PAST Programs

2025 – 2026

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

October 7: Exit Planning Exchange (XPX Charlotte) Panel (Ann Marie Williams, Michelle Fritsch, Michael Stier moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Teagarden) | Reporter | Speaker Summary
October 14: The Umbrella Center: Laura Lawrence, President & CEO, Safe Alliance, and Andrew Oliver, Executive Director, Pat’s Place | Reporter | Speaker Summary
October 21: Transit Tax Referendum Panel | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with slides | Video without slides
October 28: Mike Causey, Insurance Commissioner | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with slides | Video without slides

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

January 6: How I Got Where I’m At (HIGWIA) featuring Jim Gilligan, Tchernavia Montgomery, and Bob Wilhelm | Reporter
January 13: Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE, Executive Director, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation | Reporter
January 20: Blair Stanford, Executive Director, Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Foundation for the Carolinas | Reporter | Speaker Summary
January 27: Craig Scharton, Founding Site Director, Connect Labs Charlotte| Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with slides | Video without slides

FEBRUARY

MARCH

March 3: State of the Club – Charlotte Rotary’s Visioning Process | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides
March 10: Kenneth Kahn, Musicland Gift Foundation | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides
March 17: David Erdman, “Geography of Charlotte” | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides
March 24: Community Lifeline: Dr. Kandi Deitemeyer, Dr. Heather Hill, Dr. Chris Nesbitt, and Catherine Butler | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides
March 31: Women’s History Month Panel | Women’s Leadership Across Generations: Moderator Moira Quinn, COO & Senior VP of Communication, Charlotte Center City Partners featuring Catherine P. Bessant, CEO, Foundation for the Carolinas, Tracey Greene-Washington, President, Indigo Innovation Group, and Charolette Obring, COO – Corporate, Medi-Weightloss | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides

2024 – 2025

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

September 3: CLT Airport Panel: Jack Christine, CLT Chief Infrastructure Office, Ben Goebel, Gresham Smith, with remarks by Stuart Hair, Assistant Airport Director, Charlotte Douglas International Airport | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video
September 10: No Meeting – Join us for the First Responders Scholarship Luncheon Event on September 13 | Reporter
September 17: NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video
September 24: Dave Pitt, Senior Director, Partnerships, Tepper Sports & Entertainment | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

April 1: Catherine P. Bessant, President and CEO of the Foundation for the Carolinas | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides
April 8: “Global Thinkers Panel” – International Relations and Implications for Rotarians with panelists: Leandre Adifon, CEO, Pyramind Base Technologies, PDG Firoz Perra, Board Member and past Chair, World Affairs Council of Charlotte, Chase Saunders, Saunders Law, PLLC, moderated by Past President Mike Hawley with “The Last Word” from Ambassador Mark Erwin | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides
April 15: Ryan Brookhart, Economics of Nuclear Power | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides
April 22: Matthew Martin, Regional Executive, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond |Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides
April 29: Rhett Brown, President, Wingate University | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video with Slides | Video without Slides

MAY

JUNE

2023 – 2024

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

January 2: No Meeting – Happy New Year!
January 9: Pickleball Panel – What’s behind this fast-growing sport? Craig Lemley, Director of Pickleball, Myers Park Country Club, Allan Haseley, Owner, Sports Connection, and Jim Kucera, Director of Pickleball at Rally Pickleball | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video
January 16: George Lynch, fmr UNC Basketball Letterman/NBA player | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video
January 23: John Hood, John Wood Pope Foundation | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video
January 30: Dale R. Folwell, CPA, State Treasurer, North Carolina Department of State Treasurer | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

May 7: Rodney Pitts, Owner and Chairman, Southern Elevator Company | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video
May 14: Public Safety Panel: CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings; Fire Chief Reggie Johnson; District Attorney, Spencer Merriweather; moderator, President Nominee Patrick Baker, City Attorney. | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video
May 21: Panel Discussion: Scott Syfert, Author “The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence” and David Fleming, Author of “Who’s Your Founding Father?” with Moderator, Dr. Tony Zeiss | Reporter | Speaker Summary | Video
May 28: How I Got Where I’m At featuring club members Anne Brown, John Clarkson, Clark Goodman, and Lori Keller

JUNE

2022 – 2023

October 4, 2022 – Bart Landess, Executive Director, Catawba Lands Conservancy

September 27, 2022 – Cyndee Patterson: Businesswoman Extraordinaire

September 13, 2022 – Terry Shook, Urban Design Mover and Shaker

September 6, 2022 – Keva Walton, CEO, Mecklenburg County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board

August 30, 2022 – Marc Oken, Falfurrias Capital Partners and Carolina Aviation Museum

August 23, 2022 – Larry Farber – for Love of Music

August 16, 2022 – Coach Will Healy and 49er Football!

