In his talk, “Citizenship, Service, and Social Capital: Keys to a Healthy Society”, we are fortunate to hear a presentation given by Rick to the Tri-Con conference earlier this year.  It was met with much enthusiams and great reviews.

He says that in most respects, the world today is a much better place to live than at any time in human history, yet it doesn’t feel that way.  The last two years have witnessed increasing social unrest, our politics are more polarized, trust is at an all-time low, and young people especially are experiencing increasing amounts of anxiety and stress.  What can we do about it?  One answer lies in the way voluntary associations build social capital, something that is at the heart of Rotary. 

Rick Kyte is the Endowed Professor and Director of the D. B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University where he teaches a variety of ethics courses dealing with issues in business, leadership, and the environment.  He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from The Johns Hopkins University in 1994.

He is the author of several books, co-hosts a podcast titled “The Ethical Life,” and writes a biweekly column appearing in 75 newspapers across the country.  He serves on the La Crosse Community Foundation Board, the Editorial Board of the La Crosse Tribune, and is a member of the Rotary Club of La Cross.

Carolyn Colleen is a fierce mother of three children, author, international speaker, entrepreneur, instructor, and business strategist focused on helping others achieve their goals. 

Carolyn is the founder of the FIERCE Academy, an online program that helps women create life strategies that enables them to have the life they dream of and founder of the Fierce Foundation where the mission is to provide education, enrichment, and resources to underrepresented people in La Crosse County, Wisconsin and Houston County, Minnesota. In addition, she also founded Action Midwest, a private school focused on a philosophy of clear thinking which leads to good decisions for students.

Carolyn is a consultant and thought leader for Case Western Reserve University as a leader within the Xchange approach, has taught at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and currently teaches in the Business and Industry Department at Western Technical College. 

Her desire to help others has led to Carolyn becoming a published author of two books, including: F.I.E.R.C.E.: Transform Your Life in the Face of Adversity, 5 Minutes at a Time! and Academic and Educational Entrepreneurship (publishing in fall 2022). 

With a soon to be Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership and Behavior, an MBA, and a BA in Business, Carolyn understands the importance of traditional education. She is passionate about uniting as a human race to elevate each other, remain positive through challenges, and rise above the noise to build stronger communities.

As a dynamic and innovative workplace leader, Carolyn has worked as a Program Manager and Business Development Consultant at Gundersen Health System, Management Executive for Gensler, and a Client Service Executive at UBS Financial Services. She knows how to transition people and processes to achieve the next-level of success while also aligning with organizational objectives. 

From standing in a food line at the Salvation Army to earning a Ph.D., Carolyn is avid about sharing her own life story and encouraging others to make changes that move them from fear to focusing on the pursuit of their passions.