Rotary District 5300 Disaster Relief

District Governor, Gilda Moshir

Gilda is a Life Insurance Broker, she represents over 50 major insurance carriers.  She got into the insurance industry when she experienced firsthand the scarcity of information available to immigrant families when it came to finances.  Her family never got that proverbial “knock on the door” from an insurance sales agent.  Gilda saw her parents suffering from not having plans in place.  She vowed to change that for others.  Since 2013, Gilda has been educating families about the value of life insurance and providing peace of mind for the family that is left behind.  She considers herself a “Sandwich Generation Expert” as she serves parents, kids, grandparents and anyone sandwiched in the family.  At every stage of life our needs for coverage evolve, Gilda is there to guide and educate families on the best options to secure their family and assets.

 Prior to life insurance, Gilda ran a nursery school with a 70-year history in Pasadena.  Gilda has 16 years in the field of Early Childhood Education, educating families on effective parenting.  She has a degree in Social Ecology and Political Science from UC Irvine, and an Associate degree from Pasadena City College in Education.  Shortly after graduation from UC Irvine, Gilda met her husband, Mehrdad, also Persian, who is an astrophysicist who worked for Caltech/JPL and now Aerospace Corporation.  They raised their 2 boys, Darius (29) and Kian (27) in San Marino and now live in Pasadena near Huntington Gardens and Caltech.  On September 3^rd, they celebrate 32 years of marriage.  Darius followed his mom’s path in becoming an entrepreneur, he is pursuing a career in singing & acting and is a personal trainer.  Kian is UC Santa Barbara graduate who studied Economics and started his career as analyst at Ernst Young, he’s quite the world traveler, having visited Mallorca, Tokyo and Portugal in the last year. 

 Gilda is a proud Persian-American, she immigrated to the US after the 1979 Revolution in Iran, when the monarchy was overthrown, she and her family fled Iran.  Even though leaving her native country was hard and assimilating to the American culture even harder, Gilda continues to be proud of her Persian roots and has raised her kids with the values she received growing up as a child in Iran. 

 Gilda was inducted into San Marino Rotary in 2012 and hit the ground running.  She served the club as its Membership Chair, Community Grants Chair, RYLA Chair, Mini Grants Chair, Barth Scholarships Chair and as a member of the club board and the Charities Board ultimately becoming club president in 2016-2017.  During her year as President, she helped the club win the highly sought “Governor’s Bell” and multiple other awards for the club’s growth and service in international grants, participation in District sponsored events and service projects such as the Bike Build and Corazon.  During her year as President, she gave voice to member Rotarians to highlight their business under the vocational area of service.  A new website and social media access was launched during her year.  She fostered collaboration with other clubs and helped run a Rotary Business Alliance group promoting member businesses off-site. 

 Since the “get-go” Gilda was attracted to Membership growth, you’ll have to ask her about her first visit to the club, it was not a welcoming one!  She wanted to change that and did so when she served as the club’s Membership Chair for the past 10 years.  Gilda got to serve as the District Membership Chair twice, once from 2019 – 2021 and took a hiatus in 2021-2022 when she became an Area Governor for Area 1.  She again served as District Membership Chair when she started her Governor training in 2023-2024.  That same year, PDG Roger Gutierrez and President Rob Feidler recognized Gilda as the Club Champion for the San Marino Rotary Club.  As District Membership Chair in 2023-2024 and the leadership of immediate past District Governor, Mike Soden, they were able to add 3 new clubs to District 5300: Aerospace Valley, Vegas Verde and Henderson After Hours club. 

 Gilda has been active in the community, from being involved in the PTA at Valentine Elementary School in San Marino to becoming Committee Chair of her boys’ Boy Scout Troop 359 in San Marino.  She and Mehrdad are proud parents of 2 Eagle Scouts.  She won the “Honorary Service Award” in 2008 from the PTA in San Marino and chaired a major fundraiser at Valentine not once but twice.  As her kids grew older, she got involved in Rotary and other organizations, she was involved in the local Chamber of Commerce for over 10 years and served as President for her South Pasadena Connections a chapter of TEAM Referral Network. 

It isn’t all volunteer work for Gilda, she manages to spend time with family, she is lucky to have her mom and uncle very nearby they dine together every night.  She has a passion to share her cultural heritage as a Persian-American.  She belongs to a social book club and is part of a Butterfly Ladies group that are made up of fun Rotarian ladies who dine together quarterly. She has a passion to share her cultural heritage as a Persian-American.  In 2022, Gilda founded Homayoun Language & Cultural Center (named after her father) to serve Persian families in the San Gabriel Valley teaching children Persian language & culture of Iran.  If that’s not enough, she is managing her son’s music business.

