By Laura Shields
Leadership Corvallis 2018-19 board president

Good leaders have the capability to lead from anywhere. They are willing to assume any role, whether that is out in front or supporting from behind the scenes.

That is certainly true of this year’s Hans Neukomm Leadership Award recipient, Rebecca Badger.

In her nomination, it was said, “Rebecca has an amazing quiet and confident leadership style that she brings to everything she does.

And that is evident in her extensive involvement in local organizations. Whether it is as a member of the United Way of Benton & Lincoln Counties Community Investment Council, chair of the Corvallis Arts and Culture Commission, ex-officio board member for Corvallis Young Pros, communications chair for Friends of Corvallis or a member of the Southern Willamette Valley Leadership Council for the Oregon Community Foundation, Rebecca does whatever it takes to accomplish goals.

She is both a team player and effective leader. And perhaps most importantly, is her ability to listen.

Rebecca always has the interests of the community at heart, is open and approachable, and encourages others to move ideas into action. Simply put, she makes our community stronger.

Rebecca is the 16^th person to receive this award since its inception. She joins past recipients Julie Manning, the late Scott Zimbrick, Pete Bober, Susan Poole, Biff Traber, Penny York, Kavinda Arthenayake, Dave Hamby, Ben Danley, Rick DeBellis, Helen Higgins, Mike Corwin, Mark Kalmar, Curtis Wright and Jennifer Moreland.

About the Hans Neukomm Leadership Award:

The Leadership Corvallis Class of 2004 recognized the importance of celebrating the service and accomplishments of Leadership Corvallis alumni who had returned to the community with fresh perspective and passion and used those qualities to continue to make a difference in our community. Thus, the 2004 class created and awarded the first annual Hans Neukomm Leadership Award.

Biff Traber (pictured above in the center) began his first four-year term as mayor of Corvallis in January 2015, winning re-election in 2018. He served two terms on the Corvallis City Council in Ward 8 before being elected mayor, and he currently serves on the board of the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments (OCWCOG), as well as other local and regional boards. Before entering public service, Biff was an executive in the software industry.

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What did you like most about participating in Leadership Corvallis?

“By the time I took the class, I had been living in Corvallis for five years, but my work had me traveling three weeks out of each four, so I was a resident – but not really a participant in Corvallis life. The breadth of the class let me see all the aspects of the city.”

Describe your most memorable experience volunteering or serving in a leadership position in the community. Why is this experience so important to you?

“Becoming mayor of this great little city is my most memorable experience. It is the ultimate goal of my work to have an impact on Corvallis and to give back in general.”

What is your biggest accomplishment in your current line of work?

“Given my line of work is now politician/mayor, my biggest single accomplishment since then has been re-election. The most rewarding part of the job is making progress on resolving the various challenges to the city and incrementally improving who and what we are as a community.”

What is one surprising thing about you that not many people know?

“I am really quite a shy person – an introvert – which is surprising for someone who is now a politician. Over my adult life I have learned by doing and being willing to try something when I had the opportunity. On a more mundane level, I have lived in Corvallis longer than I have ever lived anywhere. And I am still a newbie!”

If you could recommend one thing to incoming Leadership Corvallis participants, what would that be? 

“Keep a broad open mind. Even if you have lived or worked here for a while, there are always new things to know. Connect with your classmates and with the presenters after the class. Encourage the presenters to explain what’s behind the information they are presenting to your class.”

What did you like most about participating in Leadership Corvallis?

“The people I met, the people I learned so much from. I gained a real understanding of how the city and county governments, the educational system, the business community, the civic organizations and the nonprofits work, interact and impact one another. Many classmates who were strangers then have become dear friends. New connections made then have led to numerous collaborative relationships since. And I discovered so many new ways in which I could be of service to the community.”

Describe your most memorable experience volunteering or serving in a leadership position in the community. Why is this experience so important to you?

“It has been my good fortune to be asked to be a part of community groups formed to help pass local option levy measures for the city and the county and a bond measure for the school district. I’m repeatedly re-energized by the commitment others bring to these ‘make or break’ efforts. It’s a joy to work alongside people who give so much of themselves to keep Corvallis special, and strive mightily to make it a better place for all of us.”

What is your biggest accomplishment in your current line of work or what is the most rewarding part of your job?

“I sold my ad agency in Silicon Valley just after the turn of the century. My wife and I moved here in 2005 to be near our grandson (and now a granddaughter, too). The most important ‘job’ I have now is watching them grow up, and the most rewarding part of it is seeing what amazing young people they are growing to be. When I’m not busy taking their pictures or telling them corny jokes, I’m inspired by the leaders of nonprofits whose passion for their causes keep Corvallis moving forward and find great satisfaction in helping them with their pushing and prodding and pulling.”

What is one surprising thing about you that not many people know?

“I really do not like speaking in public – not before groups of citizens, members of clubs, students in classes or any other assembled body – not anywhere, not at any time. Until now, only my wife knew this. Over the course of 53 years of listening to my moaning and groaning as each speech date drew nearer, she has repeatedly reminded me that when asked to ‘say a few words’ I shouldn’t say yes when my innards are screaming no. To which I always pitifully reply ‘I have to remember that next time.’ (A really surprising thing is that she has put up with me for all these years.)”

If you could recommend one thing to incoming Leadership Corvallis participants, what would that be? 

“Come with an open mind and an open heart. Be prepared for an eye-opening, informative, educational, at times entertaining, and always awesome experience. Expect to leave with your heart and mind overflowing with ideas for improving communication, cooperation and collaboration among all the entities working for the betterment of all of us here, and a commitment to do more than your part to help. Leadership Corvallis is a labor of love for our community. And whatever class year you’re fortunate enough to be accepted into, will surely be the best class ever!”

More about Curt:

Curt Wright has more than 40 years of experience in management and marketing. He was a founding partner of BF&W Advertising in 1969, and its CEO until his early retirement in 2001, helping to build it into one of the leading ad agencies in Silicon Valley. Curt was also mayor and a council member for the City of Morgan Hill (California) in the late 80s. He has held leadership positions with numerous nonprofit organizations, spanning more than 45 years of civic involvement, and has received many honors for his community service, including Morgan Hill “Citizen of the Year” (2000), and Celebrate Corvallis “Senior First Citizen” (2010). In addition to his past involvement with Leadership Corvallis, Curt is currently chair of the City of Corvallis Budget Commission, a citizen member of the Benton County Budget Committee, a citizen representative on the Corvallis/Benton County Economic Vitality Partnership, a member of the marketing task force for Heartland Humane Society, and a member of the marketing advisory group for the Corvallis Repertory Singers.