into sports having been a former amateur boxer for many years while also playing basketball and tennis. She met her husband in the Navy, and they have been married for 24 years, having moved to San Diego in 2007 for his final Naval post. They have two cats.

Kristine thanks her sponsors Duke Sobek, Elizabeth Fitzsimons and Matt Ryan.

Mary Dawe

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Retired-Law

Mary Dawe is a retired Senior Staff Attorney of California State of Appeal, where she served for 27 years. She grew up in Southern California, graduated from UC Riverside, and later went to Law School at USD with the support of her late husband Jim, while they were raising three young children.

Mary says Balboa Park is a special place for her as she worked at was the Museum of Man as her first job out of college. She has served on their Board of Trustees and then as President of the Board. She has also served on the Mingei International Museum board and the Museum of Natural History board. She currently volunteers as an adult literacy tutor with READ San Diego, is an active member of the San Diego Women’s Foundation and a volunteer small claims court judge.

Mary has two lovely daughters, two great sons-in-law, three adorable grandsons and fourth one on the way!

She was a member of the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary since 2004, and thanks her sponsor Michael Brunker.

 

 

Amie Brown

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Associations-Meals on Wheels

Amie Brown is the Chief External Affairs Officer for Meals on Wheels San Diego County. She came to Meals on Wheels in 2018 after working in the nonprofit sector for more than 25 years, with a strong emphasis in healthcare for the underserved. She has extensive experience with growing nonprofit organizations, earned certificates in Non-Profit Management and Fundraising Management, and is a graduate of Blue Shield of California’s Clinic Leadership Institute. Amie grew up in San Diego and graduated from SDSU with a B.A in Sociology and a B.A. in Women’s Studies. She is the mother of two grown daughters and is ready to dedicate all of her newly found free “empty-nester” time to volunteering.

Amie gave her self introduction by honoring fellow San Diegan Dr. Suess with this poem:

What an honor to be among such great women and men,
I’ve been wanting to be a Rotarian since—I don’t know when.
Denise Scatena, Simona Valanciute and Amy Myers,
Thank you for sponsoring me, and fulfilling my desires.
I’ve attended many other Rotary meetings,
I’m used to warm hellos and friendly greetings.
But none other in San Diego has programing as interesting and robust,
As in this Club with so many fascinating topics discussed!
I look forward to attending meetings of many a committee,
These opportunities to learn leave me feeling absolutely giddy!
From Membership, to Youth Soccer, to Model UN,
The possibilities are endless, where shall I begin?
For now, I’ll focus on meeting new faces,
and, of course, staying in President Michael’s good graces.
But one thing about Rotary is very clear:
We put Service Above Self every day of the year!

Tad Parzen

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Associations-Burnham Center for Advancement

Tad Parzen is the President and CEO at Burnham Center for Community Advancement, as well as the San Diego Business Journal 2023 Nonprofit CEO of the year, and former presenter at San Diego Rotary Club.

Tad’s career began as a litigation and trial attorney as a partner in the firm of Hillyer & Irwin. Leaving the private sector for public service he became General Council at San Diego Unified School District. He later moved into philanthropy, serving at Price Philanthropies and City Heights Partnership for Children.  He has chaired committees on the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Business Roundtable for Education and the Human Development Foundation.

He says it has been a deep privilege to have spent the last eight years next to Malin Burnham, where together they strive to make the greater San Diego community a better place to live, work and play for all. Tad’s history of working with the Price family, Beatriz Valencia and City Heights has inspired him to serve on Club 33’s committees with those areas of impact. But, he also plays jazz guitar and may be interested in the music committee!

 

Tad thanks his sponsors Michael Brunker, Patti Roscoe and Pete Ellsworth.

 

Paul Gothold

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Classification Pending

Paul Gothold recently retired his appointment of San Diego County Superintendent of Schools after serving six years in that role, providing educational leadership while administering mandated services, and thirty two years in education overall. His first teaching position was educating adjudicated youth in East Los Angeles where he started to realize that young people who have made bad choices in life can still turn things around, learn from their mistakes, achieve higher education and live safe and happy lives.

Paul has spent his career focused on this historically underserved youth population, with a passion for creating better outcomes for these communities. Outside of work, he has served many Lynwood, CA Rotary Clubs by volunteering for community-based sports leagues for underserved youth, and has contributed to a national college resource foundation for students of color.

Although Paul has retired as superintendent, he says he is still going to do whatever it takes to make these kids get what they need and deserve, just in a different capacity. He and his wife have two daughters enrolled in our public schools.

 

Paul thanks his sponsors Michael Brunker, Ed Abeyta and Mary Walshok.

 

David Bejarano

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Retired – Law Enforcement

David Bejarano was an honorary member of San Diego Rotary Club from 1999-2009 when he transferred his membership to the Chula Vista Rotary Club.

David was in law enforcement for over 35 years; 25 years with the San Diego Police Department, five of which he served as Chief of Police. After retiring the first time he, a week later, was appointed by then President Bush to be the US Marshall for the Southern District of California. After several years of US Marshal service, David retired again, only to soon become Chief of Police for Chula Vista for the following 8 years. He now does corporate security consulting.

Chief Bejarano has earned many well-deserved accolades including being recognized with both the Peacemaker and Diogenes Awards for demonstrating integrity and candor with the public and news media. In 2012 he became the Police Executive of the Year by the California Association of Tactical Officers, and was also listed as one of the nations “100 Most Influential Hispanics.”

David thanks his sponsors Michael Brunker, Bill Gore and Ray Uzeta.

 

Dana Toppel

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Associations – Jewish Family Service

 

Dana is the chief operating officer for Jewish Family Service of San Diego, a nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of social services and assistance programs to individuals and families in our county. She is also the founder and president of Make Work Work for Moms, an initiative striving to make work work for moms by raising awareness via story telling to shift the narrative and policy change.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Dana moved to the warmer weather of San Diego over 20 years ago. She has her BA from the University of Wisconsin, an MBA and an MSW from SDSU, and an LCSW from the Board of Behavioral Sciences. She currently serves on the Commission for the Status of Women of San Diego.

Dana has a twelve-year-old son, and they love everything that involves the outdoors.

She thanks her sponsors Marie Raftery, Divya Kakaiya and Wendy Urushima-Conn.

Daniel Weiner

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Law – Trust Administration

Daniel is the founder and owner of Weiner Law, an estate planning and probate law firm in San Diego. Prior to moving to San Diego 6 years ago, he worked at leading international firms in London, Washington DC and Hong Kong as a US and UK licensed attorney. During that time he provided legal council to renowned clients which included major investment banks and Fortune 500 companies.

Dan advised on Groundbreaking cryptocurrency transactions and his work in this area was published in a major international publication, International Financial Law Review.  He obtained his law degree from the University of Birmingham in the UK, and his master of laws degree (LLM) from Duke Law School.

Dan was born and raised in London and moved to the United States in 2017. He and his Texan wife have two young children: five-year-old Aiden and three-year-old Emma.

 

He thanks his sponsors Joe Farrage, Rick Brooks and Kim Benson.

Austin Martin

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Online Learning-Literacy

Austin Martin is the Founder and CEO of Rhymes With Reason, an online learning platform that helps young people learn words while building literacy in various areas such as English Language Arts, Entrepreneurship, Workforce Development and Civics via popular music.  His organization has worked with over 200 schools and afterschool programs across the United States to date, with a large presence in Detroit, MI, Philadelphia, PA, and Los Angeles, CA. Austin’s own educational trajectory is the inspiration behind his organization’s mission. His deep investment in hip-hop music and its illustrious vocabulary gave him the opportunity to excel as a reader, writer and communicator.

Born and raised here in San Diego, Austin went on to Brown University, and later got his Masters in Education from Harvard. He credits his parents and grandparents for inspiring him to be involved with facilitating marginalized communities as they worked in education and healthcare. He was listed as Forbes 2020 30 Under 30 in education, Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellow, International Literacy Association’s 30 Under 30 Global Nominee, and was the Harvard Social Impact Fellowship Fund Awardee.

Austin thanks his sponsors Michael Brunker, Jordan Harrison and Duke Sobek.

 

Nancy Sasaki

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Associations-United Way of San Diego

Nancy Sasaki has been the President and CEO of United Way San Diego County since 2018. She has led a long tenure within the nonprofit industry as the former Executive Director of Alliance Healthcare Federation, a thirty year career with Planned Parenthood in Austin, TX, San Diego and Los Angeles, CA, and in Hawaii. She currently sits on the board of directors of the Regional Taskforce on Homelessness, the San Diego Workforce Partnership Policy Board, and 2-1-1- San Diego.

Nancy graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with her Masters in Education in Community Health. She has an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Cal State, San Marcos, was Business Woman of the Year in 2019 and 2022, named as one of 50 Making a Difference, and was the 2022 Asian Business Association Community Leader recipient.

She has a daughter and son-in-law who live in Austin, TX. You can find Nancy playing tennis regularly as well as beach volleyball.

Nancy thanks her sponsors Michael Brunker, Gil Johnson and Glenn Rossman.

Laura Mitchell

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Museum-Women’s Museum of California

 

Laura Mitchell, Executive Director of the Women’s Museum of California, has over thirty years of experience in academic, educational and cultural institutions. Before serving in her current role, Laura was the Executive Director of the Visions Museum of Textile Art, Director of Advancement for the Hong Kong Academy, as a consultant for Plan. Fund. Create. in Hong Kong and Washington DC, as President of the Luther Institute as well as a Historian and Project Coordinator at the National Museum of American History for the Smithsonian.

Whether living in DC, Hong Kong or San Diego, Laura has always been an active member of clubs and organizations that make community service their focal point. She has served on the board for the San Diego Museum Council, the Vesper Society, and Adventures in Preservation. She has also volunteered for, or been a member of, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the East Asia Regional Council of Schools.

Laura was born in Los Angeles, CA, and graduated from Pomona College with a BA in economics before earning her PhD. in American history from Yale. She loves music, art and classic film as well as green tea. She has two daughters and two dogs.

 

Laura thanks her sponsors Andrea da Rosa, Ray Simas and Corey Polant.

Michael Hennessy

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Retired-Orthopedic Surgery

 

Michael Hennessy is from a small town in Minnesota where he stayed through medical school at the University of Minnesota. He and his now wife of 49 years moved first to Boston, then to San Diego for Michael to serve two years at Camp Pendleton. After twenty years of practice here they moved to Great Falls, Montana. Michael and his wife, also a doctor, moved back to San Diego after opening a surgical center and then a hospital in Montana. They now are fully retired and live here full time.

Michael was one of the founding members of the Mercy Outreach Surgical Team. He has volunteered with many organizations including Hospital Ruanguba in Zaire, Habitat for Humanity, and has done volunteer surgery in Kenya, Guatemala, Mexico, and Congo.

Michael and his wife have three adult children.

 

Michael thanks his sponsors Mike Meaney, Doug Arbon and Lisa Miller.

 

 

Tonya Torosian

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Social Services-Promises2Kids

 

Tonya Torosian is the CEO of Promises2Kids, a 41-year-old nonprofit founded as the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation. This organization is dedicated to creating a brighter future for the more than 200,000 foster children it serves, and the communities where they live.

Tonya grew up in Maddison, Wisconsin, in a community service minded family where she learned the importance of social work. She went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Social Welfare, and later Arizona State, with a MSW in Administration. Her passion has been to support children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect.  She has spent the past 25 years in San Diego doing just that.

She and her wife adopted a son, who is now six-years-old, who would have most likely gone into foster care.

 

Tonya thanks her sponsors Mary Colacicco, Valerie Attisha and Chris Graham.

Thomas Kerl

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Retired – Certified Public Accounting

 

Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, proud Cornhusker Tom Kerl began his career as a CPA in a large firm. He later moved to Orange County, CA and started his own firm, where he stayed for 30 years. He and his wife had 4 children, and now 16 grandchildren.

Tom is an animal advocate and has volunteered for both Next Step Service Dogs and Fast Friends Greyhound Rescue and Adoption. He and his new wife Judy enjoy transpacific sailing and the Opera.

Tom thanks his sponsors Ned Silver, Wendy Urushima-Conn and David Oates.

Ed Clancy

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Sustainability – Electric Bikes

 

Ed Clancy is an Army Veteran who has worked across a broad spectrum of interests to increase active living/healthy lifestyle cultures in the San Diego community for the past twelve years. He is currently the Founder and President of Pedal Ahead, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides e-bikes to individuals in underserved communities through a loan-to-own program, which advances lifestyles and challenges socio-economic barriers. These e-bikes, over 525 distributed in San Diego county thus far, provide the missing links for those who need an affordable way to get to to and from work, as well as other daily transportation needs.

He has one child and has been a volunteer at Rotarians at Work Day in years past.

Ed thanks his sponsors Phil Blair, Wendy Urushima-Conn and Mel Katz.

 

Gbanju Aruwayo-Obe

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Senior Services – Additional Active

Gbanju Aruwayo-Obe is a former Rotarian with the Ikoyi Lagos State, Nigeria Club, which he became a member of in 2019. Originally from Nigeria, Gbanju moved to San Diego five years ago and is currently the Director of Business for the home care organization Comfort Helpers, LLC.

Starting his career in consulting and strategy, Gbanju has  Certificates in Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Coaching and Business Intelligence Analysis as well as a BS in Geography and Regional Planning, an MS in Information Technology and Business Renewal, and is now a doctoral candidate, PhD. in Organizational Leadership from Alliant University.

Gbanju and his wife Olugbemisola have one child.

 

Gbanju thanks his sponsor Chuck Pretto.

Deanna Mackey

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Communications-Public Broadcasting

Deanna Mackey has served as the general manager of KPBS since June 30, 2022. As an executive leader and journalist, she has been committed to equity for women and girls, particularly women of color, throughout her more than 30-year career in nonprofit management and executive leadership in media. Her most recent role from 2015-2022 was president of the Public Television Major Market Group. There she focused her time on leadership/culture, revenue generation, audience development and digital on behalf of the group as well as national partnerships and system leadership activities. Previously, she worked for 25 years at KPBS, San Diego, serving as COO. Prior to her earlier work with KPBS, Deanna was a writer and editor for several San Diego-based publications. She spent her early years in journalism as a radio news writer. In 2015, Mackey co-founded Public Media Women in Leadership, to provide mentorship/training for women in her industry and address issues of gender inequity in public media.

Deanna is committed to public service. For 13 years, she served as a Girl Scout troop leader. All 17 of her active troop members are currently attending college. She is vice-chair of the board of directors of Parks, California, a board member of the CDP, and she recently completed a term on the governance and nominating committee of inewsource. She was a 2021 finalist for the National Association of Women Business Owners and, in 2018, she received the Hera Heroine Leadership Award. She has been named a YWCA Tribute to Women & Industry honoree, an Outstanding Alumnus from SDSU’s Daily Aztec newspaper, and was named one of five “Women who Move the City” by San Diego Magazine.

Deanna earned her Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University with a double major in journalism and political science.  She lives in San Diego and is married to Christopher Ingalls. She and her husband have five children between them, one granddaughter, and one lovely Lab.

Deanna thanks her sponsors Patti Roscoe, Divya Kakaiya and Suzanne Marmion.

Tim Ney

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Associations-Armed Services YMCA

Tim Ney is a visionary C-suite executive and people-first strategic leader. He takes pride in leveraging strong leadership skills that he cultivated during his years of service with the US Marine Corps. For over nine years he has worked as the Executive Director of Armed Services YMCA. A few notable accomplishments from his tenure with ASYMC include leading expansion programs and services, positioning the San Diego branch for operational continuity during the pandemic, and conceptualizing and initiating the Center for Military Families office relocation project.

Before his current role, Tim was Chief Operations Officer at Feeding America; and before that, North County Community Services Director, Community Relations in San Marcos. He has a BS from Chapman University and an MBA from SDSU.

Tim lives a life of service in our community and he would like to continue his service and develop as a leader with the support of the Rotarians in San Diego.
He says his resume and any notable achievements are simply words on paper. He sees himself as a humble community member doing the best he can in life who is eager to learn and grow.

 

Tim thanks his sponsors Jeanne Schmelzer, David Oates and Mike Caruso.

Kim Benson

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Financial Planning – Additional Active

Kim Benson, CFP®, CPA, CeFT®, helps executives link their financial decisions to their personal values and aspirations. She also helps help people navigate the financial side of life transitions, and thrives on providing them with clarity around major decisions — whether it’s within the corporate world, a career change, death of a loved one, or other significant life change, she helps them find a clear path forward to walk ahead in confidence.

Kim grew up in a beautiful small town in Northern Maine called St. Agatha. Because the French settled there in the 1800’s she speaks French as her first language. She holds a bachelor of science in business administration from Bryant University with a concentration in accounting. She says once she moved to San Diego, she had a hard time leaving. So, she met a fellow Red Sox fan here and married him.

