Leadership

Paul P. Harris

April 19, 1868 – January 27, 1947

The Founder of Rotary

Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer, founded Rotary on February 23, 1905 with the help of three of his clients. Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant, Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor. their intent was to provide fellowship among business men and provide service to the community. They called their group “rotary” because the meeting rotated among the homes of the members.

Paul Harris was born in Racine, Wisconsin. He tried his hand at being a newspaper reporter, business college teacher, stock company actor, cowboy, and a salesman for a marble and granite concern in the US and Europe. He received a bachelor of physical culture and LLD degree from the Uiniversity of Iowa, and an honorary Ph.D from the University of Vermont.

Paul was president emeritus of Rotary International, comprised of 6,000 clubs when he died in 1947. Today there are over 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

Gordon McInally

Rotary International President 2023-24

R. Gordon R. McInally is the President of Rotary International. He was educated at the Royal High School and later at the University of Dundee, where he earned his graduate degree in dental surgery. He owned and operated his own dental practice in Edinburgh until stepping back from full-time practice in 2016. Gordon was chair of the East of Scotland Branch of the British Paedodontic Society, and he has held various academic positions. He has also served as a Presbytery elder, chair of the Queensferry Parish Congregational Board, and commissioner to the general assembly of the Church of Scotland.

A member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, Scotland, Gordon joined Rotary in 1984 aged 26. He has served as president and vice president of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. He has also served RI as a director and member or chair of several committees, including as an adviser to the 2022 Houston Convention Committee and chair of the Operations Review Committee. Gordon says he looks forward to working with members on building new-style Rotary clubs and groups. “My vision is that Rotary should exist everywhere in a style to suit everyone who has the desire to be part of us and to help us do good in the world,” he says.

Gordon is a patron of Hope and Homes for Children and led a partnership between that organization and RIBI during his presidency to lift orphans of the Rwandan genocide out of poverty and into stability. He recalls a moment of epiphany about Rotary’s power to transform lives while in Rwanda when he met a 16-year-old girl who had previously never owned shoes. He is also a patron of Trade-Aid, an initiative of the Rotary Club of Grantham Kesteven, England, that provides sustainable humanitarian aid to individuals, families, and businesses in the developing world, as well as being an ambassador for Bipolar UK.

“No matter how long I live, I will never be able to give back to Rotary what Rotary has given to me,” says Gordon.

In his free time, Gordon enjoys rugby, good food and wine, and stick dressing — a tradition in the part of Scotland where he resides.

Gordon strongly supports The Rotary Foundation, which he describes as “the fuel that provides the energy to do Rotary service.” He and his wife, Heather, also a Rotarian, are Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation. They are also members of the Bequest Society.

A proud grandfather, Gordon wishes to dedicate his presidency to making the world a better place for his granddaughters, Ivy and Florence, along with children everywhere to live and thrive.

Dan Himelspach

Rotary International Director 2023 – 2025

District 5190

Dan Himelspach was raised on a ranch in southeastern Montana and holds a BS in Chemistry from the SD School of Mines and Technology, a JD from the University of Denver College of Law and a Master Negotiation Certificate from the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. Dan is the principal of Dispute Management Inc. located in Denver, Colorado. Dan is married to Leslie Lawson, a former Denver District Court Judge. Dan and Leslie have two children, Mariah and Jonathan, who have participated in a wide variety of Rotary projects and events.

Dan joined the Denver Mile High Rotary Club in August 1993 and has served in multiple leadership positions, including President for the Rotary Year 2005-06. Dan has traveled to and been instrumental in many of the Club’s international and local projects. Dan was the Grants Subcommittee Chair for District 5450 for three years.

He served as District 5450 Governor for Rotary Year 2013-14. Dan trained the DGNs at the 2014 Zone Institute. He served as the Zone 27 End Polio Now Coordinator for Rotary Years 2015-17 and as Zones 26-27 Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Rotary Years 2017-20. Dan also served as a RI Council on Legislation Representative from 2017-20.

Dan will serve as Director from Rotary Years 2023-25. Dan is a member of the Paul Harris Society and the Bequest Society. He has been awarded several awards for his Rotary service including The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.

Renee Brouse

District Governor 2023-24

RC Sherwood

Renee has been a Rotarian since joining the Rotary Club of Sherwood in 2006. She has been active on the Service Committee, International Service Committee, and on the Fundraising Committee. She served as President of the Rotary Club of Sherwood in 2011-12.

