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2024 GRAND MARSHAL: Laura Upson

Laura Upson, Youth in Transition - Poway Unified School District

Laura Upson is the Youth in Transition Coordinator for the Poway Unified School District. Here, Laura supports students who are experiencing homelessness by removing barriers to enrollment, attendance, transportation, and academic success. Laura is a strong advocate for students and their families, and is consistently striving to enhance outcomes for the communities she serves.

The Youth in Transition program serves families experiencing housing instability and homelessness by seeking to remove barriers to enrollment, attendance, transportation, and academic success. 

Learn more

Announcers

Megan Parry (Grandstand Announcer)

Meet Megan Parry, the dynamic meteorologist who brings sunshine to ABC 10News every weeknight! 


A proud Poway native, Megan's journey began at Painted Rock, continued through Twin Peaks Middle, and culminated at Poway High, when she marched in this very parade with the Poway High Emerald Brigade. Now, as a seasoned meteorologist with over 

Meet Megan Parry, the dynamic meteorologist who brings sunshine to ABC 10News every weeknight! 


A proud Poway native, Megan's journey began at Painted Rock, continued through Twin Peaks Middle, and culminated at Poway High, when she marched in this very parade with the Poway High Emerald Brigade. Now, as a seasoned meteorologist with over a decade at ABC 10News, she keeps us informed and entertained with her weather forecasts at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11 pm. 


When she's not predicting Poway's perfect weather, Megan enjoys life as a devoted dog lover, wife and mom to two beautiful girls. Tune in for her expert updates and infectious enthusiasm!

Dave Mason (Kaminski's Announcer)

Dave Mason has been a part of the San Diego and Southern California TV and Radio landscape since 1999. His voice has been heard on many local stations including KGB-FM, KOGO-AM, Sunny 98.1 and KPBS-FM.  


He's hosted fundraising events for Rady Children's Hospital, KPBS-TV and FM1, The Helen Woodward Animal Center and The San DIego Humane S

Dave Mason has been a part of the San Diego and Southern California TV and Radio landscape since 1999. His voice has been heard on many local stations including KGB-FM, KOGO-AM, Sunny 98.1 and KPBS-FM.  


He's hosted fundraising events for Rady Children's Hospital, KPBS-TV and FM1, The Helen Woodward Animal Center and The San DIego Humane Society since 2000, and has been a voice for The Poway Days Parade for well over a decade.


Dave's also been seen on Television and Radio in Los Angeles, and a number of nationally seen TV shows for PBS.  "The most fun I can have on a Saturday morning is to share the fun and color of The Poway Rotary Parade annually." 

Dave, his wife Diane and 2 faithful canine companions Koby and Roxy are proud supporters of Poway businesses from one end of Poway Road, Pomerado Road and Community Road to the other.  He's looking forward to being part of the 2023 Poway Rotary Parade.

Joe Rosati (Oak Knoll Market Announcer)

Alba Madrigal (Kaminski's Spanish Announcer)

Alba Madrigal (Kaminski's Spanish Announcer)

Hi!  Joe Rosati here and I'm driving you home every weekday from 2-7pm on one of San Diego's top rated radio stations, Sunny 98.1. Thank you for always making me a part of your afternoon and welcoming me back to be an announcer at the Poway Rotary Parade!  This year the parade will be extra special for me because both my son and daughter 

Hi!  Joe Rosati here and I'm driving you home every weekday from 2-7pm on one of San Diego's top rated radio stations, Sunny 98.1. Thank you for always making me a part of your afternoon and welcoming me back to be an announcer at the Poway Rotary Parade!  This year the parade will be extra special for me because both my son and daughter will be in the parade with the Poway High School Marching Band!  My daughter plays the clarinet and my son is a drummer.  


Over the years my wife and I have lived in Boston, New Jersey, Detroit and now San Diego since 2012.  We actually met in Boston when I was on the radio there. We helped host an event together between my station and her company.  Amazing how she still puts up with me since I'm from New York. Those sports rivalries between the two cities are hardcore!  


In our spare time, the little we rarely find, we love to hit up new restaurants and before having kids the two of us traveled the globe yearly. Thanks to Audra I've seen Spain several times, Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay.

