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Date and Time
Friday Nov 3, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM CDTDescription
Join us for an uplifting afternoon dedicated to celebrating all we have accomplished together over the past year, recognizing and thanking our countless volunteers, and looking ahead to what the next year has in store. It’s a time to reflect, celebrate, laugh and network with community champions and Chamber volunteers as we also make time to honor our Legacy Leader.
As our communities continue to grow and evolve, so does your Chamber. This afternoon will inspire you as we head into the next year with energy, focus and collaboration. You don't want to miss this!What has been accomplished under The Chamber's cornerstones of work?
Business Vitality
Public Policy & Advocacy
Workforce & Talent
Community Enhancement
Organizational Excellence
What significant initiatives are coming next?
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Meet your 2023 Legacy Leader! Join us to honor and celebrate Tom Dawson's legacy.
The annual Legacy Leader Award is presented to an individual who has made profound contributions to our FMWF community. The award recognizes and emphasizes the vital role and contributions of long-time local leaders in shaping and serving the metropolitan community and greater region. This year, The Chamber proudly announces your 2023 Legacy Leader as Tom Dawson, previous Dakota Chairman at Marsh McLennan Agency.
Tom was born and raised in Fargo and started his insurance career the day after graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1973. He was proud to be the third generation in a business founded by his grandfather in 1917.
Over the past 50 years, Tom has worked directly with all types and sizes of commercial clients, including complex contractors and real estate firms. He takes great satisfaction in helping build a culture at Dawson Insurance, now Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), that attracts and retains the absolute best people who, in turn, develop their clients into friends. The partnership with MMA has been particularly fulfilling for him.
Tom is a past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Dakota and served on the national board of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America for many years. He is also a former member of the Board of Governors for the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.
Tom’s family and Dawson Insurance have always been passionate about the greater Fargo-Moorhead community, a standard set by Tom’s grandfather, Charles, who served as Mayor of Fargo from 1946 to 1950; therefore, he has continued a tradition of serving civic and not-for-profit organizations. These include MeritCare Health System (predecessor to Sanford Health), YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties, Plains Art Museum, Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, Dollars for Scholars, Judicial Nominating Committee for North Dakota, and he was a Big Brother for the BBBS program through The Village for many years. He’s also active with the United Way of Cass-Clay, First Presbyterian Church and Fargo Kiwanis Club.
Tom and his wife Georgia have been married for 39 years and have three married sons, Zack (Kelly), Alex (Raime) and Mike (Brittany) and six precious grandchildren who all enjoy spending time at their lake home year-round. He also enjoys an occasional hunting trip and traveling with his wife Georgia, their family and friends.
Since retiring this past August as Dakota Chairman for Marsh McLennan Agency, Tom’s retirement plans include taking up golf (again), spending lots of time with grandchildren’s activities, traveling, spending more time at the lakes and staying involved in the community.
Read more about Tom Dawson in this month's Bridge magazine. The theme of this issue is all about individuals and businesses creating their own legacies in FMWF - check it out!
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Legacy Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Video Production Partners
Corporate Sponsors
Alerus | Bell Insurance | Blue Cross Blue Shield of ND | Bremer Bank | Bobcat Company
Cass County Electric Cooperative | Choice Bank | Concordia College | Cornerstone Bank
Dacotah Bank | Enclave | First International Bank & Trust | Flint Group
Heartland Trust Company | Marsh McLennan Agency | Marvin
Minnesota State University Moorhead | ROERS | Sanford Health
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