Speakers

Jeff Kolin is a longtime public servant, community leader, and dedicated Rotarian whose career has been defined by building partnerships, strengthening communities, and creating lasting public impact.

Jeff's 38-year career in local government included service with eight California cities, one county, and a recreation and park district. He served as City Manager of Beverly Hills, Santa Rosa, and Pittsburg, where he led major infrastructure, economic development, and community enhancement projects.

Following his municipal career, Jeff provided strategic consulting services to local governments throughout California, assisting communities with public outreach, organizational development, and policy initiatives.

An active Rotarian for more than 28 years, Jeff served as President of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa and has held numerous leadership positions within Rotary. As District Governor for 2026–2027, he is focused on strengthening club vitality, expanding Rotary’s reach, fostering collaboration among clubs, and creating meaningful opportunities for service.

His governor theme, “Building Bridges, Connecting Communities,” reflects his belief that Rotary’s greatest strength lies in bringing people together to make a positive difference.

Jeff and his wife Patty live in Santa Rosa, California, where they enjoy family time with their daughters and grandchildren, as well as travel, cycling, cooking, and wine collecting.

Kathy Hayes earned a degree in Political Science from U.C. Davis in 1986. She worked over 20 years in the public affairs arena including working for State Senator (now Congressman) Mike Thompson. She served as the CEO for the North Bay Association of REALTORS and as program director for Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County.

Kathy taught as a substitute teacher at Elsie Allen High School and for the past 7 years has served as the Administration Assistant at Elsie Allen. Over the years, she has served on the boards of numerous non-profits including Becoming Independent, American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. She has also served on the City of Santa Rosa Community Services Board, Santa Rosa City Schools Facilities Committee and the Santa Rosa City School Boundary Committee . Currently, Kathy serves on the Elsie Allen Site Council and is the secretary for CSEA Chapter 75. Kathy is the proud parent of twin boys who graduated from UC Berkeley and working in the political and data science arenas.

Miles Horobin (he/him) grew up in Sonoma County and spent much of his childhood exploring and getting to know the flora and fauna who inhabit this bioregion. His appreciation for the natural world is deeply inspired by his botanist grandfather, Alan. After spending many years immersed in gardening, farming, and landscaping, Miles came to OAEC in 2020 for the Garden Internship Program. In his current role as Garden Manager, he brings together many of his passions and skills and shares them with others. He is a lifelong learner and finds plants to be some of the best teachers. When he is not working, you can find him drinking tea, trail running, or transforming plants into various forms of food and medicine.