Blake DuBose

Leeza Gibbons speaks to Capital Rotary

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Feb 112015

South Carolina native Leeza Gibbons is one of the most well‐known pop‐culture icons on the air. In addition to her impressive background in the field of entertainment and news media, Leeza is an instrumental advocate for healthcare, wellness, and caregiving.

After caring for her mother who battled Alzheimer’s disease, Leeza created what she wished she and her family had. She opened Leeza’s Care Connection (http://www.leezascareconnection.org), a community support center offering free programs, services and resources for family caregivers encouraging them to call on their courage and summon their strength for the long caregiving journey ahead. Recently, she joined the cast of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice in order to raise funds and awareness for Leeza’s Care Connection, winning as project manager multiple times. Because of her winning streak on the show, Leeza recently announced that she will be opening a new caregiver support center this year in her hometown.

Author Andra Watkins visits Capital Rotary

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Feb 042015

Our speaker on Wednesday morning January 25th was author Andra Watkins. She will be discussing her book, To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis. Andra lives in Charleston with her husband Michael T. Maher.

A non-practicing CPA, she has a degree in accounting from Francis Marion University. Andra is the author of three books and counting. Her acclaimed first novel To Live Forever was published by Word Hermit Press on March 1, 2014. Another of her books, Natchez Trace: Tracks in Time is a book of photography, shot during her 15-mile daily hikes on her 444-mile Natchez Trace walk.

Challenger Learning Center

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Jan 282015

Our speaker on Wednesday morning January 28th was Dr. Carolyn Donelan, Lead Flight Director of the Challenger Learning Center. Carolyn is a graduate of Sumter High School and an alumna of the University of South Carolina, where she earned an Associate Degree in computer science, a Bachelor of Science in biology with a cognate in chemistry, a Master of Arts in Teaching biology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in science education. She has been a certified educator for over 23 years and currently works full-time for Richland County School District One as the Lead Flight Director of the Challenger Learning Center and part-time as an adjunct faculty member of the College of Education at the University of South Carolina.

Carolyn is currently a member of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, EAA Chapter 242, and the S.C. Historic Aviation Foundation. She serves on the Board of Directors of the S.C. Aviation Association.

Charter captain, fishing guide joins Capital Rotary

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Jan 252015

Charter captain, fishing guide joins Capital Rotary

Michael Glover (center), the newest member of Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club, was inducted by president Mark Bokesch (left) and sponsor Bryan Goodyear at a recent meeting. A retired insurance executive, Glover is a licensed charter boat captain and guide specializing in striped bass fishing on Lake Murray. He is a native of Winnsboro and a University of South Carolina graduate who worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield and Colonial Life before beginning his outdoors career. He’s been a board member for the Free Medical Clinic and a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, is married and has a grown daughter.

SCRA speaks to Capital Rotary

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Jan 212015

Our speaker on Wednesday morning was Mr. Bill Mahoney, CEO of SCRA. Bill Mahoney is the CEO of SCRA and has held this post since August, 2005. Since assuming leadership, SCRA annual revenues from its applied research and commercialization services operations have grown from $74M to over $266M. In this same timeframe, SCRA annual year-end backlog has grown from $93M to $533M, annual net revenues have set company records of up to 7.9%, and total contract value under management has grown from $235M to over $2.1B.

Bill is a Harvard graduate and former member of both the Harvard Crew and the US National Rowing Team. Bill and his wife, Paula, have been married for 34 years and have two adult sons, one a US Navy officer and one a professional baseball player.

Capital Rotary welcomes new member, Ben Carlton

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Jan 162015

New Capital Rotarian Ben Carlton (center) is welcomed into club membership by president Mark Bokesch (right) and sponsor Bryan Goodyear. Carlton, who practices corporate law with the Columbia firm of Richardson, Plowden & Robinson, is a graduate of North Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina’s Law School, where he was associate editor in chief of the Law Review. Carlton is an Eagle Scout and serves as a regional selection committee member for NC State’s Park Scholarship. He’s a member of the SC Bar and the Young Lawyers Division, plays in the Columbia Tennis League and received a “Key to the City” of Hickory, NC, where he grew up.

Economics and Entrepreneurism in South Carolina

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Jan 142015

Our speaker on Wednesday morning was Mr. Dan D’Alberto and he provided unique insight on Economics & Entrepreneurism in South Carolina.

By way of background, Dan is the founder of the D’Alberto Law Firm and is a managing director of Southland Capital Partners. Over the past years, Dan served as a staff attorney with Nelson Mullins and as development officer for both Johns Hopkins University and the University of South Carolina. Dan earned his Bachelors of Arts degree from U.S.C., his Master’s degree from Florida State University, and his law degree from the U.S.C. School of Law.

Ex. Dir. of the VA Hospital visits Capital Rotary

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Jan 072015

Ms. Leanne Weldin, Ex. Dir. of the VA Hospital was our speaker on Wednesday morning. Leanne Weldin is the Acting Director at the New Orleans Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO). Leanne began her VA career as a Veterans Claims Examiner at the Phoenix VARO in 1994. She has also served in various supervisory leadership positions within VA since 2004 in Seattle WA, Huntington WV, Pittsburgh PA and Salt Lake City, UT.

While a VA employee, Leanne joined the Air Force Reserves in February 1997 then transferred to the Army National Guard in 1998. After Officer Candidate School, she was commissioned as an Army Officer. From February 2003 – April 2004, she was activated and deployed to Iraq for one year as a Transportation Company Platoon Leader/Executive Officer. She received a Bronze Star Medal as a result of her actions as a convoy commander.

New Paul Harris Fellow for Capital Rotary

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Dec 172014

Scott Wallinger (left), immediate past president of Columbia’s Capital Rotary, congratulates Dr. Tommy Gibbons, the club’s most recent member to be named a Paul Harris Fellow in acknowledgement of a $1,000 contribution to the Rotary Foundation. Gibbons, a native of Clarendon County’s Turbeville community, is President of Doctors Care and Chief Medical Officer at UCI Medical Affiliates, Inc. and Doctors Care, PA in Columbia. He has degrees from the College of Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina and earned an MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business. A member of numerous medical professional organizations, he’s also been a volunteer for The Children’s Trust SAFEKIDS South Carolina, the DHEC Disease Prevention Committee and the Pandemic Influenza Task Force. He and his wife, Lorri, have two grown children.

Scholarship Recipient Attends Capital Rotary Meeting

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Dec 172014

University of South Carolina junior Travis Bookert (second from left) and his girlfriend, Alex Bradley, are welcomed to a weekly Capital Rotary Club meeting by president Mark Bokesch (far right) and Darren Foy, chairman of the club’s Scholarship Committee. Bookert – a Sport and Entertainment Management major at USC – is one of eight recipients of annual college scholarships the club awards in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Columbia. Proceeds from holiday Christmas wreath sales by Capital Rotarians help provide scholarship funds.

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