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Speaker Profiles
(Last updated Feb. 25, 2017)


PDG Teresa Brandell

Teresa Brandell
Key Aspects of Club Management for Small, Medium and Large Clubs
DGE 6360
Delta-Waverley Rotary Club, MI

Teresa joined Rotary in 2002 as a member of the Rotary Club of Delta-Waverly (just west of Lansing, Michigan), and served as 2006-2007 Club President. She is the daughter of a Rotarian, and enjoys the fellowship and service opportunities provided by her club.

She and her husband David are Paul Harris Fellows. Teresa is a member of the Paul Harris Society.

Teresa was born and raised in Michigan. She graduated from Central Michigan University in 1978 with a BA in Journalism. She worked for Itek Composition Systems in Massachusetts, McGraw-Hill in New Jersey, and NBI in Colorado before returning to Michigan and joining her family's newspaper business. This business, of which she is co-owner, publishes community newspapers, websites, and other products here in Michigan.

Teresa previously served as District 6360's Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, and is a member of the District's Board of Directors. She is also the president of the board of trustees for the Delta-Waverly Rotary Foundation.

She has served an Assistant Governor, and was a trustee of the Rotary District 6360 Foundation for six years. She has also served on the District Conference Committee and the District 6360 RYLA Committee.

Teresa is a member of the Michigan Press Association Board of Directors. She is on the Pastoral Council at her church, and also serves as a wedding sacristan and a Eucharistic Minister there. She has also been active in many other organizations in the community over the years.

Teresa and her husband David are parents of seven children, and have 11 grandchildren.

DGE Rick Caron

Rick Caron
PE Session - The Rotary Foundation
DGE 6400
Rotary Club of Windsor, ON

Rick Caron is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) and his classification is University Mathematics. Rick led the 2009 Group Study Exchange team to Hungary, he won his club's 2012 "Rotarian of the Year" award and a 2013 District 6400 Council of Governor's (COG) award. Rick is a Major Donor, a Benefactor, and a member of the Paul Harris and Bequest Societies.

He and his wife Wendy have two children. Matthew practices corporate law in Leamington and Julie, a Rotarian, is an MD in Toronto.

Rick has been involved in 4 international projects, all in Tanzania, and all with his daughter Julie. Rick is a founding director and was the first president of the Canadian World Education Foundation (CWEF) and Julie later founded the Tanzania Chapter (CWEFTZ). Wendy is currently the treasurer of CWEF and Secretary / Treasurer of CWEFTZ. Rick has completed two trips to Tanzania, his wife has made one trip, and Julie has made numerous trips. Through CWEFTZ in partnership with Rotary and the Tanzanian NGO SASCO they are involved in water, farming, education and small business development projects.

Rick earned his PhD in mathematics from the University of Waterloo in 1983 and moved to Windsor to take a job as professor at the University. He was department head from 1991 - 1997, Dean of Science from 1999 - 2008 and is now serving another five-year term as department head. At the end of his term as dean of science he had an approval rating of 93%. He served as president of the Canadian Operational Research Society in 1999, as a Director of the Canadian Mathematical Society from 2001 - 2005, and from 2009 - 2011 was chair of the Canadian National Mathematics Training Camp.

He has won several prestigious teaching awards and in 1999 won the national prize for the best application of operational research to industry in Canada. He's been listed in the Who's Who of Canada since 1997.

Rick is proud that both of his children are concerned about social inequity and fairness and have compassion for the struggles of the vulnerable.

Frank Devlyn

Frank Devlyn
General Session 5 Presentation - "Changing With The Times"
The Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair, 2005-06
Rotary International President, 2000-01
President, Devlyn Optical Group of Mexico

Mr Devlyn is President of The Devlyn Group which grew from a small family optical business founded 80 years ago and has grown to be the largest chain of 1200 Retail Opticals in Latin America. He is from the border city of Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico which allowed him to live and study every day in both Juarez and El Paso, Texas. He attended the University of Texas in El Paso, Texas & Graduate School at IPADE, Mexico City.

