Twice monthly we profile a member of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. Although every RCM member is an achiever and contributes much to the fabric of our local and global community, our PEOPLE OF ACTION stories provide an in depth look at how some members are making a difference.
 
Latest People of Action Profile 
 

 

Katie Falk, who has her master’s degree in education, has reached the echelon of “real estate legend” after more than 40 years of winning awards. She reluctantly reveals that she’s in her 70s but has no intention—and shows no signs—of slowing down

 
 
 
 
 
Member Profiles 
 
Carol Alexander Barnes is a woman of rare gifts. Although she joined Rotary less than a year ago, the ease with which she greets her fellow members any given Tuesday, always by name and with her signature warm smile, projects the poise and confidence of a longtime member.

 

 

 

Jim Barry, a tireless force for good in Milwaukee, has served in distinguished roles with community and philanthropic organizations including the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, and the American Red Cross of Southeast Wisconsin, to name a few. 
 
 
 
 
 

Mary Bolich’s passions run deep and she nurtures many interests, but she is most passionate about people. As a longtime writer and chief author/editor of Rotary People of Action profiles, Mary expertly shines the spotlight on others.

“I love getting to know people; learning what makes them tick. I’m so inspired by the caliber of people in our club and it’s such an honor to share their stories.”

 

 

Ayrton Bryan works from Milwaukee, but serves a larger region remotely. It’s another stop on his path to his personal goal of becoming a corporate chief sustainability officer.  

 

 
 
 
 

Dan Buttery

“Honor the dead. Serve the living” is the War Memorial Center’s motto.  It’s a succinct, powerful phrase that occupies every waking moment of Dan Buttery‘s life, and perhaps when he sleeps as well.

 

 

 

As one of our newest and youngest members, Antoine Carter‘s thoughts are about Rotary’s future — a future he wants to help shape.  At each meeting he sees tables filled Rotary “giants” whose wisdom, purpose, and deeds he appreciates.  But his deep thoughts are how his generation can stand on their shoulders to be effective in a much different city.
 
 
 
 
 

Margaret Crawford

Some people make connections. Margaret Crawford forges relationships. And with her genuine desire to see others succeed, her network is broad and deep.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Frank Cumberbatch

Frank Cumberbatch‘s own determination and discipline lifted him from a life of poverty in Trinidad to an existence in the U.S. he could only dream about as a profoundly shy, severely asthmatic boy.

 
 
 
 
 

Nehemiah “Nemo” Edwards’ love for creating art began with a blank wall. The electrical engineering graduate had just moved into his own apartment and could not feel at home amidst plain white walls.

“I thought, ‘I’m a creative person, let me make something myself.’ I took it upon myself to buy some wood, some unstretched canvas and just painted what was on my heart, which was literally a heart. I feel that’s the beauty of art; it really does bring life to any space and place.”

 

Kathy Ehley

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit" – Harry Truman

That quotation has been Kathy Ehley’s email signature for 30 years. More than just a sentiment, it’s a philosophy that has guided her life.
 
 
 
 

Elizabeth Evans Draper

Marketers at Visit Milwaukee need look no further than Elizabeth Evans Draper as someone who connects the Fresh Coast and the creative class to live a good life here.

 

 

 

 

Like his father before him, Kyle Feerick set out to follow his own path rather than join the family business. But just like his father, he discovered that the family business actually suited him quite well.
 
 
 
 
 
 

John Ferguson

John Ferguson has a deep personal commitment to Milwaukee and just a quick drive around the city shows where his professional passion lies.

 

 
 

Dan Fetterley

Dan Fetterley is a navigator. On water and more. Indeed, Dan’s private, professional, and public life have all the marks of a skilled navigator who uses data, technology, observation, and instinct to serve crew, clients, and citizens. He has a good navigator’s attributes of being able to see ahead, balance facts and assumptions and continuously learn.
 
 
 
 
 

Tom Gale

Everyone knows Tom Gale. More importantly, Tom Gale knows himself.
 
