Our Leadership

Our club leaders exemplify all of the qualities that make our members extraordinary: integrity, expertise, and a commitment to service.

Rotary is led by a diverse international organization of top executives. Whether developing Club policy, providing financial support to the community, or advancing Rotary’s strategic plan, each member of the team is dedicated to helping our members connect and take action to create sustainable change.

Meet Our President, John Powell

John Powell’s story begins on a 10-acre farm just outside the small village of Alexandria, Ohio. While the farm wasn’t large, his father ran it as if it were 100 acres, teaching John and his family the value of hard work, responsibility, and doing every job well.

Growing up, John helped care for pigs and chickens, milked the family cow, and enjoyed riding ponies. One of the family’s biggest projects was building a two-acre lake on the property, creating memories that would last a lifetime. Looking back, John credits those early years on the farm with shaping the work ethic and values that have guided him throughout his life.

A graduate of The Ohio State University (Class of 1978), John began his professional career in the restaurant industry, where he spent 21 years in leadership roles with Arby’s, Pizza Hut, and Donatos Pizza.

John worked for Arby’s for seven years before joining Pizza Hut, where he spent another seven years and eventually led the entire Wisconsin market. He then joined Donatos Pizza, serving another seven years. When McDonald’s acquired Donatos, John and his wife, Tina, saw it as the right time to pursue a new dream together.

In 2001, John became a licensed real estate agent, and together he and Tina built one of Central Ohio’s most successful real estate businesses. Over the past 25 years, John has helped more than 2,500 families buy and sell homes, building lasting relationships and earning the trust of clients throughout the region.

Athletics also played an important role in John’s life. In high school, he was the starting guard on the basketball team and the starting second baseman on the baseball team. He continued playing both sports while attending an Ohio State branch campus. The lessons learned through sports—discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership—have stayed with him throughout his career. Today, he continues to stay active and enjoys playing golf, especially spending time out at Apple Valley.

John and Tina have worked side by side for many years, building not only a successful business but also a wonderful family. They are proud parents and grandparents to five grandchildren, all of whom live in Westerville and remain an important part of their daily lives. Their two daughters, Kirby and Samantha, were raised in Westerville and both married young men who also grew up in Westerville schools, further strengthening the family’s deep roots in the community.

Rotary has been an important part of John’s life for many years. He believes Rotary provides an opportunity to make a meaningful difference while building lifelong friendships. As he begins another term as President of the Rotary Club of Westerville, John looks forward to strengthening the club, growing its membership, and continuing its tradition of service above self.

Whether on a small farm in Alexandria, leading restaurant teams, playing sports and golf, helping families find homes, or serving through Rotary, John’s guiding principle has remained the same: work hard, treat people well, and leave every place a little better than you found it.