Don Fipps, District Governor

Don Fipps has been a Rotarian for 17 years and is a member of the Rotary Club of Del Mar where he was president 2018-19.  Don had been an Assistant Governor 2019-2021 and Chief Aide to Rotary District 5340 Governor Dan Gensler.  Del Mar is Don’s third Rotary Club, he was also a member of the Rotary Clubs of Wilkes-Barre, PA and West Sacramento, CA.

Don is a native Californian born in Bakersfield.  He attended California Polytechnical State University in San Luis Obispo majoring in Biochemistry and graduated in 1977 and was subsequently commissioned in the United States Army through ROTC.  Don retired from the Army in 1997 as Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Services Corps. He also has an MS in Biology from Bowling Green State University.  After working for the American Red Cross in several locations, an independent blood center in Sacramento and finally the University of California San Diego Health, Don retired in 2018.

Don married Donna McIlwain in 1975 after meeting at Cal Poly.  Don and Donna have 2 children, Aaron married to Colleen with 2 children Burnie and Ben; and April, married to Ray with 2 children Charlie and Caroline.  They raise Canine Companions service dog puppies.

Don is a Paul Harris Fellow plus 8 and a member of the Paul Harris Society, Don and Donna, also a member of the Rotary Club of Del Mar, are level 4 Bequest Society members and level 1 Major Donors.
 

 

Dianne Crawford, District Governor Elect


Dianne joined Rotary in 1997 and is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego where she has served as Club President, Board Director & Secretary. She has served as a member of District 5340’s Leadership Team for 16 District Governors in a variety of positions including Assistant Governor, Membership Chair, Strategic Planning Chair, Club Service Chair, New Club Development Representative, District Training Resource, Foundation Specialist and as a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institute and President Elect Training (PET’s).
In her first District role as an Assistant Governor, she learned how she could use her professional experience in Sales & Business Management as opportunity to serve.  Her unique and creative approach to business, expertise in training & organization development, interpersonal skills along with her enthusiasm for “all things Rotary” has helped her make significant contributions that have improved District programs and club support.  She has received multiple awards for her Rotary service including 2010/2011 District Rotarian of the Year for her contributions to district membership growth and key role in the formation of new clubs.
 
Dianne grew up in Connecticut and move to San Diego in 1979 when her husband Michael transferred to complete his last year of service in the Navy. Her son Regis and grandson Kingston are her pride & joy. She loves spending time with them and visiting her family at home on the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean as often as possible. 

 

Luis R. Carranza, District Governor Nominee

Originally born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.  Luis moved to San Diego, California when he was 7 years old.  He began playing the violin at age 11 and at age 18 started traveling throughout Europe, Canada, Mexico and the United States for 10 years as a member of the San Diego Youth Symphony performing in orchestra festivals & experiencing multiple different cultures.  Volunteered at Grossmont Hospital for 4 years (while in High School) in the Oncology Department, attended Grossmont High School & University of California San Diego (UCSD) where he studied Economics.  In 1995 Luis began his career in the Banking industry.   Luis has been a Mortgage expert for over 20 years and presently works at PrimeLending as Sr Mortgage Advisor to create a thriving business by being a source of constant honesty, endless support and open communication for his clients.
With all this experience it was not fulfilling for Luis, he needed to find a reason to make a difference, a cause that could have an impact.  It’s when Rotary was introduced to him.  Luis became a Rotarian Member on September 2004 with the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club.   In 2014-2016 became Chairman of the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Foundation.  He also served as President of the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club in 2017-2018 where he worked with members to update Rotary Club & RSF Rotary Foundation Bylaws establishing mandatory annual budgets including Inter-Operational Policy for RSF Rotary Club & Foundation Board.  Lastly, Luis was also Chairman of his club’s largest annual fundraising event Taste of Rancho Santa Fe 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 raising over $500,000 gross.
 
In July 2018 through June 2020, Luis began serving as Assistant Governor in District 5340 for Area 8 - Rotary Clubs Kearny Mesa, Southeast San Diego, San Diego E-Club & Old Mission San Diego establishing monthly president meetings & having the first Area 8 four-way club lunch meeting.  Presently Luis is completing his last year as Assistant Governor working with Area 4 Rotary Clubs (July 2020-Present) Encinitas, Encinitas Coastal, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego Downtown Evening, Solana Beach Eco, Del Mar-Solana Beach.  Recently, Two Area 4 clubs were awarded 2021-2022 Best Club of the Year award for District 5340, “Del Mar-(medium club)” & “San Diego Downtown Evening-(small club).”  Only 3 rotary clubs out of 60 in the District were awarded this honor.  Additionally, Luis has been Chairman of the Rotary Foundation District 5340 Seminar 2019 & 2020 helping program annual rotary clubs presentation of their domestic & international projects funded by Rotary Foundation District Grant Funds.
 
Luis has 2 amazing sisters a loving brother with special needs, two loving parents, 2 wonderful nieces, Lucy the young gymnast & Isabella who started her first year at Stanford and plays the Harp!  He believes in what Rotary stands for… 
“AN EMOTION FILLED WITH HAPPINESS, PRIDE AND SATISFACTION OF DOING GOOD TO THE WORLD”

Jeb Bakke, District Governor Nominee Designee

Jeb originally joined Poway Rotary Club (now Poway Scripps) in 1991, where he served in various offices and avenues of service. He moved to the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise club in 1994 where he was also active in a variety of capacities. He took a leave of absence to raise his young family, while keeping in touch with the many relationships he formed through Rotary. He returned to Rotary in 2017 to RB Sunrise where he served as President in 2020-21. He has served the district as International Service Chair from 2021-23 and is currently an assistant governor for Area 15 that serves both the Paradise Valley and Sweetwater Rotary clubs as well as four active Rotaract clubs - D5340 of SDSU, UCSD, Pacific Beach and City Heights. Jeb is Paul Harris +3 and a member of the Paul Harris society and a member of the Polio Plus Society. 

He grew up in Denver, Colorado as the eldest of five boys. He was active in sports, service clubs and singing at Cherry Creek High School and the University of Colorado, graduating in 1983 with a BS in Finance and Real Estate. He has been married to his wife Evan for 33+ years and has three grown children. Jake is 33, Alison is 30 and Zachary is 27. He enjoys golf, exercising and sports.

Jeb has been an award winning, successful commercial real estate broker in San Diego with CBRE, Inc. since 1984. His team has been involved in many recognizable, high-profile, ground-up office developments and represented many large, well-known tenants in Southern CA, other states and countries.