Ann Debock Leadership Award

Greg Everett receives Ann DeBock Award

Leadership Grand Strand presented its 2009 Ann DeBock Leadership Award to Greg Everett during the Leadership Grand Strand Class XXIX graduation ceremony May 8 at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes.

Everett is cofounder and publisher of Veterans Herald, an online publication focused on American veterans, and served as president and publisher of the Myrtle Beach Herald until its recent sale. He is also president of Myrtle Beach Funeral Homes Inc. and of GE Media Inc., which owned and operated WFXB FOX-TV for more than a decade. From 2002 to 2008 he hosted "Carolina People," a half hour community show, on WFXB.

Since the sale of WFXB in 2006, GE Media has focused on developing its domain portfolio of more than 15,000 names including TheBestOfTheYear.com and ReadTheHerald.com.

He is vice president of GOCOM Media of Illinois LLC, which owns and operates the two FOX affiliates WRSP and WCCU and the CW affiliate WBUI in central Illinois. Everett is also vice president of Triple "E" Apartment Management Inc. (TEAM), which oversees apartment complexes in Durham, Fayetteville and Wilmington, N.C.

He is an active board member of several nonprofit organizations in the Myrtle Beach area including the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Foundation, the Horry County Division of March of Dimes, the Conway Medical Center Foundation and the Waccamaw Division of the American Heart Association. Since 1997 he has served on the executive board of the Center on Law, Ethics and National Security at Duke University School of Law.

Everett was recognized by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce as its 2007 Citizen of the Year, an honor bestowed to an individual who has displayed outstanding leadership and community involvement.

He was born and raised in Durham, N.C., and received a B.A. degree in politics from Wake Forest University in 1993.

Each year, the Leadership Grand Strand class honors an alum who has exhibited outstanding leadership and service. The Ann DeBock Leadership Award was commissioned and started by Class XIX in memory of Ann DeBock, the executive director of Leadership Grand Strand from its inception in 1979 until her death in 1998. To receive this award, the recipient must volunteer in service or civic roles, serve on appointed boards or commissions and exhibit an overall demonstration of effective leadership skills.

Background

The Ann DeBock Leadership Award was a special project, commissioned by LGS XIX in memory of Ann DeBock, Executive Director of Leadership Grand Strand from its inception in 1979 until her death in 1998. Ann was a wonderful example of the LGS standards of leadership and volunteering excellence on both a personal and professional level. Our scholarship fund for LGS class members is also named in her honor.

This is the only award presented by Leadership Grand Strand and it is set up to recognize the LGS alumnus who best exemplifies our ideals of leadership and service. As you will see from the list below the past winners of this award are a "Who's Who" of the Grand Strand's finest community leaders:

2000 Vernie Dove
2001 Myrtle Beach Chief of Police Warren Gall
2002 Lance Thompson
2003 Bill Alford
2004 Susan Grissom Means
2005 Richard Hair
2006 Nick Sherfesee
2007 Dennis Wade
2008 David Brittian
2009 Greg Everett

Criteria for Award Nominees

• Graduate of Leadership Grand Strand
• Record of serving the Grand Strand community with specific emphasis on service and leadership that may include but is not limited to:
• Volunteering in service or civic clubs
• Serving on appointed board or commissions
• Overall demonstration of effective leadership skills
• In their professional life
• In their personal (community-oriented) life

Selection Procedures

LGS classes will be divided into four groups. Each group will be responsible for choosing a nominee for the Ann DeBock Leadership Award. They will then provide a written and verbal presentation (which will be taped) on said nominee. These four nominees will then be presented to the class and the LGS Board of Regents members of the Ann DeBock Leadership Award Selection Committee where the overall winner will be decided.

The selection committee will be comprised of seven volunteers: (1) Executive Director, (3) Board of Regents members and (3) current Leadership Grand Strand class members. A majority vote (4) is required for a winner to be selected.

Presentation of the Award

During the graduation ceremony for each LGS class, the recipient and their family will be invited to attend and a presentation of this prestigious award will be made. The recipient will also be recognized again at the chamber's annual meeting in October, an article will be published about them in the Grand Strander newsletter, and they will be highlighted on the LeadershipGrandStrand.com web site. Additionally, each award winner will be provided with a copy of the written award nomination that was presented on their behalf.

For more information regarding these scholarships or to make a donation, contact Diana Greene, Executive Director by e-mail or call 916-7222.