Rotary Club of Milwaukee honored John Daniels as its Rotary Person of the Year for 2015 during an awards ceremony on Tuesday at the Milwaukee County War Memorial.
Daniels is chairman emeritus of Milwaukee-based Quarles & Brady LLP and has been in that role since October 2013, after six years as chairman of the firm. He was the firm’s first African American chairman.
While steering Quarles & Brady through the Great Recession, and managing to grow the firm, Daniels revamped its operational model into a more client-centric and business-minded one. He is also credited with prioritizing diversity and inclusion in the firm’s office.
The Rotary Person of the Year award is a vocational honor given to individuals who have enhanced the community through their daily work, leadership and innovation. The award acknowledges individuals for their professional work, rather than their civic and charitable commitments.
Through the award, Rotary aims to define high ethical standards for businesses and professions, emphasize the value of all useful occupations, and dignify Rotarians for their professional service to the community.
In previous years, the award has saluted Nan Gardetto, former owner and chief executive officer of Baptista’s Bakery in Franklin; Angelo, Giacomo and Laurie Falluca, all of Palermo’s Pizza, Inc.; Mario and Cathy Costantini, both of La Lune Collection; John Mellowes of Charter Manufacturing Co.; Tim Sullivan, formerly of Bucyrus International Inc. and Gardner Denver Inc.; investor George Mosher; Sue Dragisic, previously of United Way of Greater Milwaukee; William Petasnick, previously of Froedtert Health; and Herman Viets, Ph.D., of Milwaukee School of Engineering.
