Janet is a self-described Athens-enthusiast and, professionally, is a life coach and realtor. She will be speaking to us about creating authentic connections through networking. Janet is a passionate and intuitive coach with a deep-rooted desire to see others succeed.
She says that teaching and coaching have always been a natural part of who she is, building on the knack she has for understanding where people are in their journey and guiding them towards their desired destinations.
She has a strong belief that asking the right questions holds the key to unlocking answers and potential.
Dr. Victor Thompson studies significant transitions in human history, specializing in the application of archaeological science to the study of collective social formations and the historical ecology of wetland and coastal environments. In the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, his recent research focuses on socioecological histories and indicators to achieve high resolution, localized histories of human-climate dynamics. More broadly, his work centers on the nature of indigenous governance by addressing cases that demonstrate the variability in the forms that democratic institutions might take. He is also engaged with NAGPRA (Native American Graves and Repatriation Act), to make sure that ancestors cared for by UGA are treated respectfully and repatriated to their descendent communities.
Dr. Victor Thompson will tour us through UGA's Lab of Archaeology.
Directions to the LAB::
The name of the small road that the Laboratory is located on, East Whitehall Road, does not register in many GIS navigation systems. By searching 1055 Whitehall Road, GIS navigation apps will provide directions to the turn onto East Whitehall Road where the Laboratory is immediately located. A sign for the Laboratory is right beside the road to help direct visitors. There is plenty of parking on site in front of and along the side of the building.
Mr. Vandenberg will speak to us about the current state of the Athens music industry, the work by his recording studio, Vandenberg Industries, and his work with Athens Resonates, which is a group of Georgia-based creative businesses who have come together to raise money and awareness for Nuci's Space and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens' Music Makers Program by recording live bands and then pressing the songs to a 7" record.
Drew had a realization that "recording engineer" was a career when he was 15 years old from reading it on the liner notes of a CD, and in that moment decided that’s what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He got an internship at Chase Park Transduction in Athens, GA when he was 16, and then went to college at Indiana University where he received a B.S. in Recording Arts. He’s been working on records with people ever since. He currently resides in Athens, GA with his incandescent wife Catherine.
Heather began working in the real estate industry in Athens in early 2002 while in college and became licensed in the Spring of 2004. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences majoring in Consumer Economics. She received her Broker’s license in 2007 and has continued her education, earning several designations along the way, including Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), e-Pro, Graduate REALTOR Institute (GRI), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and At Home with Diversity (AHWD). She lives in Athens with her husband, Jon and their 2 daughters. Jon is a Lieutenant with the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office warrant division but also holds an active real estate license assisting Heather on his days off to ensure a seamless transaction. Heather has served on the Board of Directors for a number of local non-profits and volunteers at her church and girls’ school. She loves to travel, especially somewhere tropical, and ride bikes with her family. Her philosophy of providing top-notch service to her clients has afforded her loyalty and referrals from past clients for years. She genuinely believes in assisting her clients in making the most financially sound decision for their individual needs.
Our very own Laura Iyer is on the steering committee for the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group's "Million Solar Panel Challenge" initiative and works on tangible ways for local Rotary clubs to get involved.
The Million Solar Panel Challenge is a global endeavor that aims to promote renewable energy by encouraging Rotarians to install one million solar panels worldwide. Through this initiative, Rotary clubs are mobilized to support solar panel installation in their communities, including their homes and businesses, and through the work they do through grants from their club, district, and Rotary International. The challenge hopes to inspire practices across communities, demonstrating Rotary's commitment to environmental stewardship. By harnessing the power of the sun, the challenge is a path towards a clean and sustainable future, making a significant step in Rotary's journey towards Protecting the Environment.
Ms. Sawyer has worked for ACC since 2018 and stepped into her current position in 2023 to help the community reduce waste and preserve natural resources. Abbie graduated from UGA in 2020 with a degree in Ecology and certificates in Geographic Information Science and Urban & Metropolitan Studies. She is an artist and nature lover in her free time.
ACC Recycling Division's goal is to work with the Athens community to create a culture of zero-waste by encouraging proper management of discarded items, educating the public on waste minimization practices, and providing alternative methods of disposal that prolong an item's lifespan. ACC is proud to offer single-stream recycling, the Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials, composting, and re-use programs to residents in the area.
Mr. NeSmith has been the Publisher as well as a Partner at The Bitter Southerner online magazine since 2016. He is also the Vice President of Community Newspapers, Inc., a position he has held since 2013. Eric is a 2002 graduate of The Grady College of Journalism at UGA.