August 9, 2022 – Cara Consuegra, Head Coach, Charlotte 49ers Women’s Basketball

August 2, 2022 – Eric Spengler, Executive Director, Friends of Queens Park

July 26, 2022 – The Charlotte Ledger – local news you can use. Tony Mecia, Founder and Executive Editor

July 19, 2022 – “The Hero Who Feeds Bodies and Souls” – Manuel Manolo Betancur, Owner, Manolo’s Bakery

July 12, 2022 – Tom Barkin, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

July 5, 2022 – A Beautiful Year in Review

2021 – 2022

June 28, 2022 – Mike Lamach, Chair, Charlotte Executive Leadership Council

June 21, 2022 – Dr. Todd Herman, President & CEO, The Mint Museum

June 14, 2022 – Dr. Charles Edwards, II, MD, Founding Physician, Memory & Movement Charlotte

June 7, 2022 – Wayne Goodwin, “Drive for Excellence”

May 31, 2022 – Wake Forest University Grows in Charlotte, Dr. Charles L. Iacovou, Dean and vice provost of Wake Forest University Charlotte Programs

May 24, 2022 – Timothy Bhatt, MD-MIS CTO, Moody’s Investors Service

May 17, 2022 – “Discovery Place at 75” Catherine Wilson Horne, President and CEO of Discovery Place

May 10, 2022 – Immediate Past President Jerry Coughter, Rotary WASH Ambassador

May 3, 2022 – Michael Almond, Former law partner turned novelist

April 26, 2022 – Always a Favorite: How I Got Where I’m At

April 19, 2022 – Nick Kelly, CEO, Tepper Sports & Entertainment

April 12, 2022 – Tim Miner, Co-Founder, Charlotte is Creative

April 5, 2022 – An update on global supply chain challenges, Omar Kazzaz, Kazzaz Advisory Group

March 29 , 2022 – American Airlines and the CLT Hub (Tracy Montross, Regional Director, American Airlines)

March 22, 2022 – Mecklenburg Tax Assessor

March 15, 2022 Andrew Travis: What is Ransomeware?

March 8, 2022 – Laura Little presents “Behind the Curtain”

March 1, 2022 – Haley Gentry, Aviation Director, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport

Feb. 22, 2022 – Abe Madkour – “All About Sports”

Feb. 15, 2022 – Excellence in Leadership’s 33rd Award Recipient, Former Mayor Harvey Gantt

Feb. 8, 2022 – Ben Goebel: A New and Improved CLT

Feb. 1, 2022 – Bob Schurmeier: An update from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation

Jan. 25, 2022 – HIGWIA (How I Got Where I’m At) featuring Jensen Caudle and Laura Little

Jan. 18, 2022 – Judge C. Renee Little

Jan. 11, 2022 – Astrid Chirinos, ED, Community Engagement, YMCA of Greater Charlotte

Jan. 4, 2022 – Bruce Hensley, Creator of Queen’s Feast

Dec. 21 2021 – Best Christmas Meeting Ever!

Dec. 14, 2021 – Mark Vitner, MD, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo and John Connaughton, Professor of Financial Economics

Click here for Mark Vitner’s slides

Click here for John Connaughton’s slides.

Dec. 7, 2021 – Peter Frandano, Founder, Frandano Inc., “Life Lessons”

Nov. 30, 2021 – Rotary District 7680 Governor Nico Iannelli

Nov. 23, 2021 – Dean Otto, A Thanksgiving Story to remember video

Dean Otto, Story write-up

Nov. 16, 2021 – Ken Schorr, Executive Director, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Nov. 9, 2021 – Jim Whaley, Regional President, USO Southeast

Nov. 2, 2021 – Fulton Meachem, CEO Inlivian

Oct. 26, 2021 – Felix Sabates, Successful Businessman, Sports Team Owner, Philanthropist and Cuban Immigrant

Oct. 19, 2021 – Eric Davis, Chairman, NC Board of Education

Oct. 12, 2021 – “Heating Up the Meeting” with Bret Morey, owner of Xtreme Gourmet Sauces.

Oct. 5, 2021 – Hugh McColl’s Chapter Two by Howard Covington

Sept. 21 2021 – COVID-19 Facts & Myths: Doctors Speak

Sept. 14, 2021 – Patricia Shafter, “A Woman with a Mission”

News Release – Project Handover, NewGen Peacebuilders Lebanon 2021 Program. Build Peace. Be the Peace.

