This Week's Program Past RI Director 2010-2012 John Smarge!
John Smarge has been a Rotarian and resident of Naples, Florida since 1982. John and his wife Cindy are Major Donors and Bequest Society Members.
John graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in Entrepreneurial Management. At the age of twenty-two, John left his home state of New Jersey, moved to Naples, FL and purchased a year old struggling moving company. His multi-faceted operation handling local, interstate and international moving is now the largest relocation business in SW Florida.
Professionally John was named a National Moving and Storage Association Young Executive Fellow. He has served as a Board Member of the Florida Movers and Warehousemen Association, as a Regional Director of the Southern Community Bank. He has been recognized as North American Van Lines Top Quality Agent.
John served as President of The Rotary Club of Naples in 1992-93 and as District 6960 Governor in 1995-96. John served as a Member of the Rotary International Board of Directors for 2010-2012 and was selected as the Chairman of the RI Board of Directors Executive Committee.
Internationally, John has twice been a Delegate to the Council on Legislation and a Member of the RI Board of Directors Nominating Committee. He has also served three times as a Member of the Rotary International President Nominating Committee. Additionally, he has been both a Rotary International Membership Coordinator and Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator. John served as General Chair for the Zone 33-34 Rotary Institute. He is a regular speaker around the world at PETS, Assemblies, TRF and Membership Seminars and has regularly represented the President at District Conferences. John has been a keynote speaker at the 2010 and 2018 International Assembly and the 2017 International Convention. John served as Aide to the 2018-2019 Rotary International President.
John is currently serving on the Shaping Rotary’s Future Committee and will serve as the Chairman of the 2022 RI Convention Committee (Houston, TX).
John considers the most rewarding aspects of his many years in Rotary to be the opportunity to participate in the PolioPlus National Immunization Days in India, his medical missions to Ternopil, Ukraine and his multiple humanitarian trips to the Caribbean. John is a driving force behind the HANWASH initiative to provide clean water and sanitation to all the citizens of Haiti.
John has received numerous awards for his Rotary Service including the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, the Distinguished Service Award the Rotary International Service above Self Award and was recognized in 1999 as the District 6960 Rotarian of The Decade. Additionally, Cindy, an Honorary Rotarian, has received the Rotary International Service Above Self Award for Spouses.
John and Cindy have three daughters and two grandchildren. Over the years his hobbies have included coaching school and AAU basketball and competitive auto racing. He has served as Chairman of the Board for the Naples YMCA and as a Board Member for the Boy Scouts of America, Shelter for Abused Women and Naples Girls Sports Foundation.
