Leadership Park City awarded Jess Reid its 9th annual “Community Leadership Award” two weeks ago.

According to Leadership Park City co-founder Lisa Cilva Ward, the honor is given to an individual who has provided community leadership over a sustained period. The idea is to select someone who exemplifies the principles of leadership taught in the program.

Ward’s colleague Myles Rademan said Reid has been a “selfless giver to the Park City community for over 30 years, especially to the youth.”

Reid has served in numerous leadership positions with the Utah Travel Council, the Park City Chamber/Bureau, the Park City Rotary Club, the Park City Board of Realtors, the Egyptian Theatre and more.

“But most importantly from the perspective of Leadership Park City,” Rademan said in a written statement, “In 1999 Jess was the founder, and is still the advisor, to the Park City High School Interact Club.”

The Interact Club is a service organization sanctioned by Rotary International. Ward and Rademan admit two high school juniors from the club to participate in each class of Leadership Park City.

“These kids need to be mature, confident, open and flexible in thinking, and ready to participate in a group of very diverse people,” she said.

From day one they are treated as adults and expected to behave as adults, Ward said. So far, each has done that. The program’s graduates typically report back that through the experience they “discovered their voice” and know what they are passionate about and how they want to get involved, she said.

Alexis Lee is in her first year at the University of Utah and graduated from Leadership Park City last autumn. Lee said she was the president of the Interact Club and worked closely with Jess Reid on almost a weekly basis.

“He helps the club plan and organize things,” she said. “He was always very good at making sure we weren’t taking on too much but really wanted us to make sure our service was going to the right people, was well organized and we were getting a lot of people involved.”

Right before high school graduation, Lee said Reid advised her to make sure she enjoyed her university experience. She said it was clear to her that Reid worked hard and was successful at building his real estate brokerage, but that he also took time to make sure he was enjoying life.

In an interview Monday, Reid said that loving life is what has driven his leadership service.

“It’s a life goal for me to live someplace you want to be that you love. When you feel that way about where you live, like I do about Park City, you want to support it and give back to it,” he said.

Reid said working with high school students is rewarding because he can help them see ways to give back to their communities and not always think about themselves.

“You’re helping send someone in the right direction to be more balanced and rounded,” he said.