Looking for a speaker for your club? District 6970 provides this Speaker’s Bureau to assist your program chair in arranging interesting and relevant speakers on a variety of subjects – Rotary and non-Rotary.
For convenience to the club and the speaker, we indicate which geographic area within the district a speakers prefer to appear. “Any” means anywhere within the district.
If you or your club have a recommendation for a speaker, send the speaker’s name and title, Rotary club (if any), topic(s), email address,telephone numbers and preferred geographic area. We ask that you seek permission from the speaker prior to submitting your recommendation. Send the information to the district executive secretary using the Contact Us link.
Program chairs should make direct contact using the email addresses and telephone numbers below.
ROTARY SUBJECTS
Rotarian speakers who offer their speaker services to your club generally will travel to any club in the indistrict. Speakers designated with an * prefer to speak to clubs within the southeast portion of the district.
Most past district governors are willing to speak on any Rotary subject of your choosing. However, several PDGs have special interests or experiences they would like to share with your members.
NON-ROTARY SUBJECTS
The following speakers have been recommended by district club program committees. Each speaker has confirmed his or her interest in presenting to other clubs within the district. While most speakers are willing to travel to clubs throughout the district, a few restrict their travel where indicated below.
If your club has recommendations for additions to the Speakers’ Bureau, please contact the District Executive Secretary (click Contact Us).
| ROTARY SUBJECTS | NON-ROTARY SUBJECTS |
|---|---|
| John Brunner Past-District Governor 2012-2013 jbrunner@jbrun.com | 352.317.1251 | Jennifer Mitchell Office of Communications St. Johns River Water Management District Topic: The Future of Our Water Availability Email: jmitchell@sjrwmd.com | 904-730-6283 Area: Northeast Florida Website: www.sjrwmd.com |
| Art MacQueen Past-District Governor 2013-2014 art.macqueen13.14@gmail.com | 386.295.1620 | James Bennett Urban Transportation, Development Manager Florida Department of Transportation Topic: Road projects going on (and about to start) in and around the Jacksonville areas. Area: Duval and surrounding counties james.bennett@dot.state.fl.us | 904-360-5646 |
| Cynde Covington Past-District Governor 2010-2011 Topics: Foundation, Polio Plus, NID Trips cyndecovington@gmail.com | 904.568.1497 | Jeff Davis Plan-the-attack Topic: Strategic planning for small businesses Area: Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns jeff@plantheattack.com | 904-536-1518 |
| Dave Faraldo Past-District Governor 2009-2010 Topic: Membership building faraldod@gmail.com | 904.536.4416 | Richard Willits RC Southpoint, atttorney Topics: • Top 10 things your mother never told you about the law. • Our jury system • Charles Ponzi and Ponzi schemes • The Ashley Gang rotaryrichard@hotmail.com | res. 904-834-2972 - cell 561-385-0027 |
| Debra Lowe Major Gifts Officer Topic: The Rotary Foundation Foundation Major Gifts debra.lowe@rotary.org | 407.846.0610 | Steven Woodard Director of Emergency Preparedness City of Jacksonville Topic: Bracing for the Worst Area: Duval swoodard@coj.net | 904.255.3123 |
| Cassie Moyers D6970 Rotary Youth Exchange Chair 2018-21 801-870-0940 (cellular) cassie.moyers@ryeflorida.org www.ryeflorida.org www.ryeflorida.org/6970 | Betsy Kruger Owner, Strategic Power Topic: Marketing strategy expert coaches business leaders using a system transform marketing strategy and magnify business. info@betsykruger.com | 386-253-2060 |
| Jeanette Loftus Dist. Governor 2018-19, District Foundation Chair 2020-2023 Topics: Polio, NID to India, Foundation email: JLo.Rotary6970@gmail.com 386.931.9030 | Donald Dymer RC Jacksonjville Oceanside Topic: The Trends and Myths of Employee Screening and Testing ddymer@SingleSourceServices.com | 904.241.1821 |
| Russ Miller District Governor 2008-2009 pdgruss@lazyscape.com | 813.230.1334 | Lawrence M. Hills Jr. Program Director Topic: Teen & Truancy Court 4th Judicial Circuit: The effectiveness and success of the Teen and Truancy Court. Area: Clay, Duval, Nassau Lhills@coj.net | 904.255.1030 |
| Karen Weiss Assistant Governor 2008-2013 Early Act lickiss@aol.com | 386.956.8207 | Lynn Brannon Florida Army National Guard JFHQ Family Readiness Support Topic: Florida National Guard Family Program offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to support and assist service members and families of the Florida National Guard. lynn.b.brannon.ctr@mail.mil | 904-599-2917 |
