OUR SPEAKERS

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

April 1st 2026 at 12:30 pm
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Lesli Creedon
Make-A-Wish® grants life-changing wishes for children diagnosed with critical illnesses, in the U.S. and its territories, a wish is granted every 33 minutes.

Lesli Creedon is the President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, a position she has held since 2018. Lesli has over 35 years of experience in the non-profit sector in Washington, DC, having led major fundraising and marketing campaigns for preeminent institutions including the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, United Nations Foundation, The Brookings Institution, Aspen Institute, and Resources for the Future. She enjoys building meaningful relationships with donors to fulfill their philanthropic visions and working with Boards of Directors on strategy and governance. Her passion for Make-A-Wish stems from her family’s receipt of a life-changing wish eight years ago when her son was battling leukemia.

Lesli graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, political science, and diplomacy and international affairs. Lesli and her husband, Dan, have two children – Catherine and Jack – whom they adopted from Russia at 18 months of age.

April 8th 2026 at 12:30 pm
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Thomas Reich
Okinawa: on the frontline between China and Japan

Thomas Reich is an independent consultant in the defense and aerospace industry, with expertise in international business development and sales; the US and Japanese government systems of export controls for defense articles; and defense trade with Japan.

From November 2020 to November 2023, he was resident in Tokyo as President of BAE Systems Japan GK. Prior to assuming this position, he served as Director, International Government Relations, BAE Systems, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British defense company BAE Systems PLC. In that position, his responsibilities centered on representing BAE’s international interests with key US and foreign government officials.

Before joining BAE in 2010, he served for 29 years as a Foreign Service officer in the U.S. Department of State, and has extensive experience in international affairs issues, particularly those associated with political-military and reconstruction/stabilization affairs. He has served overseas in the Philippines, the United Kingdom; Geneva, Switzerland; Japan (three tours of duty, including US Embassy Tokyo and as Consul General in Okinawa); and Afghanistan.

A native of North Carolina, Mr. Reich received a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations, also from Georgetown. His awards include numerous Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor awards from the Department of State. He has served on the executive boards of several business organizations in the US and Japan. He is married to Seiko Kyan, a citizen of Japan. Tom and Seiko have a daughter, Nina.

April 15th 2026 at 12:30 pm
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Gabrielle Webster
History and Current Status of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington

Gabrielle Webster is a visionary leader and youth development expert serving as President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW). She has fueled unprecedented growth for BGCGW, exceeding financial goals and achieving record accomplishments, including leading a $30 million comprehensive campaign and tripling the number of Clubs in the metro area. Under Gabrielle's leadership, BGCGW has become one of the top 5% of BGCA affiliates nationally and initiated the flagship Center of Transformation at the Nation’s Boys & Girls Club, designed to pilot innovative programs across local sites and within the BGCA movement. Gabrielle brings extensive leadership experience from the nonprofit and public sectors, previously raising over $220 million in various leadership roles.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Xavier University and a Master of Physical Chemistry degree from Clark Atlanta University. Gabrielle is also a graduate of the Greater Washington program and was awarded a Harvard Business School Executive Education Certificate for Strategic Agility and Inclusive Leadership. She and her husband reside in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and they have one daughter.

April 22nd 2026 at 12:30 pm
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Dr. Mark Peters
The State of Research and Development in the United States

April 29th 2026 at 12:30 pm
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Wade Warren
Board Chair, Society for International Development (and former Acting USAID Administrator)

Wade Warren is a globally recognized leader in international development, with more than three decades of experience shaping U.S. foreign assistance policy and practice. He spent 27 years
at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), including serving as Acting Administrator, where he oversaw a workforce of 12,000 and an annual budget exceeding $40 billion. His senior leadership roles at USAID spanned the Bureaus for Policy, Planning and Learning, Global Health, and Africa, and he also served at USAID Missions in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Wade was Acting Chief Operating Officer for the State Department’s Office of the Director of
U.S. Foreign Assistance (F), helping coordinate foreign aid across agencies. Earlier in his
career, he spent nine years on Capitol Hill as an analyst and speechwriter and served as Chief
Financial Officer of the U.S. Telecommunications Training Institute, a nonprofit providing training
to communications professionals from the developing world.

