2026 Thomas Vanden Berk Legacy Service Award Presented to Richard Fleming
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Rick Fleming served as CFO of USG Corporation for approximately 18 years and was its executive vice president and CFO from 1999 until his retirement in 2012. He is also the retired chairman of the board of directors of Columbus McKinnon Corporation and was its interim CEO from January 2020 through May 2020. He also served on the board of directors of Boise Cascade Company until May 2022 and was a director of Optim Energy, LLC for nine years until its sale to private equity in August 2021.
Rick is a past chair of UCAN and served on its board until 2024. He is also a past chair of the Child Welfare League of America and FamilyCare Services of Illinois. He was a Regent of the University of the Pacific and chair of the university’s endowment investment committee until his nine-year term ended on June 30, 2021. He was also a member of the basic industries advisory group for Madison Dearborn Partners from 2013 to 2023.
2026 Community Engagement Award Presented to Nike, Inc., Joshua Peters.
Joshua D. Peters is a skilled public affairs, social impact, and partnership executive with a distinguished career spanning government, corporate citizenship, and community engagement. As Global Principal, Engagements & Partnerships at Nike, he leads the development and cultivation of strategic relationships that advance the company’s purpose driven initiatives, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and accelerate impact across global markets.
Prior to his current role, Peters served as Senior Manager, Social & Community Impact for Nike’s Central Territory, where he directed investments, partnerships, and programs designed to increase youth access to sport and movement throughout Chicago, St. Louis, and the broader Midwest. His leadership helped drive innovative collaborations with public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders, creating pathways for thousands of young people to experience the transformative power of sport.
Before joining Nike, Peters built a diverse leadership portfolio across government, public policy, and civic engagement. He served as a Missouri State Representative and was appointed to leadership roles within state government. His public service experience, coupled with his expertise in stakeholder engagement and coalition building, continues to inform his approach to creating sustainable social impact.
Throughout his career, Peters has been recognized for his ability to unite corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors around shared goals. His work centers on advancing equitable access to opportunity, strengthening communities, and leveraging the power of partnerships to create lasting change.
Peters holds a Master of Public Administration degree and a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship Management from Boston College. He is a frequent speaker on social impact, public private partnerships, youth development, and corporate responsibility.
Based in Chicago, Peters remains committed to advancing Nike’s mission of bringing inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world while fostering meaningful partnerships that help communities thrive.