Alba Madrigal (Kaminski's Spanish Announcer)

Alba Madrigal (Kaminski's Spanish Announcer)

Alba Madrigal (Kaminski's Spanish Announcer)

Alba Madrigal is a dedicated Parent and Community Trilingual Liaison at the Poway Unified School District (PUSD), bringing over 14 years of experience in education, supporting students, parents, and communities both in the U.S. and abroad. In her current role, she provides guidance and assistance to PUSD families, helping them access esse

Alba Madrigal is a dedicated Parent and Community Trilingual Liaison at the Poway Unified School District (PUSD), bringing over 14 years of experience in education, supporting students, parents, and communities both in the U.S. and abroad. In her current role, she provides guidance and assistance to PUSD families, helping them access essential resources and navigate the educational system. Known for her solution-oriented approach, enthusiasm, and unwavering support, Alba is committed to fostering strong connections between families, schools, and communities.

Judges

Charles Valentine

Charles Valentine

Charles is the manager of Kahoots Pet Store here in Poway. He has been with Kahoots for close to 12 years and has worked at several locations across San Diego. In addition to managing the store, he has also taken on the role of trainer and support for Kahoots’ operational software systems. As a native Powegian, Charles holds a lot of prid

Charles is the manager of Kahoots Pet Store here in Poway. He has been with Kahoots for close to 12 years and has worked at several locations across San Diego. In addition to managing the store, he has also taken on the role of trainer and support for Kahoots’ operational software systems. As a native Powegian, Charles holds a lot of pride in his hometown, and is excited to be able to share this with his customers and community. Charles is a member of the Poway Chamber of Commerce (representing Kahoots), a member of the Boy Scouts with his son, and a hobby wood worker. Charles and his wife Christen, an educator at Garden Road Elementary School, met in Poway and have been married for over 13 years, raising 4 children. Their family also includes 1 dog, 2 cats, and 2 geckos.

Dianne Crawford

Charles Valentine

2024/25 Rotary District Governor Dianne is an accomplished Rotary leader with a strong commitment to community service. Joining Rotary in 1997, she is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego, serving as Club President, Secretary and Board member. For more than 50 years the club has served the needs of the underserved comm

2024/25 Rotary District Governor Dianne is an accomplished Rotary leader with a strong commitment to community service. Joining Rotary in 1997, she is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego, serving as Club President, Secretary and Board member. For more than 50 years the club has served the needs of the underserved community in Southeast San Diego, consistently earning the Rotary Citation for their exceptional work. Dianne's passion for education shines through her involvement in leadership projects and Rotary programs like RYLA, LEAD, and Interact, aimed at developing future leaders.

Her professional career spans 25 years as Director of Sales for several national telecommunications & language companies managing prestigious Fortune 100 clients including American Express, Bank of America, AT&T, Microsoft, Citibank, Amazon and more. Currently working as a Sales & Management Consultant, Dianne offers her expertise to a variety of companies, in sales, customer support, business planning, organization and training. 

With over 20 years of service on District 5340's Leadership Team, Dianne has held diverse roles, Her contributions to District Operations, combined with her unique and creative approach to business and comprehensive knowledge of Rotary, have led to significant improvements in District programs and club support. Recognized for her dedication, Dianne has received numerous awards, including Rotarian of the Year, for her instrumental role in membership growth and the establishment of new clubs.

Jonathan Hayward

Jonathan Hayward is a tenured mathematics teacher at Orange Glen High School, where he is dedicated to fostering both mathematical fluency and a positive attitude toward learning in all his students. A lifelong resident of North County, he grew up in the area and graduated from Torrey Pines High School. He now resides in Sabre Springs.

Jon

Jonathan Hayward is a tenured mathematics teacher at Orange Glen High School, where he is dedicated to fostering both mathematical fluency and a positive attitude toward learning in all his students. A lifelong resident of North County, he grew up in the area and graduated from Torrey Pines High School. He now resides in Sabre Springs.

Jonathan’s diverse educational background includes an Associate’s Degree in Electronics Engineering, a Bachelor’s Degree in Bassoon Performance from the prestigious New England Conservatory, and a Master’s Degree in Management. Before transitioning to public education, he enjoyed successful careers as a professional bassoonist, an electronics engineer, and a technical college dean. He is proud to bring this wide-ranging experience to his classroom in service of the community he calls home.

