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Keystone Leadership Awards
The Keystone Leadership Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who demonstrate the power of collaboration to address complex challenges and advance the public good. Each year, we honor leaders whose work reflects Keystone’s commitment to building trust, bridging differences, and creating lasting solutions. We look forward to gathering on June 3, 2026 to recognize the next group of changemakers. We hope you will join us for Keystone’s 33rd Annual Leadership Awards as we celebrate leaders who embody the spirit of Keystone’s mission to reach common higher ground.
- Date: June 3, 2026
- Reception: 6:00 p.m.
- Dinner and Program: 7:00 p.m.
- Location: National Portrait Gallery, Kogod Courtyard, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
2026 Leadership Award Recipients Announced Soon!
At Keystone Policy Center, we believe bold leadership and strategic collaboration drive real solutions. Every year, we honor leaders who exemplify these values, by engaging with a diversity of stakeholders to create lasting change through inclusive decision-making. We will be announcing the 2026 slate of awardees in the coming weeks!
About the Keystone Leadership Awards
Keystone Policy Center established the Keystone Leadership Awards in 1994 to recognize extraordinary leadership by individuals and organizations whose work embraces our model, spirit, and mission of creating lasting solutions through strategic collaboration. Keystone honors individuals and organizations within its areas of work as well as recognizes leaders in government and the media who create impact in the public interest.
Nominees are evaluated based on the following qualities:
Leadership – Recognized as an effective leader who inspires others and cultivates an atmosphere of respect, inclusiveness, and achievement.
Collaboration – Actively seeks diverse perspectives, fosters partnerships, and works effectively with others to drive action-based solutions.
Innovation – Demonstrates creativity in problem-solving, embraces learning, explores new approaches, and is open to non-traditional viewpoints.
Commitment – Shows dedication, perseverance, and optimism in the face of challenges.
See the impressive list of Keystone’s past awardees and view photos from previous Keystone Leadership Awards events by clicking on the galleries below.
If you or your organization share a commitment to collaborative action, please support this work through sponsorship and participation in the Keystone Leadership Awards. Funds raised through this event are critical to helping bring together leaders to reach a common higher ground. Learn more about how Keystone utilizes these important resources!
Our Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors for your support of Keystone’s Annual Leadership Awards!
Sponsors of the Keystone Leadership Awards provide critical programming support that brings together leaders to reach a common higher ground. Bolster collaborative decision-making in our nation’s policy discourse by supporting Keystone Policy Center and our outstanding honorees of the Keystone Leadership Awards.
We are grateful for our sponsors, all of whom take an active role in empowering leaders to rise above entrenched positions to reach common higher ground. Every dollar raised through this important event bolster’s Keystone’s impact in finding new and creative pathways to achieve collaborative, inclusive, and bipartisan decision-making.
If you or your organization shares a commitment of collaborative action, please help support this work and these outstanding individuals through your participation and tax-deductible sponsorship or contribution. Click here to learn more!
For more information about the Keystone Leadership Awards, including inquiring about sponsorship and contributions, contact Judy O’Brien, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships | jobrien@keystone.org | 202-452-1592.
Keystone Level Sponsors
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors of the Keystone Leadership Awards.
Summit Level Sponsors
Thank you to our Welcome Reception Sponsor of the Keystone Leadership Awards.
High Country Level Sponsors
Western Slope Level Sponsors
Galleries: Past Keystone Leadership Awards
Learn more about Keystone’s past awardees and watch video highlights from previous Keystone Leadership Awards events by clicking on the links below.
Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, became the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack is focusing on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
Shelby Coffey III is a distinguished journalist, media executive, and thought leader whose career has helped shape the landscape of American news and public discourse. Over several decades, Coffey has held some of the most influential roles in journalism, including serving as editor of the Los Angeles Times, executive vice president of ABC News, and deputy managing editor of The Washington Post. His editorial leadership extended to key roles as president of CNN Financial News, editor of the Dallas Times Herald, and U.S. News & World Report.
Jerry Steiner has spent 40 years involved in agriculture following growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm. He began his career with Monsanto, in multiple business leadership roles. From 2003-2013 he served as a member of the Executive team, as the company’s Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs. He led the company’s global Government, Public and Industry Affairs teams across the 70 countries where Monsanto conducts business. This experience got Jerry connected to the Keystones centers work in agriculture. Key among his responsibilities were shaping the company’s public policy and building partnerships aimed at helping farmers around the world produce more food, while conserving valuable resources like water and energy. Two unique partnership that developed under his leadership were drought tolerant corn with 5 African countries, CIMMYT and the Gates foundation, and a building a sustainable business model in Brazil with the value chain leading to significant multi-company investment and soybean varieties that can protected themselves.
Jennifer Morris is the Chief Executive Officer of The Nature Conservancy, leading a team of nearly 6,000 staff working in more than 80 countries and territories tackling the dual crises of the 
Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in November 2018, becoming the first Black Member of Congress in Colorado history. In December 2022, Rep. Neguse was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), becoming the first Coloradan to serve in a senior elected leadership role in the House in over 85 years. He serves on the Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees, and was also appointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to serve as one of four Democrats on the prestigious Rules Committee. Rep. Neguse serves as Ranking Member on the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, which he previously Chaired in the 117th Congress.
Llewellyn King was born in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. He went into journalism as soon as he turned 16, stringing for Time magazine and United Press in Africa.
Steven Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America, overseeing a more than $48 billion business that spans PepsiCo’s Foods and Beverage operating units. His leadership encompasses more than 125,000 associates and over 900 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Steven joined PepsiCo in 2001 as part of PepsiCo’s acquisition of the Quaker Oats Company, which he joined in 1997, and has held leadership positions of increased responsibility since.