Lenawee Leadership Award

2024 Lenawee Leadership Award Recipient –
Harry “Dusty” Steele

Harry “Dusty” Steele was selected to receive the 2024 Lenawee Leadership Award. Steele is active in many areas of advocacy throughout Lenawee County. He has shown exemplary community leadership and volunteerism through his participation in city government and nonprofit organizations. In addition to running his business, HB Steele Interactive Financial Planning, Steele gives of his time, talents, and treasures. Steele’s Board of Director seats include Siena Heights University where he currently serves as the board chairman, City of Adrian Downtown Development Authority (Adrian Main Street), Kiwanis Club of Adrian (also the Finance Committee), Lenawee Development Finance Authority of the City of Adrian and Tecumseh, and Kiwanis Regional Trail Authority, where Steele was a prime mover and leader of the effort to connect the County’s leadership on the completion of the Kiwanis Trail, connecting Adrian and Tecumseh. Steele’s leadership has helped the growth of Siena Heights University’s campus and student body, the YMCA of Lenawee County’s capital campaign success, adding bike lanes to the Downton streets, the establishment of Launch Lenawee and so much more. Steele has an innate ability to help businesses and organizations realize their vision as an organization and, in many ways, becomes a part of that vision and work. Steele has a passion for our community, the heart for our community and the tenacity to make good things happen.

The Lenawee Leadership Award, presented by the Lenawee Community Foundation, honors individuals or couples, who exemplify the underlying principle that the future of our county will be determined by the quality of its leadership.

The award was formerly known as the Maple Leaf Award and presented by the Lenawee Economic Development Corporation (LEDC).  Because the award no longer fit the core business of the LEDC, the Lenawee Community Foundation agreed to accept responsibility for the award.  Former recipients of the Maple Leaf Award, established in 1953, continue to be recognized as recipients of the new award.

The prestigious award was renamed The Lenawee Leadership Award to acknowledge the county-wide focus, and encompass all aspects of the quality of life in Lenawee.  The award is a perfect fit with the Lenawee Community Foundation, its philanthropic leadership, and its mission to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Lenawee in the areas of civic projects, culture, health, education, and social services.

“We are honored to be given the opportunity through The Lenawee Leadership Award to recognize outstanding community leaders, and the impact they have on our community and its future,” stated Dave Hickman, Chairman of the Lenawee Community Foundation Board of Directors.

The focus of the award on the future mirrors the Foundation purpose, as the only local nonprofit to focus primarily on the future of the community.  The Foundation is similar to a community savings account, permanently investing gifts and utilizing the earnings to make grants that benefit our community.

Nominations

Please download our form, complete and return it to nominate someone in our community.

Recipients of The Lenawee Leadership Award (Formerly the Maple Leaf Award)

For more information, contact Cynthia Heady.