After deciding to leave a successful career in corporate financial planning and analysis in 2015 she joined CCMI where she then became a partner in 2022. As an active member of the San Diego community, Kim is a LEAD graduate. She enjoys skiing, rowing, cooking and traveling with her husband.

Kim is grateful to Peg Eddy for introducing her to Rotary and to her other sponsors Mia Harenski and Larry Kuntz.

Dr. Tina King

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Associations—San Diego Community College District

Dr. Tina M. King is a transformative educational leader whose vision is guided by the core values of inclusive excellence, equity-mindedness, and institutional responsibility for student success. She has served in every sector of public education in California.  She began her career as a middle school teacher in the Compton Unified School District. Tina is a tireless advocate for students and educators, she is extremely passionate about issues that affect student equity, student success, and policy in public education. Currently, Tina serves as the President of San Diego College of Continuing Education where she oversees and advocates for 40,000 students. She is focused on expanding access to adult learners to the workforce and economic mobility for adults to reach livable and sustainable wages. Prior to her role as President, she served as Assistant Superintendent and Vice President for Student Affairs (ASVPSA) at Southwestern College.

Tina also serves as a professor at San Diego State University, teaching equity- minded approaches to student success to graduate students in postsecondary educational leadership. She has received many awards and recognitions throughout her career as a community college educational leader, including the prestigious ASPEN Rising President Fellowship in 2021.

She lives here in San Diego with her husband and children.

Tina thanks her sponsors Laurie Coskey, Constance Carroll and Michael Brunker.

 

Karen Sangren

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Retired-Point Loma Nazarene University

Karen is a retired Art Education Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Art and Design for Point Loma Nazarene University.

Karen was born on an emergency room gurney in the hallway while her dad was parking the car, and she’s been in a hurry ever since. She used her timeliness well while teaching art and design at the college level for over forty years. During that time she served on an array of local, state and national boards including 20-years of service on the Art Advisory Panel for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing which was responsible for writing CTC State Standards, approving art education programs across the state of California, and producing standardized tests for the discipline. Outside of the collegiate scope, Karen has taught art to children experiencing homelessness at the St. Vincent de Paul Center and San Diego County schools for eight years, and she sings in the La Jolla Presbyterian Church Choir.

She has a Ph. D. in Art Education from the University of Oregon and interned at the Planning Department after completing her graduate studies. The joy of giving to the health and well-being of San Diego neighborhoods has contributed to content in her visual arts and across her career.

 

Karen thanks her sponsors Goldie Sinegal, Roger Haines and Walter Lam.

 

Kari Logan

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Associations-YMCA

Kari has been the Regional Executive Director of YMCA San Diego County since 2012.

She grew up in Thousand Oaks, CA, and then attended University of New Mexico State on a full athletic scholarship for division 1 volleyball. After graduating Kari became the Assistant Director of Athletic Marketing and Promotions at UC Santa Barbara, an Event Director for Elite Racing, Inc., the Assistant Director of Athletics for Development at USD, Executive Director of Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, and then in 2008, the Vice President of Competitor Group, Inc., producing 9 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathons and half marathons.

Kari’s husband David was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Spain, and still credits that year as the transformational experience that truly changed the trajectory of his life. Together they have two sons who love sports, outdoor activities, food and theater.

“If we put our hands, heads and hearts together, anything is possible!”

 

Kari thanks her sponsors Tracy Sundlun, Sidd Vivek and Courtney Pendleton.

Eli Ohayon

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Real Estate Development – Acquisition

Eli was born in Spain, has Portuguese citizenship and speaks French. He worked as a Staff Attending Pediatric Anesthesiologist at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, CA, as an Attending Physician and Pediatric Consultant here in San Diego, and as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management.  Having retired from this career of practicing pediatric anesthesia, Eli is now developing a real estate portfolio and management corporation, MANAKA LLC.

Although he loved the practice of medicine, he left that career at a young age to get away from the bureaucracy that often comes with it. One of the things he loved most in his medical practice was going on medical missions. There was something energizing in working in a foreign country without the use of our everyday resources, while also having the money aspect of the work taken out of it.  One of these missions he embarked on was sponsored by the Rotary. He knew from then on he would be involved with Rotarians in some way.

Eli thanks his sponsors, Nikki Clay and Ben Clay

Paula Lemkuil

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Senior Services-Additional Active

Paula Lemkuil is the Director of Business Development for Belmont Village Senior Living. Among her many talents, poetry helped inspire her self-introduction.

Set to the Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme Song:

In North Santa Barbara where I was raised
In the city of Goleta, where I spent most of my days
My Mom a Korean lady, met Dad overseas
Grew up with my brother, who now lives with me.

Went to school, got married, and had 4 children
Moved here to San Diego, for a career decision.

My career went from Banking to Real Estate Sales
Until something happened that really made me scared
My Mom got alzheimer’s and I hadn’t a clue
What is it, how does it work, what can I do?

I found I can help others and began a new job
Explaining senior living, dementia & fog.
I’ve been in this career for 14 years
It has brought much joy, happiness & tears.

For fun I host events with friends & fam
I love trying new restaurants & red wine is my Jam
I can play poker and ride a motorcycle too
But being with my grandchildren is my special do.

I volunteer on a few boards in town
Tri City Hospital, UCSD Stein Institute & the Alzheimer’s Association
Are part of my rounds.

Thank you to Ed Mracek for sponsoring me here
Along with Larry Showley, & Amnon Ben-Yehuda, what a dear.
Thank you for these minutes to share who I am
I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can.

Theotis Daniels

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Banking-Commercial

Theotis (Theo) is the Business Banking Sales Manager for Home Bank of California, a family-owned community bank providing comprehensive financial solutions that match business owners’ needs.

Born and raised in Salinas, CA, an area known for John Steinbeck novels such as East of Eden, Theo later moved to Sacramento to attend college. While earning his degree in communications at Sacramento State, he also competed on the men’s division one track and field team as a pole vaulter. He moved to San Diego after a few years up north to avoid the hot and cold temperature extremes.

He and his girlfriend enjoy the many outdoor activities San Diego has to offer including golf, hiking, taking their dogs to the beach and pickleball. His volunteer efforts with Junior Achievement, San Diego Food Bank and Neighborhood Housing Association have been meaningful to him. Joining San Diego Rotary will allow him to expand the time and quality of his volunteer undertakings. Coming from Salinas, Theo experienced first hand the power of public service as that area lacks a lot of funding and opportunities that other areas are privy to. He appreciates the teachers and parents who put extra time and effort into that community while he was growing up, and he is ready to get more involved in paying back those endeavors.

Theo thanks his sponsors Roger Haines, Duke Sobek and Wendy Urushima-Conn.

Jason Emmons

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Certified Public Accounting-Regional-Additional Active

Jason Emmons is committed to a mission of meaningful and measurable impact for the human talent around him.

He was born in San Francisco and has been delivering professional services his entire life starting with a paper route at age 10, laundry service at age 12, and McDonald’s at age 15 where he finished his apprenticeship in selling and delivering professional services.

Now, he helps public and private companies reduce the cost of managing cyber risk while complying with SEC & PCAOB regulations as an IT Consultant and Partner of Moss Adams.

He’s done two long term international rotations in Austria and Argentina and now resides in America’s Finest City. He’s worked in places where he didn’t speak the language nor had access to the resources that exist here in the U.S. He even helped found Vienna, Austria’s first English-speaking Rotary Club: Vienna-International in 2012, which currently boasts 52 members.

Jason enjoys snowboarding, wakeboarding, hiking and drinking a glass of wine. He grew up just south of the Oregon border and is now grateful to live just north of the Mexican border with his wife, son and their dog.

 

Jason thanks his sponsors Judy Thompson, Bruce Knowlton and Sidd Vivek.

 

Jules Taggart

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Marketing-Digital

As the Founder and CEO of Wayward Kind, a digital and marketing collective and certified B Corporation, Jules Taggart strives to bring greater visibility to the work of purpose driven organizations that are designing a more just future. She is a human-centered marketing strategist, fraction CMO and educator. She believes that even as we rely more heavily on digital platforms for storytelling, organizing and uprising, meaningful human connection is still the most effective tool for liberation. One of the ways she measures the impact of her work is by championing the work of organizations that are making significant contributions in race, class and gender equity.

Jules grew up in Minnesota, left for college then grad school in Missouri, followed by a move to San Diego with her now husband. They have two children and are active participants in all things San Diego. Many of us remember Jules as she was a member of San Diego Rotary for a over a year before both the pandemic and a personal tragedy altered her plans. She put her membership on hold for awhile, but is now ready to get back into action. She would like to spot opportunities to help and step in where needed, looking first at the DEI, City Heights Rotaract and Cesar Chavez Readers committees.

 

Jules thanks her sponsors David Oates and Denise Scatena.

Ryan Dunn

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Military Service – US Navy – Additional Active

Ryan Dunn is a Commander in the US Navy and is an aviator. He has served over 26 years as a Naval Officer and helicopter pilot, currently serving as the Director of Aviation Training at Afloat Training Group San Diego. He is a Naval Academy graduate as well as the University of San Diego where he earned a Master’s of Science in Global Leadership. His certificates include Master Training Specialist and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Ryan has spent all 27 years, with the exception of a short tour in England with NATO, stationed here, and deploying from San Diego.

Ryan has volunteered for many organizations such as the Ironman Discipleship Program at Rock Church, the Master’s Program as a youth basketball coach, a baseball coach for Carmel Valley Little League, a school volunteer for Carmel Del Mar Elementary, and, as a cafeteria worker for Saint Vincent de Paul Parish homeless shelter.  He would like to continue his volunteer outreach through the San Diego Rotary committees by joining the Four Way Speech Contest, Interact programs, Senior Services and Military Affairs.

He and his wife Christa have two children, Sophie and Alistair. The family is very active in all things outdoors, from running, swimming and golfing, to biking, hiking and weightlifting. Ryan credits his healthy culinary abilities by self-titling “Smoothie King.”

 

His sponsors are Julie Roland, Wendy Urushima-Conn and Rodger Dougherty

 

Kea Spurrier

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Associations – Jewish Family Services

Kea Spurrier is the Chief Advancement Officer of Jewish Family Services, a human service agency that serves more than 80,000 San Diegans annually—regardless of religion, ability, race or identity. Prior to that, she worked at San Diego Zoo Global, also in development. She is currently the Chapter President of the Association for Fundraising Professionals. Kea has done volunteer work with Words Alive!, Dreams for Change, Wild Coast, San Diego Foundation, La Jolla Elementary and La Jolla High School; and, she is excited to continue to serve her community in a volunteer capacity through San Diego Rotary.

Kea is a San Diego native and a graduate of University of California San Diego, where she received a scholarship from Rotary to attend; as well as alumna of University of San Diego, where she received her master’s in leadership and nonprofit management. She is the mother of two boys, and and is an extensive traveler and an avid road cyclist.

 

Kea thanks her sponsors Wendy Urushima-Conn, Valerie Attisha, and Patti Roscoe.

Janet Hamada Kelley

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Associations – Alzheimer’s Association

Janet Hamada Kelley is the Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association of the San Diego and Imperial Chapter. She has worked in the voluntary health care space for ten years serving at several different organizations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in both a local and national capacity. Prior to her nonprofit work she owned two businesses: a consulting firm and a clothing boutique.

She is passionate about supporting women of color in leadership positions. She is currently a fellow in the Asian Pacific American Women Leadership Institute and is a member of Compassion Circle.

Janet was born and raised in Orange County, but after attending University of California San Diego, she put roots down here. She and her husband Justin have a four-year-old daughter who she loves to plan parties for in her off-time. She is interested in pursuing service for the Senior Services Committee, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and Membership Development.

 

Her sponsors are David Oates, Trevor Blair and Allison Whitney.

Ray Aguilar

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Landscaping Services

Ray Aguilar is the Vice President of Aztec Landscaping Inc. Ray’s parents started Aztec Landscaping and have kept it family owned since 1970 with Ray, his brothers and cousins currently at the helm.

Ray is a former member of the La Mesa and Lemon Grove Rotaries. He joined a San Diego Rotary meeting this past year and was impressed by the energy of our Club, then applied to switch. As a Lemon Grove Rotarian, Ray helped execute a clean water project for an underserved area in Mexico, bringing clean water to an orphanage, as well as a community, in need. He realized then that the beliefs he was raised understanding—to give to those who have less, and to do what you can for those who need help—aligned with Rotary’s mission and vision.

The Cesar Chavez Readers and Storefront Committees are of interest to him as he likes to be present while being impactful. He has four children if you count Peggy, the family dog (don’t worry Ray, we do), and he hopes to married in the near future.

Ray’s Club 33 sponsors are Bob Russell and Craig Evanco.

Malte Niebelschuetz

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Sustainability-Children’s Toys

 

Malte Niebelschuetz is the Founder and CEO of Shore Buddies, a sustainable and educational children’s brand with a focus on preventing plastic pollution in the world’s oceans by using recycled bottles as the material to make stuffed animals, while additionally teaching youth about the dangers of inaction. He is also the Founder of the $1 For the Ocean nonprofit organization whose network connects ocean minded businesses who commit financially to support ocean protection projects and nonprofit organizations with a $1 donation for every product or service purchased within the network.

Malte grew up in Germany, and, after getting his graduate degree from a school near Hamburg, he became the Chief Knowledge Officer for Germany’s largest defense contractor in Dusseldorf.  He found himself wanting more from a career and found an opportunity here in San Diego to make an difference in the world by starting these two companies whose missions are grounded in sustainability and education.  Eleven years later he is a green card recipient, and now a proud resident of San Diego, though he considers himself a global citizen.

In his free time he enjoys surfing, soccer, yoga, reading, writing, and cooking. His “real life super power is getting the best out of people.” Malte’s life purpose is to empower kids to improve the world and to disrupt the toy industry. Luckily, he now knows there is more to California than just the “Golden Gate Bridge, LA and David Hasselhoff!”

 

Malte’s sponsors are Phil Blair, Judy Thompson and Douglas Arbon.

Rudy Michelon

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Consultant-Information Technology

 

Rudy Michelon is the CEO for Skyriver IT, where he has been a partner since 2017. Skyriver is an outsourced information technology company. Rudy’s background in accounting and financial management helps his company’s clientele understand the financial implications of technology and managing risks. Their unique business-centric, rather than technology-centric, approach is aligned with their mission to ensure their clients stay focused on their businesses while knowing their environment is reliable and secure.

Rudy’s father came from Italy and his mother was born in Peru, making him the first person in his family to be born in the United States. As a child he lived in Los Angeles, then later Peru and Argentina, before coming back to the US to attend USC. He studied abroad in France, at the La Sorbonne University, where he learned fluent French after getting his degree in accounting. After starting his career he moved back to Argentina, he later worked for a company in India, and, several Fortune 500 companies from Michigan to San Francisco, before settling here in San Diego.

He has four grown children of his own, and his life partner has three. He recently moved to East Village and is excited to meet new people through Rotary. Some of the community service organizations he is currently involved in include the Knights of Columbus and United Way.

 

Rudy thanks his sponsors Judy Thompson, David Oates, and Nicole Deberg.

Michael McHale

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Senior Care Services-St. Paul’s

Michael McHale assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at St. Paul’s Senior Services on April 11, 2022 after more than 22 years of executive management and development experience in the senior care and hospice industries.

McHale began his career in senior living administration at St. Paul’s Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (McColl Health Center) in 1999, where he served as Associate Administrator and offered support during the initial phase of the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) application process.

Before returning to St. Paul’s in 2022, McHale served as the President and CEO of TRU Community Care in Boulder, Colo., where he improved operational performance and expanded services including hospice, home health, palliative care, memory care and PACE.

Additionally, McHale has served as the President & CEO of Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care in Illinois; Chief Operating Officer (COO) and CEO of Hospice of the Chesapeake, Inc. in Maryland; Vice President of Business Development and Sales at The Washington Home and Community Hospices in Wash. D.C.; Corporate Director of Marketing and Access Services at Hospice of Michigan; and Director of Access Services at the San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. Throughout his career, McHale has served on multiple Rotary Club boards and is published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management for his innovation in hospice tele-health services.

Michael is originally from the state of Wisconsin, and he and his spouse have four children, one daughter-in-law, a granddaughter, and interestingly, an Alpaca Farm.

 

Michael thanks his sponsors Cheryl Wilson, Mark Allan and Troy Wilson.