The Bitter Southerner has a single aim: to uncover the American South in all its truth and complexity -- and in the process to break stereotypes abut the region and its people by pushing out important, difficult, uncomfortable, irreverent, witty, and addictive stories online. It's work is intended to keep the region honest, inspired, and moving forward. The publishing arm at BS Publishing works to do the same through new books and the full-format, print magazine.
A graduate of both West Texas A&M University and The University of Georgia, Mr. Novak is in charge of general operations at the Athens YWCO. He is primarily responsible for the implementation of new and current policies and procedures, creating a positive customer experience, and developing effective communication strategies for his staff. Prior to the YWCO, Eric had experience with local organizations including Golden Pantry, VanKirk Electric, and UGA.
Scott Long became the Executive Director of Bike Athens in August 2019. He joined the staff as Program Director in September 2018 after having volunteered nearly 2,000 hours since 2015. In February 2016, Scott started "Fix Your Own Bike" sessions on Thursday nights as a way to expand programming at the shop. His involvement with Bike Athens combines two passions -- bike mechanics and nonprofit administration. Scott holds a Master of Public Administration degree from UGA and is a League Cycling instructor.
President and Board Member Jason Perry has been involved with Bike Athens since 2008. also having served as volunteer shop manager and shop council member. By trade, he is a mechanical engineer and certified energy manager, working in the UGA Office of Utility and Emergy Management. Jason is also a League Cycling instructor and loves teaching beginner cyclists how to ride. He believes in making it possible for anyone who wants a bike to get one because bikes can change lives.
Mr. Stone joined Athens Land Trust as Strategic Partnerships Director in February 2023. He previously served as Sous Chef at The National, Manager of the West Broad Farmers Market, as well as Community Chef and Culinary Arts Coordinator at Clarke County School District.
We look forward to hearing from Susanna Malmgren from Sweden, our current sponsored student in the Georgia Rotary Student Program. She'll be speaking to us about her experiences in the program so far as well as her background, studies, and future plans.
Savie Arnold is the owner of the East side bakery, Sweetie Pie by Savie. After earning her PhD in Science Education in Thailand, Savie and her husband, Speedy, relocated back to Athens where they had met years earlier while Savie was conducting PhD research. While completing her PhD in Bangkok, Savie continued the love for baking she had discovered while in the United States and it soon became a small home business. Upon returning to Athens, Savie spent some time working at Dondero's before opening Sweetie Pie in July 2015. The bakery's cakes and baked goods are known for their perfect level of sweetness and distinctive flavors, including Asian ingredients and spices.
Mr. Watson is the Complex Manager for the local Pilgrim's Pride facility.
Pilgrim's is a leading global provider of high-quality food products, including well-recognized brands and value-added premium products. As one of the world's largest poultry producers and a fully integrated pork producer, Pilgrim's has provided wholesome, quality products to customers and consumers for more than 70 years.
Their 58,000 staff provide more than 133 million daily servings of protein to retailers, restaurants, and food service providers around the world. They have 66 facilities in 14 U.S. states as well as Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K., and Europe. Pilgrim's partners with 4,900 family poultry farms and 6,300 family hog farms.
Wesley Mellina is the CEO of the Athens Community Career Academy. Wesley’s 15-plus years in the hospitality industry and experience in secondary education equipped him with a skill set and passion for youth workforce development and Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education.
Following his move to Athens with his wife Jennifer in 2015, Wesley joined the Clarke Central High School staff, where he coordinated the school’s Work-Based Learning Program and developed a summer program that focused on helping middle school students successfully transition to high school. In 2018, Wesley became the Clarke County School District Workforce Development Coordinator. In this role, he coordinated the Work-Based Learning Program for the Clarke County School District. Additionally, he led career readiness programming, collaborated with business and industry partners in the Athens area to develop the Advanced Manufacturing and Welding Pathway, co-wrote grants that resulted in awards of over $210,000 for lab equipment at the Athens Community Career Academy, and developed an educator externship program.
Since becoming CEO in 2022, Wesley has focused on developing pathways that align with high-demand workforce needs in the Athens area, increasing opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized certifications, and beginning a Youth Apprentice Program. A CNA, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and a Caterpillar Youth Apprentice Program kicked off in the 2023-2024 school year and Wesley is currently working closely with Athens-Clarke County Economic Development and Athens area employers to develop Bio-manufacturing, Firefighter/EMT, and Entertainment, Sports, and Event Management pathways to begin in the 2024-2025 school year.
