Events

In “Keystone Legacy: Learning from Elephants,” Zimbabwean-raised safari guide and leadership expert Hugh Coppen takes audiences on an intriguing journey into Africa’s wilderness to uncover lessons from nature that are relevant, timeless and valuable in our society.

Drawing on his lifelong knowledge of the wild, Hugh shares how elephants are natural role models of behaviors such as leadership, empathy and community impact. Rotarians will be inspired to see how their own actions create “Keystone Legacy” – just like the lasting impact made by elephants. Hugh Coppen Hugh Coppen is the Founder and CEO of Tasimba LLC.

He grew up in Zimbabwe and created Tasimba as the fulfillment of his lifelong twin passions: for Africa, its wilderness, wildlife and people, and for inspiring others be the best they can be. After a long and successful leadership career as a CEO, when Hugh is not in Africa, he is an Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant to executives in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia, and South Africa.

His memoir “My River Beneath – A Life of Passion” was published in June 2026. Hugh Coppen Founder & CEO, Tasimba, LLC Mobile: (415) 595-5323 

hughcoppen@tasimba.com

www.tasimba.com

www.myriverbeneath.com

Heath Rocha currently serves as the Superintendent for the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District (LGSUHSD), one of the top-ranked school districts in California (Niche.com). With a deep commitment to student well-being, Heath has dedicated his career to fostering supportive, inclusive, and high-achieving school environments.

Before stepping into this role, Heath served for eight months as the Acting Superintendent, and nine years as the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services at LGSUHSD, where he led efforts to support at-risk students and those with disabilities. In response to the growing mental health crisis among adolescents post-pandemic, he spearheaded the creation of Wellness Centers at each high school, providing targeted, school-based counseling services. Thanks to these efforts, reports of students feeling persistently sad or hopeless for two weeks or more dropped by over 40% in just four years.

Heath also led initiatives to combat sexual harassment in schools, recognizing the impact of the #MeToo movement on student well-being and activism. Partnering with a Title IX expert, he implemented clearer policies, enhanced staff and student training, improved reporting procedures, and fostered a culture of accountability. As a result, reports of sexual harassment in school settings decreased by more than 50%.

Before transitioning into school administration, Heath began his career as a school psychologist, working in a National Institute of Health-funded drug treatment facility for adolescents. After earning his master’s degree from the University of Vermont, he returned to California and launched his career in education as a school psychologist in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. He later advanced to leadership roles, serving as Coordinator, Director of Special Education, and Chief Student Services Officer at Carmel Unified School District. Since joining LGSUHSD in 2016, Heath has been recognized for his approachable leadership, problem-solving mindset, and deep commitment to supporting students and staff.

As Superintendent, Heath’s mission is clear: removing barriers to learning and ensuring every student thrives. He believes that when staff feel valued and heard, they bring their best selves to work—creating the strongest possible environment for student success.

Wade Nomura is an international speaker having beens involved in both local and international humanitarian causes, having worked on more than 200 charitable projects benefiting over 2 million people, including an NID to India, where he has a special passion, having had polio as a child.

He is a Charter member of the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning and served as District Governor in 2011-2012. He is the Multidistrict PETS Alliance Executive Director, a Rotary Rose Parade Float Director and past 2 times chair and has represented the Rotary International Presidents’ 13 times.

Wade is the Regions Coordinator for the Rotary Foundation Cadres of Technical Advisors globally and served on the Future Vision planning committee for the Rotary Foundation. He was the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Rotary Action Group’s (WASHRAG) Operations Chair and is the Projects Support Committee Chair for HANWASH (Haiti) which was awarded the $4 million Programs of Scale grant for next year.

Wade has received Rotary International’s highest individual award, the Service Above Self award and Rotary Foundation’s highest individual award, the Distinguished Service award. 

Wade is the former two-time Mayor and current City Council member for the City of Carpinteria with over 30 years with the City.

He and his wife Debbie produced and hosted the TV shows Rotary, Serving Our Community (www.WeAreRotary.TV) for 6 seasons and the award winning Carpinteria Living TV show.

Wade was a multiple BMX National Champion, World Champion, Hall of Famer and designer of the Nomura Racing bike, an icon among the avid BMX collectors.

Recently Wade coauthored his biography Creating Destiny, with his wife Debbie Nomura, who is also a Rotarian.

WILLIAM FREDLUND obtained his BA and his MA from UCLA where he specialized in European history and Art history. After independent study in Europe, Dr. Fredlund came to Stanford University to pursue graduate study in history and humanities where he specialized in Renaissance Italy and completed a Ph.D. in both history and humanities. Dr. Fredlund studied in Italy on a Fulbright Fellowship where he began work on his book about Renaissance Italy.

While living in Italy, he lectured extensively in Florence for American university programs such as those of UCLA and University of Michigan, as well as for University of Florence. In the United States, Dr. Fredlund has taught for UCLA, Stanford, and UCSC-Extension. Dr. Fredlund is currently writing a book entitled 1494: The Year the French Discovered Italy in which he explores the extraordinary changes that occurred in Italy during the crisis of 1494.

In the photo above, Prof. Fredlund is seen sitting under the two hundred-year old oak tree at his home in Los Altos.