District Governor

Brad Martens

"When I think about Rotary, I don't think first about meetings, projects, or events. I think about people."

That simple belief has guided Brad Martens throughout his Rotary journey.

A member of the Rotary Club of Columbia South, Brad believes Rotary's greatest strength lies in its ability to bring people together to solve problems, build lasting friendships, and create meaningful change. Whether serving in his local community or working alongside Rotarians across the globe, he has witnessed firsthand what is possible when people unite around a common purpose.

Professionally, Brad serves as Manager of Outpatient Ambulatory Clinics and Radiology at MU Health Care's Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, where he leads multidisciplinary teams dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care. His passion for servant leadership, collaboration, and developing others has shaped both his professional career and his approach to Rotary.

"Leadership isn't about having all the answers," Brad says. "It's about bringing people together, helping others succeed, and creating opportunities for everyone to make a difference."

Connecting Communities

One of Rotary's greatest gifts has been connecting Brad to people and communities far beyond District 6080.

Through Global Grant partnerships, he has worked alongside Rotarians in Uganda on projects that expanded access to clean water, promoted menstrual hygiene education, and helped protect families from malaria through mosquito net distribution. In Peru, he partnered with local leaders to help bring solar power to remote schools, creating new opportunities for students while sharing the experience with his son, Hunter.

Those experiences reinforced a lesson that continues to shape Brad's view of Rotary: while service projects improve lives, it is the relationships we build that create lasting impact.

"Rotary has shown me that although we may live thousands of miles apart, we are united by a common purpose—to serve others and leave our communities better than we found them."

Whether serving in Missouri or alongside Rotary partners across the globe, Brad believes Rotary creates connections that transcend geography, culture, and language, reminding us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.

Looking Ahead

As District Governor, Brad is committed to supporting clubs, developing leaders, strengthening membership, expanding service opportunities, and helping every Rotarian discover where their passion meets Rotary's mission.

He believes the future of Rotary is built one relationship at a time. By investing in people, embracing new ideas, and empowering members to lead, clubs become stronger, communities become healthier, and Rotary's impact continues to grow. Brad is honored to serve the Rotarians of District 6080 and looks forward to working alongside clubs throughout Central Missouri as they continue creating lasting impact in their communities and around the world.