From 2018 to 2025, Wade served as Deloitte’s Chief Strategy Officer for International Development, advising clients such as USAID, MCC, DFC, the World Bank, UN, and EU. His work focused on supporting USAID contract delivery, enabling technology adoption across development agencies, and providing thought leadership through global platforms including the UN General Assembly, Tidewater, and the Brookings Blum Roundtable.

Wade holds a degree in history from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a graduate degree in international business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
He currently chairs the Board of the Society for International Development – US Chapter.

Missed the meeting? Watch the speaker’s presentation.

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Anas "Andy" Shallal is an artist, activist, social entrepreneur, and founder/CEO of Busboys and Poets, a restaurant group in the Washington Metropolitan area. He opened the first location in 2005 as part restaurant, part agent for social change. All Busboys and Poets’ locations continue to operate as a community gathering space where art, culture, and politics intentionally collide over mindfully sourced food, drinks, books, and event programming. With eight locations in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, Busboys and Poets has become a home for progressives, artists, creatives, and intellectuals. Over the past 20 years, Busboys and Poets have hosted many social and political activists including Howard Zinn, Harry Belafonte, Angela Davis, Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni, Mehdi Hasan, Norman Finkelstein, Barack Obama, Amy Goodman, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal, Bernie Sanders and a host of others.

Busboys and Poets focuses on sustainable business initiatives and employment practices. Busboys locations are 100% wind-powered and have been recognized locally and nationally for their innovative, conscious cuisine. Under Shallal’s leadership, Busboys has received numerous awards including the Mayor’s Arts Award, Employer of the Year from the Employment Justice Center, Washingtonian of the Year, and the Mayor’s Environmental Award, among others.

Shallal is a 2018 Frederick Douglass 200 award winner for those who best embody Douglass’ spirit, TedX speaker, and founder of several peace and justice organizations. He is on the board of trustees for the Institute for Policy Studies, Palestine House of Freedom, DAWN, the Anacostia Coordinating Council, and a founding member of Think Local First DC, a local business association serving in advisory and leadership roles to advance progressive business and labor practices. Shallal has chaired DC’s Workforce Investment Council and ran for Mayor of Washington DC in 2014. He continues to strive to make his hometown of Washington DC a more livable community.

His memoir, A Seat At The Table: The Making of Busboys and Poets is set to be released late summer 2025.

Shallal received his B.S. in biology from Catholic University of American and an MBA from The Robert Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland School in College Park.

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Anas "Andy" Shallal | CEO and Founder Busboys and Poets | November 5, 2025

Rotary Club Washington DC 26 views November 20, 2025 9:03 am

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.

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Tiffany Ervin | The CART fund | The Power of One | October 22, 2025

Rotary Club Washington DC 2 views November 19, 2025 9:03 am

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.

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Patty Medina | From Salsa to Strategy: Leading with Culture, Purpose, and Heart | October 15, 2025

Rotary Club Washington DC 3 views November 13, 2025 9:03 am

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.

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Linda Ryden | Teaching Children to Resolve Conflicts | October 8, 2025

Rotary Club Washington DC 7 views November 12, 2025 9:03 am

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.

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H.E. Georg Sparber | Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the US | October 1, 2025

Rotary Club Washington DC 39 views November 11, 2025 9:03 am

Aviva Lund discovered OptimalWork as a neuroscience major at the University of Notre Dame, where it transformed her academic and professional development, unlocking new levels of productivity and meaning in work. Inspired to bring applied behavioral neuroscience to the corporate world, she joined OptimalWork after graduation to help others experience the same life-changing benefits.

As part of the OptimalWork team, Aviva guides organizational clients in applying the platform’s principles through workshops and coaching. She also supports organizations in integrating OptimalWork internally for maximum impact.

