Events

Learn more about how your organization can use common practices to identify,  understand, and mitigate your organization’s risks. Dive deeper into cybersecurity trends and methods commonly used to mitigate cyber risk.

Learning Objectives:

• Review common approaches used to identify risk in your organization 
• Understand the latest trends in cybersecurity risk
• Explore ways to mitigate risk – both across your business processes and your IT environment

David Anderson - Principal, Minneapolis, MN

David is a principal and cybersecurity consultant with more than 13 years of experience in the Cybersecurity field. He performs, and provides project management for network penetration testing, internal vulnerability assessments, and social engineering engagements.

Jake Taylor -Principal, Minneapolis, MN

Jake is a principal in CLA’s Value and Risk practice. Jake has more than 15 years of professional experience in providing internal audit (business process and IT) and risk assessment services.

NOTE: We will meet on the 3rd floor of the Minneapolis Club in the Great Hall for this meeting 

Jeff Griffith of Jeff Griffith Creative is an award-winning Creative Director of advertising, design and branding located in Eden Prairie. 

His career spans stints in regional, national and global ad agencies in Honolulu, Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago, Winston-Salem, NC, and 26 years in New York City. 

Jeff’s sometimes audacious creative has been featured and discussed on CNN, MSNBC, “The View”, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and one of his multimedia campaigns is in the permanent collection of the Library of Congress. 

At the meeting, he’s going to share his emotional work for America’s heroes at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, which culminated in a branding takeover of the NY Stock Exchange building on Wall Street earlier this year. For those 61 brave Recipients who wear the highest military award around their neck every day, how do they define the true weight of the Medal and their sacrifice?   

http://www.JeffGriffithCreative.com

Brian D. Ryks, A.A.E. has been the Executive Director and CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) since May 2016. He is responsible for the administration and management of Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and the MAC’s six general aviation airports. Ryks has leadership experience at six North American airports over the past 35 years. He is a licensed pilot with an instrument rating and an Accredited Airport Executive with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). He is currently a member of the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) World Governing Board, a past member of the (ACI-NA) U.S. Policy Council, a past member of ACI-NA’s Board of Directors and a past chair of the ACI-NA Large Hub Airports Committee. In addition, Ryks is a former board member of AAAE and its Policy Review Committee. He holds a professional affiliation with the Great Lakes Chapter of AAAE (GL-AAAE) and is past president of GL-AAAE.

800 North 1st Street, Minneapolis MN 55401

Exclusive opportunity to tour the Strib’s printing plant in North Loop before it closes! The plant opened nearly 40 years ago and will be closing in a few months as printing is relocated to Iowa, ending a 158-year run of locally printed newspapers. Come learn more the Strib’s digital transformation and continued commitment to high-quality journalism Minnesotans count on.

On-street metered parking is available but can take some time - please plan accordingly.

This week's meeting honors members whose leadership and giving inspire us all, plus the nonprofit receiving our 2025 Hope Award for ourtstanding community impact.  Come be a part of the celebrationi!

Please join us to hear from Paula Wilhelm, Engagement Manager for Hennepin Healthcare Foundation, along with Ka Vang, Vice President of Equity and Community Engagement for Meet Minneapolis to learn more about the Warm Winter Clothes Drive. The Drive provides an opportunity to assist patients upon discharge from Hennepin Health with new, warm clothing to continue their healing. 

"When our community partners and friends began collecting these wonderful donations, they may not have realized what an impact they were making – not only for our patients who will be warmed by the gifts, but also to those who are waiting to be admitted for care,” explained Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer DeCubellis. “Hospitals are so busy these days, and patients need to go home as soon as they are ready. Having seasonally appropriate clothing expedites this process in many ways – even beyond our doors. It’s a win-win for everyone, and we thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.”

“I am truly heartened by the generosity displayed by our community,” said Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman. “The outpouring of generosity from businesses and individuals has not only provided warmth to those in need but has also showcased that kindness and collective action can truly transform lives in our city.”

“As a proud member of the Minneapolis community, I am deeply moved by the success of the Meet Minneapolis Winter Clothing Drive,” stated Robert Lilligren, Meet Minneapolis Board Chair and Native American Community Development Institute CEO. “The collective effort of the businesses and individuals in supporting this drive reflects the true spirit of hospitality – a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others."

Join Tracy Keibler, founding Executive Director of START Senior Solutions, for an eye-opening look at simple steps that strengthen brain health and the early warning signs of dementia that too often go unnoticed. 

