The Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Leadership Forum (ALF) honored Mayor Sylvester Turner and Dr. Marc L. Boom with the 2021 Joseph Jaworski Leadership Award and the 2021 ALF Public Service Award, respectively, at ALF’s signature Joseph Jaworksi Leadership Award event held Thursday, December 2.

Mayor Turner and Dr. Boom were recognized for their exemplary leadership throughout the Houston community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joseph Jaworksi, who founded the national, eight-chapter game-changing leadership organization in Houston in 1982, joined the ceremony along with 300 ALF Senior Fellows and community leaders.

Mayor Turner is serving his second four-year term as Houston’s 62nd mayor. Since taking office, Mayor Turner has expertly managed significant challenges facing the nation’s fourth-largest city including budget deficits, homelessness, and natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey. He is currently leading Houston’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Mayor Turner, a Senior Fellow of ALF’s Class XX, said, “I have the utmost respect for ALF because these are individuals who have sown seeds into the city’s growth and prosperity. I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Dr. Marc L. Boom is president and CEO of Houston Methodist, a 1,000+ bed hospital network that played a key role during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020-2021. Dr. Boom said, “To be recognized by ALF in a leadership realm is special and very humbling. And to do that in the middle of a pandemic, when it has been a rough 18 months, is particularly meaningful.”

During the ceremony, Nory Angel, president of ALF’s Houston chapter, launched the organization’s new brand identity. The colorful logo of intertwined flames -- signifying connection, inspiration, and transformation – reflect ALF’s core values and overall mission.