Sept. 7 2021 – Sam Bowles, MD, New Republic Capital division of New Republic Partners

Aug. 31 2021 – Frank Dominguez: Leading WDAV and the Pandemic

Aug. 24, 2021 – Edna Chirico, National Director of Government Affairs, OutTeach

Aug. 17, 2021 – Liz Clasen-Kelly, ED, Roof Above

Aug. 10, 2021 – Niles Sorensen & Mike Nelson: The story of UNC Charlotte Marriot Hotel & Conference Center

Aug. 3, 2021 – Laura Smith, EVP, Foundation For The Carolinas, Carolina Theater

July 27, 2021 – Marcellus “MT” Turner, CEO & Chief Librarian, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library

July 20, 2021 – Eileen Cai, VP, Economic Development, Asia & North America, Charlotte Regional Business Alliance

July 13, 2021 – Julie Janson, EVP and CEO Duke Energy Carolinas

July 6, 2021 – Presidential Changeover from President Jerry Coughter to President Carol Hardison

2020 – 2021

June 29, 2021 – Muhsin Muhammad II, Former Carolina Panther, Wild Wing Cafe Investor, Philanthropist

June 22, 2021 – Taiwo Jaiyeoba, Asst City Mgr, Dir of Planning Design & Development, City of Charlotte, NC

June 15, 2021 – Earnest Winston, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent

June 8, 2021 – Bethany Bradsher, Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament

June 1, 2021 – James “Smuggie” Mitchell, Leeper Construction President (and formerly on City Council)

May 25, 2021 – Dr. Jordan Lipton, Signature Healthcare

May 18, 2021 – Susan Devore, CEO, Premier

May 11, 2021 – Dr. Patrick Warren of Clemson University presents “Spot the Troll”

May 4, 2021 – John Tosco, ED, Tosco Music Organization

April 27, 2021 – Peter Kyle, Director, Rotary Zones 33 and 34

April 20, 2021 – Glen Snider, Duke Energy, Head of Long Term Planning

Slides from Mr. Snider

April 13, 2021 – Jennifer Nichols, Executive Director, The Aspire Carolinas Foundation

April 6, 2021 – Jack Thomson, ED, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission

March 30, 2021 – David Erdman: Insights and Ideas for Charlotte

March 23, 2021 – Panel Discussion: Black Media and its role in Charlotte

March 16, 2021 – John Lewis, CEO, Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)

March 9, 2021 – Gibbie Harris, MSPH, BSN, Public Health Director, Mecklenburg County

March 2, 2021 – How I Got Where I’m At highlighting members: Reginald “Reggie” Johnson, City of Charlotte, Fire Chief and Andrew “Andy” Ross, Arcos Properties, Founder and Managing Principal

February 23, 2021 – Clay Grubb, Charlotte Developer, Affordable Housing

February 16, 2021 – Excellence in Leadership Recipient, Pat Rodgers, Rodgers President and CEO

February 9, 2021 – CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings

February 2, 2021 – Rebound with Matt Doherty

January 26, 2021 – Dr. Sharon Gaber, Chancellor, UNC Charlotte

January 19, 2021 – Rhett Brown, President, Wingate University

January 12, 2021 – Kelly King, Chairman and CEO, Truist Financial Corp.

January 5, 2021 – Beverlee Sanders, Solid Waste Services, City of Charlotte – “Recycling Charlotte”

December 15, 2020 – The Choir at Saint Peters

December 8, 2020 – How I Got Where I’m At with Paul Haddock and Joe Gass

December 1, 2020 – Ely Portillo, Assistant Director, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute

November 24, 2020 – George “Mr. C” Couchell, A “Quintessential American Success Story”

November 17, 2020 – Peter Brunnick, Hospice and Palliative Care, Charlotte Region

November 3, 2020 – Dr. Michael Bitzer, Nationally recognized political expert

October 27, 2020 – Live from the Double Door Inn documentarians

October 20, 2020 – Christopher S. Lawing, Charlotte Signs Project

October 13, 2020 – Alexys Taylor, Charlotte Program – Unity Project, NC Outward Bound School

October 6, 2020 – Tom Hanchett, Charlotte History 101: Queen, King, Duke, Crown

September 29, 2020 – Rotary Scholarship Golf Classic

September 22, 2020 – Justice Mark Davis

September 15, 2020 – Tribute to Sandy

September 8, 2020 – Courtney Layne, The Mayflower Society

September 1, 2020 – Mike Hill, Athletic Director, Charlotte 49ers

August 25, 2020 – Dr. Willie Griffin, Museum of the New South – Brooklyn Neighborhood