Elizabeth Fitzsimons

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Social Service & Welfare – ECS                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Elizabeth Fitzsimons started her career in San Diego as a journalist at the San Diego Union Tribune. She then became Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Rady’s Children’s Hospital, and later, Vice President of Leadership and Engagement at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce where she led LEAD San Diego. In April of 2021, Elizabeth began serving as Chief Executive Officer for Episcopal Community Services, where she works today. In this role she inspires children, empowers adults and transforms communities by providing vital, high-quality social services that focus on early childhood education and development, homelessness, mental health and substance use disorder.

 

Elizabeth recently completed two terms as Library Commissioner on the City of San Diego’s Board of Library Commissioners; she currently serves on the Board of Governors for the University Club Atop Symphony Towers. Previously she served on the Board of Directors for the Jacob’s and Cushman San Diego Food Bank, and on the Governance Committee for the San Diego Public Library Foundation.

 

She lives in Del Cerro with her husband, daughter and twin sons: though her oldest is leaving for her freshman year in college.

 

Elizabeth’s sponsors are Wendy Urushima-Conn, David Oates and Valerie Attisha.

Goldie Sinegal

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Real Estate-Residential-AA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Goldie Sinegal, born and raised in San Diego, graduated from Logan Elementary, Memorial Junior High, San Diego High, and University of San Diego. She worked for the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper for over 30 years.  After leaving the UT newspaper, she became a realtor in 2010, and is still working with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties out of their La Jolla office.

Goldie sang professionally for a few years with the San Diego Opera Chorus, and at the White Sands Senior Community, as well as non-professionally with other performing groups.

She has served on the following boards: University of San Diego Alumni, YMCA Youth and Family Services, City Ballet, Emerald Cove La Jolla Community, and La Jolla Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir.

Some of the pillars of her life are her faith in God, family and friends, music, community service, and theatre. She is a 27-year member of La Jolla Presbyterian Church, where she serves with many fellow Rotarians. Both Goldie’s mother and husband, who has passed, were very involved in San Diego community service alongside her. She is ready to continue to serve through Rotary Club 33 by joining many committees and becoming very involved.

Goldie’s sponsors are Jan McDonough, Roger Haines and Walter Lam.

Bart Conn

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Medicine-Chiropractic

Dr. Conn heads the Biophysics Chiropractic Wellness Center, an office that for over 20 years has been dedicated to helping protect their patient’s nervous systems through wellness care, chiropractic adjustments, massage, health education and advocacy.

Bart has always been passionate about serving the community. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Biology from University of Maryland, he worked for the National Institute of Health. He took part in extensive Cancer and AIDS research, then obtained his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic before opening his own business here in San Diego.

He has been extensively involved in the California Chiropractic Association both on the local chapter level, as well as the state, serving as sergeant at arms, secretary, vice president then president from 2004-2018. During that time he was also San Diego’s representative for the state of California.

Bart and his wife, fellow Rotarian Wendy Urushima-Conn, share two daughters: Reiko and Emi. “Getting to be their dad has been my greatest gift.” He enjoys surfing, riding his motorcycle, sailing and is a lover of the natural world. He is interested in our Hands Across the Border committee.

Although Bart isn’t a runner himself, he does keep Wendy running (he says)!

His sponsors are Wendy Urushima-Conn, Valerie Attisha and Joe Horiye.

 

Emily Hill

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Education-Private University-Marketing

Emily Hill is the Assistant Dean of Marketing and Recruitment at University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business, one of the top business schools in the country focused on educating the next generation of ethical business leaders, with an emphasis in stewardship through values-driven enterprise.

After she was born and raised here in San Diego, Emily and her husband moved to Chicago for a brief period before the weather sent them home. She started her career in journalism, but later decided education was a better path. She has since worked at University of California San Diego in their undergraduate enrollment management department; and before that, she spent seven years helping build the marketing and recruitment department for Academy of Our Lady of Peace, where she is also alumna.

Emily joined Rotary to be able to better serve the San Diego community. She is dedicated to donating blood on a monthly basis and volunteers her time mentoring underrepresented undergraduate students at USD. Good news for everyone: she enjoys baking and promises to share her creations!

 

Emily’s sponsors are Valerie Attisha, David Oates, and Dick Eger.

Mary Brown

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Retired-US Navy-General Counsel

Mary has had two careers, and for most of her life they were simultaneous. She worked with the US Navy Office of the General Council for 23 years, retiring in 2017 as Counsel, Navy Region Southwest heading a nine person office of attorneys and staff providing all business and civil law support to the Commander and his staff, while commanding officers of all installations in the Southwest’s six-state region.

Mary is also a retired US Navy Captain (O-6, Intelligence) where she served in numerous active duty and ready reserve positions, both domestically and abroad, including service as Commanding Officer of the largest Reserve Intelligence Unit Command in this region.

She is very interested in complimenting her current volunteer efforts by focusing on helping the “voiceless community members” in our area; such as the foster youth and other forgotten children and seniors, as well as young adults who have no role models and no perceived way out of poverty and chaos. She would also like to reach out to incarcerated individuals and, moreover, work toward solutions to the obscene violence that poverty and famine brings to its victims here and abroad.

After retiring from both careers, Mary has traveled extensively and been able to accomplish many goals she had put on hold during her two careers and her raising four children. She is now ready to dive into Rotary service projects with energy, focus and a vigilance for potential committee participation that can utilize her grant-writing expertise.

 

Mary is sponsored by Judy Thompson, Mike Conner and Constance Carroll.

Emily Fauber

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Social Service and Welfare-Homeless-AA

Emily Fauber is the Director of Community Engagement at Solutions for Change, a North County nonprofit solving family homelessness through a 700 day academy program that re-imagines futures for homeless families through classes, counseling, housing, and workforce training.

Outside of work, Emily and her husband volunteer at their home church, King’s Cross Church in Pacific Beach, as the Volunteer Director of Facilities and Volunteer Director of Kids Ministry respectively.

Emily is passionate about serving vulnerable youth through better education around adverse childhood experiences and with trauma informed care. She volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA Volunteer) through Voices for Children, advocating for and mentoring youth in the foster care system. Emily and her husband support Compassion International as child sponsors, and are passionate about supporting outdoor experiences and outdoor leadership opportunities for youth and young adults through the Gordon College LaVida Outdoor Leadership Program.

Emily’s husband Dan serves in the US Coast Guard, which originally brought them to San Diego. In their free time, they enjoy backpacking, surfing, climbing, and exploring new places, including a six month US Road Trip adventure in their home built campervan. Emily’s faith plays a large role in her desire to serve her community and support innovative solutions for vulnerable populations.

 

Her sponsors are Will Hage, Bill Fenick and Duke Sobek.

Herbert Hafter

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Real Estate Services – Commercial

Herb Hafter is a senior member of the Global Occupier Services group with Cushman and Wakefield. He has over 35 years’ experience in tenant representation, asset management, valuation, and counseling. He began his career with CBRE, then Coldwell Banker; eventually re-joining the firm with its acquisition of the Trammell Crow Company in 2007. Previous executive positions were held with The Koll Company, Pacific Life, RREEF and Jones Lang LaSalle. Herb has provided strategic advice and negotiated office, retail and industrial leases of all sizes and complexities in nearly all 50 states, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, and Canada. He has extensive experience leading both client account and transaction management relationships and providing M&A support with significant experience in the public institution, defense contracting, healthcare, technology, and financial service sectors.

Herb is a third generation San Diegan and SDSU graduate who enjoys golfing, running, traveling and spending time with his two daughters and three grandchildren. He is currently the director of Congregation Beth Israel and has served two terms. For the past 20 years he has been a board member of “The Red Nose Run of Del Mar,” a charity that raises money for the Semper Fi Fund and Fresh Start.  He is also a member of the Association for Corporate Growth, and a past board member of the San Diego Military Advisory Council.

Herb will be retiring in July, and, on a search for a new source of community involvement with social elements, he found San Diego Rotary Club 33.

 

His sponsors are Dick Eger, Alan Spector and David Oates.

Maxwell Johnson

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Policy and Advocacy – Healthcare

Maxwell Johnson has been engaged with leadership and service since he first enrolled at San Diego State University in 2017. Originally from Sacramento, California, his interest in politics and public service led him to graduate with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science and Communication. He was also accepted into the Weber Honor’s College upon his enrollment into SDSU, and through the program received a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Having previously served as the President of Rotaract of SDSU, he gained valuable skills in community outreach, volunteer coordinating, and networking. As a Rotaract, he helped plan community service projects, coordinated career professionals to speak at business meetings, and led a ten person executive team.

In his time at SDSU, Maxwell has also been provided with various different awards for his leadership and service on campus. He was honored as a member of the Mortar Board Society on campus which highlights students leadership experience, community service impact, and academic achievements. He was also highlighted for his service and leadership on campus as a member of the 2020 SDSU Homecoming Court. Finally he was presented with the Quest for the Best: 2021 Vice Presidential Student Service Award for his accomplishments in the SDSU community as a graduating senior.

Currently Maxwell is a member of the Young Leaders Advisory Council (YLAC) with the California Forward organization, an advocacy group that aims to improve government operations and increase the development of sustainable operations for policy making. As a Sacramento Kings fan he knows how to find the positive in dire situations and looks forward to diving right in as Club 33’s youngest member to date.

 

His sponsors are Jordan Maharaj, Jordan Harrison and Stephanie Saathoff.

Suzanne Marmion

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Digital News Media – Health and Wellness     

Suzanne Marmion is a veteran journalist who currently serves as Executive Managing Editor for a health and news website owned by Ziff Davis publishing in New York, Everyday Health Group. Prior to that, she led the KPBS newsroom as Director of News & Editorial Strategy where she grew the investigative reporting team, helped launch the Military, South Bay, North County and Racial Justice & Social Equity desks, and mentored a generation of young San Diego journalists who went on to state and national reporting jobs with PBS and NPR.

Earlier in her career, Suzanne worked as a correspondent in Africa, managed journalists during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the BBC World Service/Public Radio International program, “The World” and covered politics in Sacramento, CA. She graduated summa cum laude from UC Berkeley and has a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Suzanne is also a LEAD San Diego “Impact” graduate (2013) where she worked as part of a team helping the San Diego Rescue Mission with a feasibility proposal to create a daycare for families who are experiencing homelessness to keep babies and toddlers safe during the day. She is looking for new opportunities to give back to the San Diego community and is currently searching for Rotary committees to join where her unique expertise and life experiences will contribute to realizing their missions.

 

Her sponsors are: Wendy Urushima-Conn, Divya Kakaiya and Jan McDonough.

Adrianna O’Donnell

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Health-Philanthropy

Adrianna O’Donnell is the Director of Philanthropy at San Ysidro Health, where she is responsible for the oversight, planning and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising program that secures financial resources from individuals, private foundations, corporations and others to support the organization’s safety net services and strategic plan.

She is passionate about accessibility to quality healthcare, human development and women’s rights, all causes that align with her core values and upbringing. She previously served as the Director of Development for the American Lung Association San Diego and as the Executive Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Hawaii.

Originally from Colombia, South America, Adrianna was raised on the East Coast, but called beautiful Hawaii home for over 12 years. She has her MBA in Not-For-Profit from Chaminade University of Honolulu and a bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Whales. She is currently involved with many community organizations, including serving as VP of Education for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, serving as a member of the Community Advisory Committee for the SD Blood Bank; she is a graduate of LEAD San Diego’s Impact Class of 2020, and the MANA de San Diego Latina Success Leadership Program 2021 Cohort.

Adrianna is happy to call San Diego home and spends her free time hiking, learning, reading and hanging out with her favorite beings—her husband, teenage daughters, Ava and Addy, and all four of her fur kids.

She would like to thank Jordan Harrison, Brandon Steppe and Samantha Beck for sponsoring her.

Elizabeth Gavino

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Consulting-Benefits & Insurance

Elizabeth P. Gavino, LUTCF, CINHC, FNTPElizabeth Gavino has a rich history with Rotary as she was a member of the Hoboken Rotary Club for many years before moving to San Diego. She was a recipient of Hoboken’s Club Service Award, and she also served on their board as Community Chair. In 2010 she was selected by District 7490 to serve as Team Leader on a four-week Group Study Exchange to Northern Argentina. During this vocational trip she led four young professionals to observe not only the local customs but to shadow their respective vocational counterparts regarding industry practices and standards.

Elizabeth was born and raised in NYC and attended high school at the boarding military school: New York Military Academy, where she later sat on the Board of Association of Graduates as Treasurer. She is now the owner and founder of Lewin & Gavino, an employee benefits/insurance advisory firm. She is most known in the media (Huffington Post, CNBC, CNN, PopSugar) for her expertise on Medicare as she trains brokers and financial planners how to navigate Medicare to better help them serve their clients. Over the years she has been heavily involved in local advisory boards as a dedicated committee member and chair.

In 2013 Elizabeth graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and later became a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She is a firm believer that the quality of one’s health affects their financial bottom line and has since presented corporate nutrition seminars to help people live their best lives. She is the author of Balanced Life, Happy Life and is currently writing her second book while living on a yacht and learning to sail.

 

Her sponsors are: Duke Sobek, Wendy Urushima-Conn and Matt Ryan.

Zeynep Ilgaz

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Investment-Venture Capital

Zeynep and her husband, fellow Rotarian Serhat Pala, moved here 24 years ago from Turkey. After getting their MBAs from SDSU they founded Confirm Biosciences, a medical diagnostic company, out of their garage. Confirm Biosciences was acquired in 2020 after becoming one of the fastest growing companies in the US with its products selling in such well known stores as CVS and Walgreens.

Their new business venture, Breakaway Partners, provides seed equity funding to technology companies and allows more time for them to do volunteer work in the community.  Zeynep now serves on the board of SDSU Campanile Foundation, San Diego Chamber of Commerce, SDSU Lavin Entrepreneurship Center and the Rancho Bernardo Community Council. She recently established the Pala Family Aztec Cooperative Fund Endowment at SDSU, providing new opportunities and resources for aspiring student entrepreneurs by creating paid internships.

Zeynep is a proud wife, mother, pet owner, community lover and entrepreneur. She and Serhat have been together for 25 years and have two teenage sons. She has four dogs—three of them are rescues—all little with big personalities. Zeynep is looking forward to her “new Rotarian journey” and working together to make a difference in our community.

Zeynep’s sponsors are: Serhat Pala, Judy Thompson, and David Oates.

Bill Fenick

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Associations-USO

William (Bill) Fenick is a retired US Navy Captain who served as both a Supply Corps and a Public Affairs Officer for 28 years. He grew up in a Navy family as well, moving every two years. He, his wife and their two teenage sons have now lived in San Diego for ten years, finally calling one location home. The Navy taught Bill the importance of community, care, and the quality of the execution of your mission.

After retiring, Bill joined the nonprofit sector as Executive Director of the SEAL Family Foundation where he helped support individual and family readiness through an array of programs specifically targeted to assist the Naval Special Warfare community in maintaining a resilient, sustainable and healthy force in this area of persistent conflict and frequent deployments. Seven years later, this past October, he was appointed to serve as Executive Director of the USO San Diego/Camp Pendleton. He is a champion for the men and women in the military, and their families—from the moment they join through their transition back to their communities. He has a strong belief that keeping those who’ve served here adds value to San Diego as these men and women provide the knowledge and service that makes our county unique, diverse and prosperous.

The Fenick family motto: Breath-Move-Live-Stay Active (because mobility is life)!

 

Bill’s sponsors are: Will Hage, Joe Craver and Wes Wilmers.

 

Susan Davis

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Retired-Federal Government-Congress

Susan is a former American politician who was elected to serve ten terms as the U.S. Representative for California’s 53rd district. She was a member of the New Democrat Coalition and portrayed herself as someone who was willing to work across party lines, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, and as a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.

With two sons and three grandchildren, Susan and her husband Steve have spent their 50 years of marriage helping the greater community where they live. She received her master’s degree in social work before embarking on a political career. She became President of the League of Women Voters in 1977, then President of the Board of the San Diego Unified School District in 1983. From there she was elected to the California State Assembly for three terms, and finally to Congress from 2000 to 2020—totaling 35 years as an elected public servant. Susan’s father was a very loyal Rotarian from whom she learned the importance of service.

While acting as President of the Aaron Price Fellows Program, she mentored our now mayor, Todd Gloria. This, along with her start at the League of Women Voters, influences her passion for joining Rotary committees who engage in mentoring and apprenticeship programs as well as workforce preparation opporunities. The Afghan Refugee Outreach program is dear to her heart as she spent a lot of time working on solutions regarding our Afganistan presence while she was in office.

Susan believes “all Rotarians share a love for our communial responsibilites and caring for one another.”

She is grateful to Amnon Ben-Yehuda, Alan Spector and Richard Eger who are her sponsors.

