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THE ROTARY CLUB OF ORLANDO SPEAKER FORUM
Our Weekly Speaker Forum provides information you are likely not to find elsewhere, and you can join us every Thursday at noon.


January 8: Lance Lyttle, CEO Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Board named Lance Lyttle as the Chief Executive Officer of The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board effective in April of 2025. He oversees the operations at Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport. Prior to coming to Orlando Lyttle, was the Managing Director of Aviation for Seattle-Tacoma Airport. As the new CEO he will lead the multi-billion-dollar capital improvement program aimed at enhancing both airpo


Jan. 15: William Lowrey, CEO. No Child Hungry
The story of No Child Hungry starts in the mountains of Haiti. While on a medical mission trip to the poorest country in the western hemisphere, our founder, William Lowry, watched as three children in the remote location died of starvation, all within a week. These children, ages 4-7, suffered an unimaginable end to their far-too-short lives. It was then and there that William knew he had to focus his efforts on providing food to children in need. Three words entered his


February 5, 2026: Norman Miller: Espionage And Olympic Sports
Norman L. Miller was the U.S. Olympic Bobsled coach at the 1987 Olympic Trials in Winterberg, West Germany and at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, in 1988. Two teams he coached during the 1987 World Cup circuit earned gold medals. He has first-hand experience on racing bobsleds as an athlete, competing in two Olympic trials. He is retired from the U.S. Air Force with 33 years’ experience. While in the position as an Olympic bobsled coach he was recruited to do undercover


March 5, 2026: Brooke Barnett, 16th President of Rollins College
Brooke Barnett is the 16 th president of Rollins College. She took office on July 1, 2025, after serving as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Butler University. In that role, Barnett provided strategic leadership for all academic programs and student success initiatives across undergraduate, graduate, and online platforms, with a particular focus on student belonging and success, faculty development, and innovative learning experiences. She also se


March 19: Tom Moore, Sr. Mgr. Demography, Orange County Public Schools
Tom Moore is a seasoned demographer with over three decades of experience in public sector planning and student enrollment management. He has served Orange County Public Schools since January 2007, where he currently leads strategic enrollment forecasting and demographic analysis within the Student Enrollment division. Prior to his tenure in Orange County, Mr. Moore held dual roles at Broward County Public Schools for six years, serving as both the District Demographer and Di


March 26,2026: United Arts President & CEO JENNIFER EVINS
Jennifer Evins leads the regional arts community across Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties,overseeing a budget of $18 million. She guides a team of 24 professionals and supports more than 100 arts, science and history organizations and artists. With more than 25 years of experience, she joined United Arts in 2021, after serving as president and CEO of the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, south Carolina. She serves on the boards of; The Orlando Economic Partne


Apr.2: Rotarian Mark Hendelson Provides An Update On Social Security
Mark Hendelson worked for over 38 years with the Social Security Administration, helping seniors and individuals with disabilities navigate complex programs. Upon retiring three years ago, he established his consulting company, YOUR Social Security Pro, He also serves as a senior volunteer with AARP, leading seminars and hosting educational forums on Social Security and Medicare. Additionally, he works with the Association of Mature American Citizens in Leesburg, where he hos


April 9: Kristian Steele, Visitor Operations Mgr. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum Of American Art
Kristian Steele is the Visitor Operations Manager at the Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida. He received his BA and MA in History at the University of Central Florida, where he has taught Western Civilization and American History since 2016. He has worked in museums for over 15 years and maintains a teaching focus on the 19 th -century United States in a global context. At the Morse, he heads several departments and is responsible for the holistic experience


April 16: Kathy Ramsberger, CEO, Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center: 10 Years Of Success
Dr. Phillips Center recently celebrated a major milestone: its 10-year anniversary. Since opening, the arts center has hosted 6,500-plus events, welcomed over 5.3 million guests and invested more than $24.4 million into purpose-driven programming. Another game-changer was the launch of Judson’s Live, a music room that hosted 434 performances in its first year across 34 different musical genres, which has become a hub for emerging local talent. “These achievements reflect gro