Laura Upson


Laura Upson serves as the Youth in Transition (YIT) Coordinator for the Poway Unified School District (PUSD). A tireless advocate for PUSD’s most vulnerable students, Laura has dedicated her career to supporting students experiencing homelessness through the Youth in Transition (YIT) program. She currently coordinates support for over 375

students across multiple school sites, ensuring they receive essential resources such as transportation, academic support, and community services.


Laura’s impact reaches far beyond school walls. She has played a critical role in

building partnerships with local organizations to support students, organizing district-wide distribution events for YIT families, and representing PUSD at local, state, and national education conferences. She also has been outstanding in raising awareness

about student homelessness through social media and community outreach, including managing the @pusdcares Instagram account.


Laura comes to us with a background in supporting families after joining PUSD in 2015 when she helped launch the Family Learning Center, which supported immigrant families with tutoring, providing families with school supplies, and community resources.


Laura’s leadership and passion for service have earned her widespread recognition. In 2024, she was honored as the Grand Marshal of the Poway Rotary Parade for her advocacy and support for students experiencing homelessness. In 2025, she was chosen as district level Classified Employee of the Year. Her dedication is evident in everything she does, whether supporting school staff in identifying students in need, presenting at professional learning sessions, or working after hours to ensure families

receive urgent assistance. Her compassion, leadership, and deep commitment to her work make a lasting impact on students, families, and the entire PUSD community.

Mike Leland

Mike Leland

Mike serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and manages the Staff and the operations of the office, with the mission of providing the most value possible to our members and the business community. Mike grew up in Palo Alto, CA until he headed South to attend San Diego State University. After falling in love with San Diego and g

Mike serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and manages the Staff and the operations of the office, with the mission of providing the most value possible to our members and the business community. Mike grew up in Palo Alto, CA until he headed South to attend San Diego State University. After falling in love with San Diego and graduating SDSU, Mike grew roots in SD. Mike and his wife Lisa of over 29 years have been residents of Poway since March of 1997, and have two children; David (25) and Lauren (23). Mike also has two dogs; Maggie (a 16 year old, 13 lb. mutt) and his COVID rescue Buddy (a 3 year old Australian Cattle dog/German Shepherd mix).

National Anthem Singers

Allison Mah

Allison Mah is a vocalist specializing in musical theatre and pop. Over the past couple of years, she has competed in various kinds of vocal competitions and won notable prizes.  She recently won second place in American Protege International Voice Competition 2025, and will perform in Carnegie Hall later this year.

In addition, Allison h

Allison Mah is a vocalist specializing in musical theatre and pop. Over the past couple of years, she has competed in various kinds of vocal competitions and won notable prizes.  She recently won second place in American Protege International Voice Competition 2025, and will perform in Carnegie Hall later this year.

In addition, Allison has participated in multiple choirs, including the San Diego Children’s Choir and her current advanced choir at Rancho Bernardo High School, the Madrigals. She's also involved in musical theatre and her most recent production is Legally Blonde.


Allison regularly performs at community events, captivating audiences with her rendition of the National Anthem. She frequently shares her versatile singing talents at senior living facilities and is passionate about spreading joy through music.

Amber Lee

Amber Lee is a singer songwriter and performer from Poway. She performs locally here in Poway and Borrego Springs.  You can follow her journey on Instagram at Amberleesings18

Stephanie McCollum

Stephanie McCollum

Stephanie McCollum

Resided in Poway since 2015.

Grew up competing on stage since I was 4years old. 

Sang the national anthem at the Poway rodeo! 

I work in the Poway community and manage North County Gymnastics and the Gyminny Kids in Poway.

I'm a mom of 2 and have been married to my husband for 15 years. We love Poway and moved here because of the community’s reputation. 

Victoria Holmes

Stephanie McCollum

Stephanie McCollum

Victoria Holmes was born and raised here in Poway, California and for all 25 years of her life has been surrounded by music. From her mother singing to her, to her Father teaching music, she was always in the middle of something to do with music. Victoria has been in many local musicals as well as playing oboe in band and orchestra throug

Victoria Holmes was born and raised here in Poway, California and for all 25 years of her life has been surrounded by music. From her mother singing to her, to her Father teaching music, she was always in the middle of something to do with music. Victoria has been in many local musicals as well as playing oboe in band and orchestra through out middle school and high school, and eventually on to college as well. Now she is often found at karaoke spots around town always putting on a show. Each year Victoria feels honored and thankful to be invited back to sing the National Anthem at her hometown’s parade. 

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