The Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) presented its 2016 ACE Star Awards at the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) Annual Community Reunion June 17 in Clanton and recognized Brewton Mayor Yank Lovelace as its “Outstanding Mayor.”

Lovelace and four others were awarded the ACE Star Awards, which recognizes individuals who have performed above and beyond the call of duty and embody the principles of the ACE Program, a comprehensive development program designed to assist Alabama’s smaller communities in their efforts to plan, grow and prosper.

“We’d like to congratulate Mayor Lovelace on this honor,” said Dr. John A. Johnson, executive director of Coastal Gateway. “Alabama Communities of Excellence is an asset to this state, and it is an honor for the region to have Mayor Lovelace recognized for his contributions to the organization.”

Other 2016ACE Star Award recipients are:

• Herman Lehman, Outstanding ACE Local Coordinator (Montevallo);

• Carrie Banks, Outstanding ACE Volunteer (Alabama League of Municipalities);

• Nathan Willingham, Outstanding ACE Team Captain (Northwest AL Council of Local Governments); and,

• Mike Easterwood, Exceptional ACE Leadership (Auburn University – Government and Economic Development Institute)

They are recognized for their commitment to making their communities better places and for their support of the ACE process.

Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) is a nonprofit organization created in 2002 for the purpose of utilizing the collective expertise of its partner organizations.

Throughout the ACE process, ACE Partners work with each community to successfully achieve specific goals. The ACE Program would not be possible without the funding, hard work and participation of the ACE Partner organizations.