Tracy Keibler is the founding Executive Director of START Senior Solutions, a Minnesota nonprofit that has helped more than 8,000 older adults and caregivers navigate the toughest challenges of aging. A gerontologist and unapologetic systems challenger, she’s known for championing legislation, winning Medicare appeals for seniors, uncovering neglect, and standing by people when no one else would. In her spare time, she channels grit and grace into singing and songwriting. Her music reminds us that aging is more than surviving—it’s about living fully.

See club calendar for details https://colrc.org/event/holiday-party-in-pm/

As a Speaker, Consultant, Writer, and Facilitator, Ronn has worked with  organizations of all sizes in the United States, Canada, Europe, and  Asia.His focus is helping organizations and individuals acquire the  mindsets, skill sets, and tool sets necessary for success.

Through it all, he has been a student of the Human Factors in success, and apply what he’s learned to helping organizations and individuals to achieve their goals.

Ronn has over 45 years of experience in the learning business: 10 years at  Wilson Learning Corporation as Senior Writer and Designer, and 35 years as an Independent Consultant, serving a wide variety of clients, industries, and  applications.

He speaks to many organizations and associations on the topics of Safety, Quality, Organizational Culture, Leadership, Fear, and Dealing with Change, as well as consulting on those same topics.

Ronn has been a visiting instructor in Entrepreneurship at Century College, and has contributed to several books, including:

• Even Eagles Need a Push  David McNally
• Playing to Win  Larry & Hersch Wilson
• Making the Grass Greener on Your Side  Ken Melrose
• Fire Yourself! Reignite Your Career and Live Your Life with Intention  John Rusciano & Lisa Brezonik

Ronn Lehmann

Join us at ECS, our longtime foundaton partner, located at 1900 11th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Our leaders discuss the year-in-review metrics, success stories, and financial  summary.  Join us to celebrate our progress and what's ahead. 

Ever wondered which fellow members share your personal or professional interests? Looking for someone with a specific skill set or community passion? Our new Searchable Member Database will make it easier than ever to discover common ground, spark collaborations, and deepen relationships across the club.

At this week’s meeting, our Vocational Services Team will host interactive breakout sessions where members can share key details about themselves and help us enrich this powerful new tool. The more we each contribute, the stronger—and more useful—our network becomes. Bring your bio to reference and share your profile.

Get your Zoom link at the top of our home page in the gold header if you do not already have one established https://colrc.org/

Zoom Only

TTT has the mission of awakening the creative spirit of audiences and artists alike by bringing essential and exceptional theater to people from all backgrounds and life experiences. In practice, this looks like reimagining conventional theater norms of performance and audience.

For 30 years, TTT has put on plays anywhere they can reach the communities they seek to serve–from high school gymnasiums, to prison classrooms, to public gathering spaces where the theatre-going public can join.

TTT performances take place in the round and without complicated lighting, sets, or recorded music, an essentialized setting that fosters moments of shared presence and humanity for both audience members and artists by enabling individuals to both see one another and be seen in turn.

www.tenthousandthings.org

Join us for an engaging program with Erick Garcia Luna of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Erick will share insights on current economic conditions and what lies ahead for the economy in the U.S. and Minnesota.  Also, meet special guest 2027-2028 Rotary International President Larry Lunsford.  Doors open at 7 a.m.

This is a Ticketed Event with advance registration required by Feb. 4 at https://colrc.org/events/ri-president-nominee-larry-lunsford-with-minneapolis-city-of-lakes-rotary-meeting-nominee/

Erick Garcia Luna is a regional outreach director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. His responsibilities include tracking, analyzing, and reporting on several aspects of the economy of the Fed's Ninth District. Erick is a co-author of the Beige Book and has published articles on inflation, business conditions, and labor. His work has been featured in local and national media, including Marketplace and Bloomberg TV.

Prior to joining the Minneapolis Fed, Erick held a variety of roles in the U.S. Senate, the City of Minneapolis, and the University of Minnesota. His academic credentials include coursework in economics and political science from the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico City, and a degree in economics from the University of Minnesota.

Barry Hand’s journey is one marked by a deep commitment to language preservation and community development. Hand’s roots growing up in a Lakota language-speaking household laid the foundation for his career. He has taught Dakota language for the past 15 years and, armed with a degree in public policy with a focus on sustainability, has collaborated on program development with institutions like Harding High School and the University of Minnesota. His experiences, from helping to put on the first Dakota Language Bowl in the Twin Cities, to four years at Bdote Learning Center, showcase his dedication to cultural education and experiential learning.

