FROM STAFF REPORTS

CLANTON–The Alabama Communities of Excellence presented the 2016 ACE Star Awards at the Alabama Communities of Excellence Annual Community Reunion June 17at the Alabama Power Company – Clanton Conference Center.

The ACE Star Awards recognizes individuals who have performed above and beyond the call of duty and embody the principles of the ACE Program, a comprehensive development program designed to assist Alabama’s smaller communities in their efforts to plan, grow and prosper.

The 2016 ACE Star Award recipients are:

•  Herman Lehman, Outstanding ACE Local Coordinator, Montevallo.
•  The Honorable Yancey E. Lovelace, Outstanding ACE Mayor, Brewton.
•  Carrie Banks, Outstanding ACE Volunteer, Alabama League of Municipalities.
•  Nathan Willingham, Outstanding ACE Team Captain, Northwest AL Council of Local Governments.
•  Mike Easterwood, Exceptional ACE Leadership, Auburn University – Government and Economic Development Institute.

These rising stars bring outstanding leadership and a passion for small-town Alabama to all that they do.

They are recognized for their commitment to making their communities better places and for their support of the ACE process. ACE offers communities a one stop shopping experience by centralizing community development programs and tools in one organization.

Alabama Communities of Excellence is a nonprofit organization created in 2002 for the purpose of utilizing the collective expertise of its partner organizations. Throughout the ACE process, ACE Partners work with each community to successfully achieve specific goals. The ACE Program would not be possible without the funding, hard work and participation of the ACE Partner organizations.

The city of Montevallo was designated an ACE community in 2012. Lehman has devoted many hours to leading Montevallo in the position of ACE Local Coordinator. He is the City Clerk and is an outstanding correspondent of the ACE mission to promote Montevallo in all areas of community life. Lehman provides strong citizen leadership for Montevallo.