Our Rotarian of the Day today is Jerry Ramey. Jerry is a native Tulsan and he graduated from Central High School in 1950. Believe it or not, Jerry was extremely shy as a youngster and was always reluctant to speak up or ask questions in class.
Jerry joined the Army in 1951 and, after Leadership School, became an acting drill instructor. He attended Officers Candidate School and became a 2nd Lt. in the Infantry, serving in Korea. Later he was transferred to the military police, serving as the officer in charge of a stockade.
After his military service, he attended and graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in geography. He was offered a job with the Haloid Corporation in 1959, but turned it down because he thought business machines they made would be too difficult to sell. (Later that year, the Haloid Corporation changed their name to Xerox.) Jerry became a stockbroker instead and retired from Wachovia in 2002.
He became a Rotarian in 1967 in Sanger, California, and now has 41 years of perfect attendance. He joined Southside in 1973 and served as Club President in 1980-1981.
Jerry has five children and six grandchildren, all of whom live in Tulsa. For the past three years, he has worked part-time as a process server and has many interesting stories to tell.
This Week’s Program
Steve Swetoha
Our speaker today is Steve Swetoha. He is the president of the WNBA Tulsa Shock, where he oversees the entire business operations: sales, marketing, advertising, broadcasting, community relations, finance, game entertainment, customer retention, youth basketball and operations.
Swetoha began his career as the director of inside sales for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and was the Vice President of Sales and Operations for the IHL’s Cleveland Lumberjacks. He was the Director of Sales for RDV Sports, which is the ownership entity of the Orlando Magic and Orlando Miracle of the WNBA. Swetoha has also worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was responsible for the sales and marketing of suites, club seats, season and group tickets, along with customer retention and volunteer sales programs.
Swetoha also served at the Senior Vice President of Sales and Service with the Charlotte Bobcats. During his tenure with the Bobcats and Sting, he was responsible for suite sales, premium sales, season and group tickets. He also managed customer retention, premium services, ticket operations and special events for the Bobcats and Sting.
Swetoha most recently served at the Executive Director of the ACC Football Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was responsible for all of the sales and marketing along with planning all the ACC Football Championship games to be played in 2010 and 2011.
Swetoha was an active member of the Charlotte community, serving on boards such as the Second Harvest Food Bank and Community Schools, and was a volunteer at St. Matthew Church. Swetoha was a part-time adjunct professor at Johnson and Wales University in the Sports Entertainment and Event Program of the Hospitality College.
Swetoha received his Bachelors of Science degree with an emphasis in Sport Management from Robert Morris University and received his Master’s Degree in Sports Leadership from Duquesne University.
He has one son, Matthew, who is 13.
Thank you for being with us today, Steve! Tulsa Southside Rotary welcomes you!
Southsider Quick Notes
Last week…
- Our ROD last week was Keith James and we had a club assembly.
- Be Wise Immunize is April 24. Don’t forget to volunteer! There’s a morning session and an afternoon session on Saturday, or you can show up Friday night (April 23) at 5 p.m. to help set up. It’s at Christview Christian Church, which is at 25th and Garnett.
- The Henry Bellmon Awards will be held September 16 at the Mayo Hotel. If we sell all the corporate tables that we want, then only 100 individual tickets will remain (again, at $125 apiece). Make your reservations now!
- Remember, May 5 is the Drillers game with the Springdale Elementary kids. We lack about $400 to cover the game, so if you could donate a few bucks, it would be much appreciated.
- If you want to pick up some Topeca coffee for the fundraiser, see Josh Butts. We’re supposed to buy or sell 20 bags apiece.
- The district assembly is coming up on Saturday, May 1. It will be in Bentonville, Arkansas, and the cost is $25. You can register online at the district website, ri6110.org. Deadline is April 26!
- Monthly statements have gone out, and quarterly dues are due now!
- We’ll be having another Fireside Chat on May 18. Place and time to be announced later.
- With the Change of Horses coming up, we’re also looking for nominees for the Roy Gardner and Bill Crews service awards. Get your nominations in by May 6!
- Be sure to check the Upcoming Programs for our speaker list through the Change of Horses (June 2010). Information on it is subject to change, but we’ll do our best to keep it updated!
- Next week, our speaker will be Gail Allison, who will be here to discuss estate planning.
