ABOUT
Mission & Board
Service Above Self
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.
OUR MISSION
We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
Quick Facts about the Rotary Club of Morganton:
Chartered in 1941.
Voted Best in Burke six consecutive years.
Includes over 40 diverse, committed members.
Meets Wednesday at noon at the Morganton Community House (120 N. King St)
TAL STEPHANIDES, Club Director
I am a native of Morganton with family having deep ties in this community. I have a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and currently working for my grandfather, Jerry Norvell, also a member of Rotary since 1965, who introduced me to my first meeting. I work in Commercial Real Estate Development and Management and am actively involved in numerous organizations promoting downtown, Burke County and non-profits. My parents were missionaries to Honduras and when I was 3 years old, move my family and me to Honduras for almost 3 years. Spending my early years in a 3rd world country instilled an appreciation, understanding and drive to help those less fortunate. This is one of the reasons I’m proud to be involved with Rotary.
I was fortunate enough to marry my beautiful wife, Victoria, shortly after college. We bought a wonderful home, and we have a large and in charge chocolate lab named Jager. We enjoy spending time on the lake, celebrating with friends and sitting on the couch watching a movie or binging a TV show. In my free time I like to go bass fishing on Lake James and playing pickleball with friends and family.
ERICA SIMMONS, Club Director
Erica is a native of Burke County. She is married to Jeff Simmons who works for the NC Forest Service BRIDGE Program, and together they have two teenage daughters. She holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Gardner-Webb University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Carolina University in Birth-Kindergarten with Licensure in K-6 Elementary Education and K-12 Exceptional Children Education.
Erica has over 21 years of experience working with children aged 3-13 years old and has dedicated her career to education and development. She has served as both a teacher and and administrator, and she currently holds the position of Executive Director of School Age Childcare at the YMCA of Catawba Valley.
Beyond her professional achievements, Erica is an active member of the community. She serves as the treasurer for the Patton High School Booster Club and is a member of the WPCC Early Childhood Education Advisory Committee. Erica joined the Rotary Club of Morganton in 2022, where she continues to contribute her skills and passion for community service.
WAITS GORDON, Club Director
Waits Gordon is a veteran of the US Marine Corps and retired from Food Lion in 2008 after working 20 years in Sales Management. After his retirement, Waits dedicated himself to community service. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Morganton, he also serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat of Humanity of Burke County, the History Museum of Burke County and the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Morganton. Waits also served as president of the Rotary Club 2014-2015, was named Morganton Rotary’s Man of the Year in 2008.
KAREN MILNER, Club Director
Karen Milner holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Education. She has dedicated herself to service and community involvement.
For 16 years, Karen and her family opened their home as a foster family providing care and support for 52 children. In addition, Karen has served as a Guardian ad litem in Morganton for 12 years advocating for the best interests of children in foster case.
Karen has impacted not only the local community, but also the international one. Karen became a Rotarian in Nigeria during a Friendship Exchange. With her most recent international endeavor being a trip to Ukraine in an effort to supply those in need with wheelchairs. Rotary provides excellent opportunities to serve the community in a variety of capacities.
Karen is a proud parent to four daughters, all of whom have fostered children. Karen and her husband have 19 grandchildren, 14 were through adoption.
When she is not being an advocate, then she spends her time creating new memories with her family.
DAVID RUST, Club Director, Club Scholarship Chair
David Rust has been a member of the Rotary Club of Morganton for 24 years having previously served as club president and is the current Club Scholarship Chair. David has a bachelors degree in Zoology from NC State University and a Masters Degree in Public Health from UNC Chapel Hill. He retired in 2012 from the Burke County Health Department after a 34 year career. David currently sits on the Board of Trustees for South Mountain Children’s Home and Family Services and the Board of Directors for Burke County Smart Start. He is a past recipient of the Rotary Club of Morganton Man of the Year (2006) and the State of North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
LOU ARASI, Club Director
Lou Arasi is a native of New York, but moved to and lived in Florida for 44 years where he and is wife Pattie raised 3 daughters. Lou and Pattie moved to Morganton in 2022 and quickly found a home in the Rotary Club of Morganton after having been a member of Rotary for over 20 years including serving as a board member and president at his previous club.
