Account Executive Drew Barnes has been spreading Lockton’s caring culture and focus on the community to the Cleveland office. After working for 10 years in the Kansas City office, he is pushing to continue Lockton’s community engagement in Cleveland. His efforts earned him the Community Impact Award for the Midwest region.

The Community Impact Award recognizes an Associate in each region with a $25,000 donation on behalf of the Lockton family and shareholders to a charity of the Associate’s choice as a thank-you from Lockton.

“I’ve wanted to be this cornerstone of the culture in Lockton Cleveland,” he said. “I got so absorbed in the Kansas City culture, setting up that culture in Cleveland is very important to me.”

Drew and the Cleveland office are constantly looking for more ways to volunteer, from supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to working at an animal shelter on National Dog Day.

After much deliberation on where the donation could make the largest impact, Drew chose Breakthrough Public Schools, a local district of charter schools, to support. Breakthrough's mission is to develop a growing network of distinctive school options that prepare Cleveland area students for success in life, with the goal of 100 percent of their students attending college.

Using the two paid days off that Lockton Associates receive each year to volunteer, the Cleveland office has spent time at the schools, painting students’ names on their lockers and organizing the teachers’ break room.

Philanthropy is important to Drew, the Cleveland office, and Lockton as a whole. We dedicate time so Associates can have meaningful experiences and make impacts in their communities.

“Celebrating our passions is what keeps our Associates going and keeps the drive in them,” he said. “It’s a big reason why Lockton Associates love Lockton. We’ve been the best place to work for more than a decade, and it’s a big reason why. Lockton celebrating our passions is a big drive to why it’s great to work here and why people stay here.”

Community is one of the pillars we are founded upon, and Barnes has seen firsthand how important it is to all Associates.

“One of the most impactful outings I’ve had over the past 13 years was when I first started. Just days after the Joplin, Missouri tornadoes, Lockton loaded up buses with anyone who raised their hands and we drove down to Joplin. We toured the town, saw the hospital, the schools, and everything that was destroyed. We spent four days down there, building houses. It was so awesome to make a significant difference through Lockton.”

With the creation of the Community Impact Award this year, Drew is grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in his community.

“It’s a huge deal for me and for our office. We wanted to be impactful for the group we chose and affect the community around us. It’s very meaningful to me.”