Brad Saunders

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Real Estate Development

Brad is a San Diego Rotary member returning after the short break he took due to scheduling conflicts. He originally joined in 1981 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He is a third-generation San Diegan, having grown up in Point Loma, and his father was a member of our club as well. Brad and his wife Alice have been married for 46 years and have three sons and a daughter.

He currently holds memberships at the San Diego Yacht Club and the Rest and Aspiration Society, while formerly serving on the board of directors of Lambda Alpha, the Bishop’s School, San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts, and the San Diego Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He has been involved in local real estate development projects throughout his career with a combined value in excess of $1.5 billion.

Brad is the founder and CEO of Bricehouse Inc., an organization specializing in the development and financing of public and private projects with a particular emphasis on transit-oriented development. Bricehouse Inc. is currently serving as the Master Concessionaire for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, in charge of placing retail vendors at various transit stations throughout their network. In addition to their retail activities, his company has a subsidiary that is involved in outdoor advertising. In fact, Brad promises he can “help you do anything you want to do on a bench in San Diego!”

His current sponsor is Will Newbern.

Matthew Ryan

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Financial AdvisorMatt Ryan

Matt started playing basketball at a young age here in San Diego. He graduated from Saint Augustine High School and went on to play as an Olivet Nazarene University Tiger in Illinois, while focusing his studies in Financial Planning. After graduating from college, Matt left the cold winters behind and settled back home where he plays beach volleyball, coaches youth basketball, and has already served as the president of the Pacific Beach Toastmasters.

As a financial advisor at a boutique firm, Creative Capital Management, he works with professionals who seek personal wealth advising through either comprehensive financial planning, or the firm’s investment management services. Whether Matt is taking a deep dive into his client’s finances to develop a road map for their retirement, investments, taxes and estate planning, or, if he is managing their investments and directing their assets—he is steadfast in helping them reach their portfolio goals, creating peace of mind so they can focus on the things that matter most.

With a one-year-old son and a wife who works as an emergency room nurse (who Matt describes as “basically a superhero”), his young family stays quite busy. Still, he is looking forward to being an active member of San Diego Rotary.

Matt is very grateful to Peg Eddy, Duke Sobek and Ben Clay for sponsoring him.

Michael Novak

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Mike NovakInvestment-Fiduciary

In 2021 Mike joined ProFiduciary, Inc. where he serves as trustee, executor, guardian and agent for individuals and families with a focus on accounts concentrated in real estate and/or family businesses. He has worked in wealth management and fiduciary services for over 25 years. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Lake Forest College, he earned a paralegal certificate and worked for two law firms in Chicago that specialized in estate planning and settlement as well as corporate and real estate transactions. Mike then moved to Washington, D.C., and worked two years in the finance division of The Nature Conservancy managing assets donated to the organization that were not part of its conservation programs.

He is a member of the Professional Fiduciaries Association of California, the North County Estate Planning Council, the Probate Attorneys of San Diego (affiliate member), the Estate Planning Council of San Diego, the National Trust Closely Held Business Association (pending), and the National Trust Real Estate Association. Mike also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Opera and sits on its Audit Committee.

Mike and his husband Frank live in La Mesa, California, where they enjoy its annual Flag Day Parade and Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, La Mesa Classic Car Show nights in the summers and the largest Oktoberfest in San Diego County. He has a soon-to-graduate stepdaughter at home and he is delighted to continue his community outreach efforts through San Diego Rotary.

 

Sponsored by Chris Christopher, Stan Hartman and Jan McDonough.

Ed Mracek

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Real Estate-Residential

Ed has been a member of the Top Producers Group of La Jolla Realtors since 1995, and a licensed Realtor since 1989. He has successfully represented many luxury ocean front and estate properties over the years and now works for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Named San Diego Magazine’s “Five Star Agent” for multiple years, he also received the La Jolla Real Estate Broker’s Association’s McNaught-Davis/Knox Award—its highest professional honor.

Ed’s passion for helping our local communities started early in life, as he is a native San Diegan. Although both of his parents were on faculty at SDSU, he graduated from  UCLA. He then returned home to start his real estate ventures while volunteering extensively within the San Diego community.

With a strong dedication to arts, education, music and science, he uses his deep-rooted local connections to passionately help the greater San Diego/Tijuana region. As a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, Kyoto Prize Symposium Host Committee, UCSD Real Estate Roundtable, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Fishman Fund Advisory Board, The Order of St John, San Diego Opera, Honorary Deputy Sheriffs Association, Rest and Aspiration Club, UCLA and FBI San Diego Citizens Alumni Associations, and Mary, Star of The Sea Knights of Columbus Council, Ed maintains a very active portfolio of community service commitments. He has served at the La Jolla Rotary Club, and interestingly he was formerly awarded a spot on the Leonard Simpson 10 Best Dressed List. A few of his other former memberships include the La Jolla Art and Wine Festival, and the Catfish Club. He looks forward to continuing to promote “Service Above Self” through the San Diego Rotary.

He was sponsored by Wendy Urushima-Conn, Mel Katz, and Phil Blair.

Julie Roland

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Military-Navy

Lieutenant Julie Roland is a Naval Aviator, Helicopter Aircraft Commander, and ACTC Level III Mission Commander. She served aboard USS Carl Vinson, USS Lake Champlain, and USS John C. Stennis, and has managed over 20 maintainers while they performed maintenance and upkeep on two MH-60R helicopters in preparation for, and while aboard, the USS Michael Murphy . Having served as an officer for the last seven years, she has led divisions of up to 30 Sailors in the maintenance of helicopters while serving as an aviator and flying the MH-60R. Julie assisted and advised command leadership with multiple legal proceedings as a Legal Officer. After back-to-back deployments in the Persian Gulf and South China, she is now an Aviation Certifying Officer at ATG San Diego, where she certifies flight decks on ships to ensure they are ready for flight operations, and fully manages a budget of $25,000.

Julie credits her parents, her mom who was a yoga instructor and poet, and her dad, a man who wears Birkenstocks, with her drive to help create a better world. As a young child Julie started volunteering for local charities. Then she noted, while considering her future, all of the things the Navy has to offer: service, leadership, team work, the ability to travel the world and “Free College!” matched her personal goals. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in History, then was commissioned as an Officer through the NROTC program where she was Head of Philanthropy. During her college years, Julie volunteered with diverse organizations such as: Habitat for Humanity, Johnson’s Backyard Garden, Give the Kids the World, Orphanage Outreach and Baltimore Homeless Services.

Just Tryna Make Friends (JTMF) Show, a “backyard variety show” that promotes local artists and builds community, is something she produces in her free time. This show recently became a finalist in San Diego Reader magazine’s “Best of 2021” for Best Neighborhood Event, and Best Place to See Live Music Outside. JTMF is applying for nonprofit status currently. She is a Magician Member of the Academy of Magical Arts, and a member of the League of Women Voters. As a magician in her off-time, she finds ways to defy gravity without the use of Naval Aircraft, making “service above self” an interesting concept for this new Rotarian.

Her sponsors are Duke Sobek, Wendy Urushima-Conn, and Phil Silver.

Linda Lattimore

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Consultant-Social Impact

Linda grew up in Peru and Mexico, then became an attorney and international business woman. She has worked as General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer for 3 multinationals and is a dedicated and passionate collaborator and architect for change. A well-regarded speaker, published best-selling author (Solutionaries—You are the Answer!) and educator in the field of Sustained Leadership, Linda is committed to models that recognize the significance of social responsibility to a world in need.

Always wanting to serve her family and community, she became interested in the nonprofit sector, helping underserved women all over the world. As a strategic business advisor with a particular focus in the social impact space, she helps individuals through her Solutionaries Academy find work that leaves a positive impact, but is also financially fulfilling. She also founded WGN Global Fund, a women’s business networking group, which specializes in programs to educate the next generation of women about sustainable leadership, and it offers financial assistance to women creating socially responsible business.

Having recently moved back to San Diego from Austin, Linda wants to be very intentional about where she can both learn and add value. She believes Rotary is a wonderful group of kindred spirits and a great opportunity for her to continue to serve. Considering all of Linda’s former addresses have contained two 3s, she feels very at home already in Rotary Club 33.

Judy Thompson, Mike Conner, and Jo Dee Jacob are her sponsors.

 

Don Wells

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Social Services-Just In Time For Foster Youth, Additional Active

Don Wells is the Chief Empowerment Officer for Just In Time For Foster Youth, which helps to transition foster youth ages 18-26 to achieve self-sufficiency and well-being. He is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in Psychology, History, and Political Science, and a certification to teach secondary education. In 2004, he also earned a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology.

Don began his career as a high school history and psychology teacher before three decades in media as an award-winning artist/animator, writer-producer, news director, project manager, and communications consultant, including receiving the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. The one constant throughout the years has been Don’s commitment to use his talents and influence to serve the community.

Don was instrumental in the early formation of Just in Time for Foster Youth and used his leadership position at KGTV/ABC10 San Diego to produce a My First Home Extreme Makeover segment, giving JIT much-needed visibility in its infancy. Since then, Don has been a consistent supporter, joining the board in 2009 and assuming the duties of Executive Director (now Chief Empowerment Officer) in 2010.

Don loves being a catalyst for change in the world, learning new things every day and connecting with people in significant conversations. His work/life integration includes watching movies and playing games, being able to work, dance, and laugh with his wife Diane all week long, and spending his time being useful in any way he can.

Sidd Vivek, Michael Brunker and Alan Spector were his sponsors.

Diane Cox

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Social Services-Just In Time For Foster Youth

Diane Wells is the Development Director for Just In Time For Foster Youth. They engage a caring community to help transition age foster youth with critical resources and lasting relationships to achieve self-sufficiency and well-being as they become confident, capable and connected.

A graduate of University of Michigan, Diane was a sales representative for First American Title for 20 years. But prior to that, she was an English teacher, hitch-hiked across the United States, lived in a Zen Monastery on top of a mountain, then started a town paper in northern CA, but ended up joining a commune in southern CA, before deciding she had to actually make a living!

Diane found a way to further leverage her success in the corporate world for the greater good in 2003 when she co-founded Just in Time for Foster Youth, starting with a simple concept of transporting gently used furniture donated by her clients in Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar to the empty shells of apartments occupied by young adults leaving the foster care system and who had accessed subsidized housing but lacked basic furnishings such as beds, vacuums, and kitchen supplies.

In 2014, Diane joined the staff of Just in Time and graduated from the Hudson Institute of Coaching with the specific intention to develop a coaching model to assist foster youth to heal from adverse childhood experiences and train volunteers to see themselves in partnership with youth who are creative, resourceful and whole. CA2M training has also been provided to other San Diego nonprofits, including Children’s Legal Services, National Charity League San Diego del Norte Chapter, and Community Resource Center.

Alan Spector, Judy Thompson and David Kvendru were her sponsors.

Shelly Verhoye

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Investment-Fiduciary

Shelly Verhoye is a licensed professional fiduciary with ProFiduciary, Inc., one of San Diego’s largest private fiduciary firms providing trust and estate administration services.

Shelly’s husband is San Diego’s treasured concert pianist Bryan Verhoye.  But she wants you to know some other things about her that you may not know….

The first time she ever sang in front of an audience, she was about 6 years old.  She sang I’m A Little Tea Pot for a family dinner party.  It went over pretty well and she has been singing ever since.

Another activity near and dear to her heart is dancing.  She began dancing as a teenager, joined a professional dance company as a young adult, and went on to manage her own dance company for a number of years after that.

But her most favorite of all…is her beautiful daughter, Molleigh Rae, who is now away at Columbia College Chicago, an Arts & Media college.  She is  majoring in Musical Theater and minoring in Non-profit and Public Affairs Communications.

But through all the years, Shelly also worked developing her career in the area of trust and estate administration.  She worked as a Trust Officer in several bank trust departments and joined ProFiduciary in 2008.  She says her career keeps her extremely busy, so unfortunately there hasn’t been much time to sing and dance!

Jan McDonough, Suzy Spafford and Debbie Day were here sponsors.

Samantha Beck

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Associations – LEAD San Diego

Samantha Beck is the Executive Director for LEAD San Diego, which is a nonpartisan, leadership arm of the San Diego Regional Chamber.  LEAD offers a diverse suite of programs designed to mobilize leaders by enhancing knowledge of key regional issues, strengthening personal leadership skills and establishing strong community connections.

She is originally from Sacramento.  She left to attend Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri where she earned a degree in International Relations.  She then returned to Sacramento and became the Membership Director for the Sacramento Metro Chamber.

Growing up with a minister as a father, volunteering and service to her community are in her DNA. As a child and teen, she was actively involved in homeless outreach. As an adult, she volunteered and served on the board of Team Giving, a non-profit that serves as the matchmaker for corporate and individual volunteers with non-profits in need.

Samantha says it was always her dream to live in San Diego.  She would often visit Petco Park to watch her San Francisco Giants play.  So she says she was lucky to have found a position with the San Diego Regional Chamber that met a lot of her passions and skill sets.  She moved to San Diego in June of 2020.

Divya Kakaiya, Trevor Blair and Wendy Urushima-Conn were her sponsors.

Al Joyner

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Athletics-Track & Field

Al Joyner is a track and field star who won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles for the triple jump, the first American in eight decades to win the event and the first African American.  He attended Arkansas State University, where he later returned as a coach, and was the winner of the prestigious Jim Thorpe award, honoring the best American field athlete at the Olympics.  He was married to the late track legend Florence Griffith, who came to be known as “Flo Jo”.

In 1997, Al was inducted into the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame, and in 1999 the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.  In August 2000, he returned to the track and field staff at UCLA as assistant coach and women’s jump coach.

In 2003, he accepted a job as track coach for the U.S. Olympic Training Center and directs the Flo Jo Community Empowerment Foundation and the Final Kick Marketing Group.  Currently, he is training athletes for the 2021 Olympics, but more importantly, he is training others to follow their dreams.

Tracy Sundlun, Paul Nestor and Phil Blair were his sponsors.

Vicki Gee Horiye

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“Research-Gemology”

Vicki Gee Horiye is the Director of Product Marketing for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).  Established in 1931, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in the gem and jewelry industry.

Service to the community became a significant part of her Vicki’s life by the age of 16.  She was involved at the club and district levels of another service organization during high school and college, serving in roles including club president, lieutenant governor and district secretary.  During her undergrad, she re-chartered the club at UCSD and she is proud that it remains active today.

The San Diego Foundation, Jackie Robinson YMCA, Francis Parker School, and the Asian Business Association Foundation are amongst the organizations she has been involved in.  She is interested in joining our Senior Services Committee, Camp Enterprise and our Badge Committee.  But says she will continue to “shop” the other committees because she wants to meet everyone!

Vicki is a marketer by passion having earned her MBA at SDSU.  Her greatest joy is her 18-year-old son Carter, who is a freshman at Northeastern University.  Her husband is Joe Horiye, a Club member for the last 20 years.

Wendy Urushima-Conn, Andrea da Rosa and Valerie Attisha were her sponsors.

Valerie Gomez

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Insurance  – Consumer, Additional Active

Valerie Gomez is Director of Operations/Agent for Farmers Insurance.

She is a native San Diegan and attended Valhalla High School.  Before going into sales, she tried a career in web design and in pastries.  Now while working in insurance, she has started her own business selling gemstones and crystals because she really enjoys teaching customers about them.  But first and foremost, she is mom to her 4-year old son.

Valerie enjoys networking and says she couldn’t think of a more better place than Rotary.  She says it was the warmest group of people she has ever met! And she says what better way to connect with others than to do work alongside them in service.

Duke Sobek, Stephanie Saathoff and Annie Rodriguez were her sponsors.

 

Jimmie Gruny

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Community Liaison-MCRD, Additional Active

Jimmie “Jim” Gruny is the new Community Liaison Officer for MCRD San Diego.  He is responsible for high level community engagement on behalf of the MCRD and is also responsible for resolving conflicts between the depot and the city, port and Airport Authority related to land use.

Jim is a retired Marine Colonel.  His 30 years of service in the Marine Corps as an Armor Officer included two combat tours in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Born and raised in Kentucky, he holds a BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.

Prior to his current position, Jim was the COO for Workshop for Warriors. He and his wife, Teresa, have been married for 35 years and they have 2 sons and 1 grandson.

Rick Huenefeld, Doug Taber and Rachel Inmon were his sponsors.

 

Peter Callstrom

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Human Resources-Job Training, Additional Active

Peter Callstrom is the President & CEO of the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) which funds job training programs to empower job seekers to meet the current and future workforce needs of employers in San Diego County.

Peter had led nonprofit organizations in the San Diego region since 1986, including services to people with disabilities, the homeless, and under-represented job seekers.  He has led the SDWP since 2012 and was awarded the 2021 Nonprofit CEO of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal.

