Linda Carlson has been an Exchange member since 1987. She is very active in her club, The Exchange Club of Santa Rosa, and has been previously been the club’s president. Now, she has been the club’s secretary and bulletin editor for many years. She is passionate about our youth project ACE (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence), and has chaired this award at the District level. Also on the District level, she has been the District Secretary as well as the District President twice, and is currently a District Director. Linda was awarded the National Exchangite of the Year. She has worked for Umpqua Bank as a regional manager for twenty years and for Wells Fargo Bank prior. She and her husband, Ray, have six children as a blended family, with eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
Debra Humes has been part of the Chico Noon Exchange Club since 2018. She has
served on the board of directors as well as club secretary for the Chico Noon Club.
Coming from a variety of past careers including Mortgage Lending business owner,
Advertising and Marketing Director for a wholesale distributor and most recently as a
Project Manager for an IT company, Debra has experience being a resourceful planner.
She was voted Exchangite of the Year for facilitating the recreation of the annual
Brewfest Fundraiser as an outdoor event to accommodate covid. Recently retired,
Debra is looking forward to spending her time, resourcefulness and passion on things
that are dear to her heart including Exchange Club.
Kay is a Past-President of her local Exchange Club in Oroville, as well as a past district secretary. She holds many leadership positions and is a strong member of her community helping serve others. Kay was born and raised in Oroville, and has a dual degree in Journalism and Broadcasting, and an MBA from Denver University. Kay has four adult children living from Seattle to Denver. The love of her life is also in Denver – her 1-1/2-year-old grandson! Kay’s dad is her hero and lives in Oroville. Kay’s philosophy is collecting memories, being of service, and loving God and Country. Connecting with people with whom she can share common values and goals is where she discovered life-long friends with huge hearts full of love, compassion, and “Unity for Service.”
Rosemary Fielder is a very active member of the Exchange Club of Oroville, where she has served as club secretary for many years. Rosemary is a driving force in her club since 2018, as well as her community and has served on various committees for Oroville’s Veteran’s Day parade, Feather Fiesta Days and the Salmon Festival. She has served with the Northstate Food Bank as well as supporting community Vets and the VFW hall in Oroville. Rosemary served her country in the United States Navy as a Yeoman 3rd Class from 1967-70. Her amazing energy, “can do” spirit and sense of duty have made us all glad to know her and work with her on the District Board of Directors.
Being an Exchange member for 40+ years, Ray has served as both the Santa Rosa Exchange Club’s president as well as our District’s. He currently has served as our District Treasurer for more than six year. He was asked to join Exchange back in 1982 by his insurance broker ,who asked him to join him for lunch, told Ray THIS was the club to join. He did! On the National level, Ray served on the National Exchange Board for four years and on the National Exchange Foundation for six years, two as its president. He created and is run his land surveying business for over 46 years and has been a licensed surveyor for 51 years. Married to Linda, they have a combined family of 6 children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.
Joe Nickels joined the Chico Noon Exchange Club in 1962 and has served his club and the Sierra Pacific District in many, many ways over the past 60 years! He was his club’s secretary for 52 years and has been awarded National Exchange Club’s highest honor of “National Exchangite of the Year” and is in the National’s Court of Honor. He has been voted Volunteer Field Rep of the Year twice, has helped to build14 Exchange clubs and Joe has been to 55 National Exchange conventions all over the United States. Joe has served the Sierra Pacific District as president twice over the years and he continues to serve as a Volunteer Field Representative. There’s almost nothing that Joe hasn’t done for Exchange and at 93 years old, he’s still volunteering and representing this great club in the best possible ways.
Being an Exchange member for 40+ years, Ray has served as both the Santa Rosa Exchange Club’s president as well as our District’s. He currently has served as our District Treasurer for more than six year. He was asked to join Exchange back in 1982 by his insurance broker ,who asked him to join him for lunch, told Ray THIS was the club to join. He did! On the National level, Ray served on the National Exchange Board for four years and on the National Exchange Foundation for six years, two as its president. He created and is run his land surveying business for over 46 years and has been a licensed surveyor for 51 years. Married to Linda, they have a combined family of 6 children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.
Joe Nickels joined the Chico Noon Exchange Club in 1962 and has served his club and the Sierra Pacific District in many, many ways over the past 60 years! He was his club’s secretary for 52 years and has been awarded National Exchange Club’s highest honor of “National Exchangite of the Year” and is in the National’s Court of Honor. He has been voted Volunteer Field Rep of the Year twice, has helped to build14 Exchange clubs and Joe has been to 55 National Exchange conventions all over the United States. Joe has served the Sierra Pacific District as president twice over the years and he continues to serve as a Volunteer Field Representative. There’s almost nothing that Joe hasn’t done for Exchange and at 93 years old, he’s still volunteering and representing this great club in the best possible ways.
Alan currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Youth for Change, a social services non profit agency based in Butte County. YFC’s motto is “Enhancing the Well-being of Children, Individuals, Families, and Communities”. He has two adult children and this past December acquired a son in law. In his past life he owned Ace Rentals in Paradise, CA. In addition to his work with the National Exchange Clubs his community service over the years includes serving as Mayor of the Town of Paradise, President of the Paradise Unified School District Board of Trustees, member of both the Butte County Planning Commission and the Butte County Office of Education Board of Trustees, plus a litany of other boards and volunteer organizations throughout Butte County.
Kristen is an active member of the Chico Noon Exchange Club and is a past President of that club. She served as a board member for many years and was active on the fundraising committee for the Chico Noon club’s largest fundraiser (Chico Brewfest) for 7 years. A member of Exchange since 2012, she was voted “Exchangite of the Year” at the club level for 2014-2015. Kristen co-owns a mortgage brokerage with her husband, and has 2 adult children and five grandkids – who happily take up much of her time! She is excited to serve the Northern California Exchange Club District as President for the 2023-2024 term.
Hi! I’m Diana Benedict, and was introduced to Exchange Club by long-time member Linda Carlson. I participated in several Club activities, prior to joining in June 2019. In July, of that year, I attended the 101 st Annual Exchange Club National Convention, held in Norfolk, VA. It was a wonderful experience to meet fellow members from across the Nation and learn more about the Club’s mission, values and traditions.
I retired from a career in banking (in December 2023), and in January 2025, assumed the position of Treasurer for the Exchange Club of Santa Rosa (CA). Recently, in June (2025) I was nominated, and installed, as a District Director during the Exchange Club’s District Convention on June 14, 2025, in Oroville (CA). My days are full of wonderful relationships with family and friends. I like to explore the beautiful forests of Northern California, travel, and read a variety of books. I also treasure my visits with clients, as a volunteer for a local Hospice organization.
