Speakers
| Speaker | Date | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Katherine Wojtan, Mary's Pence | Jul 17, 2025 |
Providing funding and holistic support to women working for justice
 Katherine is Executive Director of Mary's Pence, which was was founded by women to support women on the margins at a time when women-led social justice projects were overlooked and under-funded. Katherine has led Mary's Pence for almost 17 years, managing the two programs - Mary's Pence Grants which are given across the US, and the ESPERA program in Central America and Mexico. During her time the programs have grown and expanded. Prior to working with Mary’s Pence she worked at Honeywell and Toro, in organization development roles where she gained skills in strategic planning, project management, training and facilitation. She has facilitated retreats on nonviolence, and served as a core team member founding the Minnesota Peace Team which was created to provide a nonpartisan presence during the Republican National Convention. She currently serves on the board of Ignatian Volunteer Corps.
|
| Mark Shockey, Our District Governor | Jul 24, 2025 |
Meet, greet and learn
 Mark was invited to join Rotary in Pittsburgh, PA the day he started his first full-time job in 1989. Here in MN, he has been part of the Edina/Morningside Club and was part of the chartering of the Rotary Club of Service to Minnesota Veterans in 2019.
Mark and his wife, Joann, own "Memories of Home" a faith and family home decor and gift store in Eden Prairie. The Shockeys have 3 married daughters, all living in the Twin Cities Metro Area, and have 5 grandchildren.
Mark is the pastor of St. Peter’s - Edina, a Lutheran Church and Early Childhood Education Center. In addition, he serves as a chaplain to a NASCAR Cup Series team nationally and locally during the summer at Elko Speedway. He serves as the Edina coordinator for Youth Impact Racing, a remote control racing / mentoring program offered in gyms. He is involved in the community in various ways but is especially passionate about serving young adults with an intellectual or developmental disability and their families.
He says that without a doubt, the leadership skills he has gained over the last 30 years in Rotary have helped prepare him for several organizational roles and gave him experiences that he uses daily in his professional life.
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| Tricia Wright, Executive Director | Jul 31, 2025 |
Providing stable housing & support for young adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability
 Tricia is Executive Director of Onward Eden Prairie. Tricia also owns and operates a Minneapolis-based consulting practice focused on helping mission-driven organizations grow and achieve long-term sustainability. She earned an MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management where she focused on organizational leadership and social entrepreneurship. She is a strategic leader who is dedicated and passionate about creating change in the community. |