The RAVE award—Rotary Award for Vocational Excellence is awarded to special people in our community who have had positive impacts in their workplace and community. People from all walks of life are considered by the Rotary club making the presentation.
This year the New Gen Rotary Club made the decision to give the award to LouEllen Ficke, of the Murrieta Rotary Club. “Presenting the award to LouEllen Ficke as our first recipient was a hands-down, unanimous decision by the committee tasked with selection,” said Adria Poindexter, New Gen representative.
“It is evident that Lou has had a positive impact on many, many people in this Valley (myself included), so it was an honor to present that to her, in front of her Club.”
Lou Ellen Ficke has been a resident of Southern California for many years and a valued member of the banking industry since 1973. Presently the Executive Vice –President and Chief Financial Officer of Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley, Lou Ellen has also opened Ohana Pacific Bank in Honolulu, Discovery Bank in San Marcos and Valley Merchants Bank in Hemet. Over the years, she has served as Vice President and Marketing Administrator in the banks where she has worked, developing marketing strategies, directing advertising efforts and community relations activities utilizing business and interpersonal communication skills not always associated with CFOs.
Community service is an integral part of Lou Ellen’s life. She is on the Board of Directors of the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, a member of the board of the Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation, and is treasurer for the Loma Linda Big Hearts for Little Hearts. She is also a contributing member of the Temecula Valley Guild, is a board member of Slow Food of Temecula Valley and is a member of the Women’s Peer Connection Group. She is also a very active participant in the Murrieta Rotary Club.
