Dan C. Wertz Founder's Award

Lee and Linda Gerard have been active Okemos community members for the past twenty-seven years. Both have made lifetime commitments to education, church, and community. They are Honorary Founders of the Okemos Education Foundation, and Lee is a past recipient of the Commitment to Excellence Award. The Gerards are the proud parents of three daughters, all of whom have graduated from Okemos High School.

Lee received his Bachelors from Hope College, in religion and education, his Masters from WMU in curriculum development and his PhD from MSU in educational administration. Linda earned both her bachelors and masters from MSU, in elementary education and language arts. Lee recently retired from the Okemos school system where he began in April 1980 as curriculum and personnel director and completed that career in June 2007 as superintendent of schools. He was instrumental in the development of the district's K-12 curriculum and the district's 2006-2010 Strategic Plan. Linda pursued her passion for teaching in the school districts of Wyoming, Northville, Grandville and Laingsburg, Michigan, and contributed many innovative ideas to her profession. She also supervised student teacher interns for MSU.

Lee is a past-president and current member of the Haslett-Okemos Rotary Club; a past chairman and current member of the Foundation in Support of the Ingham County Medical Care Facility; and a founder of the Okemos Community Education Winter Walden Ski Club.

Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, headquartered in Okemos, is a nonprofit service corporation created in 1957 to advance and promote the improvement of oral health. Today, Delta Dental is the most successful provider of dental benefits in the Midwest, serving nearly 5.1 million members. Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, which also operates Delta Dental Plan of Ohio and Delta Dental Plan of Indiana, provides coverage to more than 3.7 million people in over 2,400 Michigan-based groups.

The tri-state operation is a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association, a nationwide system of dental health service plans. Together, the plans provide coverage to more than 45 million Americans and operate the nation's largest network of participating dentists.

Social responsibility and corporate citizenship are woven into Delta Dental's fabric. For nearly 50 years, Delta Dental has maintained a strong tradition of community service. Through corporate donations and employee volunteerism, Delta Dental supports activities and organizations that typically fall into the categories of health and human enrichment, and civic and community affairs.

Howard Weyers is the founder and CEO of WEYCO, Incorporated, located in Okemos. WEYCO sells and administers self-funded group benefits to local and national companies.

To say that Howard is an active community member is a significant understatement. Over the years, Howard has donated his time and money to multiple causes in the greater Lansing area, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the YMCA, St. Vincent Home for Children, Special Olympics, the performing arts, and Impression 5 Museum. Currently, Howard serves as chairman of the Cancer Center Giving Club at Sparrow Hospital. The group raises funds for equipment, and provides transportation for cancer patients to the Center.

Here in Okemos, Howard has been a great supporter of kids' athletic programs. He worked with the both the Okemos Baseball/Softball Club and the Okemos Athletic Boosters for years. Howard and his wife, Kathleen, became founders of the OEF in 1997.

Howard is a former high school teacher and high school and college football coach. He received a B.A. from Thiel College and attended Rutgers University to receive an M.A. in education. He and his wife, Kathleen, a Kinawa teacher for 19 years, live in Okemos. They have two children, both of whom attended the Okemos Public Schools.

Michael Atkins is a Senior Principal of the law firm Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC, specializing in areas of telecommunications, commercial, and gaming law. Miller Canfield is the largest law firm in Michigan and one of the nation's leading firms in its specialty areas. Michael has practiced law with Miller, Canfield since his graduation from Indiana University School of Law in 1978. He also earned an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Finance from Indiana University.

Mr. Atkins has served the community in many ways. He was a member of the Okemos Board of Education 1994 through 1998; was chairman of the ballot committee of the 1999 Okemos Public Schools millage and bond election, was co-President (with wife Lynn) of the Okemos Athletic Boosters; was the chairman of the East lansing/Meridian Township regional parks and recreation task force; coached the Kinawa Middle School Science Olympiad team, and has been a member of the bards and long-time coach with the Okemos Athletic Club, the East Side Soccer Association, and the Okemos Baseball/Softball Club. Michael became a member of the Okemos Education Foundation board of directors this year to continue his support of the schools and community.

Michael and Lynn Atkins have been married for twenty-five years and are the proud parents of Jason, David, Carey and Meghan.