August 18, 2020 – Firoz Peera, Carl Davis – Rotary Million Dollar Challenge

August 11, 2020 – Bill Russell, President & CEO, LKN Chamber

August 4, 2020 – District Governor Mike Walker

July 28, 2020 – David Mildenburg, Editor, Business North Carolina

July 21, 2020 – Panel: Dr. Jessica Saxe, Dr. Pressley Gilbert, Elly Clary

July 14, 2020 – Tom Barker, President, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

July 07, 2020 – Rocio Gonzales, ED, Latin American Chamber of Commerce Charlotte

2019 – 2020

June 30, 2020 – President’s Changeover

June 23, 2020 – Dena Diorio & Joe Penner, Mecklenburg County’s response to COVID-19

June 16, 2020 – John W. Gaulden, Gensler, Reopening public spaces from an architect’s view

June 09, 2020 – Bill Tobin, Shelter Box

June 2, 2020 – How I Got Where I’m At (Kyle Woodruff & Kevin Loux)

May 26, 2020 – Jamal Tate and Interact Service Awards

May 19, 2020 – Brent Cagle, Charlotte Douglas International Airport

May 12, 2020 – Tory Summey & Bruce Thompson, Federal Pandemic Relief

May 5, 2020 – Krishneel Maharaj, The Mind & Movement Co.

April 28, 2020 – How I Got Where I’m At (Terri Guthrie, T. J. McCullough)

April 21, 2020 – How I Got Where I’m At (Jason Otte, Carol Hardison)

April 14, 2020 – How I Got Where I’m At (Robert Salmon)

April 7, 2020 – Club Update

March 31, 2020 – Club Update

March 24, 2020 – Club Update

March 17, 2020 – Letter from President John Lassiter

March 10, 2020 – Wilhelmenia I. Rembert, PhD, North Carolina Census 2020

March 3, 2020 – How I Got Where I’m At: Charlie Bones, Mary Grace Lostetter, Bryce Chambliss

February 25, 2020 – Excellence in Leadership Award

February 18, 2020 – Michael Reddington, Leadership from the Interrogation Room

February 12, 2020 – Warren Cooksey, NC Turnpike Authority

February 4, 2020 – Dr. Justin Favaro, Oncologist, World Cancer Day

January 28, 2020 – Woody Connette, Climbing to the Top in 50 States

January 21, 2020 – Daniel Lugo, J.D., Queens University of Charlotte

January 14, 2020 – Jim Hintz, Serving Alto Cayma

January 7, 2020 – Rotary District Governor Beth Trotter

December 17, 2019 – Holiday Program

December 10, 2019 – Chief Kerr Putney

December 3, 2019 – How I Got Where I’m At

November 26, 2019 – Tracy Dodson, City of Charlotte

November 19, 2019 – Gary Green, Compass Group North America

November 12, 2019 – Greg Forest, United States Marshal

November 5, 2019 – Radio Personalities Ace & TJ with Adam Goodman

October 29, 2019 – Gene Woods, Atrium Health

October 22, 2019 – Dan Clodfelter, Utilities Commissioner

October 15, 2019 – Dena Diorio, Mecklenburg County Manager

October 8, 2019 – Michael Smith, Charlotte Center City Partners

October 1, 2019 – Dr. Ray Hodgson, Life and Death in Nepal

September 24, 2019 – Bob Morgan, Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson

September 17, 2019 – Chas Fagan, Master Artist/Sculptor

September 10, 2019 – 17th Annual Rotary Scholarship Golf Classic

September 3, 2019 – Mac Lackey, The Value of Entrepreneurial Thinking to CLT

August 27, 2019 – Stephen Saucier, Carolinas Aviation Museum

August 20, 2019 – Stephanie Cooper-Lewter, Leading on Opportunity

August 13, 2019 – How I Got Where I’m At (Chad Lloyd, Rhonda York, Andy Dinkin)

August 6, 2019 – David Gilbert, President & CEO, Destination Cleveland

July 30, 2019 – Richard Vinroot, 10 Things on my Mind

July 23, 2019 – Mick Mixon, Voice of the Carolina Panthers

July 16, 2019 – Mayor Vi Lyles

July 09, 2019 – Ty Hardy, Navy Seal

July 16, 2019 – Vi Lyles, Mayor, City of Charlotte

PAST Programs

2025 – 2026

2024 – 2025

2023 – 2024

2022 – 2023

2021 – 2022

2020 – 2021

2019 – 2020

Rotary Club of Charlotte

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