Meet Our Speakers
The Rotary Club of Washington, DC is strategically located to gather the most prestigious group of speakers our nation’s Capital can generate. From Ambassadors, Business Executives, and Tribal Chiefs to an endless array of Champions of Change. Our Club Members, and visitors to our weekly meetings, receive an impressive amount of intellectually-stimulating, heart-warming presentations each week. Further, on this page, is a sample of speakers whom have recently spoken at our Club…
Upcoming Speakers
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: H.E. Georg Sparber, Ambassador of Liechtenstein
Diplomacy the Liechtenstein Way – How to Make Your Voice Heard
H. E. Ambassador Georg Sparber
Georg Sparber is Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United States of America since 2021. He also serves as Liechtenstein’s Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States. Before assuming his current duties, he held the position of Deputy Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the United Nations in New York since January 2017. His portfolio included disarmament, peace and security and political issues.
From 2014 to 2016, Ambassador Sparber served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Liechtenstein Embassy in Vienna with accreditation to Austria and the Czech Republic. During that time, he was also Deputy Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). From 2010-2014 Ambassador Sparber was posted to the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein in New York and was responsible for development, human rights, global governance and elections. He joined the Office of Foreign Affairs in Vaduz in 2009.
Ambassador Sparber holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, where he also finished his graduate studies. During his studies he spent time at Sorbonne University in Paris and at Rutgers University, New Jersey. He grew up in Liechtenstein where he received his primary and secondary education.
Ambassador Sparber is married to Yvonne Sparber. They have five children.
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Linda Ryden
Teaching Children to Resolve Conflicts
Linda Ryden
Peace of Mind grew out of the work of Linda Ryden, the Peace Teacher at Lafayette Elementary, the largest public elementary school in Washington, D.C.. In 2003, Linda began teaching a weekly conflict resolution class to Lafayette students. While her first through fifth graders seemed to be mastering conflict resolution techniques in class, there were still fights on the playground. Why? Linda’s inquiry led her to mindfulness and brain science.
Once she integrated these topics into her lessons, students were finally able to transfer their skills onto the playground! They became aware of and learned how to manage their feelings to resolve conflicts before they escalated. The culture of the school began to change and educators from other schools began to notice. Linda began writing curriculum and children’s books to share this knowledge.
Peace of Mind (teachpeaceofmind.org) was organized as a non-profit to share the curriculum and train teachers how to use it. Today, over 10,000 students receive PoM instruction every year in 45 states/DC/Puerto Rico and in other countries around the globe. Over 1,250 teachers have been trained and supported since 2019.
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Patty Medina
From Salsa to Strategy: Leading with Culture, Purpose, and Heart
Patty Medina is the Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Development and Inclusive Excellence at American University, where she leads initiatives that combine leadership development, career readiness, mental health awareness, and diversity, equity, and inclusion for over 300 student-athletes. A first-generation Latina and proud Mexican immigrant, Patty has dedicated her career to empowering underrepresented communities in athletics and higher education.
She is the founder of the Hooper Mentality Foundation and Latinx En Athletics, two organizations focused on promoting career development, empowerment, and mental health awareness for athletes, particularly in the Latinx community. Her work has been recognized nationally, earning her multiple awards and a feature in Forbes for her DEI leadership.
Patty is passionate about creating pathways for others, drawing from her own journey to inspire students and professionals alike to dream boldly, work relentlessly, and stay rooted in their identity.
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Tiffany Ervin
The CART Fund - The Power of One
Tiffany Ervin is an award-winning keynote speaker, commercial spokesperson, sideline reporter and television personality who resides in Spartanburg, SC. She accepted the position of Executive Director for The CART Fund in May 2022, after serving on the board as VP of Public Image for 4 years.
She is past president of the Four Seasons Rotary Club in Hendersonville, NC, and a Paul Harris Fellow +4. She has served Rotary District 7670 (WNC) as District Governor in 2019-20, and previously as District Secretary, Public Image Chair, Membership Chair, District Conference Chair (six times), and Assistant Governor. She was selected to represent her district at the RI Council on Legislation 2023-2026. She has served on various Zone 33/34 committees, including Chair of the Emerging Leaders program in 2021 and as an Innovative Clubs Advocate. She was recently appointed to the newly-created Rotary International Social Media Influencers Team.
Tiffany was selected to lead breakout sessions at the 2015 and 2017 Rotary International Conventions in Brazil and Atlanta, and has presented training sessions and keynotes to more than 300 Rotary clubs, district conferences, PETS, trainings and seminars around the US.
She and her husband, Bill Boroff, reside in both SC and GA, and enjoy attending football games at their alma maters, the University of SC (hers) and Furman University (his). Tiffany is a member of the board of directors for Spartanburg County Gamecock Club, Media Women of SC, Disaster Aid USA, and Four Seasons Rotary.
Missed the meeting? Watch the speaker’s presentation.
YouTube
Angela Franco | Role of Chambers of Commerce in the New Era | August 20, 2025
Najiba Hlemi, Exec. Dir. FAPAC | Foster Care in Washington DC | August 13, 2025
Lars Benson, Insitor | How Women in Business are Changing the World in Africa | August 6, 2025
Carl Gray III | Youth Entrepreneurship: Not the future, the NOW | July 30, 2025
Iryna Lujan, Exec. Dir., Universal Aid for Children | Ukraine Children Need Peace | July 23, 2025
Jane Meyers | Public Libraries Carrying on Innovation and Development in Zambia | July 16, 2025
Eugene "Gene" Procknow | Independent American Revolution Researcher and Author | July 9, 2025
Guillermo Christensen | National Security Law with Focus on Cybersecurity | June 25, 2025
President Bob's Recognitions | June 18th, 2025
Sampling of Our Past Speakers
The Rotary Club of Washington, DC would like to thank our past speakers for the engaging and motivational and informative presentations.
Bob Cusack
Editor in Chief, The Hill/TheHill.com
Reporting on politics and policy in the nation’s capital since 1995, Mr. Cusack joined The Hill as Business and Lobbying Editor in 2003 and is now the newspaper’s Managing Editor. Mr. Cusack regularly appears on ABC, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC as a political analyst.
Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana
Ambassador of Rwanda to the United States
Prior to her appointment, Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana was a tenured Professor of History at Cosumnes River College (CRC) in Sacramento, California from 1994 to 2013. She is also Co-Founder and President of Friends of Rwanda Association (F.O.R.A).
Manny Mandel
Holocaust Survivor
Emanuel “Manny” Mandel was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1936, the year in which his parents returned to their native Hungary. Manny’s father had been selected to become one of the Chief Cantors…
Juan Williams
Fox Political Analyst and Author
Juan Williams is one of America’s leading political writers and thinkers. Mr. Williams is a top political analyst for Fox Television, co-host of the daily talk show ‘The Five’ and a regular panelist for Fox News Sunday and Special Report.
James Chen
Institute for Global Engagement
James Chen is the Vice President of Global Operations at the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE). James first joined IGE in 2011, serving as both a Program Officer and the Executive Director…
Anne Midgette
Classical Music Critic, The Washington Post
Anne Midgette is a graduate of Yale University. She lived in Munich, Germany, reviewing opera, music, and art throughout Europe for The Wall Street Journal, Opera News, and other publications. In 2008, she took over as the chief classical music critic for The Washington Post.