| Susan Wischhusen Spring Hill Rotary Club District 6950, Zone 34 Coord. Rotarian Action Group Against Child Slavery rotarysusan@gmail.com | 631.697.1804 | R. Charles Nichols, M.D. Assoc.Professor Univ. Florida Radiation Oncology Topic: The story and successes behind the Proton Beam Therapy being used at UF Health Proton Institute - Jacksonville rnichols@floridaproton.org | 904-588-1800 |
| Bill Hamilton Hoods For Heroes Bill@FCFSJax.com | 904-887-2187 70% of Firefighter line of duty deaths are from cancer and 1 out of 3 are diagnosed with cancer. We provide grants for Firefighters to get them the protective chemical blocking hoods to reduce their exposure to carcinogens. | Harlow A. Hyde Author RC Deland Topic: Climate Change emphasis on the historical and statistical record in North America, including both temperature and precipitation. Hydes123@msn.com | 386-748-2820 |
| Jim Samuelson Shelter Box, 606 SW 3rd Ave., Ocala, FL 34471 Supported by Rotary ShelterBox USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter, warmth and dignity to survivors of disaster and humanitarian crisis worldwide. jim.samuelson@homeinstead.com | 352-502-6585 | Sam Houston / Mike Cassata Cecil Field POW*MIA Memorial 6112 New World Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32221 Mission: HONOR all former Prisoners of War; REMEMBER and NEVER FORGET those quiet, Missing in Action Heroes and the Families that wait for their return www.powmiamemorial.org cecilfieldpowmia@gmail.com | 904-813-8162 |
| Tim O’Donnell District Grant Chair Topic: District Grants email: Odtimmail@gmail.com 386.986.6416 | Dr. Marcus De Carvalho A Medical Doctor who specializes in addiction medicine and psychiatry. He is board certified and is a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is also a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Topic: "Untangling the Opioid Epidemic-A Hijacking of the Brain" decarvalhomarcus@gmail.com |
| Mickey Ulmer District 6970 • RLI Director District 6970 • Assistant Governor/Foundation Rotary Club of Amelia Island Sunrise • Past-President 2018-19 email: alljustright@aol.com 904-583-1032 | Kathy Stark A Jacksonville native and resident, Kathy specializes in watercolor and oil painting. A member of the Southlight Gallery in downtown Jacksonville, Kathy’s work has been collected both privately and corporately and has been shown in museums and galleries in Northeast Florida. Kathy graduated from Bartram School in Jacksonville, now part of the Bolles School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Furman University in Greenville, SC, and continued her post baccalaureate education at the University of Florida. Stark combines her expansive watercolor paintings with sketches, historical facts and maps to create an exhibit that is a unique blend of art and education, serving as a tribute and guide to the great unspoiled stretches of our region. shelbytalley@me.com |
| Ellen Blasi District 6970 Eliminating Malaria email: epblasi@yahoo.com | Ryan Backmann, Exec Dir, Project Cold Case Dan Janson, Supervisor, Sheriff's Office Homicide/Cold Case Project: Cold Case is a non-profit group serving families of unsolved homicide victims. They work together with the Sheriff's office to follow up with families of unsolved cases. In the era DNA technology, more crimes have the potential to be reviewed and possibly solved. A very interesting presentation! www.projectcoldcase.org ryanb@projectcoldcase.org daniel.janson@jaxsheriff.org |
| Billy Wagner Brightway Insurance Agency Owner RC of Ponte Vedra Beach Past President 2017-18 District 6970 904-280-4102 Learn how to save time and simplify life. Learn how to save 20 hours of time each week through a unique set of strategies. Learn how to create an ideal schedule, how to organize giving back to our community, and many other tips on how to simplify your life so you can spend time on the things that truly matter. email: billy.wagner@brightway.com | Bryan Franks, Ph.D. Asst Prof of Marine Science, JU bfranks@ju.edu | 904-256-7976 |
| Mike Darragh, Past District Governor 2019-20 Zone 34 Rotary Coordinator email: MikeHDarragh@gmail.com (904) 412-1478 Topic: How to develop a Membership Action Plan for your club The new Membership Action Plan has great tools that allow clubs to analyze their club, then take concrete steps to improve it. If you want happy, engaged members, find out how to use M.A.P. | Alan J. Bliss, Ph.D. Executive Director, Jacksonville Historical Society www.jaxhistory.org alan.bliss@jaxhistory.org | 904-665-0064 Credentialed and accomplished in academic and public history, Alan Bliss is noted for his strong community engagement. Alan has a background in real estate development and property management, as well as in the maritime industry. He is a sought-after public speaker and is closely engaged with matters of urban and transportation policy, downtown investment, city and regional planning, and infrastructure. Alan is skilled in Strategic Planning, Historical Research, Oral History, and Project Management. He has a University of Florida Ph.D., with studies focused on Urban History and Economic Geography. |