 Gilda’s “mode of operation” is to connect people, she enjoys bringing people together who can benefit from each other’s skills and talents to better the community.    She is committed to serving people through Rotary, her profession, and the community programs she belongs to. 

 Over the last 2 years while Gilda has been training for becoming a District Governor she has gained many new friends and has learned how other clubs and districts run their organization.  Although we do great things in San Marino and in our District, we can always learn from others, I am so excited to get to know the clubs better over the next year and be inspired by all of you who make a difference in our communities local and worldwide.  See you soon at your club meeting.

District Governor Elect, Dennis Franklin

Dennis is a senior financial advisor and First Vice President at Wells Fargo Advisors. He is a partner in a wealth management team that oversees in excess of a billion dollars of client assets.  His career began in 1986 as a stock broker with Shearson American Express (now Morgan Stanley) in Ormond Beach Florida. In 1995 he was asked to take on the responsibility of overseeing the banking operation of an international Christian ministry. For the next five years he served as Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer of the Way Credit Union.  His responsibilities included overseeing the credit union’s investment portfolio, strategic planning, accounting, and general operations.

Dennis and his wife Tricia have been married since 1985 and have two adult children (Lauren and Grace).  In 2000 they moved to Southern California to be closer to Tricia’s family.  Shortly after arriving, Dennis joined WM Financial Services where he was able to put to work both his banking and brokerage skills.  In 2004 he was recruited by Wells Fargo Advisors and has been there ever since.  About the same time, Tricia began her career as an elementary school educator.

Dennis has obtained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ certification.  He holds a B.S. degree from Florida International University in restaurant and institutional management, and has also earned a B.S degree in Theology.
Throughout their lives, Dennis and Tricia have dedicated much of their time and resources to support non-profit and ministry causes.  Besides running a research based Christian fellowship, Dennis has supported and advised a number of 501c(3) organizations especially in regard to strategic planning, organizational governance, and financial management.
Dennis is a major donor to the Rotary Foundation and has also played a significant leadership role in the community through his association with Rotary International.  He is the past president of Rotary Clubs in Monrovia and Glendora California. He has served as an Assistant Governor, Executive Assistant District Governor, and district trainer.  He has chaired the vision planning team, facilitated at  PETS (President Elect Training) and RYLA.

Dennis is currently on the board of directors of both the Rotary Club of Glendora and oversees the Rotary Leadership Institute.

District Governor Nominee, Kari Anderson

Kari's unwavering commitment to service, ignited by her father's dedication, began in 2007 when she joined the Claremont Sunrise Rotary Club. She led the club as President twice (2011-2012 and 2017-2018) and undertook various roles, including Club Treasurer and Membership Chair.  Her dedication is evident in her roles as an Area Governor, a member of the Rose Parade Float committee, the District Conference Committee, the Peace Conference Committee, and the Public Image Chair. Her participation in TLC, RYLA, and the RLI Rotary Leadership Institute further underscores her profound dedication to Rotary and community service. 

In 2011, Kari's personal and Rotary journeys intersected when she married Devo Anderson. They celebrated their union by inviting their entire Rotary club to their wedding, a testament to the deep connections Kari has formed within the Rotary community. Their commitment to service was further demonstrated in 2012 when, inspired by a District Conference promoting the eradication of Polio, they chose to forgo a traditional honeymoon and instead traveled to India to administer Polio vaccinations and help build a percolation dam.  She and her husband Devo (Claremont Sunrise Rotary Club president 2024-2025) have since attended multiple Rotary International Conventions, further strengthening their ties to the global Rotary community. 

 As a 40+ years Type I diabetic, you can often find Kari with her medical alert Labrador retriever Lizzy (named after a character from a Jane Austin novel). 

 Kari's professional journey has been diverse and dynamic. She began her career opening restaurants for Sweet Tomatoes across the U.S., one chicken wonton salad at a time. Then, she transitioned into the non-profit sector, coordinating ASL interpreter services for hospitals day or night within an hour of the request. Each role has provided unique insights that inform her approach to service, showcasing her adaptability and resourcefulness.

As the CEO and Founder of EMS, Inc., Kari has been assisting individuals across Southern California to secure meaningful employment opportunities since 2012.  Her team emphasizes the importance of personal choice and investment in one's vocational journey. 

A Paul Harris Fellow, Bequest Society member, and consistent contributor, she demonstrates a deep understanding of the foundation's crucial role in enabling Rotary's global impact.

With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix, Kari brings a unique blend of academic knowledge and practical experience to her Rotary leadership. This combination instills confidence in her ability to understand and address the diverse needs of the Rotary community.

