Recipients will be honored during a March 5 luncheon that anyone can attend; the keynote speakers will be Carolyn Hardy and Ted Townsend. The event’s emcee is ABC24’s Rudy Williams.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., February 6, 2024 – Leadership Memphis announced the award recipients that will be recognized during its Leadership Awards & 45^th Anniversary Luncheon, which will take place Tuesday, March 5, at 11:30 a.m. at the Renasant Convention Center. The awards include the Kate Gooch Leader of the Year, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, the Community Champion, and 2024 Change Makers. Tickets are available on Leadership Memphis’ website, https://leadershipmemphis.org/2024-leadership-awards-luncheon/.

“As we celebrate the Leadership Awards and our remarkable 45th anniversary, I am honored to stand alongside the extraordinary individuals and organizations that have left an indelible mark on Memphis. Each award winner represents the embodiment of leadership, resilience, and unwavering dedication to our community,” said Reggie Crenshaw, President and CEO of Leadership Memphis and Volunteer Memphis. “We are excited to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of our honorees as we embark on the next chapter of leadership and community building in Memphis.” 

Each year, Leadership Memphis honors community leaders and businesses who exemplify the true meaning of collective impact through the Kate Gooch Leader of the Year, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, Community Champion of the Year, and 2024 Change Makers.

The Kate Gooch Leader of The Year Award is given to a Memphis community leader who demonstrates exceptional community advocacy, plays a pivotal role in driving Memphis forward, and serves as an example for leaders in our city. The Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award is given to an alum of Leadership Memphis’ Executive Program or FastTrack Program who is making an impact in the Mid-South through their business and community endeavors. The Community Champion Award honors a business or organization that invests in their community, sets the standard as a servant leader, and elevates others around them.

The Leadership Awards recipients are listed below:

·      Kate Gooch Leader of the Year: Vernon Stafford, Jr., Senior EVP/Chief Audit Executive for First Horizon National Corporation

·      Distinguished Alumnus of the Year: Rene Bustamante, Executive Vice President & COO/CFO at the University of Memphis

·      Community Champion: CodeCrew

As part of the awards luncheon, Leadership Memphis will honor past Board Chairs who have served since the organization’s founding with an induction into the President’s Circle. They will also recognize ten individuals as Change Makers selected from a list of nominated individuals who are rare and unique forces of positive change. These dynamic individuals come from various backgrounds and organizations but share a common passion for bettering the world around them. Each Change Maker is chosen by a panel of judges based on nominations written by peers.

The keynote speakers for the Leadership Awards Luncheon are Memphis entrepreneur Carolyn Chism Hardy and Ted Townsend, President and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber. ABC24 Evening Anchor Rudy Williams will serve as emcee of the luncheon.

The Leadership Awards Luncheon will honor some of the Mid-South’s most impactful leaders during a ceremony Tuesday, March 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Renasant Convention Center. Tickets are available on Leadership Memphis’ website, https://leadershipmemphis.org/2024-leadership-awards-luncheon/. Those interested in purchasing a table sponsorship can contact Leadership Memphis at 901-278-0016.

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About Leadership Memphis: 

Leadership Memphis is a non-profit, community leadership development organization. Its mission is to prepare and mobilize leaders to work together for the good of the whole community. Originally founded in 1979 as The Memphis Institute of Public Responsibility, Leadership Memphis has graduated more than 4,100 leaders from its programs. For more information, please visit LeadershipMemphis.org.

About Volunteer Memphis: 

Volunteer Memphis builds capacity for effective volunteering and connecting people with opportunities to serve throughout Memphis and Shelby County. The organization helps individuals, families, corporate teams, and community groups strengthen Memphis and the Mid-South through service at more than 300 nonprofit organizations and schools. Our volunteers are at work every day of the year, tutoring and mentoring children, helping individuals and families make pathways out of poverty, improving our Memphis and Shelby County environment, and more. Volunteer Memphis is an affiliate of the Hands-On Network, an association of 250 volunteer service organizations across 16 counties and an action Initiative of Leadership Memphis. For more information, please visit VolunteerMemphis.org.