October 16, 2008
Michigan’s Children to Honor Kevin Kelly
Kevin A. Kelly has been helping so many organizations and people in Michigan, it was only a matter of time before someone named an award after him. That time is now, as the statewide advocacy group Michigan’s Children honors the longtime Michigan State Medical Society executive and highly respected political operative known for bringing people together for important causes and donating great amounts of his own time and energy.Michigan’s Children will honor the ubiquitous Kelly on December 9 at its Much Ado About Something Wonderful gala. He’ll be presented with a new award — named after him — that will become an annual prize to recognize those in the nonprofit or business world who work on children’s issues.
“He’s been on the board a long time and is an outspoken advocate on behalf of children,” said Chuck Calati, Michigan’s Children director of development and operations. “The award gives him the recognition he so richly deserves.”
Kelley, who’s been ill for an extended period and has left the CEO post at the Medical Society, is expected to attend the 5:30 p.m. event at the Country Club of Lansing. The event traditionally lauds public officials for their leadership on children’s issues, and this year the main honorees are Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan and Wexford County Probate Judge Kenneth Tacoma for their work to protect children in foster care.
The Season Advocate Award will go to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing), U.S. Rep. Candice Miller (R-Harrison Twp.), state Sen. Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit), state Sen. Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), state Rep. Matt Gilliard (D-Alpena) and state Rep. Chris Ward (R-Brighton).
Freshman awards will go to state Reps. Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo) and Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham). The Legacy Heroes awards for term-limited lawmakers will be given to state Sen. Gilda Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods), state Rep. Aldo Vagnozzi (D-Farmington Hills), state Sen. Bill Hardiman (R-Kentwood) and state Rep. Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale.)
Organizers hope to draw 300 guests. The cost for an individual is $150. Call 517.485.3500 for tickets.
The Guvvys Are Coming
A total of 22 Michigan artists, musicians, organizations, educators and business leaders will be celebrated in a two-day event affectionately known as “The Guvvys” on November 13 and 14 at the newly remodeled Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).
The big winners for ArtServe Michigan’s 23rd annual Governor’s Awards for Arts & Culture Gala are Jack O’Brien and Bob James, who both captured 2008 International Achievement awards.
James, best known as composing the theme music for the television show Taxi, is described as an “international jazz giant.” The Traverse City musician and Grammy Award winner also has composed for Broadway and is a founding member of the jazz supergroup Fourplay. O’Brien, a Saginaw native, has three Tonys to his name and has directed memorable revivals of classics such as Porgy and Bess and A Comedy of Errors. His 1983 revival of Thorton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth was broadcast on PBS as part of its American Playhouse series.
Other honorees: Detroit Institute of Arts director Graham W.J. Beal, ArtServe founding president Barbara Kratchman, the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Gainey Corp. executive Harvey N. Gainey, Saginaw Community Foundation Trustee Patricia Shaheen, Vincent York’s Jazzistry, new media artist Heidi Kumao, former University Musical Society Director of Education and Audience Development Ben Johnson, the Art Center of Battle Creek, Rackham Symphony Choir, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Macy’s, CiesaDesign, Oakwood Healthcare System, textile artist Chris Roberts-Antieau, artist and sculptor Lois Teicher, dancer Cori Terry, Grand Valley State University professor Bill Ryan, choreographer Paulette Brockington and DIA Chief Educator Nancy Jones.
Tickets for the gala on November 13 range from $50 to $300. The Student Event for middle and high school students on November 14 is $20. RSVP to 248.582.8465 by November 5 or go to their website.
Barrett Back in the Game
Well, that didn’t take long. Five months after Jim Barrett retired as president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, he’s back in the game.Starting November 1, Barrett will step in as interim president of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC). While he’s indicated he’s not interested in the permanent position, Barrett brings four decades of business savvy that should make for a smooth transition. The board of directors is in the midst of a nationwide search to replace William Sepic, who resigned after six years to become CEO of the Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association.
Lansing Chamber officials are bullish about finding a permanent CEO soon, noting a spate of recent projects such as working with the Capital Region Airport Authority to create a foreign trade zone and starting a procurement center to help tri-county businesses land government contracts.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Chamber isn’t quite done with Barrett, its faithful servant of 37 years. Leadership Michigan, a program of the Michigan Chamber Foundation, has named him its 2008 Distinguished Leadership Award recipient. Barrett was to be honored at the Annual Leadership Dinner on October 16 at the MGM Grand in Detroit.
Barrett is an “example of what excellence in leadership means,” said Aimee Bahs, director of the Leadership Michigan program.
The award was established in 2005 to honor individuals who have demonstrated excellence in leadership and exemplify the goals and aspirations of Leadership Michigan, of which he’s a 1988 alum. Past award recipients are Michigan Economic Development Corp. CEO Jim Epolito (2005), economist Patrick L. Anderson (2006) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Chief Actuarial Officer J. Paul Austin (2007).
Susan J. Demas is a 2006 Knight Foundation Fellow in nonprofits journalism and a political analyst for Michigan Information & Research Service.
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