Keynote Speakers
Each year, we feature Rotary International leaders and other special guests as our keynote speakers. They share with us tools for personal growth; they challenge and inspire us; they bring to us a moment of humor.
For our 2022 event, our keynote speakers were:
Jennifer Jones
President 2022-2023, Rotary International
Jennifer is the Founder and President of Media Street Productions Inc., a twenty-five-year old, award-winning media company in Windsor, Ontario. She is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland.
Her talents have strengthened Rotary reach and impact, through many roles including as Trustee of the Rotary Foundation, RI Vice President, and co-chair of the End Polio Now: Make History Today campaign, raising funds alongside Bill and Melinda Gates and their Foundation.
She has received many honours and recognitions including Rotary’s Service above Self Award and 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 married to Rotarian Nick Krayacich, a local family physician. They share a love for many things including travel, cycling, golf and relaxing at their family cottage; and they share a thirst for adventure, which has included cresting the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.
Haresh Ramchandani
Governor 2016-2017, Rotary International
Haresh L. Ramchandani, is a Real Estate Consultant by profession and a Rotarian by passion. He’s happily married to Vandana (Vindu) for 23 years, and a proud father of two children, Shiv and Shya. A member of the Rotary Club of LIFE Jamaica for 25 years, he is a Past District Governor for District 7020. He is a Rotary Foundation alumni, a Major Donor level 2, and a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation.
Haresh has served as Speaker; Training Leader; and Seminar trainer at the Rotary International Assembly; and as The Host of the Hamburg International Convention. His Rotary Background has also had him lead many breakout sessions at multiple International Conventions on topics of Membership, Service, and Leadership. He has served on several RI Committees and chaired the RI Young PDG committee for two years.
Haresh believes we must “Be the change we wish to see in the world”.
Wade Nomura
Governor 2011-2012, Rotary International
A charter member of the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning, Wade and his wife Debbie are both active Rotarians. He has served his district as Governor 2011-2012 and DRFCC 2016-2019.
Wade is a charter Paul Harris Society member, Major Donor, Bequest Society Member, and recipient of the Rotary International “Service Above Self” Award, the Rotary Foundation’s “Citation for Meritorious Service”, and “Distinguished Service” Award. Wade has been on over 50 international trips for Rotary, including an NID to India, where he has a special passion, having had polio as a child.
In his community, Wade is the Mayor of Carpinteria, President of the Carpinteria Boys and Girls Club Foundation, President of the Santa Barbara Junior Golf Tour, and President of the Santa Barbara Japanese American Citizens League.
Taylor Huie
Rotaractor and Rotarian
Taylor Huie is a Medical Device Design Engineer at Stryker Instruments in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Class of 2021 Biomedical Engineering graduate from Duke University.
In Rotary, Taylor serves as Executive Director of the Ascension Rotaract Network MDIO for Zones 28-34. An active member of the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo, she also serves on the District 6360 Board as District Rotaract Chair. During her time in North Carolina, Taylor served as the 2019-2021 District 7710 Rotaract Representative and Charter President of the Rotaract Club of Duke University, launching with an initial 400 members.
A global speaker for Rotary International, Taylor has led discussions on starting and sustaining Interact and Rotaract Clubs, as well as fostering stronger partnerships between Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact. She is honored and excited to share what she has learned about motivating young people through a life of “Service Above Self”. Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn.
Discussion Leaders
Lorraine Angelino
Governor 2013-2014, District 7750
A member of the Emerald City Rotary club in Greenwood, SC since 2002, Lorraine is is a Major Donor, Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor, Bequest Society member, and a Paul Harris Society Charter member. She enjoys participating in Rotary events around the globe.
Carol Burdette
Governor 2018-2019, District 7750
Carol Burdette joined the Rotary Club of Anderson in 1994 and Carol was the second woman to become club president. Carol is a Major Donor, Bequest Society and Paul Harris Society member, and Benefactor.
Lee Dixon
Governor 2008-2009, District 7730
Lee has been active in District 7730 and the Morehead City Noon Rotary Club since 1996 where he served as President. Lee is a Paul Harris Fellow and has participated in many Rotary programs, in particular Group Study Exchange. Currently, he is the President of Coastal Architecture, a full-service Architectural Design firm.
