Todd Lewis, this year's Rotary Citizen of the Year accepts his award from Past President Brian Rewis. Todd was on vacation during AquaFest and the awards were recognized during the community parade. Todd's award showcases his comminity involvement and his willingness to work with several non-profits in the area as the owner of the Lake Stevens Grocery Outlet Store.
Wil Johnson, a new member of the Club talked about “where am I from” and “putting the pieces together” and his “path to purpose.” A recent “road rage” experience on Highway 2 caused some community pain and Wil's desire to urge a greater mutual understanding. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He contextualizes his worldview with Atlanta's demographics. His career spans diverse sectors, serving in the Army where he was stationed in Alaska, and in Texas where he sold cars, coached football, worked in manufacturing, served as a night time maintenance team, tended campus grounds as a gardner, CEO of a Leaf Removal Officer. In Snohomish County, Wil serves as the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer as well as a Podcaster.
Our next Classification Talk was by Paul Adams, CEO and Founder of Sound Financial Group. Paul introduced himself without the aid of multimedia, offering two different stories to illuminate who he is beyond his profesional role. Paul ownes a national reigstered advisory firm with nine employees located across the country with clients mostly everywhere. He moved from Mill Creek to Lake Stevens in 2021. He knew a few local people outside his church. He joined the Lake Stevens Rotary Club and the Greater Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce to integrate himself into the community. During his talk, Paul shared a pivotal family experience, the high-risk, premature birth of his first child. He turned to his faith as his wife endured a life threatening birth of their son and the baby was coming now, eight weeks early. Paul asked the doctor for his candid truth about the birth of his son. He stayed with his wife throughout the birth regardless of what the staff said or requested. Family members and his CEO at the time, were all there anxiously awaiting the news of the birth. Paul came out and announced it was a boy providing relief to all who were waiting for the news. Throughout the process Paul adopted a stewardship mindset understanding their son's life entrusted to them by God.