Aviva holds a Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience and Behavior from the University of Notre Dame and is a member of the Nu Rho Psi National Honors Society. She is also an alum of the Yale Medical School Discovery to Cure Program and NYU’s Summer Undergraduate ResearchProgram (SURP), where she conducted brain surgeries on mice to advance research on neurodegenerative diseases. Now based in Washington, D.C., she collaborates with international peacebuilding scholars and practitioners to apply OptimalWork’s neuroscience-based methods to reducing affective polarization and advancing global conflict resolution.

Outside of work, she enjoys running, skiing, volleyball, vocal performance, musical theater, and piano.

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Aviva Lund | The Neuroscience of Resilience and Empathy | September 24, 2025

Rotary Club Washington DC 21 views November 10, 2025 9:03 am

Jackie Reyes-Yanes is a proud Salvadoran immigrant and longtime advocate for Washington, D.C.’s diverse communities. Appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in 2021, she is the first Latina to serve as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs (MOCA), overseeing 14 constituent offices and expanding representation across the District.

Previously, she led the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA), where she championed equitable policies and funding for Latino residents. Her work with the late Councilmember Jim Graham focused on public safety and housing, including the rebuilding of the Monseñor Romero Apartments after a devastating fire.

Reyes-Yanes has spearheaded major initiatives, from establishing new offices focused on the Caribbean and Deaf communities to hosting large-scale cultural events like the Night Market and Caribbean Concert. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led recovery outreach and vaccine education efforts. Under her leadership, MOCA has awarded over $18 million in grants to community-based organizations.

Recognized by Forbes, El Tiempo Latino, and the Metro DC Hispanic Contractors Association, her work reflects a deep commitment to equity, culture, and service. A Ward 5 resident, she continues to uplift voices across the District through tireless community engagement.

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Jackie Reyes-Yanes | Community Affairs for Mayor Bowser & the District of Columbia | Sept. 17, 2025

Rotary Club Washington DC 47 views November 7, 2025 9:03 am

Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh currently serves as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia to the United States. He previously served as Liberia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, with concurrent accreditation to Benin and Equatorial Guinea, and as Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, where he chaired both the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Mediation and Security Council at the ambassadorial level.

A distinguished academic and university leader, Dr. Conteh served as President of the University of Liberia from 2004 to 2008 and more recently as Acting President from June 2024 to January 2025. He has held senior academic and administrative roles, including Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of the Demographic Unit, and Project Director for post-conflict curriculum development in collaboration with the U.S. Institute of Peace and California State University. Dr. Conteh’s academic contributions span conflict studies, population and development, and childhood mortality, with publications in leading journals.

Dr. Conteh holds a Ph.D. in Regional Science and Demography from the University of Pennsylvania, and advanced degrees from the UN Cairo Demographic Center and University of Liberia. His honors include the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa, Doctor of Humane Letters, Fulbright scholar and UNFPA Fellow.

He remains an ardent subscriber to peace, democracy, patriotism, and the promotion of sustainable human development in Liberia, Africa and beyond.

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Ambassador Al Hassan Conteh, Ph.D | Embassy of Liberia | A Profile of US-Liberia Relations | 9/11/25

Rotary Club Washington DC 22 views November 5, 2025 7:04 pm

Angela Franco is President and CEO of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC). Prior to joining MCCC, Franco was President and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce from 2020 to 2024. Her commitment to support and advocate for Chamber members demonstrates passion and vision to grow the organization. Franco joined the DC Chamber of Commerce during civic unrest and a global pandemic and continues to move the organization forward. By working with its executive team and board of directors, Franco creates programs and services that position the Chamber as a valuable resource and leading advocate for businesses throughout DC.

Franco is an experienced business leader who has strengthened and revitalized organizations, including the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Before relocating to the US, Franco held management positions in Bogotá, Colombia.

Franco has received many prestigious honors. Most recently, she was recognized with the 2023 and 2022 Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 list. In addition, she is a Board Member at Large for the United Way of the National Capital Area, a Board Member of the Cherry Blossom Festival, DC Policy Center and Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, and an appointee to the DC Workforce Investment Council (by the DC Mayor).

Franco is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Greater Washington. She holds a Master of Science degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.

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Angela Franco | Role of Chambers of Commerce in the New Era | August 20, 2025

Rotary Club Washington DC 25 views August 25, 2025 8:03 am

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.