Decatur Rotary Club Past Speakers
Highlighted on this page are a few of the great speakers we've had at the Decatur Rotary Club.
Ted Propes: Rotary District Governor - 10/3/2008
 Ted Propes began his career in the investment field over 30 years ago with E.F. Hutton Company, eventually becoming a first vice president in capital markets and investment banking. Ted is listed in the Who’s Who of International Business Leaders and is the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer for Consolidated Capital Management, an investment management and consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA, with offices in Georgia as well as Alabama. His education credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and finance from Jacksonville State University and a Masters of Business Administration in finance from the University of Alabama, with advanced professional studies at the American College of Pennsylvania, and the College for Wealth Management and Portfolio Management at the New York Institute of Finance and the Wharton School.
Reflecting his dedication to civic responsibility and a value for higher education, Ted served as the President of Jacksonville State University Foundation’s Board of Directors (2003-2008). He is the Chairman of the Investment Advisory Board that governs the institution’s multi-million dollar foundation endowments. In honor of his long-term service and financial stewardship, the University has endowed, in his name, a Doctoral Chair in the College of Commerce and Business. He is a charter trustee of the Savannah College of Art and Design where he has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, President of the Executive Committee, and Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee. The University’s business administration building is named in his honor for the financial leadership that he has provided to the institution over the past 25 years.
Ted served as President in 2002-2003 for the Vinings Rotary Club. Under his leadership, the Vinings Rotary Club for the very first time was a recipient of the Al Daniels Award, Best All Around Club, Sheffield Award for Presidential Leadership, Best Club Service, and Best Polio Plus Program. Ted is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a contributing Paul Harris Society Member, a Will Watt Fellow, a Bequest Society Member and he is a Major Donor. He has served the District as an Assistant District Governor and as a District Director.
Dr. Phyllis Edwards: City Schools of Decatur Superintendent - 5/7/2008
 Dr. Phyliss Edwards gave a brief expression of thanks to Decatur Rotarians for their support of the City Schools of Decatur. The school district celebrated its 100th year in 2001.
Dr. Edwards said that two pillars have been the backbone of her efforts while Superintendent: an engaging curriculum and facilities building projects. Dr. Edwards asked for the opportunity to share a little about the building project with our club, and introduced two of her guests to help with the presentation, Fiona Grandowski of Collins Cooper Carusi Architects, Inc., and Carter Wilson, Athletic Director of Decatur High School.
To begin, Dr. Edwards gave a brief history of the building project. Dr. Edwards indicated that the initial plan called for a $69 million facilities renovation for Decatur High School, but that the plan was put on hold while certain academic initiatives were pursued. Upon setting out to revisit the facilities project, City Schools of Decatur convened an "Architect's Contest" to see which most innovative plans the City Schools might implement. Heery International was selected to prepare a master plan for the improvement and expansion efforts. Once the master plan was completed, Collins Cooper Carusi Architects, Inc., was selected by a committee to be the architectural firm for the project.
Dr. Edwards introduced Fiona Grandowski to give an overview of its plans. Ms. Grandowski stated that the guiding principles for the effort had been the existing Mission, Context and Community of Decatur High School. The initiative includes major work on the Stadium, scheduled for completion in August 2008, and a new Gymnasium/Auditorium complex, scheduled for completion before the Fall of 2009.
The master plan focused on keeping the existing school building intact to preserve its unique character, maintaining a greenspace on the campus and incorporating a large "plaza" or common space that would give the school more of a "quad" feel. While the building program will not be seeking LEED certification, there were certain aspects of sustainable building techniques incorporated into the design work, including materials, energy usage and utilization of natural lighting intended to create an environmentally friendly project .
John Oxendine: Georgia's Insurance Commissioner - April 18, 2008
 John W. Oxendine, who began his career as Georgia's Insurance Commissioner in January 1995. He is also Georgia's Safety Fire Commissioner, Industrial Loan Commissioner and Comptroller General. His duties include regulating approximately 1,600 insurance companies; licensing 149,999 insurance agents; and regulating more than 1,000 industrial loan offices (companies that make loans of $3,000 or less).
Commissioner Oxendine was born in Tennessee, but completed school in DeKalb County, graduating from Tucker High School. His father is a retired Superior Court Judge in Gwinnett County.
Commissioner Oxendine began his remarks by saying that he enjoyed having lunch with some of his bosses, as he said he works for the more than 9.5 million people who live in Georgia. Early in his career he required that the telephones at his office be answered by a "live person" because he feels strongly that the citizens deserve that type of personal service. He believes that sometimes the government offices should work inconvenient hours to benefit the people who need to be served.
Commissioner Oxendine stated that health care is currently available for all Americans, but the crisis exists on the issue of how to fund rising medical costs. The Commissioner prefers the Managed Health Care model as a viable option to address the current challenges that we are facing with the rising costs of health care.
This year he sponsored a bill that would allow the insurance commissioner to review all proposed medical insurance increases, but this billed failed for lack of support. He plans to support the bill in the future. Currently, about 12 states allow for some form of oversight over medical insurance costs, but Georgia is not one of those states.
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