April 23: Maj. Gen. Michael Repass (Retired,U.S. Army) A Perspective on World Events
Michael S. Repass is the Chief Executive Officer for Able Global Solutions LLC which he founded in 2013 after retiring from the Army. AGS focuses on international business development to match emerging technology and proven products with potential clients. AGS also examines trends and environments for strategic perspectives. Mike Repass’ military career began in 1980 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He served an infantry officer


April 30: Todd Andrus, Vice President & Executive Director, International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions.
Todd Andrus has been in the hospitality marketing field for over 26 years across a variety of attractions including FECs, Theme Parks, Water Parks and Aquariums. In his most recent role at Premier Parks as the Corporate Senior Director he led marketing strategy, strategic partnerships and marketing support for 14 parks and attractions across the US & Canada. Prior to joining Premier Parks, Todd was the Head of Brand Marketing for Merlin Entertainments in North America. There


May 7: Mike Miller, Space Florida's VP, External Affairs and Workforce Integration
Mike Miller is the VP of External Affairs and Workforce Integration. He plays a vital role in advocating for the mission of Space Florida both in Tallahassee and Washington, DC. Mike is also tasked with guiding the organization to access and enhance the skilled labor force in Florida through partnerships with the Department of Education and companies seeking to relocate to Florida or expand their current operations in the state. Mr. Miller has a bachelor’s degree in Ameri


May 14: David Barilla, Executive Director, City of Orlando Downtown Development Board Explains Downtown Roads Going Two Ways
David Barilla is the Executive Director for the City of Orlando’s Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency, where he has spent the past 15 years advancing transformational public-private partnerships and driving billions of dollars in investment into downtown Orlando’s residential, mixed-use, hospitality, and entertainment sectors. His leadership has helped double the urban core population, expand world-class venues, and advance catalytic projects such as


May 21: Melanie Guldi, Associate Professor Department of Economics At UCF Demographics And The Economic Impacts
Dr. Melanie Guldi is an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida in the College of Business. She is a native Floridian who received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Economics from the University of Florida in 1995. She then earned a Master of Arts in Economics from Michigan State University in 1999. Dr. Guldi worked in the residential loan industry in Tucson, Arizona and then in the securities and corporate bond industry in Lo


May 28: Michelle Stewart: How C127 Supports Foster Care In Central Florida
Michelle grew up in Oklahoma. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, married her husband Don and traveled the world during his 22 years of service in the U.S. Army. Their final duty station was Orlando, Florida, and they settled in Central Florida in 2004. Michelle taught a variety of subjects at Circle Christian School during her 19 years on staff there. She discovered C127 through her local church and began serving as a care community team lead


June 4: Dr. Joel Hunter, Chairman, The Central Florida Pledge Campaign.
Dr. Joel Hunter is a prominent community leader, pastor and bridge-builder, who seeks common ground for the common good. He is the Pastor of Community Benefit at Action Church and the Chairman of the Central Florida Pledge campaign, a call to action for residents of Central Florida who are tired of hateful discourse and want to create a safe and inclusive community for all. The pledge asks residents to commit to treating all people with kindness and respect, especially those


June 17: UCF's Andres Käosaar Rowed The Atlantic. Hear His Story
Andres Käosaar is a doctoral candidate at UCF, an ocean rower, and an adventurer. Over the past 7 years, he has been researching teamwork in extreme contexts, including space and polar regions. Driven by his research interests, in December 2025, he embarked on an Atlantic Ocean rowing race, aiming to cross the 3000-mile-long course with his three team members from Estonia. They successfully crossed the ocean, being the 15th boat of the 43 that crossed the starting line, and t


July 23: UCF's Dr. Debashis Chanda. There Is A New Kind Of Paint In Town
Prof. Debashis Chanda is a Professor, jointly appointed with NanoScience Technology Center, Dept. of Physics and College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), University of Central Florida (UCF). Dr. Chanda received his PhD from University of Toronto. His PhD work was recognized in the form of several awards, including prestigious National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) fellowship. Quite a few of this research works were extensively covered by National Science


Aug 6: Orlando Health's Dr. Dipali Nemade: Neuroscience: Challenges and Advancements
Dr. Dipali Nemade is a fellowship-trained epileptologist and board-certified neurologist at the Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Nemade earned a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology at The University of Toledo, Ohio. She completed a neurology residency at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, and an epilepsy fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio. She is a member of the American Academy of Neu
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