Speakers

On October 14th, we will be hosting our meeting offsite at the 5-Star Life Summit campus in Union, Michigan. Please use the link below to sign up if you plan to attend so that we can let the Matterhorn know how many boxed lunches to prepare. Or look for a paper sign-up sheet at meetings beforehand.  Hope to see you there!

Signup Here: https://forms.gle/YqzNCsiyXUoZuhVZA

Please welcome fellow Elkhart Rotarian and President of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, Pete McCown.

About Pete:
Pete is President of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. Since taking on that role in 2011, more than $350 million in gifts have been given to the foundation. As president, he serves as chief investment officer and helps coordinate the work of both the growing staff and the dozens of volunteers who serve as board and committee members. As it has grown to be one of the top 100 community foundations in the United States, McCown has guided the organization and helped shape its culture, strategies and policies.

In 2014, he was appointed to be one of five members of the board of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Development Authority. He has been instrumental in determining how to best invest the state’s $42 million in the region, spurring additional quality-of-life projects in the region, as well as overseeing several processes to guide planning for the future of the region.

From 2004 to 2011, McCown served as a professor of business and vice president for advancement at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana. Prior to that he was vice president for advancement at Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, New York.

He has graduate degrees — a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in social science — from the State University of New York. He also has a master’s degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

McCown is a consultant for numerous colleges and seminaries on fundraising and leadership development. He is a member of the Spring Arbor University Board of Trustees.

Pete and his wife, Wendy, are the parents of five adult children. Pete and Wendy are active members of South Bend City Church.

Please welcome fellow Elkhart Rotarian Kurt Janowsky, owner of Navarre Hospitality Group.

Navarre Hospitality Group is behind restaurants like Café Navarre,  Artisan, Rocky River and others, along with event spaces such as The Armory, Matterhorn Conference Center and St. Joe Farm 

Please welcome Kevin Haines, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and Aging-in-Place Consultant with T.L. Jackson Construction. Kevin will present "Aging-in-Place Effectively", describing design strategies enabling individuals to stay in their own home as they age instead of moving in with relatives, assisted living, or other arrangement, along with some alarming demographic information and what it means to 'AIP' and how to do it effectively.

Kevin is a lifelong resident of Indiana, graduated from IU and has two grown children: a Son at Purdue (yes, it hurts his heart…) who just finished an internship at SpaceX and a daughter who is is a fourth grade teacher in Plymouth. Kevin received his Certified Age-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) certification in 2024 after dealing with issues with his parents and reading an impactful book. Prior to pivoting to this new passion in the AIP industry, Kevin spent 30 years in Orthopaedics. He currently works for TL Jackson Construction in their Age-in-Place (AIP) division.

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust exists to protect Africa’s wildlife and to preserve habitats for the future of all wild species.

As one of Africa’s oldest wildlife charities and a leading conservation organisation, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) embraces all measures that complement the conservation, preservation and protection of wildlife.

For more information visit: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Debie Coble has been with Goodwill Industries of Michiana since 1990 when she joined the organization as a store manager. In 1996, she became the Vice President of Workforce Development Services and in 2013 began serving as the President & CEO.

Today, Coble’s organization serves thousands of people each year across a wide range of community programs, including education, job training, skill development, career placement, recycling, and much more. Goodwill Industries of Michiana employs over 700 individuals in Northwest Indiana and has enabled more than 1,330 job placements through its programs.

Bethany Hartley currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, a collaboration of economic development partners in the South Bend - Elkhart Region, which encompasses 47 communities in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. The organization serves as a single point of contact for regional communication and seeks to advance economic opportunities for all partner members through collaborative promotion, marketing, and capacity building efforts.

Bethany has over a decade of experience in non-profit leadership, primarily focused on economic development and entrepreneurship. Bethany joined the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership in 2018, first as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, and was promoted to Chief Strategy Officer in 2020. Prior to the Regional Partnership, Bethany held leadership positions with RISE | Regional Innovation and Startup Education, Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County, Family and Children’s Center, and the Women’s Business Development Center in Chicago.

Bethany has led a wide range of projects and initiatives including digital system transformations, organizational restructuring, large event management, and marketing and communications strategy. As a part of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, Hartley led the strategic development of new programs, digital-based infrastructure, and outreach initiatives.

This year's gathering will be held on Tuesday, December 3 and hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Elkhart at Matterhorn.

Stay tuned for more info!

Please welcome Bill Firstenberger, Executive Director. Ruthmere Campus comprises two historic properties that engage visitors with a unique experience of history, art and architecture. Whether you are taking a guided tour of Ruthmere Mansion or the historic Havilah Beardsley House, listening to a concert, participating in an educational program, or celebrating your nuptials with an unforgettable garden wedding, the experiences at Ruthmere are one of a kind and make a difference.

No meetings December 23 or 30, see you in the New Year!

No meetings December 23 or 30, see you in the New Year!

Happy New Year!

Program to be announced, more to come soon!