At the District level, Renee served 4 years as Assistant Governor for Central Valley West; participated as part of the Vision Facilitation Team for several years; has been active on the PNW PETS team for 3 years, plus providing coaching services for PETS facilitators. She was the District 5100 Trainer for 3 years.

Renee is married to Rob Brouse, and they have two kids: Brittany and Brandon. Brittany lives in Spokane with her family, including Renee and Rob’s two grandchildren, Kaison and Kamden. Brandon lives in Sherwood.

Renee and Rob have been active in the Youth Exchange Program since 2007. They are District 5100 Benefactors, supporting The Rotary Foundation as Paul Harris Society and Bequest Society members. Renee enjoys camping, traveling, hiking, and spending time with her grandkids.
Renee is a proud graduate of Indiana University and studied for a Master’s in Business through Kennedy Western University. Renee has served in the Non-Profit sector since 1996. She also operates a professional development consulting business.

Her mission is to make a difference in the lives of others; her vision is to be the change she wants to see, and her core values embrace belief, responsibility, lifelong learning, empathy, and service.

Jeannine Murrell

District Governor 2024-25

RC Forest Grove

Jeannine grew up in Sacramento California, moved to Oregon in 1989 and settled in Forest Grove in 2002. She served in the US Navy with one tour overseas. Her insurance agency opened in 1992 in Cornelius where she has served the community at large with advice and service. Jeannine has served on the city council in Cornelius, represented her city at County and Regional government boards. She has also served twice as president of the chamber of commerce.

Over the years, Jeannine has worked with and supported many nonprofit service organizations. She is continually active in her church, holding leadership positions in her congregation over the years, Church Moderator, Stephen Minister, and teaching in Sunday School. Jeannine completed her college degree at Marylhurst University in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Religious Studies.

Jeannine joined the Rotary Club of Forest Grove Noon in June of 2003. She has held the following positions in the club, member of the Scholarship committee, Sargent at Arms and Membership Chair. Jeannine was Club President 2015-2016, attended the RI convention in Brazil. She has traveled abroad and attended Rotary meetings in Great Britain and Australia. She is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and Paul Harris Society Member.

She chaired the 2017 District Training Assembly for PDG Larry Hatch. Her success and leadership were part of the consideration when Jeannine became an Assistant Governor in 2018 and served the district by leading the Central West Region. District Governor Jim Boyle, recognizing her leadership and organizational skills, asked Jeannine to be the Administrative Assistant Governor / Chief of Staff for Rotary Year 2021-2022.

When Jeannine learned of ShelterBox her future was set on being involved in changing the world for the better. Jeannine became the ShelterBox liaison for her club before advancing to ShelterBox Ambassador. Her work now is to expose more people and community groups to the work of ShelterBox, and the opportunities to support the mission. Her dream is to advance to ShelterBox Response Team Member and actually go out in the field, or as she states, “Drive a water buffalo.”

She lives in Forest Grove with her spouse and “furry kids.” They enjoy sports and when not attending Portland Timbers Football Club games you can find them watching NFL games. They have recently renovated their 1985 VW Westfalia camper van and are looking for opportunities to visit the National Parks. They also enjoy, and are enthusiastic about, hiking, camping, opera, symphony and traveling.

Susanne Holmberg

District Governor 2025-26

RC Three Creeks (Vancouver USA)

Susanne Holmberg, born and raised in Germany, enjoyed a European education in the hotel industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel administration, is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) and Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT®); Susanne is a graduate of Leadership Clark County.

Susanne currently holds the position of director of creative strategies and talent development with Vesta Hospitality, a hotel management company in Vancouver, Washington.

Susanne joined her first Rotary club, the Rotary Club of Vancouver, in 2006. In 2016, she had an opportunity to charter the Rotary Club of Three Creeks in Vancouver and served as the club’s first president. She is proud of the club’s many accomplishments and the mentality of doing things differently.

Susanne served three times as club president and as Area Governor of Clark County South. She participated in the District Grow Rotary and Leadership and Development committees, and facilitated workshops at PETS, spring training, and district conference. Susanne is passionate about giving back to her community, fighting food insecurity, and connecting people.

She enjoys photography, traveling, spending time with friends and her dog Lexi.

Susanne has a very personal relationship with Rotary and Rotary members and is looking forward to sharing her story and passion with you.