Speakers

Mona Hrapkowicz is a Director of Strategic Accounts for ZT Systems.  ZT Systems is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of complex compute and AI solutions serving the top Cloud Services Providers based in North America.  She brings her clients nearly 40 years of high technology experience in both the semiconductor and hardware infrastructure industry.  She has worked for large multinational corporations including Intel, HP, IBM, Texas Instruments and NEC.  She currently works has influence on technology deployments in the world of AI and manages engagements with   companies such as NVIDIA and AMD. She holds a BSEE from Santa Clara University (1987) and an MBA from Columbia University (1991).  She is optimistic about the future of technology and its potential to transform lives globally in a positive way.

Cousins Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels, piloted a single piston-engine airplane around the world in 2023 to raise awareness and money for Rotary’s End Polio Now program. The flight took 90-days, made 37 landings in 19 countries, and involved 24 fundraisers. Only 702 pilots in history have ever achieved this feat, and less than 270 are alive today! Both Peter and John are longtime Rotarians and members of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. They are both recipients of Rotary’s two highest honors, “Service Above Self”, and the “Service Award for A Polio Free World”. As pilots, they have qualified for the prestigious Circumnavigator Diploma from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Peter and John departed Cedar Rapids, Iowa on May 5, 2023 in their 1977 Cessna T210M airplane, and successfully returned home 90-days later on July 30. Today Peter and John will share their powerful story of: “Around the World: Flight To End Polio”.

Alzheimer's is a global health problem with more than 6 million people
living with the disease in the US alone. Tremendous gains have been made in
the understanding of the science and basic biology underlying Alzheimer's
and other dementias. These advances are leading to great strides in
strategies for prevention, detection, diagnostics, and therapeutic
interventions. The Alzheimer's Association is a global leader in research,
mobilizing the field to advance the vision of a world without Alzheimer's
and all other dementia.

Matt Morley brings a wealth of experience to our city. He joins us from his recent position as Assistant City Manager with the City of Cupertino where he provided direction to five of the seven city departments and was instrumental in addressing Cupertino budget challenges while enhancing services to the community. Prior to Cupertino, Matt served as the Parks and Public Works Director for the Town of Los Gatos, and before that, he worked for the City of San Jose as Deputy Director of Public Works. 

A native of the South Bay Area, Matt holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis in Political Science and German, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix in Business Administration.

Matt Morley shared his excitement about the new role, stating, “I am honored to join the City of Saratoga and look forward to working with the community, City Council, and staff to continue making Saratoga a wonderful place to live and work.”

Please join us in welcoming Matt Morley to the City of Saratoga!

Karyn Sinunu-Towery is a 30-year veteran prosecutor in Santa Clara County who has volunteered with the Innocence Center. She will tell the story of how she helped gained the freedom for Jeremy Puckett through the Center. Karyn Sinunu-Towery is the past president of the San Jose Rotary Club. 

The Innocence Center is an independent non-profit law firm dedicated to freeing the innocent from prison, educating the public on the causes of wrongful conviction, and assisting freed clients as they reenter society. 

The Innocence Center launched in 2023.  The Board and Staff have decades of innocence work under their belt, all having worked at the California Innocence Project as a staff or faculty member.  Collectively, the group has freed more than 40 people who have served 560+ years in prison for crimes they did not commit.  The team has been responsible for getting a dozen laws changed to prevent future injustices and make it easier to free the innocent.  The Innocence Center is a member of the Innocence Network.