A Minnesota native, he moved to San Diego in 1986. He and his wife, Patricia, have been married for 26 years and they have 2 daughters.  On his free time, he enjoys racquetball with his favorite “target”, President Phil Blair.

Peter is a returning Club 33 member (2013-2018).

Constance Carroll, Ph.D.

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Associations – CCCBA

Constance Carroll is the President and CEO of the California Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCCBA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) she founded that is dedicated to the promotion and expansion of baccalaureate programs among California’s 116 community colleges in workforce fields.

Constance grew up in Baltimore, Maryland during the period of segregation.  It was that experience that generated in her a great passion and commitment to diversity and expanding equity and opportunity to everyone.

She has had a distinguished career in higher education for almost 50 years.  And on July 1, 2021 she retired as the longest serving chancellor for the San Diego Community College District in which she served for 17 years.  She also served as President of San Diego Mesa College for 11 years.

Constance’s professional history includes service on national boards, numerous awards, and publications.  In 2011, she was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate to serve a six-year term on the National Council on the Humanities.  In 2020, she was appointed to serve on the College Promise National Advisory Board, which leads a nonpartisan initiative dedicated to building public support for tuition-free Promise programs across the country.

She holds a BA in Humanities from Duquesne University, an MA and Ph.D. in Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Certificate of Proficiency in Hellenic Studies from Knubly University in Athens, Greece. She also attended the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management.

She says she is looking forward to being a very hardworking and active member.

Mark Stuart, Jim Hughes and Chris Sichel were here sponsors.

 

 

 

Jonathan Burgos

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Youth Organization – First Gen Scholars

Jonathan Burgos is Founder and Executive Director of First Gen Scholars, a 501(c) 3 whose mission is to provide superior support to underserved first-generation high school students in San Diego by navigating them through the college application process and mentor them throughout college towards a prosperous career.

Jonathan founded First Gen Scholars in 2019 with 26 students in South San Diego, expanding city-wide in 2020 to serve 78 students from 13 high schools and 11 different ethnicities.  In addition, he spent 15 years (primarily in City Heights through Cardinals Interact) creating a college essay-writing curriculum that helps applicants share their authentic stories.  Jonathan has helped hundreds of students get into some of the most elite colleges in the United States, with most students graduating with zero to little debt.

He attended UCSD and graduated with a degree in Sociology. It was there where he met his wife of 20 years, Laurie. They have two children, 13 year old Theo (a black belt) and 10 year old Penelope (a Girl Scout cookie selling machine!)  Jonathan considers his family his “why” as he does First Gen Scholars.  He was a first generation student himself and almost did not graduate college without the help and support from others.  This is what motivated him to start his own non-profit.

He says a personal health scare in 2015 and the current pandemic has taught him two things: to be appreciate everyday of his loved ones, and that “it is not about what I have, but what I have to give in terms of my heart, my time and my energy.”

Mia Harenski, Massey Pitts and David Oates were his sponsors.

Edward Abeyta

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Education – UCSD Extension

Edward Abeyta, Ph.D. is Associate Dean for Education and Community Outreach at UC San Diego Extension. He received a BA from the University of New Mexico, and M.Ed. from the University of San Diego, and his Ph.D. from Capella University. He is also a LEAD graduate.

Ed is a founding trustee of the Urban Discovery Academy K-8 and ID8 high school.  He is also president of the Urban Discovery Schools Foundation and recently completed his service as a member of the San Diego Youth Symphony board of directors.  He is the founder of the UCTV STEAM Channel and was the key architect in moving Sally Ride Science to UCSD.

Prior to joining UCSD Extension in 1995, Ed began his service at UCSD as a counselor for the Early Academic Outreach Program serving underrepresented students in San Diego high schools and later was assumed the role of Registrar and Director of Academic Services at UC San Diego Extension. He has been recognized from UCSD and the UC Office of the President for his involvement in staff diversity and development initiatives. In 2008 Edward was selected to a two year term as the Staff Advisor to The Regents.

He says he is looking forward to his service in Rotary and “this new chapter” in his life, and also contributing to our STEM committee.

His sponsors were Phil Blair, Mel Katz and Stephanie Saathoff.

Courtney Pendleton

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Credit Union – Community Relations

Courtney Pendleton is the Public Relations and Community Manager for Mission Federal Credit Union.

Courtney says it truly is a wonder that it has taken her so long to join the best Rotary Club in the world! Over the last few months, she has reflected on her “Rotary Ties” through the years: While in the PR agency world for nearly a decade, she found her passion for nonprofits and her first nonprofit client was Chris Sichel and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Fast forward to the first Rotary lunch she attended back in 2012 as Joe Craver’s guest (he and the late Bill Trumpfheller had hired her at the Red Cross, when she turned to staff from being a longtime PIO volunteer). She was fortunate to work alongside Bill Earley (former member), Wendy McKinney and Stan Hartman with her Red Cross work. Courtney then moved over to the YMCA where she worked closely with Michael Brunker, all-along the way meeting Wendy Urushima-Conn who gave her a nudge to finally try out Rotary.  She says Rotary seems to be that final missing piece that would tie all of her worlds together.

Courtney grew up in Orange County and moved to San Diego to attend SDSU where she received a BA in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations.  She met her husband, Kevin, at SDSU and they have 2 young children, Madison and Jake.

Wendy Urushima-Conn, Wendy McKinney and Chris Sichel were her sponsors.

Nickolas Wohlman

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Software – Sales

Nickolas Wohlman is an Associate District Manager in Sales & Consulting for ADP. He was recently awarded the company’s Rookie of the Year Award.

Nick grew up in North Dakota, where both of his parents were also Rotarians. He says he has fond memories of going to community service events with his parents and a lot of family friends also from Rotary. When he became a freshman in high school, he instantly joined Interact. Nick moved to California when he was 16 and found out that his new high school didn’t have an Interact Club, so he started one with the help of the local club his mom had just joined. He was Interact president for 2.5 years and grew the club to over 40 members! He also attended RYLA and was a member of the SDSU Rotaract Club for all 5 years.

Nick graduated from SDSU with a BS in Business Marketing. He is also currently the youngest member of San Diego Rotary at the age of 24.

David Oates, Michael Gordan and Jordan Maharaj were his sponsors.

Bob Flynn

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Real Estate Sales-Residential, Additional Active

Robert “Bob” Flynn is a realtor (HomeSmart Realty West), lawyer, and ADR Neutral (Mediator & Arbitrator). When asked what he does, he replies “I am a lawyer who sells houses.”

He is originally from Boston where he practiced law for over 40 years.  He and his wife, Mary, raised 5 children in the town he grew up in (so change didn’t come easy).  They’d still be in Boston, except they were invited to follow 2 of their sons out here to San Diego to go into the real estate business with them.  He hasn’t looked back since and loves San Diego!

Why Rotary?  Bob says that his high school in Boston, Boston College and Boston College Law School inculcated his desire to do things for other people so he would love to give back to the San Diego community.

David Oates, Amy Myers and Jules Taggart were his sponsors.

 

Melissa Peterman

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Museum-Comic-Con, Additional Active

Melissa Peterman is the Vice President of the Comic-Con Museum located in Balboa Park.

She is a proud native San Diegan and has spent most of her personal and professional life working to make San Diego an amazing place to live, while also focusing on equity work.

Melissa studied Political Science at SDSU, then went on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her graduate studies in theories of social justice and the intersections of pop culture and the social movement. She originally wanted to be an academic and started her Ph.D. program, but then realized she wanted to have a more direct and immediate impact.  So she made the decision to move back to San Diego where she spent 10 years working in affordable housing and homelessness with Father Joe’s Villages and the San Diego Housing Commission, before eventually joining the Comic-Con Museum.  Melissa says working at the museum is a perfect cumulation of everything she is passionate about…San Diego, DEI and the impact of popular art and culture.

Melissa loves to travel and be with friends and family, but her real hobby is planning and organizing anything and everything. So she says she is ready to put those skills to work with Rotary!

Ingrid de Llamas, Wendy Urushima-Conn and Katie Sawyer were her sponsors.

David Finn

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Federal Government – U.S. Attorney’s Office, Additional Active

David Finn is a Federal Criminal Prosecutor/Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Office of the United States Attorney here in San Diego.

He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri and moved to San Diego 21 years ago.  He attended Mesa Community College, then UCSD, then California Western School of Law.  He has worked for the U.S. Attorney’s office for the last 10 years.

David is a big fan of community service and one of his favorite organizations to volunteer with is Reality Changers, who work to get first generation college students into college and to succeed.

In 2020, David was the chapter president of the Federal Bar Association with over 500 members.

He has several hobbies (he says his wife would say too many!): he likes to compete in triathlons and has competed in 2 full Ironman triathlons in the last 3 years, he likes to sail, golf, and play music.  David and his wife Rebecca have been married for 8 years and have a beautiful 2-year-old daughter named Claire.

Jordan Harrison, Eric Beste and Jonathan Cole were his sponsors.

Kathie Lembo

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Social Services – SBCS

Kathie Lembo is the President and CEO of SBCS, a social service organization that strengthens communities by supporting the well-being and prosperity of San Diego children, youth and families through over 50 different programs.  Kathie is responsible for the overall administration of the agency, which includes managing the now $90M annual budget, networking and fundraising with the community, advocating for youth and family issues at the City, County, State and Federal levels, and building County-wide collaborations.  SBCS is the agency that is overseeing the immigrant children’s shelter currently at the Convention Center. Kathie has served as their President/CEO since 1982 and has grown the agency into one of the largest social service and community development agencies in the County, touching the lives of 50,000 people each year.

Born in New York to an Italian family, Kathie had 2 brothers and 14 male cousins. She said she always had a ride home from a high school dance…even if she didn’t want one!

She received her undergraduate degree from Stony Brook University and her graduate degree from St. John’s University.  She came to San Diego in 1980 and has been here ever since.

Kathie lives in the Sunset Cliffs neighborhood with her husband and son who are avid surfers.  She enjoys the beach, dinner with friends, tequila tasting, bike riding and just having fun!

Phil Blair, Mel Katz and Cindy Marten were her sponsors.

 

 

Mark West

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Information Technology – National Defense

Mark West is the San Diego Waterfront Director for CACI International, a defense contractor specializing in information solutions and services in support of national security and littoral combat ships.

Marks bio David Letterman style:

10.  He and his wife, Megan, have been together for over 20 years
9.  He is an avid traveler and has been on every continent in the world.  He cannot wait to travel again!
8.  He is a life-long public servant, having served in the Navy for 24 years, served as a board members of the SD County Airport Authority, an Imperial Beach Councilmember, and is a founding board member of the San Diego Community Power
7.  He is a lover of public murals and founded an art bureau that has done over 30 large scale murals throughout San Diego
6.  He is HUGE Rolling Stones fan
5.  He is a lover of the arts.  Be prepared to hear him singing Broadway musicals (or crying to one)
4.  He is the first person in the Navy to have done a swim call on both variants of a littoral combat ship in the Atlantic and in the Pacific
3.  Albeit cliche…he did meet his wife while he was bartending, during flight school, in Pensacola, Fl.
2.  He is self-proclaimed energy nerd
1.  He is an avid surfer and avid outdoorsman and has hiked over half of the fourteeners in the US.

Stephanie Saathoff, Mel Katz and Betsy Brennan were his sponsors.

Liz Richards

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Credit Score Management-Marketing & Media

Liz Richards is the Creative Director for ScoreShuttle, a technology built to help consumers manage their creditworthiness.

Before diving into her current role, Liz started her career as a news producer for two morning shows in Evansville, Indiana.  She then moved to L.A.  and worked as Director of Development for High Noon Entertainment, the production company behind shows like Fixer Upper, Cake Boss and Good Bones. No longer a fan of the L.A. traffic, Liz moved to San Diego where she made the transition from television to digital marketing.

Her current community involvement includes volunteering with the San Diego Library Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation.  In her free time, Liz enjoys Pilates and boxing, and loves to explore the outdoors on a sunny hike or camp adventure with her fiancé, Jeff.  The pair have their first child on the way and just bought their first home in University Heights.

Wendy Urushima-Conn, Ginny Ollis and David Oates were her sponsors.

Lenny Leszczynski

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Museum-Automotive

Leonard “Lenny” Leszczynski is the CEO of the San Diego Automotive Museum.

Lenny was born and raised in San Diego;  he was born in Poway, grew up in La Jolla, spent his twenties in Point Loma and Pacific Beach, and started his family in East County.  He has worked in the non-profit sector his entire life because he believes that service to others is essential to helping create a better community.  He has worked for the YMCA for 20 years, and was with Promises2Kids for 5 years before joining the Automotive Museum.

He graduated from Cal State Northridge, received his masters from Western Governors University and is currently enrolled in Harvard’s extension school for Museum Studies.

When he is not working, you can find him coaching his daughters’ at softball.  He and his wife, Falon, have four daughters.  You can also find them at the carousel at Balboa Park trying to get the golden ring for another ride!

Lenny also loves to teach youth about football and loves working on committees that get kids to go to camp.  He believes camp is a great alternative learning environment.

A fun fact about Lenny: while living in L.A., he worked at the Staples Center, Dodgers Stadium, Arrowhead Pond and Anaheim Stadium.  He has been to 3 NBA championships, 2 World Series, 1 Stanley Club Series and 1 PGA event.  All that is left is for him to attend is a Super Bowl!

Michael Brunker, Sidd Vivek and David Oates were his sponsors.

Valerie Attisha

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Consultant-Non-profit Development, Additional Active

Valerie Attisha owns her own philanthropic consultant business.

She is Chaldean and her first language is Aramaic, which is the language she still speaks to her parents with.  Her family immigrated to the US in the 1970s and first settled in Detroit.  Eventually, they moved and were one of the very first Chaldeans to call San Diego home, which now number in the thousands.

Valerie grew up in the East County, graduated from USD and received her graduate degree from Sacramento State University.  Her original plan was to have a career in government, but the non-profit sector called!  She was in development for over 20 years and just over a year ago, established her own firm.

She says that service is really at the core of her being and it has always been important to her to make a meaningful impact and give back to her community.  She was previously a Rotarian of the El Cajon Rotary Club for 6 years.  She loves to travel, play tennis, cook for family and friends and attend concerts and the theatre.

Wendy Urushima-Conn, Joe Horiye and Trevor Blair were her sponsor.

 

Rick Brooks

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Investment- Wealth Management, Additional Active

Rick Brooks is a Principal and the Director of Investment Management at Blankinship & Foster, LLC. He oversees their investment analytics and serves as Chairman of the firm’s Investment Committee.

Rick was born in Texas and raised in Maryland. He earned a BA in Political Science from Duke University and a MBA in Finance from San Diego State. He also served in the Navy for 6 years and 9 months.

He is past Chair of the Board of Girl Scouts San Diego (the first male to serve in that capacity), currently serving on their Investment and Board Development committees.  He volunteers on the KPBS Professional Advisor Council and on the San Diego Foundation’s PAC.

Alan Spector, Jan McDonough and Keith McKenzie were his sponsors.

Jon Ray

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Painting – Residential

Jon Ray is the owner of PaintGreen, a full-service painting company based here in San Diego since 2006.  As an entrepreneur and community organizer, Jon has found that happy balance between the two different worlds.

Jon started a 501c3 that supports local artists.  They hold an annual 4 day and 3 night art and musical festival that is attended by some 3500 people and generates over $500k.  The proceeds of YOUtopia are invested back into the event, as well as a local makerspace he co-founded called CoLab.  CoLab hosts fancy tools that artists and inventors could not afford or house themselves, so they allow art and prototyping to be done for free or at minimal cost.

Duke Sobek, Dick Eger and Rick Chatham were his sponsors.

 

 

Justin Rajah

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Analytics-Business

Justin Rajah is the Demand Generation Manager at Wrike, a work management platform.

He was born and raised in Santa Clara County, CA by a single mom, who taught him to love all things Disney and country music.  A first generation college grad, Justin received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2017 from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  He has called San Diego his home since last summer.

Justin’s connection to Rotary began in 2010 with the Sunnyvale Sunrise Club. They had selected him to attend a RYLA summer camp with the intention to start a service club when he returned to high school in the fall.  He says RYLA changed his life forever.  Now, after being involved with RYLA for the last 10 years, he says it is still the strongest influence in his life.  He continues to be a mentor to campers and younger staff.

A fun fact about Justin: he is a marketer by day, but a karaoke singer by night.

“I promise to bring my passion for service and youth leadership to all Rotary activities.  And I promise to show up for this club and for what this club stands for.”

Jordan Maharaj, Jordan Harrison and Chuck Pretto were his sponsors.

Alessandra Costigliola

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Education-State University-Development, Additional Active

Alessandra Costigliola serves as the Development Officer for the College of Sciences at SDSU.  In her role, she is responsible for qualifying prospects for the College of Sciences and soliciting gifts of $25K and higher.

