Friday Morning through Saturday Evening | May 15-16 | St. Joseph, Michigan USA

Cheryl Metiva, 5010 District Governor 2021-2022, is our Rotary International President's Representative currently serving as Zone 28 Public Image Coordinator.  Cheryl's Rotary journey began when she joined the Wasilla Rotary club in 2004 as a networking opportunity. The motto “service above self” rang true, however, it was her first District Conference that led to her “ah-ah” moment. That's when she became not just a member of Rotary, but a Rotarian.

"I embrace opportunities and consequently have been fortunate to have a wide variety of life experience and skills. I choose to live in the positive. I've served on many boards and non-profit board of directors that make a difference in the world & community." I'm currently the President of the Mat-Su Convention & Visitor Bureau and President of the board of Alaska Police and Fire Chaplains’ Ministries. I've been a Rotarian for over 10 years and have held a variety of offices with the Susitna Rotary Club and am Past President of the Wasilla Rotary Club and Past Deputy District Governor for Rotary District 5010 (serving under District Governor Sue Foley)."

Brenda Cressey joined Rotary in 1989 and is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Ogunquit, Maine, in Rotary District 7780.  She served as District 5240 Governor in 2001-02, and is the retired CEO of Office Support Systems, a telecommunications business.
She has served in several key roles for Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation and recently completed a term as Trustee from 2017-21.  She became the first woman to serve as Vice Chair and then Chair of The Rotary Foundation in 2018-19.
Most of Brenda’s assignments have focused on Fund Development for The Rotary Foundation, specifically in the areas of Peace and Polio eradication. She also shares the importance of supporting the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund, Endowments and Major Gifts.
She now leads the Foundation Trustee-endorsed District-led PolioPlus Society global initiative and serves as the Vice Chair of Polio’s Countdown to History Committee.

Brenda and her husband Richard are members of the Arch Klumph, Legacy and Bequest Societies. They are also Major Donors, Paul Harris Society and PolioPlus Society members, and have proudly established several Rotary Foundation Endowments.
Brenda has received many Rotary awards, including the Service Above Self Award, the Citation for Meritorious Service, and the Distinguished Service Award.

She currently resides in Wells, Maine with her husband, who is retired from a long career as a Vice President in manufacturing.

Louisa Horne | Rotary Zone 28 Membership Lead

Louisa Horne is an educator, entrepreneur and business leader. A former geologist, teacher, certified business coach, and Chief Academic Officer of national educational companies, Louisa is now an independent Management Consultant (CMC), specializing in leadership development and strategic thinking.  She recently served as the Director of the national small business consulting practice for the Business Development Bank of Canada.
A member of the Rotary Club of Halifax Harbourside since 2005, Louisa joined when her daughter became a Youth Exchange student. She is proud of her club’s recognition as District Club of the Year when she served as President. She received a District Vocational Award and is a Paul Harris Fellow.
Louisa’s team approach has revolutionized the leadership education process for many Rotary clubs and districts. Her focus has been on building membership and helping clubs become more inclusive, engaging and irresistible.
She has attended several International Conventions and Zone institutes. Louisa has been involved with Rotary Group Study Exchange and Friendship Exchange programs and is a leader in Rotary Leadership Institute.
Louisa has three degrees from Dalhousie University in Science and Education, has pursued doctoral studies in Florida, and enjoys exploration of best practices for continuous improvement.
Born in Halifax, Louisa has lived there most of her life, although she and her family have also lived in Cyprus, Germany and Hong Kong. Louisa and her husband Paul enjoy gardening and caring for their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They have two daughters, Alyson and Hannah.

Alan Mallory | Rotary Club of Barrie, ON, Canada (current club director)

Author of Two Books: The Family that Conquered Everest and Summits of Self: The Seven Peaks of Personal Growth.

Alan Mallory is a dynamic speaker, author, and performance coach who brings a unique blend of psychology, engineering, project management and artistic flair to his programs.
Alan’s expertise is rooted in his extraordinary experiences as an adventurer and mountaineer, including his family’s record-breaking climb to the summit of Mount Everest.
He combines storytelling with psychology-based strategies to help leaders and teams overcome obstacles, build resilience, and achieve peak performance. His message resonates across industries, offering a fresh perspective on collaboration, innovation, and the human connections that elevate human performance to new heights. He takes a well-balanced approach to the inner and outer challenges we all face.
Alan is an avid outdoorsman who is passionate about adventure, exploration, and pushing limits. He has played the violin for most of his life and is particularly passionate about the electric violin. And as a fun fact, he and his family built a log cabin by hand in a remote wilderness area.
He successfully worked through a severe social phobia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that challenged him during his younger years.

Alan has published two books: The Family that Conquered Everest and Summits of Self: The Seven Peaks of Personal Growth.

Alan has lived in various countries including Canada, the United States, and Chile. He and his wife have three children, who also love the outdoors and adventurous lifestyle

Troy Thrash | Rotary Club of Kalamazoo, Michigan

Operations / Organizational Consultant Troy Thrash is a man of infinite imagination and constant reinvention. Covering the width and breadth of his experience is a job best left to posterity.
From Pennsylvania, stargazing as a child ignited his love of science and the wonder that comes with it. Troy has brought his infectious enthusiasm, dogged work ethic, and profound belief in the power of education to everything from the Space Telescope Science Institute and the Da Vinci Science Center to the Pennsylvania Youth Theatre Board and Kalamazoo’s own Civic Theatre. He even mastered the art of government work as Executive Director of the National Aerospace Development Center, where his efforts brought federal and state governments, industry groups, educators, workforce systems, and community developers together to develop vital workforce programs.

Today, Troy is the CEO of the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Experience in Kalamazoo and is its most vocal advocate for STEM and STEAM accessibility for Kalamazoo’s youth.
Coupling his leadership with a brilliant team, the Air Zoo has grown from having 119,000 guests in 2013 to a record 215,000 visitors from all over the world in 2023.

He is also the current Board Chair of Discover Kalamazoo and commits time to Kalamazoo Rotary and various other organizations passionate about educating and inspiring young people.

Troy’s best life is spent with his wife Jody and their four children: Jada, Gavin, Brynnica, and Dawson.