Speakers

Dr. Jeff Tanner worked for Xerox for six years after graduating from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, then went back to school at the University of Georgia to pick up his Ph.D. From there he went to work at Baylor University in Texas, in several different capacities in his 27 years there, including associate dean for undergraduates, associate dean for faculty development and research, and professor emeritus.

He first came to Coastal Virginia in 2005 when he started working with an organization in Hampton called Lighthouse Outreach. They had a federal grant to serve at-risk adolescents in Coastal Virginia to reduce teen pregnancy. He was brought on the project because of his expertise on how an organization can use marketing to promote healthy decision-making among various populations but primarily in the teen pregnancy area. He still acts as an evaluator for the project today.

Ten years after he first arrived here, he was having dinner with a colleague from his University of Georgia days who told him that a dean’s position was opening at ODU. He was pretty settled at Baylor and thought he would continue there, but the colleague nominated him for the position, and the person responsible for the search knew Tanner from other previous opportunities and thought he’d be a good fit. He started his current position as dean in May 2015.

Dr. Prodonovic is an Assistant Professor of Dermotology at the Eastern Virginia Medical School.  His initial medical education was completed at the Saba University School of Medicine (Saba, Netherlands-Antilles); he completed residencies at the Cleveland Clinic in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics (Akron, OH), followed by the St. Louis University School of Medicine in Dermotology (St. Louis, MO).  Dr. Prodonovic continued to earn a Fellowship at the Chicago Vein Institute, a Preceptroship in Endovenous Laser Ablation, Phlebotomy and Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins.  He is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics.  His clinical interests and skills include: Skin Exams for Surveillance of Skin Cancers; Cutaneous Surgery for Skin Cancer and Growths; Cosmetic Dermatology; and Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Psoriasis and Spider Veins.

Ken Young has been the President of the Norfolk Tides since 1993, the year the team moved into Harbor Park. The previous year, Young put together an investor group to purchase the Tides from the New York Mets. Since taking over day-to-day control of the Tides, the club has experienced unprecedented success, averaging approximately 470,000 fans per year.

Young has been in the recreational food business for more than 30 years since graduating from Penn State University in 1972. Young has been involved in numerous Major League stadiums, arenas, and international events, and has worked in such exciting events as the Super Bowl, the World Series and the Olympics.

In the fall of 2006 Young headed an ownership group which purchased the Bowie Baysox and Delmarva Shorebirds, both of which were Maryland-based Orioles affiliates. Young also led an investment group in 2003 which purchased the Calgary Cannons. That club moved into a new stadium in 2003 in Albuquerque, New Mexico where it has averaged 600,000 fans per year.

Young and Tides Baseball, LP also purchased the Norfolk Admirals in 2004. The Admirals have been members of the ECHL and AHL and play their home games in downtown Norfolk.

Young is also on the Board of Trustees of Minor League Baseball, and heads up the licensing operations for college football's Outback Bowl in Tampa, FL. After the 2009 season, he was named as Baseball America's Minor League Executive of the Year.

Past President William C. (Bill) Billings from the Rotary Club of Franklin, VA, is a professional photographer, business owner, much-sought-after speaker, and world traveler.  His club's Rotarian of the Year in 2014, Bill has a bachelor of science degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and has been a Rotarian for over 42 years.  In addition to artistically documenting his travels, Bill enjoys kayaking, kayak building, bicycling, hiking, woodworking, and teaching.  His travels have taken him the bottom of the Grand Canyon to rural Ethiopia, where he helped build a cable suspension bridge across the Blue Nile River Gorge.  Bill is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris and the Bequest Society, a Sustaining Member, Major Donor, and Benefactor of the Rotary Foundation.

From his start as a young private in the Connecticut National Guard, Private Michael S. McGurk received an appointment to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point.  He graduated in 1985 as a 2nd Lieutenant with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.

Colonel McGurk served in a variety of assignments during his distinguished career, including leadership roles in the 25th Infantry Division (in Hawaii) and 5th Infantry Division (at Fort Polk, Louisiana), and in other Army units as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Staff Officer, and Company Commander.

He graduated with honors from the Operations Research and Systems Analysis course at Fort Lee, Virginia and earned a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Louisville.

Unique for today's Army, Colonel McGurk served twice in France, first as a Tactics Instructor to the French Military Academy of St. Cyr, and Later as an attaché in Paris.

In 2004, he deployed to Baghdad, Iraq as part of the Multi-National Force-Iraq.

Colonel McGurk's awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Ranger Tab.  He was also awarded French and British Jump Wings, the French Mountain Commando designation, and the French National Order of Merit.

He is a member of the Board of Directors, West Point Society of Hampton Roads; he also volunteers with the West Point Ring Recovery Program.

Following retirement from active duty in 2011, Michael transitioned to the civil service.  A senior civilian (GS-15) at Fort Eustis, VA, he is Director of Research at the U.S. Army's Center for Initial Military Training, U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command.  His duties include service-wide oversight of the U.S. Army Combat Fitness Test.

Michael and his wife Angie reside in Hampton, VA.  They enjoy worldwide travel, fine wine, and meeting new friends.  (Michael adds, "BEAT NAVY!")

Next meeting will be Tuesday, 09 July, when we will induct the 2019-2020 Board of Directors.

Adam Turner, Artistic Director of the Virginia Opera, says: "Whether you are a veteran opera-goer or contemplating your first “night at the opera,” I wholeheartedly encourage you to embrace the experience of heading to the theater to enjoy the talent and spectacle that is opera. You will be treated to the best voices in the world, the fabulous musicianship of two stellar symphony orchestras – the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Richmond Symphony Orchestra – as well as being thoroughly transported by the theatrical thrill of our productions’ lavish sets and vibrant costumes."  Past Rotarian Lisa Sands will tell us all about the upcoming season.