Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation Announces 2024 Award Winners for Community Impact and Leadership

(KNSI) – The Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation recently handed out some prestigious hardware.

The nonprofit announced the winners of the Community Catalyst Award, Leadership Award and Community Pillar Tribute.

GSDC’s 2024 Community Catalyst Award went to Exploring Potential Interest and Careers, or EPIC. The Catalyst Award recognizes a company or organization that’s a leader in supporting economic and community development in the St. Cloud region. EPIC was launched in December 2017 to help area students with hands-on career experiences. It connects education and industry through various programs—the first EPIC event in 2019 attracted 2,400 students from 24 high schools. By 2023, 4,500 students from 29 schools, supported by 150 employers and 300 volunteers, came together.

The GSDC’s 2024 Leadership Award went to Patti Gartland. It honors individuals dedicated to advancing the mission of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation and contributing significantly to the regional economy. Gartland concluded her decade-long tenure as the GSDC leader in 2023, leaving a legacy of visionary leadership. Some of her career highlights include helping establish the St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority, promoting the area’s assets, and starting St. Cloud Shine’s digital marketing campaign.

The Community Pillar Tribute honor went to Bob Sexton, who died in March 2022. The award is for people who have dedicated a lifetime of service and support to the business community and have passed away. The GSDC recognizes and celebrates his legacy by presenting the Community Pillar Tribute to a family member.

Sexton was not only a successful entrepreneur but also a man of integrity. He and his brother Fred were vital members of the manufacturing community, owning businesses like Polar Manufacturing, Komo Machine and C4 Welding. His family was presented with a bouquet of white roses in his honor.

Find out more about the GSDC by clicking here.

___