DISTRICT GOVERNOR ELECT BIOGRAPHIES
Elaine S. Hansen D5580
Elaine has extensive experience in administration, business development along with non-profit and governmental accounting and auditing. Rotary experiences include District 5580 Governor Elect; Treasurer for Zones 25B & 29 Foundation, District 5580, and Rotary Club of Duluth #25; Past President of Club #25, RYLA Facilitator; and Rotary member since 2000. Her career accomplishments include becoming a licensed certified public accountant (CPA), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) through the National Development Council, a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP), a Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA), and certification courses in non-profit accounting and financial management initiatives.
Mark Shockey D5950
Mark has been in Rotary since 1989 after being invited to “lunch” the first day of his first full-time job! He is a non-veteran member of the Rotary Club of Minnesota Veterans, a cause based club who honors, supports, and walk beside those who have served our country and those still active in our local Reserves and National Guard. Mark has passion for PI, Membership, and helping clubs create vibrant ClubRunner websites. Mark is on the tech team for Zone 29, the XO for the Vets Club, pastor at St. Peter’s – Edina, MN, a NASCAR chaplain, and champion of families with young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mark is especially moved by the Rotary Vision that begins “Together we…” His DG focus will be the “we” of Rotary: “Doing together what can’t be done alone.”
Glenn R. Bowers D5960
Glenn was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs. He has a B.A. in Biology and an M.S. and Ph.D. in plant pathology and worked as a plant breeder and agronomist in academia, with a multinational company, and with ag-biotech startups. He joined Rotary in 1986 after participating in a Group Study Exchange between southeast Texas and northwest India. His Rotary career has spanned 4 Districts, being a club president in 3 of those Districts. Glenn has held several district roles including Assistant Governor, Assistant Governor lead, District Trainer, Club Visioning Facilitator and the lead of several District committees (GSE, Peace Scholar, Grants). His wife, Pam, is also a long-term Rotarian and served as a charter-club president. They have attended 11 international conventions.
Ward Budweg D5970​
Ward was born and raised in New Hampton, Iowa, the third oldest of nine children in a farming family. He graduated from New Hampton High School and earned a degree in finance from the University of Northern Iowa. He has worked in fields ranging from banking to county government to environmental nonprofits. He owned and operated Decorah Bicycles from 1995-2006. Ward and his wife Jacky took three years away from the working world and rode their bicycles around the world. In 2020 they published The World at 10 MPH, a book about their adventures. Rotary has been an integral part of Ward’s life since 1978, when the New Hampton Rotary Club loaned him money to finish his college degree. He joined the Decorah Rotary club in 1985 and has served as president and on all the club committees as well as the district Group Study Committee. He is now completing another term as club president. Ward has visited Rotary clubs in more than 25 countries and attended international conventions in Munich, Chicago, and São Paulo. He calls Rotary, “an amazing part of my life.”