Events

Gretchen Bren’s life has been profoundly impacted by her Rotary journey.  Through her experiences she has seen how much power each of us has through Rotary to impact our world.
  
She joined The Rotary Club of Omaha (aka Omaha Downtown) in 2007 and served as Executive Director there for 10 years.  In 2019, she joined Omaha Night Rotary Club and is a past club president (2020-2022). At the District level, she has been the End Polio Now chair and an Assistant Governor. Gretchen has been a past District Trainer and is a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institute and for RI Club Visioning.  Outside the District, Gretchen is the secretary for the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship. 

Gretchen is a Paul Harris Fellow+8, a Level 1 Bequest Society member and Major Donor Level 2 and spearheaded the Polio Plus Society in District 5650. Her spouse—Gary Bren—is a former District Governor for District 5650 (2016-17) and is also a facilitator for Rotary Leadership Institute and Visioning, and took over as the End Polio Now chair for District 5650.

Gretchen received the Citation for Meritorious Service from the Rotary Foundation and the International Service Award for a Polio-Free World. In 2019, Gretchen was honored with the District 5650 Cadwallader Award – the District’s highest honor for someone who has made monumental contribution in one or more areas of service with Rotary.

Outside of Rotary, Gretchen has worked in the computer industry doing training, programing and web design. She is a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Master Instructor and Microsoft Certified Professional.  Since 2016, she has been at Turner Technology as the Director of Special Projects.  Gretchen has been married to Gary since 1989, and is the proud mom of two cats, Artemis and Shadow. In her free time, she loves to read, drink fine wines and travel, and recently started stand up paddleboarding.  

BIO

Dr. Darrin Good was named the 17th president of Nebraska Wesleyan University effective July 2019.

Prior to this appointment, Good served as vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Whittier College, located near Los Angeles, Calif. Whittier College is one of the country’s most ethnically / racially diverse private national liberal arts colleges with an enrollment of 1,700 students.
Prior to Whittier College, Good served as the associate provost and dean of science and education at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., from 2012-2015. 

Prior to that he was a biology professor at his alma mater, Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., where he assumed administrative roles including director of service learning and leadership initiatives, director of summer academic programs, director of Nicaragua Medical Service Learning Program, chair of the Division of Natural Sciences, chair of the Governing Board of the Pre-Health Professions, and admissions coordinator for biology and pre-health professions. 

Good earned his bachelor’s degree with a major in biology from Augustana College and his master’s degree and Ph.D. in biology from the University of Kansas. Good and his wife, Diana, have an adult daughter.

On October 2 we will not be meeting at Venue Restaurant and Lounge. Instead we will have an Off-site Meeting.
11:30 - 1:00 PM (earlier start time)
At Center for People for Lunch and Tour
3901 N. 27th Street ~ Lincoln NE 68521
Registration in advance - details to be posted as available

BIO
BULLET POINTS FOR INTRODUCTION
• Rotary
o Past President of Suburban Omaha
o Past Chairman of Suburban Omaha Foundation Board of Trustees
o Omaha Suburban-Past Seargent-at-Arms, Fundraising Chair, Car Show Chair, Community Service
Chair
o Past Assistant Governor District 5650
o Paul Harris Fellow Plus 1
• Community
o La Vista Community Foundation Past Chairman, current Secretary
o Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce- Past Chairman, Volunteer of the Year & Excellence Award
o Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska-VP of Marketing/Sponsorships
o Leadership Sarpy Class of 2003
o Friend of La Vista Award 2011
o Omaha Estate Planning Council
o Angels Among US Board of Directors

Tom Kerfoot joined Children’s Nebraska in January of 2016 as a Director of Development for Philanthropy. Tom
attended Bellevue University for Marketing Management and has thirteen years of experience in healthcare
fundraising, working previously for the CHI Health Foundation. Tom has a long record of successfully working with
private donors, foundations and corporate sponsors to secure funding for projects and programs. He has extensive
experience in event planning and management, and collaborated with a team to develop the planned giving program
at CHI Health Foundation.

Tom completed the Certificate in Fundraising Management through the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is
currently the Vice President – Marketing & Sponsorships for the Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska and is a
member of the Omaha Estate Planning Council. Tom earned the designation of Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy in
2016 through a year-long program with The American College of Financial Services and the Omaha Community
Foundation.

Tom has served in leadership roles for a number of area organizations, and is Past-President for the Suburban Rotary
Club of Omaha and Past-Chairman of the Suburban Rotary Board of Trustees. Tom served on the Board of Directors
for the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce and was the Chairman of the Board in 2019. Tom has served on the
Board of Directors for the La Vista Community Foundation for the past twenty years, serving as Chairman of the
Board twice and is currently the Board Secretary.

Tom has received numerous awards and recognition for his volunteer work in the community. He was recognized as
the Volunteer of the Year in 2007, 2013 and 2014 for the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce. He received the
highest honor of Chamber Excellence Award in 2016 for the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce. He was honored as
the Volunteer of the Year in 2009 for the La Vista Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized as the Friend of La Vista
in 2011 for his work with the foundation and volunteer work in the community.