Staci Wilkerson steps up as Farragut Rotary president

Tom KingFarragut

Staci Wilkerson, vice president/relationship manager at FirstBank in Farragut, was installed as the 40th president of the Rotary Club of Farragut Wednesday (6/26) at the club’s “Changing of the Guard” ceremony at Fox Den Country Club. She is the eighth woman to lead the club, which was chartered on April 22, 1980.

Rotary International’s year runs from July 1 to June 30.

Staci Wilkerson

District 6780 Gov.-Elect Greg Maciolek led the ceremony and installed Wilkerson and her officers and board of directors (listed below) for the Rotary year 2019-2020.

The club’s president-elect is Ed Jones, who is president and CEO of Jones Kirkpatrick & Associates Financial Services. He will ascend to the presidency in the Rotary year 2020-2021. The club’s new vice president is the Rev. David Bluford, who is the chaplain at Park West Medical Center.

Prior to joining FirstBank, Wilkerson was vice president of Home Trust Bank/Jefferson Federal Bank for nine years. She has spent her career in banking.

She is a Blount County native and resident of Maryville and has been a member of Farragut Rotary for eight years. She was sponsored into the club by Bettye Sisco, the retired CEO of the Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce.

Among Wilkerson’s goals this year is to start a reading program with a Knox County elementary school; expand the partnership with Ridgedale School, the club’s Partner in Education school; and continue to grow the club’s membership. “And,” she said, “let’s continue to have fun.”

She added that 2020 is a leap year and she’ll have a 366-day presidency instead of 365. “I’m ready to get started,” she said. “I could tell from the first day I was a member that this is a very special club that’s like a family, and I’m very excited.”

Outgoing president Keith Bryson reviewed the club’s year, beginning with 92 members, reaching 100 members in May and finishing the year with 99 members. He talked about the community service projects – Free Flu Shot Saturday, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, stream cleanup in Farragut of Little Turkey Creek and the Angel Tree holiday program, to name a few.

2019-2020 Officers & Directors

President: Staci Wilkerson, vice president/relationship manager, FirstBank, Farragut

President-Elect: Ed Jones, president/CEO Jones Kirkpatrick & Associates Financial Services

Vice President: the Rev. David Bluford, chaplain, Park West Medical Center

Immediate Past President: Keith Bryson, vice president of business operations, Avertium

Secretary: Julie Blaylock, executive director, Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce

Treasurer: Howard Fass, retired pharmacist

Sergeant at Arms: Jim Dodd, retired manager, AMICA Mutual Insurance Co.

Club Administration: P-E Ed Jones & VP David Bluford

Family of Rotary: Scott Brockamp, co-owner HIS Security, & Richard Copeland, retired director of business development, KARM

International Service: PP Becky Duncan, retired, & Amanda DeBord, financial adviser, Edward Jones

Membership: PP Doug Powell, branch manager, AFP Industries, & Arlene Weinstein, owner, Arlene’s Fun Travel

Public Image: PP Tom King, retired newspaper editor, Scripps Howard

Rotary Foundation: PP Bob Parker, president, Parker Business Consulting & Accounting, PC

Service Projects: Teri Jo Fox, Realtor, The Knox Fox Real Estate Group, Farragut, & Val Privett, CEO, Beacon Insurance Advisers

Youth Service: Kristin Abouelata, branch manager/senior loan officer, Mortgage Investors Group, & Cindy Kraus, broker associate with Bailey & Co. Real Estate

If you’re interested in exploring membership in Farragut Rotary, drop me an email or call me at (865) 659-3562. We meet at 12:15 p.m. each Wednesday at Fox Den Country Club. Join us as a guest and see how you like Rotary!

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