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

June 7th 2023 at 12:30 pm
In Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Director, Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs

Japer Bowles, a local queer advocate and public affairs professional, has experience in constituent services and expertise in local and state legislative processes.  He recently led a coalition of more than thirty local LGBTQ+ businesses and nonprofit organizations and over 60 elected officials to develop priorities and strategize investments and programs supportive to the LGBTQ+ community, including housing, workforce development, and a resource community center.

Director Bowles previously served as a legislative manager at Stateside, where he led a team that analyzed, monitored, and reported the political actions of state legislatures and executive leaders and reported on over 15,000 legislative and regulatory matters for corporations, trade associations, and the military. Director Bowles also previously served two terms as an ANC commissioner in service of residents in Adams Morgan.


June 14th 2023 at 12:30 pm
In Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
German Ambassador/DC

Axel Dittmann is the Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy in Washington.  Prior to his appointment in 2022, he served as Director for EU Institutional Affairs Foreign Office in Berlin (2018-2022), as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Serbia (2015-2018), as European Directorate Foreign Office, Berlin (2007-2015), and UNOSEK, United Nations in Vienna (2006-2007). 

From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Dittmann was assigned to the German Embassy in Washington (State Department exchange, Political officer), and from 2001 to 2004, was part of the negotiating team EU Constitutional Treaty, Foreign Office, Berlin. 

Prior to that, he was at the foreign office of the Germany Embassy Belgrade, UNMIK (Kosovo), EU negotiating team Skopje.

He began his career at the Foreign Office (Attache? training; UN Permanent Mission in NY)

Mr. Dittmann was born in Bonn, Germany, studied economics and is married with three children.
 

June 21st 2023 at 12:30 pm
In Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Curator at the National Museum of American History

Katherine Ott has been a curator at the National Museum of American History for 20+years, spending time thinking, talking, and writing about how and why people in the past were tagged for being different—because of disease, gender, disability, sexuality, race, or just being annoying.  She has led exhibitions on HIV and AIDS, the Stonewall Anniversary, Polio, and disability history, among other topics.  She teaches a graduate course at The George Washington University and has authored or coedited three books.

Katherine responds to all pronouns and is energetically honing her queer superpower.

 

June 28th 2023 at 12:30 pm
In Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
President's Final Club Assembly


Please join club President, Marilyn Nevy Cruz for her final club assembly as your president.
 

Missed the meeting? Watch the speaker’s presentation.

YouTube

Our own Alexander Tu introduces his friends Dr. Michael and Joan Kim. Husband and wife team, Michael and Joan Kim, are both pharmacists and entrepreneurs. They currently have ownership in multiple pharmacies in the District of Columbia and have owned eight different pharmacies since 2005.
Michael Kim graduated from Howard University College of Pharmacy in 1998 and was part of the first ever entry-level PharmD class to graduate from the College of Pharmacy. Joan Kim graduated from St. John’s College of Pharmacy in New York in 1995 and worked in both hospital and retail settings before moving to Maryland to start a new life with Michael.

Joan has helped countless patients' lives over the years with her vast knowledge of alternative medicine and nutrition. She has been featured in local newspapers and has been a featured speaker representing women in pharmacy. She has been able to juggle being a business owner, pharmacist, wife, and a fantastic mother to six children.

Michael has been the recipient of several awards since graduation, including the Bowl of Hygeia award, the Howard University College of Pharmacy Alumnus of the Year award and the Washington DC Pharmacy Association Pharmacist of the Year award. He has been featured in multiple pharmacy publications and has been interviewed by many news media outlets.Michael is the current Chairman of the Care Pharmacies Board of Directors, was a Vice President of the National Community Pharmacist Association (NCPA) for six years and is a board member of the Howard University College of Pharmacy Board of Visitors.

Our own Alexander Tu introduces his friends Dr. Michael and Joan Kim. Husband and wife team, Michael and Joan Kim, are both pharmacists and entrepreneurs. They currently have ownership in multiple pharmacies in the District of Columbia and have owned eight different pharmacies since 2005.
Michael Kim graduated from Howard University College of Pharmacy in 1998 and was part of the first ever entry-level PharmD class to graduate from the College of Pharmacy. Joan Kim graduated from St. John’s College of Pharmacy in New York in 1995 and worked in both hospital and retail settings before moving to Maryland to start a new life with Michael.

Joan has helped countless patients' lives over the years with her vast knowledge of alternative medicine and nutrition. She has been featured in local newspapers and has been a featured speaker representing women in pharmacy. She has been able to juggle being a business owner, pharmacist, wife, and a fantastic mother to six children.

Michael has been the recipient of several awards since graduation, including the Bowl of Hygeia award, the Howard University College of Pharmacy Alumnus of the Year award and the Washington DC Pharmacy Association Pharmacist of the Year award. He has been featured in multiple pharmacy publications and has been interviewed by many news media outlets.Michael is the current Chairman of the Care Pharmacies Board of Directors, was a Vice President of the National Community Pharmacist Association (NCPA) for six years and is a board member of the Howard University College of Pharmacy Board of Visitors.

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Dr. Michael & Joan Kim | Pharmacists, Entrepreneurs, Grubb's Pharmacy | May 17, 2023

Rotary Club Washington DC 2 views May 21, 2023 6:48 pm

Our own Kenny Barnes introduces his long-time friend Kymone Freeman.  Freeman is an award-winning playwright, activist and commentator.  He is the subject of one chapter of the book Beat of a Different Drum: The Untold Stories of African Americans Forging Their Own Paths in Work and Life (Hyperion).  He is a 2010 Green for All Fellow & co-founder of We Act Radio DC’s Best Social Justice Radio Station 2017 by Washington City Paper and 1st Place 2017 Public Media Journalists Association Award winner for his Lion and the Map Commentary from the Anacostia Unmapped radio series on WAMU/ NPR’s most successful local production in 2016.  He founded the Black L.U.V. Festival in 1997 & was honored at the Kennedy Center as a Mayor's Art Award Finalist for Excellence in Service to the Arts 2005.

The 25th Anniversary of the Black Luvfest was the largest event of the 50th Anniversary of the Ft. Dupont Amphitheatre Summer Series sponsored by the National Park Service in 2022.  He was featured as a contributing writer in the most controversial Ebony Magazine in recent history as the last publication in print and PBS Online Film Festival for his short film Fresh Prince of Anacostia.  His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Washington Informer and NY Times: Can Anacostia Build a Bridge w/o Displacing Its People?  He has appeared nationally and internationally on BBC, French 24 TV, German ZDF, RT, CGTN America, Cuban National TV and TV One. 

Freeman serves on the board of the Douglass Community Landtrust and is publishing a novel, Nineveh: a conflict over water with Strong Arm Press.  He was honored by the Catalogue of Philanthropy at the Word Museum with the 2022 Change Maker Award.

Our own Kenny Barnes introduces his long-time friend Kymone Freeman. Freeman is an award-winning playwright, activist and commentator. He is the subject of one chapter of the book Beat of a Different Drum: The Untold Stories of African Americans Forging Their Own Paths in Work and Life (Hyperion). He is a 2010 Green for All Fellow & co-founder of We Act Radio DC’s Best Social Justice Radio Station 2017 by Washington City Paper and 1st Place 2017 Public Media Journalists Association Award winner for his Lion and the Map Commentary from the Anacostia Unmapped radio series on WAMU/ NPR’s most successful local production in 2016. He founded the Black L.U.V. Festival in 1997 & was honored at the Kennedy Center as a Mayor's Art Award Finalist for Excellence in Service to the Arts 2005.

The 25th Anniversary of the Black Luvfest was the largest event of the 50th Anniversary of the Ft. Dupont Amphitheatre Summer Series sponsored by the National Park Service in 2022. He was featured as a contributing writer in the most controversial Ebony Magazine in recent history as the last publication in print and PBS Online Film Festival for his short film Fresh Prince of Anacostia. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Washington Informer and NY Times: Can Anacostia Build a Bridge w/o Displacing Its People? He has appeared nationally and internationally on BBC, French 24 TV, German ZDF, RT, CGTN America, Cuban National TV and TV One.

Freeman serves on the board of the Douglass Community Landtrust and is publishing a novel, Nineveh: a conflict over water with Strong Arm Press. He was honored by the Catalogue of Philanthropy at the Word Museum with the 2022 Change Maker Award.

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Kymone Freeman | Nineveh: a conflict over water | A Novel | May 10, 2023

Rotary Club Washington DC 9 views May 21, 2023 4:36 pm

PP Jennifer Hara introduces Director de Guzman to help us begin the celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Ben de Guzman is the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA).  He has been a leading voice at the local and national level on issues of racial equity, immigrants' rights, veterans affairs, and LGBT justice for more than two decades. He comes to MOAPIA from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, where he served as the Community Outreach Specialist.  During his tenure there, he helped execute two major first time events for the Office- the “District of Pride” LGBTQ cultural performance event and the 32nd Annual 17th Street High Heel Race, presented by the Mayor’s Office as lead organizer.