Wesley is an avid Braves baseball fan and enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors with his wife, Jennifer, daughter, Bailey, and two Golden Retrievers, Maddux and Bobby Cox.
Dr. Kaitlyn Casulli is an Assistant Professor and Extension Process Specialist at University of Georgia with expertise in microbial inactivation and risk modeling. Prior to joining UGA in January 2022, Kaitlyn was a doctoral fellow at Michigan State University. Her research program broadly encompasses developing mathematical models for process validation. Her extension activities have included assisting companies with process validation and delivering workshops to industry and government learners on topics such as developing food safety plans and starting a new brewery. She currently leads a newly formed USDA-funded center, the Value-addition Institute for Business Expansion, with the goal of supporting small business development in rural Georgia. When not at work, Kaitlyn enjoys visiting breweries with her dog, Porter.
Charlie Mustard has been the head roaster for Jittery Joe's since their early days when they first began roasting their own coffee. Not originally from Athens, coffee roasting wasn't always in the plans for Charlie. While working on his Master's thesis at UGA, Charlie spent a lot of time at the then new coffee shop in town, Jittery Joe's. He got to know the two brothers that started the shop and happened to hear them discussing roasting their own beans rather than continuing to outsource them. Charlie offered to help them out and roast for them as long as he could get all the free coffee he wanted. With no prior experience in the industry, he immediately began to research how to roast coffee, pulling from his background in Chemistry. More than twenty years later, he still has an ever-growing passion for his craft and Jittery Joe's.
This week's meeting is the annual Club Assembly. Come prepared to share your ideas and feedback.
There is no meeting this week since we will be holding our Annual Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 12 at 6:00 PM at Epting Events, 1055 Barber St. in Athens. Don't forget to bring your naughty or nice gift for the White Elephant Gift Exchange (no more than $20 value, please).
Kelly Girtz has been serving as mayor of Athens-Clarke County since January 2019. Prior to serving as mayor, Mr. Girtz was the District 9 Commissioner for 12 years. A renowned local educator, Mr. Girtz was both a teacher and administrator in the Athens-Clarke County school system from 1998-2014 and then served as Regional Director for Student Services & Special Education for Foothills Charter High School.
Randy is a leader of the non-partisan group, Citizens for Sustainable Jackson County, opposed to the proposed new 1,000-acre rock quarry near Center, in Jackson County, between Route 441 and Chandler Bridge. The proposed site is just north of the Athens-Clarke County line. The land is currently zoned as agricultural, with most in conservation. Water pollution is one of the largest issues as the proposed site is directly on top of the largest of Jackson County's four ground water recharge areas, meaning it is land where water infiltrates into the ground to replenish an aquifer. The concern is that the quarry will affect ground water quality and may impact the actual wells critical for livestock and farming in the area.
We will not be meeting this week in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Relax and enjoy this special time of gratitude with your loved ones, and if traveling, we wish you safe travels.
Weekly meetings will resume on Monday, November 27 at Athentic Brewing.
Gerry is retired from United Way of Northeast Georgia as the Vice President of Resource Development. In addition to most recently serving as Rotary District 6910 Governor, Gerry has held numerous leadership roles in The Classic City Rotary Club as well as District 6910 including:
Service Chair 2008-2009
Membership Chair 2009-2010 & 2018
Club Training Chair 2011-2017
Vice President 2010-2011
President-Elect 2011-2012
President 2012-2013
Immediate Past President 2013-2014
Membership Co-Chair 2013-2015
Membership Chair 2018-2020
Administration and Strategic Planning Chair 2014-2015
Assistant District Governor Area VII 2015-2018
TRF Foundation District Team Member 2016-2017
Million Dollar Dinner Recruitment Team Member 2016-2017
District 6910 Training Team Vice Chair 2017-2019
Peach State PETS Training Facilitator 2017-2019
District 6910 Board of Directors 2017-2019
District 6910 Awards & Recognition Chair 2019-2020
District 6910 Conference Committee Member 2019-2020
District 6910 Speakers Bureau – RLI and Club Management & Leadership
Rotary Leadership Academy Graduate 2011
Rotary Leadership Institute Graduate 2013
Rotary Leadership Institute Graduate Course 2016
Rotary Leadership Institute Discussion Leader Graduate 2018
Rotary Zone 33-34 Summit Emerging Leader 2019
Area VII Rotary Peace Garden Committee Chair 2019-2019
Paul Harris Fellow 2013
Paul Harris Fellow + 1 2018
Paul Harris Fellow +2 2019
Rotary Foundation Benefactor 2014
Rotary Foundation Bequest Society Member 2015
Rotary Foundation Bequest Society Level II Member 2016
Paul Harris Society Member 2019
GRSP Will Watt Fellow 2019
Paul Skinner was born and raised in Iowa and grew up farming in a small town agricultural community but always had a passion for science. After college, Paul married his wife Dawn and began his career in the field of Veterinary Animal Health at the National Animal Disease Labs in Ames, Iowa. After moving several times over the years for new opportunities, Paul and Dawn ultimately relocated with their family from Iowa to Georgia in 2000 and immediately fell in love with the area (and have stayed ever since).
