Events

Come enjoy a fun Rotary social at the newly opened Victory Social Club on 1st Ave. We will meet from 3:30-5 pm, but feel free to come and go as you need. 🍻😊

https://victory-social.com/

https://www.facebook.com/p/Victory-Social-Club-61590946788004/ 

Meeting Location: Mercy Plumb Heart Center - 846 9th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Andy Olesen is an Assistant Fire Chief with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, where he oversees the department’s budget, facilities, and fleet. With 27 years of fire service experience, Andy brings expertise in fire department deployment, station location and geographic analysis, emergency management, and accreditation. He holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Northern Iowa and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa, and has earned the Chief Fire Officer Designation. A longtime Cedar Rapids resident, Andy is also the father of two sons who graduated from Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School.

Meeting Location: Hiawatha Community Center (connected to City Hall – 101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha, 52233)

Cari McCoy is a people-first leader and community builder who believes strong organizations have the power to strengthen entire communities. As President & CEO of the Cedar Rapids Metro YMCA, she is focused on expanding opportunities for youth development, healthy living, and belonging across Eastern Iowa. Known for connecting vision with action, Cari brings clarity, heart, and momentum to complex challenges—rallying people around shared purpose and meaningful impact.

Prior to joining the YMCA, Cari served as Vice President of Strategy & Execution at Van Meter and previously as CEO and President of Clickstop. With a background spanning strategy, operations, marketing, and organizational leadership, she is known for her authentic leadership style, her ability to build trust across teams, and her passion for helping people and organizations thrive. Grounded in her education in psychology, Cari approaches leadership with a deep understanding of what motivates people and creates lasting connection.

Beyond her professional work, Cari is deeply engaged in the Cedar Rapids community. She has been recognized by the Corridor Business Journal as both a Forty Under 40 recipient and one of the region’s most influential business leaders. She serves on the boards of Marion Economic Development Corporation and Goodwill of the Heartland and has held leadership roles with the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Workforce Innovation Council and ImpactCR. She is also an active mentor who cares deeply about investing in the next generation of leaders.

A Cedar Rapids native and Coe College graduate, Cari believes Eastern Iowa is one of the best places to live, work, and raise a family. She and her husband are raising two active daughters, and Cari enjoys spending time kayaking, gardening, reading, and serving her community.

Meeting Location: TBD

Meeting Location: TBD

Meeting Location: Hiawatha Community Center (connected to City Hall – 101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha, 52233)

Meeting Location: TBD

Meeting Location: TBD

Jody Skogen has a deep passion for helping others live abundantly, and that same heart shows up in her work with leadership teams. As a Certified Outgrow Advisor and Professional EOS Implementer®, she helps leaders grow their companies 15 to 30% organically through proactive, relationship-driven sales habits. An Iowa girl through and through, Jody was born and raised in Waverly, met her husband in North Central Iowa, and has called the Cedar Rapids area home for more than 20 years. She's traveled all over the world, but to Jody, there's still no place like Iowa.

jody.skogen@runoutgrow.com

runoutgrow.com/advisor/jody-skogen/

319-558-6602

Meeting Location: Hiawatha Community Center (connected to City Hall – 101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha, 52233)

Nicole "Nikki" Wilcox is a marketing and business strategist with more than 15 years of experience leading marketing, communications, strategic development, and community engagement initiatives across the nonprofit, corporate, education, and economic development sectors. A proud two-time graduate of the University of Iowa, she earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and her Master of Business Administration (MBA). Throughout her career, Nikki has partnered with organizations of all sizes to solve complex business challenges, develop strategic marketing campaigns, build meaningful community partnerships, and drive organizational growth. She previously taught Principles of Marketing at Kirkwood Community College and served as a guest lecturer for Corporate Finance at the University of Iowa, experiences that reinforced her passion for developing future business leaders. Nikki's teaching philosophy centers on bridging the gap between the classroom and the boardroom by creating authentic, hands-on learning experiences that build confidence, critical thinking, and career readiness. She believes the most meaningful education happens when students are given the opportunity to solve real business challenges, and she is passionate about mentoring the next generation of marketing professionals while helping organizations discover innovative solutions through student collaboration.

Meeting Location: TBD

Dr. Jacob Christenson is a licensed marriage and family therapist, educator, researcher,
and executive leader with more than two decades of experience in the mental health
field. He holds a PhD and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from
Brigham Young University, as well as an MBA from the University of the People.
Currently the CEO of Radix Recovery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dr. Christenson previously
spent over a decade as CEO of Covenant Family Solutions, where he grew the
organization into a leading outpatient mental health practice. He has also served as a
faculty member and clinical director at Mount Mercy University, training and mentoring
graduate students in marriage and family therapy.
During his graduate studies, Dr. Christenson enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as an
interrogator in Afghanistan. For his service, he received the Army Commendation
Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal—an experience that strengthened his resilience, adaptability, and commitment to
serving others.
A recognized thought leader in his field, Dr. Christenson has published extensively on
the intersections of family therapy, health care costs, and adolescent treatment,
including co-editing the book Family Therapy with Adolescents in Residential Settings.
His research has appeared in leading journals such as the Journal of Marital and Family
Therapy, Contemporary Family Therapy, and the Journal of Child and Family Studies.
He is also a frequent presenter at national and international conferences, and his
expertise has been widely featured in media outlets across Iowa and the Midwest.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Christenson is a dedicated endurance
athlete, having completed two Half Ironman races and a full Ironman
triathlon—testament to his discipline, perseverance, and passion for personal growth.
He has also contributed significantly to community and professional service, including
board roles with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa and the Cedar Rapids Metro
Economic Alliance. His leadership and innovation have been recognized with multiple
honors, including awards from Inc. Magazine and the Corridor Business Journal.

Meeting Location: Hiawatha Community Center (connected to City Hall – 101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha, 52233)

Meeting Location: Hiawatha Community Center (connected to City Hall – 101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha, 52233)

Meeting Location: Hiawatha Community Center (connected to City Hall – 101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha, 52233)

Meeting Location: Hiawatha Community Center (connected to City Hall – 101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha, 52233)

Stephanie Hartson, President & CEO, and Lexi Coberly, Development Officer, of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa will share the story behind BBBS’s Empowering Youth Campaign and why continued community investment is essential to ensuring local youth have access to quality one-to-one mentoring.

Stephanie and Lexi will also share meaningful ways Rotarians can be part of this effort through financial support, volunteerism, advocacy, and connecting BBBS with others who want to invest in local youth.

Outside of work, Stephanie is a wife of 17 years and a proud mom of two (ages 11 and 15). She enjoys road biking, reading, and is always looking for opportunities to learn and grow.

Lexi Coberly is the Development Officer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa, where she leads the agency’s fundraising and development efforts to ensure more youth have access to the life-changing impact of 1:1 mentoring. Lexi works closely with donors, corporate partners, community leaders, and supporters to build relationships and secure the resources needed to empower youth to reach their full potential.

Outside of work, Lexi is a wife of 22 years and mom to 2 adults (ages 21 and 18). She likes to travel, read, volunteer in the community and watch all things Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball!