The Southwest Florida Council Boy Scouts of America (B.S.A.) recently presented Dave Dale the National Silver Beaver Award. The recognition is the highest honor a local B.S.A. council can bestow upon a volunteer for exceptional character and distinguished service to youth. A total of five awards were presented to volunteers this spring across the seven-county Southwest Florida Council region. The region includes Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota, Desoto, and Hendry counties.
“Dave has been a steady hand guiding the council during changing and challenging times in the B.S.A. organization and during the pandemic. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning the council for stability, growth, and future success,” said Greg Graham, scout executive and CEO of the Southwest Florida Council B.S.A. “He is to be commended for the exemplary leadership he has provided as our organization’s current president as well as other roles he has served over the years. Dave embodies the Scouting principles of service to others and the community. He is most deserving of this national recognition.”
"I am humbled by this recognition,” said Dale. “The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations, providing programs for young people that build character. It has been an honor to serve and watch boys and girls grow and prepare for life.”
Dale, past president of O‑A‑K Florida, a preeminent general contractor with a longstanding presence in Southwest Florida, is a long-time supporter of scouting and started his official volunteer role in 2013, becoming an active member of the Southwest Florida Council executive board. He served for four years on the council audit committee and nine years on the physical resources committee. Dale and O‑A‑K have provided resources and project support at Camp Miles and the SWFL Council Service Center facility. He served four years as District B.S.A. United Way Allocations chairman and has been an active volunteer in the annual Friends of Scouting community campaign.
In 2018, Dale was elected president of the council and continues to serve in this role. Under his leadership, the council has experienced growth in many areas. We have consistently been recognized in Florida as the lead council in achieving council operation and organization governance benchmarks.
Dale’s community involvement includes serving in key leadership roles for other local non-profit organizations. He served on the board of directors for the United Way of Lee and Hendry counties and as a board member of the Horizon Council of Lee County. Dale has been an active member of Habitat for Humanity Lee and Hendry Counties, having served as board chairman, executive committee, and board member-at-large. He has been an active member of The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South.
Dale supported other local charities in non-board roles to better these organizations and the community. These include The Heights Foundation, Alliance for the Arts, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, Hope Hospice, and Community Cooperative: Soup Kitchen.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael in the Panhandle, O‑A‑K organized a relief drive and sent two semi-trailers to the Panhandle with supplies. Dale personally drove one of the semis and assisted in the relief efforts. He has been active in professional organizations in the region, including The Construction Specifications Institute -Florida Southwest Chapter, serving as President 2009-2010.
An employee-owned company, O‑A‑K Florida, Inc.’s Board of Directors comprises members from the company’s Florida operations. Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build, and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. O‑A‑K’s Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, established in 1891. The Florida operation has offices in Collier and Lee counties. Its headquarters are in Lee County, located at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Learn more about O‑A‑K at www.owen‑ames‑kimball.com.
Dave has been a steady hand guiding the council during changing and challenging times in the B.S.A. organization and during the pandemic. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning the council for stability, growth, and future success,” said Greg Graham, scout executive and CEO of the Southwest Florida Council B.S.A.
