The Rotary Club of Milwaukee has no higher honor than the Rotary Person of the Year Award. Annually, our club honors an accomplished local individual who has distinguished herself or himself with professional accomplishments.
Unlike other awards that recognize civic and philanthropic achievements, the Rotary Person of the Year honors recognizes individuals, executives and entrepreneurs who, through their profession, are making the Milwaukee community a better place to live and work. Members of our club are eligible for the award, but, most often, the winner comes from outside the club.
Mary McCormick exemplifies the Rotary Club of Milwaukee's (RCM) mission of "connecting" by serving as the ultimate connector of people, ideas and resources for the betterment of the Milwaukee community.
In Mary’s time with RCM she has supported a diverse membership and adapted to varying leadership styles while maintaining consistent operations. Mary has worked with 25 different club presidents representing a wide range of professions and supported 20 member committees spanning club operations, education, local and global initiatives, events, and volunteer engagement. Despite changes in leadership and priorities over time, she has helped ensure the club remains steady, efficient, and effective.
Her responsibilities extend across administration, project management, communications, and member engagement. Mary has provided fiscal oversight of funds and contributions, supporting the organization’s long-term stability. She also serves as a resource to project leaders, helping navigate challenges and support implementation of club initiatives aligned with Rotary’s Four-Way Test.
Mary has led the club through a number of significant community projects, including the Milwaukee Rotary Amphitheater at Discovery World and the Live @ the Lakefront concert series, renovations at Brown Street Academy and Johnson’s Park, the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, and the creation of MKE Urban Stables. As part of this legacy, Mary helped launch the club’s next major initiative, the B-Line Park, leaving it in strong hands as it moves forward. She has also helped to grow the club’s scholarship program which supports 25 students annually with a financial award and mentorship and has celebrated the graduation of over 50 scholars.
Beyond her work with RCM, Mary has been actively involved in the community through service on several nonprofit boards, including Friends of Shorewood Nature Preserve, Guest House of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Children’s Village, Milwaukee Women, Inc., Wellpoint (formerly SaintA), St. Robert’s School, the Shorewood Foundation, and TEMPO, where she was recognized as Mentor of the Year.
Over the course of her tenure, she has maintained a consistent focus on ethical standards and professional integrity. She has also helped shape the role of Executive Director within the club, contributing to its development as a key leadership position.
Mary’s decades of service, steady leadership, and commitment to “Service Above Self” have strengthened the Rotary Club of Milwaukee and the broader community. It is for Mary McCormick’s service that our club has recognized her as the 2026 Rotary Person of the Year.