Paul explored the world of home-brewing in 2010 as he and Dawn joined a small group at their church that met weekly to brew, eat, drink and enjoy fellowship with each other. After gaining some confidence by winning several homebrew competitions, Paul along with his wife Dawn, and friends Mark and Peg, decided to take a leap of faith and open a brewery, Athentic Brewing Company, in 2020. In 2022,, Paul officially retired from the Biotech Industry after 40 years and has devoted himself full-time to his passion of creating a craft beer community in Athens, Georgia. Cheers!
Widely known as Mr. B Corp Georgia, Nathan has a firm belief that business can be a force for good and as such has a passion for helping good companies become great. He's been working with firms pursuing B Corp Certification since 2016, using the B Impact Assessment to align purpose with profit.
In addition to his experience working at a B Corp, Nathan teaches an MBA-level B Corp class at UGA, founded and chairs B Local Georgia, serves as a committee chair for B Academics, and was awarded the 2020 Community Builder Award by B Lab.
A two-time graduate of UGA (BBA '04, MBA '17), Nathan is also the Board Chair for Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful, as well as a TEDx speaker, podcast host and guest, author, and dog Dad.
Stan Mullins is a true Southern visionary. Born in Cherry Point, NC and raised in Alexandria, VA, his story reads like a Hollywood blockbuster or a Neal Stephenson intellectual thriller. Skateboarding in the halls of The Pentagon while his father was a Joint Chief of Staff aide to 4-star General George Brown, Mullins' early life was filled with the beauty and trappings of our nation’s capital, a grand vision, and a discipline to fulfill the task. His first real step as an artist was the invitation from the Corcoran Museum of Art for a summer curriculum. Mullins was 12 years old and already riding the DC metro with adults going to work in our capital city.
The University of Georgia became another launch pad for creativity and the UGA Study Abroad Program led to a lifelong embrace with Italy. One of Mullins’ epic oil-on-linen paintings graces the Chiesa della Spirito Santo in Cortona and has become part of the Vatican Collection.Purchasing his iconic studio in Athens, GA in 1990 became another milestone in the career and life of Stan Mullins.
The trajectory of art and inspiration remains the lofting arc in Mullins' life. From creating works of art in the jungles of Rwanda both before and after the genocide of 1994, to working in the wild Kimberlys of Northwestern Australia with one of the most remote Aboriginal clans in 2011 to a recent journey to the recluse country of Bhutan (Mullins’ portrait of Queen Jetsun Pema hangs in the Royal Palace), Mullins’ artwork and zest of life embrace the larger vision of artist as cultural ambassador.
If you'd like to visit some of his works, several are on display in Atlanta:
“Chief Tomochichi”
The epic bronze sculpture is currently displayed on 17th St. Midtown Atlanta, will stand atop the 150 foot tall “Peace Column looking East into the sunrise over Atlanta in Rodney Cook Sr. Park.
“The Hungarian Freedom Fighter”
A 15 ton ‘lightning granite’ sculpture was unveiled October 2022 in Millennium Gate Sculpture Park
“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”
An 8’2” bronze sculpture of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in Rodney Cook Sr. Peace Park.
“Cyrus the Great”
An ongoing epic monument to World Peace.
October 2023 on World Cyrus The Great Day the ‘working maquette of the 20ft tall future bronze will be unveiled at Millennium Peace Park.
Christos Hines has been writing and producing short films in Athens, Georgia since 1995. His work has won screenplay competitions and awards at film festivals. He is chairman of the board of Film Athens, a non-profit dedicated to growing, educating and revitalizing the film community in Athens, Georgia. Christos is also an entrepreneur with 20 years of experience managing departments, budgets and marketing campaigns. He holds a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Alabama. His film, “Small Group.” was released theatrically in the fall of 2018.