Mr. Delyn is the second Mexican to be the World President of Rotary International which has over 35 thousand Rotary Clubs plus 20 thousand young peoples clubs called Interact and Rotaract in 200 countries with over 1.5 million members. He has also served as a president, advisor or member of leading national and international organizations. At present he serves on the boards of The Tuberculosis Association, Bank of Mexico (Banamex), CEMEFI (Mexico's Center for Philanthropy) and FUNSALUD (representing the most important Health Related Organizations of Mexico). At present, he serves as the Honorary Consul of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to Mexico.

Other activities for which he has received recognition include:

  • Named a Distinguished Visitor of many cities worldwide.
  • During the Bicentennial of Mexico in 2010 the Ministry of Commerce of Mexico recognized him as one of the 200 entrepreneurs of the 21st Century.
  • Honorary Doctorate from the prestigious Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea.
  • Entrepreneurial Medal of Honor conferred by the Mexico City Chamber of Commerce.
  • Received the Order of Malta from the Sovereign Order of Malta.
  • Received the Royal Order of Jordan from the Government and King of Jordan.
  • Received the "Premio Italia" award from the Italian Mexico Chamber of Commerce.
  • Member of the Hall of Mexican Entrepreneurs.

Served as President of the Association of all the Honorary Consuls in Mexico.

Mr. Devlyn is co-author of five (5) bestsellers including the "Frank Talk" book series related to Rotary International.

In a mega event sponsored by the Ernst & Young Group, on September 22, 2016, Frank Devlyn was distinguished as "Entrepreneur of the Year" of Mexico for 2016 which qualified him to compete in an International Ernst & Young mega event in Montecarlo, Monaco along with other finalists from 60 countries for the World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Chris Etienne

Chris Etienne
"Rotary 101" presentation
PDG 6290
Petoskey, MI

Chris Etienne first joined Rotary in 1990 and has been a member of the Rotary Club of Petoskey since1991. She served as club president in 1997-98. Chris has served Rotary District 6290 in many capacities including Assistant Governor, Membership Chair, District Trainer, Nominating Committee Chair, Finance Chair and was District Governor in 2007-2008. She is currently District Rotary Foundation Chair and served on the Great Lakes Multi-District PETS Committee from 2003-2011. Chris was a trainer at the Zone 28-29 Institute in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She was assistant training coordinator for the Zone Institute in 2010 and was lead training coordinator for the Zone Institute in 2011 and 2012. She was chair of the Zone Institute in 2013. Chris served Rotary International as a training leader at the International Assembly in San Diego in 2009 and 2010 and has served as President's Representative each of the last four years. She also served on the Rotary International Membership Development and Retention Committee in 2011-12 and is served on the 2015 RI Convention Promotion Committee in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Chris is currently serving as the Rotary Coordinator for Zone 29 and is a training leader for the Regional Leaders Training Institute in 2016.

Chris is Director of Leasing for the Village at Bay Harbor as well as Community Relations Director for Bay Harbor , a resort development located on the shores of Lake Michigan. She is also Associate Broker for Harbor Sotheby's International Realty located in Bay Harbor. She has served her community as a board member and volunteer for several organizations including Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Petoskey Rotary Club Charities Inc., Bay Harbor Foundation, Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, Northwest Michigan Industrial Association and Women's Resource Center. Chris was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder in 2011 to serve on the Michigan Women's Commission and was appointed vice chair in 2012. Chris received the Athena Award in 2007 and the Emmet Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year award in 2014.

Chris has been married to Dennis Lindeman since 1995. They are Major Donors of The Rotary Foundation and members of the Bequest Society. They participated in an NID for polio eradication in Uttar Pradesh, India in 2004. They have hosted eight Group Study Exchange Team members. Chris is also the recipient of The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service.

Ramesh Ferris

Remash Ferris
General Session 3 - "Surviving Polio"
Rendezvous Rotary Club of Whitehorse, YT Canada

Ramesh Ferris was born in India in 1979 and he contracted polio when he was just six months old. His mother couldn't take care of him and placed him in an orphanage a year later.

