Upcoming Events

Lou Mello is a graduate of the Ohio State University and taught high school and coached football and basketball prior to entering the Ocean Transportation Industry.

Lou and his wife Teresa have lived in Mt Pleasant since April of 1999 and he joined Rotary in August 1999.

Lou has served as District Governor in 2013-2014 and has served as an Assistant Governor, Foundation Advocate, and District 7770 Paul Harris Society Chair. Lou has also served as Zone 33 PHS Coordinator. Lou has also served as District 7770 Foundation Chair 2014-2017 and District Council on Legislation Representative 2017-2020.

Lou is the District Rotary Youth Exchange Chair and has served on the District Committee since 2013-2014. Lou has also chaired the District 7770 Ambassadorial Global Scholar Committee for 6 years.

Lou has also served as Zone Institute GETS Trainer in 2015-16 and DGN Trainer in 2014-15.

Lou is a Foundation Major Donor Level 3 and Bequest Society Level 4 and a Paul Harris Society Charter Member in District 7770.

Lou received the Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service in 2007-2008 and was recognized as 2010-2011 Rotarian of the Year in District 7770.

Lou will be attending his 12^th Rotary International Convention in Hawaii in June 2020. Done Virtually.

One of the nation’s leading business innovators, Parker’s CEO Greg Parker has earned acclaim for his commitment to high-quality foodservice, technology, consumer rights and charitable giving. Parker has been recognized as the 2018 Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year, the Convenience Store News Tech Executive of the Year, the Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club Citizen of the Year, the Savannah Morning News Entrepreneur of the Year and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year.

Under his leadership, Parker’s has grown from a one-store operation in Midway, Georgia to an award-winning, 64-store company with state-of-the-art convenience stores located throughout Georgia and South Carolina, serving delicious Southern-inspired food made from scratch. The company has been included on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies for four consecutive years. Parker is currently leading the company through an ambitious growth plan and will expand Parker’s into the Charleston, S.C. market in 2019, opening nine retail stores throughout the area.

Over the past 17 years, Parker’s revenue has grown by 20% annually, thanks to the visionary leadership of the company’s award-winning CEO. At the same time, Parker has elevated the convenience store industry, exceeding consumer expectations and setting the standard for exceptional foodservice.

A steadfast advocate for consumer rights, Parker launched the Parker’s PumpPal loyalty program, which includes more than 150,000 members and has saved customers more than $10 million to date. He also founded the company’s Fueling the Community charitable giving initiative, which gives back to every community where Parker’s does business, and endowed the Parker’s Emergency and Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Ga.

In the Fall of 2018, Parker made a record $5 million donation to name the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University, supporting the next generation of business leaders in Georgia. The new funding will establish the Parker Business Scholars Program, Parker Business Scholarship Fund and Parker Faculty Support Fund, allowing Georgia Southern students to excel in the areas of professional development and scholarship.

Parker is also an accomplished speaker who has delivered the State of the Industry keynote address for the National Association of Convenience Stores for five consecutive years and was the keynote speaker at the Outlook Conference. He has also been a featured presenter at the NACS Leadership Assembly, Leadership Southeast Georgia, the Savannah Downtown Business Association, the City of Savannah, Savannah State University and Georgia Southern University.

A national industry leader, Parker is active in the Petroleum Marketers Study Group and previously served as the vice chairman of research for the National Association of Convenience Stores. He previously served as chairman of the BPAmoco Marketers Association and was a member of the Pepsi Retail Advisory Council and the Coca-Cola Retail Advisory Committee.

Parker donates his time and resources to a number of nonprofit organizations in Savannah, Ga. and currently leads a city-wide anti-litter initiative, serves as the chairman of the Mayor’s Business Roundtable and contributes to the Mayor’s Crime Task Force.

Over the years, Parker has served as the chairman of the Savannah Master Plan Task Force and on the board of directors for the Savannah Economic Development Authority, the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and Memorial Health Foundation.

Parker is the proud father of three children – Olivia, Bennett and Lily – and is based in Savannah, Ga.