A Rotarian since 2004, Becky's decision to become a nurse developed from volunteering at the local health department. Most of her nursing practice was in the areas of parent-child nursing and as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Appropriate technology is of particular interest. Other areas of study included entomology, food science, and plant pathology while working as a technician at UGA.
Becky and her husband, Jeff, a retired high science teacher, have lived in Athens for more than 50 years. Their daughter, Cayenne is Nevada's Urban and Community Forester.
Rashe Malcolm is the owner of Rashe's Cuisine and she also started and runs two local charitable organizations: Culinary Kitchen of Athens (CKA) and Farm to Neighborhood.
Rashe started the nonprofit CKA in October 2018 with the mission to support and strengthen the local food industry of Athens. She uses the organization to fulfill her vision of preparing small local businesses for the commercial retail world through business branding, training, incubator spaces, partnership development and events, and more. Rashe loves seeing the Athens scene shift to focus on fresh, locally-sourced food, and in a few years, she hopes to see CKA open a shared kitchen space.
Farm to Neighborhood, Rashe’s second charitable venture, seeks to create an Athens in which all have access to delicious, nutritious, and affordable food choices, regardless of their financial standing. The mission is to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as prepackaged healthy and affordable mobile meals, as a nutrition-based service for limited income adults, families, and seniors living in Athens-Clarke County communities. The goal is to encourage and sustain independence for the target population. Engagement with these communities on a weekly basis provides the opportunity to educate residents about healthy food choices and how to access and prepare healthy foods.
Rashe's family has a long history in Northeast GA, and while she has lived in Athens on and off since 1993, she made the permanent move here in 2005. She and her husband and children currently reside on the west side.
Sally Kimel-Sheppard is a clinically licensed social worker born in the foothills of North Carolina and educated in the North Carolina mountains at Appalachian State University. Sally moved to Georgia in 1998 for the love of a Georgia boy. She gained her Masters in Social Work from UGA in 2003. Sally has worked for the Department of Family and Children's Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. She has spent the majority of her career working to provide intervention for child abuse and sexual assault. She has done this through direct work with survivors and their families. Sally served as the Executive Director of The Cottage Sexual Assault Center and Children's Advocacy Center for 15 years prior to her current role. She has been the Executive Director of Envision Athens since April of 2022. Sally has two amazing kids. One attends Clarke Middle School and the other attends Clarke Central. Sally is an advocate for all Athenians and loves that her work supports the wellbeing of the town that she loves.
Dr. Anna Stenport is Dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and professor of Communication Studies, with an appointment in the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California-Berkeley. She brings extensive experience in higher education leadership from a long career that has included appointments at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Stanford University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, and a number of institutions internationally. She is committed to advancing the public good through partnerships within and beyond universities that advance community, collaboration, creativity, and inclusive excellence.
It's also notable to mention that she is a former participant of the Georgia Rotary Student Program.
Due to the Labor Day holiday, there is no meeting this week. Enjoy the day off with your loved ones! See you next Monday, September 11.
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Cheryl Legette is our Rotary Assistant Governor, the connection between clubs and the district. She serves as the Chief Operations Officer for Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.
Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia believes in the power of every girl to change the world, and we offer a safe space for girls to take healthy risks, explore interests and connect with a powerful, supportive community of friends and mentors. With support from dedicated adult volunteers, parents and staff, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia delivers the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) to over 13,000 girls and 4,466 adults in 122 counties across Georgia as well as two counties in South Carolina and one county in Alabama. Our council’s footprint is more than 48,000 square miles and includes Girl Scout First Headquarters.
Stan and his wife Sherry own Diamond M Farm in Bishop. They raise beef cattle, produce hay and have horses.
They have 2 daughters: Jessie, who is completing her final year of PA school at Duke University and Kate, their youngest daughter, who is employed at Athens Orthopedic.
Stan is a lifelong resident of Oconee County, a graduate of Oconee County High School and Athens Tech. In 2021, Stan retired from the Athens Clarke County Fire Department, after 30 years of service, from the position of lieutenant.
Stan has a lifelong relationship with horses, pleasure riding since childhood. In his twenties, he played polo every weekend with the Mount Vernon Polo Club and in his barn you will always find a team of horses or mules to pull a wagon. He and his family have participated in wagon trains all across the southeast. He has driven his horse team in many parades and weddings. He also trains and shoes horses.
