Events

Volodymyr (Vol) Berezhniy, Ukrainian Entrepreneur, 43 yo, 3 kids, traveled and luckily stuck in the US since January 2022 with his family (3 kids, 11,11,14 and wife, Yana). 

Focus and interests: Currently building a new venture in EdTech/Gaming: www.OpenBlock.space with his 11yo sons, twins (co-founders and him /father is a CEO); Also, Vol is working on a Ukrainian non-profit, www.R3UA.org: Rescue, Reunite, Rebuild Ukraine. 

Hobbies: ice-swimming (polar bear), squash, and starting golf (just a few games). Vol is also a mentor to a few startups within TechStars, and the DEC Network.

Bill Dendy LOVES Rotary. He joined Rotary in 2000 with the Rotary Club of Dallas. Bill served as District Governor in 2016-17. During that time, North Texas Rotary led our Rotary zone in membership growth.  Additionally, the North Texas District was recognized as top district for public image in the paired zones.  Furthermore, our District’s Rotary Foundation giving grew with overall Foundation contributions increasing by over a million dollars. Bill attributes these successes to a strong supportive team that was necessary as he was also a full-time entrepreneur and active father for his two minor children during his governor year.

“Rotary should be uplifting and FUN,” says Bill, and his team hosted several fun and memorable events.  Beginning with his governor’s installation presided over by RI President John Germ, our District saw hundreds in attendance at every major event, including the Foundation Celebration and the District Conference Cruise.

While fun and fellowship are important, Bill reminds us that, “service is the real focus.” Most district events included an element of service, and individual Rotarians and clubs that excelled in service were recognized. Even the district conference was billed as a “Service Cruise,” with five different service projects in Cozumel and Jamaica, spearheaded by clubs already familiar with the needs of those communities.

Bill’s attitude of rolling up his sleeves and getting the job done benefited the district in several key areas. Bill found a charitable partner and traveled to Africa to fulfill a ten-year district goal of providing education for girls in Malawi. The scholarship project with Orant Charities continues today. Additionally, he led groups to Cuba to provide humanitarian aid and produced complimentary PR videos for dozens of clubs to highlight their many service accomplishments.  

Bill continues to serve our Rotary Community.  He is our 3-year District Representative for Rotary International’s Council on Legislation and our District Foundation Chairperson. Bill is a Foundation Major Donor and a member of the Paul Harris Society, White Hat Society, and Bequest Society.  He was District Rotarian of the Year in 2012, and in 2020, Bill received Rotary International’s highest honor, the Service Above Self Award (only 150 worldwide per year).

Professionally, Bill is an Attorney, CPA and Certified Financial Planner. For fun, Bill enjoys travel and SCUBA. He is a member of American Mensa and is an instrument rated, multi-engine private pilot. His wife, Lisa, is an attorney and committed Rotarian.

More details to follow via email

David Jones has been in the fire service for nearly 29 years (25 in Addison). He successfully worked through the ranks and now serves as the Fire Chief for the Town of Addison. Chief Jones leads and oversees the 59-member department that responds out of two fire stations. They also protect a large busy general aviation airport surrounded by a highly urban area.

Prior to coming to Addison, Chief Jones served as Firefighter/Paramedic for the City of Frisco Fire Department. David received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Resource Management from Texas State University and a Master of Science in Fire Safety. He is certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services as a Licensed Paramedic and holds several upper level certifications with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.  He served for 4 years as a tactical medic with SRT/SWAT.  He is credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer and Chief Training Officer by the Center of Public Safety Excellence.  In addition, David is a graduate of the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy and is recognized as a Fire Service Chief Executive Officer through Texas A&M’s Mays Business School.  He is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy.  He graduated from a Certified Public Manger program through Texas State University.  David is a Task Force Member with Sons of the Flag, an organization assisting burn survivors and physicians. 

David is a native Texan and grew up in Plano. He and his wife Kelly have been married for almost 30 years and have three grown children.