A man of faith-inspired giving, Tom tirelessly applies his love of city and fellow humans through service, purposeful networking and 60-hour work weeks. Tom not only wears his heart on his sleeve, he rolls up his sleeves to serve what’s in his heart.
 
 
 
 

Jessica is in the so-called sandwich generation—balancing a career while simultaneously caring for her children and her aging parents. For the wellbeing of all, she is careful to not spread herself too thin.

“Right now, I want to pour as much love and connection into my kids as possible because even though they’re still so young, I already feel like I’m running out of time with them. I really want to make sure they are well-rounded individuals and contributing members of society however they might choose to do that."

 

 

Eckhart Grohmann is  a man whose life journey includes war time displacement, a Volkswagen bound for New York, and even a painting by an elephant in Thailand. Eckhart’s story is not just about success, but about what can be built when you lead with curiosity and a deep appreciation for people.

 

 

Joanne Grunau

As a young real estate professional in Michigan, Joanne Grunau picked up kernels of wisdom from an older colleague named Barb Lewis. Joanne has long since moved on from the U.P. and real estate, but she carried Barb’s sage advice with her. “(She) taught me the value of working with others whose viewpoints and experiences might not match my own.”
 
 
 
 

Leslie Hauser

As the club’s new President, Leslie Hauser is fine with being in charge. But she’d much prefer to keep her head down, roll up her sleeves and just get things done.

 

 
 
 
 
John Hein embraces life. A Renaissance man with an appreciation of knowledge, sports and the arts, John’s adventuresome spirit energizes those around him. After 50 years of practicing law with a focus on professional liability, business litigation, and commercial real estate, John now seeks out new passions in retirement, among them personal growth and public service through Rotary. 
 
 
 
 

Rob Henken

2019 Rotary Person of the Year and President of the Wisconsin Policy Forum, Rob Henken, one of our most popular returning speakers, is very proud of the work the Forum does to bring people together to discuss policy issues with mutual respect. He is also thrilled that his two sons are following their dad’s passions:  baseball and policy.
 
 
 
 
 

Megan Holbrook is reveling in a season of new beginnings.
 
After a successful career as a digital strategist, Megan followed her instincts to pursue a calling in counseling. Just two semesters away from graduating with a master’s in science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Marquette University, Megan is thriving as an intern at Shorehaven Behavioral Health, Inc.

 

 
 

Like purchasing a Vespa on a whim, Tom Hughes is a bit unpredictable—in a delightful way. But his involvement in the Rotary Club of Milwaukee was actually quite predictable. Both of his parents were lifelong Rotarians, and he even recalls attending meetings as a kid.

“I just try not to take things too seriously and believe that most people don’t have bad intentions,” said Tom, who leads also believes in leading with patience and empathy and empowering those around him.
 
 

Tim Hunter

When he’s not turning ordinary household gadgets into load transducers, Tim Hunter is deeply committed to Rotary. He serves on the Johnson Park Committee, the World Community Service Committee, the Scholarship Committee and is a mentee. He participated in the most recent trip to Guatemala and volunteers at nearly every Done-in-a-Day outreach.

 
 
 
 
Mr. Rodgers changing from his suit jacket into a cardigan and sneakers, Mark Kannenberg is trying retirement on for size and getting comfortable with this new phase of life. After selling 80 percent of RBP Chemical Technology, his specialty chemistry company, to his management team two years ago, Mark began stepping back from the business he ran for nearly 40 years. When the COVID pandemic hit, Mark, like millions of others, stopped going to work every day. It made him realize he could—and should—step back even more.
 
 
 
When it comes to finding common ground and forging connections between people of different backgrounds, Nidhi Kashyap walks the walk. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Nidhi observed this lesson firsthand growing up within a supportive immigrant community in Madison.
 
 
 
 
 

To say that Kathie is a trailblazer and enterprising entrepreneur is an understatement. Along with successful careers in counseling and human resources, Kathie has been a leader in helping women impacted by sexual violence and domestic abuse. In 1977, she co-founded The Women’s Center in Waukesha County. She spent decades offering moral support, resources and programs to victimized women throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. She also provided specialized training for medical and enforcement professionals and helped create legislation for sexual assault and domestic violence victims. 

