2020 Don Richards Leadership Award Winner

Congratulations to Kent Lorenz on being named the 2020 Don Richards Leadership Award winner.

Don Richards was publisher of The Milwaukee Business Journal and president of the Board of the Waukesha Area Chamber of Commerce (now the Alliance) in 1993. Don’s hands-on leadership, ethics and delight in achieving tangible results left a lasting impression on our leaders today. The Don Richards Leadership Award was created in his honor in 1993 to inspire and motivate business people to take community leadership roles.

Recipients for this prestigious award are selected based on their vision for the communities in which they serve, their impact and their ability to involve others in the leadership process.

Kent is a recognized expert in advanced manufacturing technologies and has worked continuously to promote manufacturing as a critical industry for Waukesha County, Wisconsin and our nation. He has chaired the Alliance’s Manufacturing Executive Council, was appointed by Governor Walker to the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, and serves as a Project Lead the Way Advisor at Pewaukee High School.  He is a board member and treasurer of the Western Lakes Fire District and served on the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County’s campaign cabinet. 

Kent holds an engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  UW’s College of Engineering named Kent as the 2018 Distinguished Achievement Award Recipient for work in advancing industrial robotics and inspiring future engineers.  Kent has shared his time and talent with the Alliance, speaking enthusiastically multiple times to our membership on the topic of advanced manufacturing.  Thank you for all you do, Kent!