Rebecca Butler Mona is currently President-Designate of Optimist International, and will serve as the organization’s President during 2018-19 Optimist Centennial year.
Rebecca retired from IBM in 2017 following a 32-year career in a range of national and global marketing leadership roles across IBM’s portfolio of software, services and systems, after beginning in a sales role in Des Moines, IA. Most recently, she served as Director of Global Marketing for IBM’s consulting business responsible for global marketing strategy and demand generation. She concurrently served as Senior State Executive for IBM in Iowa, with leadership for IBM’s employee community engagement and government relations.
Rebecca is a native of Red Oak, Iowa, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Drake University, with majors in Marketing and Human Resource Management. She has held a number of alumni volunteer leadership roles at Drake University, and currently sits on the Executive Committee of the National Advisory Board for the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute (DVALI).
As an Optimist, Rebecca is a charter member and Past Distinguished President of the Noon Optimist Club of Western Des Moines, and has served on the board since the club began in 1989. She is a Past Distinguished and Outstanding Governor of the Iowa District, a Past Vice President of Optimist International, and has chaired numerous Optimist International Committees. Rebecca is currently serving on the Optimist International Board of Directors, elected to a term beginning October 1, 2015, continuing on the Board as President-Elect and now as President.
Rebecca is married (to Mike – also an Optimist member), and is the proud mom of two teen-agers (Amanda and Alex).