Rotary
Sep 22, 2021
Vern Hendricks
Rotary

Vern Henricks joins our weekly meeting as the Incoming Rotary District Governor.

Vern has spent forty years in the development profession and has been an active member of Rotary since 1988.  After receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Kansas State University in 1978 & 1979, he began coaching and working in athletic development at Fort Hays State University as the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach. 

In 1987 he joined the athletic staff at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA as Associate Athletic Director and joined the Arcata Rotary Club.

In 1989 he moved to Pittsburgh, PA and began working for the University of Pittsburgh as Director of Development for the School of Engineering. 

In 1991 he joined the Iowa State University Foundation as Executive Director of Development for the College of Engineering and joined the Ames Rotary Club.

In 1997 Vern join the Kansas State University Foundation as Vice President for Major Gift Programs and joined the Manhattan Rotary Club where he is a current member. 

In 2005 Vern joined the Hartsook Companies consulting firm as their Senior Vice President. 

In 2007 Vern joined Manhattan Christian College where he served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement and also established their baseball program. 

In 2013 he began working for the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation as President & CEO.

He continues his consulting efforts with non-profits both small and large as President of The Henricks Group and serves as a consultant or member of more than twenty-five boards.

As a philanthropist, he supports community needs through his Make A Difference Foundation.

As an entrepreneur, he co-owns the Eat The Frog Fitness franchise in Manhattan with his family.

Vern served as; President of the Manhattan Rotary Club in 2017-18, Tri-Chair of the Manhattan Chamber Region Reimagined effort, member of the Thrivent Financial Kansas-Missouri Board.

He was the first board president of Emmaus University of Haiti in Cap Haitian, Haiti and also supports the Meds and Food for Kids and a Saturday morning youth leadership program in Cap Haitian.

The Kansas Society of Professional Engineers selected Vern as their Kansas Citizen of the Year in 2020 and the Mayor of Manhattan proclaimed June 28, 2021 as Vern Henricks day in the community of Manhattan, KS as part of his installation as the 2021-2022 District 5710 Rotary District Governor.