Ken Dresser
Governor 2014-2015, District 7680
A member of the Rotary Club of North Mecklenburg County for over twelve years, Ken is a member of the Paul Harris Society and the Bequest Society and is on the RLI Faculty. Ken and his wife Barbara have three children and ten grandchildren.
Vanessa Ervin
Governor 2014-2015, District 7730
A healthcare administrator, Vanessa joined the Jacksonville Rotary Club in 1992 and currently serves as Zone 33 Asst Public Image Coordinator. She is a Major Donor, Benefactor, Bequest Society Member, and led the district effort to establish a dialysis center in India.
Becky Faulkner
Governor 2010-2011, District 7750
Becky has been a member of Greenville Breakfast Rotary club since 1995. She has served as club president and led a GSE Team to Brazil. Becky is a graduate of Rotary Leadership Institute, a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor, Paul Harris Society member, Major Donor, and Bequest Society member. Becky is retired from Greenville County Schools having served in elementary schools for 31 years. She has been a professor in the School of Education at the University of South Carolina Upstate since 2002.
David Hayden
Governor 2020-2021, District 7710
A member of the Capital City Rotary Club since 2006, David is a Bequest Society Member and Paul Harris Fellow. A retired Army Colonel and practicing attorney, he supports Veterans and their families in NC. He is average at golf, but always hopeful.
Tracey Ivey
Governor 2019-2020, District 7720
A member of the Rotary Club of Goldsboro since 2007, Tracey is a Major Donor, Bequest Society and Paul Harris Society member. She and her husband Mitch have three sons, Ben, Cade, and Matthew.
Frank Jaklic
Governor 2018-2019, District 7720
Frank is a member of the Rotary Club of Hertford. He was Rotarian of the year 2006-2007. Frank is an RLI graduate, Paul Harris Society member, and Benefactor. His wife, Connie, has served Rotary three times as a club President.
Angela Bendorf Jamison
Governor 2021-2022, District 7710
Angela joined the Rotary Club of Wakefield/Wake Forest in 2010. She founded Communicopia, a public relations marketing agency in 1998. Angela enjoys the opportunity to Amplify Rotary in clubs and communies.
Chris Justice
Governor 2021-2022, District 7690
Past President of the Gate City Rotary Club, Chris is a member of the Paul Harris Society. Chris owns and operates the Justice Law Group. He’s also very involved with Lionheart Academy of the Triad, a school for children with Autism that Chris helped found.
Matthew Kane
Governor 2014-2015, District 7710
Matthew joined the North Raleigh Club in 1996. After learning how Rotary perfectly blends fellowship with service, he got active in grant projects and community service. He was twice selected as “Rotarian of the Year” and is a member of the Paul Harris Society.
Beth Padgett
Governor 2020-2021, District 7750
A member of the Beth Rotary Club of Greenville (SC), Beth was the first woman to become club president in 2001. Beth is a Major Donor, Bequest Society and Paul Harris Society member, a Benefactor, and an RLI Graduate.
Brenda Shaw
Governor 2013-2014, District 7720
Brenda joined Rotary in Alabama in 1990, and is now a member of the Rocky Mount club. She is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Sustaining Member and a Benefactor. Her husband, Bill, is also a member of the Rocky Mount club, a Paul Harris Fellow and a Benefactor.
Bill Shillito
Governor 2007-2008, District 7670
Bill is a member of the Rotary Club of Catawba Valley (Conover). He is a Major Donor, Benefactor and a member of the Bequest Society. Bill serves as the National Director of CART from 2009-to present. He and Diane have two sons and seven grandchildren.
Ronnie Thompson
Governor 2013-2014, District 7670
A member of the Rotary Club of Valdese, Ronnie is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Benefactor, and a member of the Paul Harris Society. Active in the community as well as Rotary, Ronnie and his wife, Anne, have twin daughters and four grandchildren.
Mike Walker
Governor 2020-2021, District 7680
A member of Charlotte-South Rotary, Mike recently became a Major Donor and is a member of the Bequest Society and PHS. He organized his District Kilimanjaro climbs for PolioPlus. He and his wife Susan have five grown children and five grandsons.
Carolinas' PETS 