All posts by Becky Nixt
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.
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.
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!
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.
