Karen Fetzer

Karen Fetzer’s management philosophy is twofold: Never ask someone to do something she wouldn’t do herself and “the buck stops with me.”

As for her secret to success, the executive director of the Rotary Club of Little Rock said it is to live by the Golden Rule.

The Rotary Club of Little Rock, which has more than 400 members and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013, is a civic organization of business and professional leaders that supports, both financially and through volunteerism, a variety of programs and projects in the community, including the Miracle League and Camp Aldersgate. It also presents college scholarships, sponsors a youth exchange program and presents awards annually to outstanding Little Rock police officers, firefighters and local business executives, as well as the annual Broyles Award to the top assistant college football coach.

Fetzer, who has been executive director for 17 years, said her greatest accomplishments have been earning the respect of the people she has worked with and being the “friend, co-worker or employer I would want to have.”

Fetzer said she never planned on working for the organization as long as she has, but she is glad she has. “I worked in other businesses, but the relationship opportunities that association management and nonprofit offered were so much more rewarding.”

Fetzer said she is in the process of leading the club through a strategic planning process to chart the course of its future. “I find the state of civic organizations around the country concerning, and I hope we can offer our members a fresh, viable organization,” she said. “We must appeal to younger audiences. … This will be paramount in our plans.”

Fetzer said she enjoys going to work every day and working with “the best people in Little Rock. … I have a servant’s heart and I am lucky to be able to work in a career where that is useful.”

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