After retirement, Stan had an adventure of a lifetime, competing in the Mongol Derby. This is an endurance horse race, in which you ride 600 miles in ten days. Stan is here today to share some of that adventure with us.
Lemuel “Life” LaRoche is the founder and executive director of Chess and Community, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to developing young leaders and critical thinkers in Northeast Georgia. Known in the communities that he serves as Life, he fuses chess with conventional therapeutic methods to curb impulsive behavior amongst youth with delinquent pasts. With over two decades of experience in adolescent, family and community development, Life and brings a fresh innovative approach to his work.
Life was listed as one of Athens’ exceptional community leaders in 2013 and his organization has been featured in Georgia Magazine. He is a 2015 recipient of the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award. Life has presented at TEDxUGA, an independently organized TEDTalks event, and his organization has been featured on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s On Second Thought, PBS NewsHour and CBS News. He is the recipient of the 2016 Daily Points of Light Award , Atlanta Braves Community Hero and 2022 AT&T Black Future Makers.
Life is internationally renowned for his poetry, which he uses as a tool for empowerment, reconditioning, and community outreach. He is the author of two books, Tree of Life: The Human Ascension and Hidden Ripples: Life’s Unspoken Language. He is an instructor in the School of Social Work at the University of Georgia. Life serves as director of Programming for YouthForce Innovation Hub, a program of the Boys & Girls Club of Athens that prepares youth for current and emerging workforce.
Life will discuss his innovated approach to youth development and community impact.
Learn more about Lemuel LaRoche and his organization at www.chessandcommunity.org
Thursday, July 6, 2023
Mike Wharton is the ACCGov Sustainability Officer and, as the Ecological Resources Administrator, was one of two employees who established ACCGov’s first Sustainability office in 2017. Not a stranger to new beginnings, he was one of three people who also established the Clarke County Parks Department in 1981 (now Leisure Services) where he served as an environmental educator/naturalist, nature center director, Natural Resources Division Administrator, and Operations Administrator. He has promoted conservation and sustainability throughout his career and led the Leisure Services team during the development of ACCGov’s first “green building”, a project that galvanized ACCGov’s commitment to sustainable energy and construction. He has a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and a Masters in Science Education, both from UGA. Professional work experience includes serving as a technical advisor for policy development and community-wide resource planning, energy and energy conservation, ecological and green-infrastructure resource, and conservation interpretation and education. His consulting experience includes science and natural resource writer, natural resource management, park planning, and natural resource/recreation master planning.
Madison Sanders is the Executive Director of Family Promise Athens, a nonprofit working to support families experiencing homelessness through shelter and prevention services. A Georgia native, Madison grew up in Marietta and received a B.A. degree in Economics with minors in Education Policy and Poverty Studies from Washington and Lee University. Madison worked in Washington, DC in the fields of poverty and early childhood research and policy prior to moving to Athens to complete her Masters of Social Work. She is passionate about creating opportunities for Athens families to thrive.
Madison Sanders is the Executive Director of Family Promise Athens, a nonprofit working to support families experiencing homelessness through shelter and prevention services. A Georgia native, Madison grew up in Marietta and received a B.A. degree in Economics with minors in Education Policy and Poverty Studies from Washington and Lee University. Madison worked in Washington, DC in the fields of poverty and early childhood research and policy prior to moving to Athens to complete her Masters of Social Work. She is passionate about creating opportunities for Athens families to thrive.
Many of our club members as well as a great community turn-out were at Classic City Rotary's 7th annual Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Awards show, held on May 4 at the 40 Watt downtown. Trvy (Trevor Wiggins) was recognized as the 2023 Songwriter of the Year, winning $1500, recording time from Amplify, and a PR package from Team Clermont. Trvy performed along with other finalists Cardynal, Erin Lovett, Avery Draut (Night Palace), and Dylan Loftin, who each received $250. Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Caroline Herring was the kick-off featured artist; last year's winner Elijah Johnston also performed, and 2021 winner and 2023 judge Cassie Chantel described how impactful the award has been for her career. Classic City Rotary also presented $2,500 to Nuci's Space, the musicians resource and mental health center. A big thank-you to club members Ellen Bryson, Blair Dorminey, and Paul Matthews, along with other committee members Winnie Smith, Judy Long, Marissa Jones, and Bill Cody for leading the event and awards. See more at https://www.vicchesnuttaward.com/2023-finalists-and-show.
