Join Us

Welcome to the International Association of Torch Clubs where you are invited to share your knowledge, your experience and your perspective with other professionals in an ideal social setting.

We are a highly interactive organization where members participate and discuss stimulating subjects ranging from current events, historical significance, folklore and much more. Our members are professionals with a broad range of experience creating knowledge expansion with diverse view points.

Membership not only includes idea generating presentations but outstanding atmospheres to freely exchange questions, concepts, views and interaction. Each club chooses its own unique venue, happy hours and dinner meeting program.

Clubs and members are connected through our International newsletter, magazine and annual convention. All presentations are eligible to be published in our peer reviewed magazine publication, The Torch. Conventions are sponsors by local Clubs showcasing new areas of the country each year.

Our vast organization has Clubs in both the United States and Canada and is growing in cities everywhere! 

Meet Our Leaders

Dorothy Driskell
​President

Dorothy received an R.N. from Diploma School of Nursing in Mansfield General Hospital, Mansfield, Ohio, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. She joined The Columbus Torch Club in 2008. In 2009 became the Membership Chair, a position she still holds, inducting an annual average of 10-11 new members per year. Dorothy received the Silver Torch Award at the 2015 Torch Convention held in Lincoln, Nebraska, and received the Gold Torch Award at the 2018 Torch Convention held in San Antonio, Texas.

Sue Breen-Held
​Vice President - President Elect

With over thirty years  of financial services experience specifically in defined benefit pension consulting, Sue brings a full breath of business best practices and management to the International Association of Torch Clubs and within her current role of the President of the Torch Foundation.  She is frequently an industry speaker, involved in defined benefit legislative support and a published author.
Sue's specialties include consulting with single-employer defined benefit plans around funding and accounting decisions, clear and concise communication of complex information, research and support for legislative and regulatory positions and influencing conversations and leading successful communication and operational project teams from design to delivery.

Rich Davis
​Treasurer & Director At Large Conventions

Rich completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees at Carnegie Mellon University and Doctorate from The Ohio State University, all specializing in BioMedical Engineering. He directed the Ohio State University Hospital biomedical department serving in multiple roles until his final retirement after 39 years. Rich directed and taught in an allied health baccalaureate program and lead the cardiovascular services program, culminating in the construction and operational leadership of the OSU Ross Heart Hospital. Post retirement he rejoined OSU as associate project manager for the $1.1B OSU James Cancer Hospital replacement. He has been a member of Columbus Torch Club since 2011, joining its Board in 2015. He has served as Convention Planning Committee member, President-Elect and President, Chair of the Program & Publications and Awards Committee as well as his current roles at the International level. Rich has been an avid cyclist for the last 10 years. 

Walter Van-Eck
Secretary

Bio Coming Soon!