Leadership Award

David Paddison serves as President of Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, the largest privately held insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm in the southeastern United States. 

A native of Savannah, David has been active in the local insurance and business community for more than 30 years. An advocate of community involvement and civic participation, David has always encouraged his team to give back to the community through their participation and support of non-profit organizations. David has been recognized by Junior Achievement as an inductee into the Savannah Business Hall of Fame and is a graduate of Leadership Savannah. 

Regarding the importance of philanthropic involvement, David notes, “Our community is an ecosystem, and we are all stewards of what goes on and what the future holds. In my opinion, it is vital to serve as an example of stewardship and advocacy.”

David has held leadership positions on numerous community boards including Union Mission, Past Chair; Savannah Economic Development Authority, Past Chair; Armstrong State University Foundation; Past Chair, and currently serves on the boards of the JCB Lady Bamford Center, Georgia Southern University Foundation Board, World Trade Center Savannah, Savannah Music Festival, and the Savannah Classical Academy Foundation. 

In addition, David and his wife, Jeanne, are founders and advocates of the Savannah Wildlife Rescue Center, an organization that began in 2014 with the mission to rescue and rehabilitate the region’s wildlife population. 

David has served as a mentor for many within the community over the years, with local businesses and non-profit organizations seeking his advice and direction. He notes, “Good leadership requires we all care for each of the component parts which will keep our entire community moving forward and prospering.”