Lou’s professional background is in electronic manufacturing having run several facilities for different corporations and eventually starting and owning 4 different companies. He is currently a manufacturing representative in the same field.
HERRON HARPER, Club Director
Herron Harper is the Warehouse/Material Manager at Material Return, a part of The Industrial Commons, in Morganton. He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Morganton since 2022. Herron was born in Rocky Mount, NC, but has been a transplant of Morganton for “a while now” and graduated from Freedom High School in 2002. Herron has 4 daughters and, in his free time, likes to spend time with family and friends and enjoys a good cookout.
GREG CAIRNES, Past President, Treasurer, Public Image Chair
Greg Cairnes is a native of western North Carolina, born and raised in Fletcher. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992 with a BS in Psychology and promptly moved back home to get married, start a family, and begin his career with Continental Automotive Systems in Asheville. Greg is currently the Head of Supply Chain for Continental’s two site locations in Morganton. He joined the Rotary Club of Morganton in 2015 and was first elected to the Club Board of Directors in 2017. Greg and his wife, Julie, have two grown children, Alexis and Grant, and have been blessed with their first grandson, Xander.
SONJA MARSTON, Club Director
Sonja Marston holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Western Carolina University. She is a native of Haywood County and spent most of her lift in Jackson County, but attended Freedom High School. She is married to Brian K. Marston; they have three adult children, Dylan Sierra and Garrett, and two grandchildren.
Sonja is the Assistant City Manager for the City of Morganton. She has been a Rotarian for almost 30 years, which started in the Rotary Club of Sylva where she spent 6 years as Treasurer. Sonja had the privilege of participating in a Rotary Discovery Grant trip to Guatemala. While there, the team had the privilege of participating in delivering wheelchairs for the Wheelchair Foundation, this was a touching experience.
Sonja and Brian enjoy traveling, flipping houses, ghost tours, supporting the Hickory Crawdads and taking care of their flowers.
TYLER BARNHARDT, President-Elect
I was born, raised, and currently reside in Morganton, NC with my wife Valerie Giese Barnhardt. We have a daughter, a son and several furry family members as well. My parents were blue collar workers in the furniture and manufacturing industries. The values they instilled in me include hard work and making an honest living while giving back to the community.
I’m a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones and absolutely love it! Helping clients understand what’s most important and helping them achieve those goals is very satisfying. I love helping my community by providing learning opportunities around finance as well.
My family and I enjoy most days at home gardening, taking care of our pets, checking our nature cam footage and picking blueberries. When traveling out of town we enjoy connecting with family and friends over food and games, riding bikes, historical site seeing, always adventure seeking and all while laughing as much as possible, hahaha!
DEBORAH JONES, Club Secretary, Club Director
Deborah Jones is the Executive Director of Burke Arts Council and has been a member of the Club since 2012. She was invited to her first Rotary meeting by Charlie Burleson, a fixture in the Morganton community until his death in 2015. Martin Sohovich of Edward Jones urged her to join. It took some convincing since Deb was still under the impression that Rotary was just for men. She's served as Club Secretary for six terms, lived in Morganton for 13 years, and is married to Terry Jones.
KIM VAN SICKLER, Club President
Kim moved to Morganton in 2021 and immediately looked for a Rotary Club to join. She knew from past transitions that joining Rotary is the quickest way to learn who’s who in the community and get involved. She’s the marketing director at Atriax Group, an A/E firm in Hickory. Kim’s a prior member of the New Tampa Rotary Club, Monroe Noon Rotary Club, Huntersville Happy Hour Club and Rotary Club of Lake Norman-Huntersville. She’s served terms as secretary and treasurer in previous clubs, but her heart belongs to community service.
Kim is married to Steve Collar, another club member. They have five children between them and an amazing trail dog name Major who leads the way on their annual Appalachian Trail backpacking trips.