He has authored articles and op-eds that have appeared in mainstream and special interest media, anthologies, and academic publications, including the Encyclopedia of Asian American Issues Today.  In 2015, he received a Community Service Award from Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, and is pleased to come to MOAPIA and help recognize exciting new leaders moving forward.  In June 2019, he was recognized by the Capital Pride Alliance in Washington, DC as a Capital Pride Hero. In October 2019, he received one of the Twenty Outstanding Filipino Americans Award for LGBT Advocacy.

As an advocate for equity and recognition for Filipino veterans of World War II, he played a key role in two of the most significant legislative victories on behalf of these soldiers. He led communications, outreach, and political strategies for the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project that led to the passage of the Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act in 2016.  He also served as the National Coordinator for the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity, where he organized a national legislative campaign that created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund in 2009.

For almost ten years, he was principal staff at the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), where he managed the policy and programmatic work for NQAPIA and its federation of 40 Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander LGBT groups around the country.  He spearheaded efforts to promote national LGBT campaigns around comprehensive immigration reform and a national LGBT Pride Month campaign from Asian American/ Pacific Islander advocacy organizations.

Ben is the son of Filipino immigrants and was born and raised in New Jersey. He first moved to the District in 1997 and is a proud resident of Ward 1.

PP Jennifer Hara introduces Director de Guzman to help us begin the celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Ben de Guzman is the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA). He has been a leading voice at the local and national level on issues of racial equity, immigrants' rights, veterans affairs, and LGBT justice for more than two decades. He comes to MOAPIA from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, where he served as the Community Outreach Specialist. During his tenure there, he helped execute two major first time events for the Office- the “District of Pride” LGBTQ cultural performance event and the 32nd Annual 17th Street High Heel Race, presented by the Mayor’s Office as lead organizer.

He has authored articles and op-eds that have appeared in mainstream and special interest media, anthologies, and academic publications, including the Encyclopedia of Asian American Issues Today. In 2015, he received a Community Service Award from Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, and is pleased to come to MOAPIA and help recognize exciting new leaders moving forward. In June 2019, he was recognized by the Capital Pride Alliance in Washington, DC as a Capital Pride Hero. In October 2019, he received one of the Twenty Outstanding Filipino Americans Award for LGBT Advocacy.

As an advocate for equity and recognition for Filipino veterans of World War II, he played a key role in two of the most significant legislative victories on behalf of these soldiers. He led communications, outreach, and political strategies for the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project that led to the passage of the Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act in 2016. He also served as the National Coordinator for the National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity, where he organized a national legislative campaign that created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund in 2009.

For almost ten years, he was principal staff at the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), where he managed the policy and programmatic work for NQAPIA and its federation of 40 Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander LGBT groups around the country. He spearheaded efforts to promote national LGBT campaigns around comprehensive immigration reform and a national LGBT Pride Month campaign from Asian American/ Pacific Islander advocacy organizations.

Ben is the son of Filipino immigrants and was born and raised in New Jersey. He first moved to the District in 1997 and is a proud resident of Ward 1.

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Ben de Guzman | Director, Mayor's Officeon Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs | May 3, 2023

Rotary Club Washington DC 10 views May 3, 2023 7:02 pm

Our own May O'Brien introduces Judge Griswold who shares with our club her leadership perspectives.  After serving for 30 years as an Administrative Law Judge in state and federal programs, Judge Nancy J. Griswold was appointed to serve as Deputy Director for the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs at the United States Department of Labor.  Prior to her appointment as Deputy Director, she served as Chief Administrative Law Judge and Agency Head for the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, which is responsible for deciding the third level of appeals for denials of payment for Medicare goods and services. 

She began her career as an attorney practicing personal injury law in Shreveport, Louisiana, before accepting a position as a Workers Compensation Judge for the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Administration in 1990.  She then served as the Chief Judge there for 3 years, during which she established Louisiana’s Workers’ Compensation Mediation Program. 

In 1995, she accepted a position as a U. S. Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration and, over  the next 15 years, served in various management positions, first as Hearing Office Chief Judge in Shreveport, Louisiana, then as Regional Chief Judge in Boston, Massachusetts and finally as Deputy Chief Judge in Washington, DC.  During her years as Deputy Chief, she served as alter ego to the Chief Judge and assisted in formulating and implementing the Commissioner’s backlog reduction initiatives. 

Judge Griswold graduated from Louisiana State University in Shreveport with a BA in English and then earned her JD from Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas.  In her spare time, she enjoys watercolor, cooking, singing, playing piano and travel.

