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Distinguished Leader
Awards Banquet

Tuesday, January 27 at 6pm
Saint Martin's University Norman Worthington Center

Event Sponsor

Please join us in celebrating this year's honorees who have shown leadership through outstanding INITIATIVE, significant community IMPACT, and INSPIRATION to others.

2009 Honorees

Jeff Kingsbury
Founder and executive director of Capital Playhouse and an Olympia City Councilman, is being honored for his long time civic involvement in downtown Olympia, youth theatrical programs, and as a well-known MC at charity events. Jeff's leadership on the Olympia City Council is also being acknowledged, and his role with the council’s recent moves to address parking, car camping, and market-rate housing issues in the downtown core.

Capitol Land Trust
An Olympia-based nonprofit association, is being honored for their vision, focus and leadership in preserving thousands of acres and more than 10 miles of wild Puget Sound coastline through voluntary, non-regulatory means. Since 1987, the Capitol Land Trust has formed a strategic partnership of land owners, government agencies, conservation groups and private donors to secure and protect critical wildlife habitat in Thurston, Mason and Grays Harbor counties. Eric Erler, their executive director, will receive the Distinguished Leader Award on behalf of the trust.

Richard A. Strophy
Recently retired Superior Court Judge Richard Strophy is being recognized for his 37 years of service on the judicial bench––the last decade presiding over Thurston County’s Drug Court, a nationally esteemed addiction treatment program. The drug court has a remarkably low 11% recidivism rate, compared to the 75% found with traditional incarceration. Taxpayers save money through its lower operating costs compared to jail, and the court helps create positive, productive citizens while avoiding future costs associated with drug and alcohol abuse.