District Leadership
Every successful Rotary district is comprised of strong people that are part of the district leadership team and it is no different in Rotary District 5300. This team includes the district governor, governor elect, and district governor nominee. These leaders along with past and future leaders that include assistant governors, district committee chairs, and past governors help our district thrive.
District Governor
Michael Driebe became President of Methodist Hospital Foundation in the fall of 2009. He has been a fund development professional since 1999 and has over 35 years’ experience in a variety of volunteer leadership roles with several nonprofit organizations.
Prior to coming to Methodist, he was President of Driebe & Associates, an independent fund development consulting firm, assisting nonprofits with management issues, recruitment, development audits and board training. Previously, Mike served as Vice President for Development at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in Pomona, California, and as Vice President of Development at the LeRoy Haynes Center for Children and Family Services in La Verne, California.
Mike received a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne with dual concentrations in Strategic and Non Profit Management. He became a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) in 2005 and holds a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
Mike served as President of the Pomona Jaycees and received the club’s Distinguished Service Award. He also served as Secretary of the California Junior Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the California Junior Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board of Directors. He was named an Outstanding Young Californian by the California Junior Chamber and is a member of the Junior Chamber International Senate.
He served as President of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, President of Fairplex Friends, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Pomona Valley YMCA, the Pomona Economic Development Corporation, and was Chairman of the Pomona General Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee. He also served as a board member and studio volunteer for Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic – Inland Empire/Orange County Unit.
He served as President of the Southern California Association for Healthcare Development, earning their Outstanding Leadership Award in 2018. Currently he serves as Immediate Past-President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Greater Los Angeles Chapter. He became a member of the Los Angeles County Fair Association in 2005 and has served on its board since 2019. On a national level, Mike served as a member of the Board of Directors and Governors for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee from 2005 to 2010 and as a National Committee Member from 1997 to 2005.
He became a member of Pomona Rotary in 1994 and served as club president in 2002-2003. In 2010, he joined the Rotary Club of San Marino, was recognized as San Marino’s Rotarian of the Year in 2015, and became that club’s president in 2015-2016. He went on to serve as San Marino Rotary Charities President from 2018-2021.
Mike also held several positions with District 5300, including Leadership Trainer, Public Relations Chair, Interact Chair, TLC Chair, RYLA Committee Member and Chair, Multi-District Interact Symposium Chair, Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, Host District Vocational Training Team Committee Chair, Leader of the 2018 Group Cultural Exchange Team to India, Stewardship Sub-Committee Chair, Major Gifts Sub-Committee Chair and currently as Chair of the 2022 Peace Conference Committee.
Mike and Sylvia met in 1980 just 2 weeks after he moved to California from Virginia. Married since 1985, they are residents of Pomona and enjoy art, music, food, travel and frequent trips to Disneyland.
District Governor Elect, Gilda Moshir
Gilda a Life Insurance Broker, who represents over 50 major insurance carriers. Prior to life insurance, she ran a nursery school with a 70-year history in Pasadena. Gilda has 16 years in the field of Early Childhood Education, educating families on effective parenting. She has a degree in Social Ecology and Political Science from UC Irvine, and an Associates degree from PCC in Education.
Gilda was inducted into San Marino Rotary in 2012 and hit the ground running. She served the club as its Membership Chair, Community Grants Chair, RYLA Chair and as a member of the club board, ultimately becoming club president in 2016-2017. Gilda went on to serve as a member of the San Marino Charities Board and formed a committee that fostered off-site meeting for Rotarians and their guests to develop closer connections in the community. Currently, Gilda serves as San Marino’s Membership Chair. At the District level, Gilda Served as Membership Chair from 2019 to 2021, and currently as Assistant Governor for Area 1.
Gilda is married to Mehrdad, who is an Astrophysicist, they have 2 boys, Darius 27 and Kian 24. They raised their family in San Marino and now live in Pasadena near Caltech.
Gilda is committed to serving people through Rotary, her profession, and the community programs she belongs to. Gilda is a connector and enjoys bringing people together who can benefit from each other’s skills and talents to benefit our community.
District Governor Nominee, Dennis Franklin
Dennis is a senior financial advisor and First Vice President at Wells Fargo Advisors. He is a partner in a wealth management team that oversees in excess of a billion dollars of client assets. His career began in 1986 as a stock broker with Shearson American Express (now Morgan Stanley) in Ormond Beach Florida. In 1995 he was asked to take on the responsibility of overseeing the banking operation of an international Christian ministry. For the next five years he served as Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer of the Way Credit Union. His responsibilities included overseeing the credit union’s investment portfolio, strategic planning, accounting, and general operations.
Dennis and his wife Tricia have been married since 1985 and have two adult children (Lauren and Grace). In 2000 they moved to Southern California to be closer to Tricia’s family. Shortly after arriving, Dennis joined WM Financial Services where he was able to put to work both his banking and brokerage skills. In 2004 he was recruited by Wells Fargo Advisors and has been there ever since. About the same time, Tricia began her career as an elementary school educator.
