County Latino Association Honors Ekard’s ‘Dedication to Diversity’
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CAO Walt Ekard accepts a new leadership award in his name from the San Diego County Latino Association Wednesday. The award was presented by Luis Monteagudo, a member of the association and Amber Tarrac, the association's president.
The San Diego County Latino Association praised CAO Walt Ekard Wednesday for his leadership and commitment to diversity with a new, annual award named after the well-respected top administrator.
The “Walt F. Ekard Leadership Award” will go each year to a County employee or a member of the association who “champions the cause of leadership and diversity.” Ekard, who plans to step down in December after 13 years as the County’s top administrator, said he was deeply honored by the recognition. He initially joked that he was “speechless—and that’s rare.”
In accepting the award at the association’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, Ekard said one of the great things he’d been able to do in his job was see what a diverse workforce looks like, the value of it and “how that helps us in our governance.”
“It’s been eye opening to some degree to see how much value that we should place in diversity of the workforce,” he said.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Ron Roberts and Vice Chairman Greg Cox also presented the association with a proclamation honoring Hispanic Heritage Month as Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
In presenting Ekard with his award, association member Luis Monteagudo, who serves as Cox’s Director of Communications, said diversity is sometimes used as a buzzword.
“Walt has not only talked the talk,” he said. "He has walked the walk.”
Monteagudo said Ekard had been a longtime member of the association, paying dues, attending events and supporting scholarship events.
“More importantly, he has taken his own time as head of the County, to meet with people, with employees, and encourage them to improve themselves,” Monteagudo said. “He really has championed diversity.”
Association President Amber Tarrac, who serves as a Policy Advisor for Supervisor Dianne Jacob, read aloud a quote by César E. Chávez engraved in the award: “If a leader cannot give it all, he cannot expect his people to give anything.”
Members also recognized numerous promotions within their ranks, national awards won by County departments and enjoyed food donated by Latino-owned businesses and supporters, as well as music and cultural exhibits in Bayside Rooms 1 and 2 of the County Administration Center.
