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Kent Keith Receives Spirit Award at Viterbo

07.07.23 Exciting News

Sophia is proud to announce Dr. Kent M. Keith as the recipient of the 2023 Ann McGee-Cooper Spirit of Servant Leadership Award.

Annually, Viterbo University holds a Conference on Servant Leadership for individuals who aspire to be servant-leaders in nonprofit organizations, small and large businesses, government, health care, ministry, and education.

People from all across the country attended the two-day conference on the banks of the Mississippi River to hear from a broad spectrum of speakers, one of them being Kent Keith.

Kent’s Talk Exemplifies Generosity

In his presentation, he shared 8 ways you can be an effective servant-leader by demonstrating your love for people.

  1. Get to know the people you lead.
  2. Understand your colleague’s work.
  3. Be ethical – treat people right.
  4. Create strong communities at work.
  5. Help people grow.
  6. Help people find meaning at work.
  7. Look beyond the workplace for ways to help your colleagues.
  8. Care about everyone the organization touches.

He concluded that effective servant leadership starts with one thing… LOVE!

To see Keith receive his award, watch this YouTube video.

 

About Dr. Kent Keith, Servant-Leadership Spirit Award Recipient

Dr. Kent Keith is currently the President of Carlson Keith Corporation, a family company based in Honolulu, HI. He is an author and scholar of servant leadership, having earned many prestigious degrees from around the world.

Duane Trammell, President/Founding Partner of Trammell McGee-Cooper and Associates, Inc. and award co-founder shared:

“He is brilliant. Yet, he is approachable, easy to talk to, welcoming, and humble.” 

 

Keith has served as CEO of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership (US) and CEO of the Greenleaf Centre for Servant Leadership (Asia). 

Some of his publications include:

  • The Paradoxical Commandments
  • The Case for Servant Leadership
  • Servant Leadership in the Boardroom
  • Questions and Answers about Servant Leadership
  • The Christian Leader at Work: Serving by Leading

More than 250,000 copies of his books on the Paradoxical Commandments and servant leadership have been sold worldwide!

Virginia Gilmore, Sophia Foundress and award co-founder also shared: “Through his gift of writing and his presence – his way of being – Kent is the nurturer of the human spirit.”

Keith’s dedication to servant leadership, especially through his written contributions to the field, made him a well-deserving recipient of this year’s Spirit of Servant Leadership Award. 

 

Servant Leadership Spirit Award

About Ann McGee-Cooper, Servant-Leader & Mentor

The Spirit of Servant Leadership Award was created in memory of Ann McGee-Cooper to honor servant-leaders who exemplify an extraordinary commitment to living, serving, and bringing the spirit of servant leadership to life. 

She was a strong advocate for servant leadership, having been mentored by its pioneer, Robert K. Greenleaf.

Past award recipients include Don M. Frick, author and servant leadership scholar, and Tom Thibodeau, Distinguished Professor of Servant Leadership at Viterbo University.  

Learn more about this award

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Looking Ahead

To learn more about servant leadership and attend a conference here in Fond du Lac, WI, we invite you to our upcoming Aspiring Servant Leaders Conference in October 2023!

Check out our page and subscribe to our mailing list so you don’t miss this incredible event!

https://www.sophiapartners.org/offerings/aspiring-servant-leadership-conference/

Save the Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Written by Samantha King in Exciting News
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As a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, she combines her love of learning with her passion for encouraging others, guiding clients through their financial journeys at every stage of life.

Jenna attended her first Sophia Partners program in 2025, where she immediately connected with the organization’s shared value of leading others through a heart of service.

That experience deepened her commitment to servant leadership and inspired her desire to help cultivate strong leaders in Fond du Lac County.

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