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Justin Bray is the Executive Director for Books for Keeps, a local nonprofit organization that works to improve children's reading achievement by addressing barriers related to the accessibility and appeal of reading materials. Prior to taking the executive director position at Books for Keeps, Bray served as the director of operations and program manager for their flagship Stop Summer Slide program. He has served on the ACC Development Authority and, most recently, the library board for the county. Additionally, Bray serves the Classic City Rollergirls first as a referee and their head coach.
Dallas Hetherington is an approved presenter of “Climate Change 101,” the C-Change Conversations Primer presentation about the science and effects of climate change. In 2017 Dallas retired from a 31-year career that began with National Starch and Chemical Company and ended at AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry, both global specialty chemicals concerns. His career spanned technologies such as adhesives, polymers and food ingredients, customers like PepsiCo, Monsanto and Procter & Gamble, and included nearly 1.5 million miles of travel across four continents. He addressed diverse markets such as personal care, packaging and foods and served in functions such as marketing/sales, financial planning, and business management. Dallas’ passion ultimately became innovation, including the leadership qualities, processes, and training needed for innovation projects impacting hundreds of people in different functions and locations around the world. Dallas graduated Beta Gamma Sigma from the NYU Stern School of Business MBA program in 1989 where he majored in Finance and Economics. He received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lafayette College in 1984. He has served on local charitable boards and is currently president of the board of trustees of Raritan Headwaters Association, which serves as a water quality watchdog of almost 500 square miles of northern New Jersey. Dallas first encountered C-Change Conversations in the fall of 2017 when his wife, Lesley, invited him to attend a meeting of the Garden Club of Somerset Hills, where Kathleen Biggins presented “Climate Change 101.” Kathleen asked if there was anyone interested in helping her reach more people with non-partisan, science-based information about climate change. Dallas raised his hand. He is passionate about delivering the Primer because he knows that unless we together act more decisively, Lesley’s and his adult children and their future families, as well as millions of others around the world, will pay an increasingly high price for a warming planet.
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Friday, April 21, 2023
Patti joined the American Red Cross in 2021 as an Account Manager in Northeast Georgia with Biomedical Services. She worked in tandem with senior leadership from the University of Georgia to strengthen engagement across the campus and continues to build on those key relationships. In January of 2023, Patti was appointed Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia which covers 21 counties in the state. Her background prior to coming aboard the Red Cross was shared ownership in a wedding planning business based out of Miami where she planned large-scale weddings and events from North Georgia to Key West.
Friday, April 21, 2023
Katie Williams serves as Executive Director of Visit Athens, the official destination marketing organization charged with promoting Athens for tourism, groups, and meetings. Williams is passionate about the role of tourism in economic development, and strongly believes that community collaboration is the key to success.
From 2009 – 2020, Williams served as the founding Executive Director of Discover Dunwoody, the destination marketing organization for Dunwoody, Ga. She began her tourism career in 2008 in Thomasville, Ga., where a piece of her heart still resides among the roses.
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Dr. Jackson studies the effects of human land use activities, specifically forestry, agriculture, mining, and urbanization, on water quality and aquatic habitat. Dr. Jackson has published over 100 peer-refereed publications. Dr. Jackson earned BSE and MSE degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Duke University and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington. Prior to becoming an academic, Dr. Jackson worked in stormwater management and environmental consulting.
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Thursday, April 6, 2023
Sarah McKinney began serving the Athens Area Community Foundation as President | CEO in March 2017. When she accepted the position, she was the Director of Development for the Georgia 4-H Foundation at the University of Georgia. Prior to her work with Georgia 4-H, Sarah served the Athens Community Council on Aging for fifteen years, beginning as an intern in college, and leaving having successfully created and filled the first position of Director of Development.
Sarah graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She continued her education with a Certificate of Gerontology from Kennesaw State University, a Certificate of Leadership from the University of Dayton, and Certificates of Basic and Advanced Nonprofit Financial Management from Duquesne University’s Nonprofit Leadership Institute.
Today, as a professional working in philanthropy, Sarah’s role is centered on helping convene the interest of donors, nonprofits, and community institutions to build, distribute, and preserve philanthropic assets that will enhance quality of life in the Athens area for generations to come.
Sarah is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Athens, the Leadership Georgia Class of 2019, and 2017-2018 LEAD Athens class. In her personal time, Sarah serves the East Jackson Comprehensive High School FFA Alumni program and Athens Church as a Host Team Captain.