While working for Tinta Wita, Hand spearheaded various programs, including the creation of a winter camp and the building of traditional bark lodges, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in Minnesota in over 150 years. His philosophy centers around positivity in language acquisition, emphasizing the importance of trying, staying in love with the language, and avoiding harm. Hand’s work getting Dakota language classes at Red Wing High School is notable for its commitment to inclusivity, offering language classes for both heritage (Native) and non-heritage students. This approach has successfully improved relations between the Red Wing and Tinta Wita Communities.

At Owámniyomni, Hand envisions programming as community-driven. His early ideas involve engaging in dialogue with community heritage folks, honoring the Falls for what it once was and what it still is. Program development will be a collaborative process, integrating the desires of both the community and the River.

Steve Fine, founder and president of the Melanoma Education Foundation, attended colleges in the Boston area, receiving a doctorate in chemistry from Northeastern University. He then moved to Pennsylvania, completing a year of postdoctoral research at Lehigh University. After 5 years as assistant professor of organic chemistry at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, he moved back to New England where he served in technical and management positions in high tech chemical companies.

In 1989 he started a consulting practice in the technology of high purity chemical manufacturing, concurrently serving for 3 years as Vice President of Technology for ACSI, a West Coast manufacturer of semiconductor chemicals.

Shortly after his son, Dan, died of melanoma in 1998 at the age of 26 he founded the non-profit Melanoma Education Foundation and, since 2000, has devoted full time to the Foundation.

The primary activity of the Foundation is educating high school and middle school wellness educators about melanoma and providing them with free online lessons to educate their students about self-detecting melanoma while it is curable. Prior to the Covid 19 pandemic over 1700 schools in all 50 U.S. states and Canada were using the lessons, resulting in saved lives of students, teachers and their loved ones.

Zoom Only Meeting  Get your Zoom link at the top of our home page in the gold header if you do not already have one established  https://colrc.org/

Shannon Watson is the founder and executive director of Majority in the Middle. She has also worked in policy and public affairs roles in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has 20+ years of experience in electoral politics, advising candidates and working on campaigns on both sides of the aisle in Kansas, Colorado, and Minnesota.

Shannon is a frequent op-ed writer and speaker. She is also a graduate of Leadership St Paul, a member of the twin cities MYALP cohort, and a Humphrey Policy Fellow. Shannon holds a bachelor's degree in English, Theatre, and Psychology from Wichita State University and a master's degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She lives in Minneapolis.

Learn more here!

Zoom Only

Shane has been with DID since its inception in 2009 and currently holds the position of Director of Safety Initiatives. 

Shane came to DID from Target where he worked as an executive in Assets Protection for nine years. Within that time period he helped to execute and lead safety initiatives within the newly formed Minneapolis SafeZone Collaborative (now known as Vibrant & Safe Downtown). In 2009 this Collaborative became part of DID and Shane began his role leading DID’s safety programs. In his time with DID, Shane has been integral in successful collaborations with law enforcement, outreach and private security partners, that have increased the real and perceived safety of downtown.

On April 29, 2025, Tony Loyd was diagnosed with lung cancer. As a non-smoking endurance athlete, the news was devastating. He knew he had to dig in and find his personal endurance. As a former Fortune 500 executive, he did what he has always done. He turned to the experts. Together with his partner, he scoured peer-reviewed research to discover what it really takes to endure. In September, 25 percent of his lungs were removed. Today, he is on a journey to find out what it takes to get 100 percent from the 75 percent of his lungs that remain.

In this brief talk, Tony shares stories and insights from his journey, connecting endurance to Rotary's values of service and leadership. Participants will be inspired to see endurance in a new light, understand how it works, and walk away with practical ideas they can apply in their lives, their work, their service, and their Rotary club. This is https://tonyloyd.com

The secret is out that we are all living on borrowed time, so the question is whether we're stuck on autopilot and going through the motions of our lives, or we're living like we mean it...living lives we'd be proud to look back on without the faintest whiff of regret.  In this interactive talk rooted in the science of positive psychology, we'll talk about how we can be more mindful about living lives we'd love to live, today without a Monday to spare. 

Get your Zoom link on our home pageg in the gold header area here  https://colrc.org/

Gather at 7:15 a.m., program runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m.

We are honored to welcome a former COL Rotary Club member who will share a deeply personal and powerful perspective on living with pancreatic cancer. Through his journey, he offers insights and hope while raising awareness about this challenging disease. Join us for an inspiring and meaningful presentation.