Tri-Citian of the Year honoree Schwenk committed to community

Published Sunday, April 6th, 2008, Tri-City Herald

By Kristin M. Kraemer, Herald staff writer

A community advocate for education and economic development was named 2008 Tri-Citian of the Year on Saturday.

Mike Schwenk was stymied and teary-eyed at being singled out for his longtime commitment to the Tri-Cities - a place he's called home for nearly 30 years.

"I'm going to have to keep it light or I will never get through it," he said, wiping his eyes while receiving the honor. "I am incredibly humbled and moved by this, and can't thank you all enough."

Schwenk is the vice president and director of commercial partnerships for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He said during the introduction he had flashbacks over his years of service, and one notable memory was his effort to minimize job losses with the 1988 closure of N Reactor by launching Tri-Cities Renaissance, an economic revitalization and diversification program.

Schwenk said his recognition is because of a collective effort, even though this "just happens to be my year."

"This isn't about me and this award isn't mine. I think it's about all of us and this award is ours," he said.

The Richland resident was joined on the stage by his wife Sharon, their two children Brian and Stacy, and a half-dozen other family members. He was introduced by George Garlick, the 2007 winner, before a record-breaking crowd of 450 at the annual award banquet at the Pasco Red Lion.

"This individual's career encompassed many of the company's in our community," Garlick told the audience. "What was important was not the 'What' he did because he does everything with unbounded energy. More importantly, it was because he saw the opportunity for our community to have a lasting impact on the local area, the state, the country and the world."

Schwenk was nominated by Brad Fisher, senior vice president and branch director of RBC Wealth Management, and jointly by Carl Adrian, president and CEO of the Tri-City Development Council, and Karen Blasdel with PNNL's community and regional outreach.

Fisher said Schwenk was the perfect candidate because he "embodies the true spirit of this award … service above self!" He described Schwenk as a gifted community servant who can lead effective discussions and quickly get to the heart of an issue.

The event - which has recognized 42 Tri-Citians during its 37 ceremonies - has been organized by local Rotary clubs since 1980, but this year included Kiwanis, Lions and Soroptimist clubs. An independent committee selects the recipient.

Sandy Matheson, the 2003 Tri-Citian of the Year, said in her endorsement letter that it's a joy to work with Schwenk because his serious leadership is peppered with "uproarious humor."

"Mike becomes a leader in every organization he joins because he has the rare combination of meaningful vision, the ability to communicate and the ability to implement his vision … ," said Matheson, director of the state Department of Retirement Systems. "His list of community activities can best be described as 'everything.' "

Schwenk was the owner and operator of General Business Services for two years in the mid-1980s. He has served as director of Fluor Daniel, Westinghouse Hanford, ICF Kaiser International and RL Ferguson and Associates, and was executive vice president of TRIDEC from 1986-89.

He is chairman of the Washington State University Tri-Cities Advisory Council, the TRIDEC board and the Three Rivers Community Roundtable, while also serving as co-chairman for the Tri-City Chamber Higher Education Task Force.

His lengthy résumé lists numerous organizations and boards, including the Richland School Board and the Richland School District Foundation, CREHST, Columbia Industries, the Blue Mountain Council for Boy Scouts of America, the Washington Export Council and the Leadership Task Force on Sustainable Development.

Schwenk has been the recipient of several community service awards, most notably the 2003 Sam Volpentest Leadership Award.

The 15 letters submitted in support of Schwenk's nomination were a who's who of the Tri-Cities, including WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Vicky Carwein, Herald Publisher Rufus Friday, AgriNorthwest President Don Sleight, Rich Foeppel, president and CEO of Columbia Industries, and Pasco City Manager Gary Crutchfield.

"Mike has volunteered hundreds of hours of his own time, expecting nothing in return, simple because he cares about the Tri-Cities community and its people," said Kris Watkins, president and CEO of the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Jim Toomey, the Port of Pasco director, said, "Mike's involvement was never about Mike. He has always been making something bigger, making something better and making something that would have a sustained benefit for all."

 

In just about every serious effort for the overall improvement of the Tri-Cities in the past three decades, Mike Schwenk has been there.

Right there.

Right in the middle of the task at hand.

His invariable good nature complemented and complements his remarkable depth of commitment, leadership and seriousness of purpose.

The committee chose well when it named him Tri-Citian of the Year last night before a capacity crowd at the Pasco Red Lion.

It may have been the largest crowd ever gathered for the event -- about 450 guests.

From his days as top staffer at the Tri-City Industrial Development Council to today's position as vice president of Battelle Memorial Institute and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Schwenk has taken the Tri-Cities' work home with him.

Both his volunteerism and leadership qualities are remarkable.

Indeed, to borrow a phrase from one of his nominators, former Kennewick Mayor Brad Fisher, "His leadership is profound."

We like that word, profound, even while acknowledging that it fails to convey the buoyancy of spirit with which Schwenk addresses difficult community tasks.

As George Garlick, last year's winner of the community's highest honor, said last night:

"In the last 25 years (Schwenk) has been involved in leadership roles, no less than 40 specific organizations with results which reach well outside the boundaries of the Tri-Cities to our state, nation and the world."

Coincidentally, Schwenk is involved in another first for the Tri-Cities. The Tri-Citian of the Year has been sponsored by the local clubs of Rotary International since 1980. This year, the event is cosponsored by local Kiwanis, Lions and Soroptimists clubs.

But the original Rotary emphasis on "Service Above Self" continues as a fundamental criterion of the award.

As always, the selection was made by an independent committee under the guidelines that the nomination "should be for public or volunteer service, for which no monetary compensation is received."

Schwenk exemplifies the very best of selfless leadership, especially in community development and the push for modern educational opportunities (he's a former president of the Richland School Board, is chair of the Washington State University Tri-Cities Advisory Council and is a member of the Tri-City Education Advisory Council).

Port of Pasco Director Jim Toomey, in supporting Schwenk's nomination, said something with which we can all agree:

"Mike's involvement was never about Mike. He has always been about making something bigger, making something better, and making something that would have a sustained benefit for all."

Schwenk now joins a distinguished panel of Tri-Citians who surely will welcome him as an old friend and fellow campaigner.