Born and raised in Sacramento (yes, she is a Kings fan), Alessandra moved to San Diego to attend SDSU. She received her Bacherlor’s degree in Political Science from SDSU in 2017 and is currently completing her Master’s in Public Administration.  During her time at SDSU, she was President of the SDSU Ambassadors and a member of the SDSU Rotaract Club.

When she is not working, she enjoys reading and loves to travel and go wine tasting.  She says her Italian family taught her the value of a really good glass of wine.

Jordan Maharaj, Jonathan Cole and Michelle Candland were her sponsors.

Corey Polant

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Education-State University-Development

Corey Polant is the Associate Directory of Development at San Diego State University.

He is originally from Long Island, New York and he says if you catch him on a good day you’ll still hear parts of that accent when he speaks-even though he has spent 9 years trying to lose it.

He is a double alum of SDSU, receiving his undergraduate degree in Sociology and his masters in Public Administration. He has been working with SDSU for 5 years helping to bring philanthropic support to an array of programs on campus.

Rotaract was a big part of Corey’s undergraduate experience and meeting San Diego Rotary members and seeing their commitment to doing good was his inspiration.

So after coming off a year of feeling helpless and isolated in this pandemic, Corey knew there was no better time to join Rotary.  He says he learned a lot about himself this past year and in many ways feels like he journeyed inwards and realigned what is most important to him… helping others and having a sense of community.

Corey has already been active in the San Diego community, sitting on a foundation board and participating in community service events. He is celebrating 4 years as a Big Brother to Luis, through Big Brothers Big Sisters, another organization he is very passionate about.

He says he owes a special thank you to President Chris Sichel, who has been his mentor ever since they were paired through Rotaract, and who has given him such valuable career and personal advice.

When he is not working or involved in the community, Corey enjoys playing tennis, practicing the piano, playing on a recreational kickball team and finding San Diego’s best new brunch locations.

Chris Sichel, Jordan Maharaj and Barbara Noerenberg.

Tom Turner

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Real Estate Sales-Commercial, Additional Active

Tom Turner is a Commercial Real Estate Broker and Vice President at CBRE.

Born in North Carolina, Tom and his military family moved around quite a bit.  He finished high school in Japan then attended college at UCLA.  Without a definite career plan after college, the self-proclaimed “beach bum” ran a cafe in Mission Beach, moved furniture, sold sailboat rides and sunscreen in Maui and spent some time as a guide in the Rocky Mountains.

After finally deciding to get serious, he passed the LSAT and attended law school at UC Berkeley and Oxford University.  Tom then moved to San Diego and has been here ever since.

Tom spent 35+ years as a commercial real estate lawyer, with the last 25 years at Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch.  For 17 years, he served as the firm’s Managing Partner and CEO.  He has earned virtually every real estate law award out there, including San Diego’s Best Lawyers, California Superlawyers, Best Lawyers in America, San Diego Bar Association’s Outstanding Attorney and California Law Firm Leader of the Year.

He made the leap from real estate law to real estate brokerage and joined CBRE where he does a variety of specialty investment work and large private/public joint ventures.

The joy of Tom’s life is his family.  He and his wife Jennifer celebrated their 40th anniversary last year.  They have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren whom they love to share everything sports, music and nature with.

Jan McDonough, Tom Cohen and Josh Buchholz were his sponsors.

Ben Alev

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Real Estate-Investment

Ben Alev is a real estate investor and manager for 58-Twelve, LLC.  His specialty has been working in distressed assets and low income housing, where programs are implemented to encourage compassion and community involvement.  In his extensive real estate career, Ben has bought and sold properties in over 38 states.

Originally from Chicago, he moved to Arizona where he met his wife, Rebecca, and where they raised their family.  Ben coached his children’s youth sports teams for 20 years and was a founder of youth soccer and baseball programs. When his daughter married and settled here in San Diego, it also became his and Rebecca’s new home, too.

Ben is an avid sports fan and an active outdoorsmen whose hobbies include scuba, skiing, fly fishing, hunting, horseback riding, gold and spending time with his family.

Though he didn’t finish college himself, he comes from an educated family and all of his children have degrees.  Ben proudly says that he learned at a young age that “if you know a lot about something that is a little bit important, you can be successful.” He also said “when you learn the principles of business and understand the momentum in giving your word and putting others first, it comes back to you in a very large way. Therefore, this leads me to being grateful for the opportunity to serve with you in Rotary and create that momentum in life that is so important.”

 

Ken Barnes

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Social Service & Welfare – Options For All

Ken Barnes is the President & CEO for Options For All, a 35-year-old firm that provides services to adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Ken is native Californian, being born in San Francisco and raised in Sacramento.  (If you see him wearing a lot of purple, it is because “the Sacramento Kings are the best team God ever invented!”)

He attended college between New York (Columbia University) and China (Beijing Language and Culture University).  He moved to San Diego 1 year ago, and before going “all in” at Options For All in Feb. 2020, it was a passion volunteer project for him because his twin brother had suffered from cerebral palsy. He was named their 2018 Volunteer of the Year.

Ken and his wife, Angela, travel a lot for food…using the Michelin Guide, World’s 50 Best List and Netflix’s Chef’s Table series to build their vacations.

Trevor Blair, Phil Blair and Mel Katz were his sponsors.

Mike Stoliker

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Consultant-Management

Mike Stoliker is an Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, serving as a lead financial and management consultant for a Navy Acquisition Category.  He also serves as an officer in the Army Reserve, currently serving as an Airborne Civil Affairs Team Leader with 18 parachute jumps (and counting!)

Mike is a Southern California native from Oxnard.  He settled in San Diego 2 1/2 years ago after living all over the state, and to a lesser extent, the country, for educational and professional purposes.  He received a BA in Political Science from Cal State Northridge and an MBA from Vanderbilt.

He and his wife, Rosy, have been married for 3 years.  In their free time, they hang out with their bandog (an American Bulldog/French Mastiff breed), Mike rides his motorcycle, does general housework, and can be found doing something musical.

Nick Bernal, Jonathan Cole and Duke Sobek were his sponsors.

Donna DeBerry

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Associations-Black Chamber of Commerce

Donna DeBerry is the CEO at the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce.

A graduate in Diversity from Thomas Edison State College, she is also certified in Inclusion and Diversity from Yale and Inclusive Leadership from Harvard. She has been described as a trailblazer, a pioneer, and the “Go-To-Person” in diversity branding since her meteoric rise through the ranks of Wyndham International, where she formerly served as Executive Vice President of Global Diversity & Assistant to the Chairman of the Board and as Vice President of Global Diversity for Nike.

Donna’s success has been featured in Fortune, Time, Money, Newsweek, Essence (Top 50 Women Shaping the World issue), Black Enterprise, and Diversity Inc. and a wide range of other media venues. She has worked with the Oprah Winfrey Show, NBA, NFL, Jerry Colangelo and on many other high-profile projects.

She has received awards for her outstanding production of the documentary “Walking the Waking Journey”.

Gil Johnson, Phil Blair and Peg Eddy were her sponsors.

Ashley Camac

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Associations-USO

Ashley Camac is the Executive Director for USO San Diego/Camp Pendleton.  She assumed the role of ED after her time serving as Director of Operations within the organization.  She earned a Masters Degree from Point Loma Nazarene University in Strategic Organizational Leadership.

Ashley is a 21-year military spouse.  Her husband, Michael, is a submariner by trade and they have moved ten times in the last 21 years though they have called San Diego home since 2012.  In 2017, Ashley was named Military Spouse of the Year for her work within the community bridging the gaps between resources and military families.  She is currently a bronze level member within the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the San Diego Navy League.

She is a proud mom of two, Kayla and Michael Jr., who are currently studying engineering and neuro-science.

Joe Craver, Greg Sterner and Rick Huenefeld were her sponsors.

 

Marisa Cubing

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Financial Advisor, Additional Active

Marisa Cubing is the Campus Recruiter for Northwestern Mutual.  She is responsible for developing quality relationships with students, faculty and staff at SDSU, USD, UCSD, PLNU and Cal State San Marcos.

Originally from the Bay area, Marisa moved to San Diego to attend SDSU.  There, she was an active member of SDSU Rotaracts for 3 years and attended many community service activities, including Camp Enterprise. She also worked at KPBS as a Community Engagement Assistant where she worked on such programs as One Book One San Diego and Community Conversations.

She says that Rotary holds as a very special place in her heart.  The wonderful people she has met at Rotary and SDSU Rotaract have made an impact on her life.  She is committed to living by Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self”.  Marisa is excited to not only give back to her community, but to inspire and impact our younger generation to get involved.

Jordan Maharaj, David Oates and Chuck Pretto were her sponsors.

Shante Lampkin

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Social Service & Welfare-Neighborhood House Assn, Additional Active

Shante Lampkin is the Diversity & Inclusion Liaison to the President/CEO of the Neighborhood House Association.

She is a native San Diegan.  She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from San Diego Christian College, and a master’s degree in Business Management from Louisiana State University.  She is currently a doctoral student in Organizational Change & Leadership at USC.

Shante says her professional mantra, which is her motivation for helping others, is “let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap the harvest if we do not give up.” And her personal mantra…”allow yourself grace and space to always order dessert!”

She is a proud mother of three, loves to travel, and enjoys weight lifting and solving jigsaw puzzles.

Duke Sobek, David Oates and Marinda Peugh were her sponsors.

Troy Darrock

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Financial Advisor, Additional Active

Troy Darrock has been a financial advisor with Edward Jones for the last 4 years.

He grew up in San Diego, bouncing between the North County/San Diego and the Murrieta/Temecula areas.  He attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA and graduated with a degree in Economics.  That is where he met his wife, Kelly.  They have a 1-year-old, Wesley, who has taught him that he could survive on hardly any sleep!

Troy is a Gonzaga basketball fan and a San Diego Padres fan.  He also enjoys golf and traveling.  He has family members that were involved in Rotary, including a grandfather that was a past president of the Escondido club. He has seen the impact that they made in their communities and is looking forward to doing the same with us.

Duke Sobek, Dick Eger and Rick Chatham were his sponsors.

Whitney Hodges

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Law – Real Estate, Additional Active

Whitney Hodges is an attorney and partner with Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP.  Her practice focuses on the representation of clients involved in real estate development.

She is originally from Arizona, but has been in San Diego since she was 2 years old.  She graduated from Rancho Bernardo High School and USC and USC Law School.

Whitney and her fiancé Chris recently got engaged, but they grew up on the same street have already been together for 20 years!

In her spare time, she focuses on animal advocacy and works with the San Diego Humane Society, as well as doing other philanthropic work around San Diego.

Jan McDonough, Divya Kakaiya, and Travis Anderson were her sponsors.

Lari Sheehan

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Retired – County Government

Lari (pronounced “Larry”) Sheehan is retired from her 42-year career as a top administrator for the State and for the counties of Los Angeles and San Diego.  She retired in 2010 as the Deputy County Executive Officer for LA County. She worked for the County of San Diego in 1976-1998, the last 13 years as Deputy County Administrative Officer.  Lari is most proud of the studies she lead and that resulted in the incorporation of the cities of Poway, Santee, Encinitas and Solana Beach.

She was born in Newport News, VA and graduated from UCLA with a degree in Economics.   She has been a volunteer, donor and member of the Board of Management for the San Diego Armed Service YMCA since 2010 and is very passionate about working with enlisted military and their families.

Ben Clay, Nikki Clay and Richard Ledford were her sponsors.

Denise Scatena

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Public Relations-Regional, Additional Active

Denise Scatena is the Founding Partner of Scatena Daniels Communications.  Founded in 2009, their primary focus is in the philanthropic sector.

A third generation San Diegan, Denise has family roots in Logan Heights, City Heights and in Clairemont. She graduated from Madison High School, received a Bachelor’s degree from Chapman University, and her Masters degree in Communications from SDSU.

Denise is currently a board member for the San Diego Press Club and a new member of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists.

She and her husband, Joseph, have 10-year-old tween twin daughters who have a new found love of tennis.

Simona Valanciute, David Oates, Chris Sichel were her sponsors.

Drew Moser

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Social Service and Welfare-Homeless

Drew Moser is the Executive Director for the Lucky Duck Foundation, a non-profit that funds, activates and leads high-impact, collaborative programs that alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego City & County.

He was born and raised in Spokane, WA.  He graduated from the University of Redlands  with a degree in Business and is currently working towards his MBA.

Drew played basketball for the U of R Bulldogs, and in fact, basketball is what brought him to San Diego. He worked for the USD Men’s Basketball team for 3 years before working for the San Diego Sports Commission and the San Diego Hall of Champions.

He and his wife, Whitney, have 3 children: 2 boys (ages 6 and 2) and a 5-mos old daughter.

Chris Sichel, Trevor Blair and Mark Neville were his sponsors.

Phil Silver

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Information Technology-Cloud Services

Phil Silver is the Business Development Manager for Amazon Web Services.

Earlier in his career, Phil joined the Rotary Club of White Plains (NY) but had to step away for work, family and military service, including starting a company, Mad Science of Greater New York, which provided STEM enrichment programs to over 50,000 3-12 year-olds every year.

Phil is a retired US Navy Captain, serving for 25 years.  He received his BS in Chemistry and BA in History at the University of Florida.  He also received his MBA in Finance and Information Technology from Fordham University and a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from UCSD.

He is a native of Florida and lived in New York for 25 years, before coming to San Diego.  He and his wife, Lisa, just celebrated 30 years of marriage.  They have two daughters: Melanie, who will be getting married next May, and Maya, a senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Now settled in San Diego, it is Phil’s desire to continue to be in service to the local community and his friends in Rotary, John Neuhart and Evan Wahl, recommended he join our wonderful club!

Solveig Deuprey was his sponsor.

 

Amy Myers

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Associations-Cancer

Amy is the Senior Executive Director (Southern CA) for the American Cancer Society, West Region.

She has spent the last 21 years working in the non-profit sector, working for many years at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and for Big Brothers Big Sisters.  She was hired at Big Brothers and Big Sisters by the late Club 33 member Paul Palmer, who was the first to introduce her to Rotary.

Volunteering and giving back to her community is very important to her.  Amy is proud to be a Big Sister to Trinity, her Little Sister from the Operation Bigs military mentoring program.  For 10 years, she led walks for breast cancer causes and she is an avid blood donor.

Amy is originally from Kansas City and and received her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Kansas State University.  She met her husband, Mike (a Navy veteran), in San Diego, though he is also a KC native.  They enjoy the outdoors and keeping up with their 4-year-old daughter, Madelyn and their Goldendoodle, Murphy.

Price Adams, David Oates and Ann Hill were her sponsors.

Karen Higareda

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Shipping Logistics

Karen is the Director of Operations for Woodward Logistics Services, a company that provides planning and assistance for exporters of all sizes to help maximize their success in the Mexican market and around the world.

Karen was born in San Diego and raised in Tijuana and is a proud binational citizen.  She has a Bachelors degree in Architecture from Universidad Iberoamericana in Tijuana, and a Masters of Science in Landscape and Urbanism from Woodbury University San Diego.

She is passionate about youth empowerment and gender equality in STEM, and volunteers at the David’s Harp Foundation.  She is a founding member of DHF’s Circle of Influence.

Mia Harenski, Brandon Steppe and Price Adams were her sponsors.

Shaneese Evans

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Traffic Management-Military

Shaneese has been serving in the United States Air Force for the last 13 years, where she works in Logistics for Traffic Management.  She serves as a her unit’s training and career advisor.

Shaneese was first introduced to Rotary as a 13 year-old student at Monarch in 1998.  She was invited to our Holiday program where she would meet Nancy Scott, who became her mentor and an important part of her family.  She and Nancy have shared many incredible adventures since they met 22 years ago.

She was born and raised here in San Diego and is the 2nd eldest of seven children.  She graduated from Hoover High school where she participated in Interact and also attended Camp Enterprise.

After high school, Shaneese spent six years with the Army Reserves as a hospital nutritionist.  But she was lured away by the USAF because the hats were cuter!

She and her husband, Randy, have been married for 16 years and have 3 children ages 11, 13 and 15.  She mentors your girls through coaching her daughter’s cheer squad and softball team.  She is also a co-leader for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.

Shaneese is grateful for how Rotary has changed her life and and looking forward to giving back to the club and to her community.

Nancy Scott, Patti Roscoe and Solveig Deuprey were her sponsors.

Caitlin Ostomel

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Us Navy-External Affairs

Caitlin is the Public Affairs Director for Navy Region Southwest.  She coordinates all public information and communications functions for 10 shore installations throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.  She leads a team of communication experts versed in all aspects of public affairs, community engagement and social media outreach.