As Kari steps into the role of District Governor, she brings with her a vision of building on the strong foundation laid by her predecessors. She is eager to work alongside fellow Rotarians, learn from their experiences, and collectively strive to make a positive difference in local and global communities. Her vision, which is filled with hope and excitement, promises a bright future for Rotary.

District Governor Nominee Designate, Dave Thorson

David is a Fractional CFO supporting small and mid-sized businesses and non-profits in the areas of financial oversight, strategic planning, corporate finance and driving growth. Previously David served as the West Region Operations Director for the USO supporting 30+ operations across 9 western states. Before that he served as the Executive Director for the USO in Nevada in Las Vegas where he was responsible for four USO Centers, development activities and a variety of programming to support military families. His career includes 35+ years of diverse senior management, finance, marketing and business development roles. He held management and executive positions at Ford Motor Company and Hewlett-Packard, respectively, as well as executive roles at three technology start-up companies. Throughout his career he has lived or worked in 7 different countries. He serves on the board of directors for Nevada Trust Company and Trustar Corporation.

MBA from Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas (Barcelona, Spain); Master of International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management (Glendale, AZ); Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ).

 David is actively involved in the local community. In addition to his Rotary involvement (listed below) he served 7 years as the President of the Las Vegas Thunderbird (School) Alumni Chapter and currently serves on the civilian advisory council for the Commander of U.S. Air Force, Air Combat Command.

Rotary Positions Held:

• RLI Co-Chair for Nevada (Just started)
• Trustee and Secretary, Las Vegas Rotary Foundation Board (2024-current)
• District 5300 Education Chair (2022-2024)
• PETS Facilitator (2018-2024)
• Assistant District Governor (2017-2019)
• President Las Vegas Rotary Club (2016-2017)
• Board Member Las Vegas Rotary Club (2012-2018)
  • Membership Director
  • Youth and Vocational Director
  • Fundraising Director
  • Special Projects Director
• RYLA Facilitator (2016)
• Secretary, Vice President and President of the Las Vegas Rotary Club’s 25 Club (2010-2012)

Immediate Past District Governor, Michael Driebe

Michael Driebe became President of Methodist Hospital Foundation in the fall of 2009. He has been a fund development professional since 1999 and has over 35 years’ experience in a variety of volunteer leadership roles with several nonprofit organizations.

Prior to coming to Methodist, he was President of Driebe & Associates, an independent fund development consulting firm, assisting nonprofits with management issues, recruitment, development audits and board training.  Previously, Mike served as Vice President for Development at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in Pomona, California, and as Vice President of Development at the LeRoy Haynes Center for Children and Family Services in La Verne, California.

Mike received a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne with dual concentrations in Strategic and Non Profit Management.  He became a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in 2005 and holds a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Mike served as President of the Pomona Jaycees and received the club’s Distinguished Service Award.  He also served as Secretary of the California Junior Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the California Junior Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board of Directors.  He was named an Outstanding Young Californian by the California Junior Chamber and is a member of the Junior Chamber International Senate.

He served as President of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, President of Fairplex Friends, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Pomona Valley YMCA, the Pomona Economic Development Corporation, and was Chairman of the Pomona General Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee.  He also served as a board member and studio volunteer for Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic – Inland Empire/Orange County Unit.

He served as President of the Southern California Association for Healthcare Development, earning their Outstanding Leadership Award in 2018.  Currently he serves as Immediate Past-President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Greater Los Angeles Chapter.  He became a member of the Los Angeles County Fair Association in 2005 and has served on its board since 2019.  On a national level, Mike served as a member of the Board of Directors and Governors for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee from 2005 to 2010 and as a National Committee Member from 1997 to 2005.

He became a member of Pomona Rotary in 1994 and served as club president in 2002-2003.  In 2010, he joined the Rotary Club of San Marino, was recognized as San Marino’s Rotarian of the Year in 2015, and became that club’s president in 2015-2016. He went on to serve as San Marino Rotary Charities President from 2018-2021.

Mike also held several positions with District 5300, including Leadership Trainer, Public Relations Chair, Interact Chair, TLC Chair, RYLA Committee Member and Chair,      Multi-District Interact Symposium Chair, Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, Host District Vocational Training Team Committee Chair, Leader of the 2018 Group Cultural Exchange Team to India, Stewardship Sub-Committee Chair, Major Gifts Sub-Committee Chair and currently as Chair of the 2022 Peace Conference Committee.

Mike and Sylvia met in 1980 just 2 weeks after he moved to California from Virginia.  Married since 1985, they are residents of Pomona and enjoy art, music, food, travel and frequent trips to Disneyland.