Executive of the Year
In 1970, SME Topeka honored Governor Robert Docking as our first Executive of the Year. Since then, we have honored forty individuals for excellence in their fields and their positive contributions to Northeast Kansans. We are now pleased to recognize the outstanding achievements of Joanne Morrell as the 2011 Executive of the Year.
Joanne Morrell is a Topeka businesswoman and leader within the non-profit community. For the last seven years she has guided the development of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center and now serves as its executive director.
Working side-by-side with a committed and passionate team of Founding Board Members, nearly $7.5 million has been raised, contributing to the successful Grand Opening of the Discovery Center on June 1, 2011. She is proud to lead the dedicated KCDC Team and is grateful for their tremendous expertise, energy and creativity. As the Discovery Center approaches its first birthday celebration, it is on pace to exceed original attendance projections and expects to see nearly 95,000 visitors from across the United States and beyond in year one.
Ms. Morrell was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Lawrence, KS. She graduated with honors from Kansas University with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and received her Masters in Business Administration from Washburn University in 1990, with honors.
Ms. Morrell has twenty-five years of non-profit consultant and management experience through her positions at Partners in Philanthropy, St. Francis Hospital Foundation (Director of Children’s Miracle Network and Annual Giving) and Junior Achievement of Northeast Kansas.
In 2001 she started Impact! Marketing Group, Inc., providing market research, strategic planning, media placement and design work for business and non-profit clients.
She is married to Noble Morrell, Jr, Security Analyst at KPERS. They will celebrate their 21st Anniversary this year. Blake and Alyssa, their two children, are an ongoing source of incredible pride. Blake is 13 years old and looks forward to attending Topeka High School this fall. Alyssa is 10 years old and will graduate from Randolph Elementary this spring.
Ms. Morrell is active in the Topeka community and involved with a number of community organizations, working to further enhance our capital city as a great place to live, learn, work and play.
Inspired by and grateful for the caring and brilliant mentors who contributed to this great honor, she is humbled by the ongoing support of her family, who made this possible.
SME Topeka Executives of the Year
1970 Gov. Robert Docking
1971 Dr. Kenneth McFarland
1972 Willard Noller
1973 Gov. Alf Landon
1974 Lou Falley
1975 Fred Kuehne
1976 Charles Marling
1977 Vernon Jarboe
1978 Joe Burke
1979 Larry Ireland
1980 Ron Miller
1981 Eldon Danenhauer
1982 H. Pat Powers
1983 Dr. John Green
1984 Mayor Doug Wright
1985 Lanny Kimbrough
1986 David Stremming
1987 Harry Turner, Jr.
1988 Gary Clarke
1989 Harold Worswick Jr.
1990 Robert Wheeler
1991 Howard Fricke
1992 Ben Blair
1993 John E. Hayes, Jr.
1994 Don Lilya
1995 Betty Simecka
1996 Emery Fager
1997 Frank Sabatini
1998 Tom Schwartz
1999 Dr. Jerry Farley
2000 Maynard Oliverus
2001 Steven Douglass
2002 Nancy Perry
2003 David Leamon
2004 Kent Garlinghouse
2005 Kris Robbins
2006 Ray Irwin
2007 Harry W. Craig, Jr.
2008 Duane L. Fager
2009 John Dicus
2010 James W. Parrish
2011 Joanne Morrell
