At its Hybrid 76th Annual Conference, TEI conferred the prestigious President’s Award to Katherine (Kathy) Castillo of the Detroit Chapter. Nominated by past International President Jim Kennedy, Kathy’s numerous TEI contributions were detailed in her nomination, below.
We are pleased to share Kathy's award presentation and acceptance with you in this linked video.
Kathy concluded a distinguished professional career as U.S. Tax Director with Guardian Industries in 2017 and has remained actively involved with TEI. During her more than two decades as a TEI member, Kathy has exhibited exemplary leadership and vision to foster the development, growth, and success of the Institute around the world. Her personal commitment to TEI at a consistently high level over an extended period of time represents volunteerism at its finest and is worthy of recognition by TEI with its President’s Award.
Kathy has devoted notable, meritorious service to the Institute at the chapter, regional, and Institute level. Three aspects of Kathy’s service warrant note here.
First, Kathy has made immeasurable contributions to the advocacy and educational pursuits of TEI’s Federal Tax Committee, on which she served as a member, Vice Chair, and Chair since 2004. Kathy has been—and continues to be—instrumentally involved in the design, organization, and execution of TEI’s Federal Tax Courses (Levels I and II), as well as the reinvention of that content for TEI’s virtual 2021 Federal Tax Fundamentals virtual series, which was a tremendous success. Moreover, throughout her tenure, Kathy has consistently volunteered to moderate one or more sessions at every Institute-level conference and seminar in which the Federal Tax Committee is involved.
Second, Kathy has played an active role in the Detroit Chapter, having assumed the role of webmaster, treasurer, secretary, vice president, president, board member and chapter representative from 2004 through the present. She also served as Region 5’s Regional Vice President (2015-2016), represented Region V on the Nominating Committee (2018-2019), and served as a member of TEI’s Executive Committee (2017-2018). Kathy has always been available to help the chapter in any capacity over the past two decades, and the Detroit Chapter is much stronger for her long-standing commitment to TEI.
Third, Kathy has been a leader and champion for numerous Presidential Goals over her TEI tenure. Most recently, she has led the Membership and Marketing workstream component of the 2020-2021 strategic plan, Choosing a Path Forward. Her work on this initiative, as well as her role with the Membership Committee generally, has identified key challenges and opportunities for TEI over the coming years. I am confident that the workstream’s recommendations will help shape TEI’s membership initiatives over the coming decade. Kathy has supported the goals and initiatives of several past International Presidents on diverse subjects, including Sandy MacFarlane’s goal to create the TEI Leadership and Development Series, Robert Howren’s goal to create a Social Responsibility/Community Involvement Toolkit for chapters, and Jim Silvestri’s Expand our Membership Base Task Force.
Without question, Kathy’s contributions exemplify the highest degree of commitment and service to TEI, its mission, and the tax system as a whole. Her devotion of time and energy, as well as her ability to gain consensus and move objectives forward is noteworthy.