She has worked for the Federal Government for 10 years and moved to San Diego from Washington D.C. 18 months ago to work for the Navy.  Before joining the Navy, Caitlin worked for FEMA, traveling all over the country responding to major disasters.

She is originally from Reno, Nevada, which she will always call home.  She first lived in Southern California 20 years ago to attend USC, then she left for NYC to attend New York University where she earned her Masters in Public Administration.

Caitlin recently got engaged.  She and her fiance live in Bay Park with an adorable dog whose breed is yet to be determined.

Rick Huenefeld, Mike Caruso and Peg Eddy were her sponsors.

Thomas Sherman

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Marketing-Digital, Additional Active

Thomas is the Co-Founder and Creative Director for Weaponized Creativity, a digital marketing and design agency. He is also the marketing director for The Truffleist.

He and his wife, Alice, moved to San Diego 2 years ago.  Philanthropy and serving their community is a big part of their family.  They have 2 Bengal cats that they adopted from the ASPCA.  They are also big supporters of the Helen Woodward animal center.  In 2012, Thomas helped launch and lead the fundraising for the Market Studio Kitchen in Detroit, a year-round program designed to teach culinary skills and basic nutrition to food challenged individuals.

Originally from Detroit,  Thomas started to study and win awards for his art at a very young age.  He attended the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, then the Montserrat College of Art in Boston.

Prior to moving to San Diego, Thomas spent 20+ years in New York as a creative director working for some of the largest digital agencies in the world (he was responsible for the E*Trade “Talking Baby” Superbowl ad and for the campaign that launched the HBO Game of Thrones series!)

He is a workout fanatic and at one point trained professionally in mixed martial arts.

Suzanne Frontz, Duke Sobek and David Oates were his sponsors.

Tamara Y. Craver

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Youth Organization-Reality Changers

Tamara is the new President and CEO of Reality Changers, a nonprofit organization  that provides youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with academic support, financial assistance and leadership training to become college graduates.

Living in San Diego for almost a year now, she is originally from Columbus, Ohio. She left Ohio to attend UCLA where she studied history and psychology.

Tamara is a proud mom to Sterling, who is now in his last semester of college. She absolutely loves sports, particularly football and boxing.  She also loves to travel and add those stamps to her passport.  Tamara most recently visited the Dominican Republic and the US Virgin Islands.

Jordan Harrison, Toni Giffin and David Oates were her sponsors.

Ingrid de Llamas

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Museum-Comic-Con

Ingrid is the Director of Philanthropy for the Comic-Con Museum.  Scheduled to open in Spring 2021, the museum in Balboa Park will be interactive and celebrate the impact of popular culture in everyone’s lives.

She is a board member for the San Diego Public Library Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation, and recently joined the Barrio Logan College Institute.

She is originally from the Pasadena area and has lived in San Diego for 6 years now.  But her family has long ties to the San Diego community.  Her grandfather worked on the 1915 Exposition in Balboa Park!

Ingrid graduated from Cal Poly Pomona and from the Epicurean School of Culinary Arts.  She holds 2 international certifications in fundraising, and is a 2015 LEAD graduate.  She enjoys entertaining, food and wine.

Wendy Urushima-Conn, Alan Spector and Patti Roscoe were her sponsors.

Kristie-Bruce Lane

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Associations-Homeless

Kristie is the President and Founder of The Thumbprint Project Foundation, a 501c(3) non profit that aides in the transitional process of homeless children impacted by childhood domestic violence, including human trafficking.

Kristie was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA.  She graduated from Cal Poly where she earned two Bachelors of Science degrees in Nutritional Science and Crop Science with a Biotechnology minor.  She settled in San Diego in 2011 and lives in 4S Ranch with her husband Todd and their 5-year-old son Luke.  Kristie enjoys serving her community and is involved in such organizations as The Door of Hope, San Diego Food Bank, Illuminating Pathways and the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast.  She also enjoys surfing, sports, travel and Yoga Sculpt.

Tom Cohen, Duke Sobek and Kimberley Layton were her sponsors.

Rachel Luis y Prado

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Manufacturing Services, Additional Active

Rachel is the Chief Operations Officer for Workshops for Warriors, a nonprofit school founded in 2008 to provide quality training and accredited STEM educational programs for veterans, transitioning service members, and other students to be successful in their chosen manufacturing career field.

Rachel grew up in Naples, Florida. She attended the University of Central Florida then obtained her Masters in International and Intercultural Communication at the University of Denver. After deciding that she didn’t want to be a ski instructor, she flipped a coin and headed to Washington D.C. For 15 years, she did research and development for the Graduate Management Admission Council.

She met her husband, Club 33 member Hernan Luis y Prado, “at a gas station a few hundred miles from D.C.” He asked her on a date, they eloped a year and a half later and now have two beautiful daughters and two awesome pets. Rachel joined Hernan at Workshop for Warriors, its founder and CEO.

Dick Eger, Mia Harenski and David Oates were her sponsors

 

Sabrina Lopez

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Media-Sales & Marketing

Sabrina is originally from Argentina. Her dream of coming to the US was fulfilled when she was able to participate in an exchange program during her freshman year in high school.  She stayed with a family in Indiana who invited her back to finish her senior year with them. She then attended St. Joseph’s college to obtain her degree in Biology and Pre-Med before returning to Argentina.

Determined to return to the US, Sabrina packed up her $200 on her 27th birthday and returned to her “hometown’ of Indiana.  A series of moves and career changes with NBC Universal/Telemundo would ultimately land her here in San Diego where she served as the company’s Vice President of Sales.

Sabrina is looking forward to her next life adventure with her husband Robert and her 9-year old daughter, Mia.

Tina Jenkins, Anthony Llompart and Chris Sichel were  her sponsors

 

Andrea Goicoechea

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Consultant-Life Care Planning

Andrea is a life care planner and nurse practitioner.

She works for expert witnesses providing research and writing life-care plans for clients seriously ill or critically injured in life-altering accidents.  The data she collects will decide what will be needed for life-long care and is used by attorneys, case managers, insurance carriers and families.

Andrea and her husband Frank (a physician) raised 4 boys and have 2 (almost 3) grandchildren.  She volunteers with the Armed Services YMCA’s surf clinic and also volunteers to do physical exams at the JFS Migrant Family Shelter.

She is a happy supporter of the Natural History Museum, she loves plants and is currently trying to perfect her sourdough recipe.

Penny Robbins,  Phil Blair and Mel Katz were her sponsors

 

Kat Chang

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Genomics Sequencing

Kat is the Alliances & Partnerships Manager for Illumina.

She grew up on the island of Kauai, and received a scholarship from a local Rotary club that helped fund her college education.

She completed her undergraduate at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa, her Masters in Engineering at Cornell and her Ph.D. in Biology at Salk/UCSD.

Kat is passionate about STEM education and supporting underserved communities. She enjoys Polynesian dancing, loves to surf and is an avid traveler.

Divya Kakaiya, Duke Sobek and Doug Arbon were  her sponsors

 

Julie Marner

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Social Service and Welfare-Burundi Friends Intl

Julie is the Executive Director of Burundi Friends International, a local nonprofit working to empower Burundian youth, women and families towards building sustainable communities through education and economic development.  Burundi is a land-locked country located in east, central Africa. (Last year, our Rotary International Foundation Grants Committee allocated $3,000 of their funds for a new library in Burundi.)

Julie is originally from Iowa.  For twenty years, she has worked throughout San Diego as a music director at various churches. Besides spreading the joy of music, she is also passionate about reaching underserved individuals and communities.

For several years, Julie visited the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility to practice Buddhist meditation with inmates.  In 2010-11, she traveled to the Himalayas and taught English to Buddhist nuns, then volunteered for four months teaching English at Light University in Bujumbura.  Over time, she returned regularly to Burundi which eventually led to her position at Burundi Friends International.

Mike Meaney, Roger Haines and Walter Lam were her sponsors.

Eric Beste

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Law-Litigation Practice, Additional Active

Eric is a litigation partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP.

He is originally from Long Island, NY.  He completed his undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania and then attended Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, where he met his wife, Anne.  They have been married for 23 years and have three children, one of whom is a sophomore at Northwestern.

Before going private, Eric spent the last 22 years of his career in public service. He started as a federal prosecutor for the US Department of Justice in D.C., then moved to San Diego to work for the US Attorney’s Office, which is where he met his club sponsor and role model, Roger Haines.

Eric says he learned from Roger that “your persuasiveness is not in the volume of your voice, but in your credibility and conviction.”

Roger Haines, Walter Lam and Jeff Hill were his sponsors

Revel Stark

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Commercial Lending

Revel is the Director of Business Development for Innovative Capital Corporation.  He is a 2004 SDSU graduate.

Revel’s company recently led a fundraising effort for fellow Club 33 member Jabez LeBret’s Sisu Academy (tuition-free boarding high school for girls) and offered a $5,000 match.  They are also rehabbing a residential care facility near SDSU to be utilized as a transitional home by a local-non-profit.  And recently, Revel started working with the Tariq Khamisa Foundation.

His father was a Rotarian and Revel wrote a paper in high school discussing the 4-Way Test (and won!)  He and his wife, Melissa, have two young children who keep them very busy.  It is his desire to give them a visible example of the importance of giving back to the community.

David Oates, Frank Caperino and Doug Taber were his sponsors

 

Annie Rodriguez

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Social Services-GenerateHope

Annie is the Executive Director of GenerateHope, a non-profit that serve San Diego’s sex trafficking victims by providing long-term, comprehensive programs.

She has over 25 years of experience working in non-profit organizations and 17 years of experience working in positions of leadership. She received a Master of Social Work in 2005 and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2001 from San Diego State University. Early in her career she had the opportunity to serve as a therapist for foster youth who have been sexually exploited.

Annie is a native San Diegan who is deeply invested in the community and demonstrates this through her passion for leading quality programs. She lives in Carlsbad with her husband and two sons. She and her family are long time members of Calvary Chapel Carlsbad, where Annie has been serving in the Children’s Ministry for over 15 years.

Duke Sobek, Mona Minton and Wendy McKinney were her sponsors

 

Dan Schneiderman

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Law-Litigation Practice, A.A.

Dan is a Partner at Witan Law Group LLP.  He is a business litigator and trial attorney for companies and individuals involved in commercial, real estate and personal injury disputes.

Dan graduated from UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis School of Law.  He moved to San Diego in February 2018 and considers himself  a “ wanna-be writer.”

Steve Coopersmith, David Oates and Frank Caperino were his sponsors

 

Kathy Demos

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Senior Care-Placement Services

Kathy is the President and CEO of TLC Senior Advisors, a referral agency for seniors and their loved ones looking for independent, assisted or memory care living.

Kathy has an extensive background in sales and marketing, from radio and television to fashion and the restaurant industry.  She has a passion for creating and customer service.  She and her husband opened a Mediterranean restaurant and she has produced 22 30-minute cooking shows!  Kathy founded a non-profit, The Art of the Brain, to raise money for brain cancer research at UCLA.

She was a member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield West for 7 years.  Kathy loves to travel, having spent the summer in Italy, and she is looking forward to her trip to Dubai in the Spring.

Massey Pitts was her sponsor

 

Jordan Maharaj

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Education-State University-Development

Jordan is a Development Officer at San Diego State University and raises philanthropic support for the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts.

She graduated from SDSU with a degree in Business Administration and is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administration.

Jordan attended RYLA as an Interact and has continued to serve as a counselor at the camp for the last 5 years.  She was a SDSU Rotaract from 2013-2017, having served as their Executive Vice President.  She has also served as a Rotaract for District 5340.

Jordan has been fortunate to attend 3 consecutive RI Conventions and to see Rotary’s impact everywhere from Brazil, South Korea and Atlanta.

In her free time, she enjoys golfing, traveling and exploring new food spots in San Diego.

Chuck Pretto, David Oates and Bobby Marsh were her sponsors.

 

Edgar Takeda

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Financial Advisor, Additional Active

Edgar is a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual.

He was born and raised in San Diego. He is a graduate of Saint Augustine High School where he was a three-sport varsity athlete.  After high school, he went on to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated in 2013 with a major in Oceanography and Meteorology and a minor in Spanish.

After graduating and receiving a Commission as a Naval Officer into the United States Navy, Edgar received orders to Pensacola, Florida as a Navy Pilot for 2 years. He then transferred into the Surface Warfare Community and moved back to San Diego to be stationed on the USS ANCHORAGE (LPD 23) as the ship’s Training and Administrative Officer.

He says, after many years of having to wear a uniform for school and for the military, he is happy to be able to choose his own clothes as a financial advisor. Edgar has been married to his wife Lauren for 4 years and they have a 2-year-old daughter named Makenna. They are expecting their second child this year.

Daniel Amaro, Ed Hearn and Katie Fulhorst were his sponsors.

 

Brandon Steppe

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Education-Music and Multimedia

Brandon is the Founder and Executive Director The David’s Harp Foundation, a local non-profit with a mission to inspire, educate and empower foster, at-risk and homeless youth, as well as those in the juvenile court system.

The David Harp’s Foundation was born out of Brandon’s passion for youth and his love for music which was cultivated at an early age.  As a teenager, he honed his musical craft while attending the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts.

A San Diego Native, Brandon ventured north to San Francisco to attend the University of San Francisco, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business.  He and his wife of 14 years, Eunice.  have two children, Jasmine and Joshua.

This year, David’s Harp Foundation was one of the recipients of Club 33’s Presidential Grants supporting Arts Education. Brandon is the grandson of Club 33 member and Mr. San  Diego  Award recipient Cecil Steppe.

Mia Harenski, Cecil Steppe and Judy McDonald were his sponsors.

 

Dr. Clara Draf

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Medicine-Ear Nose Throat

Clara is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Surgery at UCSD.

In her native Germany, she received her MD degree from TU Dresden and completed her ENT specialty training.  She did her internship at Cornell and is now doing research in a very specialized field on the effect of various drugs which induce autophagy and their effect upon a direct micro infusion into the cochlea.

Clara is following in the footsteps of her father who was an active Rotarian in Germany for over 40 years.  Her father, Wolfgang Draf,  was a pioneer in endoscopic intranasal sinus surgery which was termed the “Draf Procedure.”

She is excited to join the efforts of our Mercy Outreach Surgical Team.

Doug Arbon, Ed Chaplin and Tom Vecchione were her sponsors.

 

Sidd Vivek

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Youth Organization-Junior Achievement

Sidd is the President and CEO of Junior Achievement of San Diego County, joining the organization in January 2019.

He was born and raised in Boston.  He graduated from The George Washington University with a BA in Political Science.

Before joining JA, Sid spent the last 11 years working for the YMCA of San Diego.  He worked as their Director of Marketing, then as Development Director, then finally as their the Director of Strategic Partnerships.  He has been immersed in youth development programs throughout central San Diego, including robotics in underserved communities and gang/drug prevention.

Michael Brunker, Frank Pavel and Ignacio De La Torre were his sponsors.

 

Jordan Harrison

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Youth Organization-Rhymes With Reason

Jordan is the Chief Education Officer for Rhymes With Reason, an innovative, online platform that teaches vocab and history to youth through current rap music.  He  is also the Senior Director of Programs at Reality Changers and the founder of Harrison Speaks, a motivational and mentorship program for high schools and colleges.

Jordan was born and raised in Chicago, IL.  He holds a bachelor’s in business marketing from SDSU where he was also a member of the SDSU Rotaract.  He is one of the founding members of the San Diego Rotaract.  Jordan recently graduated from Harvard University with a Masters in education.

Jordan decided to go into the non-profit sector, despite having 24 corporate job offers right after graduating from SDSU, because he wanted to “live an impactful life making a difference in the lives of others.”  He has, and continues to, build programs on a local, regional and national level that allow students to thrive regardless of their background or income level.

Robert Marsh, David Oates and Chris Yanov were his sponsors.

Carrie Cottriall

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Youth Organization-SD Children’s Choir

Carrie is the Executive Director for the San Diego Children’s Choir, a non-profit that provides children with music education and performance opportunities that foster performance development and excellence. It is the oldest and largest choral training program serving children ages four-18 throughout San Diego.

Carrie has spent her entire career in the non-profit sector: from scientific research to wildlife conservation to the arts.

She is originally from Fullerton but has now lived here in San Diego for 30 years.  She is a UCSD grad.

Carrie, her husband Matt, and daughter Julia reside in Mission Hills.

And she says that although, ironically, her maiden name is “Musick” (pronounced “music”), and she is involved with the SD Children’s Choir, she is not musical at all!

Deirdre Maloney, Charles Van Vechten and David Oates were her sponsors.

 

Chris Graham

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Education-Private University-Administration

Chis is the Vice Chancellor of External Relations at National University System.

