2010 Welch-Lackey Award

Yemi Akinwale and SWMPC Chair Linda Preston

REGIONAL PLANNERS HONOR YEMI AKINWALE

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission has selected Yemi Akinwale as the 2010 Welch-Lackey Leadership Award recipient.

At the February 1, 2011 meeting of the SWMPC, held at Southwestern Michigan College, Chair Linda Preston honored Yemi Akinwale with the Welch-Lackey Leadership Award.

In announcing the award, John Egelhaaf, SWMPC Executive Director, commented, "There is no finer ambassador for the SWMPC across the region than Mr. Akinwale."

Akinwale, City of Hartford Manager, has served the SWMPC since 2000 as Berrien County Citizen Representative, joining the Administration Committee in 2001.  Alternate Treasurer for nine years, he has provided vital input to Financial Management Policies and Procedures Committee.

In addition to Akinwale's work with the SWMPC, he served as a critical member of the four-jurisdiction effort for joint planning along the I-94 corridor and assisted the involvement of Partnerships for Change and the SWMPC in the corridor development effort.  Currently, he is helping to navigate a Hartford City/Township Joint Master Plan process.

The Community Hospital/Lakeland Foundation Board includes Akinwale as member.  The Area Agency on Aging and Van Buren County Red Cross also benefit from his involvement.

The SWMPC is the regional planning agency for Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties and presents the Welch-Lackey Leadership Award each year in honor of former Commissioners George A. Welch and William F. Lackey.  These men served the Commission in times of great personal difficulties, yet continued throughout to represent the spirit of public service and to further the goals of intergovernmental cooperation.  Their contribution to the communities they served embodies the leadership qualities essential to the preservation of our citizen form of government.