Leadership Excellence Awards

The Leadership Excellence Award (LEA) recognizes exceptional Leadership Engage graduates who make significant contributions to improve our community. The LEA celebrates individuals who are active examples of the vision and mission of Leadership Palm Beach County; recipients aspire to connect, collaborate, and change.

We accept nominations of Alumni by Alumni each year. The nominations are reviewed by a confidential selection committee made up of a diverse group of alumni. This selection committee designates a small group of finalists, who will be announced ahead of time, and one recipient, who will be saluted at our annual Leadership Celebration event. Our standing president also has the prerogative to award the President's Award to an outstanding alumni of their choice. 

2024

            LEA Award Recipient: Lisa Johnson (2000)

            President's Award: Deborah Stewart (1989)

2023

            LEA Award Recipient: Maria G. Marino (2010)

            President's Award: Barry S. Berg (1985)

2022

            Private: Michelle Diffenderfer (2000) 

            Public: Chelsea Reed (2020) 

            Nonprofit: James Gavrilos (2009) 

            President's Award: Jessica Cecere (2000)

2021

            Private: Stephen Basore (2019) 

            Public: Dorritt Miller (2006) 

            Nonprofit: Brian Edwards (2005) 

            President's Award: Renee E. Layman (2010)

2020

            Private: Rita Barreto (1987) 

            Public: Erica Whitfield (2014) 

            Nonprofit: Laurie George (2003) 

            President's Award: Sally D. Chester (1987)

2019

            Private: Kimberly Lea (2016) 

            Public: Lt. Patricia Brown (2013) 

            Nonprofit: Kate Watt (2018) 

            President's Award: Victoria Chouris (2010)

2018

            Private: Eddie Stephens (2015) 

            Public: Senator Bobby Powell, Jr. (2010) 

            Nonprofit: Owen O'Neill (2014) 

            President's Award: Eric Hopkins (1995)

2017   

            Private: Frank Compiani (1991) 

            Public: Priscilla Taylor (1995) 

            Nonprofit: Dr. Robert Rease (2016) 

            President's Award: Dari Bowman (1988)

2016   Roberta "Robi" Jurney (2010)

2015   Michele Poole (2014)

2014   Jim Sugarman (1995)

2013   Patrick McNamara (2008)

2012   Eric Hopkins (1995)

2011   Rev. Pam Cahoon (1989)

2010   David Goodlett (1988)

2009   Wendy Sartory Link (1998)

2008   Sharon Bock (2000)

2007   David Baker (1989)

2006   Gale Howden (1986)

2005   Don Chester (1986)

The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes an exceptional Leadership Engage graduate who dedicates significant time and energy outside their job to building a better community and making significant contributions toward improving Palm Beach County. The Leadership Excellence Award celebrates an individual who is an active example of the vision and mission of Leadership Palm Beach County.  Their hard work has resulted in connections, collaborations, and, ultimately, positive change in our community.

All graduates of Leadership Palm Beach County are eligible for these awards except (a) candidates currently running for office and (b) current members of the Leadership Palm Beach County Board of Governors or Executive Committee. Nominations must be submitted by LPBC Alumni. We encourage you to nominate a graduate who you believe best exemplifies the actions of Leadership Excellence as defined on the last page of this form. The recipient of the award will be announced and honored at Leadership Celebration, to be held on [Day], [Date]. At this event, we will honor this year's LEA finalists, announce the [Year] LEA recipient, celebrate the graduates of this year’s Engage class, and welcome next year’s Engage class.

Nominations for the [Year] Leadership Excellence Award must be received by Leadership Palm Beach County by [Day], [Date] at 5 p.m. After all nominations are received, nomination forms will be shared with the nominees and nominees will be asked to submit a second form to supplement their nomination. Please comply with the instructions on the nomination form. All nominations and questions should be directed to Leadership Palm Beach County at 561-833-4321 or by email at shanine@leadershippbc.org.

Download nomination form here.