 

Kent Lovern, who lived and worked in a funeral home during college and summers as a cemetery groundskeeper and gravedigger, laughed when asked if he was into the macabre. Today, he interacts with the dark side of Milwaukee’s criminal element—a job he approaches with a sense of balance and sensitivity despite prosecuting often horrific crimes.  As District Attorney for Milwaukee County, Kent tempers a respect for the rule of law with an awareness of how mental illness and trauma affect the human spirit.
 
 
 
 

Jody Lowe

When Jody Lowe moved downtown in 2020 after living in Wauwatosa for 30 years, she knew it was time to change more than just her address. 

“I had been deeply involved in the Wauwatosa community, and I knew it was time for me to find another focus.” 

The conduit for her was the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.

 

Tom Luljak calls his career an hors d’oeuvres tray of academia, corporate communications and broadcast journalism. But rather than a sampling, he has been able to dig in deeply on a broad range of disciplines in both the private and public sector.
 
“As a former journalist, I love meeting people and telling stories. While I may have left journalism, that aspect of the profession has never left me. It also aligns with my personal values, which are Rotarian values: be fair and honest and seek the truth.”

 
 
No matter where you end up in the world, your hometown is an indelible part of who you are. That’s especially true for Chris Marschka. In fact, the ties that bind Chris to Lancaster, Pennsylvania—the places, the people, the experiences—inform every aspect of his life.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kris Martinsek

As you wend your way across Milwaukee, you won’t see Kris Martinsek’s name on plaques or markers (and she’s just fine with that). But she has left her imprint throughout the city in innumerable and significant ways.
 
 
 
 
 
Lindsey McKee is in a groove. An accomplished musician (clarinet, bass clarinet, and beginner piano) and writer, Lindsey draws upon her twin passions of music and storytelling to make Milwaukee a healthier, more equitable place to live and work.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dan Meyer
“Marketer” is how Dan Meyer described himself in a Rotary interview.  But drill down on his professional and personal lives and you find wide and deep involvement in Milwaukee – especially education. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
When Michael Morgan talks about his father’s influence on his life, it’s clear he took those lessons to heart.
 
“Although he was a man of few words, my father was one of those guys who if he says he’s going to do something, he will do it and he will do it well. He was committed to his job, but he was all about family,” said Michael, the eldest of six children. “Our parents taught not by lecturing but by example how we might want to live our lives.”
 
 
 
 
As a marketing professional, Dave Murphy created compelling, actionable messages over the course of a 40-year career. Now that he’s retired—or as he says, practicing “prefer-ment”—he still finds time to dedicate those skills to organizations like the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sr. Kathleen O'Brien
Think of a job that offers a lifetime of world travel, incredible experiences and meaningful engagement and “nun” probably won’t make your list. But if you knew Sister Kathleen O’Brien, it would.
 

 

 
 
 
 

Maggey Oplinger

The challenge of building an opera during a pandemic was terrifying, according to General Director and CEO of Florentine Opera Company Maggey Oplinger, but she was in her element. After all, what she loves most about her job is overseeing all the moving parts of an opera company—the people, elements and logistics that go into creating something profoundly beautiful.
 
 
 
 
 
Hanna Paul has a North Star: “To do whatever I can to ease the suffering of people in the world.” An old soul, Hanna adopted this guiding principle at an early age, and it has steered her throughout her education, career and in the development of her interests, including her decision to join the Rotary Club.
 
 
 
 
 

Karen Plunkett is energized by her passions: appreciation of art and great design (which means travel) nurturing family and friendships around the world (also means travel) and having fun (again, travel). She is also passionate about making a difference in the world.
 
 
 
 
 
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”  Is it a quote by Paige Radke or Desmond Tutu? Those are the late archbishop words but it’s definitely Paige's credo.
 
