Ed Sykes Receives
Golden Gavel Award from
Bank of America
Toastmasters
Virginia Beach, VA - December 22, 2004 - Ed Sykes, of The Sykes Group, received
the esteemed Golden Gavel Award from the Bank of America Toastmaster Club,
Voices of Empowerment. The ceremony took place December 14, 2004 at the Bank of
America building at 2 Commercial Place in Norfolk, VA at 4 p.m.
The
Golden Gavel award is given to individuals in the community that exhibit a
combination of outstanding community service, leadership abilities, and
communication skills to empower individuals to become better. It is given by
Toastmasters International through local clubs throughout the world.
Toastmasters International is a worldwide organization dedicated to improving
individual’s lives by improving communication and leadership skills.
The
Bank of America Toastmaster Club, Voices of Empowerment, gave the Golden Gavel
Award in 2003 to Ms. Alverta Ewell, news anchor of the Wavy10 (Hampton Roads
NBC affiliate). She was recognized for her work as a television broadcaster and
her work with children in the local school systems. Ms. Ewell has been with
Wavy10 since 1989.
Ed
Sykes, along with his wife Joy Fisher-Sykes, is co-founder of The Sykes Group.
They work with a variety of government, Fortune 1000, and military organizations
to motivate their employees to accomplish their goals. In 2003, The Sykes Group
co-hosted with Norfolk State University, the successful Women Empowerment
Conference, "Upward Bound Women: Unity and Power," at the Virginia Beach Higher
Education Center.
He
is also recognized as a world class public speaker. He has been a member of
Toastmasters since 1996. As a Toastmaster, in 1997, 1999, and 2001 he earned
the right by competing in the International Speech Contest as best speaker in
Virginia. He also held the position of Toastmasters State of Virginia Public
Relations Officer in 2003. As Public Relations Officer, he worked with Governor
Warner's Office to have October proclaimed "Toastmasters Month." He has held
several club leadership positions. He also is a member of the National Speakers
Association.
Through his community service, he has made a difference with the youth in the
Hampton Roads school system. Joy and he, through Toastmasters' Youth Leadership
Program, teach children in challenging situation how to communicate with
respect, develop leadership skills, and develop a positive attitude about life.
He was recognized in the 1997 Virginian Pilot’s annual issue “African Americans
in Hampton Roads” as a person who makes a different in the community by
volunteering for the Big Brother/Big Sister School Mentoring Program.
Ms.
Delores Pruitt, President of Bank of America's Voices of Empowerment, said, "The
reason for choosing Ed Sykes is the unique combination of business, community
service, and dedication to the concept of Toastmasters. He is an inspiration to
many in Toastmasters by motivating us to always do better."
To
learn more about Toastmasters International go to
http://www.toastmasters.org or
http://www.district66.org. For additional information about Ed Sykes or The
Sykes Group call 757-427-7032 or e-mail The Sykes Group at info@thesykesgrp.com
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