Archive: Around Town

The Rotary Club of Ithaca introduced seven individuals who have recently joined the service club. These community members volunteer in Tompkins County and bring professional experience from the business and not-for-profit sectors. Ithaca Rotary's motto is "Service Above Self." Membership is open to all who share in this belief; new membership applications are accepted year-round.

"The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals," said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. "Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community."

Ithaca Rotary welcomed:

		A native of Spencer, NY, Catrina Decker came to Ithaca to pursue her undergraduate degree in education and fell in love with the institution. Less than a year after graduating in 2006, she took a position at IC and has been there ever since, earning her MBA in 2014. Trina is currently the External Relations Program Director at IC. She also serves as the director of four-year institutions for the New York State Cooperative & Experiential Education Association (NYSCEEA).
		Jodi Lee Denman is a business operations executive with a breadth of experience leading teams in such areas as supply chain management, finance, sales, technical support, facilities management and customer experience. She holds a B.S. in business management with a human resource concentration from Ithaca College, and has been a member of the Ithaca College Business Advisory council since 2014. Jodi is a "true townie," living in Ithaca her whole life. Since recently being laid off from CBORD, Jodi has been taking time to volunteer, reconnect, and network.
		Tim Emerson first came to Ithaca as an IC student majoring in music performance. Settling near Oneida, NY, Tim had a music business and served as executive director of the Kallet Civic Center. He has taught professional writing at SUNY Cortland, and is an avid mountain hiker. Pain experienced from this activity brought him to a new form of healing developed by a Los Angeles chiropractor. Over time, he started Kwan Yin Healing, featuring demonstrable, comprehensive programs to advance health and wellness. Tim is a member of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, and is glad to be back in Ithaca.
		Renee Mann grew up in Tustin, Calif. She studied Italian Renaissance Art at the American Institute for Foreign Studies in Florence, Italy, and graduated from Simmons College in Boston with a bachelor's degree in fine art and a minor in Italian Renaissance. She worked in advertising in Los Angeles and started a real estate investment and management company with her former husband. Renee brought her five children to Ithaca in 2013 to pursue graduate studies at Cornell's Landscape Architecture Department. She currently serves as a co-trustee of a family trust.
		Nick Romo was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. He completed a business degree from DePaul, the largest catholic university in the country, and earned his MBA at North Park University. Nick is the new State Farm Insurance agency owner in Ithaca. In addition to building his business, Nick is a long distance runner with seven marathons under his belt. He is a member other local organizations as well as Rotary: Morning Knights Toastmasters, the Triple Cities Runners Club, and the Southern Tier Young Professionals.
		Originally from Colorado, Kelsey Rossbach moved to the Ithaca area in 2011. She graduated from Wells College in 2010 with a Public Affairs degree, and has participated in a variety of service projects and volunteer opportunities. For the last 2.5 years, she has been with the United Way of Tompkins County and is now in the role of Director of Community Impact. In her free time, she enjoys CrossFit with her husband and exploring the world with their 18 month old son.
		Lane Simon grew up in Vermont and majored in resource economics at the University of Vermont. He also attended the University of Colorado and studied architecture. Lane spent the last 25 years in food service and hospitality as a general and operations manager for several national chains including Applebee's, Panera and locally with Greek Peak. Lane and his family moved to Ithaca in 2014. He recently changed career paths, and is now a real estate agent for Warren Real Estate.