Wade Keller

Writer

As a ghost writer of personal memoirs I have written and published two books:

Taking the Thread Back, by Edward Elliott (1998)

Shoot for the Pin, by Francis Joseph Callahan (2000)

Two additional books have been completed in 2001 but not yet published.

While building my CPA Firm in Ozark, Alabama I wrote a weekly newspaper column. The focus was primarily financial planning but I would frequently branch out to pontificate on politics, current events and the foibles of human nature.

Speaker

Public speaking has been a major interest since high school and three years on the state championship debate team. As a long time member of Toastmasters I have won numerous contests for prepared speeches, extemporaneous speeches and evaluations of other speakers. Being a mentor to other Toastmasters has been very rewarding. In 1986 I took the Dale Carnegie course in Public Speaking and Human Relations. After further training as an Instructor I taught about 20 of the 14-week courses.

Educator

As an Accounting professor – sometimes Economics- I had the following positions:

Accounting Program Chair

International College, Naples & Ft. Myers, Florida - 1995-98

Miles College, Birmingham, Alabama - 1994-95

Full Time Faculty

Columbus University, Columbus, Georgia - 1975-79

Troy State University, Dothan, Alabama - 1979-86

Adjunct Professor

Albany State College, Albany, Georgia - 1974

Albany Junior College, Albany, Georgia– 1974

Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama - 1994-95

Edison Community College, Naples, Florida - 1996– 98

Entrepreneur

Built from scratch a successful CPA Firm - Keller & Company, CPA - in Ozark, Alabama (1982-1991). The firm did extensive tax preparation and planning, monthly corporate accounting and governmental audits of School Boards, Water Boards and Towns. Sideline investments included commercial real estate, a residential subdivision and a restaurant. I learned from first hand experience the disciplines of Marketing, Management, Economics, Finance and Public Relations.

Military

I enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1966. Tours of duty were as follows:

Boot Camp - Fort Benning, Georgia

Medic - X-ray Technician:

Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas

Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

91st Evac SMBL, Tuy Hoa, Republic of South Vietnam

Community Activist

Always a community activist, the level of activity has increased with semi retirement in recent years. I serve as a board member on the following:

Marco Island Rotary Club - President 2002-03

Collier County Friends of the Library - Newsletter Features Editor

Marco Island Friends of the Library—Publicity Chair

Marco Island Charter Middle School - Elected by parents

With my Rotary Club I am responsible for preparation of the annual photo roster, initiation of new members and recruiting program speakers. As a member of Friends of the Library I write a monthly features column for the newsletter (since 1997) and lead book discussions (nine over past two years) at the Marco Island Branch. At the Marco Island Charter Middle School I am active with board level administrative decisions and started a Chess Club for the students. Also member of Forum Club and Toast of the Coast Toastmasters. Though not involved now, I have enjoyed participating with the Marco Island Community Theater.

Personal

Born November 21, 1945 in Greenville, Georgia, a small town about 60 miles southwest of Atlanta. Married to Suzanne D. Keller. We have three daughters, Michelle Hurtley, Candace Keller and Lily Keller and five grandchildren. (Proudly hands-on grandparents.) Primary interests are reading, writing, current events, travel, chess, children, grandchildren and walking on the beach.