A Canadian family adopted him, gave him top-notch medical care and Ferris learned to walk with the aid of crutches and braces. Eventually he returned to India to meet his biological mother and there he saw the effects of polio on the poor:

"The meeting with my mother was emotional and I was very happy. But what changed my life forever was the moment I saw a polio survivor crawling on the road with the help of tires.

I was shocked and just thought to myself if I had not received any treatment, I would have been crawling to survive too," he said.

Ferris has dedicated his life to polio eradication. In 2008 he founded the Cycle to Walk Canada event and hand-cycled 4,400 miles across Canada to raise awareness and money to support polio eradication. The journey took 174 days. Along the way, he conducted interviews, spoke to community groups and raised over $300,000.

He then wrote a memoir Better Than a Cure - One Man's Journey to Free the World of Polio, donating the proceeds to Rotary PolioPlus for a Polio Free World. Visit www.cycletowalk. com to read more information about this great event.

Ramesh's work is not done yet. In 2013 he wrote, "Polio isn't just a grandparents' disease - I'm a 33 year old survivor.

In my other home country India, memories of its debilitating effects are still fresh and in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan, polio fears remain a daily reality. That's why I've made it my life goal to achieve a polio-free world."

DGE Barry Fraser

Barry Fraser
PE Session - Calendar/Reporting Deadlines/Responsibilities
DGE 6380
Rotary Club of Chatham, Ontario

Barry Fraser was first introduced to Rotary in 1977 as a Member of a Group Study Exchange Team to Pusan, South Korea. The following year he was invited by his Club to join Rotary. He became President of his then 127-member Rotary Club of Chatham, Ontario, Canada in 1987-88, the year the Polio-Plus Campaign began. He served as the Club's first chair of the Environment Committee when 5000 trees were planted on 22 school properties 25 years ago. More recently, he has helped lead with the construction of the 1.2kms/1 mile Rotary Eco walking-trails soon to be completed in a 21-acre woodlot within the city of Chatham. He is a charter member of the RI Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group (WASRAG) with a passion for the Areas of Focus of 'Water and Sanitation' and 'Economic and Community Development.' He and Carolyn have participated in two National Immunization Days (NID'S) and two Artificial Limb Camps for Polio victims both in India. In 2009 he was the District Team leader for the 4-member Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Brisbane, Australia, the location of one of the Foundation's six Peace Centers.

Professionally he worked as a Provincial agricultural extension specialist. He has served as the President of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists, the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame and as a Board member of Agricultural Institute of Canada. He is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal and is inducted in the Chatham-Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was recently named the Citizen of the Year by the C-K Chamber of Commerce. Barry is a Past President of the Board of a local Senior's Residence and current President its Foundation. He was the Charter Vice-Chair of the local, recently opened, C-K Hospice. He is currently a trustee of the Ontario 4-H Foundation.

Barry has liked the Rotary fun of flipping burgers at the local Seniors Residences, selling fundraising tickets on vintage Mustangs for 13 years, picking up garbage on the 401 interchanges while supporting other Rotary Clubs' fund-raising events.

He and Carolyn have three married children and six grandchildren with which they love spending time. They live on a lake and enjoy water sports both summer and winter, travel, hiking and gardening. Also they are both active in their church and other community activities.

Ed Futa

Ed Futa
General Session 2 Keynote Address
Past General Secretary and COO of Rotary International
Honolulu, Hawaii

Ed Futa, past General Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, managed operations for one of the world's largest global humanitarian service organizations with 33,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic regions. With annual revenues of US$240 million and expenses of US$210 million, Rotary and its Foundation support 1.2 million volunteers in their efforts to serve their local and global communities.

During his time at Rotary International, Futa led a diverse and educated staff of more than 650 at Rotary's World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA and international offices in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Zurich, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, Korea; New Delhi, India; and Parramatta (Sydney), Australia. More than one-quarter of Rotary's staff was born outside of the United States and is from more than 40 countries. Another quarter has lived in another country for six months or more - in more than 70 countries. More than half speak a language other than English well enough to carry on a conversation. Nearly 40 different languages are spoken at Rotary's World Headquarters. Some 85 percent of staff have bachelor's degrees and 23 percent have one or more master's degrees.

