Leadership Tallahassee continues the tradition of saluting the best in business, professional, and community leadership with the Distinguished Leadership Awards. This program is a benefit for the Youth Leadership Tallahassee program.
2024 Distinguished Leadership Awards
September 26, 2024
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Lifetime Leadership Award
Bill Smith, Capital City Bank Group
Paula Smith, Community Leader
Leadership Pacesetter Finalists
Leon Brunson, Leon’s at Lake Ella
Elizabeth Ellis, Stearns Weaver Miller
Jeanne’ Freeman, Neighborhood Medical Center
Leader of the Year Finalists
Michelle Gayle, Leon County Schools
Sandi Poreda, Bulldog Strategy Group
Stephanie Shumate, Commission on the Status of Women & Girls
Servant Leadership Finalists
Russ Daws, Tallahassee Museum
Kim Kelling, WFSU Public Media
Cam Whitlock, Architects Lewis + Whitlock
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2024 DLA Silver Level Sponsors
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Don’t miss this incredible tribute video for our
2023 Lifetime Leadership Award Recipient: Ron Sachs
produced by Charles Belvin Productions
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Lifetime Leadership Award
Recognizes an individual who has made significant, tangible leadership contributions to the Tallahassee community for more than 25 years. Emphasis will be placed on individuals who have made substantive achievements in the career and community arenas.
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS: Godfrey Smith, Grace Dansby, Bobby Bowden, George Langford, Kate Ireland, William Foster, Ken Boutwell, Stan Marshall, Sybil Mobley, Ray Solomon, Budd Bell, Alexander J. Brickler, Duby Ausley, Marjorie Turnbull, Sandy D’Alemberte, John Hogan, Martha Barnett, T.K.Wetherell, Al Lawson, Kim Williams, Althemese Barnes, R.B. Holmes, Jr., Steve Evans, Virginia Glass, Tom Barron, Bill Montford, Dr. Joseph L. Camps, Jr., Ron Sachs.
Leader of the Year
Awarded to an individual whose ideas, vision and hard work achieved significant, tangible benefits to the community within the past year. Such work could include a focus on a particular initiative or project that improved the quality of life of Tallahasseeans.
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS: Carrol Dadisman, William G. Smith, Jr., R.B. Holmes, John Lewis, Chuck Mitchell, Rick Kearney, Kathy Archibald/Mark Mustian, Randy Hanna, Ron Sachs, Henree Martin, Kay Freeman, Bill Montford, Mike Pate, James Ammons, Jake Myddleton/John Parker , Kelly Otte, Cheryl Phoenix, Jim Murdaugh, Vince Long, Wayne Tedder, Micah Widen, Jeff Phipps, Andy Miller, Byron Burroughs, Tom Derzypolski, Temple Robinson, Carmen Conner, Judy Mandrell.
Leadership Pacesetter Award
This individual is blazing a trail for others to follow by quickly engaging in community leadership activities – and achieving tangible results – as a relative newcomer to Tallahassee or at a relatively young age (under age 50). Individuals with less than 10 years of community involvement would be eligible for this award.
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS: Karen Moore, Arnett Flowers, Flecia Braswell, Ken Armstrong, Earle Lee, Susie Busch-Transou, Glenda Thornton, Beth Langford, John Green, Bill Law, Nina Ashenafi, Mark O’Bryant, Daryl Parks, Kim Moore, Jaimi Wacksman, R. Jai Gillum, Sha’Ron James, Cecilia Homison, Melanie Lee, Gloria Pugh, Betsy Couch, Matt Thompson, Audra Pittman, Darrick McGee, Talethia Edwards, Patrick O’Bryant, Eddie Gonzalez Loumiet, Ashley Leggett.
Servant Leadership Award
This individual has demonstrated consistent community leadership and begun to achieve results beyond a single field of endeavor, combining efforts in business and non profit organizations. Individuals with 10 to 25 years of community involvement would be considered for this award.
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS: Bryan Desloge, Lane Green, Steve Evans, Gil Ziffer, Glen Davidson, Steve Uhlfelder, Jeff Wahlen, Sean Pittman, Jerry Osteryoung, Michael Sheridan, Lawton Langford, Fred Shelfer, Debie Leonard, Mary Pankowski, JR Harding, Kathy Bell, Mark Baldino, Christic Henry, Martha Olive-Hall, Todd Sperry.