| Michael L. Huyghue President, Michael Huyghue & Associates, LLC www.michaelhuyghue.com mlh@michaelhuyghue.com | 904-813-6340 Former General Manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Michael offers a unique perspective into the world of the NFL. Very engaging and entertaining! |
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| Kevin Van Dyke Owner, Anastasia Fitness Club kevin@anastasiafit.com | 904-910-2623 A practice focused on preventing disease via exercise, nutrition and other lifestyle habits. This presentation is focused on the cause of our exploding cost of health care and how it relates to a similar epidemic with obesity. |
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| Dr. Gretchen L. Espinetti CART Fund, Chair CART Fund - Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust Learn more about Rotary's CART Fund providing dollars for innovated research to fight Alzheimer’s disease. sunshineallaround@gmail.com | 330-998-1955 |
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| Ruth Bowling Ruth.Bowling@flhosp.org Looking to partner for Global Grants to fund projects that will bring hope and healing to many children throughout the world. |
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| Sarah Lawlor Troup Manager of Connectable sarah@connectablejax.com 904-614-2420 Connectable raises awareness within Northeast Florida about what people with intellectual and developmental differences (IDDs) can bring to our community through hard work and friendship. |
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| Stephanie Brown Hubbard House, a full-service certified domestic violence center sbrown2@hubbardhouse.org 904-354-0076 ext 209 |
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| Kirby Wedekind Proetective Security Advisor Dept of Homeland Security NE FL CISA Region IV kirby.wedekind@hq.dhs.gov 202-868-1361 program about Cybersecurity and the many programs available from the US Govt for assistance with Active Shooter and what to do |
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| Jacob A. Rush, Esq (904) 419-3050 www.jacobrush.us Civil Rights Lawyer, Former Sheriff's Deputy - Overview of Law Enforcement and Civil Rights challenges in America. |
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| Jennifer Mitchell, Ph. D. Water Less: Reducing outdoor irrigation Office of Communications St. Johns River Water Management District Email: jmitchell@sjrwmd.com Office: 904-730-6283 |
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| Giselle Carson, Atty. Marks Gray U.S. Immigration & Compliance Email: gcarson@marksgray.com Office: 904-398-0900 |
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| Bill Jameson - Culture Index Topic: Getting the Right Team On The Bus To Sustainably Scale Your Business. Email: HelpingFloridaCompaniesGrow@gmail.com Phone 1-904-439-1198 |
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| Lisa Rinaman, speaker about the St. Johns River Email: rowerinaman@gmail.com |
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| Pete Langlois, President/COO at Ascendo Topic: Host of the Pete The Job Guy Radio Show to discuss current trends in employment especially with the work at home trend. Email: Planglois@ascendo.com Phone 904-999-4878 |
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| Center for Clinical Research Topic: Medical Research Vicki Helow Email: vhelow@encoredocs.com |
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| Barton and Lori Chelf Founders of Beyond90 Topic: Helping legal refugees in Jacksonville reach self-sufficiency after their 90 days of government funding is over. Email: lchelf@beyond90.org Phone: 904-509-9388 Website: www.Beyond90.org |
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| Michael Ray FitzGerald Topic: Jacksonville and the Roots of Southern Rock Email: fitzrite@att.net Website: https://michaelrayfitzgerald.com/ |
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| Danae' Bunso is the Duval County Program Coordinator for the non-profit organization called Isaiah 117 House. Isaiah 117 House provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting foster care placement. Duval County Program Coordinator 423.518.3760 ext. 106 danae.bunso@isaiah117house.com www.isaiah117house.com https://linktr.ee/Isaiah117houseduvalcofl |
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| Madison Edwards Students Against Child Trafficking SACT Programs Director Office: 512.410.8080 Madison@sactedu.org |