During his time at Rotary International, Futa led a diverse and educated staff of more than 650 at Rotary's World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA and international offices in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Zurich, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, Korea; New Delhi, India; and Parramatta (Sydney), Australia. More than one-quarter of Rotary's staff was born outside of the United States and is from more than 40 countries. Another quarter has lived in another country for six months or more - in more than 70 countries. More than half speak a language other than English well enough to carry on a conversation. Nearly 40 different languages are spoken at Rotary's World Headquarters. Some 85 percent of staff have bachelor's degrees and 23 percent have one or more master's degrees.

Futa comes from Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was president of an international marketing consulting firm. He has served on the Board of Governors of the YMCA and as a mediator in the Neighborhood Justice Center of Honolulu. While in Hawaii, Ed was a member of the Bishop's Advisory Council of the Dioceses of Honolulu. He is a keynote speaker at many Rotary International events including club and district conferences as well as international assemblies and conventions. Ed continues to serve on Rotary International committees and has represented Rotary International on United Nations committees. Ed is an Arch Klumph Society member.

PDG Bruce Goldsen

Bruce Goldsen
Assistant Governor Forum
General Session 2 Moderator
PE Session - Youth Services
PDG 6400
Adrian Morning Rotary Club, MI

Bruce Goldsen is President and co-owner, with his wife Sue, of five radio stations in Jackson, Michigan.

Bruce is a 25-year Rotarian and Past District Governor in District 6400, an international district including Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. He was the 2013-14 chair of the multi-district Great Lakes Rotary PETS (presidents-elect training seminar) and chair of the 18-district Central States Rotary Youth Exchange 2011-2015 summer conferences. Sue and Bruce are chairing the District 6400 district conferences in 2015 and 2016, and are also co-chairs of the 2015 "Motor City Zone" Institute. Bruce is past president of the Adrian (Noon) and Morning Rotary Clubs.

Sue and Bruce are Major Donors, Paul Harris Society and Bequest Society members of The Rotary Foundation, and have traveled to Ghana, India and El Salvador working on Rotary service projects. Their son, David, is married to his childhood sweetheart Nikki, and they live and work in New York City. Bruce and Sue reside in Adrian, Michigan, and are both members of the Rotary Club of Adrian Morning.

DG Sue Goldsen

Sue Goldsen
PE Session - Youth Services
DG 6400
Adrian Morning Rotary Club
Adrian, MI

Sue Goldsen is Vice-President and co-owner, with her husband Bruce, of Jackson Radio Works, Inc., licensee of News/Talk 970 WKHM, Jackson's Hit Music/K-105.3 and ESPN Radio 1450 WIBM in Jackson. Michigan. Sue began her radio sales career at WIVY-FM (now WXXJ 102.9) Jacksonville, Florida, and was also General Sales Manager of WABJ/WQTE in Adrian, Michigan and WMXE (now WBZV), Hillsdale, Michigan.

Sue is Past Chair of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Current Chair-for the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation.

Sue is a 15-year Rotarian and District Governor Elect in District 6400, an international district including Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Sue was the charter president of the Adrian Morning Rotary Club in 1999. She has served District 6400 as its Rotary Youth Exchange chair and is currently the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Country Correspondent for Eastern Europe, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Sue has traveled internationally for Rotary service projects in the Amazon region of Brazil; Anomabo, Ghana; Calcutta, India and Suchitoto, El Salvador.

Sue served on the boards and is past president of the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Lenawee County Fair, Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge and PACE Universal, an international organization devoted to nurturing the educational, health, nutritional, social and cultural development of girls in the world's poorest regions; she also served on the board of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce.

Sue and Bruce have been honored with the Lenawee County Chamber of Commerce "Maple Leaf Award," (2002), the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce "Small Business Person of the Year Award," (2003) and the Lenawee United Way and Volunteer Center's "Stubnitz Award" for community service (1997). Sue was a 1994 recipient of the ATHENA Lenawee Leadership award.

Sue and Bruce are Major Donors, Paul Harris Society and Bequest Society members of The Rotary Foundation. Their son, David, is married to his childhood sweetheart Nikki, and they live and work in New York City. Bruce and Sue reside in Adrian, Michigan, and are both members of the Rotary Club of Adrian Morning.

