Hahn Loeser Cleveland Partner-in-Charge Craig Owen White was recently surprised with the Sugar Maple Award, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s (WRLC) highest honor, given annually to an exceptional leader and conservationist. The annual Conservation Celebration took place at WRLC Headquarters in Moreland Hills, Ohio.
White has been a member of the WRLC’s Board of Trustees since 2013 and has served as Board Chair since 2022. He has also served on numerous committees within the WRLC, including Governance, Executive, Thriving Communities, Transaction Review, CEO Support and Compensation Task Force.
“I am both honored and humbled to receive this award,” White said. “It’s a privilege to be a part of a group that shares a passion for Northeast Ohio’s preservation and restoration and all that our land has to offer.”
The resolution accompanying White’s award stated that he is “a remarkable individual with an unmatched passion for land, people and all living things, demonstrating remarkable enthusiasm, effectiveness and humility.”
The WRLC preserves natural areas, public parks and working farms throughout Ohio and its urban program works to eliminate blight, plant trees and create healthier environments in cities. The Sugar Maple Award is named for Northeast Ohio’s most passionate and tenacious species – a tree that grows and matures on its own terms and produces a beautiful and enduring harvest, which is unique, valuable and full of goodness.
WRLC President and CEO Rich Cochran presented White with an original painting by a local artist along with a bottle of maple syrup from WRLC’s property.
