Archive: Around Town

The Rotary Club of Ithaca welcomed five individuals who have recently joined the service club. These community members volunteer in Tompkins County and bring professional experience from the business and not-for-profit sectors. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.
 
“The Ithaca Rotary Club is delighted to welcome these individuals,” said Rotary Membership Chair Ron Provus. “Our members come from all walks of life and have a wide variety of interests to match those of Rotary. As members of Ithaca Rotary, individuals give of their time and skills to positively impact the needs of our community.”

	Mohamed Abdelrehim grew up in Alexandria, Egypt and graduated from the International School of Hospitality Management in Massachusetts as part of the Waterford Hotel Group Rising Star Leadership Program. He joined the hotel industry after a career in the restaurant business; he started his own catering company in Connecticut, Pharaoh’s Food Service LLC, in 2005. Mohamed is now the general manager of Homewood Suites in Ithaca.
	Born and raised in Colorado, Leslie Danks Burke received dual bachelor’s degrees in history and international affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder, followed by a law degree from the University of Chicago. After working in Washington, DC, Costa Rica, and New York City, Leslie and her husband relocated to Tompkins County in 2004. Leslie is now an attorney and Of Counsel with the law firm of Pinnisi and Anderson in Ithaca. She serves on the Agriculture and Infrastructure subgroups of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, and on the boards of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation, and the Tompkins-Cortland Community College Foundation.
	Bob Case is a native of Union Springs, NY and moved to Ithaca in 2008. He has been with M&T Bank since 2011, now serving as a commercial loan officer on The Commons. Bob earned a B.S. in organizational management and a master’s in business from Keuka College. He is active in the community, serving as vice president for the 2014-15 United Way campaign, and leading M&T Bank’s internal United Way employee campaign for three years. He lives in Lansing with his family.
	Suzanne Cerquone hails from Rochester, NY. She received a communications degree from Syracuse University and a master’s in international marketing from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She worked in the music industry in New York City and Philadelphia for many years, and then returned to Ithaca in 2007 to be closer to family. She was employed at Alternatives Federal Credit Union for seven years, and recently took a position as director of community relations at Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. Suzanne enjoys volunteering at the SPCA of Tompkins County.
	Born in Cleveland, Jon Soza graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in communications and earned a Minister’s certificate with Global University of Assemblies of God. He has served as a youth pastor and as senior pastor in churches in Ohio and Tennessee, and has worked in homeless and addiction recovery shelters in Cleveland, Nashville, and Jackson, Mississippi. Jon joined the Salvation Army in 2003, and has been in charge of the Ithaca Salvation Army since last August. Jon was named Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year in North Eastern Ohio in 2000, and his work is featured in a YouTube film called “Frontline Ministry Spotlight: Throne of Grace.”

 
New Rotary members are invited to serve on projects and committees that are beneficial to Ithaca and the global community. Activities range from a few hours to longer time commitments.

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