John Gronberg

John Gronberg
Assistant Governor Forum
Past President Rotary Club of Holland, MI

John has been a member of Holland Michigan Rotary Club (Noon) since the mid 70's. He was asked to join Rotary by his father, Anson Bondy Gronberg. John has served as President of the Holland Noon club, and received the Club's Distinguished Service Award. He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

John has also served on multiple committees within District 6290. He is Past President of Rotary's Health and Humanitarian Outreach Projects Board (HHOP), a multi-Club endeavor within District 6290. John serves as an Assistant Governor for the Macatawa Region of District 6290, and is currently the District's A.G. Coordinator. He is also serving on the Vision Facilitation Team, and on the District's 4 District Governor Planning Committee (4G Team). He is a facilitator at Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) sessions.

John has served as President, CEO and Board member on a number of local, regional , National and International non-profits.

John retired from a multi-national fortune 500 company where he served as a consultant and concept engineer in the emerging products sector which included patent review, design conception, and value engineering. Currently, John is the principal in a machining, engineering design and build firm.

John and wife Bonnie are the proud parents of two children, their son lives in San Francisco and their daughter lives in New York City. Both children are working for software companies in the tech sector.

John's passions include Rotary, family, and anything to do with water - Boating (hard and soft water i.e. iceboating and sailing) and creating drinkable water for the world.

Michael Johns

Michael Johns
"Hot Topics 2016 - 17" Panel Discussion
General Session 6 - "The History of Rotary Foundation - 100 Years"
Governor District 6630 - 1986-87
RI Director 2007 - 2009
International Districting Committee Chairman 2012-2013
Member of the Rotary Foundation Speakers Bureau
Rotary Club of Hillcrest, Cleveland, OH

Mike was inducted into the Rotary Club of Cleveland on April 5, 2012 after 36 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Hillcrest which he served as president during 1980-81 and 2001-02. He is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Benefactor of the Rotary Foundation, and a level 3 member of the Bequest Society.

He has served District 6630 on numerous committees and as District Governor 1986-87. He was the District's Delegate to the Council on Legislation in 1992, 1998, and 2001. He served for several years on the steering committee for the All Ohio Presidents Elect Training Seminars. He is currently serving on the district by-laws review committee and is Co-Chair of the district Foundation Centennial Celebration Committee.

He has served on numerous Institute Committees for Zones 6, 8, and 12, and also for Zones 27 and 28, and was the General Chairman of the Zone Institute in 2000. He served on the Nominating Committee for Director from Zone 28 in 1998, and on the Nominating Committee for R.I. president in 2011. Mike also served as a National Advisor to the Permanent Fund and is a recipient of the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. He served on the Rotary international Board of Directors from 2007-2009, and as a member and Chairman of the Rotary International Districting Committee 2010-2013.

Mike entered the Cemetery Monument business in Cleveland, Ohio In 1957, as a third generation memorialist when he joined his father's firm. He has retired from The Johns-Carabelli Company, which is now managed by his son Michael and daughters Monica and Michelle. He has received international recognition and awards for excellence in design. He has served the associations, Monument Builders of Ohio, Monument Builders of North America and The American Institute of Commemorative Art as President.

RIVP Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones
PETS 2017 Keynote Address
General Session 1 - "The Future of Rotary"
General Session 2 - Panelist
Rotary International Vice President 2016-17
Rotary International Director 2015-17
Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland
Ontario, Canada

Jennifer Jones is the President and CEO of Media Street Productions Inc., an award winning television production company in Windsor, ON. She is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland and is a Past District Governor of District 6400.

In Rotary, she has served as the Chair of the Strengthening Rotary's Advisory Group, Moderator of the 2013 RC/RPIC Institute, the North American RPIC Coordinator, the Advisory Board for Rotary Canada, Vice Chair of the RI Communication Committee, and the RI Promotions Committee's for Lisbon and New Orleans. She served three terms as Seminar Leader at the International Assembly and has been a featured speaker at this event on four occasions.