Dennis has obtained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ certification. He holds a B.S. degree from Florida International University in restaurant and institutional management, and has also earned a B.S degree in Theology.
Throughout their lives, Dennis and Tricia have dedicated much of their time and resources to support non-profit and ministry causes. Besides running a research based Christian fellowship, Dennis has supported and advised a number of 501c(3) organizations especially in regard to strategic planning, organizational governance, and financial management.
Dennis is a major donor to the Rotary Foundation and has also played a significant leadership role in the community through his association with Rotary International. He is the past president of Rotary Clubs in Monrovia and Glendora California. He has served as an Assistant Governor, Executive Assistant District Governor, and district trainer. He has chaired the vision planning team, facilitated at PETS (President Elect Training) and RYLA.
Dennis is currently on the board of directors of both the Rotary Club of Glendora and oversees the Rotary Leadership Institute.
District Governor Nominee designate, Kari Anderson
Kari’s unwavering commitment to service, ignited by her father’s dedication, began in 2007 when she joined the Claremont Sunrise Rotary Club. She led the club as President twice (2011-2012 and 2017-2018) and undertook various roles, including Club Treasurer and Membership Chair. Her dedication is evident in her roles as an Area Governor, a member of the Rose Parade Float committee, the District Conference Committee, the Peace Conference Committee, and the Public Image Chair. Her participation in TLC, RYLA, and the RLI Rotary Leadership Institute further underscores her profound dedication to Rotary and community service.
In 2011, Kari’s personal and Rotary journeys intersected when she married Devo Anderson. They celebrated their union by inviting their entire Rotary club to their wedding, a testament to the deep connections Kari has formed within the Rotary community. Their commitment to service was further demonstrated in 2012 when, inspired by a District Conference promoting the eradication of Polio, they chose to forgo a traditional honeymoon and instead traveled to India to administer Polio vaccinations and help build a percolation dam. She and her husband Devo (Claremont Sunrise Rotary Club president 2024-2025) have since attended multiple Rotary International Conventions, further strengthening their ties to the global Rotary community.
As the CEO and Founder of EMS, Inc., Kari has been assisting individuals across Southern California to secure meaningful employment opportunities since 2012. Her team emphasizes the importance of personal choice and investment in one’s vocational journey.
A Paul Harris Fellow, Bequest Society member, and consistent contributor, she demonstrates a deep understanding of the foundation’s crucial role in enabling Rotary’s global impact.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix, Kari brings a unique blend of academic knowledge and practical experience to her Rotary leadership. This combination instills confidence in her ability to understand and address the diverse needs of the Rotary community.
As Kari steps into the role of District Governor, she brings with her a vision of building on the strong foundation laid by her predecessors. She is eager to work alongside fellow Rotarians, learn from their experiences, and collectively strive to make a positive difference in local and global communities. Her vision, which is filled with hope and excitement, promises a bright future for Rotary.
Immediate Past District Governor, Michael Soden
The story of Michael’s Rotary journey began in 2003 when he initially joined the Rotary organization. Presently, he is among the prominent members of the Rotary Club of Green Valley, situated in Henderson Nevada. Over the years, he has exhibited a strong dedication to the Rotary organization, earning him the prestigious title of President twice.
In 2008-2009, Michael served his first term as President of the Brandermill (Midlothian) region of Central Virginia, District 7600, followed by his second tenure as President of the Green Valley club, located in District 5300, from 2013-2014. During his second tenure as club President, Michael contributed significantly to the club’s success, leading the club to earn high accolades, such as becoming the number one medium-sized club in District 5300 and receiving the RI Presidential Citation with Distinction. Additionally, the club qualified as a 100% Paul Harris Fellow club, demonstrating exceptional qualities of service and community engagement, a feat accomplished through Michael’s exceptional leadership.
For his exceptional contributions to the Rotary organization, Michael has been recognized with the prestigious honor of Rotarian of the Year by his respective clubs on three separate occasions. Furthermore, due to his remarkable leadership capabilities and commendable personal qualities, Michael has taken on various leadership roles in Rotary, serving as the District Communications Officer (DCO) for both District 7600 and District 5300 for over a decade, Zone 26 Assistant Public Image coordinator 2018-2022 and previously serving as the District 5300 Grants Chair from 2017-2021.
Since 2015, Michael has been a committee chair on the SWR PETS committee, showcasing his unwavering commitment to the organization. Additionally, he is a Major Donor. Illustrating his strong dedication to the Rotary Foundation, and is an exemplary Rotary member.
Michael resides with his wife Sylvia in Henderson, Nevada, and their family includes one daughter named Alycia, as well as two grandsons Aden and Alejandro, who are adored by the family.