 
 
 
 
 
With his parents’ steadfast support, inspired by their work ethic and driven by an innate sense of wanting to make a difference in the world, Jason’s civic engagement and altruism began at an early age, volunteering in his community and dipping his toes into politics... Notably, at 17, he became the youngest person ever elected to the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

 

 
 
 
 

Jon Rauser

Jon Rauser is a third generation Rotarian celebrating 50 years as Rotary Club of Milwaukee member. He has led a long and prestigious career in the U.S. Healthcare industry and still looks to leave a lasting impact on his clients today.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reggie Reed has a paradigm-shattering formula to lift Milwaukeeans out of poverty, transform employment and restore hope in the young to retain them to grow the city... The concept is simple but elegant: Tailor learning and living support to those trapped in poverty but be mindful of employers and customize candidate learning to their needs, too.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
When Erin Richards heard a grad school professor speak about narrative journalism, she knew she had to take her class. The course was full, but like the horses she has trained, Erin finds a way to get over or around obstacles. Erin says, “I have so much passion for Milwaukee and what we can accomplish as a community. I want to find the best way to invest in the city and amplify the stories and voices of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods.”
 
 
 
 
 

Jodi Ristau

“What I enjoy most about my job is the people—the people that I work with as well as my clients. Helping clients meet their goals along their life’s journey requires a close connection that is so special. Professional accomplishments without the people component just don’t have meaning to me.”

 

 
 
 
 
When he was young, Chuck Roedel was already well aware of the Four-Way Test. His father, a manufacturer representative and member of the Elm Grove Rotary Club, taught him about the business world as well as the importance of service above self.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rotarian Doug Rose is an eclectic enigma striving to satisfy his left- and right-brain demands. Talking to Doug is like talking to anyone you might meet on the street—or about 10 seconds. Then you realize this is someone you need to seriously try to understand.
 
 
 
 

Experiences we have as young adults often guide the entire trajectory of our lives. Just ask Rob Sholl.
 
The five summers he spent on the line at the General Motors Janesville Assembly Plant in the 1970s sparked an interest in labor law and set him on a path to become a labor/employment law attorney.

 
 
 

To Keith Stachowiak, when a historic place is restored and adapted, when what is inaccessible to some is made accessible to all, or a new asset is added to the community, it’s not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about connecting people to their city’s living history. That philosophy guided him to establish KSK Architects LLC in January 2025. 

 
 
 
 
 

Saj Thachenkary

Saj Thachenkary’s family presumed he would become an MD—and he did. Just not the kind they had envisioned.

“Often in the Indian culture, it’s not whether you’ll be a doctor, but what kind. Although my mother was a doctor, I always had a creative bent. I loved words. I loved images. I was always interested in telling a story. So for me, MD meant marketing director,” said Saj, who was born and spent the first two years of his life in India.
 
 
 

Marilka Velez

Marilka Vélez’s resume is packed with superlative educational, business and community experiences, but what really sets her apart is the heart and soul she puts into making the world a better place.
 
 
 
 
 
 

A member of RCM since 2002, Dan Vliet served as president of our club in 2015-16.  
“I enjoy Rotary and am continually impressed with our collection of people who want to do good.  When I first joined, I thought weekly meetings might be draining, however, I look forward to the regularity of interesting speakers and programs,” he said.  

Hosting the Rotary Large Club Conference in Milwaukee in the fall of 2015 was the highlight of his year at the helm.

 

 

Look around at any Rotary event—Tuesday meetings to Tyrotarian tours, committee meetings to social gatherings—and you’re apt to see Jon Ward. Being in on the action (and even in the line of fire) has long been his modus operandi. And after a storied career, focusing his energy on service to others has become his M.O.
 

 

 
 
 
For Rotarian Hans Weissgerber, community is everything. Through his business HB Milwaukee, Inc, which owns and operates the Old German Beer Hall and the Estabrook Park Beer Garden among other ventures, Hans cultivates community by creating welcoming spaces where people from all walks of life can sit down together.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Alex Zamora

Principles instilled in Alex Zamora as a child have led him on a pathway to professional and personal success and service to his community.

 
 
 
 
 
 
A Cleveland native, Corey Zetts thought Milwaukee felt like home with its river running through an industrial valley.  Menomonee Valley Partners' bold vision to transform vacant land and abandoned factories would require deep partnerships, courageous leadership and commitment. It would become her passion