Jennifer is one of Rotary International's most recognized communicators. She has presented keynote addresses and training workshops at more than 100 conferences across North America and most recently in St Petersburg Russia, Panama City, Bangkok, Lisbon, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia and Germany.

Jennifer also contributes much of her energy to local organizations. She is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of Windsor and the past Chair of the Board of Directors at the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.

She has been recognized with many awards and recognitions including Rotary's Service above Self Award, the Citation for Meritorious Service, the YMCA Peace Medallion, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and Wayne State University's Peacemaker of the Year Award - a first for a Canadian.

Jennifer is happily married to Nick Krayacich a local family physician. They share a love for many things including travel, cycling, golf and relaxing at their family cottage. They share a thirst for adventure and reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in January 2009.

As champions of The Rotary Foundation, they are members of the Arch C. Klumph Society, the Paul Harris Society and are charter members of the Bequest Society.

RI Past President Rick King

Rick D. King
General Session 4 speaker - "Uncommon Leader"
President, Rotary International, 2001-2002
Rotary Club of Niles, Fremont, CA

Richard D. King is a past world president of Rotary International and the senior partner in the California law firm King, King & King. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a distinguished military graduate of the University of California and served as captain in the U.S. Military Intelligence. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.

A trial lawyer, Mr. King belongs to several legal associations including the American Association of Trial Lawyers. He has been honored by some 59 associations, by the President of the U.S., and by many countries across the globe for his community and charitable service. He served as the Executive Director of The Wheelchair Foundation.

A Rotarian since 1968, he is a member of the Rotary Club of Niles-Fremont, California USA. He has served in many capacities of The Rotary Foundation and for Rotary International. Mr. King has received the Rotary Citation for Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service Award for his support of humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation. He is a recipient of the PolioPlus Pioneer Award.

Mr. King has addressed Rotary International conventions, assemblies, conferences, institutes, seminars and Rotary clubs in every state in the USA and some 100 countries. As President, he led Rotary International to its greatest one-year growth record in its 100-year history with 75,000 new members net, a global membership of 1,243,431 and 1,158 new Rotary clubs in 2001-2002, more than one new club every 8 hours. In the same year, Rotarians contributed the highest amount of money ever raised for the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation.

Mr. King is married to Cherie Kay King. They have two grown sons and reside in the Mission San Jose area of the San Francisco, California Bay Area.

DGE Pat Post

Pat Post
PE Session - Public Image
DGE 6310
Rotary Club of Durand, MI

Patricia Post has been a member of the Rotary Club of Durand since 2007, after being a guest speaker as Executive Director of the Greater Durand Area Chamber of Commerce, a position she held following retirement from CN Railroad after 44 years of service. She retired from working as a member of the US Executive Vice President's team as Manager, Administration for US properties located in the Chicago, IL area. In this position she also served as chair of the Y2K disaster recovery team.

In 2003, she was awarded the CN President's Award for Excellence for assisting in developing new Safety Rules books to be used by all operating employees. She also was honored that same year as Woman of the Year by the National Association of Railway Business Women for mentoring women in railroading. Pat was also honored by her peers as Railroad Person of the Year for the 2003 Durand Railroad Days celebration.

During her working years she attained a BBA from the University of Michigan-Flint and an MSA from Central Michigan University in Administration. Pat was sent by CN to attend an Executive Management Course in Toronto, Ontario, at York University. She also earned the Certified Quality Auditor designation while serving as Director, Quality, reporting directly to CN headquarters in Montreal, Quebec.

When joining, Pat was immediately appointed to the position of Program Chair from 2007-2010. She was then elected President-Elect, and has served as Foundation Chair from that time forward. In 2011-2012 Pat served as President of her club. During her year, the club received a district grant to start a Back Pack program in the grade schools. The Durand schools honored the club with its prestigious School Bell Award. The club was selected by Rotary International to take part in the Associate Membership Pilot program, membership was increased, and for the first time ever the club won the Foundation Contribution Banner from the district for reaching 236% of our goal, and 100% participation by the club towards annual giving. The club far exceeded the Polio Plus goal, started the Adopt-a- Highway program, and won the District Traveling Trophy at District Conference.

