Oregon State University Professor David M. Hamby has been honored by Leadership Corvallis as the eighth Hans Neukomm Award winner.

A 2006 graduate of Leadership Corvallis, Hamby is a professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Health Physics in OSU’s College of Engineering, as well as a clinical professor for the Department of Radiation Oncology in Oregon Health Sciences University’s School of Medicine.

Known for his dedication and service to the Corvallis community, Hamby has served on the Airport Advisory Commission, the Watershed Management Advisory Commission, the City Planning Commission, the Budget Commission, as a reserve deputy with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and as the city councilor for Ward 8 from 2007 to 2010.

“All of these activities exemplify David’s commitment to Corvallis and service to the community,” said Kavinda Arthenayake, a 2004 graduate of Leadership Corvallis and 2010 Hans Nuekomm Leadership Award recipient. “David’s calm and thoughtful approach is greatly appreciated by those he works with and serves.”

Established in 2004, the Hans Neukomm Award is named for the founder of Leadership Corvallis. Neukomm, who passed away this year following a long battle with cancer, envisioned Leadership Corvallis as a way to give participants a better understanding of how our community functions so they can be more effective in the workplace and community.

The Hans Neukomm Award is given each year to a past class member who has made a significant impact through service to the community. In addition to Arthenayake, prior recipients include: Julie Manning, the late Scott Zimbrick, Pete Bober, Susan Poole, Biff Traber and Penny York.

Leadership Corvallis was created in 1992 to identify Corvallis’ and Benton County’s “best and brightest” citizens and offer a 10-month program that equips them to provide leadership within their community. An advisory board comprising community leaders helps develop topics and interacts with participants as guest speakers and session facilitators.

Twenty-two Leadership Corvallis class members have completed a 10-month program focused on leadership and volunteer opportunities in the Corvallis area.

Their introduction to the people and places that impact our community was designed to encourage participation on boards of non-profits, local government committees, volunteer task forces, and other areas where citizen involvement can make a difference.

Throughout the year, these 22 men and women visited dozens of venues in Corvallis and Benton County and heard from leaders in the fields of education, government, health care, economic vitality, land-use planning and human services, to name just a few.

Graduates of the Leadership Corvallis class of 2010-2011 are:

Emily Betts, Heartland Humane Society
Maria Chavez-Haroldson, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Douglas Cochran, Oregon State University
John Croy, Edward Jones
Michelle Davis, Davis Enterprises/Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition
Joan Demarest, Oregon State University and private practice
Dave Henderer, Design & Build/Rebath
Aileen Hood, Oregon State University
Jessica Kneisel, Second Glance/Annex
Roger Lizut, retired
Kennith Ray Lowe Jr., Community Outreach, Inc.
Dan Mattson, ATS Oregon
Denise McCoy, The Little Gym
Jessica McDonald, Greenbelt Land Trust
Lauri Morris, Strands
Jennifer Nitson, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
Dennis Pearson, CH2M Hill, Inc.
Shawn Steiner, Corvallis Sport & Spine
Pam Hood Szivek, Corvallis Children’s Therapy
Elizabeth Westland, Van Buren Court
Charlene Yager, The Corvallis Clinic
Kriste York, Invale Community Partners

Leadership Corvallis has elected new board members to serve the non-profit agency and promote its mission during the 2011-2012 class year.

Leadership Corvallis offers area residents a chance to learn about a variety of government and non-profit agencies and businesses in Corvallis and Benton County. Upon graduation, class participants are equipped with knowledge, insight and inspiration to assume volunteer and leadership roles in the community.

Leadership Corvallis welcomes the following new and continuing board members in the following positions:

President Todd Washington
President-Elect Curtis Wright
Secretary Stacy Mellem
Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair Kristen Gose
Past President Deb Rose
Class Host Anne Schuster
Curriculum Chair Penny York
Vision Committee Chair Kavinda Arthenayake
Recruitment Chair Mark Kalmar
Public Relations Committee Chair Jennifer Nitson
Graduation Committee Chair Lacey McNeely
Community Service Project Chair Scott Jackson
Board Member At-Large Patrice O’Brien
Board Member At-Large Biff Traber

The board of directors serves as the policy setting and managing body for Leadership Corvallis, with the responsibility to direct and oversee activities of committees for candidate recruiting, curriculum development, finance and public relations. The board consists of graduates of Leadership Corvallis and recognized leaders in the community.

Do you know a Leadership Corvallis graduate who deserves some special recognition? Please nominate a fellow LC graduate for the 2011 Hans Neukomm Leadership Award. It just takes a minute and it is a wonderful gift to give someone who works hard for our community. The nomination deadline is May 20.

Download the nomination form as a PDF or as a Microsoft Word document.

Founder of the Leadership Corvallis program Hans Neukomm has died at age 74 after a battle with cancer.

Hans founded Leadership Corvallis in 1992 and served as its president until 2003. He subsequently served as president emeritus and managed the organization’s advisory board.

“Hans was the leader of leaders in Corvallis,” said Deb Rose, Leadership Corvallis Board President. “It is a fitting tribute to his legacy that on the day he passed away, a mayor and city council member were sworn in, both of whom were Leadership Corvallis Alumni. Leadership Corvallis mourns his passing. We remain dedicated to continuing his legacy for years to come.”

Hans’ vision sparked development of a program that gives participants a better understanding of how our community works so they can be more effective in the workplace and community. More than 300 individuals have benefited from Leadership Corvallis.

“The only way for a community to be a better place to live is for its citizens to understand and accept their personal responsibility for what happens,” Hans said.

In addition to Leadership Corvallis, Hans was extremely active in many community organizations and committees.

• Hans joined the Corvallis Rotary Club in 1982, served as President in 1998/99 and chaired several club service and special project committees. He was a graduate of the District 5110 Leadership Academy. He and his wife Adele are Paul Harris Fellows, Rotary Benefactors and Major Donors. He served as Assistant District Governor for the year 2001-2002 and was selected as Governor for Rotary District 5110 for the year 2003-2004.

• Professionally, he represented CH2M HILL on the Board of Directors of the Western Electric Power Institute, an organization that serves private and public power companies in the 11 Western States and 3 Provinces in Western Canada. In 1992 Governor John Kitzhaber appointed Hans to the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council for a 4-year term. In 1998, the Oregon Senate reconfirmed Hans for a second 4-year term.

• His community volunteer work included service on the Board of Trustees of the Good Samaritan Hospital and Linn-Benton Community College Foundations. He was a Board member and Past Chairman of the Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Partnership, a Vice President of the Oregon Trail Council and Past Chairman of the Benton District, Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, he served on numerous Boards and Committees of other organizations such as the Benton County Budget Committee, the Vineyard Mountain Water District and the Benton County Republican Central Committee.

In recognition for his contributions and leadership in community, charitable and service organizations, Hans received many awards and accolades – among them First Citizen of Corvallis in 1995 and the prestigious Silver Beaver Award of the Boy Scouts of America in 1996. In 2002, Oregon’s Governor recognized Hans with the State of Oregon’s Economic and Community Development Award for Outstanding Community Leadership. He also was the Senior First Citizen of Corvallis in 2008.

The Leadership Corvallis board, alumni and class members mourn this loss and our thoughts are with his wife, Adele and his family. When it is available, we will post information about Hans’ memorial service and how donations may be made in his name to support future Leadership Corvallis participants.