DG “Ed” van Wijk
Cornelis Eduard “Ed” van Wijk DG D6540.
As of January 1, 2023, Ed is the pastor of Knightstown United Methodist Church. He preaches, teaches, manages, and is the spiritual leader of the congregation.
Before Ed came to Knightstown, he served the DeMotte UMC for 7 years and the Kentland Trinity UMC for 9 years.
While attending seminary Ed worked as the director of worship and education at Lowell First United Methodist Church.
In a prior career Ed was a computer consultant and worked on the implementation and operation of enterprise management systems based on the Oracle relational database system. He specialized in the implementation of human resource management systems.
Ed’s first career was in the Dutch Merchant Marine as a radio-officer traveling the world on freighters and passenger ships. His task as a radio-officer was to provide communication between ship and shore via telegraphy, telephony, teletype, and satellite.
Ed holds the Master of Divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston Illinois, the Bachelor of Science in Systems Analysis and Design from Purdue University and the Radio Officer degree from the Radio Holland Radio Officer School in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ed was born and raised in The Netherlands and emigrated to the USA in 1991.
Ed joined the Kentland Rotary Club in 2007 and was the club’s president in 2015/16. Since July 2016 Ed is a member of the DeMotte/KV Rotary Club and has served D6540 as AG from 2016 thru 2022. From 2022 through 2023 Ed served as district trainer. He is a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute, a Paul Harris Society member, a major donor, a benefactor, and a member of the bequest society.
In order to stay in shape, Ed runs and has completed 12 half-marathons. Ed loves to sing and play the guitar. Ed enjoys travel and hanging out with Rotary friends.
Ed is the father of three grown children: a daughter and two sons.
DGE Holli Seabury
DGN Brent Sheppard
Brent has served District 6540 as one of the first Assistant Governors, District Trainer 2000-2004, Website Administrator, Youth Exchange Inbound Coordinator and District Chair. He and Susan hosted their first youth exchange student in 1995 which led to a great passion for Rotary Youth Exchange. Brent served as the Multi-District Youth Exchange Chair for Central States Rotary Youth Exchange covering 20 Districts in nine states and three areas in Canada from 2018-2023.
Brent is a multiple Paul Harris fellow, Sustaining Member since 2003, Paul Harris Society since 2003. Major Donor Level 4, a Rotary Foundation Benefactor, and Bequest Society Level 2. In 2017-18 Brent received the Richard A. Angle Lifetime Achievement Award.
He is the founder and President of Xanatek, Inc., a software development company specializing in Agency Management Software for Independent Insurance Agents throughout the United States.
Brent and his wife Susan, have two daughters Mia and Laci. Susan is also great supporter of Rotary and its’ mission. She was a member from 1992-2002, and is a past President of the Granger Sunrise club and became an honorary member in 2002 because of their two girls (someone had to put them on the bus).. In his free time, he enjoys
working out, riding motorcycles, occasionally playing the drums, traveling, and visiting with former Rotary youth exchange students.