During 2012-2013, Pat service as the first District New Generations Chair, organizing the program and conducting a workshop at District Conference. The past three years, Pat has served as Assistant Governor Area #3, and has participated in the Foundation, Water and Sanitation and Strategic Planning committees.

Pat is a member of the First Congregational Church of Durand and recently retired as Treasurer after 10 years of service. She is now serving as a Trustee. She is an active volunteer at the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, MI, and is presently also serving as Chair of the 2016 Railroad Person of the Year Committee sponsored by the Durand Union Station, where Pat started her career. She also belongs to Operation Lifesaver, National Association of Railroad Passengers, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, and National Association of Railroad Business Women. She is a member of both the Greater Area Durand Chamber of Commerce and the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce. She also serves as board member of the Shiawassee County Convention and Visitors Bureau. In her spare time, she takes evening classes at Michigan State University.

Pat is also a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society, and has successfully completed Level III of the Rotary Leadership Institute this year.

Pat has two sons. Her oldest son, Jerry, is a Locomotive Engineer. Her youngest son, Mark, is in construction.

DGE Ed Swart

Ed Swart
PE Session - Club Meetings
DGE 6290
Rotary Club of Holland, MI

Ed, a clinical psychologist, was the clinical director of his local community mental health center and in private practice, and president of the one of the largest psychologist-owned practices in Michigan. He currently consults to a local counseling agency and other businesses. He volunteers several days a week in elementary school and chairs a leadership training program for middle schoolers. He has served on and chaired a number of church and community boards, including a local Cub Scout committee and the Local American Red Cross chapter, where he also started the disaster mental health team. He has been active in Rotary Youth Exchange as YEO, host parent, and District Chair, and has sponsored Rotary Ambassadorial and Peace Scholars. Ed has been a member of the Rotary Club of Holland since 1984 and received the Club's Distinguished Service Award in 2004. He and Carol met in Rotary, where he proposed to her at a Club meeting. In retirement together they enjoy attending theatre and concerts, sailing, being active in Rotary, and spending time with their three children and three grandchildren.

DGE Lisa Waterman

Lisa Waterman
PE Session - Membership Issues
DGE 6540
Rotary Club of Fort Wayne, IN

Lisa Waterman, a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne, Indiana, joined Rotary in 2000 and served as the Club President in 2008-2009. During her tenure, she established the first Rotaract Club in the area and remains the liaison between the two organizations today. She also established the club tradition of using books in honor of speakers at the Club. The books are later donated to Washington Elementary School, her club's signature project.

She has served in numerous capacities and on multiple committees within District 6540 including the Administrative Council, District Visioning Team, Membership Committee, Assistant Governor, Chairman of the District Conference (PDG Lancia), District Interact Co-Chair, Moderator at Zone PETS training, and has also attended international conventions in Los Angeles, Montreal, Chicago, New Orleans, and Seoul.

Because Lisa loves singing and performing, she also established the "Fort Wayne Rotary Singers" back in 2003, a group of about 8 - 12 singers from the Club that sing perfect harmony and perform regularly at Club meetings, District events and local sporting events! She has also been an inaugural and regular performer and soloist with the "District Rotary Singers" who delight the District Conference attendees annually, as well as being a part of the Rotary World Choir at the International Conventions.

While she is a resident of Churubusco and claims the Churubusco Rotary Club as a close friend, she has pursued her professional life in the Fort Wayne area. A graduate of Indiana University, Lisa is a Certified Financial Planner and has worked in the securities and private wealth management for over 25 years. She now owns her own firm, Waterman Financial Services LLC.

Over the years, Lisa has given extensive time to local non-profit organizations and her church. She currently serves as a Director with the Questa Foundation for Education. She is active with the IPFW Alumni Council and recently created the successful Connections events for IPFW students and local professionals. Past involvements includes board service with Passages, Inc., The McMillen Center for Health Education, Friends of the Park, SCAN, and The Fort Wayne Civic Theatre.

She lives in Churubusco with her husband, David, who is proud to be the "District Governor's husband." Lisa looks forward to serving District 6540 with all of you and bringing new excitement to Rotary!

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