Rotary Global Grants
Our own Melissa Beth Thacker will be presenting information on Global Grants. Rotary Global Grants are one of The Rotary Foundation’s primary funding mechanisms for impactful international service projects. They support long-term, sustainable initiatives aligned with Rotary’s Areas of Focus, such as water and sanitation, disease prevention, education, and peacebuilding.
For the past 23 years, Beth has worked in the Financial Services Industry, first in banking as a VP and Commercial Lender and then as a Wealth Management Advisor. Her passion to help people and be of service is indicative of the financial service practice she runs as well as organizations of which she supports. Beth has been a Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual since August of 2012.
Prior to becoming a Wealth Management Advisor, Beth has been involved in a number of start-up businesses, including a construction company on South Padre Island Texas, opening the first greyhound track in Texas and starting a manufacturing company in Illinois that customized and accessorized light industrial vehicles. She then moved into the banking industry and was a VP and Commercial Lender at a couple of Community Banks, which helps her to understand and serve small business owners well.
Beth graduated from The University of Texas Pan American with a Bachelor's Degree in Business and obtained her Master's Degree from Texas A&M.
She has been a Rotarian for almost 27 years, having served as Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Governor, District Conference Chair, District Trainer and Multi-District Secretary. She has served as the Past President of Oregon Chamber of Commerce and sat on many committees both there and in Rockford. She was a member of the Community Foundation Advisors council and has served as an advisor for In Youth We Trust and as a Trustee for the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.