Sarah and her husband of 19 years, John, are parents to Nathan and Anna.
An honors graduate of the University of Memphis, where he also obtained his MBA, Rick Parker has served as the CEO of the Athens Housing Authority since 1989. He came to Athens 34 years ago after having served as the director of the Housing Authority of Jackson TN.
Recent highlights during his tenure include the redevelopment of Jack R. Wells public housing into the national award-winning $60 million Columbia Brookside neighborhood; the partnership with Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and Clarke County School District to transform a local historic gym into the Elizabeth G. King Boys & Girls Club; and the ongoing North Downtown Athens project to transform an old Section 8 project-based apartment complex into a mixed-income, mixed-finance neighborhood in partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Government.
The Athens Housing Authority (AHA) has 1291 public housing units and is engaged in redevelopment, homebuyer lending, new in-fill housing construction, and tax-exempt bonds. The AHA completed the first, true private mortgage on a HUD property in America and more than $400 million (~$220 million in original financing and $200 million in refinancing) in bond deals with the University of Georgia for student housing, dining, and parking. The AHA recently completed a $60 million three-phase project transforming one of its old neighborhoods into a new, master-planned, mixed-income community. The AHA is currently engaged in a major downtown revitalization project in concert with its development partners and local government for North Downtown Athens.
Friday, January 27, 2023
George Edward (Eddie) Van Giesen III is the National Sales Manager at Raincycle, a WATTS company. Eddie received his MLA at the University of Georgia in 1995, and his BA at the University of Georgia in 1984. He is an American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) accredited professional. He speaks regularly at conferences, universities and professional associations, including The American Institute of Architects, American Society of Plumbing Engineers, American Society of Landscape Architects, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials among others. He was co-author of Designing Rainwater Harvesting Systems (John Wiley 2014), and principal author of the Georgia Rainwater Harvesting Guidelines (Georgia Department of Community Affairs, in 2009). He has worked and is currently active at the state and national level in the development of codes and standards related to the rainwater industry since 2008 in association with the ICC, IAPMO, and the CSA. His work is primarily centered on commercial rainwater systems applications for water conservation and stormwater management.
Classic City Rotarians and Friends made their way to the Okefenokee Swamp January 20th through 22nd. 19 rotarians and friends attended (7 Classic City Rotarians including Ellen Bryson, Blair Dorminey, Becky Engel, Mary Lilli Watson Chamberlin, Ray Watson, Tammy Dalton, and Laura Iyer). We traveled the swamp by boat (spotting several alligators), explored the preserved Chesser homestead, and enjoyed a naturalist hike on the swamp boardwalk.
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Paul Schroeder is currently a professor and head of the UGA Department of Geology. He started at UGA 31 years ago, having previously received degrees from New England College (B.A. Geology), University of South Florida (M.S. Marine Science), and Yale University (Ph.D. Geochemistry). He worked for several years at Texaco in Texas as a research Geologist. Since being at UGA he has conducted research in Clay Science, with funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, State Department, and industries, such as those in the Georgia Kaolin business. He teaches classes in mineralogy and recently published a book with Oxford University Press titled “Clays in the Critical Zone”. He and his wife, Linda, have three children, all of whom have enriched his life and for which his accomplishments would not have been possible without their support. His presentation will cover the Georgia kaolin industry that produces a natural clay resource invaluable to the state's economy and found in products we commonly use every day.
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The Rotary Club of the Classic City of Athens, Georgia -- founded in 1975, is part of Rotary International District 6910, and meets most Mondays at noon at the Holiday Inn in downtown Athens. Rotary brings together leaders to share ideas and take action! See more about Classic City Rotary's history or check out our upcoming meetings and programs. We'd love to have you as a guest as we take on the challenge of "Making Mondays Matter"!
More about Rotary International:
Rotary clubs are established throughout the world, and their membership represents a cross-section of each community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical and nonreligious, focusing on tenets of service, ethics, and fellowship. Our motto is "Service Above Self," which is carried out through service in our community, our vocations, internationally, to youth, and in our clubs, and we follow the tenets of Rotary's "Four-Way Test". Rotary membership provides opportunities to become connected with other professionals in one's community and internationally; to work with others in addressing humanitarian and educational needs, both locally and across the world; to develop leadership skills; and to have fellowship and fun with a diverse and engaging set of community leaders. Learn more about Rotary International-- 1.2 million members united in service, with a history beginning in 1905 but looking forward!