Howard Wolk, Chair, Board of Overeers Nominating Committee
Howard Wolk, center, is shown with friends and family, from left: Ted Cutler, Trustee for Life; Howard’s wife, Candice; his aunt and uncle, Ted and Barbara Wolk; and his parents, Sidney and Deanna Wolk.
Presented by Kristine Laping, Senior Vice President, Development
Howard Wolk’s passion for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is something he likes to share. Meet with him, and you’ll remember why you became involved here in the first place. Or if you’re not associated with the medical center, you’ll begin to wonder why you’re not. Howard’s characteristically understated yet eminently persuasive zeal for our work has made him the ideal ambassador, continually drawing a range of talented new people into the BIDMC fold. His willingness to meet with anyone—any time, any place—is only one of the many attributes that has made him such an incredibly successful leader of the Overseers Nominating Committee over the last 4 years. With an enviable persistence and drive, Howard has made this committee run like a well-oiled machine, working quickly and effectively to meet goals and tackle challenges. He has been so personally hands-on in this role—from crafting agendas to hosting receptions—that he leaves us wondering where he finds the energy and the time (and if he’d be willing to share his secret!). We are challenged trying to keep up with him!
But knowing Howard as we do, we are well aware that he’s only just getting warmed up. He recently developed a three-year strategic plan for diversifying the Board of Overseers, challenging his committee to bring on new members who will lend a different set of experiences and skills to the board and more appropriately reflect and represent the varied constituencies we serve. With his transition from the Board of Overseers to the Board of Trustees last year and today’s appointment as vice chair of the trustees, Howard has expressed his commitment to ensuring this move toward a more diverse composition of leadership takes place at all levels— and we know that what he says, he means. We are indebted to Howard for all his hard work to engage and expand the BIDMC community and to build a pipeline of leadership for our future, and so we are proud to present him with the Melzer Leadership Award for Leading Constructive, Lasting, and All-Embracing Change.
