District Leadership
Jim O’Grady, District Governor 2024-2025
Jim O’Grady is a former educator and business owner and lives in Sonoma County with his wife Joanne. Jim and Joanne have 3 grown children, a lovely granddaughter, and another grandchild on the way. He was invited to join Rotary 17 years ago and since then he and his wife have enjoyed the friendship and community activities that Rotary has to offer. Jim has been president of his club, Petaluma Valley, twice, and loved every minute of both tenures. He enjoys taking an active interest in club programs and projects both within the community and around
the world. In his spare time, Jim enjoys traveling and playing the accordion as well as spending time with family and friends.
Jim believes in, “Will it Build Better Friendships?” taken from the Four-Way Test. Not just the friends we make with other Rotarians, but the many friends in our community, especially those we have served: the faculty and children at the schools we help, the homeless families at COTS where we do several projects each year; or even the giving out of dictionaries creates new friendships; and the many friends we have created in our club’s work in Uganda and other areas around the world. These are a few of the activities Rotarians do that create lasting friendships and bring about a better world.
Kristine Redko, District Governor Elect 2025-2026
Kristine has been a Rotarian since 2007 when she was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Rancho Cotati in District 5130. Since then, she has served as President twice, Secretary, Vocational Chair, Club Service Chair, Youth Exchange Host Parent, District Public Image Chair, and she helped found a second Rotary Club during COVID – the Rotary Club of Sonoma Mountain Twilight. Her claim to fame is that on July 30, 2010 – during her first Presidential term – she gave birth to her twins and led Rancho Cotati to Small Club of the Year for 2010-11. Roman and Katya are now 13, and she considers them her favorite “Junior Rotarians.”
Rotary has been like a second family to Kristine, especially after she moved to CA from NYC with her husband and didn’t know anyone. She found a new best friend and instantly bonded with a passionate group of amazing volunteers and individuals from all walks of life. She is truly honored to be 5130 District Governor in 2025-2026 where her District Theme will be “Rotary: The Music in our Hearts.”
Jeff Kolin, District Governor Nominee 2026-2027
An active Rotarian for over 24 years, Jeff was president of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa for the 2020-2021 year during our COVID pandemic years and had the unique experience of conducting all of his club and club board meetings remotely via Zoom. Jeff’s Rotary career began in Pittsburg, California, and has included membership in the Rotary Club of Beverly Hills and twice in the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa. He has served as chair of his club bylaws committee, annual Giro Bello Bike Ride Director, and Club Foundation Board member.
Rotary has provided me with an opportunity to continue serving the community and those in need. The far-reaching impacts of international projects and the knowledge of local community needs and partnerships are unique to Rotary. I have built many great friendships in each of my clubs and look forward to my service as District Governor in 2026-2027.
Jeff has served as City Manager in three California Cities: Beverly Hills, Santa Rosa, and Pittsburg. Jeff’s 38-year public service career has included eight California cities, one California County, and one California recreation and park district.
His career included the development and completion of numerous complex capital projects, including the Geysers Waste Water Pipeline and Reuse Project in Santa Rosa, the Prince Memorial Greenway and Santa Rosa Creek Restoration in Santa Rosa, the design and construction of the Pittsburg Civic Center, and the creation of the Pittsburg Power Company, one of the only Municipal Gas and Electric Utilities created in the State of California in the last 50 years.
He served as President of the League of California Cities City Managers Department in 2008 and as a member of the League of California Cities Board of Directors from 2009 -2011. He served on the Board of the California City Managers Foundation from 2005 to 2015 and as the foundation’s Vice President from 2013 to 2015. Locally, Jeff has served as Chair of the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees and is a continuing member of the board and a past board member of the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation and United Way of the Wine Country.
Jeff and his wife Patty, also a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa, live in Santa Rosa, CA. Jeff and Patty enjoy road biking, bocce ball, travel, and entertaining. They have two adult daughters. Cherie is married with two children and living in Danville, CA, and is a Senior Manager Marketing and Brand for Albertsons Companies and Elyse is married and living in San Francisco and is a Senior Instructional Design Manager for Chegg, Inc.