Speakers
Larry A. Lunsford,
2027-28 Rotary International President
Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza, Missouri, USA
Larry A. Lunsford, a certified public accountant, is executive vice president and chief
financial officer of Bernstein-Rein Advertising, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. A recipient of
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Truman State University, he has served
his alma mater on its National Alumni Association Board and its Foundation Board. His
passion for Rotary and his invitation into the family of Rotary began during his college years,
when in 1982, he was selected as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar to Australia.
Lunsford joined Rotary in 1991. He served RI as director, aide to RI President Mark Daniel
Maloney, and as a trustee of the Rotary Foundation. In addition, he has served as RI
president’s representative, zone institute chair, Rotary Public Image Coordinator, Rotary
Foundation alumni coordinator, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, training leader,
International Assembly leaders’ seminar trainer, RI committee chair and member, and
chair of the Rotary Peace Centers Committee of The Rotary Foundation. Lunsford and his
wife, Jill are Major Donors, Benefactors, and Bequest Society members. He is a charter
member of the District 6040 Paul Harris Society and Member of the District 6040 PolioPlus
Society. He has been awarded the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, the
RI Service Above Self Award, and recently received the Distinguished Service Award from
The Rotary Foundationyon, Seoul, Korea
Vicki Puliz
Rotary Foundation Trustee 2025 – 2029
Vicki is honored to serve as a trustee of The Rotary Foundation 2025-2029, and Vice Chair in 2026-2027. She will chair the Executive Committee, and serves on the TRF Finance Committee, Investment Committee, Rotary Peace Centers and International Polio Plus Committee. She is a past Rotary International Director, serving 2021-2023, along with other Rotary positions International Assembly facilitator, Rotary Public Image Coordinator, Governor of Rotary District 5190 in 2013-2014, and participation in many Governor-elect, Governor-nominee and president-elect education and learning events. She has been a proud member of the Rotary Club of Sparks, Nevada, USA since 1992.
Of particular focus for Vicki is developing leaders, empowering youth, eradicating polio, and building bridges to peace in our communities and around the world. She is a Positive Peace Activator, trained through the partnership of Rotary with the Institute for Economics and Peace.
A graduate of the University of Utah with both a Marketing degree and Master of Business Administration, Vicki owned a successful commercial electrical contracting firm in northern Nevada for 19 years before merging it into a public traded entity.
Vicki and her husband, Tim, live in Reno, Nevada, at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Their blended family includes seven adult children, twelve grandchildren, and three Rotary Youth Exchange daughters. Their interests include outdoor activities and general aviation. Vicki and Pilot Tim are members of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. They support Our Rotary Foundation as members of the Arch Klumph Society, the Paul Harris Society, Polio Plus Society, and the Bequest Society.
Brian Hall
Rotary International Director
Rotary Club of Covington, LA
Brian is a member of the Rotary Club of Covington, LA. He has served his club and district in many positions, including as District 6840 Governor in the 2014-2015 Rotary year. Brian was active with the Host Organizing Committee of the 2011 Rotary International Convention, where he served as the chair of the Technology Committee, and as a member the RI Promotions Committee for the 2019 Honolulu convention. He served Rotary Zone 31 as Assistant Regional Rotary Public Image Coordinator in the 2013-2014 year, as an Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator in the 2016-2019 years, and as End Polio Now Coordinator from 2019 to 2022. Brian served as a Training Leader at the International Assembly in both 2018 and 2019 and a Training Leader Support in 2021 and 2022.
Brian is currently serving as the Chair Elect of the board of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Group and board member and past chair of the Past District Governors Fellowship. Brian is also serving as chair of the Joint Rotary International/Rotary Foundation Technology committee, reporting to the RI Board of Directors and The Rotary Foundation’s Trustees. Brian received Rotary’s Service Above Self award in the 2021-2022 Rotary year. Brian will be serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Rotary International in the 2025-2027 Rotary years from Zones 30 and 31.
Brian has been married to his wife, Lynn, for 31 years. They currently reside in Madisonville, Louisiana. They have two children, Keely and Patrick.
Brian was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. Brian worked as a CPA for several years before changing careers to become a computer programmer. In 1998 he and Lynn relocated to New Orleans, where Brian decided to merge his backgrounds and begin consulting with companies regarding business and financial systems. In 2000, he and three others formed AIM Technologies to provide information and business systems sales and consulting.
Angela Rickman
Zone 31 Public Image Coordinator
Angela Rickman joined Rotary in 2011 and has since served in various leadership roles at the club, district, and zone levels. She is a co-founder and current member of the Ponca City Trailblazers Rotary Club, chartered three years ago as one of the largest new clubs in Rotary District 5750 history. The Trailblazers are a hybrid club with a strong emphasis on hands-on service, and Angela has served on its board as Secretary and Public Image Chair.
Angela served as District Governor of Rotary District 5750 during the 2020–2021 Rotary year and has continued her leadership at the zone level as an Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator (ARPIC) for the past three years. She will step into the role of Rotary Public Image Coordinator in July 2026. She is also the current General Chair of Mid-America PELS, supporting and developing incoming district governors from four districts across Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, and Arkansas.
Angela is a Rotary Major Donor and Paul Harris Society member and is passionate about forming new clubs, public image, and creating relevant, engaging Rotary experiences that strengthen clubs and leaders.
