"The annual fundraiser last month celebrated the impact of great leadership by honoring four exemplary CCL alumni with Champion awards: Kenyatta Brame for his Leadership Skills, Patricia Duthler for Community Connections, Eva Aguirre Cooper for Diversity and Ron Bullis for Systems Thinking.

These outstanding individuals provide us all with examples of how to make a broad and lasting impact in the lives of others and very specific examples of how to live out the principles of CCL in our personal, professional and community endeavors."

-Kevin Stotts
CCL Executive Director

Champion Awards

2009 Champion Award Recipients Announced

The Center for Community Leadership is proud to announce the 2009 Champion Award recipients. Each recipient was selected for his or her exemplary work in one of our four platforms and honored at the 2009 Annual Fundraiser.

SYSTEMS THINKING
Ron Bullis, DGR 2008, of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

Ron's ability to think of our community as a system has played a major role in the development of his non-profit, the Ella Bullis Foundation. Ron's vision involves not only helping make Grand Rapids a destination in health care, but also in patient and fund support. His work with businesses and organizations throughout the community is fulfilling one need by tapping into another, creating solutions throughout these systems.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Patricia Duthler, LGR 1990, of GROW

Patricia's experience as a business owner in Grand Rapids has provided her with the knowledge needed to be successful and she is proudly sharing her expertise through her position as executive director for GROW. By connecting various agencies and individuals, Patricia's vision at GROW is well on its way to creating a dynamic women's business center that will allow women business owners to grow and succeed.

DIVERSITY
Eva Aguirre Cooper, LGR 1999, of WOODTV8/ WOTV4/ WXSP

When Eva examines our community, she sees the assets around her, not the challenges. Her perspective focuses on what we have, not what we lack. To that end, Eva sees the best in

everyone she meets and seeks to leverage the skills, perspectives, values, backgrounds, and thinking of everyone around her.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Kenyatta Brame, LGR 2008, of Cascade Engineering

Kenyatta approaches leadership as a way to serve others and change the world. His superior leadership skills are showcased through his ability to balance the needs within his career, community, at home, and globally. Kenyatta is a true inspiration to the lives he touches in every piece of his life.

About the Awards

The intent of the Center for Community Leadership Champion Award is to recognize members of the CCL community for exceptional work in our area in each of the four platforms (Community Connections, Diversity, Leadership Skills, Systems Thinking) that has lead to making Grand Rapids a community of uncommon greatness.