Hello, my name is Deena Israel. I graduated college at Eastern Kentucky University with a Therapeutic Recreation Degree in Science. I landed my first job with the town of Addison, my first and only interview.  I have had the joy of working here for the Town of Addison for 23 years. I have had many different roles at the Addison Athletic Club. I first Started as the Children’s Coordinator and oversaw all children’s programs for 7 years, then moved over to Senior Coordinator and programmed for all the town seniors for 9 years, then moved to Recreation Supervisor for 5 years, and now have been promoted to Program Recreation Manager with senior programs for the past year. Its been a crazy and fun journey but I would not have changed a thing. I love creating community for the Town of Addison.  It gives pure joy to bring community together.

Ken is a certified planner with 10 years of experience leading municipal planning programs in the North Texas region. He has served as the Director of Development Services for the Town of Addison for the last two years. Past positions include Development Project Facilitation Manager for the City of Denton, leading the comprehensive planning team for the City of Plano, and serving as the town planner for the Town of Fairview. Prior to pursuing a career in local government, Ken served on active duty as a Commissioned Army Officer. Ken is a graduate of the Army Ranger School and Basic Airborne Course, and he served as an infantry platoon leader during a fifteen-month deployment to Iraq. Ken earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Michigan Technological University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Texas. Originally from Michigan, Ken permanently settled in Texas after being stationed at Fort Hood.

Spiritual gifts: Administration | Prophecy | Giving
StrengthsFinder: Individualization | Strategic | Achiever | Maximizer | Belief

Growing up in the Navy, Kristi’s relationship building started at a young age. Moving every couple of years, she was tasked with learning new places, building friendships, and relying on her strong values. Throughout her life, relationships became the core of who she is – developing a passion for helping people regardless of their life circumstances. Her nonprofit career expands almost 15 years and has led her to organizations focused on marginalized populations, youth, and social justice issues - many pointing to the intersectional issues within child sex trafficking. Through her experiences, and by recognizing that there are so many pressing needs in our own backyards, Kristi finds the most joy in connecting people to the causes they care about – asking them to volunteer, lead, give, or serve to make their world a better place - and dropping love bombs on them when they do!

Mike Vincent is a Captain with the Addison Police Department, where he has served for over 18 years.  During his career, Capt. Vincent has served in Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Deployment, SWAT, and is a Firearms Instructor.  Capt. Vincent is a proud Aggie, graduating from Texas A&M University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing; he later completed his master’s degree in Justice Administration with the University of Texas at Dallas.  Capt. Vincent currently commands the Support Division, where he oversees training, hiring, and a myriad of other administrative tasks.

Dr. Linda Braddy is President of Dallas College Brookhaven where she is responsible for leading initiatives which contribute to the vibrancy, growth, and economic stability of Dallas County. In 2020, she served as the inaugural Provost in an interim capacity for Dallas College as they transitioned from seven independently accredited colleges to a singly-accredited college.

Dr. Braddy previously served as Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) at Tarrant County College (TCC) Northeast Campus near Fort Worth where she oversaw the library; academic support services; academic divisions, including both credit and non-credit technical programs; dual credit, and early college high schools. Prior to her role as VPAA, she served as Deputy Executive Director of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) in Washington, D.C., a professional association for mathematics faculty, where she oversaw programs, public policy efforts, the Competitions Department, and the Meetings and Facilities Department. While at MAA, she raised $10 million, thereby increasing the externally funded programs portfolio from $8 million to $14.5 million, and co-authored multiple publications. She has raised a total of $21 million in gifts and grants over the course of her career.

Prior to Dr. Braddy’s transition to the non-profit world in D.C., she served as dean of the Division of Health and Natural Sciences at TCC South Campus, during which time she assisted with the transition of the Nursing program to the Trinity River Campus, and subsequently served as dean of the Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the South Campus. Immediately prior to her tenure as dean at TCC, she chaired the Department of Mathematics at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, where she was a tenured, full professor. She holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Braddy has embraced change throughout her career and welcomed opportunities to lead major organizational and cultural changes at multiple organizations. She has promoted the use of evidence-based teaching practices that improve student learning outcomes, and in the past decade, she has focused on promoting social justice in society through higher education.