Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson recognizes outstanding individuals and businesses that have leveraged their success to help improve the quality of life in the county each year during his annual Quality People/Quality County (Q2) Awards breakfast. This year’s event, held this past Wednesday at the Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac at Centerpoint, marked the 24th year of the Q2 awards.
Patterson recognized three individuals who are big boosters in their communities. This year’s honorees are Jean Chamberlain, founding president of the Woodward Dream Cruise; Dr. Myra Danish, a leading plastic facial surgeon and Children’s Village Foundation board member; and Ed Lee, founder of Lee Industrial Contracting.
Jean Chamberlain has been a champion for revitalizing Oakland County communities. She and the quality of life in the Woodward Avenue corridor will forever be linked. Under her leadership, the Woodward Dream Cruise event grew from 250,000 spectators to over 1 million. Chamberlain also serves as a board member for the Woodward Avenue Action Association, a group that helps make Woodward Avenue a premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. Chamberlain was thrilled to receive the award and remarked that it was like Thanksgiving dinner. She was so pleased to have all of her friends and family there. She thanked the County Executive and told the room “Woodward Avenue is Brooks’ road, it’s Main Street Oakland County.”
In addition to being a leading plastic surgeon, Dr. Myra Danish is a Children’s Village Foundation board member who gives of her time and invests personal resources to improve the quality of life for at-risk kids at Oakland County’s Children’s Village. She raises funds for projects that promote, enrich, rehabilitate and offer educational support for Children’s Village residents, family and staff. With the help of her son and good friends Bob Seger and his wife, she was able to bring the Dale Carnegie Teen Program to Children’s Village. Dr. Danish was honored to receive the award and said that she would like to honor everyone that has helped to support children that are at risk. She said she’s passionate about what she does and is grateful for the opportunity to be in Oakland County because it’s been a wonderful and solid place to raise her own children and put down roots.
Ed Lee, founder of Lee Industrial Contracting, a mini-empire of seven separate companies, brings over 25 years of business investment to the Pontiac area. His companies have seen tremendous growth this year and have brought needed jobs to the area. He is helping to revitalize the city. He has purchased and is renovating the old Wisner School, Wisner Stadium and former Pontiac Central High School buildings, turning them into usable space. Lee’s company mission statement is to be “an indispensable asset” to their customers. Lee has proven to be indispensable to the future of Pontiac. Lee is constantly on the lookout for people of good character who are willing and eager to learn. He and his staff enjoy training them to become great skilled tradesmen and take a special interest in hiring veterans who are in need of jobs. Lee was honored to be a Q2 Award recipient and thanked Patterson for creating an environment where Lee Industrial Contracting could take off.
County Executive L. Brooks Patterson established the Q2 Awards in 1993 to spotlight businesses and individuals who use their leadership to improve the quality of life in Oakland County. To date, seventy individuals and organizations have been honored.
If you would like to recognize an outstanding leader that’s under age forty and who’s making a difference in Oakland County, consider nominating them for Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 Under 40 Class of 2017. Visit elite40.com to submit your nomination or to enter yourself. Entries must be received by noon (EST) on November 15, 2016.
For more information about Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs events, visit advantageoakland.com and follow along with them on Facebook and Twitter.