Leadership Palm Beach County’s Leadership Excellence Award recognizes exceptional Leadership Engage (Adult) Program graduates who make significant contributions to improve our community. The Leadership Excellence Award 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 selects a small group of finalists, who will be announced ahead of time, and one recipient, who will be announced at our Leadership Celebration event in May. 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)
Nominations for the 2025 Leadership Excellence Award is now closed. Nomination forms will be shared with the nominees and nominees will be asked to submit a second form to expand on their accomplishments. Please comply with the instructions on the following pages. Questions should be directed to Leadership Palm Beach County by emailing Shanine Dorta at shanine@leadershippbc.org.
We look forward to announcing this year's recipient of the Leadership Excellence Award at Celebration on May 29, 2025! Learn more about Leadership Celebration.
