The Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM Citizenship Award

Criteria | 2009 Winner | 2008 Winner | 2007 Winner | 2006 Winner

Criteria

The Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM Citizenship Award is presented annually to a Northwest Missourian that exhibits the following attributes of citizenship:

• Inspires Individuals to Grow

• Strengthens Self-Esteem

• Promotes Appreciation of the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

• Builds Responsible, Knowledgeable Citizens

• Fosters Community Service and Volunteerism by example

• Mentors Our future leaders

• Nurtures A volunteer spirit that serves our families, schools, churches, and communities

• Teaches Others how to overcome the odds and continue to grow

• Serves Those among us most in need

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2009 Recipient

Susan Cooper Recipient of 2009 Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM Citizenship Award

Susan Cooper is the owner of S.E. Cooper & Associates certified public accountants. S.E. Cooper & Associates provides business and personal accounting and tax services to clients throughout our region. S.E. Cooper & Associates provides services their clients do not want to do, do not have time to do, or do not have the expertise to do. In doing so, a collaborative team is formed with the client’s management.

Susan believes that everyone can achieve what they want to achieve and supports her associates by providing the tools, encouragement and environment to grow to their potential. Numerous college interns have been mentored by Susan during their formal education by providing real world business experience working with clients. Through these experiences they develop the necessary people skills to work effectively with clients and the personal confidence they can apply their formal educational knowledge to resolve specific client needs. 

Susan’s volunteerism is an example for her associates to emulate. Susan has served on her church’s finance committee for many years; is a financial advisor to the Board of C3 Missions International; has helped numerous not for profit groups achieve 501(c)(3) status (including Leadership Northwest Missouri); serves on the Board of Heartland Financial Concepts, a not for profit group providing education on financial responsibility from a biblical point of view; and offers her CPA experience to assist Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation clients with their financial planning for potentially starting a new business.

In her personal and professional life, Susan adheres to the CPA Council’s tenants of integrity, ethical behavior, professional competence, objectivity, professional independence, and public trust. Respect for others, honesty, and a zest for life with a hearty laugh round out the person who is Susan Cooper.

Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM is a program of Healthy Communities and the Heartland Foundation. Now in its ninth year, this group brings together emerging community leaders from sixteen counties in northwest Missouri for training on a variety of issues regarding leadership, economic impact, legislative processes and infrastructure.

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2008 Recipient

Dr. Crowley Recipient of 2008 Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM Citizenship Award

Dr. Tim Crowley, Director of the Counseling Center at Northwest Missouri State University, was awarded the Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM Citizenship Award during graduation ceremonies for the 2008 Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM class.

Dr. Crowley was selected to receive this honor because of his involvement in the region and his work with every Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM class, except one, since 2001. Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM classes begin with an overnight retreat where Dr. Crowley focuses on the challenging task of bringing together twenty plus regional leaders each with different perspectives and returning them to their communities a short forty-eight hours later as a team, with long lasting friendships already forming, ready to tackle the opportunities that exist in northwest Missouri.
Lurinda Turner, Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM Advisory Board Chairman, said it is very fitting that Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM chose to recognize Dr. Crowley for his involvement with the program and the region. “Tim’s philosophy of “It’s all possible!” has had a significant impact our on region through the lives and actions of our graduates long after they complete the program.”

Dr. Crowley holds a doctoral degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Stress Management and Peak Performance. He works with Fortune 500 companies, businesses and other organizations to facilitate change, manage stress, create highly effective teams, improve customer service, and develop visionary leadership skills. He has taught and works at the university level and has embraced the opportunity to assist each Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM class in determining how they can positively impact their lives, communities, and our region with passion and purpose.

Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM is a program of Healthy Communities and the Heartland Foundation. Now in its eighth year, this group brings together emerging community leaders from sixteen counties in northwest Missouri for training on a variety of issues regarding leadership, economic impact, legislative processes and infrastructure.

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2007 Recipient News

Mr. Shellby Hendee, Development Director for the City of Cameron, recently received a big surprise at a Cameron City Council meeting. Members of the Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM Advisory Board presented him with the 2007 Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM Citizenship Award. Hendee was selected to receive this honor because he actively promotes regional thinking for projects and addresses concerns of northwest Missourians throughout a twenty-two county area. His approach to problem-solving includes the collaboration of communities working together to form a stronger regional economy. Hendee serves as chairman of the Roundtable of Economic Developers, where he sets an excellent example to his peers of how working in cooperation will benefit the entire northwest Missouri region.

Pictured from left: Lurinda Turner, LNWMO Board Chair; Dean Brookshier and Mark Garges, LNWMO Board Members; Shellby Hendee; Deb Powers, former LNWMO Executive Director

Lee Langerock, Nodaway County Economic Development Director, said it is very fitting that Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM chose to recognize Hendee for his consistent involvement in the region. “He leads us with professionalism and a genuine caring attitude for all our communities. Shellby inspires people to brush off apathy and become involved”.

Hendee is a graduate of John J Pershing College in Beatrice, Nebraska. He owned and operated radio stations in Cameron, Richmond and Lexington for 27 years before receiving his CED certification from the Economic Development Institute, University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. He is active with Cameron Chamber of Commerce, Sertoma Club, Missouri & International Economic Development Councils and serves on the board of Cameron Regional Medical Center. In addition to his regional involvement, Hendee regularly presents to Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM class participants on various economic development issues.

Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM is a program of Healthy Communities and the Heartland Foundation. Now in its seventh year, this group brings together emerging community leaders from sixteen counties in northwest Missouri for training on a variety of issues regarding leadership, economic impact, legislative processes and infrastructure.

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2006 Recipient News

Dr. Bush Honored as Leader
Article by Jimmy Myers, St. Joseph News-Press, Friday, June 30, 2006
Photo by Deb Powers

Dr. Bob Bush got a big surprise Thursday at a graduation ceremony for Leadership Northwest Missouri^SM. Now in its 5th year, the group brings together emerging community leaders from several Northwest Missouri counties for training on a variety of issues regarding leadership, economic impact, and infrastructure. Dr. Bush, a major component in bringing life to the group, received special recognition at the graduation ceremony held at the Benton Club in St. Joseph. Steve Scheiber, director of regional development for Heartland Health and a Leadership classmate of Dr. Bush, said the group wanted to start recognizing vital people in the community. Everyone agreed Dr. Bush should be the first. "There is no question," Mr. Scheiber said. "(Dr. Bush) is the patron saint of what we envisioned this should be... he doesn't just talk the game, he actually lives it."

Dr. Bush's list of accomplishments runs long. A former teacher/principal in the St. Joseph Public School District, he went on to work for NASA as an education programs officer and project manager. At Northwest Missouri State University, he served as a teacher, executive assistant to the president, and helped develop university policies. Dr. Bush's other notable accomplishment is his role in bringing the biomass energy plant to the university. The plant uses wood chips and paper waste to heat and cool the university.

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