Speakers

Every year we gather speaks from around the Rotary world and beyond to provide our future leaders with inspiration for the year ahead.

Jackie Martin

Jackie Martin

A Matter of Motivation

For more than 25 years Jackie has been helping others master the art of change by sharing the stages and skills of the Change Cycle™.  She put her expertise in change to the test most recently as she pivoted from live, in-person training to virtual events.  She’s mastered the craft of engagement and fun during her virtual learning and applies all the same methods she uses in person facilitating training on engagement, communication, leadership and change management, to organizations both nationally and internationally.   

As an Inner Circle Certified John Maxwell Leadership trainer, a certified Change Cycle™ expert, and an NLP Practitioner, Jackie focuses on helping individuals and managers find their “sweet spot”.  She also helps front line team members connect their daily actions to the bottom line so they know that their efforts matter.

Her enthusiastic facilitation style, as well as her use of real-life examples and humor make any learning fun! She believes that when people are enjoying themselves they engage more at work AND in training, they absorb more information, feel more confident to try new skills and are more likely to use those skills on the job.

Jackie is the Founder, and Lead Trainer for A Matter of Motivation LLC, a business training and development firm focused on helping individuals, managers, and entire organizations deal with change at work and at home.  She’s also the Founder of BMore Learning a non-profit life and workforce readiness program helping prepare students for life in the real world.

Patrick Eakes

Patrick Eakes

Director 2024-26 Rotary International Zones 33/34

Patrick Eakes is a past president of Crescent Rotary Club in Greensboro, NC, USA. He served as Governor of District 7690 (central NC, USA) in 2014-15. He is a former Zone 33 Rotary Coordinator, Innovative Club Advocate, and Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator. Patrick formerly served as Learning Chair on the Zones 33-34 Executive Committee, Learning Facilitator at International Assembly three times, Lead Facilitator of Rotary International’s Regional Leaders learning event, and Vice Chair of Carolinas’ PETS.

Patrick and his wife, Kristen, are Major Donors and members of the Bequest, Paul Harris, and End Polio Now Societies. Patrick has received the Service Above Self Award, Distinguished Service Award, and Citation for Meritorious Service. He is also a member of the Membership Society.

Equally passionate about Membership and Our Rotary Foundation, Patrick chaired the Zones 33-34 Membership Action Plan and also led his club’s drive to become the first Triple Crown Rotary Club in the world. To achieve the Triple Crown, all 125 members of Crescent Rotary Club were simultaneously Paul Harris Fellows, Sustaining Members, and Benefactors.

Patrick owns and operates C.P. Eakes Company, a manufacturer of high-end custom metal goods. The company produces a wide variety of products, including architectural stainless steel and brass, stainless steel trench drains for chemical and food applications, and many items for specialty contractors and manufacturers.

Patrick served a three-year term as President of the US-Canada Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians, and he has won one international and four national Rotary golf championships. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Wyndham Championship, one of the oldest stops on the PGA Tour.

Patrick and Kristen have two children, both of whom are very active in Rotary projects. Patrick and Kristen enjoy good wine, travel, and time with their family, including their two beagles.

Dr. Mary Kelly

Dr. Mary Kelly

Commander USN (Ret)