He moved to San Diego in 1990 to attend SDSU.  He graduated with a BA in English and a MBA in Marketing.

Since then, Chris has had the opportunity to work at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Old Globe, and at San Diego State where he was the Executive Director for Corporate and Community Involvement for the Executive MBA program for 8 years.

He said he first heard of Rotary when he attended SDSU as student and was drawn to Rotary’s collective efforts in elevating the region.

Alan Spector, Rachel Inmon and Laurie Coskey were his sponsors.

 

Dr. Glenn Goltz

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Retired-Medicine-Ophthalmology

Glenn retired from medicine after 30 years.  Originally from Wisconsin, he and his family have lived in San Diego for 48 years.

He and his wife Barbara are passionate about supporting and sustaining our public recreational venues, including bike paths, inner city parks, public libraries and local theaters.  They are also champions for quality access to higher education.

Glenn has been active as a science teacher at Normal Heights Elementary school for over 7 years, has been active in the Mission Hills Library Association’s new building planning, and he and Barbara have sponsored minority students through college.

Glenn loves to read, paint, go boating, kayaking, biking and has recently taken on the piano and ukulele.  Cruising and biking the canals and rivers of Europe has been his passion.  This spring he will bicycle the various rural routes in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.

Doug Arbon, Tom Vecchione and Dick Troncone were his sponsors.

 

Shaina Gross

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Health-Women’s

Shaina is the President and CEO of Susan G. Komen San Diego.

She was born and raised in New York and has been living in San Diego for the last 13 years.  She  has been with Susan G. Komen San Diego since September 2017.  She was previously with The United Way for 11 years. She graduated from The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a Bachelors in Sociology and a Masters in Public Heath.

Shaina’s community involvement include working with the San Diego HIV/AIDS Funding Collaborative, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, San Diego Grantmakers, Ocean Beach Town Council and JUMA Ventures. She is a LEAD San Diego graduate.

Shaina and her husband have a 2 1/2 year old son and they enjoy picnics, concerts in the park and watching Tar Heel basketball.

Daniel Amaro, Mel Katz and Gil Johnson were her sponsors.

 

Kelly Smith

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Education-Private University Admin, A.A.

Kelly is the Vice President of University Advancement for Point Loma Nazarene University.  She is a former member of the Rochester Rotary Club in New York.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Roberts Wesleyan College and a master’s degree in American Government from Regent University.

For 11 years, Kelly worked at Roberts Wesleyan College in where she created the Office of Government, Corporate and Foundation Relations.  She moved here to San Diego in June with her family.  Her husband, Shane, is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene.

Kelly enjoys reading, movies, coffee and great conversation.  She likes to play Bunco and is looking for a new team here in San Diego!

Bill Earley was her sponsor.

 

Michael LaCroix

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Investment-Wealth Management, Additional Active

Michael is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley.

He was born and raised in Point Loma.  He attended Southern Methodist University where he studied economics and finance, with plans to join his father, and mentor, in the wealth management industry after graduating.

Michael and his wife Lauren reside in Coronado.  They are very active and love to exercise and hike with their dog.  He also loves the game of golf!

He currently serves on the Finance Committee for Options for All, an organization that serves those with developmental or intellectual disabilities and helps them to develop and find employment.  Michael also taught a church Sunday school program to 4th and 5th graders for a few years.

Camille Newbern, Will Newbern and Tyler Cramer were his sponsors

 

Dr. Adela de la Torre

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Education-State University Administration

Dr. de la Torre is President of San Diego State University.

She is the ninth permanent president of SDSU and the first woman to serve in that role. She brings with her 30 years of service in leadership roles within institutions of higher education, including the California State University system, the University of Arizona, and the University of California, Davis, where she served as the vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity– an area in which she is a national leader.

Dr. de la Torre’s grandparents immigrated to the Central Valley from Mexico. She grew up in the Bay Area, where her grandmother and mother taught her important cultural traditions – the importance of family, the value of hard work and the power of education. Her mother went to Modesto Community College and UC-Berkeley and was a public school teacher for 40 years.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in the political economy of natural resources from UC-Berkeley. Her master’s degree and Ph.D. in agricultural and resource economics are also from UC-Berkeley.

She and husband, Stephen Bartlett, are enjoying life in San Diego and all it has to offer.

Patti Roscoe, Joyce Gattas and Nikki Clay were her sponsors.

 

Betsy Brennan

By | New Member | No Comments

Associations-Downtown San Diego Partnership

Betsy is the President and CEO of Downtown SD Partnership, a nonprofit organization focused on the economic development and cultural vitality of downtown San Diego.

She obtained her Juris Doctor, with a specialization in land use, at the University of San Diego. She also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Politics and Spanish from the University of Richmond in Virginia.

Betsy has received several noteworthy acknowledgements of her community commitment, but one she especially appreciated was SDSU’s Associated Students Presidential Leadership Award for her collaborative style and commitment to working with students.

She is a former member of the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Rotary Club and the Incline Village Rotary Club (Lake Tahoe, NV).  She lives in Point Loma with her son, Kai, and daughter Cora, and is grateful to enjoy everything San Diego has to offer.

Steve Cushman was her sponsor.

Marinda Peugh

By | New Member | No Comments

Theatre-Cygnet

Marinda is the Development Director for Cygnet Theatre.

She grew up in Olympia, WA.  She attended Western Washington University where she received her degree in Journalism and Public Relations.  It was during her time in college that she found her passion for non-profit fundraising, when was hired to be a Campaign Executive for the United Way.

Marinda has spent her career fundraising for the United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the American Red Cross, before joining Cygnet Theatre.

She loves the outdoors and to travel.  She just bought a plane ticket to Thailand! Volunteering and serving her community is very important to her so she is honored to become a Rotarian.

Christy White, Jenni Prisk and Stan Hartman were her sponsors.

 

Allyson Tutor

By | New Member | No Comments

Certified Public Accounting-National

Allyson is a Tax Senior with CapinCrouse, LLP. Her company is based in Indiana and they work solely with non-profit entities.

She was born and raised in the Inland Empire.  She moved to San Diego to attend Point Loma Nazarene University to study Business Administration.  She obtained her CPA license after graduation.

Allyson spent 7 years working at the San Diego Food Bank, which gave her a close connection with the local community.  She misses that experience so she is very much looking forward to being involved with Rotary.

Her husband Chris is also a CPA.  They have 2 children: Donovan (4) and Katherine (1).

Mia Harenski, Price Adams and David Kvendru were her sponsors.

 

Jonathan Cole

By | New Member | No Comments

Marketing-Digital

Jonathan is a Sales Administrator with LeadCrunch.ai. Here he is spearheading a non-profit initiative to leverage machine learning to help veterans and their spouses find meaningful careers in San Diego.

He first got involved with Rotaract when he was 19 years old at SDSU, then eventually joined San Diego Rotaract.  He recently found out that his family has been involved with Rotary for over 83 years!

Jonathan graduated from SDSU with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and was recognized as one of the top ten leaders on campus for excellence in academics, leadership and service.

He enjoys boxing, playing the saxophone and genealogy.

Bobby Marsh, Dick Troncone and Bill Earley were his sponsors.

 

Ned Silver

By | New Member | No Comments

Retired-Pharmacist

Ned was in the pharmacy and pharmaceutical healthcare industry for over 40 years.

He is original from the East Coat (NY/NJ area).  He met his wife Karla at Rutgers University where they were both attending pharmacy school. They moved to Los Angeles over 40 years ago where they raised their two sons.  They have one grandson.

Ned and Karla moved to San Diego three years ago to retire and are absolutely loving the San Diego city life! Ned is currently serving on the Board for The Arc of San Diego, a non-profit for mentally and disabled children and adults.

Tom Cohen, Tom Vecchione and David Oates were his sponsors.

 

Janessa Goldbeck

By | New Member | No Comments

Consultant-Public Policy and Communication

Janessa is a Combat Engineer Officer with the United States Marine Corps (5.5 years) and is also the Founding Principal of Sui Generis Strategies, a consulting firm that provides strategic advocacy solutions for 501c3 clients.

She has a long history of involvement with Rotary. She was the President of her Interact Club from 2001-2003 at San Dieguito High School Academy and attended RYLA as a student in 2003. She interned for The Rotarian while a Journalism and African Studies student at Northwestern University, writing several features for the magazine. After many years of moving around with the Marine Corps, Janessa has recently returned to her hometown of San Diego, where she plans to retire next year and remain for many years. She is currently on the Board of the Women’s Museum and is pursing a Masters of Public Administration at USC via their full-time online program.

Andrea da Rosa, Michelle Candland and Peg Eddy were her sponsors.

 

Rick Chatham

By | New Member | No Comments

Real Estate Development-Baja

Rick is the Director of US Sales and Marketing for Atisa Group, an industrial development company in Baja focused on the Blue Ocean Strategy of creating new cross-border opportunities.

He is a former member of the Rotary Club of Lancaster.  He graduated from Whitman College and received an MBA from Pepperdine University.  In his spare time, Rick does motivational speaking engagements.

He enjoys hiking, video games, playing piano/guitar/ and singing on his worship team at his church.  He and his wife Olivia enjoy the theatre and he even writes and choreographs musicals.

David Oates was his sponsor.

 

Marie Raftery

By | New Member | No Comments

Healthcare Management-Dental

Marie is the President and CEO of Smart Management III, a dental office management company. She is originally from Boston, Massachusetts.  She attended Bridgewater State College and SDSU.

Marie started Smart Management in 1987, owning and managing dental offices in  the San Diego Area.  In 2000, she sold five of her offices to a national/public company and then started three more.

She is currently Chair of the Board for the Jewish Family Service.  She has three adult sons who reside in Boston, and three grandchildren.

Amnon Ben-Yehuda, Dick Eger and Alan Spector were her sponsors .

 

Rob Fletcher, Jr.

By | New Member | No Comments

Gas and Electric Service, Additional Active

Rob is a Project Manager for Major Projects for SDG&E.  He currently manages large electric transmission projects for the company.

Rob attended Pt. Loma High School, UC Santa Barbara for a BA in Environmental Studies, then moved to Scotland for a MA in Aquaculture.

He is a 4th generation Rotarian and Club 33 member.  His great-grandfather Col. Ed Fletcher joined the club in 1918.  This year marks the 100th year of the Fletchers being Club 33 members!

Bob Fletcher, Sr. was his sponsor.

 

Whitney Skala

By | New Member | No Comments

Law Real Estate

Whitney is the owner of Whitney M. Skala, A.P.C., a law firm specializing in business and real estate transactions.

Whitney has practiced law since 1983.  He received his B.A. degree from UC Berkeley, double-majoring in Political Science and Economics, and his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

In the community, Whitney was President of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Repertory Theatre, has sat on the Session of the Pt. Loma Community Presbyterian Church, and has served as a Board member to the Peninsula YMCA (for which he chaired the “Major Gifts Committee” of the Peninsula YMCA’s $5.2 million capital campaign). He also has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the San Diego Crew Classic and as a member of the Executive Council of the Desert Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Whitney is a 1992 graduate of the LEAD-San Diego program. He has been a member of the Austin Guild board of St. Augustine High School and of the Foundation board of Point Loma High School.

Tyler Cramer, Will Hage and Jim Hall were his sponsors.

 

Mona Minton, PhD

By | New Member | No Comments

Social Service and Welfare-Neighborhood House Association, Additional Active

Mona is the General Manager of Programs/Clinics/Community Affairs at the Neighborhood House Association.

Mona has over 18 years experience in clinical research and development, working with diverse groups, homeless population and changing demographics that provide counseling and supportive services for drug and alcohol dependency, domestic violence, sex offenders, adolescence support, trauma and mental health.

She was born and raised in India until she was 8 years old. She speaks and understands multiple languages (English is her third language.) Mona also currently serves on six different committees throughout San Diego County.

Duke Sobek, Gil Johnson and Walter Lam were her sponsors .

 

Wendy McKinney

By | New Member | No Comments

Social Service and Welfare-Red Cross

Wendy is the Chief Development Officer for the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

She is a native of Los Angeles.  She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Economics.  Before joining the Red Cross, Wendy was the development Director of the Neighborhood House Association, where she successfully created and led their fundraising division.

She is involved with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Economic Development Corporation, and the 1898 Society at the Red Cross.  She is also a former member board member of the Jackie Robinson YMCA.

Wendy and her husband, Pastor George A. McKinney, have been married for 27 years and have 3 children. (Their youngest attended Camp Enterprise a few years ago!)  Wendy’s father-in-law is Club 33 honorary member Bishop George D. McKinney, who is also our 1995 Mr. San Diego recipient.

Joe Craver, Stan Hartman and Bill Earley were her sponsors .

 

Toni Giffin

By | New Member | No Comments

Social Service and Welfare-Goodwill Industries

Toni is the President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Diego County.

She is a native Californian; born in Temple City and raised in Rancho Mirage.  She moved to Chula Vista after marrying her husband John, a retired Methodist minister of 36 years.  They have 7 children and 5 grandchildren.

Toni is an outdoor enthusiast.  She loves gardening, hiking, fishing and golf.  Three things that have formed her into who she is today:  faith, family and Goodwill.

Mike Rowan, Bob Russell and Micah Parzen were her sponsors .

 

Raymond Simas

By | New Member | No Comments

Banking-Regional, Additional Active

Raymond is Vice President and Branch Manager of HomeStreet Bank in Point Loma.

He says his favorite hobby is volunteering.  His immigrant parents taught him the importance of giving back to the community.  Raymond is proud to be involved with several non-profit organizations, including the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation.

Andrea da Rosa, Todd Hoff and Mike Morton were his sponsors .

 

Price Adams

By | New Member | No Comments

Public Relations-Regional, Additional Active

Price is Vice President of Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations.

She is proud to be continuing the legacy of Rotarians in her family.  Club 33 member Jay Arnett is her father. She remembers attending her first Rotary meeting at the age of 13, and attending Camp Enterprise when she was a junior in high school. She is named after her grandmother (whose maiden name was Price) and who was a tireless volunteer and taught Price to give back to her community.

She is an avid craft beer fan and loves scuba diving. She and her husband Brad have a 4-year old son and 9-month old twin girls.

Jay Arnett, Tom Gable and Dick Troncone were her sponsors .

 

Travis Anderson

By | New Member | No Comments

Law-Litigation Practice, Additional Active

Travis is a Partner with Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP. He specializes in trade secret disputes, general business disputes and wrongful termination claims.

Travis is a native San Diegan and attended Washington University in St. Louis.  He completed his law degree at USD.

His hobbies these days include playing soccer and going to the beach with his two children, Caleb and Abby.  Travis and his wife Lara are expecting their third child very soon.

Phil Blair, Mel Katz and Trevor Blair were his sponsors .

 

Karlie Lopardo

By | New Member | No Comments

Real Estate Sales-Residential, Additional Active

Karlie is a residential realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

A native San Diegan, she attended the University of Arkansas where she initially wanted to pursue a degree in Animal Science so that she could become a vet for the San Diego Zoo. Karlie quickly realized that was not for her when she discovered that the sight of blood would make her faint!

She began to pursue a career in real estate in 2014, an industry she was very familiar with since her father was a realtor in San Diego for many years.

Karlie is active in the fundraising efforts for the Portuguese community in Point Loma and is on the board of the San Dieguito Boys and Girls Club.

Kim Higgins, Ray Higgins and Dan Amaro were her sponsors .

 

Wendy Urushima-Conn

By | New Member | No Comments

Associations-Asian Business

Wendy has been the President and CEO of the Asian Business Association of San Diego for the last 6 years. She has more than twenty years of experience in community outreach, marketing and public relations.

Wendy’s core belief however is to improve our community, and has served on numerous boards for local non-profits since moving to San Diego in 1986. She has been a respite care provider for foster youth, and has been honored with numerous awards including: California’s 20 Most Powerful and Influential Women Award, San Diego’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders, Cool Women Award from Girl Scouts San Diego, Women of the Year from Assembly member Brian Maienschein, and Volunteer of the Year from the North County Philanthropy Council.

She is a graduate of UCSD, is married with two wonderful daughters, and enjoys running Ultra-marathons.

Trevor Blair, Diana MarJip-Chuh and Joe Horiye were her sponsors .

 

Katie Sawyer

By | New Member | No Comments

Foundation-San Diego Women’s

Katie is the Executive Director of the San Diego Women’s Foundation. In just one year under Katie’s leadership, SDWF has granted $201,000 to support homeless youth.

She is a graduate of LEAD San Diego’s Impact program, a long time volunteer as a coach for Girls on the Run at Monarch School, and she and her husband Eric love to travel and spend time outdoors.

Glenn Rossman, Trevor Blair and Kathlyn Mead were her sponsors .