Meet the Rotarians! This is the 2019 issue of Rotarian Spotlight.
In an effort to bridge the gap between Cal Rotaract and Rotary, Rotarian Spotlights is a new feature that helps members get to know Rotarians more. Read about Rotarians, their service passions, and career advice below!
Are you a Rotarian who is interested in being featured? Fill out our Spotlight form for a chance to be featured! https://tinyurl.com/s19rotarianspotlight
If you’re interested in learning more about Cal Rotaractors and alumni, check out Humans of Cal Rotaract under the membership tab.
Directory
John Pardee
Business and Real Estate Attorney | [email protected]
What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?
“Helping my local community and the international community – Rotary provides avenues to help on all levels.”
What current service projects are you involved in?
“Supportive housing in Berkeley and mentoring college students.”
What made you decide to become a Rotarian?
“My desires to feel useful, helpful and productive, and to enhance my connections with people in Berkeley.”
How have you brought service into your personal and professional world?
“In addition to Rotary, I serve on the Advisory Board of the Berkeley College of Natural Resource, the land acquisition committee of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and the steering committee for Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island (Boy Scouts).”
Any funny or interesting Rotary stories to share?
“When we were traveling in Germany last year, I had to give telephone directions to the German Consul in San Francisco to make sure that he could find the Rotary Peace Grove Ceremony that was taking place in Tilden Park – sort of an amusing situation.”
Describe your professional background.
“Business and real estate attorney with experience in private practice, local government and nonprofit work. Practice included commercial real estate transactions, IT contracts and land conservation projects.”
What made you want to pursue this career?
“It is intellectually challenging work and rewarding when transactions are successfully concluded to everyone’s benefit.”
What advice do you have for Rotaractors who are interested in pursuing this profession?
“Decide how important financial rewards vs. lifestyle and public benefits are to you – if financial rewards are a greater consideration, aim for a career in private practice with a large law firm – if they are less important, or you want a better work-life balance, look at government or nonprofit practices, although it is also helpful to work in private practice for a while if you eventually want to go into government or nonprofit practice. Go to the best law school you can.”
If applicable, what advice do you have for Rotaractors who are thinking of switching industries and/or careers?
“I switched my type of practice three times, so you can make that happen.”
Libby Tyler
Urban Planning and Community Development | [email protected] | Linkedin
What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?
“I am interested in Community Development and working with youth in the community. Rotary has given me opportunities to work on a variety of community programs, such as MLK Day celebrations, Read Across America, international projects, and supporting homeless shelters.”
What current service projects are you involved in?
“Supportive Housing Committee at Berkeley Rotary.”
What made you decide to become a Rotarian?
“A connection with civic leaders where I used to live in Illinois.”
Any funny or interesting Rotary stories to share?
“When I was President of my club, I was able to attend the International Conference in Sydney Australia. That was the first time I saw Rotarians covered with pins from all over the world. It was impressive!”
Describe your professional background.
“Urban Planning and Community Development.”
What made you want to pursue this career?
“I wanted to figure out what made cities tick and to make them better!”
What advice do you have for Rotaractors who are interested in pursuing this profession?
“Just get into it! There is so much you can do with planning!”
If applicable, what advice do you have for Rotaractors who are thinking of switching industries and/or careers?
“No matter what you wind up doing, these experiences will be valuable.”
What advice do you have for Rotaractors who may experience burnout in the future?
“Take a trip – any distance and any length of time. It won’t take long for you to remember what an amazing place this world is!”
Austin Henderson
What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?
“I am interested in supporting the development of socio-technical systems.”
What current service projects are you involved in?
“I am the Club Secretary of the Berkeley Rotary Club, and the chair of the BRC Communications Committee.”
What made you decide to become a Rotarian?
“The insistence of a neighbor – who is a good guy – and the people I met when I joined him at lunch meetings.”
How have you brought service into your personal and professional world?
“I have a professional interest is in helping people build systems for themselves.”
Describe your professional background.
“Research in human-computer interactions, mostly in corporate settings (e.g., BBN, Xerox, Apple, PItney Bowes).”
What made you want to pursue this career?
“It was fascinating, clearly needed, and not being addressed by mainline Computer Science.”
What advice do you have for Rotaractors who are interested in pursuing this profession?
“Look beyond technology; include people (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, design).”
Tina Etcheverry
Biotech International Team Leader | [email protected]
What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?
“Connection to International projects”
What current service projects are you involved in?
“Most Berkeley Rotary projects (eg, Kenya and Mexico and Guatemala – as Endowment Treasurer)”
What made you decide to become a Rotarian?
“Chance to give back.”
Any funny or interesting Rotary stories to share?
“It took me three years to decide to join…and three years later I was President of the Berkeley Club.”
Describe your professional background.
“Biotech International Team Leader – Tech Transfer focus”
What made you want to pursue this career?
“Loved the science and potential of biotechnology to save lives. Make a difference in the world.”
What advice do you have for Rotaractors who are interested in pursuing this profession?
“Take the risk, believe in yourself.”
If applicable, what advice do you have for Rotaractors who are thinking of switching industries and/or careers?
“I switched my type of practice three times, so you can make that happen.”
What advice do you have for Rotaractors who may face burnout in the future?
“Go to Hawaii for a week, and then immerse yourself in the next thing…”
O’Neil Dillon
Psychiatrist | [email protected]
What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?
“Helping make the world a better place in any way I can, and Rotary paves the way to do just that.”
What current service projects are you involved in?
“Youth programs, and international service projects”
What made you decide to become a Rotarian?
“The non-ideological, non-political and non-religious ethical values of the organization focusing on service to others were a match for my own values, so it was a good fit.”
How have you brought service into your personal and professional world?
“Peace Corps Physician, Rotarian, supporter of Youth Services in Rotary, participant in International service projects”
Any funny or interesting Rotary stories to share?
“The most powerful experience has been working in a rural area of Mexico with Berkeley Rotary and many other Rotary clubs over 14 years and seeing the enormous impact that has made. This kind of experience allows one to become a true “Global Citizen” in one’s relationship to humanity.”
Describe your professional background.
“UC Berkeley, UCSF School of Medicine, practicing psychiatrist, now retired.”
What made you want to pursue this career?
“Probably because my family was a mess and needed help.”
What advice do you have for Rotaractors who are interested in pursuing this profession?
“Go for it, but there are many ways to help others just as powerful as medicine”
If applicable, what advice do you have for Rotaractors who are thinking of switching industries and/or careers?
“Good for you to be brave enough to question switching!”
What advice do you have for Rotaractors who may face burnout in the future?
“Take a break, sit back, think, talk to someone.”