Gathering Buckeye - A Chuckwagon Feast

David Simmer was Governor of our Rotary District 5495 in 2019-2020.  

David grew up in Nebraska before heading east for his formal education. He followed a bachelor’s degree (BA) at Illinois Wesleyan University with a masters degree in accounting (MSA) and a law degree (JD) from Northeastern University and Boston University School of Law respectively.

David’s professional career concentrated on guiding high and ultra-high net worth clients as they navigated all aspects of wealth management from his firm’s offices in Wellesley Massachusetts and Palo Alto California. David and his wife, Isabel, retired to Sedona, Arizona in 2010.

Shortly before retiring David was invited to join the Rotary Club of Sedona where he quickly was drawn into community service and leadership positions. Most notably he chaired the Imagination Library committee which brought Dolly Parton’s free-book-a-month for preschoolers program to Sedona in 2012. Since inception the local club has distributed over 50,000 new, age-appropriate books to children in the Verde Valley to promote early childhood literacy and brain development.

David has also served as Secretary and President of the Rotary Club of Sedona and Assistant Governor for five clubs from Sedona to the Grand Canyon. He was named his club’s Rotarian of the Year in 2016. David is a Paul Harris Fellow, major donor level 3, Paul Harris Society Member and a Legacy Society Member.

David served on three District 5495 merger task groups and was named chair of the newly formed Leadership Development Committee for the District. In that position he has received significant recognition in the Zone for his efforts to re-think and innovate in Rotary education including focusing on elective education, broad-based curriculum and distance learning.

DG David is passionate about service at every level (local, international and club) and is dedicated to supporting and strengthening the clubs in northern and central Arizona.