Our own May O'Brien introduces Judge Griswold who shares with our club her leadership perspectives. After serving for 30 years as an Administrative Law Judge in state and federal programs, Judge Nancy J. Griswold was appointed to serve as Deputy Director for the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs at the United States Department of Labor. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Director, she served as Chief Administrative Law Judge and Agency Head for the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, which is responsible for deciding the third level of appeals for denials of payment for Medicare goods and services.

She began her career as an attorney practicing personal injury law in Shreveport, Louisiana, before accepting a position as a Workers Compensation Judge for the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Administration in 1990. She then served as the Chief Judge there for 3 years, during which she established Louisiana’s Workers’ Compensation Mediation Program.

In 1995, she accepted a position as a U. S. Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration and, over the next 15 years, served in various management positions, first as Hearing Office Chief Judge in Shreveport, Louisiana, then as Regional Chief Judge in Boston, Massachusetts and finally as Deputy Chief Judge in Washington, DC. During her years as Deputy Chief, she served as alter ego to the Chief Judge and assisted in formulating and implementing the Commissioner’s backlog reduction initiatives.

Judge Griswold graduated from Louisiana State University in Shreveport with a BA in English and then earned her JD from Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas. In her spare time, she enjoys watercolor, cooking, singing, playing piano and travel.

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Judge Nancy Griswold | Deputy Director OWCP, | U.S. Department of Labor | April 26, 2023

Rotary Club Washington DC 21 views April 29, 2023 12:38 pm

Our own Jeanne Shen introduces her friend and neighbor, Bill Causey to discuss his  new book on John Houbolt, the unsung hero of the Apollo Moon Landings.
In May 1961, President Kennedy announced that the United States would attempt to land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth before the end of that decade.  Yet NASA did not have a specific plan for how to accomplish that goal.  Over the next fourteen months, NASA vigorously debated several options.  At first, the consensus was to send one big rocket with several astronauts to the moon, land and explore, and then take off and return the astronauts to earth in the same vehicle.  Another idea involved launching several smaller Saturn V rockets into earth orbit, where a lander would be assembled and fueled before sending the crew to the moon.
 
But it was a small group of engineers led by John C. Houbolt who came up with the plan that propelled human beings to the moon and back-not only safely, but faster, cheaper, and more reliably.  Houbolt and his colleagues called it 'lunar orbit rendezvous,' or 'LOR.'  At first the LOR idea was ignored, then it was criticized, then finally dismissed by many senior NASA officials.
 
Nevertheless, the group, under Houbolt's leadership, continued to press the LOR idea, arguing that it was the only way to get men to the moon and back by President Kennedy's deadline. Houbolt persisted, risking his career in the face of overwhelming opposition. This is the story of how John Houbolt convinced NASA to adopt the plan that made history.

Our own Jeanne Shen introduces her friend and neighbor, Bill Causey to discuss his new book on John Houbolt, the unsung hero of the Apollo Moon Landings.
In May 1961, President Kennedy announced that the United States would attempt to land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth before the end of that decade. Yet NASA did not have a specific plan for how to accomplish that goal. Over the next fourteen months, NASA vigorously debated several options. At first, the consensus was to send one big rocket with several astronauts to the moon, land and explore, and then take off and return the astronauts to earth in the same vehicle. Another idea involved launching several smaller Saturn V rockets into earth orbit, where a lander would be assembled and fueled before sending the crew to the moon.

But it was a small group of engineers led by John C. Houbolt who came up with the plan that propelled human beings to the moon and back-not only safely, but faster, cheaper, and more reliably. Houbolt and his colleagues called it 'lunar orbit rendezvous,' or 'LOR.' At first the LOR idea was ignored, then it was criticized, then finally dismissed by many senior NASA officials.

Nevertheless, the group, under Houbolt's leadership, continued to press the LOR idea, arguing that it was the only way to get men to the moon and back by President Kennedy's deadline. Houbolt persisted, risking his career in the face of overwhelming opposition. This is the story of how John Houbolt convinced NASA to adopt the plan that made history.

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YouTube Video UExJdHZDNlFoRVI5bHJDYUJMemN4bjd2dFZpcEVJRFFKZy44QTA1QTQyRTc3M0VGQzYx

Bill Causey, Author | John Houbolt: The Unsung Hero of the Apollo Moon Landings | April 19, 2023

