Every strong organization needs strong leaders and we are fortunate to have a group of men and women who are committed to The Rotary Club Orlando and the principles of Rotary. Their short bios show the wonderful diversity of our club and their significant leadership contributions to our community.
STRONG
PROJECTS
PRESIDENT
Immediate Past President
and
Club Secretary
Over a career spanning 40 plus years, Rich has earned the respect of business leaders around the globe as a highly accomplished senior “hands on” executive who has played key leadership roles in the building, turnaround and rapid expansion of several national brands, including Burger King Corp, Wendy’s International, Starbucks Coffee and Blockbuster Entertainment. Rich has been Club Secretary for The Rotary Club of Orlando since 2011 and District 6980 Membership Chair since 2018.
Past President
and
Treasurer
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Mary Ann graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Agnes Scott College with a degree in Spanish. She retired in 2006 after 30 years in Theater, first as General Manager of the Central Florida Civic Theater, then as Executive Director of Orlando Shakes. She was in the first group of women to join the RCO in 1988, serving as President in 99/00.
Bob graduated from Boone High School in 1954, and served two years in the U.S. Army. He attended Georgia Tech and U of F graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1960. Graduating from Emory University Law School in 1968, he joined the Orlando law firm of Maguire, Voorhis & Wells and its successor, Holland & Knight for 33 years until retiring in 2002. He serves as a director or officer in many corporate and non-profit boards.
Bob served on the Board in previously and as Club President in 991-92. He is now heading the by-law review committee.
Emerson R. Thompson, Jr. is a retired judge for the Fifth District Court of Appeal where he served a term as Chief Judge. He was trial judge from the Ninth Judicial Circuit, served as an Orange County County and Circuit Judge, serving as Chief Judge of the Circuit. He is currently sitting as a Senior Judge. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the U of F with a certificate in African Studies and received his Juris Doctor from FSU. He is married to Rep. Geraldine F. Thompson.
He was born in 1958 in Yugoslavia, a country which no longer exists. After graduating from the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia with a degree in Sociology and Social Psychology, Sašo worked as a research fellow at the Institute of Sociological Research in Skopje, Macedonia. Disillusionment with the system of Yugoslavia forcing him to move to London, England.
He moved to the US with his family in 2000 to work as a commodities broker and European Trading Desk specialist for the next 12 years. He retired from the commodities business and now works as a residential and commercial real estate specialist.
Chris Whitney, Rotarian for almost 30 years, started his Rotary journey in Miamisburg, Ohio. Rising to the office of president and Paul Harris Fellow, he hosted numerous Student Exchanges and Group Study Exchanges from around the world. His next club was the Rotary Club of Cincinnati club 17. Serving in a variety of committees he lead a group study exchange to Chile in 2008. Now a member of the Board he is proud to serve in this club for the last 3 years.
Club Administrative Assistant