Professionally, Angela is Global Vice President of Operations at TaskUs, where she leads large-scale operations and global teams providing customer support in the healthcare sector. She brings more than 25 years of experience in leadership development and operational excellence to both her professional and volunteer work.
Angela lives in Ponca City, Oklahoma, with her husband, Charles, and son, Gavin, who is a senior in high school.
Ted Huffhines
Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator
Ted was asked to join Rotary International in 2008. He is a member of the Marshall Rotary Club of Marshall, Texas, and has served as Club President, Foundation Chair, and has also served as Assistant Governor for District 5830. The Marshall Club was selected as the Outstanding Civic Organization in Marshall during Ted’s year as President. The club continued to increase its Foundation Giving each year he served as Foundation Chair.
He received the Club “Service Above Self” award in 2014 and “Rotarian of the Year” in 2017. Ted received The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service in 2023. Ted and Angela are Arch Klumph Society members, Major Donors, Bequest Society, Paul Harris Society members and Polio Plus Society Members. Ted has been a trainer/ facilitator at multiple Lone Star PETS, Zone 31 trainings and District 5830 events. A high light for Ted was attending the RI Conventions in Lisbon and Hamburg and then touring parts of Europe with other Rotarians from across the USA. He and Angela have attended the RI Conventions in Lisbon, Atlanta, Toronto, Hamburg, Houston, and Singapore. He enjoyed serving District 5830 as Governor during 2017-2018. During the 2017-2018 Rotary year the District set records for giving to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund and to Polio Plus. He has served District 5830 as District Trainer and Foundation Chair. He served as Zone 31 Paul Harris Society chair for 2019-2020, Assistant Regional Foundation Coordinator for 2020-2021, and Endowment & Major Gifts Officer for 2021-2024. He will serve as Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Zone 31 for 2025-2028.
Ted and Angela have been married for 41 years. They are the proud parents of Holly (husband Brad) and Heather (husband Garrett). They have four grandchildren. Their children are all Paul Harris Fellows. Ted and Angela are both retired educators. Ted was a teacher and coach, and he also served for many years as a high school principal and district administrator. Both of their daughters followed their parents into education and are high school teachers. The entire family are graduates of The University of Texas @ Austin and proudly support the Longhorns. Ted is an active member of his local church. He also serves his community as an elected member of the Marshall ISD Board of Trustees. Ted has also served as a board member for Christus-Good Shepherd Hospital system, Boy’s & Girl’s Club, Harrison County Appraisal District, Marshall Chamber of Commerce, Genesis Prime Care and Harrison County Texas Exes. In addition to his community service and volunteer work, Ted loves to travel, hunt, and play golf.
PDG Michael Angelo Caruso
Michael delivers about 70 presentations and keynote speeches a year. He has spoken on six continents and in 49 of the 50 states. He can make anyone a better communicator and regularly demonstrates his effective communication strategies by helping audience members improve during his presentation.
He is founder and president of Edison House, an international consulting firm specializing in corporate and personal improvement. Edison House clients include Hallmark, Bank of America, Verizon Wireless, Rayovac, Citgo, Nissan and the United States Navy. Michael has authored Work Hacks and the audiobook, Dear Michael Angelo — A Father’s Life Letters to His Son. He also has a highly rated online speaker coaching masterclass titled, Present Like a Pro.
Michael loves giving back. He served as president of the Rotary Club of Troy, Michigan (2013-14), Governor for District 6380 (2016-17), Public Image Coordinator for Zone 28 and 32 (2019-21), and is currently Lead Trainer for Great Lakes Rotary PETS. His popular seminar fundraiser has raised over a quarter of a million dollars for Rotary Clubs all over North America.
Rene Caruso
Rene is a metabolic restoration, nutrition, and longevity coach. For over 30 years, René has worked with clients to overcome destructive food patterns and develop a harmonious relationship with food. She specializes in addressing the deeper issues behind weight loss struggles, emotional eating, binge eating, digestive concerns, and body image challenges. Through her work, René helps individuals transform their lives by boosting energy, reclaiming vitality, and restoring balance to both body and mind.
Rene’s journey into service began early in life, when she was selected for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program in 1980-81. At just 16 years old, she traveled to South Africa, where the experience had a profound impact and shaped her future in ways she never expected. Over the years, she has remained deeply involved with Rotary, including serving as President of the Troy Rotary Club from 2017-2018. She also played a key role during her husband, Michael Angelo Caruso’s, district governor year and continues to be an active and dedicated member of the Rotary community.
René’s passion for service, wellness, and helping others reach their full potential is at the heart of everything she does.
Darwin Sampedro
Senior Office, The Americas
Club and District Support
Rotary International
Born in Machala, Ecuador, Darwin studied law at the Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito. He moved to Chicago in 1998. In December 2008, he received an Associate Degree from Harry S. Truman College in Chicago, Illinois, with a concentration in Fine Arts. Darwin also studied Computer Information Systems at Harry S. Truman College and received a diploma in this field in 2002.
Darwin began working for Rotary on October 10, 2000, in the Publications Order Services Department. In 2003, he joined the Club and District Support (CDS) team as assistant. Two years later he was promoted to CDS coordinator. Darwin is fluent in English and Spanish. Darwin assists clubs and districts in Zones 30-31 in the United States, and Zone 25-A and 23B in Latin America.
Darwin is married to Veronica, and the proud father of four sons. In his free time, Darwin coaches youth soccer and enjoys coordinating youth and adult events in St. Padre Pio Parish in Chicago, Illinois.