Rotary Club Washington DC 26 views April 19, 2023 8:11 pm

Our own Past President Jennifer introduces today's speaker Ms. Gabrielle Webster.
Gabrielle Webster is a visionary thought leader and youth development expert who is sparking positive change as President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW).  As a skilled convener who engages communities, business leaders, philanthropists and partners in service of capital area youth and their families, Gabrielle has put to use her strategic planning, management abilities and development skills to fuel unprecedented growth for BGCGW.  Under her leadership, BGCGW, which serves more than 21,000 youth, is exceeding financial goals and achieving record accomplishments. Gabrielle is the driving force behind a first-ever $30 million comprehensive campaign.  Gabrielle also tripled the number of Clubs in the metro area, earning BGCGW the distinction of being among the top 5% of BGCA (Boys & Girls Clubs of America) affiliates in the nation. In 2022, BGCGW celebrated its first National Youth of the Year in 75 years.  Gabrielle is further blazing new trails with plans for a flagship Center of Transformation at the Nation’s Boys & Girls Club, which will serve as an incubator to pilot and implement innovative programs across local sites and ideally the BGCA movement.

Gabrielle has a depth of leadership experience as a nonprofit and public sector professional with a track record of growth and exceeding expectations.  Prior to BGCGW, she raised more than $220 million as part of her leadership roles at three large non-profit organizations, which operate in the Washington metropolitan area, the Mid-Atlantic region and at the national level.  Gabrielle served as the Chief Development Officer at the United Way of the National Capital Area as well as National Vice President for the American Heart Association, where she was charged with the development, implementation, and execution of a new national business to consumer campaign. Prior to that role, she was Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Region’s Leukemia & Lymphoma Society where she managed a $36 million budget across nine states. Before her career in the nonprofit sector, Gabrielle spent more than a decade with the Eastman Kodak Company and she held several leadership positions in marketing, sales, university relations, and engineering technology.

Gabrielle was selected by Washingtonian Magazine as a 2022 Washingtonian of the Year. She was also a National Science Foundation Fellow, a National Biomedical Symposium Fellow and a Polaroid Scholar.  She was chosen to attend the Center for Creative Leadership in 2009 as one of the top executive directors at the American Heart Association.

Gabrielle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Xavier University and a Master of Physical Chemistry degree from Atlanta University. Gabrielle is also a graduate of the Leadership Greater Washington program and was recently awarded a Harvard Business School Executive Education Certificate for Strategic Agility and Inclusive Leadership.

Our own Past President Jennifer introduces today's speaker Ms. Gabrielle Webster.
Gabrielle Webster is a visionary thought leader and youth development expert who is sparking positive change as President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW). As a skilled convener who engages communities, business leaders, philanthropists and partners in service of capital area youth and their families, Gabrielle has put to use her strategic planning, management abilities and development skills to fuel unprecedented growth for BGCGW. Under her leadership, BGCGW, which serves more than 21,000 youth, is exceeding financial goals and achieving record accomplishments. Gabrielle is the driving force behind a first-ever $30 million comprehensive campaign. Gabrielle also tripled the number of Clubs in the metro area, earning BGCGW the distinction of being among the top 5% of BGCA (Boys & Girls Clubs of America) affiliates in the nation. In 2022, BGCGW celebrated its first National Youth of the Year in 75 years. Gabrielle is further blazing new trails with plans for a flagship Center of Transformation at the Nation’s Boys & Girls Club, which will serve as an incubator to pilot and implement innovative programs across local sites and ideally the BGCA movement.

Gabrielle has a depth of leadership experience as a nonprofit and public sector professional with a track record of growth and exceeding expectations. Prior to BGCGW, she raised more than $220 million as part of her leadership roles at three large non-profit organizations, which operate in the Washington metropolitan area, the Mid-Atlantic region and at the national level. Gabrielle served as the Chief Development Officer at the United Way of the National Capital Area as well as National Vice President for the American Heart Association, where she was charged with the development, implementation, and execution of a new national business to consumer campaign. Prior to that role, she was Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Region’s Leukemia & Lymphoma Society where she managed a $36 million budget across nine states. Before her career in the nonprofit sector, Gabrielle spent more than a decade with the Eastman Kodak Company and she held several leadership positions in marketing, sales, university relations, and engineering technology.

Gabrielle was selected by Washingtonian Magazine as a 2022 Washingtonian of the Year. She was also a National Science Foundation Fellow, a National Biomedical Symposium Fellow and a Polaroid Scholar. She was chosen to attend the Center for Creative Leadership in 2009 as one of the top executive directors at the American Heart Association.

Gabrielle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Xavier University and a Master of Physical Chemistry degree from Atlanta University. Gabrielle is also a graduate of the Leadership Greater Washington program and was recently awarded a Harvard Business School Executive Education Certificate for Strategic Agility and Inclusive Leadership.

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Gabrielle Webster | President & CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington | March 29, 2023

Rotary Club Washington DC 9 views March 29, 2023 3:37 pm

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.